Search (Walking Dead/Carl Grimes Fanfiction)

Expanding Horizons

The creak of one of the floorboards was all it took to rouse Harry from his sleep. His mind instantly alerting him to the fact he was inside a walled community in what was apparently his own house, yet someone was inside. He grabbed his Beretta Auto9 and shot out of bed, aiming the gun at the open doorway of his bedroom. His legs wobbled, and his normally steady aiming arm shook as he saw who stood in the doorway. Ryan. He was as decomposed as he had been when he was buried, his teeth exposed, sunken eye sockets, discoloured, ripped flesh, his hair messy and beginning to fall out and his clothes torn and stained. Ryan was now covered in dirt and worms from having risen from his grave and he glared at Harry with his milky, lifeless eyes. His eyes started to glow as he began walking towards the frightened young man.

"Why did you do it?!" Ryan suddenly bellowed as he grabbed Harry by the throat with his cold, stiff and dead hands.

Harry shot up in bed, sweat trickling down his face as he panted heavily. He grabbed his Auto9 and looked around the dark room and at the doorway, but he was completely alone. The early morning sunlight was beginning to stream in through the windows as he placed his gun back on the bedside table. Harry held his forehead in one hand as he tried to calm himself down. It had just been a nightmare. Ryan was dead and buried. He was sleeping behind the thick, safe walls of a well-protected community. A voice in the back of his head questioned that statement as he doubted his own initial judgement. How safe was this community? And why did he do it?

The birds sang their chorus in the trees above as the sun continued to rise into the sky. It was still early morning so most of Alexandria was still asleep. Rosita waved from her position on the lookout point as Jason jogged past. He wore his usual cargos with his TRP Operator holstered on his thigh but instead of his usual shirt and jacket he simply wore a tank top. Sweat trickled down his forehead as the air temperature continued to rise as he continued to exert himself in his morning exercise routine. He had already run or jogged the perimeter of Alexandria ten times over, which gave him an estimated distance of about five miles though his usual was around six.

As he rounded one of the bends in the perimeter he almost ran right into Harry, who appeared to be walking round the perimeter as well. He was fully dressed with his body armour under his shirt, his weapons holstered, and his hands protected by his carbon fibre military gloves. Harry was intently inspecting every inch of the perimeter wall as he walked, one hand always resting on his thigh holster.

"You're up early." Jason remarked, slowing to a stop as he took deep breaths.

"This place isn't safe." Harry answered bluntly, not even looking at him.

"Nowhere really is these days but at least in here we're safer than most places." Jason replied, looking around at the five-meter-high perimeter wall that surrounded them.

"Not safe enough." Harry repeated. "This place is a disaster waiting to happen and I'm disappointed if you can't see that."

Jason rested his hands on his hips and sighed. He knew improvements could always be made but Harry was making it sound like the community was going to catch fire. After a moment, he smirked and decided to get back at his old friend for the snippy remark.

"For someone who's not staying, you're awfully security conscious all of a sudden." Jason commented, smirking at his friend.

"Wherever I stay, no matter how temporary it may be, must be secure." Harry countered. "And this place isn't."

"Then enlighten me." Jason answered with an impatient wave of his hand. "Help us make it safer instead of just constantly judging."

"I shouldn't have to." Harry responded curtly, folding his arms.