The Girl Next Door • Carl Grimes

Chapter 51: The Letter A

Grace

I woke up in the car, not really sleeping that night after what had happened. I noticed a sleeping Carl was laying on my lap, and I played with his hair gently.

I was so angry. I was so sad. Angry that it had happened again. Angry that it had happened to Carl. I quietly slid myself out from underneath Carl's head and exited the car.

I sat down next to Daryl and Rick. They just looked at me with this sad look again, like I was just the little girl who was attacked at the prison. They didn't say anything though.

"Daryl, what happened to Beth? Where is she? I saw you leave the prison with her. I yelled for you guys, but it was too late." I said, sadly recalling what had happened that day and everything since. All the lives that had been lost.

"She's gone." He said gruffly, staring out into the road.

My heart sank, "Gone? What do you mean gone? She's dead?" I started to cry.

"Not dead. Just gone." He said, clearly really sensitive to the topic of Beth.

"She's okay. She's gotta be okay." I said quietly, more for myself to believe than anyone else.

I stood up, letting the two men talk and I got back into the car with Carl. I tried getting back in as quietly as I could, but even my silence awoke the boy.

"Carl, I'm sorry. Just go back to sleep." I said as I slid into the backseat.

Michonne was now awake in the passenger seat and she glanced back at us.

"Grace?" Carl yawned, rubbing his eyes.

"Yeah, I'm here. I'm right here." I assured him as I placed my hand on his head that was against the seat.

My facial expression grew sad and pensive as my thoughts were consumed by the idea of what had happened to Beth. Beth my sister, my best friend. My mind was racing, I was trying to forget everything that happened last night but I couldn't. I killed again, and the darkness was following me closer than it was at the cabin in the woods.

I worried about Beth, Tyreese, Carol, and Judith. And everyone else that I was seperated from. I was worried about Carl. I was worried about myself. All of us. We almost got killed last night, or worse.

"Grace what's wrong?" Carl said as he sat up, studying my face.

"Oh nothing. I'm just... thinking." I said as I signed and looked out the window.

"Is it about Beth? Is it about.. what happened?" He rested his hand on my shoulder.

I flinched slightly, and turned back to him, "Sorry. I'm just a little on edge. You know.." as I thought back to what happened again, and what had happened before.

"It's okay. You don't need to be sorry." He comforted me.

"Thanks." I said, not knowing how to comfort Carl after the same thing happened to him also.

We sat in silence for a few minutes until Rick knocked on the car door. I opened it and he waved his hand to us, motioning us all to exit the vehicle.

"We're gonna start heading to Terminus now. Through the woods." He said.

I hopped out of the car and began to follow Rick through the forest. The five of us walked spaced apart, and very quietly. I stood by Daryl the most and Carl was near Michonne.

I don't think he wanted to be around me right now, which hurt a little but I understood from experience.

Later we came across what looked like Terminus. I stopped at the fences with Rick and Daryl as Rick put his finger up to his mouth. He was signaling for us to be silent.