cassette tapes |d. dixon| [1]

28

"The air was tense. We've never been in a situation like this. Group against group. Soon, night fell and there was still no sign that they were back."

CAROLINE STOOD IN THE GUARD TOWER, watching, waiting. Carol was still healing. Beth barely knows how to use a gun and Axel doesn't know at all. Hershel was only on one leg. And Carl... he hasn't even killed a person. Shooting walkers is all he knows.

She was the first and last line of defence left.

It got real dark and Caroline went inside to make sure everyone was okay. She switched shifts with Carol and Axel.

"You doing okay, kid?" The blonde asked, sitting next to the boy wearing the sheriff hat. He and Beth were reloading clips with the bullets they found in the armory a while back.

"Yeah. Just hope they're okay?" He answered,

"Eh, you're daddy's tough. They'll be just fine." Caroline smirked down at him.

"Finally got Judith to sleep." Hershel stated, walking over to them,

"How are we with formula?" Carl asked,

"We have enough to last us another month."

Carl nodded, "Care and I will go for some more at the end of the week."

Caroline looked over at the boy, "Your dad and the others will be back by then." She told him,

"We don't know that. Right now, Judith is the only family I got."

She stared at the boy sadly. He had to mature way too fast in this world.

Suddenly, they heard screams coming from the tombs.

Beth sat up straighter, "What was that?"

"That was from inside." Hershel stated,

"Makes this place seem haunted." Caroline muttered, standing up,

"Was that Carol?" Carl asked,

Caroline shook her head, "She's out keeping watch in the guard tower with Axel."

"What if they came back in for something? What if they're in trouble?" Beth questioned,

"Let's check the tower, see if she's there." Caroline stated,

"How could anyone else get in?" Beth asked,

"The tombs are filled with walkers that wandered in from outside. Someone else could have done the same thing." Hershel answered,

Carl grabbed his gun and stood, "I'm going."

Hershel stopped him with his crutch, "I can't let you go down there."

"My father would go." Carl stated, walking around him.

Caroline stopped in front of Hershel, "Beth, go check to see if Carol and Axel are still in the guard tower. Hershel, stay here with Ass-kicker. I'll go with Carl." They all nodded and separated to do their jobs.

The blonde held up a flashlight, taking the lead as they walked into the tombs. Carl stayed behind her, checking every so often to make sure nothing was sneaking up behind them.

The wails of pain were getting louder and Caroline knew they were getting close.

"They were alive, that's for sure. But I don't know for how much longer. They had to be attracting a bunch of walkers."

They went into he boiler room where they spotted a small group of people. A few were cowering on the floor, holding a woman crying in pain while others were hitting the walkers. Caroline and Carl quickly shot the walkers and the group all paused to stare at them,

"What are you waiting for?" Caroline stated, "C'mon!"

Walkers followed as they ran down the corridor. The man behind everyone was carrying a woman and Caroline could see the bite on her arm,

"Hurry!" Carl called out as he fell, clearly exhausted,

"Go!" The man stated,

The larger man ran over, "Let me take her."

"I'll cover you." The woman carrying the shovel ran over and took out the walkers following them, "Look out!"

Caroline turned and she and Carl shot the few walkers approaching,

"You have to leave her!" Carl yelled,

"No way!" The large man carrying the bitten woman replied,

"Let's go." Caroline shot the walker behind the group and they began running once more.

They quickly made it back to the cell block and the group collapsed. "Oh, God! Donna?" Caroline looked over at the bitten woman as they laid her down. Her eyes glazed over, "Is she dead? Is she dead? Baby?"

Carl aimed his gun at her head, "I'll take care of it."

The large dark skinned man held up his hand, "Whoa! Whoa, kid. Wait a minute."

"She doesn't have that long." Carl stated, and Caroline reached over to lower his gun,

"Who the hell are you?" The other woman questioned, "How did you get in here? Who are you with?"

"Look, we can help you." Carl stated, "First things first." He looked back down at the dead woman,

"No, we take care of our own." The man grabbed the other boy's hammer and Caroline winced,

"No, Tyreese!" The other man begged,

"I gotta do it. Look, just take Ben and lean against the wall. It'll be quick." Tyreese, the large man, told him.

Caroline pushed Carl back towards their cells. She began to follow and watched as the man put a bandana over the dead woman's face and grabbed the boy. They must've been a family. Caroline couldn't imagine what they must've been feeling.

Caroline closed the door and locked it, making sure they couldn't come in.

"Hey, what are you doing? Did you just lock us in here?" The woman asked, walking over and the other man followed, "Open the door."

"This room is secure. You'll be safe." Caroline stated, "You have food and water."

She walked over and began shaking the door, "Open this door."

"I can't." Caroline answered,

"Come on, man. We're not animals. Don't do this." Hershel popped his head out, "Hey! You can't just leave us in here! Open this door! Open it! Now!"

"Sasha!" Tyreese grabbed her, "Back away from their door and let the girl go. Look around you. This is the best we've had it in weeks. Their house. We got other things to do." Tyreese looked back at her, "We don't want any trouble."

"Shouldn't we help them?" Beth asked,

"We did." Carl answered, going back into his cell where his sister was.

"We did. We truly did. We gave them shelter and food. All we had to do is wait for Rick to come back. He'd know what to do then."