Safe haven | Rick Grimes

025. SHE WAS REAL

Chapter twenty five

"She was real."

It was pitch-black outside, and the rescue team still hadn't returned.

Inside the prison block, Axel sat down next to Scarlett while she cradled Judith. "You are good with her," he noted, leaning in slightly. "You got kids?"

"None of my own," Scarlett replied shortly.

Nearby, Carl watched the interaction closely. He knew exactly what Axel was trying to do. He didn't like it one bit, and he knew his dad would absolutely lose his mind if he were there to see it.

"How old are you, anyway?" Axel pressed.

Before he could push any further, Carol walked up to the open cell. Seizing the moment to escape the conversation, Scarlett stood up. "I'm gonna go feed her. Come on, Carl."

Scarlett walked out of the cell, and Carl followed closely behind her, keeping his eyes locked onto Axel the entire time until they cleared the doorway.

Carol waited until the two were completely out of earshot before she turned a hard glare onto Axel. "Stay away from her."

Axel held his hands up defensively. "Please. I didn't mean no offense."

"This isn't about you trying to repopulate the earth," Carol countered coldly.

"Look, I've been locked up a long while and, well, there weren't many women. You following me?" Axel explained, gesturing awkwardly. "I mean, Maggie, she's with Glenn, and you're a lesbian. I was just talking with her."

Carol raised her brows in sheer disbelief. "I'm not a lesbian."

Axel blinked, caught completely off guard. "You got the... short hair."

"You think I'm a lesbian because of my hair?"

"You're not a lesbian?" Axel asked again, his eyes widening. As Carol just stared at him in silence, a slow grin crept onto his face. "My, my... this is interesting."

"No, it's not," Carol snapped, shutting him down instantly. "And let me tell you something else. If Rick knew you were flirting or trying to do anything with Scarlett, he'd kill you."

Leaving Axel completely stunned, Carol turned on her heel and walked around him, heading back toward the cafeteria.

As the night wore on, Scarlett tried several times to lay Judith down in the cardboard box they were using as a crib. Every time she did, the baby girl started to cry. Giving up, Scarlett decided to keep cradling her in her arms, where the newborn finally fell into a deep sleep, just like the night before.

Scarlett stood near the stairs with Carl and Beth, while Hershel watched them from a short distance away.

"How are we on formula?" Carl asked, breaking the quiet.

"There's enough for the next month," Scarlett replied softly.

Carl nodded, a mature seriousness in his eyes. "I'll take Carol out for some more at the end of the week."

"Your dad and the others will be back by then," Beth said, trying to offer comfort.

Carl looked over at her, his expression tight. "You don't know that."

"Hey," Scarlett intervened gently, catching Carl's attention. "Your dad is coming back. Along with everyone else."

Before Carl could respond, a woman's piercing scream echoed through the concrete halls of the prison.