follow you into the dark - carl grimes

VI

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vi.

come a little closer
"things aren't always what they seem to be"

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I have to take big, heavy steps as I trudge through the lessening layers of snow, that way Carl knows which way we're going.

He trails a few paces behind me, making a point to keep his distance.

We're both swaddled up, me in clothing I'd recovered from unfortunate past visitors and he in Negan's jacket. I cannot deny that it looks good on him, even with the oversized fit. We both carry packs, supplied with the last of the ramen noodles and extra layers. We had left the house in a haste, once Carl had made his mind up, there was no persuading him of anything else, not even to wait.  Especially since the winter season only gives us so many hours of usable daylight to travel in.

The house. The notion of leaving it almost feels wrong, but I don't speak it aloud. I promised Carl I will get him home, back to his sister.

Although, leaving the mountain does frighten me. I had not done so since the beginning. How different was the world now from when I left? I know so little and Carl will not be much help with guiding us.

I would like to say we are prepared for this journey, but, truly, I know that we're not.

My hope is we can be off this mountain before nightfall and find shelter before dark. It's all unnecessary for me, but traveling with this fragile human reminds me of the discrepancies between our needs being that he has many and I literally have none.

Fortunately, with snow, it keeps most of the dead at bay. Slows them down. You can hear them for miles, sloppily trying to get through it.

"You'll let me know if there are any walkers, right?" Carl inquires from behind me.

"Sure."

"What weapons do you have?"

Weapons? Am I supposed to have a weapon? I still have Negan's pocketknife, buried in my backpack somewhere. I hadn't really thought about taking the man's gun because 1.) I have no reason to use one and 2.) I have no idea how to use one. "I have a knife."

Carl is not pleased with this. "A knife? Are you at least good with it?"

"Yeah, that's why I brought it."

Our situation is clearly not a good one, but I try to tell myself it could be worse. I don't want to upset my traveling companion anymore than I already have, so I change the subject.

"Do you know how to get to Alexandria from Roanoke?"

"No. I just know the town by name." Then, "Which way are we going?"

"Back down to Roanoke." We're about an hour drive up the mountain, which means a several hour walk down. And then once off the mountain, the actual town itself of Roanoke is about an hour and a half of driving which adds up to another whole day of more walking. Fortunately, the farmland and subsequent structures at the mountain's base will give us some substantial options for housing for us to hunker down during the in between.

"Wait, why? If Negan thought going over the mountain would be a shortcut shouldn't we go down the other side? Wouldn't Alexandria be that way?"

Okay, here's why I thought Negan was stupid when Carl first told me about them taking the 'shortcut'... There is no shortcut. Devil's Pass doesn't pass through the mountain. It never did. They never finished the road. It stops only a few miles passed the house. It's just wildness after that but I'm not sure. I always got a dark, heavy feeling anytime I tried going out any further.