wait and bleed

five

following the tire tracks had been pointless as the dirt road harshly changed to cement.

numerous signs along the path screamed promises of sanctuary and safety ahead

it sounded promising but if the men who aggressively took sawyer were headed in that direction the pair would have to be weary. it was a long shot, but it was all they had on their search for the boy.

y/n's coughing hadn't subsided, and carl worried they'd attract a horde with how loud she was. not only did she constantly need to clear her lungs, but her footsteps were sloppy; anyone within twenty miles could hear them coming.

the skin around carl's nails were bloodied from him anxiously biting.

the sun had been replaced by the moon hours ago when they reached the gate claiming to be a safe haven.

"we should scope the area out" y/n mumbled placing her mask on her face, a desperate attempt at comfort.

"we can't see anything anyway there's hardly a point" carl sighed seemingly much smaller against the gate.

"hey you! what're you doing here?" a gruff voice asked startling the pair.

"saw the signs, looking for sanctuary" carl answered somewhat honestly.

"let them in, they're kids for christ sake" a woman appeared from the shadows, resting a hand on the man's shoulder.

"i never said i wasn't gonna" the man sighed lowering his weapon and knocking methodically on the gate.

"welcome to terminus!" the woman smiled at them both raising her arms and spinning around slowly as if to show off the whole sanctuary. carl's eyebrow rose in suspicion, a flicker of doubt crossing his features that mirrored y/n's own unease.

the inside seemed promising, little buildings rested inside the safety of the gates. it was dark but a few people sat around campfires toasting something on a stick.

"what are your names?" the woman asked smiling widely, "oh i'm being rude, my name's michelle! now please tell me yours!"

"i'm carl, this is y/n" carl introduced the both of them. "oh! i just love having new visitors! and aren't you both so small! goodness you must be quite the pair surviving all by yourselves out there" michelle cooed.

her hair was a shiny blonde, she had curls that bounced when she talked. she was clean, meaning a way to shower. y/n hoped the woman would offer them one.

"well i'd give you a tour but it is quiet hours so unfortunately you're going to have to wait till tomorrow morning." michelle explained as she walked ahead."why don't we get ya'll settled for bed you must be beat!" 

her smile was wide across her face as she beckoned them to follow.

"the guard you met that was terry, he seems all mean but he is just the sweetest! we have a guard every night during quiet hours to keep out the dead"

carl grabbed y/n's wrist as they walked behind the woman. she seemed to be a young adult; it was weird seeing someone so cheery.

"hi guys! these are our new guests y/n and carl!" michelle waved at the people around the fire.

"welcome folks!" someone yelled while the others waved or nodded in acknowledgment. though a man stood and walked towards them. he was tall and serious unlike the majority of people who resided here.

"i hope this doesn't come off as rude but why do you wear that mask honey? i'd love to see your beautiful face," he asked. his voice was low, almost a growl.

"alex! that is so rude!" michelle scolded. "it's just a question michelle, we have a right to ask em'," another woman followed behind the man named alex.

"she's got a cold, don't want her spreadin' it" carl answered, his eyes narrowing at the number of people surrounding them.

"thank you michelle but we've got it from here" the unnamed woman shooed michelle away. she left without saying a word looking like a hurt puppy.

"yikes... a cold, we're going to have to put you in a secluded room tonight. you know, contamination reasons." alex tsked.

"i'm going to need your weapons, sugar. safety precautions,  you understand," the woman smiled.

"honestly, we were just walking by, we don't need a place to stay; we'll be on our way" carl grabbed y/n's hand, pulling the girl behind him.

"oh but it'd be so rude of us if we sent you out now. it's dark out, there's monsters out there" alex warned, "all we need is your weapons, you'll get them back tomorrow morning."

"we're okay, thank you; we really appreciate it but our group will be looking for us." carl smiled and began walking back from where they had entered.

"kids are so stubborn" the woman sighed before looking at alex. "gareth!" a man got up from his seat by the fire.

"don't make this any harder than it needs to be" the man, y/n assumed to be gareth, said.

"run" carl whispered in her ear before pushing her away and reaching for his gun.

instead of running y/n turned and managed to grab her knife burying it the man's side before being grabbed from behind.

"bitch!" he wailed, grabbing his side and kicking the back of her knee. it happened so quickly she didn't even register the pain in her knee before she was pinned to the ground. 

"take them to holding! we'll deal with them tomorrow." gareth ordered. the two were dragged away from the entrance. 

y/n struggled, attempting to kick her captor and bite his hands. the man said nothing, but it was evident her attempts were pointless; he remained unaffected. 

the sound of a heavy metal door was all she heard before being stripped of everything she owned. her gun, mask, and anything else they thought was necessary were taken. her knife was still in gareth's side. 

the door slammed shut, leaving the two in complete darkness.