Don't Go Home Without Me [Carl Grimes/The Walking Dead fanfiction]

Guardian Angel

"Mom? How much ammo do we have left?"

"Five rounds."

I sighed heavily and kicked a pebble that was lying peacefully on the ground. Sometimes I felt like a rock and other times I wanted to be one. They were strong, and the biters didn't care about them.

Biters. I had to be sure I never called the walking corpses that out loud. My mother would have a fit. I understand that she's being hopeful for a cure, but they're walking corpses. Walkers, for short. Or biters. In the end, they're all the same. They're zombies.

"Where are we gonna go? We don't have Woodbury anymore..."

"I'm looking at the map right now. I'm thinking we head that way-" She pointed in the direction we were going to go, but I didn't have a clue as to which direction that was because we were standing in the middle of the woods. The only things around us were trees and leaves.

"-and as far as Woodbury goes, I'm actually glad we're out of there. Most of the people were psychopaths, wanting to watch others fight while those things clawed and snarled at them."

She did have a point there. I didn't like that. The only thing I really liked about Woodbury was the fact that there were people my age. I had actually grown quite close to some of the kids there, like Anna. She was probably my best friend. And then there was Dean. I think I was developing a small crush on him.

"I miss Anna and Dean," I said quietly.

"That Dean boy was no good," she replied, almost instantly, as if she knew what I was going to say. "He liked watching those fights."

I frowned because I knew she was right. "But he was so cute!" I thought.

When we left Woodbury, we also left everything behind. Except for things we could use, of course. We even left behind my guitar, and now every time I play with the calluses on my fingertips, I get sad. I understand my mother's reasoning, but playing guitar was one of the few things that got me excited and genuinely happy.

"Cassidy? C'mon sweetie, let's get going."

I nodded and trudged along, staying a few feet behind my mother. Occasionally I'd glance at her back, admiring her mane of hair. Very long and a pretty blondish-brown. A lot of people didn't realise we were related until we told them because I got most of my looks from my dad.

My hair was very short and dark brown, my eyes were light brown with hints of green, and (unlike my mom) my skin was pale. A few freckles were littered across my nose and under my eyes, and you might find an occasional one on my arms or legs.

I was suddenly shaken from my thoughts by the sight of bright light. We had reached the forest edge and we were now standing in what looked to be a cemetery. The area was free from walkers, so I walked out into the open and allowed the sun to hit my skin.

"Mom, there's a building over there!" I said, pointing in the direction of it. A look of relief covered her face and she smiled. While we were walking, I happened to glance over and look at one of the headstones. Atop it sat some wildflowers. They weren't exactly fresh, but they weren't dead either. Just kinda wilted.

Peering over my shoulder, my mom asked, "Someone's been here recently, haven't they?" 

"Too early to tell," I replied. "When we get closer get your gun ready. Just in case."

We continued on our way, carefully approaching the white building. It looked like a small funeral home or mausoleum, but we couldn't be sure until we were inside.