Anything - Carl Grimes

xvi. Partly orphans

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Adults of the group had already started clearing out their side of the prison. Dottie started making supply run plans and had three arguments with T-Dog and Daryl before 10 AM. She feels the need to help and go on those runs while T-Dog and Daryl are trying to get her to stay. Both for her sake and the sake of Carmen and Matt, who were sitting on the basketball court.

Matt was playing with his car toys and driving them around the path Carmen carved out with her knife. She walked around the court, trying to make a real road for Matt to drive on. The weather was really hot today and Carmen used Dottie's pink and green scarf to make Matt a cover for his head.

The doors of the prison opened when Lori, Beth, and Carl walked out, helping Hershel go down the stairs. Carmen stood up and ran over to the stairs. "Are you okay?" She asked, holding the metal railing.

"As good as new." Hershel chuckled, making Carmen smile slightly as they left the stairs.

"You cleared all those bodies out?" He asked and Carmen started following the four of them.

"It's starting to look like a place we could really live in."

"Hey, you watch your step." Lori reminded him as she put one of her hands on the back of her hips and the other one on Carmen's shoulder. "Last thing we need is you fallin'."

"All right, Hershel!" They heard Glenn cheer from afar.

"You're doing great, Daddy." Beth grinned at him and the whole group was very proud of Hershel. Carmen found Hershel fascinating and stronger than he looked for just waking up yesterday and already being able to walk.

"Ready to race, Hershel?" Carl asked, making Carmen's lips twitch in a smile.

"Give me another day. I'll take you on." Hershel playfully challenged, making Carl chuckle. Carmen looked up at Hershel, smiling genuinely and squinting her eyes a little since the sun irritated her eyes. Hershel smiled back down at her before Carl interrupted the moment.

"Walkers! Look out!" Carmen turned around and saw a group of Walkers walking towards them, their smell and growling filling up her nose and ears. She froze for a moment, her mouth making a small gap as she stared at them. The gunshots took her out of her trance and her head snapped towards the basketball court. Matt was still there, looking at his toy car. The Walkers were all around him, about to launch at him.

She sprinted towards him, taking out her gun and slowing down so she could kill the Walkers. She pointed the gun at them, her hands shaking slightly as the Walkers were not far but a few feet away from her. She shot three Walkers that were closest before crouching down to Matt. She took his hand and toys and noticed that most of the group was gone by now, but Carol, T-Dog, and Dottie were killing the Walkers off. "Carmen, get away!" Dottie screamed at her.

Carmen took Matt's hand and started running, basically dragging Matt with her. She ran inside one of the doors, not even sure where they led. At first, it seemed like the hallway was empty but another group of Walkers got out. She screamed, pulling Matt behind her as she shot the Walkers. She missed one of them and he got almost completely in front of her but she shot him again.

Once every Walker was on the floor, she started running again, holding Matt's hand tightly. She ran through the halls, now completely lost. She tried to find a way back to their cell block or to find someone from the group but she didn't succeed. She opened one of the doors, only to be met with two Walkers. She raised her gun and killed one of them. But when she tried to kill the other one, she failed since she didn't have any more bullets.

She had to think fast but she couldn't run away because she heard more growling from both sides of them. Her eyes teared up as she launched at Walker, knocking both of them down. She raised her gun and hit his head multiple times before it died. She took Matt's hand and dragged him into the room, closing the door behind them. Matt was screaming and crying at this point and Carmen was covered in blood.