Condemned. Sequel to 'Don't Look Back'

Chapter 31

Rayne's pov

"We're really doing this?" I asked Rick.

"It's the only way we're getting out of here, I've done it before." He said and smeared walker guts all over a sheet. I put my hands on top of my head and let out a breath, trying not to gag on the smell.

"Here." Carl handed me a gut covered sheet. I took it and slid it on, the smell making my eyes water.

"I'll go get Judith." Rick walked down the hall. I closed my eyes to try and calm myself. This will work, it has to work. We will all be fine.

"We're going to be ok." Carl whispered to me,

"I know. I know, I'm just trying to prepare myself to walk among them." I nodded my head.

"Just keep quiet, keep calm, and everything will be ok. I promise." He said, giving me the confidence boost I need.

Rick came back with Judith and slid her under Carl's sheet.  This is really happening. I'm really going to walk with the dead.

We quietly walked down the stairs, and Rick moved the sofa out of our way, I was behind Carl, in front of Jessie. Rick walked past the first walker without a problem. Carl went next, the walker ignored him. It was my turn. I took a deep breath and shuffled past the walker, and he brushed shoulders with me.

My eyes met Carl's and he gave me a small nod. I followed them out onto the porch, and saw the never ending sea of death. Rick grabbed Carl's hand, and I grabbed onto one of Carl's belt loops. We waited for everyone to get out onto the porch, and we set off.

The groans were heard all around me, but I had to ignore it. We were doing really well, but I heard Sam behind me,

"Mom?" He asked. I couldn't look back, not now, or else this plan might not work.

Jessie turned around and whispered something to him, making him quiet once more. Rick took us to a less populated area and told us the new plan. I couldn't hear him to well, because he was talking so quietly, so I would just follow his lead.

Carl handed Judith over to Gabriel. He better not screw this up or I would personally feed him alive to the walkers.

"Mom, I can keep going." Sam argued with his mom. This is a bad idea, he needs to go with Gabriel and Judith.

"Sam, no, go with Gabriel." Jessie told him, but he just wouldn't go.

"Sam, go with Gabriel." I said, hoping to sway him.

"No, I'm not leaving you." He told Jessie. I looked to Carl, who had the same expression as me, apprehensive.

"Ok." Jessie nodded, and Gabriel walked off with Judith under the gut covered sheet.

We rejoined hands, My right in Carl's and my left in Michonne's.

We continued wading through the sea of walkers. Their glazed eyes not lingering on us, their bodies bumping into us.

All day long, we've walked among the dead. It's a somber experience, that I never wanted to do again. The sun had set about half an hour ago, and we're still working our way towards wherever we were going, I still didn't know the plan.

All I know, is that we were still in Alexandria.

Bodies against rotting bodies, the atmosphere never changed. I was full of dread and quite honestly, I was getting tired of walking among the dead.

All of the sudden, everyone was pulled to a halt, I looked back and saw Sam on the verge of a breakdown. I saw a little boy walker trudging lifelessly through the streets, soon lost in the sea of death.

"Sam." Jessie attempted to calm him down, but his cries grew louder and louder.

"Sam." I tried to calm him down, but it only made him louder and louder.

"Come on." Jessie tried to coerce Sam away, but it was too late.

A walker ripped into Sam's skull, blood splattering everywhere. His screams pierced the air, then ceased all at once.

Jessie began screaming, trying to help Sam, causing my arm to be jerked around.

"Jessie." Carl whispered, trying to keep her from dying too. I saw the walkers race towards us, food on their mind.

My heart pounded in my chest, not knowing if I was going to be their dinner. I blinked rapidly and saw in front of my face, a walker bite into Jessie's collarbone. My stomach dropped, my ears ringing with her screams for help.

I tried to pull my hand away from her, but the grip was too tight. I pulled harder, trying desperately to detach myself from her.

"Rick." I quietly called out, but he was spaced out, lost in his thoughts, or he was going into shock.

"Rick." I cried out again, this time seeing his hand grab the small axe. He stepped over slowly to us, and brought the axe down on her arm, setting me free. I stumbled back, and was caught by Carl.

I tried to steady my breathing, though my nerves were shot. I was a mess, but I had to stay composed, or else I would die. There had already been too many deaths in the past day, I can't be one of them.

The click of a gun broke me out of my trance and I saw Ron, pistol aimed for Carl. My eyes grew wide, not knowing what I should do, or if there was anything I could do.

Before Ron could pull the trigger, Michonne came up behind him and stabbed her katana through his body, the sound of him choking on his blood could be heard as he fell to the ground, but before his body fell, he let off a single shot.

I closed my eyes out of instinct, and felt no pain, I wasn't shot. I looked up to Michonne, who nodded her head at Rick. I turned my attention to Carl, and held my mouth closed with my hand. I repressed a scream as I saw a trail of blood fall from his face.

"Dad?" He asked before his body fell to the ground. I was frozen in place, unable to feel or think anything. Michonne grabbed my arm and pulled me through Alexandria behind Rick, who had Carl in his arms.

My body was on autopilot, my mind scrambled with different thoughts.

Could he be dead? Where was he shot at? I can't lose him in the same day I lost my mom. If Carl died tonight, then I might as well too.