Spider Monkey

Chapter Twenty - One - Cell Block D

Hedley was looking for Carl. He didn't see him much after the run yesterday, so he made his way outside. He saw Carl next to the pig pen and went over. Carl glanced at him but said nothing. Hedley poked his arm.

"What?"

Hedley made a noise, going through his cards. 'What's wrong?'

"Nothing." Hedley tilted his head. But Carl then said, "I'm just sick of being stuck here! You go on runs all the time and I'm not allowed. It's not fair! I just find it stupid that I can't go but you- of all people - can!"

That made Hedley frown.

"No. I didn't mean it- I didn't mean it like that!" Carl groaned. But Hedley was already walking away. Carl ran up, stopping him in his tracks, "I didn't mean it like that. I-I just-"

Hedley tilted his head at his friend. Carl reached down to grab his hand, squeezing it. "I'm sorry. I just wish I could help more."

Hedley flipped his cards to the back where the blank ones were and took out the pen attached to it and wrote something before showing it. 'You do enough for us'.

The other boy rolled his eyes, unconvinced, "Really? How?"

Hedley pointed to the pigs, the garden and the watchtower.

Carl shrugged, "I guess-"

"Spider Monkey!" Daryl called from across the field, Merle beside him. "Ya comin' huntin'?"

Hedley bounced on his toes; hugged Carl then ran to the Dixons.

"Ya ready, lil' Dixon?" Merle asked, strapping a knife to his stump.

Hedley nodded, gripping the straps of his crossbow.

"Get ya shoes on." Daryl said, "The twigs have snapped and ya don't want the thorns in ya feet."

Hedley whined, looking down at his bare muddy feet.

Merle chuckled, "Give up already, brother. The kid ain't gonna wear 'em."

"Then don't cry at me if ya get splinters." Daryl warned. It made Hedley giggle. "Come on then. I've got-"

The distant sounds of gunshots came from D block. The Dixons looked at each other before running over. Sasha was running out.

Merle looked at her frantic face, "What's happenin'?"

"Walkers in D!"

"Shit!"

They ran in. Rick quickly came in with them. Merle stabbed the first walker he saw, Hedley shooting another. Rick was getting everyone out, "Go! Go!"

Glenn came through, slicing through a walker's skull. Carol was helping the others get into the cells, helping a man with a bite on his arm to safety.

A little boy was in the middle of the room, crying and scared. A walker going towards him. Daryl ran to him, lifting the kid up, shooting the walker before giving the kid to his mom inside the cell. Merle and Hedley stabbed a few more, Glenn coming in, smashing a walker's skull with his boot.

A walker made his way behind Hedley, about to pounce, but Merle took his nephew and swung him out of the way and stabbed it in the eye. "Get out of 'ere, kid. It ain't safe!"

Hedley whined in disagreement.

"Don't argue and go!" Merle ordered, going upstairs to help Rick. Hedley saw the chaos and actually went to do as he was told before being pulled into a cell by Carol.