Red (sequel to TYG)

Chapter 5

Carl's pov:

Flashback:

I've been laying in my tent feeling bored out of my mind for hours now. There's not a lot to do here, and Mom scolds me every time I try to explore.

Now that it's night time I expect my Mom will come in here soon and tell me to go to sleep, but I don't see much point in that considering that I've been laying here for hours and that's exactly what I would be doing if that were to happen.

The tent slowly un-zips and my Dad leans in.

"Carl, Herschel has started a bonfire out there and is inviting everyone to come sit around it and talk. Why don't you come out for a little while before bedtime?"

"Nah. It would probably be really boring with all of you grown-ups." I say and shake my head slightly.

"His daughter is out there. She's about your age. Why don't you talk to her? You just have to be friendly."

I've always been kind of shy when it comes to making friends, but I know it will make my Dad happy if I go out there.

"I guess." I say. I follow him out of the tent and to the bonfire where most of my group is sitting already.

I carefully sit down at one of the chairs and block out the adults conversation since it sounds extremely boring.

I secretly peak at Anna. She's sitting on her sister Maggie's lap, with her hair streaming down around her face. With the light of the fire she looks even prettier than before. Ew Carl, what's wrong with you? That's gross.

The conversation turns into an argument, one that I don't know anything about and before I can find out what they're talking about my Mom makes me leave.

"Carl, why don't you go back to the tent. This is a conversation for grown-ups." Mom says. I sigh loudly.

"You too." Maggie says to Anna. Anna sighs as well and stands up from Maggie's lap.

I stand up and start to storm back to my tent. Surprisingly, Anna follows me.

"What?" I ask her when I get back to the tent.

"Wanna play a game?" She asks shyly.
"We have some board games."

"Nah. I would rather play a real game." I tell her.

"Like what?" She asks me.

"How about hide and go seek?" I suggest.

"I don't know. Daddy wouldn't like that. It's kind of dangerous." She says and I roll my eyes at her.

I pull the gun I snatched off Daryl's motorcycle earlier today out of the back of my pants.

"Don't be a baby. I have this." I tell her. At this age of any kids life, no one wants to be called a baby. It's just against our nature.

She bites her lip, only half-way convinced.

"I'll hide first." I offer, which seems to convince her all the way. "Count for a minute and cover your ears and eyes."

She does as I say and I sprint away from her to the barn. The ladder leading to the loft of it gave me an idea before. There must be hay up there and I can easily hide behind it. Herschel said we aren't aloud in the barn, but he will never find out anyways. I climb the ladder and reach the top quickly.

I stumble around in the dark for a second. I hear a noise and pause to listen. I'm not sure what it is, so I take a step closer. Because I couldn't see I couldn't tell that it was the edge of the loft I was stepping towards. I slip and let out a scream when I see the sight below me. Walkers, everywhere.