» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

» MERCY PT.1 «

Sickness Is Not A Nice Wake Up Call

I groaned from where I knelt on the bathroom floor, the tiles chilling my legs as they curled beneath me. Another sudden wave of nausea started in my stomach, making its way into my throat and eventually into the toilet bowl as I gasped for air. My numb fingers fumbled for the chain, pulling it down as hard as I could as vomit swirled down the drain, disappearing from sight.

I pressed my palms into my eyes, trying to shake off the sickly feeling when the door quietly opened, a glass of water clinking on the ground beside me.

"You can stay behind if you want." Carl offered, leaning against the door frame. I gulped down cool water to try and get rid of the sour taste in my mouth, my eyes blinking open in the harsh white light.

I shook my head quickly, letting out a breath. "I'm fine now. It's just nerves." I lied, getting to my feet. He frowned at my weak tone but didn't mention it, allowing me to shower and get dressed.

We may have won the battle, but we still needed to win the war with the Saviors. And today, me and Carl were doing our part.

Rick had alerted us of the enemy guards dotted on paths and roads all around the community, and taking them out was the first step to infiltrating the Sanctuary.

"You got the map?" I asked Carl as he shut his van door, twisting the key as it rumbled to life.

"Do we need one?" He wondered, putting his foot down on the gas gently, the wheels spinning through the gate.

I rolled my eyes, reaching into the glove box and rummaging around. Sure enough, there was a worn booklet inside, filled with maps and locations of the state. "Can't afford to get lost." I scanned my eyes over the thin lines and place names, my finger skimming a particular circle not far from where we were.

"Two lefts, then straight on. You should see a library." I instructed him, seeing his reluctant nod of acknowledgment. The map had many other circles in various locations, indicating where the Saviors were waiting.

"It's almost over now." Carl muttered, his hard gaze on the empty road in front of us. His lips were pursed together in a line of concern. I gave him a small nudge as if to say 'what's wrong?', my eyebrows creasing as he avoided my eyes.

"You-...I don't want you to get hurt. I'm worried about you." He said quietly, his voice laced with distress. We both knew that anything could happen today, or tomorrow, but I would do anything to prevent it from being bad.

"You don't need to be." I comforted him, a soft look in my eyes. I didn't want to die either, especially not now. "We're here."

I could see the library on the next street over, no Saviors in sight. Carl stopped the van with a shudder, grabbing his gun and checking it was loaded before shoving it in the holster. "I think I should handle it." He sighed.

I shook my head, strapping my sword onto my back and hopping out the van after him. "I came out here for a reason. We both did." I didn't give him any time to protest as I snuck to the back of the building, my blade raised in front of my face as I peeked around the corner.

"-quiet over here. I'll call back in an hour." I heard the unfamiliar voice from the steps first, finally setting my eyes on a single man, walkie in one hand and a gun in the other. He had his back to us as he clicked the button off, securing the radio on his belt.

I made eye contact with Carl briefly, watching him level his gun with his eye from the other side of the building. His finger brushed around the trigger, hesitation evident in his gestures. I bit my lip hard, impatient coursing through my veins as I took silent, delicate steps towards the Savior, killing him with a swift movement of my sword through his back, twisting it hardly for good measure.