Survive ( twd carlgrimes)

Chapter 53

MADISON'S POV.

Everybody is inside and standing around the alter. We were talking about Daryl.
"So what? He just took off?" Rick questions.
"I swear on my life. All I know is some car drove passed. He looked like somebody just hit him. Next thing I know he hopped in the car and drove after the other car." I say.

"Its true." Abbie adds.
"I believe you. What did the car look like?" Rick asks.
"From what I saw it was a black car with a white cross on the back."
"It drove north from where we were standing." Abbie explains.

"Its too dark to go and look for him. Someone would end up getting hurt. Daryl has shelter and his crossbow. He knows how to take care of himself." Glenn says.
We all nod.

"We can go look for him first thing in the morning. We were leaving here anyways." Rosita says.
"If I may, interject, I'm going to stay here." Gabriel speaks up.
To be honest i've had enough of this guy. I don't like him and I sure as hell don't trust him.

"No. Absolutely not. You're coming with us. We don't need your creepy ass following us." I demand.
Everybody except Rick is shocked. I guess he's thinking the exact same thing as me.
"Wh-what do you mean? I l-live here." He stutters.
"Yeah, well, get over it. We all lived somewhere once but look at us now. Besides its only a matter of time until this place is over-run. The forest is riddled with the dead."
Gabriel frowns at me.
"If you wanna buy yourself some time I suggest you reconsider." I snap.

"I-I'm still not catching on t-to why you want m-me to g-go." He mumbles.
I look around, expecting someone else to answer but everyone looks at me, waiting for my analysis I guess.
"You were into something before. We don't need him following us." Glenn encourages me.

Instead of facing Gabriel, this time I face our group, as if to convince them.
"Think about it. Since we got here nothing but bad things has happened to us. Bob died, terminus attackers, the car. We've nearly died a million times over in the space of a week. I don't really believe in coincidences. Do you?" The rhetorical question is unanswered until Gabriel interjects again.
"I believe in God." He snaps.

"Well shit, so would I if I locked myself in a church for months. If the big man is real he's your best shot at survival because you haven't a fighting bone in your body."
He continues to glare at me and I shrug. Not my fault he doesn't want to hear the truth.

"Like I said, I don't believe in coincidences. Too much has happened this week and if I had to point fingers all ten of them would point to you." I admit.
"You think he's behind all this?" Michonne asks.

"Call me paranoid but he's just a little too suspicious for me. If we left here without him I'd be sleeping with both eyes open. I'd imagine he'd wait until we're out in the open, maybe some of us separate to take a leek or go on a short run and he picks us off one by one. We don't know this man and we don't know what he's capable of. And I sure as shit don't buy his innocent act."
"Who are you working for ?" Rick questions him.
"Terminus?" Carl guesses.

I reach for my knife and slowly slide it from my waistband as Gabriel backs away.
"Come on, you don't believe her? It's just me here."
"Why did you bring us here? Are people watching us?" I question, my eyes glancing out the stained glass windows.

"I'm not with anyone, I swear." He holds his hands up defensively and I watch as a bead of sweat dribbles down his forehead.
"Did you tell the teminus people we were here?" I spit.
"N-no, I swear."
"I don't get it. How are you still alive? You were alone, with no weapons. You couldn't have made it this far and still be as innocent as you claim."

To my surprise tears threaten to spill over from his eyes. The sudden emotion throws me off guard.
"Who are you?" I ask, more quietly now. "What's your story?"
"Does it matter?" He snaps.
"It always matters. I didn't think it mattered before, I do now."