» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

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The Greene Family

My steps faltered when Daryl tapped my shoulder, his eyes on the rest of the group as they stood around. They seemed to be thinking the same collective thing- the others should've caught up to us by now.

"So what do we do?" Lori asked Daryl. She was still worried about the gunshot, but then again we all were. Rick wouldn't have been stupid enough to use his gun, especially for a single shot.

"Beat the bush for Sophia, work our way back to the highway." Daryl replied, encouraging us back on the path. He wasn't too bad at being in charge, maybe even better than Shane.

It was hard to believe Daryl was a nicer person than Shane, but it was almost like my opinions of the two had completely swapped around. Ever since Rick came back and Merle disappeared, it was like Daryl had become more likeable, and I had started to trust Shane less and less every day. He was mean to Carl a lot now, and the way he acted around Lori just seemed strange to me.

"I think we should call it." Daryl told the group a while later, his crossbow falling to his side. I couldn't help but feel disappointed in the fact that we came up with nothing all day. I really hoped I would find Sophia. Of course, if anyone found her it would make me happy, but I really wanted it to be me. To see the fear in her eyes melt into pure relief, her arms wrapping around my shoulders as she jumped into a hug.

My thoughts were cut off by the sound of Andrea screaming in alarm, the gurgling growls of a walker coming after. My eyes snapped around in search for her before we all followed the source of the noise. We stopped at a tree, the leaves rustling and shaking as she fought against the walker pinned against her. Her feet kicked out at it, pushing away its clawing finger and grinding jaw with every ounce of effort until a bat smacked across its head. A woman on a horse slowed down as she retrieved her weapon, her eyes flitting over our faces with a strange panic.

"Lori? Lori Grimes?" She asked urgently, the trotting of the horse eventually stopping. How did she know Lori? "Rick sent me, you gotta come now."

Lori finally stepped forward at the mention of her husband, her eyebrows drawn in fear. "What?" Lori asked, confused like the rest of us.

The stranger tucked her bat into the saddle as she reached a hand towards her. "There's been an accident, Carl's been shot."

I felt Glenn's hands grabbing me, pulling me towards him, but my distant stare was focused on the blur of trees. First Sophia, now Carl? All my friends kept getting hurt, and I didn't think I could stand to lose them.

"He's still alive, but you gotta come now." The woman continued, gesturing for Lori to come with her. Well, it was something, enough for Lori to hop on the saddle behind her. The girl gave us rushed directions to the 'Greene Family Farm' so we could drive our vehicles down there before galloping away, the hooves of the horse kicking up dried leaves and mud.

It was a somber walk back to the highway, all of us thinking about Carl and his terrible fate. "Do you think Carl and Sophia will die?" I fearfully whispered to Glenn, my hand loose in his gentle grip. The horrible thought had been on my mind for a while. There was always the chance that Sophia would never be found, she could be lost in the woods forever thinking we abandoned her. And who knew how bad Carl's injury was, or if he was even alive right now.

Glenn squeezed my hand in a gesture of comfort. "Don't think that, Belle. If you don't have hope they'll be okay, it's not gonna happen, right?" He countered with an encouraging smile.

He had a good point. Now wasn't the time for me to lose hope on my friends, especially since they had families who were worried enough. I needed to stay strong for them, to give them hope that their children would be okay.

"Right." I nodded, but the positivity didn't show in my dry voice. I guess the flower didn't bring Carl any kind of luck.

Dale started interrogating us as soon as we got back, his arms gesturing wildly for any kind of answer. He heard the gunshot and the screams and started panicking, his grip on the rifle tight in fear.

I sat on the steps of the RV, my head in my hands as I began to drift off. The silence was killing me, the lack of noise causing my mind to generate thoughts at the speed of light. My brain was whirring with a millions possibilities, none of them particularly good. I wanted to stay here for Sophia in case she came back, but I couldn't leave Carl like this without knowing what happened. Everyone was split up and all over the place, and I knew we were stronger as a group. It was only a matter of time before something else happened.

Daryl's shadow passed over my face as he knelt on the ground, his eyes wandering everywhere except me. He seemed almost nervous to talk to me, probably worried he could say the wrong thing in a time like this. It was the same with Carol right now, and Andrea when Amy died at the camp. Walking on eggshells, being careful not to break the dam of tears with a single wrong word.

"You wanna go with Glenn? T-Dog needs treating, his arms cut up real bad. He's gonna take him to the farm, see if they can help." Daryl finally spoke, his suggestion rushed and uncomfortable. It was like he had no idea how to talk to a child.

"I should stay here. What if Soph-" I insisted, my eyebrows raised in urgency.

He cut me off with a shake of his head. "I'm staying here tonight. Dale, too, just in case Sophia comes back. We ain't leaving her out here. She ain't coming back to nothing." He reassured me.

I considered what he was saying, my gaze drifting to Glenn as he analysed T-Dog's arm. Maybe it would be a good idea to go with him for now. The farm sounded a lot safer than the highway and I knew a lot of the people here were looking out for me in particular. It would be a very bad day if all three of us kids died.

I nodded my head in agreement and dusted off my jeans, standing up as Daryl leaned against the RV door. He nudged me in Glenn's direction before retreating inside, presumably to set up a bed for tonight.

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(Edited chapter)

Hey, everyone. Back for season two?

Right now I'm thinking of uploading all of season two and probably three over the next couple days and then doing a chapter a day (or every other day depending on how long the chapter is)

Poor Carl getting shot like that :((( This world really has it out for kids