Side-by-Side

Chapter 30

I wake up the next morning, I'm still laying on the couch. I turn my head over and see that Daryl and Chase are lying on the floor cuddling together. I smile to myself. This would be a good time to have a camera.

I bring myself up to a sitting position and rub the sleep away from my eyes. I slept pretty well last night, but the sofa did hurt my back a little bit. I press my hand against my slightly growing tummy.

I got up slowly and moved around the boys quietly so I don't wake them up. I make my way outside to get some fresh air. I think I was the first one up because there was no one in sight. I sat down on the steps and looked out towards the road. There were no walkers in sight and the wind blew lightly through the trees. It was quite. There were no birds singing, no animals crawling around, nothing... It was so sad.

I looked up to the sky, the usual blue was a tad darker than normal, and there were a couple of grey clouds in the sky. It may rain today, which will help the temperature cool down a bit. The door behind me opened and closed and someone sat down beside me. I turned my head to see Carl.

"Morning."

"Morning Youngster."

I studied him a bit. His hair was longer than it was months ago, covering his eyes slightly. He grew up a lot since the quarry. His structure now a lot taller than mine, his stance more mature and alert. The one thing that I can say that never changed about him, was his eyes. His eyes were the same as they've always been. Blue, and full of wonder and curiosity.

"What are you looking at?" He asked me when he caught me staring.

"I am looking at how old you got. Jeez man, I think you are starting to look older than me and I am nearly twice your age." He nudged my arm with his elbow when I finished, and I leaned my head on his shoulder.

"I remember when you were just a kid. So small and innocent."

"We didn't meet until I was about 10."

"See that is where you are wrong. I saw you at the station once when it was bring your kid to work day. Your father had finally got me into the station and I saw you walking in with him. I knew you guys were related right off the bat."

"So... you knew me all this time and never told me anything?"

"What was I suppose to say? 'Hey kid, I know we just met, but actually, I first saw you when you were just this tall at the station.' I am pretty sure you would've thought I was stalking you."

Carl smiled as he looked out into the distance.

"I miss my mom," he said quietly as he intertwined his figners and looks straight ahead.

"I miss mine too."

"I thought you hated your mom," he says as he looks over to me, "I mean, well, after everything that her and your dad did to you."

"Yes, I hate that part of them. But when they weren't drunk out of their minds they were actually really good people. Besides, as much as I hate them... they are still my parents."

"I guess you're right."

Carl and I don't talk after that. We just sit down in silence and enjoy the crappy view of trees and an empty road ahead of us. There's no birds chirping, hummingbirds pecking at the wood bark, there isn't any rabbits hopping around and it's unusual. The total silence was scary a bit, and it felt... off.

"Carly, what's wrong?" Carl asks me, grabbing my hand which appears to be shaking. I look down at the hand that Carl is holding, then look back out to the quietness of the world in front of me.

"Something isn't right. It's too quiet."

The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and I feel a weird chill runs down my back. In the distance, I see movement behind a tree, and as I focus my eyes more sharply I see a walker stumble out. Carl must see it too because he quickly let's go out my shaky hand and pulls out his knife while he stands.

"Carl, wait..." I stand and grab his hand to pull him back as he starts to progress forward. Another walker stumbles out, and another, along with two more, and soon enough, there's a crowd of them.

"Shit! Run in, gather everyone around."

We both run back into the house and tell everyone that there's a hoard coming towards us.

"We can't leave, there's too many." Carol says as she absorbs from the window, they are getting closer.

"Right now, we need to board up all the doors and windows with anything that's heavy and opaque. Close all the lights and no one make a sound. It may get rid of a few, but we can take on the few stranglers." Dad says as he hands me Judith.

"You can't lift anything, so take Judith downstairs in the basement so she doesn't alert with crying if it comes to that. We will all meet down there in a bit."

I listen to his orders though I'm the leader, and so does everyone else. Judith is sleeping soundlessly in my arms as I make my way down the stairs, blanket wrapped around her. I can hear everyone upstairs moving things around. The sofa, dressers, cabinets, tables and chairs all getting put against a door or window and soon the footsteps are being carried down the wooden stairs to the basement. 

Dad takes role call and then takes a seat against the wall on the floor.

"And now... we wait."

HEY GUYS!!!

I know, I know!! It's been a while, and I am so so so sorry!! I also know that this chapter is shitty, and I'm sorry to say but I have really bad writers craft right now.

I promise to try and get another chapter (that will hopefully be better than this crappy one) up soon.

Those who are still with me, whether you've been from the start, or are a new comer, I want to thank you for your patience!!!! I love seeing your comments, and reading your private messages for me and I am so thankful for them!!

I love you all!!