Carl & I

Chapter Thirty Five Hope

Carl and I quickly dressed and bolted from the shed doors. I looked around, trying to find Kyle and Kaden but they were no where in sight. My heart was racing and I felt like something really bad was about to happen.

"WHO'S CARL? WHERE DID YOU FIND HIM?" A familiar voice screamed so loud I could hear the echoes.

"I don't know his last name, I don't sir, I met him and a girl." Kyle, they had Kyle.

Suddenly Kaden ran from behind a tree stump and informed us that a group had gotten hold of Kyle and Pheonix. My heart began to race and I was ready to fight for my daughter.

I began to run and I felt my blood start to boil. I pulled my gun from my belt and was ready to fire when I saw Rick, holding Kyle prisoner.

"Rick.." I dropped my gun and ran to him, his arms opened wide and squeezed me so tight. "I thought I'd never see you again."

"Where is Carl and Judith? Who's baby is this?" he was asking so many questions and I was overwhelmed.

"I'm right here dad." Carl smiled and ran into his dad's arms. "Dad, I missed you so much."

"Where's Judy, Carl?" Rick placed both hands on Carl's shoulders while looking him in the eyes.

"About a year ago, someone took her. We don't know who, we were fighting off walkers and they took her dad, I'm so sorry." He began to cry long streams of tears. "I should've looked after her better, I should've took better care of her." Rick grabbed Carl and hugged him tightly.

"Carl, it's not your fault. We will find her. We will." Rick whispered into his ear.

Kyle handed me Phoenix and I hugged her tightly and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and she giggled her usual giggle. I can always count on her to make me feel a little better in a world like this.

"Dad, I need to tell you something." Carl said to his father. "That baby, is mine."

"Well it's nice of you to get that baby, who knows what would've happened if you wouldn't have stopped to get her." Rick was clearly confused and Carl quickly got nervous.

"No, dad. That's my daughter, Phoenix. Y/n got pregnant, and she had Phoenix not too long ago. That's my daughter." The words seemed to startle Rick.

"Your baby?" Rick said.

"Yes." Carl came over and took her from my arms. "Do you want to meet papaw Rick?"

Rick's eyes began to water and he took Phoenix from Carl's arms. "She's, she's so beautiful."

I scanned the group and saw Rick, Daryl, Carol, Maggie, Glenn, Sasha, Father Gabriel, Michonne, Abraham, Eugene, Rosita, Jesse, Ron, Sam, Morgan and Enid.

When my eyes met Enid's she smiled and ran to me. "I'm so sorry, about everything. I'm sorry y/n." She wept into my shoulder.

"Me too Enid, me too." we hugged for what felt like forever.

We introduced Kaden and Kyle to our group and immediately Kyle and Enid hit it off. They talked for what seemed like hours. We all were inside of this tiny little shed but it was okay, it was okay because it felt like everything would get better. There's still hope. You can't lose hope in a world like this. It'll kill you.