The Girl Next Door • Carl Grimes

Chapter 71: Red Hot Rage

Grace

Deanna screamed at Rick, asking him to stop. I pleaded as well. Basically the whole community was out there watching the events unfold.

Rick pulled a gun out and held it towards the direction that I was standing in. There was something in his eyes that was different. I wasn't convinced that Rick wouldn't pull the trigger even if that potentially would put me in danger. He looked deranged.

"Rick! Put it down. I'm going to do what I need to in order to protect this place!" Deanna shouted.

"What, are you gonna kick me out?" Rick said, now pointing the gun towards her.

I swallowed my fear and started to back up slowly. I thought if maybe I could make it to the side of the Anderson's house, I could run through the alley to my house, go to my room, and grab my gun from under the bed.

I started to attempt my escape when Ron grabbed me by the collar of my shirt.

"What are you doing? He's crazy." Ron said quietly as he pulled me back.

"He's not crazy. He's my family." I argued.

"Yeah, well that's my dad." He said angrily.

"Your dad who beats you." I replied, making sure he remembered that his father wasn't the good guy that he believed.

He didn't say anything, but I could see the anger inside him boil. I probably shouldn't have said that to him. It needed to be said though.

I turned my head for one second and I missed it. I returned my gaze to the scene to see Rick lying on the ground with Michonne over him. She knocked him out and I didn't get to see it? Damn.

"Dad!" Carl said as he ran over to Rick's unconscious body.

Ron's hand was still gripping onto my shoulder. I wiggled away from him and ran over to Maggie.

"W-what was that?" I panted, just now realizing how terrible that whole situation was.

"I don't know. I need to go talk to Deanna. I gotta make sure that we can stay here. I need to keep you and Beth safe." Maggie stated as she started to walk away.

I let her leave and I found my way to Beth.

"Grace? Are you okay?" Beth asked as she hadn't been at the scene from the beginning. She actually got over here quite late.

"I'm fine. Let's just go back to the house, okay?" I said as I turned around and looked over at Ron who was helping his father up.

Carl and Enid were still standing together and I felt the urge to run over to her and slap her across the face. Him too. But I wanted to punch Carl honestly. I wouldn't punch a girl, that's just mean.

"You sure?" Beth asked as she noticed me looking behind us.

"Yeah. I'm sure." I replied coldly as I quickly walked back to the house, not turning around anymore.

I ran into the house, but nobody was there yet. Beth was still following behind me.

"Fuck!" I screamed so high pitched and loudly that my throat felt like it was being ripped to pieces.

I was so angry.

I stormed up the stairs and quickly grabbed my gun from underneath the mattress. I clutched it so tightly in my hand that my fingertips began to turn white. I turned the safety off, and made sure it was loaded.

"Grace? What's happening?" I heard Beth run in the door, probably in response to my scream.

"Not now, Beth." I said as I brushed past her with the gun in my hand.