Inevitable

Hiding

The sky burned down on my face through the window while I watched Carl rush about the house. Enid sat next to me, staring at Carl with a sullen expression. I nudged her foot, motioned to Carl, and raised my eyebrows. She shrugged, sighing.

   "We'll go with him once he's done rushing around," she whispered to me.

   "Neither of you are coming with me." Carl glared at both Enid and me as he grabbed a can of soup from the cabinet and shoved it in his bag.

   Enid and I got to our feet. "Carl, you don't have to go," Enid said.

   "Yeah, Enid's right," I added. "They'll get Maggie help. You don't need to go."

   Carl shook his head furiously. "Yes, I do. I have to help."

   "It's not safe," I said.

   He stopped pacing and glared at me. "Seriously? Of course it's not safe! That's not the point. Alexandria's not safe either, but staying here won't do any good."

   "Then we're coming with you!" Enid cried. "If you go, we'll go."

   Carl groaned. "Enid, stop! Don't you get it? I can't let you get hurt! If something bad happens while we get Maggie help, we'll need you here to look over Alexandria." He glanced at me. "And same goes for you, Ron."

   "Okay, fine," I said. "I get why I shouldn't go, but why not Enid? She's capable of protecting herself just as much as you are. And I don't see why both me and her have to stay here."

   "Because I told you to!" Carl let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing his fingers on his temples. "God, Ron. You of all people should listen to what I say."

   "I never thought I'd say this," Enid looked back and forth between Carl and me, "but I agree with Ron. We can't just stay here while you're out there helping everyone. I've been through just as much as you, Carl! I've been outside of Alexandria! I've killed walkers before! What good does it do for us to be in Alexandria? Even if we are looking over it if something happens to you, what good will we do? There are other people who can take care of this place."

   Carl stared at Enid, an odd expression falling over his face. His eyes were hollow, emotionless, but his mouth was twisted into a pained smile. "You know what? Fine." He shrugged his shoulders. "If you want to come, you can, but don't blame me if you're killed."

   Enid and I looked to each other in disbelief. We hadn't expected to win him over so easily.

   "Oh, and Enid," Carl motioned to the pantry, "can you grab some more soup?"

   Enid nodded and went into the pantry. Then, like lightening, Carl lurched for the door and slammed it shut, locking Enid in the small room.

   "Carl!!" she and I both shouted. I dove for the doorknob, but Carl dodged in front of it, twisting the front of my shirt and pushing me back.

   As Enid pounded on the other side of the door, Carl glared at me, his hand still twisting at the cloth of my shirt. "Don't you dare!" He pushed me farther away from the closet in which Enid was shouting. "You owe me this, Ron! Don't let her out!"

   "I have to!" I squirmed against him, but he latched his other hand onto my wrist, pushing me farther back.

   "Do not open that door for her, Ron! I can't have her coming after me!" Again, he pushed me farther back until my back hit the edge of a table.

   "Then let me come with you!"

   His eyes looked desperate. "No, Ron. I can't have either of you dying."