𝒫𝒾𝒸𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 𝒫𝑒𝓇𝒻𝑒𝒸𝓉 ~THE WALKING DEAD~

The Deer - 12

It's the next day I managed to get a few hours of sleep but my arm was making it difficult. I am distracted from my thoughts as my dad calls us all over. "Everybody takes a weapon" he says, I look at the handheld weapons sprawled across the car hood. I grab one that looks like my knife but bigger and it has a hooked Edge to it. Then Andrea starts complaining about the guns again but honestly I agree with uncle Shane on this one , people who don't know how to shoot a gun shouldn't have one. It's just an accident waiting to happen.

I see my family talking to Dale and I walk over Tommy following close behind me . I hear the last bit of their conversation "Look after Elodie and Carl for me" my dad says. I shake my head and speak up making my presence known " I'm coming with you" I say to my dad "And so am I" Carl joins in.Then Tommy turns to me "Babe I don't think you should , your arm..." I cut him off "I wasn't asking you" I say with annoyance and Carl sniggers at this but stops when Tom gives him and me a glare before walking away or should I say stomping away.

I turn to my parents who obviously aren't convinced "you need people ,right? To cover as much ground as possible. Besides my arm is fine it's all stitched up and I can barley feel it" ok that last bit may have been a lie but I really want to go , I want to feel like I am helping. My dad turns to my mom "your call I can't always be the bad guy" she says back. "Well they have all of you to look after them , I'd say they are in good hands." Dale says and I send him a smile.

I give my Dad one more pleading look to hopefully convince him , he sighs "Okay , but always within our sights both of you no exceptions" he says ruffling our hair and I swat his hand away with a laugh. Once they both walked away me and Carl give each other a not so subtle high five.

The whole group except Dale and T-dog ,who also hurt his arm, head into the woods to search for Sophia. Me and Carl are walking by Shane , Carl excitedly shows his knife to him before speaking " Shane look, me and El both got cool weapons now and mom said as long as.." he is cut off by Shane "Keep it down , we're looking for Sophia." He replies coldly , I frown seeing Carl instantly deflate and walk over to mom.

I turn to face Shane "What's up with you ? Why are you acting so rude" I say to him , he scoffs before replying "Ask your mother" then he walks away before I get the chance to question him. Why would I need to ask mom?

We end up finding a camping tent as my dad motions for us all to get down "She could be in there" Shane says then daryl replies " Could be a whole bunch of things in there".
We stay back as Shane, Daryl and Dad go check it out. We then come over as Carol calls out Sophia's name but there is no response , Daryl opens the tent and goes inside while Shane and Dad start coughing and gaging. Whatever's in there is probably dead and decaying.

"It ain't her" Daryl says , "What's in there" Carol asks. "Some guy , did what Jenner said opted out" the conversation it stopped by the sound of distant church bells. We all start running in the direction of the sound , I really hope it's Sophia.

We finally reach the destination of the sound and we find a real graveyard this time as well as a white church. "This can't be it , there is no steeple no bells" Shane says and my hope immediately disperses. We go get a closer look anyways , once we reach the big wooden red door. We all go inside but we only find three walkers and no Sophia , once they killed the walkers we hear the same bell sound again and run outside. It's just a recorded sound that was on a timer and the whole groups mood deflates again.

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After waiting at the church for a while we are all sat outside as I see my dad and Shane talking before they come over to the group "y'all gonna follow the creek bed back. Daryl , you're in charge. Me and Rick we're just going to hang back , search this area another hour or so just be thorough". Daryl intervenes "You're splitting us up . You sure?"
Shane replies " yeah , we'll catch up to you".

"I want to stay too, I'm her friend" Carl says and I look down at him "I will too" I say confidently. My mom turns to us both " you two just be careful ok?", " we will". My dad gives my mom a kiss goodbye before Tommy comes over to me. "Elodie , I don't know how I feel about not going with you" I grab his hand "I'll be fine , I'm with my dad and uncle Shane" I assure him. He nods before giving me a kiss then walking away with the others.

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We hear the snap of branches as we slowly approach the sound , a deer walks into the clearing . It's so beautiful it stands on its high legs as it's antlers reflect the sunlight. Me and Carl walk closer to it very cautiously as we don't want to scare it . I've never even seen an alive deer before let alone be this close to one, a smile reaches mine and carls faces as we enter within touching distance of the majestic creature.

Our moment of pure content is stopped as the sound of a singular gun shot is heard I flinch as I see the deers body slamming to the ground I turn to Carl to see him also on the ground unconscious with a bullet wound. "No no no, Carl" I get down to him as my dad and Shane run over ,us all crowding round Carl. I let out a cry as I look up to my dad "what do we do ?!" I shout through my tears as I clutch onto my little brother's hand.