I'm a Survivor: A Carol Peleteir Story

Chapter 5

"Hey," Lori walked up to me, after walking out from the woods, with an empty red bucket, her button up shirt was all out of a order--like she took it off and put it back on in a hurry..

"Hey." I said, smiling. "Find anything?"

"Oh uh..." She looked down at the plastic red container. "Nope. I guess Amy took them all.." she smiled awkwardly, and Shane walked out of the woods, and started talking to Dale.

"Is Shane your husband?" I asked, politely as I started hanging up the freshly washed clothes on the clothes line.

"No..." Her face instantly had a frown, with tears in her eyes. "He...died..after all this happened.."

"Oh.." I felt sad for her, and gave her a hug. "I'm sorry."

"Hey!" Amy yelled. "Guys come here!" Dale, looked down from the top of his RV as Shane and everyone gathered around Amy, her holding what seemed like a walkie talkie.

"This is..." The static voice came in and out. I held onto Sophia as we watched. "Can..Anyone...hear.."

"Yes!" Amy blurted. "I--I can hear you! Hello??"

"I...repeat..." the static man said. "This is...can anyone...hear...me.."
Everything went static, no voice.

"I can't get this thing to work!" Amy said, and Shane took it out of her hands.

"Hello, hello. This is officer Shane Walsh, is anyone there?" No response.

He through the talkie and cursed under his breath.

"No signal?" I asked.

"Must be the mountains.." Lori said, looking at the radio. "We gotta put signs out.." She stated. "Warn people to not go into the city."

"We can't do that.." Shane shook his head. "We aren't gonna let anymore of us split up from the camp. Too Dangerous."

"I'll go out there myself." Lori snapped. "Just give me a vehicle."

"No. I'm not letting you go out there. That's final." Shane shut her down, and she stormed off.

Shane soon followed after her.

Carl walked up to me and Sophia. "Can me and Carl play our chess game?" Sophia asked.

"Sure.." I said. "Lemme get it out of the car."

"I'm gonna go talk to my mom..." Carl said, and ran off to his family's tent.

"Does Carl just not wanna play with me..?"

"No," I patted Sophia's shoulder. "Don't think like that. He's just scared for his mom I think.."

Sophia lays her head on my side. "It's going to be alright, sweetie." I kissed the top of her head.

"Miranda?" Miranda walked up to me after I called her name. "could you watch Sophia for me?" She took hold of. Sophia's shoulder, somewhat shielding her.

"Yeah." She nodded, and looked at Ed, then looked at her children. "I'll watch her for you." She looks down at Sophia. "Wanna ask Carl if he wants to play with you and my kids?"

"Sure." She said.

"I'll go with you." She turned to me, and nodded at me, assuring Sophia was safe.

"Where are you going Carol?" Ed asked, burning another cigarette.

"Geese, Ed," I said, waving away the stench of tobacco burning. "How many have you had--?"

He grabbed onto my arm. "Don't ignore my question." He blew the smoke in my face. "Answer."

I took a big gulp, and yanked my arm out of his grip. "I'm goin' to get some sleep." I stormed into the tent, zipped it up, and laid on my blankets, where me and Sophia slept.

I closed my eyes, and drifted to sleep.

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"Honey..." I opened the door to my house, putting my purse on the end table of my sofa. I heard crying. I dropped everything and opened Sophia's room.

Ed had his hand on Sophia's hand.

"Ed!" I yelled. "What are you doing?!" I ran over to Sophia, hugging her tight.

"None of your business Carol."

"She's my daughter Ed!" He slapped me across the face.

"She's also mine." He snapped and stormed out of the room.

"Sophia," I bent down to her level. "Are you alright?" I pulled her blonde hair from her face, she shook her head and sobbed in my arms.

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I woke up, gasping. I got out of my tent, and looked everywhere for Sophia.

I turned to see Maria, playing with her children, Carl, and Sophia.

I sighed in relief, and ran to Sophia, hugging her tight. "Is everything alright Carol?" Miranda asked.

"Yeah.." I shook my head, and wiped away my tears. "Another..nightmare.."

"I'm sorry," Miranda said, hugging me. "It's okay."

"Are you alright, Carol?" Lori asked, stuffing her hands in her back pocket. "I heard you screaming--"

"I--I'm fine.." I looked around, everyone doing what they usually do.
"...stick around me okay honey?" I wiped the tears away from my cheeks.

T-Dog's voice started coming through the radio. Everyone looked at each other, full of fear expect for Ed, who was smoking another cigarette, chugging a can of beer.

T-Dog said "We're Trapped."