A World Like This [1]

[18]

  Edited 12/30/16

I never went back to that little white room with my family members waiting for me. I didn't go anywhere, I didn't see a thing. I just stood around waiting in the darkness. Is this what it's like after you die? Am I not dead yet? Do I not get to see my family until someone kills my walker?

All these questions filled my mind as I walked around trying to find anything. After a while I gave up and sat on the ground. Where is everyone? What's going on?

I soon opened my eyes. I expected to see my mom and my brothers but instead I find that I'm back in my cell. I frantically looked around. How could I be here? I can't hurt them.

"Finally, you're awake. How you feeling?" I looked over and saw Carl sitting in a chair beside me. He was smiling like a mad man. My eyes widened at the sight. I was filled with so many over powering emotions I didn't even know how I was supposed to be feeling.

"How am I here?" I asked.

"I carried you up here." He said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the entire world.

"I mean, how am I alive?" I asked.

"Ava, you were only shot in the arm. Hershel got the bullet out, you're gonna be fine." He said with his smile wide again. Shot? I wasn't shot I was bit.

"No, no Carl you need to get out." I told him, suddenly scared of what I might do to him, scared I might hurt him.

"Why?" He asked. He got up from the chair and kneeled beside me. He placed his large hands in in my small delicate ones. Carl looked hurt as if I told him I hated him.

"I was bit and I don't want to hurt you."

"Ava, you weren't bit you fell, hit your head and when the walkers tried to grab you dad and I shot at them. The bullet must have gone through its head and hit you in the arm."

"You're lying!" I yelled. I looked down arm where I was bit. I saw a white bandage covering my bite. I began to unravel it so I could prove to Carl I was bit, not shot. I couldn't let him get hurt, I couldn't let any of them get hurt.

"What are you doing?! That has to stay on!" Carl grabbed my hand that was unraveling the bandage to stop me. He was putting everyone in danger. I needed to be locked up, I couldn't hurt them. I looked up into Carl's deep blue eyes, they held nothing but worry. I just wanted to protect him, I wanted to protect all of them.

"Carl, I just don't want to hurt anyone." I said as tears began to slide down my face. I can't be the reason Judith dies, I can't be the reason my dad dies, I can't be the reason Rick dies, I can't be the reason Carl or anyone else dies, I won't allow it. Carl looked into my eyes and sighed. He began to unravel the bandage slowly. When it was finally off I stared at it. It was blue, purple, and black. It looked disgusting I almost gagged at the sight. It was sick looking, unnatural.

"See no bite, just where the bullet went through your arm." Carl said. I smiled and looked up at him. I wasn't going to die, I was going to live. Carl began to wrap the bandage around my arm again.

"So, I guess I get to wear the hat now?" Carl looked up from my arm and gave me a confused look.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm part of the club now, I've been shot. Like you and Rick. So, I get to wear the hat now." I said with a big grin on my face. Carl smiled and shook his head. "What?" I asked, unsure why he was smiling so wide.

"I don't think I could part with this hat." He spoke slowly, trying to get me to understand his love for his hat. I heard the story from Carl about the day he got shot in the woods, then Rick gave him his hat. Carl claimed they were the same after that moment, and I was now part of the club. I Laughed and rolled my eyes at the boy kneeling in front of me.

"But It's my turn!" I whined. Carl began laughing again, I didn't find it funny though. I want a turn with the hat.

"Okay, okay Ava you can have the hat." Carl placed the hat on my head and I smiled. He smiled back. I love his smile, I think at this point I couldn't live without waking up to that smile every day. Carl leaned in and so did I. We were about to kiss when he bumped into the hat on my head. I began to laugh. "Okay you can have the hat but not right now." Carl took the hat off my head and threw it on the floor. Carl then got on top of me and smirked. He leaned down and kissed my lips. It wasn't slow and passionate like it usually is. It was passionate but this time he was a bit rough. My hands immediately moved to his head and his moved to my hips as he pulled me closer. I couldn't help but moan when he did this. Carl knew exactly how to get to me.