Our Shadows (Carl Grimes/The Walking Dead)

Chapter 9: Search Party

It's been hours of silence ever since we left the once CDC but now crumbled memories and concrete. Everyone was too caught up in realizing there is no cure, that last chance we had was gone. We all just starred out the caravan windows, watching the open fields and forest pass by. I on the other hand wasn't up to taking to Carl, not after his almost death. I was frustrated and still shocked that I almost lost him and therefore I was angry. I wasn't angry at him but at myself for allowing friendship stand in my way of surviving. It didn't help that I didn't know how to break the ice and just talk to him like nothing happened and so I sat far from him and watch the fields roll by.

"It's been hours of endless driving and it's getting dark" Lori pointed out.

"I know but we can't just set up camp in the middle of no where-" Rick started but the car slowly stopped. He glanced at the gas meter, empty.

"Looks like we can" Lori smiled and hoped out of the car, everyone following after. The other cars stopped behind us.

"Why we stopping?" T-Dog asked.

"The gas tank is empty" Rick said. Daryl muttered a curse under his breath.

"Well there's a town not too far from here, I can go there in the morning and get some gas" Glenn offered.

"I'll go too" Shane said. Everyone nodded and began to unpack supplies from the vehicles. As Carl and I helped his mom take out tents, a small scream escaped Sophia's mouth. Everyone dropped what they were holding to see Sophia stand frozen in front of a herd of walkers. They emerged from every corner like a crowd at a concert. I slapped my hand to my side to find my gun holster was empty. My eyes widened as everyone was pulling out knives and guns.

I panicked, running back to the car. As gun shots were being fired, I was tossing myself in the car but I couldn't find my gun. "Adara!" A voice yelled over gun shots. I turned around to see Carl tossing me a silver pistol. My gun. I pulled the trigger, putting a bullet in a walker's head in one swift move.

"Sophia!" Carol cried. I turned my head to see Sophia running into the forest and my legs carried after her. A walker lounged towards me, grabbing my wrist.

"Sophia stop!" I tried to scream at her but she continued to run into the forest, getting smaller and smaller. I turned around and kicked the walker in the stomach. The walker pulled my wrist with it, and with two hands, snapped my wrist in half. A blood curdling scream escaped my mouth. My kicks got weaker as the pain in my wrist grew from being jerked everywhere.

Carl ran full speed towards the walker's that teeth were only inches from my arm. Slamming his fist into its jaw and pulling out his gun. When Carl pulled the trigger and the walker fell to the ground, I cradled my wrist trying to keep from shouting in pain.

"Adara! Are you okay?!" Carl asked.

I shook my head," Don't worry about me, you need to go after Sophia!" I pointed to the direction where I last saw Sophia scatter into. Carl nodded and bolted in the direction. Even though I my right wrist was broken, I could still use my left with the gun. I grabbed my gun from the ground and began shooting the walkers that limped towards me.

The last gun shot was fired and all the walkers were now lifeless bodies on the ground. I placed my pistol in my holster. Carol was in suspense along with the rest of the group when Carl finally came out of the forest. Sweat trickling down his forehead.

"My baby, did you find her?" Carol cried. Carl shook his head, drawing his eyes to the floor. Carol melted to the floor as Andrea and Lori ran to comfort her. Carl raised his eyes to meet mine then locking his eyes on my throbbing wrist.