You're No Longer Here

Of Heathens and Widows

Of heathens:

Carl sits, still tied to his chair as the man, "Prince", probably named in some sense of devotion to the fallen superstar he'd finally decided, after watching the man squeal in excitement as the girl, "Chika",  presents a drawing of the love symbol that Prince was so famous for, with it's clear purple stripe arching across the page.

"Oh my gawd Chika, if i didn't already have gorgeous over there, i'd marry you right now." The man declares as he proudly holds the paper above his head and twirls around.

Carl sighs in disgust, and Chika scoffs,

"Please, Prince, don't make me laugh. You know i'm interested in the girl, not you."

"I know darling." Prince sighs as a bolt of alarm flashes through Carl.

What girl? Enid? She was the only girl he could think of who wasn't a walker that the two could be discussing. And why Enid? Carl had no idea what anyone saw in the girl, other than the fact she was a girl. 

I mean, yeah, when Carl had first arrived, he'd clicked with Enid because she'd been out in the wilderness too, something none of the others had been through in the compound. However, Carl soon saw her for what she was- a self centered, annoying, brat.

Not like the woman knew that, as she'd never talked to Enid before.

Another thought hit Carl like a rock in the head, and his eyes widened.

Or what if the two had talked? How else would the man know how to get over the walls so smoothly, so well practiced? No, his mind was just playing tricks on him. What would Enid have to gain by having Carl, and possibly herself, kidnapped?

So, are your bombs ready yet?" Prince asks Chika as he turns back to bothering Carl again, leaning down swiftly and giving the small teen a peck on the cheek, making Carl's face heat up as if with fever.

"You can do that after the attack. Let's go." Chika huffs as she grabs the man by the arm and jerks him away from Carl, who's thankful to be left alone for now.

"But what if some walkers break in? We have to put gorgeous in the safe spot." Prince pouts, and the girl sighs.

"FINE." She spits, and the man scrambles over to Carl,

"This might hurt a bit." He smirks as he raises his hand, a glinting purple blade in his hands, and Carl's eyes widen, his scream clearly heard from outside the house.

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Of widows: 

Rick stands in front of Ron and Enid, his arms crossed in front of his chest as he glowers over them, while Michonne stands off to the side, ready to restrain Rick should it come down to it.

"And just why the HELL do you think i would bring you two along to rescue my son? What have either of you ever done but almost get him killed, or try to kill him?" Why should i think that you wouldn't use this opportunity to attack us while we try to rescue Carl? When we're not focused on you two?"Rick asks, his voice a mixture of pain, sorrow, and anger that hurt to listen to from its intensity.

"Besides, we don't need to babysit you two." Michonne adds in, making it clear that she wasn't on the two teens' side. 

"You wouldn't be 'babysitting' us. We can take care of ourselves just fine. Remember that you and Carl were teaching me to shoot." Ron reminds Rick and he grimaces as Enid speaks up, 

"If you don't bring us with you, we're going to look for Carl anyways." She says stubbornly, and Rick sighs tiredly as he pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"Why do teenagers have to be so damn stubborn?" He asks, the question clearly rhetorical, and Ron's eyes brighten with hope.

"Does that mean you'll take us?"

"Yes, since you two will only get yourselves killed if i don't take you, and with our luck, one of you would maul one of our group once you died." Rick spits as he turns to face his apocalypse family, who are all focused intently on him.

"Let's go!" He yells, and Ron's eyes dance with determination and joy.

Finally, a chance to redeem himself.