THE REASON, twdg s2 fanfic

[ 005 ] new rules

V. THE REASON

[ CHAPTER FIVE ]

As soon as Nick set Eden down, he slammed the door shut and bolted it. "Guys!" he called out again, his voice frantic. Caroline and Luke rushed in from the living room, their faces pale with concern.

"What happened?" Luke asked, eyes darting between Nick and Eden.

"They're still out there!" Eden sobbed uncontrollably, tears streaming down her face. "Clem and Pete... They're surrounded, and Pete—he's been bitten!" She let out in between sobs. She sat on the couch, placing her face in her hands.

Caroline's face went white as she quickly sat beside Eden. "What? Are you sure? Oh my God..." She placed a hand over her mouth. Not Pete. Never in a million years did she think Pete would be the one to get bit. He was always so careful. How could this have happened??

Eden nodded, trembling, her mind racing with guilt and fear. "We couldn't help them... There were too many walkers." She sniffled. "They went in another direction."

Nick ran a hand through his hair, pacing. "We had no choice! I barely got Eden out of there in time. They're—" He choked on his words, unable to finish the thought.

Luke looked grim, his jaw clenched. "We have to figure out what to do. We can't leave them out there!" He exclaimed.

Caroline stood up, her voice steady but strained. "Luke's right. If they're out there, we should probably try to find them."

Eden shook her head quickly, grasping tightly onto Caroline's arm. "N-no! No! You can't go out there! What if something happens to you? What if you don't come back?" Her voice cracked, panic seeping into every word. She couldn't lose Caroline. Yes, she was still a little mad at her but, that was her sister. She was all she had left in this world.

Caroline knelt down beside Eden, gently placing her hands on the girl's shoulders. "Vada, listen to me," she said softly, though her heart was pounding like crazy. "We have to try. We can't leave Clementine and Pete out there. They're part of the group, just like you."

Tears welled up in Eden's eyes again. "But what if it's too late? What if...?" She placed her head in her hands, starting to cry again.

Caroline squeezed her shoulders, her own voice trembling slightly. "I don't know. But we have to try." She wrapped her arms around Eden.

Caroline was going through a whirlwind of emotions. Her heart was broken knowing Pete had been bitten. He was like family to her. Fury simmered beneath the surface at Eden for going out without a word, putting herself in danger without thinking. If she had lost her little sister, she didn't know how she would survive. But more than anything, disappointment washed over her as she looked at Nick. He hadn't even tried to help Clementine or Pete escape. He just ran away.