» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

» TS-19 «

Guns? Sure! Knives? Yeah! Needles? Hard Pass.

"You will all submit to a blood test. That's the price of admission." A lone man greeted us as we entered the CDC in a fluster of quick breaths and reassuring mutters. A lone man with a shotgun.

"We can do that." Rick answered, nodding in agreement as he checked with the group.

With our belongings inside, we hopped into the elevator, Glenn keeping a gentle hand on my shoulder. I wasn't sure if it was for his own comfort or for mine, but I knew we could both sense the somewhat awkward atmosphere surrounding us- probably to do with this new person. He didn't seem to like people so much, but maybe I was judging him simply based on the loaded gun he gripped right in his hand.

We followed him down a hallway that seemed to go on forever, the sterile fluorescent light causing my eyes to ache.

I pulled on Glenn's arm as we walked, my eyes narrowed suspiciously. "This guy's weird. I don't like him." I admitted, my voice low to stop him from hearing.

Glenn patted my back, encouraging me forward as we started to slow. "Don't worry about it. He's a scientist, okay? Besides, there's more of us than him." He grinned reassuringly, but it didn't get rid of the unsettling feeling in my chest.

We stopped in a big room full of computers, machines and wires lining every wall, which he referred to as 'Zone Five'.

"Where is everybody?" Rick asked, scanning the room hesitantly. Every seat remained empty and untouched, tucked neatly under the desks. Small specks of dust decorated each one, implying just how long it had been since they were used.

"I'm it." He answered, introducing himself as Dr. Jenner. One man in this whole building? That was hard to believe.

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I hated needles. My whole life I had, but I never figured out why. Something about them just made me feel hot and dizzy, like the beginnings of a terrible panic attack. I couldn't tell the group, though, it was way too embarrassing. How could I stare a walker in the face but faint at the sight of a little metal stick?

"You're up next." Jenner gestured to me, the words snapping me out of panicked daze.

I shook my head fervently, shoving whoever was closest in front. "No, I think it was him next." I said, realising it was Glenn.

Glenn glanced down at me, his eyebrows furrowed with a confused concern. "I already had mine, Belle, you were right there. You okay?" He knelt to my height, noticing the spark of terror in my wide eyes.

I was finally honest with him, muttering my fear with a less-than-casual shrug. He seemed to understand, however, allowing the rest of the group to submit their blood tests first. He even kept quiet when they asked what was wrong, insisting it was nothing to worry about.

"There's nothing to be afraid of, it's just like a bee sting." Jenner told me when I eventually settled into the chair, my arms and legs sticking straight out as I failed to relax.

"That doesn't make me feel better." I exclaimed as I squeezed Glenn's hand, the glint of metal causing me to wince. The feeling of the needle breaking the skin of my arm made my head spin, black spots dancing over Glenn's face- wait, no. That was just me.

It was over in no time, the band-aid pressed onto my inner elbow to soak up the small droplet of blood. Glenn helped me up from the chair, his hands under my arms for support. At least he tried to, until my body slumped against his, my legs hanging limp. The whole thing made me feel dizzy, like the floor had somehow turned into jelly.