𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝟐. carl grimes

22 - CRY

author's note!

i cried again when i watched ep 9 tbh my poor bby carl :(

—~—

"Alright, new plan." Rick tells us quietly as we stopped by a few bushes, making sure no walkers notice us. We let go of each other's hand, apart from Carl and I. "Flares from a few guns aren't enough. Too many walkers, too spread out. We're not going to the armory. We need out vehicles back at the quarry. All of us drive. We'll need to round 'em up. We leave, we come back."

We all nod, I go through what Rick says again in my head to make sure I didn't miss a single detail. I don't need to mess up now. "Okay. But Judith, to the quarry and back, I—"

Gabriel cuts Jessie off. "I'll take her. Keep her safe in my church until you all lead the walkers away."

I still don't trust Gabriel but his proposal seems promising. I'd rather have Judith safe back at the church than having to ride with us as we lead the walkers away. But like I said, I still don't trust Gabriel.

Rick seems hesitant just like I am. "Can you do this?" Michonne asked the priest.

"I'm supposed to. I have to." Gabriel answers the former, before looking back at Rick. "I will."

I help Carl lift up the sheet and give Judith to Gabriel. The baby whimpers as she was in Gabriel's arms and I pray to god that nothing bad happens to her. Not her, please, not Judy.

"Take Sam." Jessie said, the former quick to protest.

"No. I'm not leaving you." Sam tells his mom. I don't know what's better, whether Sam goes with Gabriel and Judith or he stays with us. "Mom, I'm not. I can keep going. I can keep going, please. Let's just go."

Jessie nods eventually and I released a breath. It's brave for the kid to stay with us, but I sure wish he doesn't screw up like Lizzie did.

"I'm going to keep her safe." Gabriel promises to Rick, who thanked him, before he started walking away.

I bit my lip as the worry in me doesn't leave. I squeeze Carl's hand and he squeezes back instantly.

"He's gonna make it, okay?" Jessie reassures Rick. "I know it."

The latter grabs Sam's hand before the boy grabbed his mother's hand. Carl goes to hold Jessie's other hand and the closes person to me is Ron, so I pushed all my thoughts away and held out my hand for him to hold. He takes it, gripping my hand firmly but it doesn't hurt. Michonne is at the end, and we started walking away.

Carl looks back at me with a reassuring small smile, and I return the gesture.

— night

Because there are a dozen and more of walkers roaming around Alexandria, it became hard to us to get to the gate so we can leave. I haven't seen anybody else, as much as I'm worrying at our current situation right now, I'm worrying even more about my mom. Is she safe? Is she okay? Is she alive? I haven't gotten that bad feeling in my gut so I'm assuming she's okay.

It was all going well, until Sam lets go of Rick's hand as he stares at the walkers. His lips are trembling, he looks pale and that look on his face is telling me that he's about to slip any second now. Dear Lord, not now.

"Sam? Sam?" Jessie calls quietly to her son. "Come on, come on. Sweetheart? Sam?"

The latter still seemed dazed and scared, still staring at the walkers as he started crying. We all start whispering encouragements to the boy, trying to get his head back in the game, but the look on his face tells me that he's lost it.