» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

» LAST DAY ON EARTH «

Fear Makes The Heart Grow Stronger, So Mine Must Be World Champion

It had been at least an hour, maybe two, since the sun set and we were plunged into darkness. The van had moved to somewhere else, and there were people talking outside, but I couldn't figure out how many. There were at least two men in the front of the van, meaning the rest had gathered into other vehicles. But there were a lot more voices outside that before. They must've joined with a second group.

There were too many of them out there, more than our group could handle. They had no way of finding us anyway, and I could feel my hope dwindling.

I couldn't help my quivering voice as I gripped tightly onto Glenn's hand opposite me. "When I woke up this morning, Carl was still asleep. I didn't even say goodbye." My words broke up in a whimper. "What if I don't get to say goodbye?"

I could feel Glenn's thumb brushing the back of my hand. "You won't need to say goodbye. We're gonna see them again, I promise." I knew he was thinking about Maggie right now, and all the things he would give to see her again.

I frowned when white light seeped through the cracks suddenly, the chorus of whistles bouncing around the metal frame. Something was happening outside, but I couldn't figure out what.

I wasn't confused for long as a moment later the back door swung open, my eyes squinting at the sudden brightness of dozens of car headlights. I couldn't do anything as Michonne was dragged out the van, my features dropping into a worried expression when Daryl was pulled out after, then Rosita.

I looked at Glenn once more as hands gripped my body, forcing me to let go of him as I was thrown to the ground. He soon followed with a thud against the dirt.

"Maggie?" My head snapped up at the sound of his scared voice, and I took in the fearful faces of the my family and friends, all kneeling in a line.

Abraham made himself as tall as he could, his straight and stoic face remaining. Maggie keeled over beside him, her short hair sticking to her forehead with sweat and her gaunt face twisted into one of pain. She looked so sick. Rick was in the middle, his eyes wide in a hopeless expression, his hands trembling as they sat against his knees. Sasha had a subtle glare in her eyes as she analysed the group surrounding us, taking in each of their faces. Aaron was surprisingly fearless, his eyes hard as he kept them firmly on the ground. Eugene sat at the end with tears running down his bruised and bloodied face, but my eyes finally met the person I hoped I wouldn't see.

Carl was looking right back at me and the panic on his face was well hidden, but I could see through it. It took everything in me not to leap up and go to him. I wanted to see him one last time, but not like this. What the hell were we doing here?

"All right! We got a full boat." A man addressed us, his eyes full of psychotic glee and a wide grin gracing his lips. "Let's meet the man."

He knocked on the door of the RV behind him, our RV, and stepped out the way as the door swung open.

"Pissing our pants yet?" The man stood in the shadows, but his voice carried authority as it hit my ears. "Boy, do I have a feeling we're getting close." He took long strides forward, the light hitting him and his baseball bat. The barbed wire gleamed as he held it over his shoulder.

He almost smirked as he scanned our faces. "Which one of you pricks is the leader?"

"It's this one." A hand was pointed at Rick, who's eyes flitted around with fear. I didn't like seeing him so scared.

The man with the bat stepped in front of Rick, his stern gaze watching him intently. "Hi. You're Rick, right? I'm Negan."

Negan? I thought Rick killed Negan.