The Girl Next Door • Carl Grimes

Chapter 43: No Plan

Grace

I watched in horror as the fences began to fall on us. I was furthest away from the door, Carl being the closest. The break in the fence knocked me down, and when the walkers started coming at me I couldn't get off the ground fast enough.

"Carl, go!" Rick yelled as he ran toward me, throwing the walkers to the side as they came near me. He picked me up by my collar and practically shoved me to send me running toward Carl.

We were all running so fast toward the door that we were tripping over ourselves. Rick was further behind us now with walkers gaining on him.

"Grace, go inside!" Carl opened the door and pushed me through, "I'm not leaving you dad!" Carl said as he ran toward Rick and helped him up.

With only seconds to spare, we were all inside and Rick shut the door. The walkers growls and bangs upon the door grew louder, and so did my fear.

We ran the other direction and through the other door which led us to the pavement in the prison yard. We looked around hopelessly as we saw the walkers beginning to shake the inner fences.

"Dad, what do we do?" Carl pleaded, grabbing a hold of me in fear.

"I- maybe I could back the bus up against the fence?" Rick said, it sounding more like a question than a statement.

"Are you sure that will hold?" I asked, feeling nothing but pure terror go through my bones.

We looked at each other, sharing no words as we heard the fence we were right next to starting to creak. I backed up slowly, still in the hands of Carl.

"Come on." Rick said, his eyes wide with fear as he pulled us away from the fences.

We ran toward our bin full of guns as Rick handed us each automatic rifles. He had us stuff our pockets with ammo.

We started to progress toward the fences as Rick spat directions on how to use this kind of gun and how to reload it at us, as we were only familiar with hand guns and pistols.

"Guys, you shoot, or you run. Don't let 'em get close, okay?" Rick said in a serious manner.

I nodded as I gulped slightly. My hands shook as I held the large and heavy gun. My heartbeat sped up and my breathing did too. I shook my head trying to process what was happening.

"Grace! It's okay. We can do it." Carl put his hand on my shoulder as we watched the fence rip down and walkers come at us. I stood there in shock for a moment until something in my mind took over my body and I started firing at the walkers.

I hit most of them in the head right away, while some others it took me a few shots to get right. We kept firing until we ran out of bullets.

"Back off!" Rick yelled as we followed his orders and stepped back.

Carl pulled mags out of his pockets and put the new clip into his gun. A walker came furiously at Rick as he hit it in the head with the butt of the gun, but it got back up and kept going at Rick. I stood there helplessly as my gun was out of ammo.

Carl aimed his gun at the walker as it made a pop sound and the walker quit. Carl tossed a mag at me as I quickly reloaded my gun the way Rick had instructed. Carl also tossed one to Rick.

We stepped closer to the walkers once again as I heard multiple shots ring out from cell block D. My thoughts immediately went to Maggie, Glenn, and Hershel.

I quickly wiped those thoughts away as I stood there in shock when I started to hear Rick and Carl calling out my name. A walker was right in front of me, clawing at me.