» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

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Sleepless In Alexandria

An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach as I walked through the gates. It was so clean here, so untouched by the outside world. It just wasn't something I was used to. My grip tightened on my sword as it squealed shut behind us.

"Before we take this any further, I need you all to turn over your weapons." I narrowed my eyes at the new mans words. Turning over our weapons to a bunch of strangers wasn't something we were willing to do. My sword had become an extension of myself on the road. I didn't feel safe without it.

"It's fine, Nicholas. Let them talk to Deanna first." Aaron insisted. Nicholas had an incredulous expression on his face.

"Who's Deanna?" Abraham bellowed over their conversation, causing Aaron to turn to him.

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Glenn held my arms at my side, seeing my worried expression. He had just left the house Deanna occupied, and it was my turn next.

"She's okay. She's just gonna ask you a few questions about the road, and then it's over." He assured me, patting my shoulder before returning to the group. I got to my feet, shaking off my nerves before stepping inside the house. It just looked so fresh. I had never been in a house like this before. It was so fancy and huge and there were books on every shelf and pictures hanging up and it was all too much.

"Hi, I'm Deanna." A short woman with brown hair and a smile held out her hand, waiting for me to shake it. When I didn't move, she retracted it and smoothed down her shirt before pointing to a couch. "Here, take a seat."

I copied her and sat down, the table resting between us. I could see sheets of paper and an open book strewn over it. There were used candles and an empty ashtray and I wondered who else lived here. It looked like a family home.

"You mind if I record this?" I took notice of the video camera set up beside her, tilting my head. I didn't know things like that still worked.

"Let's start off with your name." She smiled kindly. My eyebrows remained pulled together, I couldn't quite believe what was happening.

"Annabelle...Dixon." I stated firmly. I felt confident in saying that for the first time.

"And how old are you, Annabelle?"

I thought for a moment, counting the weeks and months until I found an answer. "15, I think." I wasn't sure when I got this old, it just sort of happened.

She nodded her head, checking the recording on the camera before sighing. "I'm going to ask you some questions, I hope you answer with full transparency." She continued when I nodded hesitantly. "Tell me about yourself. Your journey. Life on the road. You must've been just a kid when this all started."

"I was, I-I was alone. Glenn found me, and he took me in. That's when I met the rest of the group." I saw her confused expression and stopped.

"Dixon. Like Daryl Dixon?" I nodded. She seemed confused and asked about my past.

"I had a family before. They weren't the best. But Daryl is my family now. A father." I was losing my confidence now, the glare of the camera right on me.

"What happened to your real father?" She asked, and I narrowed my eyes. Daniel was never my real father, not anymore. I had made my peace with what happened to him, with my past. Her questions were getting on my nerves. I wanted her to know who we were, the terrible things we had to do out in the world. I wanted her to be scared.

"I shot him."

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Deanna's house wasn't the only one in the community. There were people everywhere, coming in and out of their own homes. Watching them made me feel sick. Why did they get to have this while we were forced out there to do things we didn't want to do?