Remnants -- Remake (Carl Grimes Gay Fanfiction)

29: "Embers of Hope"

It was now about midday, judging from the position of the Sun that hung directly above us in the sky, casting optimistic sunlight in all directions that gave me at least some hope that our journey back to Alexandria would be an easy one.

Don't be so naive, Riley. When have things ever been easy?

"It's not gonna be easy getting back with our legs the way they are," Carl sighed in frustration as we searched through the building one last time, ensuring we had scavenged any and all useful supplies in preparation for the remainder of our journey.

He had a point; his ankle was sprained and leg had been cut like hell. We were hardly in the best state for what I estimated to be a 40 mile journey.

"Well we can't stay here any longer than we have to," I reminded him, "that herd will have left Woodbury by now, and we have no idea what direction they'll be going in. If we leave it too long, we could get surrounded again."

"I know," Carl sighed, "I just..."

His voice trailed off, as he instead returned to inspecting the various cupboards and drawers that lined the kitchen.

"What?"

"I'm just tired of running all the time, Riley. For the first three years, all we ever really did was run. We never stopped for long, never had chance to do things; to be happy, or to talk, or mourn. We were so worried that if we ever looked back... We'd loose the strength to keep going forward. I thought things would be different when we reached Alexandria - I thought we could finally stop running - but look where we are. It's just going to keep happening, isn't it?"

How was I supposed to answer that?

In many ways, I agreed with Carl. We were just gonna have to keep running, and soon I didn't think we'd even have anywhere to run to.

But I couldn't tell Carl that. He wanted hope, and he wanted me to give him it.

"No," I smiled to him, placing by backpack down and paying my full attention to him, "no, I think it's going to get better. Humanity's been through a lot of shit in the past, but we've made it so far, right? No matter what life throws at us, we find a way to make the best of things - we always have. And do you know how we do that?"

Carl replied with a somewhat despondent shrug.

"By staying together," I explained, "and clutching at those embers of hope wherever we can find them."

"What 'embers'?"

"People like us, Carl. Things like feeling love, and happiness, even in the darkest times. And so long as we have each other, we'll always feel that."

At that moment, the sound of a distant mechanical rattle suddenly caught our attention.

We both turned in the direction of the sound, peering through the shattered kitchen window to see a battered and bloodstained truck driving toward us. I recognized it immediately; it was a vehicle from Alexandria!

It's them! It's actually them!

"Riley," Carl breathed in relief at the same realization, "oh thank God... We're gonna be okay."

Completely neglecting our backpacks, we rushed outside in elation to the sight of the vehicle that approached us.

As I focused on it, however, my eyes suddenly widened in fear.

"Carl," I whispered to him, not once taking my eyes off the truck, "Carl, get inside."

"What? Why?" Carl asked in confusion, "Riley, it's--"