Whispers (Carl Grimes AU)

Chapter 3

The rest of the day passed quickly. Maggie helped me walk to the house with the red roof that she had described to me, and I'd hobbled inside to the bedroom on the first floor, too exhausted to even attempt to walk up the stairs. And with my stitches, forget it.

I had climbed into bed and fallen asleep so quickly, I was unsure of the time of day when I woke up. It was either almost dark, or starting to get light out. I sighed, pushing my hair back as I stood and limped carefully to the door.

I grabbed the cold, metal knob and turning it, only to realize it was locked. Duh, I reminded myself. I had forgotten I even had a lock, or a door to be locked, for that matter.

I turned the lock, opening the door slowly, cautiously. The sky was almost dark, now, slightly darker than it was, telling me it was likely late evening, almost night. A single cricket chirped somewhere in the distance. I sighed softly, closing the door and limping back inside.

I was lost. I usually had to worry about survival constantly. Stay in the tree, Ellie. Don't fall off. Go hunting, Ellie. Just keep breathing, Ellie.

Now, I was safe. Such a foreign word to me, it was. Almost like a myth, a far away dream. Something that only existed long ago, like the dinosaurs. I didn't even know how to be safe anymore. I was just bored, another seemingly foreign word. What was one to do if not trying to survive?

I hadn't even realized I was back standing in the middle of my bedroom, the lamp on my table dimly lighting the room, until a knocking sound pulled me out of my wandering state. This puzzled me even more, not only because it was seemingly late, and everyone was inside. But the knock hadn't even come from the door. It seemed to be coming from the window, the one in my bedroom.

Curious, confused, and naturally, somewhat afraid, I approached the window slowly, unable to see outside from where I was standing. Upon reaching the window, I realized I couldn't see any better, but decided to chance it and open it anyway.

It didn't take long before a head of long, fluffy, brown hair poked through the open window, and Carl grinned up at me. I bit my lip. I was still angry at him, a bit, but damn it if his smile wasn't so bright and genuine...

"Told you, you'd see me again," he smirked, and I scoffed. I certainly was not in the mood to deal with his cockiness, right now. He frowned. "What's wrong?" I turned away, ignoring his question completely. Surely, he knew exactly what was wrong, and he thought he was going to get away with it. Even I knew he probably was, in all honesty. I didn't have many people to talk to in this world, let alone people my age.

"Come on, Ellie," he urged, folding his arms on the window ledge, dropping his head down in his arms. He looked so cute, I almost forgave him. Almost.

"You just left me out there, Carl," I bit out, reminding myself that I am still angry. He looked guilty.

"I know... I'm sorry for that." I rolled my eyes. "I tried, but-"

"Save it," I breathed. He looked down at his arms, an even more guilty expression on his face. He seemed genuinely sorry. I looked at the floor.

"Is your knee okay?" At the mention of my knee, I remembered just how much pain it was in. I bit my lip and tried to ignore it. "That bad?" I sighed as a response, looking back up at him. Only his eyes showed, his nose and mouth covered by his arms, his brown locks flowing over his arms like little waterfalls of hair. I could just barely see his dimples, but even if I couldn't, his eyes would have told me he was smiling. Unable to stop it, the corner of my mouth turned up. "Am I forgiven?" he asked innocently, resting his cheek against his forearm and letting his hair fall down his neck. I couldn't help but grin in response, and his grin widened. "I'll take that as a yes." I giggled, grabbing his hand and helping him through the window.