Survive ( twd carlgrimes)

Chapter 19

MADISONS POV.

I stare at it in shock. I didn't think I would ever get to see this again. The only reason it was hidden here was because mom didn't like it in the house. I hid it out here in the woods where, at the time, it was easy and accessible but years of muck and dirt have layered up on the ground, making them deeper and harder to find in the soil.

My bow and arrows.
It's been too long and I can't wait to see if I can still use them as well as I could when I was younger. My hand runs along the rough wood of the bow before fitting my hand into the small dip in the wood where my hand rests. It fits just like a glove.

My dad helped me make this bow when I was younger, almost an exact replica of the one he made for himself way before I was even born. I tried to use his once or twice but it was too big for me at the time. Truth be told, so was my own but I adapted to it quickly. Now it's just the right size for me. I twist it back and forth in my hand admiring it before looking at me arrows, each in perfect condition.

"You came all this way for a bow?" Carl questions.
I almost forgot he was here and though I'm thankful that he helped me find it, I can't help the irritation that stirs inside me at his judgmental tone.

My irritation quickly shifts to anger.
"Yeah! What about it?" I snap.
He doesn't say anything, he just shrugs. "Dad helped me make it. It's the last thing I have from him. It might seem stupid or pointless to you but it matters to me. So, excuse me if I don't want to be judged abo-"." I fume.
He holds up his hands in surrender.
"Hey, I'm not judging."
"Forget it!" I scoff in anger, grabbing my shit and turning in the opposite direction.

He remains silent as I stalk away from him but he's hot on my tail. I force myself to bite my tongue. I've been know to say stupid things out of anger.

I sling my arrows onto my back and hold my bow tightly in my hand. I take deep breaths and try to think about something else as I walk back to the house.
When we get back to the tree Carl finally speaks up, by this stage my anger has slightly dissolved.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay? I wasn't judging you, I was just suprised, thats all. I didn't understand that it was from your dad."
I sigh. "I mean, I probably overreacted."
He laughs. "Is that an apology?"
I roll my eyes. "Fine. I'm sorry I snapped at you. You couldn't have known. I just get in my head sometimes."

I scan my eyes for a rope that hangs from the tree next to the one we jumped from. I never remember putting it there years ago, it was always just there and we never thought twice about it. It hoists us up far enough until we can reach a branch high enough on our original climbing tree.

"I guess the woods just bring back memories, that's all." I tell him, hoping it's a good enough excuse.
Carl shrugs casually. "Friends fight." The small conclusion seemed natural to him as well as closing the conversation but the words catch me off guard.
'Friends'
I never had much at all before this.

"Why are you so nice to me? You don't even know me." I ask him. I mean for it to sound just as casual as he had but instead it comes out like an interrogation question.
"I know enough."
"You're wrong. People think they have each other all figured out but the truth is, they don't know shit."
"You basically just told me your entire life story inside." He points out.
"Seems like that, doesn't it?"
He frowns at my simple response.

"Don't talk about what happened and don't talk about Ben."
"Why?" He asks

Wow, this boy pushes for answers. Like father like son, I guess.

"I don't like thinking about it. It's best to move on. If I stop to think about it... I can't be weak, not in this world, not ever." I tell him.
We converse easily as I show him how to use the rope to pull himself up. He catches on quickly.