The Warrior Within

A Place to Stay

Chapter 8

~Charlotte~

We walked through the empty and quiet CDC. When I first stepped in here I expected scientists to be walking round, someone giving us a warm welcome and introducing us to each scientist.

"I don't understand..." I say out loud. "Where is everyone?"

I look up at Glenn and he shrugs his shoulders. Everyone was looking round, taking in everything in the building, but we still managed to stay close to each other. I stopped dead in my tracks when I hear the sound of a rifle being pumped.

"What do you want?" We heard the voice of a stern man. Rick, Shane and Daryl point their weapons in the direction the sound came from.

Rick slowly put his gun down, a sign that we are friendly. "A chance." Rick tells the unknown man. I stare at the man who hold the gun. He looked like he was in his mid forties and short greyish, blonde hair.

"That's asking for a lot these days."

"I know that. But please, you can trust our people. We are good people." Rick tells him, the tone in his voice is pleading.

"Anybody infected?" He asks and I immediately think of Jim and us leaving him at the tree.

"One of our group was." Rick states. "He didn't make it."

"You all submit a blood test." My first thought was, 'Nope, no way. I can't do that. Needles and I don't get on well together.' I always end up fainting. But if it is to stay here, then I guess I am gonna have to deal with it. "That's the price of admission."

"We can do that." Rick tells him, but I know I can't. My legs feel like they are about to collapse.

"You got stuff to bring in, you do it now. Once this door closes, it stays closed."

~

I don't like needles, but I am okay in cramped spaces, like the one we are in now. We are in a small box elevator. Glenn is pushed up really close to me, his hand on my shoulder. My heart is beating fast, because never has a boy been so close to me.

Rick introduces himself to the scientist.

"Dr. Edwin Jenner."

I listen to the gentle hum of the elevator.

"Doctors always go packing heat like that?" Daryl asks. I give a quiet chuckle.

"You all look harmless enough...except for you. I'll have to keep my eye on you." Dr Jenner says, looking down at a beaming Carl.

The elevator doors opened and we walk down a long narrow hallway.

"Are we underground?" Carol asks, he a hit off fear in her voice.

"Why? Are you claustrophobic?" Jenner asks her.

"A little." Carol replied.

I walk down the hallway next to Glenn, are arms rubbing against each other as we walk down.

"There are dorms where you can sleep in, the food hall is close by and there is a games room that the kids can play in, but just don't put in any video games."

I sigh when he says this as I miss my video games. They are something I used to play with all the time.

"And when you shower..." he begins and my heart skips a beat when he said the 's' word. "go easy on the hot water."

"Hot water?" Glenn asked, a smile creeping on his face.

"That's what the man said." T-Dog exclaimed, with a smile bigger then Glenn and mines put together.