» Time Is Dancing « | » Carl Grimes «

» THE KEY «

Trust? I Forgot How To Spell It

Keeping watch was a good way of distracting myself, even when the job was mostly uneventful. I had been doing it pretty much every time I had a free moment, which happened to be a lot. Standing on the wooden ledge to get some peace and alone time, watching the sun rise and set in seemingly an hour. I never realised how long I had been up there until it suddenly got dark again. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be the case today.

"See anything?" I asked Rosita as I reached the watch post, the binoculars dropping from her narrowed eyes. She held them out towards me and I peered through them, seeing a green crate amongst the bushes. I couldn't stop my frown, sharing her look of concern.

"Maggie!" The woman herself was nearby, ears pricking up when I yelled for her. We needed her opinion on the suspicious behaviour.

She matched our expressions, silently stepping back down the ladder. Rosita shrugged at me before doing the same, and I had no other choice but to follow them. I guess today would be a busy one.

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"I don't know what the hell it is." Rosita exclaimed as she parked the van, my hands immediately rummaging through the crates in the trunk. My fingers brushed a sheet of paper, swirly handwriting scrawled to the edges. I passed it over to Maggie, watching her eyebrows furrowed in concentration.

"If you fill the crates with food or phonograph records, I will gladly exchange them for a key to your future." She read out, flipping it over to check for more information.

"Key to our future?" I raised my eyebrows in disbelief, scoffing lightly. "Sounds like bullshit."

Michonne scanned the page, her gaze thoughtful. "This isn't the Saviors."

"I don't care who it is, it's still bullshit." I muttered, my arms folding. We couldn't afford to help anyone else, I couldn't take the risk.

"What if...what if it's someone who actually wants to help?" Michonne suggested, her eyes hopeful.

Maggie bit her lip, her head shaking subtly. "If someone is trying to help us and we miss out, we miss out. If somebody's trying to kill us, we die."

"Maggie's right. We should stay here." Enid agreed, squinting in the sun.

Michonne didn't seem to sure about the decision, her features set in a determined expression. "I'll go. I'll see what's up."

"You go, I go." Rosita nodded, joining Michonne's side.

Michonne wanted to take the chance, wishing for some kind of reward. I pouted slightly in thought- she had been right about Alexandria, maybe she's right about this.

"I can't let you guys have all the fun." I sighed, tightening the strap of my sword across my chest.

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"Rosita, you and Belle go through the woods, come up from behind. We'll meet them up front. Be ready."

My feet bounced on the grassy ground as my fingers wrapped around my pistol, eyes focused in front. I watched Maggie discussing with the woman who left the crate, her inviting smile widening with every word. Flanking her were two other women, sunglasses and hats disguising their faces. All they had was a single van for transport.

Rosita nudged me with her elbow, her voice in a hushed whisper. "I heard...congrats." Her tone wasn't particularly joyful as she hinted at my stomach, sympathy in her gaze.

I suppressed the strong urge to roll my eyes, my voice bitter. "Does everyone know now?" I had only told a couple of people, and none of them were Rosita. Still, at least that would be one less uncomfortable and emotion confession.