» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

» JUDGE, JURY, EXECUTIONER «

Pain Ends With A Bang

"Carl, I wanna show you something." I excitedly announced, practically bouncing on the log next to him. We were sitting in the camp, poking sticks at the fire while the adults talked just a few feet away.

Carl finally threw his stick into the fire and looked at me expectedly, wondering what got me so joyful. I glanced around the camp, making sure no one was looking, before drawing the gun from my pocket slightly to reveal the metal barrel.

"Daryl gave it to me." I grinned, "He said I can protect myself now. Don't tell anyone, I don't want your Mom finding out. She would just get mad at Daryl."

Carl's eyes widened as I slipped it away again. "Why do you talk to Daryl, don't you think he's scary?" He asked, picking up a new stick from the ground.

I pondered the question. "He ain't that scary, not once you get to know him." I shrugged, turning at the sound of crunching footsteps.

"Your boy there's got a gang," Daryl announced as he neared the camp, "thirty men, they got heavy artillery and they ain't looking to make friends."

I scanned my eyes over his hands, seeing them bruised and covered in blood. He had been 'interrogating' the boy, Randall, for the past few hours in the now cleared out barn.

"They roll through here, our boys are dead. And our women, they're gonna wish they were." He continued, his voice low as he avoided eye contact. The thought of what he said made me shiver. They didn't sound like the kind of people I would like to meet.

"What did you do?" Carol asked, glancing at his injured hands as he rubbed the knuckles.

Daryl brushed her off with a casual, "We had a little chat," his fingers flexing.

"Maybe he's a little scary." I whispered to Carl, earning a subtle smirk in return. I guess Daryl wasn't one to show his nice side to many people.

It took some deliberating and some sharp interjections but Rick finally made a decision- Randall would be executed tonight. I didn't like it, killing a defenceless boy in the dead of night, but it seemed like the only way to keep us safe. If Rick thought it was right, then I wouldn't question him. Dale, however, did, and he wasn't about to give up so easily.

»« »« »« »«

"Hey, Annabelle." I heard Carol say from the porch, her arm stretched outwards to offer me a seat. I awkwardly smiled and sat beside her, figuring now was the best time to talk. I had been avoiding her for a while, not quite sure how to speak to her after such a loss.

"Hi, Carol...Do you want this?" Sophia's doll was grasped in my hands, held out shakily towards her. I didn't want to bring it up out of the blue, but there wasn't really any other way. "I probably shoulda gave it back earlier, but...I liked having it around."

Surprisingly, Carol smiled kindly at me, her hand on mine as she pushed the doll back. "You keep it, sweetheart. She would've liked you to have it." I placed the doll down next to me and turned back to her with furrowed eyebrows. Her smile was confusing.

"Do you believe in Heaven?" She asked, seemingly picking up on the questions in my mind. I had to admit I was a little shocked at the sudden contemplation.

"I don't know. I'd like to. It would be nice if Sophia was there, with Amy, and Jim. Maybe my little sister, too. I think they belong there." I shrugged, my gaze focused on the worn doll in my hands. The stitches around the left arm were starting become loose, revealing dirt stained cotton and roughly cut hems. "She kinda reminded me of her. Sophia, I mean. When I met her I thought she was too...nice, I guess. My sister was, too."