Future Ghosts • TWD

42. The Run.

Everyone was gathered around the cell block, quietly eating their breakfasts. Rosie ate some of hers, but it was hard because she could hear the sounds of other people eating, too, which made her feel sick. She tried hard to ignore it. She wondered if Carl was having the same problem, because he was just staring down at his bowl, not eating any of it.

Beth was holding the baby, which Daryl had been calling Little Ass-kicker. Before going to bed last night, Daryl had explained to her what happened to Lori. She ended up going into labor- which meant she was having the baby, Rosie learned- when the walkers showed up. There was something wrong, but Lori wanted to have the baby anyway, so she died so her baby could live. Rosie thought that Lori was very brave for that.

Apparently, Rick had left after he found out. That was why it was such a shock when everyone heard his voice echo in the cellblock. "Everybody ok?" he asked, walking into the room.

"Yeah, we are," Maggie answered, sitting herself up a little straighter. Rick walked further into the room and stood by Carl. "Glenn found Rosie holed up in a room hiding. She's ok."

"Good. Good. That's good," Rick said, nodding his head a little. Rosie eyed him wearily. Something was wrong with him. It made her feel bad. Not for herself, but for him.

"What about you?" Hershel asked the man.

"I cleared out the boiler block," Rick replied, not answering the direct question.

"How many were there?" Daryl asked.

"I don't know. A dozen, two dozen. I have to get back. Just wanted to check on Carl," Rick said. He pat Carl on the back, but Carl didn't move. He just kept staring at his food. Rick began to walk away, but Glenn shot up out of his seat to try and stop him.

"Rick, we can handle taking out the bodies. You don't have to," Glenn said.

"No, I do," Rick said, nodding his head. He started walking quickly over to where Daryl and Rosie were sitting on the stairs, which made Rosie nervous, but Daryl seemed unphased. "Everyone have a gun and a knife?" he asked.

"Yeah," Daryl replied. Ever since she got back to the cellblock, Rosie had been keeping her gun on her at all times, even if it did make it so she had to keep pulling her pants higher up her waist. "We're running low on ammo, though."

"Maggie and me were planning on making a run this afternoon," Glenn said. Rosie's head turned towards him at that information. She wanted to go with. "Found a phone book with some places we can hit, look for bullets and formula."

"We cleared out the generator room. Axel's there trying to fix it in case of emergency. We're gonna sweep the lower levels as well," Daryl said. After everything that happened, Axel and Oscar were no longer forced to stick to their own cellblock. Rosie had asked Daryl if that meant she could talk to them now, and Daryl told her that she could, but not on her own. She was never to be alone with either of them.

With that, Rick hurried out of the room, ignoring Hershel calling after him.

•

After a little while, most people dispersed. Carl didn't eat any of his breakfast and Rosie only ate half of hers, but no one bothered forcing them. Rosie was heading back up to her cell when Daryl stopped her.

"I'm goin' down to clear the basement with Carl and Oscar. I want ya to stay here, a'right?" Daryl said, raising his eyebrows a little.

"Can I help?" Rosie asked, raising her eyebrows a little, too.

"Nah, I wanna talk to Carl. I'm sure you can find somethin' else to help out with up here," Daryl replied. They got to the top of the stairs and Daryl reached down to grab his crossbow up off of the ground by his mattress.