This Is Reality

Chapter 26

He picks his head up and goes to say something but the door was quickly kicked open by Rick, who was panicking severely.

"We have to leave right now"

"Why what happened?" Daryl asks quickly

"There's a hoard comin' and we have to leave" Rick says, peering over his shoulder

"C'mon Dodger get your stuff" Daryl stands me up, then quickly putting his boots on

I just stand there and watch the chaos begin. Everyone was running around, grabbing their things and gathering everyone in the other room. From what I saw, the front door was being held shut, that's where the dead must have been.

"Baby please we have to go" Daryl demands

I just stared at him blankly. Not that he called me 'baby' I just didn't want to leave

"N-no..." I stutter, confused

"I ain't leavin' you behind. I'd never do that to you again. I was so stupid for doing that" He confesses, taking my hand

"Daryl just leave my stuff and go!" I plead

Tears formed in his eyes and he balled his fists. "Dodger I can't leave you! Not again! I can't lose you!"

"You'll be fine without me! Just take care of Carl and Judith..." I look down at the ground, knowing I might now make it out of here

"I'll leave you my knife in case you need it..." He says through his tears, placing the knife on the bed

When he places the knife, he looks down at me, wanting to pick me up and take me with him. He was too scared to because last time it didn't go over so well. Before he left he wanted to do something but didn't know what. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him as tight as I could.

"Go. Be careful..." My voice a whisper, I release my arms from him

"Dodger... I love you, okay?" Tears were streaming down his face

I nod as tears quickly form in my eyes. He looks at me one last time before closing the door and leaving with everyone else.

I slipped on my boots and pulled my hair back. Gathering myself, I put my bag near where everyone was escaping from. Carl's cries and pleads echoed throughout the forest piercing my heart. Holding my knife in my right hand and Daryl's in my left, I stood in the center of the church, ready for whatever came through those front doors.

-Carl's POV-

I was sitting at the front of the church feeding Judith. My dad was out looking around when he rushed inside and started grabbing wood.

"Dad..." I ask worried

"Don't move" He demands as he rushes around the church

I couldn't go and get Daryl to help my dad because he was with Dodger and the door was locked. I highly doubt she would let him get close to her...

After many minutes of panic and chaos, Father Gabriel leads us to a hole in the floor in a side room.

"Through here. It leads to the back of the church"

"You first" Maggie says to him

Gabriel nods and hops down, "Hand me the little one"

Judith was already whiny, she doesn't need to go to him.

"No I got her" I say holding her close

After he disappears, everyone else follows. Maggie goes and takes Judith, I hop down and my dad comes in the door alone.

"Dad where are they!?" Dodger and Daryl weren't with him

"Carl, go. It's okay" He says coming over

I climb out and sit on the floor, "I'm not leaving without them!" I plead

My dad gets down and pulls me along with him. I struggle but it was no use. He was trying to save me but we were leaving people behind... When we were just about to get out from below the church, then I heard footsteps. My dad and I stood up waiting for them, but there was only Daryl.

He didn't say anything, he just glanced at my dad and walked to everyone else.

"Carl come on" My dad puts a hand on my shoulder

I sit on the ground and look under the church, no Dodger. Tears form in my eyes and flow down my face.

"N-no!!" I cry, I didn't care how loud I was

My dad stands me up but I just struggle with him and manage to break free and fall to the ground. I start going over to the church but I was grabbed by Daryl and my dad.

"No! We can't!" I plead, tears falling onto my shirt

Dodger was like a mom to me, a big sister I never had. How could they just leave her behind!?

~

I was walking close to Daryl, my dad with everyone else. We were at the back of the group, lingering a few feet behind.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Daryl wipe his face.

"I haven't stopped since she made me leave..." He confesses, I could barely hear him speak

"B-but why..." I try not to cry anymore

"She told me to take care of you and Judith. Told me I didn't need her and to just leave her. I left my knife with her... I should've drug her out with me..." He looks over at me, eyes red

"Maybe she knew she was going to die and didn't want to do it in front of us..." I say starting to cry again

Daryl puts his arm over my shoulder, "Please don't say that..."

"Sorry..."

"I should've convinced her to come with me..." I could hear him start crying again

"Like Maggie told me, she's strong... She'll make it... Just like before" I look up at Daryl, trying to fight off tears

"But she fought so hard last time. What if she doesn't get that chance again?"

"That's what if, doesn't mean it's true..."

"Yeah that's true..." His head drops again, we were getting farther and farther away from everyone.