Safe haven | Rick Grimes

074. HERE IS THE PLACE WHERE I LOVE YOU

Chapter seventy four

"Here is the place where I love you."

Scarlett and Rick were still in shock as muffled explosions vibrated in the distance.

Carl looked at them both. Another explosion went off nearby.

"I... I don't..." Rick stammered.

"Dad," Carl said.

"How..." Rick muttered.

"Dad..." Carl repeated.

"How? Was it him?" Scarlett asked, pointing a trembling finger at the stranger standing behind them.

"Mom, it's all right. It's gotta be," Carl insisted softly.

"No," Scarlett said, turning around fully. "Get him out of my sight before I kill him myself!"

"Mom..." Carl said, reaching out to grab her hand.

Scarlett turned back to her son, her chest heaving.

"I wasn't sure if you two were gonna make it back before... but just in case, you know..." Carl shared, pulling a small stack of folded letters from his jacket. "I wanted to make sure I was able to say goodbye."

He handed the papers to Scarlett.

"It's... it's them... they... they don't... it wasn't..." Rick choked out, unable to form a coherent thought.

Scarlett was already crying. "No, no..."

"No," Rick echoed in disbelief.

"I got bit. I was bringing someone back," Carl shared.

"I don't care," Scarlett told him fiercely, shaking her head.

"His name's Siddiq. We saw him at that gas station before. It wasn't the Saviors. It wasn't him. It just happened," Carl explained.

Scarlett leaned toward him, pressing a tender kiss against his forehead.

"I got bit," Carl repeated, his voice cracking.

Scarlett pulled him tightly into her arms. "Oh, my baby..." her voice broke into heavy, agonizing sobs as Carl held onto her tightly.

"I, um, I got these," Siddiq interrupted gently, stepping forward as Rick looked up at him. "They're over-the-counter and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. They'll help a little with the fever. They did for my mom and dad. Please take them."

Scarlett snapped, turning on him with raw fury. "No! We don't want anything from you! Didn't you hear me? You killed our son! I want you out of my face! I want you out of my life! So before I kill you, get out of my face!"

Daryl silently handed Judith over to Rosita and stood up. "Scarlett..."

"Get him out of here!" Scarlett screamed.

Daryl gripped Siddiq by the shoulder, calmly but firmly moving him away from the grieving family.

As another explosion went off, the entire sewer system shook violently, loosening dust from the ceiling. Carl broke into a harsh, ragged fit of coughing.

Scarlett rubbed his back. "It's okay. It's okay," she whispered, cupping her hand in front of his mouth to catch the blood.

Rick scrambled for a plastic bottle, unscrewing the cap with trembling fingers. "Shh. Shh," he said, pressing the rim to Carl's lips. "Slowly, slowly."

Carl grunted in pain, his fingers digging tight into Scarlett's jacket.

"I'm right here. I'm right here," Scarlett promised, running her hand through his damp hair as another blast detonated above.