IVORY | Carl Grimes

thirty-two - equanimity ;

the exposed cement of the unfinished room was all the more off putting. tara was still trying to catch her breath as she let her hand guide her along the turn. rosita tightened her pony tail, a look of evident dismay spilling into the next room.

the room was still and cold, the only detectable warmth emitting from beth's eyes brimming with unmistakable worry. it was truly a pitiful sight. the element of surprise allowed certain chaos to ensue.

the long haired prisoner taken from the wolve's attack had managed to knock out both carol and sawyer, leaving the golden-locked girl to attend to the unconscious with an admonitory look her way. beth blinked her eyes tight shut to replay the scene in her head one more time. denise blinked in a rapid fashion, eyes begging beth for help she knew in her heart could not be offered. the enemy pulled her out of the door and into the madness, nonetheless.

beth gently carded her fingers through sawyer's hair, attempting to ease the pain undoubtedly gnawing through his skull. he would not admit it, but her touch was working a unique sense of magic on his aching head as he struggled to open his eyelids labored with exhaustion and affliction.

"that son of a bitch." sawyer's words were gradually spoken as he groaned, but inexplicably chosen.

sawyer's pupils attempted to regulate according to the change in lighting. in acknowledging the absence of the prisoner, his anger was apparent as he slammed his palm against the cement. it reverberated loudly against the walls, sending his head spinner even further.

rosita gave her signature smirk, the one that showed exactly how fed up she was with the impossibility of the situation she was now left to deal with.

"yeah," she scoffed, "he's dead."

"you seen my sister?" sawyer questioned as he glanced up towards rosita's eyes, squinting. he tried to appear calm but knew he was failing. with a clenched jaw, he relaxed his knee's consistent bouncing—foot beating against the floor.

rosita shook her head and her smirk ran away, turning to pick up tara's solemn smile. sawyer nodded deeply. beth did not even bother to hide her emotions. her shaking sigh nearly reached its breaking point as she ran a hand through her hair to push a few stray hairs aside.

"we can't stay here," beth noted silently, "we have to move forward if we want a chance."

rosita checked the ammo from the gun on her belt clip and responded without looking up, "let's go get that chance, blondie."

["]

— FLASHBACK —

"you never told me."

sawyer dropped his pencil onto the wooden table, looking up to give saskia his full attention. his annoyance level was clearly addressed on his face and the sigh preceding his response and, yet, the response still came. the homework sitting in front of him would have to wait.