Chapter 18

Cara's POV

Ding… Dung… Ding… Dung…

I glance at Daryl, air getting caught in my lungs. I nearly drop my knife as I take off towards the ringing. Rick and Daryl followed me, leaving the others to follow them. I pushed my way through some trees. I stopped, shocked to see a little white church surrounded by headstones.

Daryl stopped next to me, letting Rick move ahead of us. He had his gun at the ready, wanting to be prepared for the worst. I stepped away from Daryl as the rest of the group broke through the trees. I noticed that Shane was the first one to step up to Rick's side, while my mother stayed beside Lori's.

Shane turned towards Rick. "Are we sure this is the place? There is no steeple." Rick glared at him, shooting a look towards my mother.

"This has to be it." Daryl said, resting a hand on my shoulder. "There ain't any other buildings in the area."

Glenn stepped up. "Maybe she is inside afraid to come out."

"She likes to hide when she is scared." I said, my voice cracked. "She'd hide under her bed on the nights that Ed would sneak into our room. I taught her that, to protect her."

The men looked at each other and nodded. "Everyone in formation. Daryl, Shane, Glenn, and I will be in front. Everyone else, be at the ready." Rick ordered, turning away from us. He marched ahead, allowing everyone to fall into place.

Being rebellious and protective, I stepped up next to Daryl. I ignored his glare and raised my knife. Rick held up his gun, grabbing ahold of the door handle. He counted to three and slammed the doors open. We rushed in, only to freeze in the doorway. Sitting in the pews like they were waiting for service to start, sat five walkers. Alerted by the noise of the doors slamming against the wall, the walkers slowly turned around to face us.

I growled, suddenly pissed off at my sister. I jumped into action, pushing passed the men. A decaying middle-aged woman lunged at me, causing me to jump to the side, I grabbed ahold of her hair and slammed my knife into the back of her skull. Once she stopped fight, I yanked my knife out and went after another one. By that time, the others had jumped into action.

I ignored Daryl's warning to stand back and went after a male walker that was twice my size. I jumped on to the pew and launched myself at the staggering man. I jammed my knife into his eye, causing him to fall forwards. I screamed as he landed on top of me, making me slam into the pew.

"Cara!" I heard Glenn and Daryl yell.

I groan, pain exploding through my head. "I am okay!" I yell, as I feel the body being lifted off me.

Daryl snorted, grabbing my hand. "Bullshit. Come on, let's get you outside." He lifted me off the ground and led me outside.

I groaned again as the sun blinded me. Daryl chuckled, leading me to a concrete bench. He helped me sit down and pulled out a water bottle from his pack. He uncapped it and held it out to me. I looked at it, then him, and took it.

I took a sip, giving him a thank you nod.

"You wanna talk?" He asks, taking the seat next to me.

I shook my head. "Nope." I handed him the bottle, feeling a little better.

He looked away from me. "Good. Didn't want to talk anyways." I laughed softly. He grinned. "There is the Cara I know."

I sighed. "I've always been Cara."

He shook his head. "Not back there. You were like baby Rambo with the way you jumped at the walker."

I didn't say anything.

He nudged me. "I get it. I was like that in Atlanta after we didn't find Merle. Don't know if he is dead or not, just like Sophia."

"Not helping Daryl." I mumbled.

"Just some food for thought. I am gonna go grab your knife and check in with the group, you gonna be okay?"

I nodded, staring down at my bloody hands. He patted my shoulder and headed back towards to the group. I listened as his footsteps faded, leaving me in silence.

'Sophia, where are you? Why couldn't you just listen to Rick and stay where you were? You aren't making my job any easier, I promised to protect you. You are supposed to be here for me to protect, not running around in the wild with walkers.' I thought. I closed my eyes, willing myself not to cry.

I sat alone for another five or ten minutes, before I felt someone sit down next to me. I look up and see Carl staring back at me. He smiles softly, resting his hand on mine.

My heart skipped a beat. "My dad, Shane, and I are going to continue to look for Sophia, while the others head back. Do you wanna come with us?" He asks.

"Really? You want me to go?" I ask, my voice low and soft.

He nodded. "Yeah. She is your sister. I think she'd feel safer, if you were with us when we find her."

I smile softly at him. "Thank you."

His grin got bigger as he nudged my shoulder. "Come on! I'll race ya!" He got up and took off.

I gasp, following his lead. "Cheater!"

He laughed, making it back to the group before me. "Just getting ahead start, not cheating."

I tackle him to the ground, laughing. "You are such a cheater."

He beamed up at me. I froze, butterflies attacking my stomach. "You're just a sore loser."

I gasped. "Oh really?" He nodded, smiling. I smirked and started to tickle him.

He squealed, which caused the group to look at us. "Sto-op!" He laughed.

I laughed, wiggling my fingers under his armpits. "Never!"

The adults let us play for a minute, until Shane stepped out of the church and ruined everything. "STOP! This is not the time for childish behavior. You are gonna attract every walker in five-mile radius." He glared at us.

Rick stepped in, raising his hands. "Stop, Shane. They're kids, so let them be kids."

Shane turned his glare towards Rick. "They could get us killed. They can't be kids anymore."

I got off Carl, anger blazing in my eyes. Putting my left hand on my hip, I used my right to point at him. "Shut up, Shane. Your angry outbursts are going to get us killed, because you like to act like you are in charge. You make bad choices and decisions, you don't get to tell us what to do."

Shane's face twisted in hanger, becoming redder and redder with every passing second. "You little bitch. I am tired of your shit." He raised his hand to hit me. I don't waiver, not even to blink.

Daryl stepped in and decked Shane. Shane stumbled back, grabbing his face with his right hand. "You stay away from her, jackass."

Rick steeped in. "Enough. We have a little girl to find. Shane, Carl, and I are going to continue the search. Everyone else head back to the highway."

Carl stepped up. "Dad, I asked Cara to come with us. I think that Sophia would feel better, if Cara was with us when we find her."

Rick sighed, closing his eyes and nodded his head. "I agree, Carl." Carl beamed up at his dad. "Carl, Cara, Shane, and I are continuing for a little while longer then turn back."

Shane protested. "Rick-"

"Shane. I said she could." Rick hugged Lori and whispered something in her ear. She pulled away as he held out a gun.

I turned towards Daryl and Glenn, who are both looking at me. "I have too."

They nodded. Daryl stepped forward first, holding out my knife. He smiled at me, but never said anything. Glenn stepped up as Daryl stepped back. He pulled me into his arms and whispered in my ear, "Be safe. Shane is losing his mind."

I nodded, backing away from him. "I know. I don't know how long he is going to be able to hide his true colors."

Glenn patted my shoulder and smirked at me. "So, you and Carl huh?" He winked.

I blushed. "Shut up." I turned away from him and Daryl. As I walked over to Carl, I can hear them laughing their butts off. I roll my eyes, flipping them off behind my back. Their laughter got louder, which caused Shane to glare at them. Glenn started coughing to cover up his laughter, which caused me to snicker.

I tucked my knife into my belt. Carl smiled at me as I walked towards him. Rick grabbed Shane by the shoulder to pull him away from Glenn and Daryl. Carl and I walked in front of Rick and Shane, chatting quietly amongst each other.

I moved under some trees, looking for animal and human tracks. I frowned, hoping my sister came through this area. Carl was watching over my shoulder, breathing down my neck. I stopped and turned around. "Carl?"

He looked at me, curiosity and wonder on his face. "Yeah?"

I blushed. "Is there a reason why you are breathing down my neck?"

He blinked, blush covering his freckled cheeks. "I wanted to watch you track, so that I could learn."

I sighed and continued forward. "After we find Sophia, I will teach you both everything Daryl has taught me about tracking."

Carl smiled. "Really?" I nodded. "Awesome!"

I laughed and continued walking. Carl and I walked in silence, trying to enjoy nature while looking for my sister. Rick and Shane muttered to each together, not wanting us to overhear them. I rolled my eyes, ignoring Shane's glares. After a ten-minute walk, Carl and I walked into a beautiful open field. I smiled as a butterfly flew around my head. Carl grabbed my hand and pointed off to the other side. I turned around and gasped. There, ten-feet away, stood a beautiful deer. I glanced over at Carl, noticing the look of aww and wonder in his eyes.

"It is so beautiful." He whispered. He slowly walks towards, I follow him.

Shane and Rick watched from in front of the trees. "Be careful, Carl." Rick said, a smile forming on his face.

Carl stopped next to a bush. I walked a few steps ahead of me, not wanting to stop. "Dad, look! It is so beautiful."

'I wish Sophia could see this.' I thought.

Carl reached forward and grabbed my hand.

Bang.