The Mini Badass

Chapter 33

Our walk was quiet, painfully quiet. Our trio eventually reached a patio, chairs still lining the wooden deck. 

Carl and Michonne went up to the dusted glass door, wiping away the dust to look inside. I stayed back making sure nothing snuck up on us.

Carl bumps into me and I jump back looking to Michonne who's fine. She glares at the boy beside me who scoffs and starts walking off. 

"You think I was gonna let you go in there?" Michonne asks, following after him. "I just think it's none of you business." He tells her, stopping and turning to face her. "You don't know me. You don't know Ains, you don't know my dad."

"I came out here to help." She cuts him off, stepping closer and towering over him. "You came out here for common interest." He all but shouts at her. "We have the same enemy and the same problem."

"That's why you're here. That's it." Carl continues and I join his side. "This is important. I'm doing this."

"And I know how. You can't stop us."

"I can't stop you." Michonne says after a beat of silent glaring. "But you can't stop me from helping you."

Michonne's planned to get us into the cafe instilled the help of the mice traps Morgan has. We each place a cage onto a skateboard after breaking apart that trap too.

Carl pushed his contraption in first, then me, then Michonne. The walkers inside slowly moving towards the mice. The mice squeak in fear as the walker's grab the cages, trying to reach the living thing inside.

Michonne pushes me and Carl inside, covering our backs. The three of us quietly sneak towards the back of the room, stopping besides the bar.

Carl climbs on the counter, reaching up towards a framed photo. He slowly brings the picture down.

A hand on his leg makes him jump. I steady the boy as Michonne sticks her sword through the walkers head. She quietly takes her sword out and we all move to leave.

A mouse runs along, making it's way towards us bringing walkers with it. Michonne grabs my shoulder along with Carl's pushing us behind her.

We all move for the backdoor but walkers coming out of the kitchen makes us change course again.

With no other choice we move towards the dining area. Flipping tables over to buy us a little time, it doesn't work very well, the walkers closing in on us.

I reach the front door, dragging Carl out with me and Michonne following and closing the door. "No." Carl says, having dropped his photo. "I've got to go back in." 

"Where is it?" Michonne asks him as I take a few deep breaths. "We have to go back. I have to." Carl says and I shake my head. "Carl, no-"

"It's the only one left." He yells at me before turning back to Michonne. The woman doesn't say anything and Carl scoffs. "Fine." He says, going to open the front door.

"Not like this." Michonne stops him, holding him back from the door. "I don't know you, either of you. I get that." She tells us both, gently shoving Carl back. "But can you do something for me?"

"Wait here."

Carl put up a bit of a fight but caved. Michonne ran around back leaving me and Carl alone to hold the door.

She quickly came back holding the frame in her hand and something behind her back. Michonne hands Carl the photo making the boy smile at it, then at her.

"I just, I just thought Judith should- should know what her mom looked like." He tells her, still sporting his smile. "Thank you."

"Well um, let's go please." I say, walkers still banging on the door behind me. "I was gonna go back in anyway." Michonne says when we start walking again.