Take my hand
and we can go walking
and we can talk about
whatever is on your mind
Take My Hand - Picture This
(I love this songgg)
~•~
Lauren hadn't been on the Island for a day, and noon the next day was steadily approaching. 'The Chasm,' she'd called it. Lauren knew that Samara had used such an ominous name for a reason, and that it was obviously dangerous if they'd not gone near it earlier. She wondered just how bad it was.
"Have you seen Samara yet?" Carl asked and Lauren shook her head. She had enjoyed their nights peace on the Island. It seemed so safe, and so far away from all of the troubles she dealt with every day. She knew that somehow; Her life could be like that. Someday she would be free.
"I'd rather if she just got all this over with," Lauren sighed, "I think she likes this suspence."
"Whatever it is," Carl said, placing a comforting hand on the small of Lauren's back. She smiled. "We'll get through it. We always do."
"I know," She grinned hopefully, wrapping an arm around Carl's. She hadn't got the chance to be close to him the past while, and she missed the simple feeling of his hands on her.
Lauren always had something on her mind, whether it was Negan, Saviors, Survivors or the whereabouts of her elusive best friend, Georgina. She hadn't laid eyes on the girl since she stormed Sanctuary in an attempt to save her. Although, Lauren knew Georgina was capable of taking care of herself, and she wasn't alone. She had that boy.
The sun warmed her skin as she sat out on the lakes edge with Carl next to her. She relaxed into him, placing a gentle kiss on his arm.
"We're gonna be okay."
"Lauren," Tara called from the edge of the trees, "Samara wants us all."
Lauren sighed inaudibly and jumped up, brushing the dust off her leggings. She unconsciously laced her fingers with Carl's and walked. Her megre group were standing in the centre of ring of Islanders, Samara standing opposite as if to address them all. She nodded her head towards Lauren upon her approach, and the young girl took her place among her friends. Carl still held her hand as Samara began to speak.
"I want you to prove your worth to me, to the Island," Samara explained, a wry smile on her face. She held a cold demeanour, as all leaders do. "I don't want to send you all. I'm only sending two.. of my choice."
"How are two people supposed to carry a haul of food, ammo and weapons on their own?" Rick protested.
"I may have lied about that part," Samara spoke and Lauren wrinkled her eyebrows in confusion, "It's not much you're getting, just a small amount of rare drugs and medicines that we need. Two people can easily carry it."
"I don't understand," Lauren pressed, "Why tell us differently?"
"Weapons, food, ammo; They all refer to open spaces and perhaps outdoors," Samara explained, "I didn't want to make you think that this was going to be difficult.. Perhaps you will understand my meaning when you see it.. the Chasm."
"What exactly is this place we're going to?" Carl asked and Samara flicked her gaze to him.
"When this.. disease broke out, it hit this area pretty bad. There was a building in the middle of town. I don't remember what it was before but the basement acted as a bunker and there was a lot of people holed up down there. They sent food, water, and a small amount of precious medicines, maybe hoping that people would survive down there. Outside, it just got worse, until the point that the army bombed the area. That building partially collapsed, trapping and killing whoever was left down there. If you successfully retrieve these medicines, and anything else you can get, we will help you fight against Negan. I promise you that."
"Why only two people?" Michonne asked, filling the void of silence thay had fell down on everyone.
Samara sighed, "I'd like to minimise the casualties. If you die down there, I will not help in your fight against Negan but I will spare some weapons and ammunition to help you."
"Okay," Lauren breathed, "Let's get this over with."
Samara smiled,
"I have faith that you'll succeed. And if not; at least you'll die together."
~•~
The Chasm was worse than she had described it. The building would have stood tall only the highest floor had collapsed onto the second floor, bringing half of it down upon the first, however half of the second floor still stood, waiting until the right time to collapse. Lauren sucked a breath between her teeth and shared a doubtful look with Carl. There was a lot of impossibilities in that world and it seemed as if they were walking straight into a failure.
An outer ring of Islanders fended off whatever dead roamed towards the noise while Samara talked them through the plan. Or lack of plan.
"Half of the second floor is still standing, and if you make it through there you should find a stairwell that will bring you down to the basement. I can only hope that it remains intact."
Lauren cast her eyes to the broken building once more, "How big is this basement?"
Samara pursed her lips, "Two floors covering the size of the building. A couple of big open spaces and a few rooms to each. Once your down there it's a case of watching your back."
"Okay," Lauren grimaced.
"If we die down there because of you," Carl said lowly, "I hope you're prepared to give our friends something in good faith."
Samara only nodded and Lauren grasped Carl's hand, whispering how it would all be okay once they had eachother. Samara handed them a pair of hardhats with torches attached. They said there goodbyes and Lauren grasped her machete, opting that it would be the best approach to close-contact altercations. They passed the threshold of the Chasm, and she learned there why it had earned its name.
Below the ruins of the collapsed floors, a hole had been broken through the floor. It almost looked like the tear of an earthquake. She couldn't see anything beyond it, only darkness and the sounds of the dead groaning. She couldn't help but feel the pang of fear in her heart looking from such a height.
"Great," She spat, her heart shuddering with dread.
"Get back from the edge," Carl said, "All I need is you face-planting through the giant gaping hole."
Lauren rolled her eyes and grasped his hand to climb over the ruins of broken furniture and flooring. She followed down a hallway that was mostly intact, glancing back to see her friends already out of view.
"I have a feeling this isn't going to go well," She whispered, more to herself than him.
"Me either," Carl replied, and her heart lurched.
Lauren held her machete tight in her hand and switched on her headlamp with the other. The dull light was illuminated and she scanned the rooms for a way out. She spotted a large red metal door with a sliding lock across the 'lobby' as she'd name it.
"Come on," Lauren dashed forward, "Here."
"Wait!" Carl bounded after her just as her foot landed on an unsupported part of the ground and the floor gave way beneath her. She grasped towards something as she began to fall into the darkness. Her machete fell from her fingers and clattered to the ground somewhere deep in the darkness. A scream left her lips.
His hand grasped around her wrist, and she dangled between the floors. Her heart lurched and she inhaled a deep breath.
"Grab onto my other hand," Carl muttered, his muscles strained under the pressure. She obliged and he pulled her up and onto more solid flooring. She wrapped her arms around his torso, her breathing heavy and her heart thundering.
"I-I nearly died," She whispered and he gently stroked her hair.
"It's okay," He soothed, "I got you."
Lauren sucked in a deep breath and nodded, pulling herself together. She spared one final glance to the hole she had created, or extended, hoping that she would find her machete once she safely got down there.
Carl heaved at the large metal door. It creaked and groaned but opened nonetheless. Lauren gripped her combat knife in her hand and started down the creaky metal stairs. The smell of decay and mildew hit her nose and the groans of the undead became a little easier to hear.
They made it to the bottom, their torches lit the dark. The walls around them were cracked and likely unstable. The ceiling above the door infront of them was the worst of it all.
"This is too dangerous," She said, "This ceiling could give way at any second."
"I know," Carl replied, "But we can't defeat Negan without their help. We can try, and I promise you Lauren, I will get you out of here."
Lauren smiled, "I know."
She glanced around, a hallway to her right and a door directly infront of her.
"I'm guessing the door is going to lead to the bunker. Thoughts?"
"Most likely," Carl replied, placing a chaste kiss on Lauren's shoulder.
"Okay," She breathed, her eyes wandering to the cracks in the ceiling above her.
For the Survivors.
Lauren pushed harshly on the heavy door until it gave way under the pressure and swung outward. She sighed a sigh of relief and stepped through the metal doorframe. The room was small and seemed to be a sort of check-in for anyone staying in the bunker.
"At least-" She stopped herself when she heard a loud crash behind her and the walls around her shook.
"Carl!" She screamed at the collapsed hallway, just as a piece of the ceiling rolled out and touched her boot.
~•~
I didn't die guys! I honestly have just been too busy to do anything lately but school is now finished for the Summer so I have one less thing to juggle and I hope that I'll be able update more!!
This was a little kinda action chap for you guys ;)
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