Search (Walking Dead/Carl Grimes Fanfiction)

Despair

The late afternoon sun reflected off the windows of Atlanta’s abandoned skyscrapers. A couple years previous they had been home to offices and apartments. People would live their working and private lives behind the glass of those windows as they went about their day to day routines. The buildings were empty shells. Artefacts belonging to a civilization that had long since disappeared. On street level, the roads that were once filled with busy traffic and the streets that were once filled with bustling crowds were now silent. The only crowds that wandered the streets were the undead. 

In the parking lot of Grady Memorial Hospital, a rare crowd of living people had gathered together. The only sound that filled the air around them was painful sobbing. Daryl stood in front of them with Beth’s lifeless form in his arms. Blood trickled out of her hair and splashed softly on the ground while Daryl’s tears splashed softly on her clothes. Maggie had collapsed to the floor sobbing with Glenn holding onto her in an attempt to comfort her. Carl was cuddled into Jason’s chest, his tears soaking the top of Jason’s shirt. Rick rubbed his son’s back as his own tears stung at his eyes. Michonne stood over them and though she didn’t cry all her warrior strength was gone from her face. Carol leaned against Tyreese as she struggled to stand with her injuries and the weakness of her legs that increased with each tear. 

Those who didn’t know Beth, such as Abraham and his group didn’t cry but maintained a respectful silence. They understood how important Beth had been to the group and how devastating her death was. They understood because each one of them had lost someone close to them before. The sun was starting to set in the sky as if it was being pushed down by the heavy emotions that consumed the air. 

“I don’t mean to be insensitive but it’s gonna be dark soon.” Abraham finally spoke up to break the silence. “So we need to move.”

“We need time to mourn.” Glenn retorted, looking up from hugging Maggie.

“I respect that but not in a city filled with the dead.” Abraham countered.

“I know a place.” Rick told them gruffly as he stood up. 

The others looked at him. None of them could think of where that place could be as they were homeless after the church had been overrun with walkers. Rick, despite the redness of his eyes, became a pillar of strength again and displayed his usual leader’s confidence. Nothing more needed to be said. The group would be split between the fire truck and the van and Rick would lead them to the place he knew. 

Jason gave Carl another tight hug before standing up, gently pulling the boy up onto his feet. Once he was on his feet his sobbing lessened but his gaze remained downward. Jason kept his arm wrapped round his younger lover as they headed for the fire truck. Abraham, Rosita, Tara, Michonne, Gabriel, Jason, Carl and the unconscious Eugene along with Judith got in the fire truck while Rick, Daryl, Maggie, Glenn, Tyreese, Carol and Noah got in the van with Beth’s body. 

Both engines roared to life with the van driven by Rick leading the way. In the back of the van Daryl continued to hold onto Beth’s body while Maggie sobbed against it. Her younger sister, the last living member of her family lay lifeless in front of her. If not for Glenn she would be alone in the world. Noah too was sobbing. He had attempted to sacrifice his freedom so that no one would get hurt but it had ended with Beth being killed. Though he would never mention it to anyone, he had grown to like Beth and had wanted to take things further. He would never have that chance. 

In the fire truck, Carl remained curled into Jason’s side with his face resting against Jason’s shoulder. Jason kept his arm wrapped around Carl with a couple fingers stroking his arm and side. He looked out the window as the dilapidated buildings and rotting corpses shot past. It didn’t take long for the buildings to stop passing by the window as they hit one of the highways that led into Atlanta. On the other side of the highway a constant river of abandoned cars filled the road, telling the tragic story of those who had tried to escape the city in the early days of the apocalypse.