Walking Dead: Building Your Own Hope

Chapter 18 of my Walking Dead story, enjoy.

Reviews:

Boris Yeltsin: Thanks and yeah, but we'll see.
Parent12D: Thanks dude, thanks, glad you liked that talk, it makes sense true but there is hope. Yup, it really helps that Rick likely already knew for a long time, yup and even so there is hope, hope for them to fix things. Thanks, glad you liked that stuff, it shows how things are changing for the hopeful better.
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.


Season 2: Episode 18

Andrew smiled warmly as he had his hand linked with Marissa's as the happy couple walked through the park.

"It's gone so...much better since those cases were solved." Marissa admitted. "I feel a lot better now too."

She sent Andrew a warm smile at that, he knew all too well what she meant by that smile.

"I'm glad to hear that." Andrew said. "I'm also glad that I was able to save you from that creep."

Marissa smiled at that and moved to rest her head on Andrew's shoulder while he wrapped his arm around her waist. Before long they reached the bench that they typically sat at whenever they all hung out together at that park. They weren't the first ones to arrive however, Brian, Beth and Laurel were already there and chatting only to spot the couple and grin.

"Hey, you guys made it." Laurel greeted them. "The others sent texts, they'll be here soon."

"Cool." Andrew replied.

He and Marissa sat down next to Brian and Beth on the bench, Laurel was standing next to it.

"So...how are you guys doing?" Marissa asked the other couple.

Brian replied. "We're good, still can't believe that's school over already, senior year here we come."

Beth nodded. "Yeah, especially after all the craziness of this year. But still...we're doing good, better."

They all agreed with that statement, taking note that the others were indeed already arriving. Sophia and Mikey first, then Enid and Alden and finally, Jamie and Carl.

Soon the group were all together and simply hanging out, having a good time. That was when Sophia came up with an idea for a topic to approach.

"So, Andy, Marissa, how did your date go, guys?"

They shared a grin at that and Andrew spoke up.

"It was pretty good, we really enjoyed ourselves, Marissa actually helped me pick out some new albums I've been looking for." He explained.

Marissa nodded in agreement. "Yeah and Andy helped me find some new titles at the book store, then, well...you guys know how our dinner went."

She addressed the last part at Brian and Beth who both grinned and nodded.

"We had a good night too, I must say." Beth added.

They all smiled at that and then Marissa couldn't help but grin as she remembered.

"You know, that pig Spencer Monroe tried to flirt with me before Andrew arrived for the date. But, well…" She saw their fearful looks and shook her head. "Guys relax, I told him exactly what I think about him and sent him running off, I actually doubt he'll be after me again, at least not any time soon."

Andrew laughed and added. "It was awesome, you should've seen him, running off like a whipped dog."

The group all laughed at that and, after a little more chat, they decided to head around town and hang out together.

XXXXX

With things calming down, the sun setting in the evening and preparing to head home for dinner the group all made their separate ways home. As he walked Jamie bit his lip as he pondered on things, namely about him and Carl.

'We...we finally decided that we'd find a way to publicly come out by the next school year.' He recalled. 'Until now only our families and friends know about us, we just...we need to get over this fear.'

He sighed as he considered that, there had to be something they could do, something that would give them the confidence they needed to finally show the truth about themselves., right away.

Then there was other worries. 'Carl is...he's trying but, he's still struggling to come to terms with what happened with his mother. I can't blame him really, it's a big thing, but, we can only hope that things are resolved, for everyone.'

There was a beep from his phone indicating a message, confused he pulled his phone out and checked it.

His eyes widened at what he read. "Unless you want these pictures getting out, you'll come to the attached address."

The most startling and horrifying part was the pictures the message mentioned, it was the pictures of him and Carl kissing from the photo booth at the party that they thought had never printed. Immediately this sent chills down his spine, the fear gripped him and, despite knowing he really should do something else, like perhaps call the police or something, he felt he had no choice. So he began to hurry right away to the address.

Reaching the location mentioned on the text, Jamie bit his lip, worried as he looked around, wondering.

"Jamie, what the-?"

He turned in shock to see a wide-eyed, and frightened looking, Carl Grimes standing there.

"Carl, what are you doing here?" He gasped. "Wait, don't tell me...a text threatening to expose the pictures of us unless you came here?"

Carl nodded. "Yeah, you too?"

Jamie also nodded and they couldn't help but wonder just what was going on here, how they had got caught up in something like this. For the one who messaged them to bring them here for some reason.

"So what-?" Jamie began before seeing Carl freeze, looking over Jamie's head with wide-eyes. "Carl, wh-MRUGH?!"

Jamie's eyes widened in horror as the hand clamped over his mouth, then he heard the click of the gun.

"Finally, now I will get my revenge, especially on you." The figure growled, the last aimed at Carl.

The reason for his threat to Carl was obvious, after all, despite the horrible burns, it was clear just who had grabbed him, who was behind this and clearly had dark intentions for them. It was a still alive Philip Blake.


End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.