» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

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Fear Can Be Misread As Excitement

We had no other choice but to go back to the church. Part of me was still pissed at Eugene for lying, but another part never really believed him in the first place. The second part made it much more exciting to go back. I could see Carl again, and Daryl and Carol would be back. I was practically bouncing in my seat.

"Glenn, I forgot to ask...did you get my doll from the prison?" I turned to him with a quizzical expression.

He breathed out a laugh. "It was in our cell in A block, I couldn't just leave it behind."

"Thank you." That doll was one of the things most precious to me. In this world, having material sentimentalities could be a dangerous thing, I knew that. You never knew when you might need to run, or drop everything and fight. Things got lost easily.

We were almost at the church now. I recognised the road we were on. The truck went over several bumps in the way, shaking everything around before stopping abruptly. At least, I assumed they were bumps in the road. Once I got out, I saw we were actually at the church already, walkers arms sticking through the doors. Abraham drove the truck right in front, stopping them from escaping. I turned my gaze from the church, scanning the area nearby until my eyes fell on the person I was looking for. I dropped my bag at my feet, running right into Carl's arms. He held me tightly, his face resting on my shoulder as his hat tipped backwards. I held my hand out, catching it before it hit the ground.

"I told you I'd see you soon." I airily whispered. I pulled away and corrected his hat, seeing the confusion in his features.

"You're back." Michonne held the same expression.

Glenn's face fell into one of regret. "Eugene lied. He can't stop it. Washington isn't the end." I had come to terms with it by now, but it was hard watching the reactions of the small group around me. Actually, it was too small. There was only Gabriel and Judith along with Michonne and Carl.

"Where is everybody?" I asked with concern, causing Michonne to brightly smile.

"Beth's alive. She's in a hospital in Atlanta. Some people have her but the others went to get her back."

My lips trembled, my hand going to my face as I embraced Maggie in joy. Beth was coming home. I missed her so much.

Michonne explained to me that that's why Daryl left, to save Beth. All my anger at him had diminished, quickly replacing with love. He didn't lose her all those weeks ago, she was taken from him. And he cared enough to get her back.

"Let's blow this joint, go save your sister."

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I gazed fondly at the book in my lap, dusting off the cover.

"Hey, you got it back." Carl took notice of the familiar title. I shook my head.

"I found another copy. I thought I could give to Beth, as an apology for losing the old one." I smiled.

"She's gonna love it." He assured me.

I felt a nervous excitement in my stomach at the thought of seeing Beth again. Where had she been all this time? Who were these people that took her? Why was she taken? None of these questions even mattered to me, except one. Was she safe?

"We're here." Abraham pulled up to some gates. It had been a long time since I was in Atlanta. The city was emptier now, all the walkers dispersing across the country. The hospital was overgrown with weeds and there were cracks in the walls, but I knew now that it was fully running. I hopped out the truck, the nerves increasing with every step. I could see the entrance from here. I raised the gun in my hands, keeping an eye out for walkers.

The door opened and my steps got faster, seeing Rick exit. He was shaking his head. Why was he shaking his head? I lowered my gun, the nervous feeling in my stomach spreading through my body. Sasha had a blank face, her gun in her arms. Tyreese helped Carol walk out. She looked injured. I wondered what happened to her briefly before noticing a boy behind her, someone I didn't recognise. He looked around Beth's age.

Daryl took slow steps towards us, the limp body in his arms swaying slightly with every movement. I understood why no one was happy now. Why everyone had pained expressions on their face, because I had one too.

Daryl stopped walking, his grip tight on Beth Greene's body. She looked like she was asleep, but I knew she wasn't. She had blood trickling down her hair. I wasn't sure when I fell to my knees, only noticing the burn of the grazes after they happened. She was covered in blood, with stitches in her face and her clothes worn. She was beautiful.

I brought my legs up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them tighter and tighter until I sat in a ball. Maggie's screams of agony were muffled to my ears, as well as the clatter of my gun and the shuffle of my feet. I pressed my face into my knees, feeling myself rock back and forth. This wasn't happening, it wasn't happening. It couldn't happen.

This was Beth. The girl who cut my hair and talked about boys and drew pretty pictures of flowers with me. The girl who washed my dishes and folded my clothes just because she knew I didn't like to. The girl who made sure all the children had brushed their teeth before they went to sleep, who didn't like guns because they always meant something bad was happening. She was everything to me.

She was gone.

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RIP Beth that scene will always break my heart it's so sad