There is no cure (Carl Grimes)

Chapter 27

Three Months Later:

My insides turn, as I wake up. The room is painted a light blue. The fan above me spins in continuous circles. I turn to my right; Carl is lying beside me, his mouth slightly open, drool drizzling down his chin, and cheeks flushed. I allow my eyes to fall farther; his chest is bare, and he's only in boxers. I wipe the slight drool from his mouth. His eyes flutter open. I give him a small grin. He smirks, and turns to lie on his back.

"How long have you been up?" He asks, barely above a whisper. His voice deep, and raspy.

"Not long," I whisper. He stands to his feet, and helps me make our bed. His long hair is tangled in the back, and in different directions.

"Today's the first run," he says, as he folds the blanket back.

"I know," I say. I walk into the closet, and pull on a pair leggings, and a new t-shirt. It hangs over my stomach, and dips low in my chest.

"That's my shirt," Carl clears his throat.

"Makes sense," I say, and rip it off. I throw it to him. I walk through the closet in my sports bra, and leggings. I throw on a different shirt, and tighten my shoes. I rip off the bandage from yesterday.

"Still testing?" He sighs, and I nod.

"She's just mad, because her damn husband died. She doesn't know what it's like out there!" I nearly shout. He places his hands on my shoulders, and I slowly calm down.

"Mary, you'll be fine. Just a little blood," he says. I roll my eyes, and grab a bag. He trails behind me, as I walk down the steps. Daryl, Rick, and Glenn are waiting down stairs.

"Ready?" Glenn asks, and I nod.

"Be careful," Rick and Daryl say.

"I'll watch him," I smirk, and grab his hand. Glenn leads out to his car. Glenn, Tara, Morgan, Carl, and I get into the truck. Morgan is new, he came last month.

"Hey," I nod to Morgan, and he nods with a smile on his face. Carl shot him a few years back. Turns out he's the man that saved Rick.

My heart beats against my chest, as the gates open up. I hold onto my crossbow, and Carl's hand.

"You think Enid is okay?" He asks.

"I don't know, Carl," I whisper. Enid's gone. She never came back. I knew she ran out there, but why wouldn't she come back. She's probably dead, but we got close. Ron isn't taking it well. She was teaching him how to use a gun, and now Carl is helping him.

"Try not to use your guns," Glenn says. We all nod, as Glenn goes through the rules.

"Tara, how's your head. Are you sure you don't want to stay in here?" I ask. She went on a run a month ago, hurt her head really bad, and Noah. He died.

"I'll be fine," she says.

"Haven't cleared this out," Morgan points to the houses. We stop, and stare at the deserted road.

"Stick together," Glenn says. We all rush into the house weapons up, and ready for combat. The house was clear, or so we thought. Carl was clearing the downstairs with Tara, and Glenn, as Morgan and I got the top.

"You can really pull that thing back?" He asks. I pull the sting back, and load the arrow. He nods impressed. I look at the long stick he holds in his hand.

"Why the stick?" I ask. It was a strange weapon. I throw random pills in my bag, and anything useful. I remember Jessie telling me she wanted textbooks to start the "school" back up again. I grab the Biology textbook, and throw it in the duffle bag.

"It's light, does damage," he shrugs, as he looks for something to put in his bag. Then, I hear it. The light sound of footsteps are clear. Morgan nods, and we both open the door. I lift my gun up this time; my crossbow hanging on my side. Morgan moves out of the way, and I see the man. His back is turned to us.

"Don't shoot," the man says. The voice is so familiar. I want to cringe at the sound. He turns around, and I meet the man face to face. Old me would run, and scream. I can hear her in the back screaming, and running behind Carl. I face him head on, my gun raised at him. The green eyes are dull, just like before. His face is drained, and he has a beard. I look at the floor, and see beers surrounding him. Don't show him you're scared. Keep your gun up. He hurt you. He beat you till you were black and blue. He gave you scars! He almost raped you. I shudder at the last thought. You're not afraid. You're beyond angry. I thought Merle killed him!

"Mary? Mary Anne Dixon?" He calls his eyes turning softer.

"Don't," I hiss. My gun is still up.

"We're not going to hurt you," Morgan says mostly demanding me not to hurt him.

"He hurt me," I say my jaw tense.

"We have a-" Morgan starts.

"No. He needs to stay here," I say. Anger rushing through my tense body.

"Mary! Morgan!" I hear Carl yell for us, and his footsteps get louder.

"Stay there, Carl," I barely say between my clenched teeth.

"Carl, is that your boyfriend?" He asks.

"Shut up! You fuckin' bastard!" I shout.

"Mary?" Carl makes his way past Morgan.

"Mary who is that?" Glenn asks from behind me.

"That's my father," I hiss. "The one who hurt me, the one who gave me scars, the one who beat me till I was black and blue!" I nearly scream.

"I'm so sorry, baby," I cringe.

"Don't call me that!" I scream. The gun shakes in my hand. Carl runs up to him, and punches him in the face. Morgan rips Carl off him.

"Every life is worth something," Morgan says. "He made a mistake," he says holding Carl. The man wipes the blood from his mouth, and nose.

"You don't know what he did to her! You haven't seen her scars!" He shouts at Morgan. Carl moved towards me ripping my shirt up revealing the horrid whip marks. I close my eyes, as the memories spread in my mind. Tears gather in my mind.

"Mary I'm sorry," he steps closer, but Carl pushes him back. My gun is aimed at him head.

"I thought Merle killed you," I tell him.

"I was knocked out, and the biters were outside, and I ran away," he says. He's the coward. He's the bastard. He's the bitch. I can smell the alcohol on his breath, and the smoke in the room.

"You haven't changed! How did you survive?! God, if Merle were here he'd pull the trigger!" I shout.

"Mary," Morgan warns me. He takes the gun away from my hands.

"Not all life is precious, Morgan! Especially not his!" I shout giving him a death glare. Tears fall from my eyes. My fist slams the door, hard. My whole hand aches terribly, but I ignore it, and run out to the car. I get in the car, and wait. Tears frequently fall down my face, as I tug on my roots. I scream at the top of my lungs. I hear another car, and I watch as Morgan gets in it and drives with that man.