The Girl Next Door • Carl Grimes

Chapter 25: Bad Decisions

Carl

I woke up to the sound of walkers outside of the prison building rattling on the fences. I felt Grace still asleep on my shoulders and I grinned.

I looked around and I saw Daryl pacing. He gave me a very nasty, dirty look. What was that all about?

I tried to stay still, as I lay up against the log for some support. For what felt like forever, but was probably only 3 minutes I had to stay completely still and completely quiet.

Until the gun went off, and she woke up. It was weird, usually she woke up groggy, angry, or very startled or disoriented. This time she just woke up easy and looked at me with total peace in her expression.

I smiled and looked down at her and said "Good mornin Grace."

"Mornin Carl." She said as she returned the smile.

I saw Daryl quickly walking over, "Grace, get up, we gotta go in the prison. Now!" He shouted angrily.

"Daryl! Calm down, what's the matter?!" She shouted back at him.

"I- I Dunno. Sorry I yelled, but cmon. Both of ya. We gotta clear out this building and we could use your help." He said apologetically.

A small group, including my dad and Daryl went to the other side of the fence where more walkers lied. Grace and I were at the fence getting some to come near us.

We watched them fight, and struggle. Then they disappeared from behind cell block D. Then we saw a bitten T-Dog return.

No, no, no... this can't be happening. We cant lose anyone else!

I looked over at Grace, but there was nothing. Nothing. No facial expression. It was blank. Like seeing our friend, who we have survived with for a year get torn apart by walkers was nothing. Then I saw her take in a deep breath, look away, then look back again.

I saw her eyes had became red and watery. Was she trying to hide it? From me?

We stood there, completely silent.

Until a walker came up to the fence and we both said "I got it!" At the same time.

I let her take it, after all she wasn't as good as me. Who am I kidding, she was.

Once the outside of the building was finally cleared we split into groups to clear the prison. We got stuck in a cell block that they had cleared for us.

It was the "safe room" they were treating us like babies, the women, children, and the elderly.

Daryl was staying in there with us for a little while to make sure everything checked out, and that there were no breaches or anything.

Grace walked into a cell, and I followed.

"I mean it's a prison, but a bed doesn't seem too terrible." She said.

I wanted to be around her, so I made a comment "yeah, these mattresses actually feel pretty nice." I said as I pressed down on one of them.

I started to put my bags in the top bunk as she settled on the bottom.

Then Daryl. Daryl walked in the room and looked at me "what are you doing?" He asked.

"Oh, I was just making sure Grace was safe." I said awkwardly as I got my stuff off the top bunk and rushed into another cell.

She looked at me and shrugged, and did her little "I'm sorry!" Facial expression.

I was sitting on the bed, and I felt incredibly bored.