The Dead World

Thirty Two ~ Hello Red

"We're getting close, get there by sundown" Daryl told his small group who nodded.

"Now we head through the woods" Rick nodded "We don't know who they are" the group of four took off into the woods coming to a fenced in place not long after.

"Spread out, watch for a while, see what we see. Get ready and we all stay close" Rick ordered the group who spread out slightly.

"You want to stick with me?" Rick asked Carl who was about to walk passed him.

"It's alright" Carl answered softly walking off the way Daryl had gone, Rick wished Carl hadn't seen him do what he had to Joe knowing it was a violent thing to watch but he didn't regret doing it.

Not after that man had pinned Carl and had started unbuckling his belt, it was that sound that had made Rick see red. After he heard that noise his memory became a blur, it wasn't until his mouth filled with thick hot blood that it started to come back.

"Why didn't you go with your dad?" Michonne asked the boy who came to her side but he stayed silent "When i told you about Andre you never asked how he died"

"I knew why" Carl answered watching where he stepped.

"Yeah but the how is important...We went to a refugee camp, Andre and my boyfriend Mike, that was Andre's father and our friend Terry were at the camp. It just got worse and worse, people were leaving, giving up but i didn't. I was coming back from a run saw that the fences were down. I heard the moans i knew it was over" Michonne had dropped to a whisper as Carl watched her closely.

"Mike and Terry were high when it happened, they were bit. They could've stopped it, could've killed them so i let them turn, made it so they couldn't bite or scratch. I tied chains around their necks, it was insane...It was sick. It felt like what i deserved, dragging them around so that i would always know...I found out that they kept me safe, they hid me, the walkers couldn't see me anymore i was just another monster. And i was...Me, i was gone for a long time" she smiled slightly watching Carl.

"But then Andrea brought me back, your dad and aunt brought me back...You did. I see how you've been looking at your dad, you don't have to be afraid of me, or him" she whispered and he looked up at her.

"He told me the other day that he was proud of me, that i was a good man...I'm not" Carl whispered back chuckling with not humor.

"Carl..." Michonne was cut off.

"I know more now, about what he wanted from me. I tried but i still have these thoughts...I'm not what he thinks i am, i'm just another monster too" Carl whispered sniffling, he wasn't scared of his father he wanted him to do what he did, he wanted his father to kill the man who had pinned him to the ground just like he wanted him to kill the Governor.

He was just as bad as them.

Rick watched from a distance as Michonne hugged Carl tightly while he dug a hole for their weapons bag, once the hole was big enough Rick buried it.

They all climbed the fence when it was clear all weapons drawn as they snuck through the building in front of them, seeing an old lady talking through a microphone, peering in they saw about a dozen people making signs the same that were on the tracks.

They all walked in "Hello" Rick said and the room fell silent as they all turned looking at the four in shock.

"Well, i bet Albert is on perimeter watch" A man making a sign started letting go of his brush he walked forward "You here to rob us?"

"No...We wanted to see you before you saw us" Rick answered walking forward.

"Makes sense, usually we do this where the tracks meet" the man cleared his throat smiling "Welcome to Terminus, i'm Gareth. Looks like you guys have been on the road for a good bit"