To survive (A TWD Carl Grimes fanfic)

Chapter 22- im alive/shes dead

zoeys POV~

as i limp out of the oncoming smoke i see the car drive away. shit. i understand why they left, its a death trap. its not safe for them here. just as I'm lost in my train of thought, my arm is held by a walker. i come face to face with it, it has blood streamed down its face. from its mouth, its eyes, even its nose. its quite revolting. although some of its blood and drool get on me, i manage to repress the urge to puke, and stab it. and i just keep walking, its not safe for me either. i figure i can track the car; so i pick up a pen, look at which way the moss on the nearest tree, and drew a compass on my hand. I'm alive and it will stay that way.

Daryl's POV~

i have to tell beth and carl. beth and carl. I'm sad to say that beth, will be easier to tell then carl. so ill tell beth first.

after i told beth i went to see carl. i broke the news to beth, which she took remarkably well, so ill try to put it as gently with carl. but the thing is i honestly, didn't give a rats ass about zack. and I'm not saying that in a mean way, but nothing in my life will be different without him. its not like that with zoey. she called me dad, for Pete's sake. i got to the cell and carl was smiling down a pictures. pictures from a print picture camera we got a while back. he, without looking up, ran to give me a hug. but luckily before he could k-kiss me, ew, he opened his eyes and realized it was me. his eyes widened, and backed away. he went to divert me and go downstairs but i stopped him.

"ye ain't gonna find 'er down there." he looks confused and something then clicks. problem is its not the right conclusion.

"i swear that girl enjoys story time more then life itself." i cringe at the choice of words but once agin i stop him from leaving.

"carl..." he gets overly frustrated.

"daryl! spit it out! speak!"

"zoey, ye girl. she fought, saved bobs life. but then walkers were everywhere, an' i tried goin' back fer er but then the hole thing collapsed. his eyes gloss over. i imeadiatly se the; shock, sadness, sorrow, and utter confusion written across his face.

"shes dead!" i nod and he leaves for the tombs, i hear the low sobs start to form. i sit down where carl just was and took the stack of pictures. i start going through them.
carl and her, kissing.
her and carl smiling.
there backs to the camera, in the guard tower during the sunset holding hands.
her on carls back.
glenn and maggie.
the kids.
patrick and carl with there thumb and pointer finger on there chins trying to look deep in thought.
carl and rick.
carol.
beth and zack.
michonne and carl.
Zoey n-n-AKED! if this wasn't the case i would strangle that boy. there are so many, and i planned to go through them all. but one stops me.
me and her. shes on my shoulders. and what i didn't notice before, about the other pictures; was writing.
me and dad. best daddy in the world, even though he almost dropped me
i love you dad.
wait... did i just read that right? she l-l-loves m-m-m-me-me. now here comes the water works, and i started crying. almost as bad as when merle died. i through my knife at the wall so hard, it stuck. shes dead, maybe i coulda done somethin'. but shes gone, and i just left her there. I'm no better then 'officer friendly.'

Zoeys POV~

after i had no luck with tire tracks, i started feeling really shitty. I'm sweating, and coughing. after i went in the woods to catch some grubs, i found a snare. and then another, then another. i knew they were ours. so i got the meat from the snares, and reset them. i was gonna follow these to the prison. i just want to get there and have my little farmer man take care of me, hold me in his arms. i was feeling more awful by the minute. i will see him again.

carls POV~

i walk through the tombs. I'm just crying and i don't think ill ever stop.

"NO! NO THIS ISNT HAPPENING!" i drop to my knees, and look up. almost as if to god. i know that my angel is up there.

"WHY? WHY, DID YOU LEAVE ME? I CANT STAY ON MY OWN! WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME? PLEASE ZOEY! ANSWER ME!" i just continue sobbing. ill never see her again. ill never get to hold her, one last time. i never got to kiss her, one last time. ill never get to tell her i love her, one last time. ill never get to ask her the question that I've been dying to ask.

Zoeys POV~

I'm feeling, awful. I'm choking, I'm giving out. getting weak. I'm about a mile from the prison, i just have to push through. then i hear a branch snap, i cant do it. if its a walker; I'm doomed. I'm not strong enough. but then the noise stopped and i thanked The Lord, I'm okay. there aren't any walkers.

ricks POV~

i looked to my left when i hear a loud thump and i raise my gun. then i see the tip of a shoe. not any shoe a converse. with a pink star drawn on the tip, i only one pair of converse with that distinct discription. Zoeys shoe. its not moving, so it must not be a walker. i walk over to see a living breathing zoey. i don't know how but i do. i pick her up, considering unconscious state. and i run back to the prison, shes ill. terribly ill. but i don't complain, shes here.