Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Rick Grimes) (#Wattys2024)

Blood, sweat and tear

As night descended upon us, the forest seemed to come alive with the chorus of nature. The frogs croaked loudly, and the crickets chirped, filling the air with an eerie backdrop to our already tense situation. Glenn and Theodore stepped out of the car, their movements cautious as they surveyed our surroundings. I joined them, hopping out of the truck and scanning the area for any sign of life.

It was unnerving to arrive at the farm with no one outside to greet us, especially considering the circumstances. We had no idea who the Green family was or what to expect. All we knew was that a mysterious woman had brought Lori here, claiming that Rick had sent her. But without any confirmation from the supposed residents of the farm, doubt gnawed at the edges of my mind.

"Lori should be here, right?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper as I glanced around anxiously. Glenn shrugged, his expression mirroring my uncertainty. "I don't know, Krystal. This whole situation feels off," he admitted, his voice tinged with concern.

Theodore, still nursing his wounds, grimaced as he surveyed the farmhouse in the distance. "I don't like the look of this," he muttered, his tone grim.

I nodded in agreement, my senses on high alert as I scanned the area for any signs of movement. "Let's stay together and approach cautiously," I suggested, my voice firm with resolve. "We need to figure out what's going on before we make any decisions."

With that, we moved forward as a group, our footsteps echoing softly against the ground as we approached the farmhouse. Each creak of the floorboards seemed to reverberate through the silence, amplifying the tension that hung heavy in the air.

As we reached the front door, I hesitated, my hand hovering uncertainly over the doorknob. "Should we knock?" I asked, my voice barely audible above the chorus of insects.

Glenn glanced at me, his expression conflicted. "I don't know, Krystal. What if whoever lives here isn't friendly?" he whispered, his voice tight with apprehension.

Theodore spoke up from beside me. "We have no choice but to try," he reasoned, his tone resigned. "We need to find out if Lori's here and what's going on."

With a deep breath, I reached out and grasped the doorknob, my heart pounding in my chest as I pushed the door open slowly. The hinges creaked in protest, echoing through the stillness of the night as we stepped cautiously into the unknown.

I was about to step up on the porch when I noticed the drops of blood staining the wooden steps. My breath caught in my throat as the realization hit me—this was Carl's blood. The sight sent a shiver down my spine, and I exchanged a worried glance with Glenn.

"So, do we ring the bell? It looks like people live here," Glenn suggested, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he eyed the farmhouse cautiously.

I hesitated, torn between the urgency of finding help for Theodore and the fear of what we might find behind that door. But before I could respond, I noticed Theodore swaying on his feet, his eyes drooping with exhaustion.

Concerned, I hurried over to him, placing a steadying hand on his arm to keep him balanced. "Hey, Theodore, you okay?" I asked softly, my voice laced with concern as I tried to keep him awake.

Theodore blinked blearily, his gaze unfocused as he struggled to stay awake. "Yeah, just tired," he mumbled, his words slurred with fatigue.

I shot Glenn a worried look, silently conveying my concern for Theodore's well-being. "We need to get him inside," I stated firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument as I guided Theodore toward the farmhouse door.

Glenn stepped up behind us, his presence offering a sense of reassurance in the tense moment. Suddenly, a woman's voice broke through the silence, asking if we had closed the gate up the road when we drove in. The question caught me off guard, and I nearly stumbled backward with Theodore, my grip on him tightening instinctively.