Losing Hope *EDITING*

Chapter 33; Claire Curvel

Carl stuck his head out further, his hair flying wildly in the wind just like mine. "My Sheriff hat?" he asked.

I nodded, reaching up and patting his head. "Yep."

Our game was ended as a car honked up ahead, most likely Rick since he was leading now and Daryl was trailing behind every one else.

Slowly each of the cars stopped, pulling over to the side of the road. I barely noticed that a small neighborhood coda-sack was a few feet ahead. I handed Carl his hat before hopping out the back of the truck's trunk.

I grabbed my two berettas; both running low on ammo so I put the rest of the ammo into one and tossed the other one back into the truck, tucking the gun in the back of the waistband of my dirty blue jeans. I grabbed my army knife and my flashlight before jogging over to the small group that formed.

Must be the people going to check the houses out. I squeezed in besides Glenn and Maggie --over the past few months they've seemed to become closer and if I'm honest, I didn't like it one bit. Maggie is a very beautiful woman. She could get away with anything with a bat of her eyelashes and she was tough as nails so she knew how to handle her own. Me on the other hand. I was just a dumb teenage girl that barely reached the age of 18, still needed someone to cover me according to Rick, and I definitely wasn't tough as nails.

I'm scared of just about everything. I hate being alone. I'm not very smart and I freeze up on runs when walkers come out of nowhere. So who's to say Glenn wouldn't rather have Maggie. I'm just a girl. A girl that murdered a woman without hesitation. A girl that let two men be devoured by walkers to save my own ass.

"All right," Rick spoke up, stopping the small debate that was going on in the circle. "We're just checking the first two houses on each side, leave the rest alone." Rick ordered. I peeked around his head to look at the houses, they were big and there were about 6 of them. I don't understand why we wouldn't just check all of them. "Find whatever supplies you can and meet back here when you're done."

"Are we pairing up or just going into which ever house we end up in?" T-Dog asked.

Rick shook his head, pointing his finger at T-Dog. "No, you and Daryl take the first house on the left," he ordered. "Glenn and Maggie will take the one besides it."

My heart sank at the pair being partnered up again. They were always put together, like I wasn't even in the equation anymore.

"I'll take the first house on the right, Claire," I snapped my head up as he looked towards me. "You check the house next to it, Carl will cover you. You two protect each others back, got it."

My and Carl nodded are heads. Rick whistled, indicating for us to get a move on it. I grabbed Carl's wrist, tugging him with me as we ran to the house we were ordered to search. If I always needed to have someone with me, I don't understand why Rick always choose Carl. Was it because he trusted Carl with me? Or did he trust me with Carl? Who did he have more trust in?

I held my hand up to Carl as we approached the door, rushing over to the window and peeking in. I mentally cursed at the three walkers walking aimlessly in the living room. "Okay, there's three of them so far as I can see," I informed him as I walked back over. "I'll open the door while you knock on the side of the house to bring them out okay."

Carl nodded, rushing to the side of the house as I placed my hand on the door handle. I took a deep breathe, closing my eyes in concentration as I held my knife in my other hand. I slowly open the door, hiding behind it as Carl knocked loudly on the wood of the house. The irritating groans of the walkers were heard as they shuffled to the door.

I watched them carefully from the crack of the door as they stumbled out. I waited until the last one was out before slamming the door shut and plunging my knife into the last walker quickly. Carl shot down the two other ones since he was lucky enough to have a silencer on his pistol, unlike most of us. I pushed the walker I killed back as I yanked my knife out, the squelching sound of the knife pulling against the dead brain was still disturbing.

The thing fell limp to the ground as I wiped my knife on the back of my jeans. "Stupid things are everywhere," I complained. I cracked a smile at Carl, who even at this point of killing, looked uneasy about killing walkers. I get how he feels though. "Good job little C," I praised, trying to get his mind off of the dead walkers at our feet. It worked successfully as he looked at me with a small smile. "Let's check this house out."

I stepped over the dead walker, Carl behind me. I turned to give him another small smile as I swung the door back open. "Claire!" he screamed in panic.

I spun my head so fast that I could swear I was going to get whiplash. I screamed out as a large walker reached out for me, lunging for me. We both fell to the ground, Carl tripping behind me as he rushed to take a step back. I screamed again as the walker tried to take a bite for my face, almost getting it if I hadn't quickly turned my head. I pushed back with all the force I could against the walker, pulling my legs up between us to separate the walker from me with my knees.

"My knife! Carl find my knife!" I yelled out in panic.

"Claire! More are coming from the other houses!" Carl yelled.

I began to really panic at his words, my mind going in complete circles as I fought against the walker on top of me. "Fuck," I hissed. "Carl get in the house and lock the damn doors!"

"What about yo-"

"Get in the house!" I ordered. I couldn't be worrying about Carl right now. He has his pistol so if there is anymore walkers inside the house, he can just shoot them down. I heard the door slam shut and a lock click --letting little relief fall over me. At least Carl was safe and the others were in the house. Wait. Fuck. Lori, Carol, Hershel, and Beth are still in the cars.

"Oh fuck you," I spat. I didn't think twice as I used my knees to push back against the walker, bringing my right fist up and connecting it into the walkers skull multiple times. I kept my lips firmly pressed together and my eyes squinted as I repeatedly punched the walker, it's blood falling to my face and neck. I didn't stop as I heard multiple other moans of walkers getting closer.

The walker on top of me began to get weaker, giving me enough time to reach around for my knife. I gripped it in my hands before plunging it into the walkers skull --wasting no time to pull the dead walker ontop of me as cover as the others stumbled towards us.

The only thoughts running through my head was of the group. Praying that they were at least safe. Praying that this wouldn't be the last day I would see any of their faces.