Anything - Carl Grimes

xiv. The Prisoners Arrival

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The group impatiently gathered around Hershel's bed, waiting for Carol to try and stop the bleeding. Most members- well, everyone except Beth -found the chances of Hershel's survival small. Carmen knew it was a harsh truth. She wasn't stupid and wasn't trying to sugarcoat it. She didn't care if anyone said "Oh, you're so pessimistic" or "Be more positive" because that wasn't her. Carmen was never the one to try and make the situation seem better than it was. She knew Carol wasn't a real doctor. Hershel taught her a few things so she could help with Lori's baby when it's born. However, she isn't a surgeon.

No matter how disgusted and uncomfortable she felt looking at the cut-off leg, she couldn't pull her eyes away. She could see the bone and the veins and the muscle, making her nauseous. Sure, she had seen the blood, wounds, and cuts before but she had never seen a limb missing. She was scared it was over. Carmen didn't doubt it. Maybe they got rid of the bite but he bled out too much. She wonders who here has the same blood type as Hershel so perhaps they can find a way to give him their blood.

She was biting her lower lip and her nose burned- something that happens when she is about to cry. Carmen- being her usual self -isn't going to cry right now. Not in front of everyone. But she wishes they would let her go outside for some time so she'd cry it out without anyone knowing.

"What was that?" Beth asked and the group snapped their heads towards the cell doors once they heard multiple voices coming from outside. They knew there must be more survivors since the only people who weren't here were T-Dog and Daryl.

"Prisoners, survivors," Rick explained, making everyone panic. Carmen's eyes widened just slightly, not able to think positively about new people they might meet. They hadn't met any other survivors for all those months they were on the road and Carmen's paranoia didn't let her believe they could run into friendly ones.

"What?" Glenn gasped out. Carmen's attention was now fully turned to Rick as he spoke and tried to calm down the group, making her almost completely forget about Hershel dying on the bed in front of her. She tried to walk past Rick and Glenn since she was curious how the survivors looked but they both put their hands on her shoulders and pulled her back in the cell.

"It's alright," Rick assured the group, completely ignoring Carmen's annoyed face looking up at him. "Everybody stay put." Rick and Glenn both left the cell and Carmen turned back to look at Hershel. Carmen's eyes darted away from Hershel to Dottie, who was holding her hands on her neck, staring into nothingness. Her eyes were distant but also wide and fearful. She couldn't even look at Hershel or his leg.

The thought of Hershel dying was miserable and sorrowful. Hershel Greene is a dad to all. Dottie often looks at Hershel and sees a Dad she deserved when she was a little girl. He treats people with nothing but kindness and gentleness and this is what God gives him in return, Dottie thought. It's ironic and almost humorous how so many people died on the day of the outbreak, even ones who did no wrong in their lives while there are abusers, killers, and rapists, who still walk the planet Earth and are given a chance to survive.

Carmen felt a tap on her shoulder and once she turned her head behind, Carl pointed at the corner of the room. Matt was there and he didn't look well himself. Glenn and Carl both took a step back to give him space as they looked at Carmen to see if they could help in any way. Carmen looked at the other women in the room but everyone was occupied with helping Hershel or shaking in fear. Carmen looked back at Matt who was digging his heels in the ground to push himself impossibly into the wall as she held his ears, his fingers pulling hair.