Found Book One

Protect Them

I crawl out into the sunlight, Carl hops up first, he grabs my arm and pulls me up. "Mika, take Judith," he tells her as he takes the baby from me. She complies and takes the younger girl toward the wooden fence.

"Carl, I'm fine," I say as he bends down in front of me. He yanks my shirt up, "You tore out your stitches," he says digging the bags we grabbed.

He pulls out an already ragged t-shirt, Carl tears it and quickly makes a bandage for my stomach.

"No carrying Judith," he says standing back up in front of me. I nod and stand up on my toes to catch his lips.

I walk over to the young girls and wait for Gabriel and Michonne to crawl out from under the building.

"I-I can't run anymore," Gabriel mumbles, Michonne shakes her head. "We aren't running," she says. Michonne and Carl rush to the front of the church. They kill the few straggling walkers.

Michonne and Carl move up the steps of the porch to hammer the door shut. They walk back down the stairs. The walkers bang on the wooden doors. Mika and I sort through the supplies we grabbed.

I stand quickly when I hear a walker's growls. I turn and draw my knife. Mika screams as the dead thing grabs her shoulder.

I shove the knife into its skull causing it to go limp. Carl and Michonne rush over.

Carl takes Judith from Mika's arms and Michonne takes Mika's face in her hands. Michonne pulls away and rubs the back of Judith's head.

"Are you okay?" she asks. I nod and pull Mika to my side. Michonne turns, "Where did you go?" she asks looking at the guilty priest.

"The school, I-I had to see," he answers, "I had to know," he mumbles looking Michonne straight in the eyes.

The wood holding the door shut snaps, Mika stands and grabs onto me.

Carl draws his gun, "Where do we go?" he asks looking at Michonne. The wood continues to crack under the weight of the walkers.

"I don't know," she replies looking around the secluded area. She moves in front of me and Judith. Mika takes out her gun.

"Aim for the head, Mik," I say wrapping the ragged blanket I grabbed around Judith.

The sound of gravel crunching under heavy tires approaches. We all turn to see a fire truck. Whoever's in the front seat blares the horn as they rip off the porch off the building. They stop the large truck right in front of the door.

Abraham pops his head out the open window, "I'm glad we got here in time to save you from those undead pricks," he yells. He opens the door and jumps out onto the dirt.

Maggie, Rosita, and Tara hop out next. Carl takes the toddler from my arms. "Maggie, Daryl found Beth and Carol," Michonne says smiling. She pulls Maggie into her arms.

Her smile grows and a happy sob falls from her lips. She turns to hug her husband, "I get the rest of my family back," Maggie mumbles against his neck.

Tara grabs my arm and spins me around. "I told you you'd get me back," she chuckles. I hug her tightly, "Thank you," I say moving out of her arms.

I pull the silver band with a chain pattern from my pocket. I slip it onto my finger and look up at her. "How are you so small?" she asks, placing her elbow on my shoulder, barely lifting her arm.

"Malnutrition, but it makes this little chíca adorable," Rosita says bending down to look me over.

"You tore your stitches didn't you," she commands. I nod pushing her hands away. "Well, Washington is out," Tara says letting a yo-yo roll from her palm.

"Why? What happened?" I ask looking up at her.

"Eugene lied," Rosita says with a touch of venom in her voice. I frown and look over at Carl who is bouncing Judith on his hip with a smile.

I slowly make my way over to him and the two girls. "Let's blow this joint and save your sister," Tara says. "And your mom," she giggles scooping up Mika.

Abraham nods and walks back over to the red vehicle. we all follow him over. Glenn and Maggie climb into the fire truck cab.

I take Judith as Carl hops into the cab. I squeal as Abraham lifts me up and places me into the truck.

I slump into the seat beside Carl. Judith giggles and reaches up for Carl's brown sheriff's hat.

He pulls it off of his head and hands it to the baby in my lap. Mika sits on the seat beside me. We all enjoy the air that blows through the open windows of the vehicle. It gives us a temporary break from the heat. 

"Eugene might not be able to stop it but Washington is still as safe as it's gonna get," Carl whispers. I smile as Judith eats some mashed up canned pears.

Mika leans her head on my shoulder. "Do you think that we're gonna get all of our people back," she asks.

I nod, "We're not gonna lose anyone else," I say. The younger girl smiles. "Wake me up when we get there," she mumbles closing her eyes.

"What do you think's gonna happen when get to the hospital," I ask. I place the can and spoon on the floor and rock the toddler in my arms.

"I haven't got to hold her yet," Tara complains reaching across the aisle for the baby. I pass her over and look over at Carl. 

The road to Atlanta is baron, there are a few cars here and there but other than that nothing. I can hear the people up front deciding on which way to go, Michonne ultimately settles the matter once we get into the city and we find the hospital that Daryl had talked about.