"We're close."
Carol said. She held Judith. Tyreese was ahead of her, holding the bags in his left hand. I stood in back, to protect Judith in case anything happened suddenly from behind.
"I'm gonna get you three there." she continued, speaking to both Tyreese and I. "Make sure you're safe."
We stopped when we came across another Terminus sign. "But I'm not gonna stay." Carol said.
Tyreese didn't respond. Last night, Carol confessed to Tyreese that she was the one who killed Karen and David at the prison. Tyreese forgave her, but so far he hasn't showed it much.
Carol took a step forward when we heard rustling in the trees. We all turned back, only to see a walker come out of the woods. She had a handcuff swinging from one of her wrists. Her hair was ratted and thin. One of her eyes were out of its socket, and half her mouth was sagging down.
Tyreese turned to Carol and took Judith from her. "I can't. Not yet." he said.
"You're gonna have to be able to." Carol walked to the walker and plunged her knife in the top of its head. She fell down with the walker next to her. She sat up and looked into the woods. When I saw her face turn pale, I knew something went wrong.
She looked at us and whispered, "More."
She quietly sprinted over, grabbed the bags and ran into the other side of the woods. Tyreese and Judith went after her, with me behind them. We hid behind a mountain of dirt, hoping the horde of walkers didn't spot us.
But that was the least of our worries. The walkers were headed straight towards us. Carol nodded towards her right, telling us to move. The second she stood up, gunshots were heard.
Then the horde turned around and staggered to the sound of the nonstop gunfire. It sounded pretty close, which meant that it must have been at Terminus. Once the walkers were out of sight, we went back to the track.
"The gunfire has to be from Terminus." I said.
"Someone was attacking them." said Carol. "Or they were attacking someone."
"You think Carl and the others are there?" I questioned.
"Do we even want to find out?" Tyreese followed.
Carol looked at him. "Yeah. There's another track due east. It'll get us there. We'll be real careful. We're gonna get answers. We're gonna find the others."
I nodded, but I couldn't help but feel like something bad is going to happen.
***
Carol stuck her hand out, making us stop suddenly. "Wait," she whispered.
"What is it?" Tyreese whispered back.
"Look,"
We glanced in her direction to see a small cabin. There was a blue-green car parked outside, and a man with a cap. The man had a walkie talkie in his jean pocket. He had a...firecracker in his hands. That was new.
Luckily, he couldn't see us because we were hidden behind a tree. I just hoped Judith didn't cry this time.
"10 minute count." A voice came from the walkie talkie in the man's pocket. "You screw up, you're on your own, Martin."
The man, whom I'm guessing is named Martin, took the walkie talkie out of his pocket and held it to his mouth. "You don't have to tell me. I wipe my own ass."
He got up and walked over to a bag with even more firecrackers. What is he doing with those?
"Alex didn't get it." Martin spoke into the walkie talkie. "See, I knew the chick with the sword was bad news."
My mouth opened slightly. I looked over to Carol and Tyreese, who seemed to think the same thing as I.
Michonne.
"Bitch looked like a weapon with a weapon." He grinned.
Carol straightened and silently walked over to the man that was kneeling on the ground. She motioned us to follow quietly.
"He was always a sloppy-ass mother." The woman said and the man chuckled.
"Yeah, I told Albert I want the kid's hat after they bleed him out."
Carl.
Carol held the gun to the man's head. He slowly put the walkie talkie down.
"Keep your finger off the button and drop it." Carol demanded.
"They're only doing eight before public face." came the woman's voice through the radio.
"Listen, y'all don't have to do this." the man said, his hands still up in the air. "Whatever you want, we got a place where everyone's welcome."
"Shut up, man." Tyreese said.
"Okay."
"We're friends of the chick with the sword and the kid in the hat." Carol said.
In the next few minutes, we had Martin tied up against the wall in the small cabin.
"What are you doing to them?" I questioned him. I was crouched down in front of him, my hand gripping my machete. It took all of my strength not to slice his head off. "I swear if you did something to them, I'll-"
"They attacked us. We're just holding them." He cut me off.
"I don't believe you." Carol said. She was packing all of the man's firecrackers in one bag. If she was going to Terminus, I was going with her.
"Who else do you have? Do you know their names?" Tyreese asked him.
"We just have the boy and the samurai, that's it." He answered. "We were just protecting ourselves."
"I don't believe you." Carol repeated.
"When you were talking to that woman, you said you'd take the kid's hat after they bleed him out. You were gonna kill them, weren't you?" I said to him, and for the first time he didn't respond back.
Carol continued to pack Martin's stuff. He turned to her.
"There's a bunch of us out there in six different directions. There was a lot of gunfire back home. We need to set off our charges all at the same time to confuse the dead ones away. That's good for you, too." He exclaimed.
"No, it isn't." Carol argued. "There's a herd heading towards Terminus right now. We don't want to confuse them away. We're gonna need their help."
She slipped the bag over her shoulder.
"It's a compound." Martin said. "They'll see you coming."
"Good." I said, standing up. "They're gonna shit their pants when they do."
"If you make it that far with all the cold bodies heading over." Martin added.
I walked over to Carol. She held out a hand. "You're not going."
"Yes I am." I told her, pushing past her, towards the door.
"It's too dangerous." She said.
"It is for you, too." I retorted. "You can't stop me."
She stared at me. "Fine. But you do everything I say."
I stared right back at her. Then I went over to Judith, who was with Tyreese.
"I'll be back, Jude." I whispered, holding her tiny hand in mine. "And I'll bring him with me. I promise."
I kissed her forehead softly and gave Tyreese a small smile. Then I left the cabin.
***
Carol handed me a long blanket wit a big hole cut in the middle. "Put it on." she said.
I gave her a look. "Why?"
"Just put it on and then I'll explain." she said.
I sighed and slipped it on. "Now what?"
Carol didn't answer. Instead, she turned and looked around.
"What are you looking for?" I asked.
"That." She walked towards a walker that just came out of the woods. She killed it with her knife. The walker fell down to the ground, and Carol knelt down beside it.
I went over to her to see Carol plunge her knife into the stomach of the walker she just killed. She then dragged her knife, opening the walker's stomach even more. I raised my eyebrow confusingly.
"What are you-"
I stopped short when Carol dug her hands inside the walker's stomach and grabbed the walker's intestines and guts. She then rubbed it all over the cloth over her body. I gagged when she turned to me. "What are you waiting for?"
"Oh, right," I looked to my right just in time to see another walker. I used my brass knuckles to kill it, and then I kneeled down. I grabbed my knife, took a deep breath, and ribbed open the corpse's stomach.
I've killed tons of walkers before. I've seen people kill walkers in ways I didn't think were possible. I've even had walker guts on me. But nothing compared to putting my hands inside a walker's stomach and rubbing all of its blood and organs on my body.
Once we were done, we stood up and Carol grabbed the bag of firecrackers.
"Why'd you bring that?" I asked her.
"You'll see," was her reply. "Let's go."
I followed her through the woods. Walkers past us, but didn't touch us. I did this before, but even now I was still cautious.
A few minutes past when we found a fence. We slowly walked over to it, careful so that nobody from Terminus would see us.
I scanned over the place. There was a big building and on the outside, spelled in big letters, was Terminus.
I heard faint yelling. I turned my head and my heart skipped a beat when I saw Rick, Glenn, Daryl and Bob with three other men on the ground, tied up, with rags in their mouths.
The men standing, whom I'm guessing are from Terminus, grabbed Rick and the others one by one and dragged them across the concrete into the building.
If they were there, then where was Carl?
"Come on," Carol whispered to me and she went over to the left.
I followed her. She laid the bag and her rifle on the ground. She took her other gun and placed it against the fence.
Just then, the people from Terminus started screaming. They ran away, leaving the walkers at the fences.
That's when we saw the herd of walkers come into sight. They staggered over to Terminus. I knew it wouldn't take long for them to tear down the fences. I would know.
"You want to know why I brought the firecrackers with me?" Carol asked, taking a firecracker stick out of the bag and put it in her rifle. She took her other gun and shot at the tank of gasoline. It took a few shots, but eventually it popped and gas came spraying out.
Then I knew why Carol needed the firecrackers. "May I do the honors?" I asked and she nodded.
I pulled the trigger of the rifle and Carol yelled, "Cover your ears!"
I did so, but I could still hear the roar of the explosion. Carol grabbed the bags and I grabbed the rifle.
"Let's go," Carol said and ran, me behind her.
We went around the fences, and straight into the swarm of walkers. Only some of the walkers died from the explosion. Others were hit, but got right back up.
Carol and I walked slow, even though I wanted to run inside and find Carl and the others. We've been separated too long, but I know that if I do I could possibly die.
We finally made it past the broken fences. We were finally inside Terminus, the place that Lizzie and Mika dreamed about. The so called sanctuary.
The people on the other side started firing at the walkers, and Carol quickly pulled me aside behind a wall.
She aimed her gun at the men and women from Terminus, and she pulled the trigger. I don't even think she had a second thought. I've threatened to kill people, but I never actually did it before.
Once the gunshots were fired, nearby walkers noticed and turned around to us. Carol pushed me back into the room behind us and shut the door, cutting off one walker's arm.
We walked into a room full of what I'm guessing people's possessions. People who they killed.
"Look," I said to Carol, pointing to Daryl's crossbow. I picked it up and gave it to Carol. I saw Rick's watch in her hands and I couldn't help but feel my heart sink.
"You don't think they-"
"No." She said, obviously thinking about it too. "We just saw them a while ago. The explosion had to distract the people at Terminus. They're still alive."
I nodded, relief washing over me.
We walked into the next room. Before we entered, I smelled an aroma of different kinds of candles. Sure enough, when we did enter the room, it was filled with small candles. All of them were lit. There were writings on the walls, such as never again, never trust, and we first, always. There were even some on the floor.
"Let's go. That door will let us outside," Carol said to me and we went over to the door in the back of the room.
And then, all of a sudden, we heard a click of a gun and the voice of a woman. "Drop your weapons and turn around."
I stopped short, along with Carol next to me. "I want to see your faces." The woman said; she sounded like she was in shock or even crying.
I couldn't move. It was like I was glued to the ground. This is it, I thought to myself, this is the day I die.
"Now!" The woman yelled.
Carol put Daryl's crossbow on the floor. Because of the clothes over us, it hid Carol's, and mine's, rifle. I glanced at Carol out of the corner of my eye and she slightly nodded. Then she spun around, took out her gun, and shot at the woman behind us.
The woman dropped to the floor and her pistol slided away from her. I ran over and grabbed it just as her hand was about to take it. The woman got up and tackled Carol into a candle stand. They didn't let go of each other as they kept fumbled. I ran over to them and grabbed the woman's shoulders. I pushed her back to the ground, but she just kicked me in the stomach and got right back up.
She had a candlestick in her hand and was about to slam it against one of us, but Carol had her gun aimed at her. The woman sighed and dropped her hand.
I got up slowly, my stomach still aching a bit.
"The signs...they were real." The woman said, nodding her head. "It was a sanctuary. People came and took this place."
"Just tell me where-"
"They raped and they killed and they laughed over weeks." the woman interrupted Carol. The woman started to tear up, but I didn't feel bad for her. She could've left, escaped. But she was still here. Her people captured mine.
"But we got out and we fought and we got it back." She started to raise her voice. "And we heard the message. You're the butcher...or you're the cattle."
"The men they pulled from that train car, where are they?" Carol asked, obviously not caring about this place's backstory.
The woman didn't answer. I stepped forward, and the woman's eyes landed on me. "Where are they?" I repeated, but again, no answer.
Then Carol shot the woman in the leg. She screamed and fell, clutching her leg.
"Where are they?" Carol shouted over the woman's scream. The woman took a few seconds to calm down, but she still grasped her leg.
"Now...point it at my head." The woman told Carol. And then she laughed. "You could have been one of us. You could have listened to what the world is telling you."
"You lead people here and you take what they have and you kill them?" Carol questioned. "Is that what this place is?"
"No, not at first." She replied.
"But it is now." I spoke. "You complain about this place being horrible to you and the people around you but look where you are now? You're apart of this place. After everything they did."
"It's what it had to be." she said, closing her eyes. "And we're still here."
Carol put her gun down. "You're not here. Neither are we."
She picked up Daryl's crossbow and walked over to the door. I followed her and when she opened it, walkers came straight in, ignoring the two of us but had their eye on the woman.
"No! No! No!" The woman screamed as the walkers came closer and closer. "Oh, God! No! No!"
We shut the door.
***
The fight at Terminus didn't stop. The building was still on fire, and there was still walkers roaming around. But that didn't mean we were gonna clean up the mess. Carol and I left once we spotted a group of people leave into the woods. We guessed it was Rick and the others.
We were way behind them, but we kept on going. I couldn't help but feel like the group was much smaller the last time I saw them.
And there they were.
They didn't notice us at first. But when they did, Daryl ran up to Carol and engulfed her in a hug, even lifting her off her feet. I couldn't help but smile at the two.
"Brenda!"
My heart skipped a beat. I'd recognize that voice anywhere...
I turned away from Carol and Daryl to see Carl Grimes running towards me.
Already, tears flooded my eyes. "Carl," I whispered to myself, almost not believing he was really here.
He finally stood right in front of me. And then he kissed me.
My eyes widened in surprise, and I was stiff for a few seconds before I realized what was happening. Then I shut my eyes closed and kissed him back. Electricity shot throughout my body and my legs felt wobbly. My heart raced so much to the point that I actually thought everyone could hear it.
I wrapped my arms around Carl's neck and he wrapped his around my lower back. And just like that, it was over.
When we pulled away, our foreheads met instantly.
"I can't believe you're here," I let out a shaky laugh. I didn't wipe my tears away.
"I thought I lost you," Carl cried, and my heart broke just looking at him. I've never seen him like this before.
"I'm here now." I whispered to him, but I couldn't control it anymore. I tried helping him feel better but how can I do that when I can't help myself? I thought I could keep it in but I can't. I finally let out a sob. "I missed you so much, Carl."
Then he hugged me, stroking my hair to calm me down. And it did.
"I missed you, too." He replied.
Someone cleared their throat.
We let go of each other to see Rick standing in front of us. I thought he would get upset at what just happened but instead had a small smile on his face as he looked at me. I smiled back and hugged him, tears still slipping down my face.
"I'm glad you're okay," he said.
Carol came up to us and looked at Rick. "You need to come with us."
***
Carol and I led the way to the small cabin where Tyreese and Judith were at. Carl and I held hands all the way there; we never let go.
We came just in time as Tyreese exited the cabin with Judith in his arms. Rick and Carl immediately ran over to them. I smiled when I saw them hug Judith, tears in both their eyes. Sasha hugged her brother tight, crying into his shoulder.
"Hey," said Michonne. I gave her a small smile when she put her arm around me. "You did good."
I nodded as I watched the two families reunite. I really couldn't believe I was back. I was back with my family.
~~~~
YAY THEY FINALLY KISSED! Anyway, I hope this chapter was worth the long wait (which I apologize for). I also updated my other story, which I'm relieved about cause I haven't updated in forever.
How'd you like the chapter? I rewrote the kiss scene a few times, and I know it's not perfect. I'm not very good at writing lovey dovey scenes, hopefully I'll get better at it. Was it okay though? Please tell me your thoughts, I would love to hear them!
Don't forget to vote and comment!
~Marvel890