Alone Together - Carl Grimes

JSS

     The sun was beating down on Annalise's dark hair as she walked through the streets of Alexandria. The days inside Alexandria passed differently than she was used to. Slower. Annalise had grown used to the fast pace that came with being on the outside. Annalise had been fighting this inner battle with herself from the moment they arrived at Alexandria. 

Was it that she didn't fit in with either the teenagers or the adults? Possibly, but Annalise found herself growing closer to Ron she still wondered why this feeling lingered. " Annalise? " The calling of her name brought her out of her thoughts. For a moment Annalise forgot she was with Carl and Judith, walking through the streets of Alexandria. There was a silence that had set between them, allowing Annalise gets lost in her thoughts. 

" Yeah? Sorry, I got distracted. " She responded shaking her head as she looked at the pavement below her. " By what? " Curiosity lingered through Carl's voice, with his head looking around, wondering what distracted the girl. " I don't know, sometimes I think it all just gets too much. Domestic life doesn't seem real. " Annalise reveals, shrugging her shoulders as they walk through the streets. 

Carl nodded his head, having felt a similar feeling throughout their stay. " Feels fragile right? " He asks, earning a nod from Annalise. " Like one day it'll all be gone just like that. " Carl looked at Judith while he said this. He always wanted what was best for her, which was so hard to obtain while in a world like this. 

Before either could replay, Carl noticed two figures coming into view. Annalise looked back up at Carl then followed his gaze. Now both were looking at Ron and Enid sitting next to each other, looking out on Alexandria. Neither Carl nor Annalise said anything about the sight in front of them. Annalise felt a small pit growing in her stomach, but not because Carl was looking at Enid, or because Ron was sitting with the girl, but because this situation seemed so childish. 

Annalise and Carl had gotten used to wondering if they would be alive the next day. Used to wondering when the next time they would eat would be. Not wondering why the two teenagers in front of them were sitting together. 

Judith let out a sound that caused Carl and Annalise to look away. This letting both of them know that the other was in fact looking. The two looked away, both trying to hide the fact they were staring. " Carl. " They turned around at the calling of his name, being met with Gabriel looking back at the two of them. Annalise wanted nothing to do with this situation and turned towards Carl. 

" I'll let you two talk, I'll see you back at the house Carl. " Annalise turned away from the two, and her eyes immediately fell on Enid and Ron. Shaking her head Annalise walked away from the scene, listening to Gabriel and Carl's voices grow more distant. Walking through the streets of Alexandria alone, Annalise looked around, noticing in the distance Maggie with Deanna. 

Annalise opened her mouth to call for Maggie, but before the name could leave her mouth a scream came from inside the Alexandria. The young girl tensed up and started running towards Maggie. " Maggie? " Annalise called out, watching Maggie snap her head towards her. Maggie opened her arms, quickly taking Annalise inside them. " What happened? Are you okay? " She asked, checking the girl for wounds. 

Nodding her head, Annalise looked around, trying to find any sign of Carl. " Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. What was that?" She asked, being more confused than anything, wondering where the screaming came from. Maggie shook her head, her eyes now following Deanna as she walked in front of them. " I don't know. " She answered honestly. 

" Richard? " Deanna called out, looking up at the man who was taking watch. But before he could give any answer he let out his own scream as a ball of fire seemingly came out of nowhere, trapping him in the tower. Quickly after another one came, this time hitting Richard and engulfing him in flames.