CARLS POV.
We woke in the sitting room the next morning and I looked through Madisons bag again for the fifth time. Trying to find any clue of where she is or how long ago she left here. I open the front pocket of her bag and find the polaroid picture of herself and Abbie hugging on Abbies birthday. They both looked so happy and their eyes warm. I miss her warm, chocolate coloured eyes. I miss the way they crinkled when she smiled and the way she would clutch her mothers necklace when shes nervous. I miss the way every night before bed she would kiss her ring her father gave her as if she was saying goodnight to him too. I miss the way she was so good and loving towards Judith. I miss Judith. I miss the time that I can't share with her now. Theres nothing in the bag that indicates if Judith was with her or not. Judith must be dead, but i've known this for a few months now, that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt any less.
"Lets keep going." My dad proposes with no emotion.
He's still moarning Judith deeply. He saw her as my mothers last gift to him. As his daughter. He misses his other unbiogical daughter, because thats how he saw Madison, as part of his family.
We all got ready and left. I brought Mads bag. Some people in the group aren't convinced that shes alive but I know if she got out of the building alive and made it this far shes still out there somewhere. I'm gonna find her. Even if it takes another 3 months, maybe 9 months, maybe a year. I don't care. I'll find her.
We slowly walk out of the small village and onto a road. On the left side was a large forest. It was deep, if we went in we wouldn't come out for days.
Suddenly we hear feet stomping fast against the ground its coming from the forest and its coming towards us. We raise our weapons towards the noise as two people emerge from the trees. The taller one trips over a log on the ground and falls on Abbie. Abbie wastes no time on grabbing her machete and raising it above her head ready to plow it down on the mans head until a girl starts to scream. We all shush her strictly and Abbie ditches the machete but kicks him brutally in the side to get him off her. Dad and the others surround them with guns.
"Who are you? What are your names? Where do you come from?" Dad bombarded them with questions.
The girl looks like Abbie only younger. Its eerie and I feel the need to look away. I put my hand out to help Abbie off the ground and she takes it. I help her pat dust off her back and shoulders. She wipes away a small amount of blood that trickled from a fresh cut on her elbow.
"Help is please!" The girl pleads. We ignore her.
"Are you alright Abbie?" I ask, but before she can answer the girl speeks up. "Will, that girl. She called me Abbie, when we first met, do you remember." She asked her companion.
He nodded yes.
"Who? Who is this she." Glenn asks.
"A girl with a baby. We were with her only a day ago but we were swarmed by the flesh eaters." He explained.
"MADISON?" Abbie shouts in shock.
"You know her?" The girl asks
"Shes my sister." Abbie explains.
"Where is she? When did you last see her?" I ask
"She could be anywhere by now, if she survived the herd. We last saw her yesterday. She was with the baby." He explains.
Judiths alive!
"Please we don't have much time. Theres a herd of flesh eaters behin-" he's cut off by his own scream when rotten teeth sink into his shoulder. The girl cries out for him.
"WILL!!" She screeches.
Daryl quickly snatches up the girl and we all race forward away from one of the biggest herds i've ever seen. I'm tackled to the ground by a walker who snaps at my arm just missing it and trying again to take a chunk from my shoulder. Just before it tears me apart a knife is slammed into its head leaving it limp. Luke pushes the body off me and picks me up. I nod thanks to him. I look back and find my hat on the ground but too many walkers have already swarmed it.
"MY HAT!" I shouted.
"Too late man, can't go back." Luke yells while tugging my shirt to make me run forward. I have no choice but to push my feet into action and run. We run down the road.
If we loose the herd we can go back into the forest and look for her there. We know she's somewhere in there. The groans get louder from behind us so we start to run again. We run for ages trying to get rid of the herd.
All the while a smile plants on Abbies face.
MADISONS POV.
I walk back towards the road because I know thats the way Will and Corey ran. I lost the stray walkers that broke off from the herd. I keep walking towards the road. I don't even know why i'm following after those scumbags, but I can't be alone again for another 3 months. I'd most likely be alone until I die. Well not alone, alone. I have Judith, but shes frustrating to figure out. But I still love her no matter what because she's the only reason i'm keeping it together.
Put it in the bottle. I tell myself thinking again of my imaginary bottle. But i'm afraid one day it will spill over.
I hold Judith in my arms and hug her holding her head close to my own so out foreheads are nearly touching.
"We're gonna get through this Judith. I'm gonna find you food and shelter. Maybe theres a real home out here with people. We coulld live there are get on with life. You could have a normal life. I promise i'll make this better for you." I whisper and kiss her.
********
It takes me a few hours to finally reach the road. I couldn't help but smile at my small succsess until I see something that makes my expression fall. I put Judith in her pouch in my back and run towards the mangled moving body on the ground. Two walkers kneel beside it tearing on it. I walk up and put an arrow through both their heads. I look down and find a walker Will. His arms reach towards me to tear into my flesh.
"You were a traitor and abondoned me when I needed you most but you were still an ok guy, i guess. But nobody deserves this. I'm sorry this happened." I whisper before putting it down with my mothers knife. I begin to wonder what happened to Corey. She was just a kid, but if she was mauled then I didn't want to see it she looked too much like Abbie. I don't even know if Abbie is alive. Tears spring to my eyes.
Bottle it up madison!
I feel the bottle getting more and more full and the stress is causing a headache. I take a step back to walk away until I step on something. I look down and notice the familar brown sherriffs hat.
He's alive.
In responce to my question I hear a loud, far away shriek. A scream so ear splitting it sent shivers down your spine and goose bump to prickle on your skin. Whoever it is they're screaming for help.