REIGN | twd | carnid

C h a p t e r O n e

C a r l

Each step I take sends a rush of pain through my leg, but I continue walking as fast as I can. I ignore the clingy feeling of my sweaty clothes sticking to my body in an uncomfortable way. I try to control my rapid breathing, out of breath from running around.

I only have two more smoke bombs left. Then I can join the others in the tunnels. I'll be fine, I just have to get through this. I've been through harder things than this, I can do this.

"There! The kid!" A savior's hoarse voice calls out, catching my attention. I quickly turn around and see two of them readying their guns to fire at me.

Before they get the chance to aim their pistols, I launch one of the smoke bombs to the ground right in front of them, blocking their line of sight.

The men curse out, which was to be expected. What I didn't expect was for them to shoot regardless of them not being able to see.

"Argh!" I gasp, looking down to my side. Blood starts seeping through my shirt at a somewhat alarming pace. I grab my side, putting pressure on it to help control the bleeding, groaning out in excruciating pain.

Are you fucking kidding me? Getting shot in the chest wasn't enough? Neither was getting shot in the face and losing my eye. Third times a charm, I guess.

"Where is he?!"

My head shoots up, back in the direction the men were in.

I have to go.

I bite my lip and apply the most pressure I can with my right hand on the bullet wound, trying my best to not yell out in pain as I near the grate.

I look back over, confirming that the men have ran in the opposite direction, looking for me and buying me some time.

I kneel down and lift the heavy, rusty grate with my left hand, moving it aside on the grass.

Fuck. How am I going to climb down? I don't have time to wrap and compress the wound.

I take my hand away from my side, gasping at the cold air snipping at my bloodied side. It sends shivers up my back in the worst possible way.

I have to get out of here. I'm so close.

So close to seeing my friends again. from seeing Dad, Michonne, and Judy again. From seeing Enid again. I have to push through the pain.

I wipe my blood coated hand on my jeans and start to climb down the grate. Before I return the grate to its place, I release the last smoke bomb nearby, hopefully creating a distraction and hiding the grate.

I climb all the way down and am met with Tara and Daryl who are looking at me expectantly and worried. I nod to them, letting them know that everything is taken care of, before bending over and clutching my side once again.

"Fuck." I grit my teeth, applying more pressure to the bleeding wound, causing more pain.

"What the hell happened?!" Tara asks, her face dropping.

She and Daryl quickly rush to my sides and help me stand up straight to walk over and join the others.

"When did this happen?" Daryl asks, trying to assess the wound as we stumble, my leg providing little help.

"On my way here. They shot through the smoke." I explain briefly.

A soft light soon eliminates us as we join the others in the main tunnel. Rosita's eyes go wide once she sees us and she immediately gets up and turns to some of the others who were sitting against the wall.