Alone Together - Carl Grimes

Self Help

     Time passed and Annalise felt herself growing tired of the vacant roads. Moving from the window to the aisle seat, she now found herself in between her parents. With Maggie sitting by the window and Glenn sitting on the seat next to her. She sighed as she placed her head on Maggie's shoulder. " Hey! Look at me, baby. " Maggie spoke softly, raising the girl's head off her shoulder and angling herself to get a better look at the girl. " Maybe they're just behind us. Maybe Daryl and Carol came back. " Maggie added, trying to make the girl feel better about the situation she had been thrown into.

Annalise feels a hand on her knee and turns to face Glenn. Watching him nod his head in agreement at Maggie's words. " Maybe they took the map, found some cars, and are just down the road. " She hopes, becoming calmer as the words come out. Even though all she could do was hope that she was right. Glenn smiles at the encouraging words, squeezing Annalise's knee before removing his hand.

" They'll catch up. " Glenn finishes, looking past Annalise into Maggie's eyes. The young girl rubs her temples, becoming impatient at the already long journey. Maggie notices the frustration of Annalise and begins to realize how long they have been on the road already. Yet she knew they were nowhere near their destination.

Maggie turns her head to face Eugene. With the man looking from the window at Maggie " How long will it be? After you get on that terminal and do what you have to do. " Maggie questions. Annalise turns around in the seat, now sitting on her knees to look at Eugene. Looking into his eyes as the words leave his mouth and hit her ears like a foreign language.

As the words went in one of Annalise's ears and out the other, she tilted her head a " Why the hair? " The youngest girl questions bluntly, after a long stretch of quiet. Making Maggie shake her head as Glenn chuckled. " Because I like it. " Eugene shoots back, making Annalise nod at the man before turning back to face the front.

" Y'all can laugh all you want. " He continues, noticing that everyone had begun laughing quietly. " No one was making fun. " Maggie explains defending her daughter's question. " No, I was. " Annalise whispers, feeling a light pinch in her arm coming from her mother. Yet she turned to see Glenn holding his fist in front of her. Annalise bumps her fist against his, laughing slightly to herself as she tried her hardest to tune out the conversation from around her.

While her mind races fast, multiple questions go through her head. Questions about the life she left behind at the church. What had happened since they left? Are they still there? Are they even alive? These questions were the only thing going through the girl's head. That wasn't until a loud noise brought her out of her thoughts.

Bang

Annalise's whole body jerked forward, as she felt the whole bus begin to swerve. Her feet dug into the floor, while her hand grabbed the seat in front of her. Within the blink of an eye, the bus was in the air. Maggie held on to Annalise as tight as she could while the bus came slamming down onto its side.

A loud crash followed the bus hitting the ground, a sound that was sure to draw the walker's attention. Annalise's ears rang loudly as she started to come back to her senses. She opened her eyes and groaned as she pushed herself up. She felt herself flinch the moment she saw a walker's hands pound onto the bus windows.

The ringing got fainter and the sound of Rosita's voice was the first thing the girl heard. " The engine is on fire, we gotta get out of here. " She calls out and Glenn quickly comes up with an idea, knowing they needed to get out quick. " Alright, you and I go first, knock them back. " He starts looking at a shaken up Abraham." Clear the way for Maggie, Annalise, and Rosita to get out. Then we all start hitting them. Okay? " Glenn finishes, not waiting for a response before heading straight towards the back doors of the bus.