Living with the Dead.(twd)

Last Day On Earth. (177)

MADISON'S POV.
As usual, everything happened in a blur.
We sprinted to Maggie and found her curled in a ball screaming in pain on her kitchen floor. Strands of her long hair were lying next to her. The scissors forgotten about, on the table.

Immediately, Rick decided we need to go to hilltop.
I didn't complain, I still feel sick just not knowing what's gonna happen to Maggie.
Then, when she was carried to the RV and coved with blankets a man arrived. I've recognized him from around Alexandrea. He's friends with Carol, I'm pretty sure his name is Tobin.
Everyone is gathered outside of the RV.

He pants heavily, holding a letter in his hand and trying to find words to make sense of his frantic state.
"SHE'S GONE!" He gasps.
"Who's gone?" Eugene asks.
"Carol. She was there and then I fell asleep. When I woke up she was gone and all her things were gone to, as if she never existed, except for this letter she left beside my bed." He explains.

Morgan walks up and grabs the note, sighing before handing it to Rick. He reads it with a frown on his face and when he's finished he rubs the back of his head in frustration, thinking if what to do to fix this.
"DAMMIT!"
"We'll find her Rick." I promise.
"She doesn't want to be found." He grumbles.
"Let's just focus on getting Maggie to the hilltop. Carol is tough, she'll be fine by herself for now, once we know Maggie is okay, we can go find her, together." Enid reasons.
"I'll start the search." Morgan tells us.
"And I'll stay back to make sure everything here is okay. We're missing a lot of our good people. Daryl, Michonne, Glenn.... somebody needs to stay back. Make sure things run smoothly." Enid says.
"Thank you." Rick smiles.
"I'll stay too... just.... tell me she's safe as soon as you get to hilltop." Beth cries, handing Rick a walkie talkie.

I don't hate Enid, but she's not my favorite person. My mind races back to the time when Carl's lips were so close to hers. I shake my head and sigh.
"She's right. Let's go." I agree.
Most people load into the RV but just before I step up someone grabs my hand and pulls me away where nobody can see.

Carl pushes me gently against the other side of the RV and puts his finger to my lips to silence me before I complain.
"Where are you going?" He remarks.
"With them, just like you."
"Dammit Mads, why do you always have to go?" He barks.
"What the hell? Is there a rule to say I can't go?"
"You don't have to go! Last time you went to hilltop you got a black eye, you still have that black eye and then when you insisted on going on another stupid trip you were taken and strangled. You're eye is cut.... are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"No! I'm t-"
"You're being stupid and reckless going to all these places where it's not necessary that you go."
"Wow, this has been stored in there a while, hasn't it? " I snap.
"You never listen to me Madison, you're too damn stubborn and it's gonna get you killed and I'm not standing around to watch it."

That wasn't what I was expecting and my breathing stops.

"What's that meant to mean?"
He sighs. "Nothing. Forget it."
He tried to walk away but I grab the collar of his shirt and pull him against the RV.
"Spit it out Grimes. Is there something you wanna tell me?" I ask, angry now.
"Quit trying to get yourself killed."
"I'm not!"
"You're not coming."
"You can't tell me what I can and can't do." I snap.
"YOU NEVER LISTEN TO ME ANYWAYS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT I SAY. YOU IGNORE ME AND DO IT ANYWAYS, NEARLY GETTING YOURSELF KILLED IN THE PROCESS!"

I ball my hands into fists and I feel my nails tearing into the skin of my palm.
"I'm going to the hilltop. For Maggie. Maggie took me in when you didn't even want to look at me when you found out I was pregnant. Rick didn't want me, you didn't want me... you know what that feels like? .... Maggie and Glenn took me in and I love them so much, like my own family. This isn't about me and it sure as hell isn't about you, it's about Maggie and getting her safely to the hilltop. And the longer we're out here arguing, the longer she's in pain so let's go."
"You're not going." He says once more, his voice is low and cold and sends shivers down my back.