The Last Resort (Sequel to The Last Hope)

8 - Safe & Sound

As Morgan and I cleared out the lower level of the building, the other group members figured out what was going on. By the time they reached us, there was nothing living but the actual humans. It took some time for the adults to process that a couple of kids had killed around 40 walkers without help from anyone else. There was murmuring, but no one said anything.

"Damn, Rick. Why did we let her leave the group?" I heard someone say from the back of the crowd. I laughed a bit and awkwardly held my hand out to Morgan. She had a confused expression, but shook my hand.

"I still don't like you." I assured, making sure she didn't think this brought us closer. She chuckled and nodded, agreeing with my statement.

It took me sometime to realize why everyone was staring at me. I was only in a t-shirt that was soaked with blood, holding Michonne's katana. The blade and handle were coated with nearly-dry blood, along with my hands and arms. I slowly gave the katana back to Michonne and gave her a small smile. She gave me a nod and started to scratch the blood off of her sword.

I was suddenly engulfed in a hug. I couldn't react, due to the fact I didn't know I would be hugged in the first place. I was being swung around like a ragdoll while someone kept whispering something in my ear. I couldn't hug back since they had their arms wrapped around my forearms and kept them at my side.

Whoever squeezed me quickly dropped me and fixed their clothing. There Carl was, smiling like a kid in a candy store. I could see tears on the outside of his eyes. He opened his mouth but closed it, and repeated this a few times. To me, he couldn't form words on his own but I didn't know that for sure. He could have been disappointed that I made it without a scratch, and hugged me to cover it up. People change after a year of not seeing someone.

"You actually made it..you made it.." Carl repeats, his eyes scanning me. Making sure there were no unneccessary marks, including bruises, scratches or bites. He then grabbed my forearms and pulled me to him again. Carl was going to squish me if he kept hugging me the way he has been.

"My only question is how did they even get in here. Each time I came up here, it was only me. It's like you guys attract trouble. Can't stay safe for one second," I shake my head and pick at the dried blood underneath my fingernails.

It was funny how comfortable I felt around these people, even though I was exposed from the waist down. I could feel everyone's eyes on me but I didn't really care. Half of the people here had already seen me in less than this, and the other half had the exact same parts.

"It's too early in the morning, why don't I take watch and you guys go back and sleep? It'll be a long day tomorrow." Rick pushed everyone back to their rooms and took his spot at the front entrance.

Since Carl and I had the room to ourselves, I put on some more clothing and sat at the end of the bed. I messed with the strings on the shorts I found in the drawers next to the bed. They were a bit too big, so I tied the strings into a small bow.

"I seen Brendan.." I hear Carl mumble. I look up at him and smile.

"And how is he?"

"Don't play that, El. You know exactly how he is. He's a prick who takes advantage of innocent women. Hopefully he burns in Hell for what he did."

"It wasn't his fault. I'll take the blame for it if this is what's going to happen to him. Consistently being patronized. He's...misunderstood-" I was interupted by the sound of shattering glass. The frame that once sat on the bedside table was now on the floor, broken into pieces.

"Don't you dare say that it's not his fault! You know good and well none of what happened have anything to do with you. You are not going to be at fault for being ra-" I hold up my hand to stop him from reminding me of earlier's nightmare and kneel down on the floor to pick up the glass before anyone stepped on it.