Our Shadows (Carl Grimes/The Walking Dead)

Chapter 14: Lost

The blanket was torn off of Carl and I, allowing cold air to wrap around my body. I opened my eyes to see Glenn in a panic. "What's wrong?" I asked sleepily.

"It's Hershel, he's gone" Glenn exclaimed.

I stood up fast along with Carl, "What?! What do you mean he's gone?!" Carl asked.

"I went to go check on him but I can't find him anywhere" Glenn said.

"Get your stuff together, where leaving to find Hershel" Rick ordered as he bursted through the tent. I nodded and quickly grabbed my holster, checking my gun to find six new bullets already loaded. Glenn and Rick left our tent to start a vehicle.

"That's strange, I don't remember loading my gun yesterday" I mumbled to myself.

"That's because I did, I thought you might want to use your gun rather than another rifle" Carl shrugged. I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. In seconds we were in a vehicle with Glenn and Rick, heading towards town.

I squinted my eyes through the darkness that settled over the abandoned city. The sun was still hiding beneath the horizon, it was still night. I could tell by the drooping of my eyes I had only gotten a couple hours of sleep before being rudely awaken by Glenn. Even though it was night, I could barley see the outline of each building. Not a walker let alone Hershel in sight. "This is hopeless, are you sure Hershel went this way?" I complained.

Glenn sighed, "Maggie mentioned her father mumbling about no liquor in the house and the only place he could really run off to is down town"

"Even if he was in town, It'd take us all night to find him in a place like this" Carl said.

"How about we start at the bar?" I pointed to a small building with a small flickering light, the only light in town. Rick parked the car right then and there. We gathered out of the car and towards the bar. I held my pistol tight in my grip, looking down the streets. A small anxious feeling bubbled in the pit of my stomach.

"The door's locked" Rick said frustratingly as his efforts to pull the doors open were useless. I looked down the other street, the moonlight outlined a small figure from the distance. The way it walked, dragging its lifeless leg across the pavement. Walker.

"Hurry up Rick, we got a walker on our tail" I whispered, keeping my gaze locked on the limping body.

Rick followed my gaze before ramming his body into the door. My hands shook from fear as I watched hopelessly. Another walker joined from around the corner, as did another. It was only seconds before six walkers limped hastily after us from far down the street. "Dad, they're coming. Never mind Hershel, we need to leave. Now" Carl ordered.

The door swung open as Rick's body weight pounded against it. All four of us ran inside, shutting the door behind us in one swift movement. I let my heavy breath escape with relief. "That was close" Glenn said.

In the dark shadows of the bar, a familiar figure sat hunched over the counter. I joined beside him. Hershel poured another glass of alcohol, chugging it down his throat. "I'm sorry Hershel" I said.

I knew how it felt to lose someone you loved, everyone does. The fact that he lost his wife twice made it hard for him.

"Beth needs you, she's in shock" Rick said. Hershel poured another drink. "Your daughters need you, come back with us. We can sort things out"

"My daughters don't need me, they can perfectly take care of themselves" Hershel mumbled, gulping down another shot.

"Yes, they can but they still need their father. I know how you feel, everyone here knows how you feel. It's at times like these we need to forget and move on" Rick said. Hershel threw the shot glass at the wall, shattering shards of glass on the floor.