Together

Chapter 33

Enid's POV

"I looked everywhere," I exclaimed. "Carl's gone! I can't find JC either."

"JC said she was going on a walk this morning," Rick reminded me.

"Yeah, for a few hours," I pointed out. "It's been an entire day! I think Carl followed her."

"So what do you want to do?" Daryl asked.

I sighed. "We have to go find him," I concluded. "It'll be me," I pointed at Daryl. "You, Abraham, and-"

I was cut off by the sound of the gate opening.

Rick, Daryl, and I exchanged glances before running towards the wall.

Everyone was already gathered around the entrance when we got there.

I pushed my way to the front to be next to Maggie, my vision tunneling when I saw who was coming through the gate.

Carl stumbled into the community, JC bridal style in his arms. She wasn't breathing. Carl had tears steaming down his face and I knew what was going on.

JC was dead.

Members of JC's group starting screaming and crying, some of them falling to the ground.

I simply stood there in shock. I heard Maggie whimpering beside me.

How did this happen?

Carl wasn't moving. He just stood there, crying.

A tear ran down my face and all I could hear was ambient noise. JC was my best friend. And now she was gone.

Suddenly, I saw JC twitch. Oh no.

A growl escaped her mouth and her eyes slowly opened.

Carl seemed to notice it, too, for he looked at her and started to cry even heavier. But he wasn't doing anything.

JC's reanimated self reached up, grabbing Carl's face, opening her mouth. And still Carl did nothing.

"Carl!" I called urgently and raced towards him.

I quickly pulled out my knife and stabbed JC through the head, though the action was incredibly painful.

Carl didn't look at me. He simply stared down at JC, crying heavier.

Suddenly, Denise appeared beside me.

"Carl," she said gently. "I'm gonna take JC, okay?"

He looked up at her in surprise and pulled JC closer to him.

"I promise I'll take good care of her," Denise told him patiently.

Finally, after some persuasion, Carl let her go.

Denise took JC into her arms and walked to her house.

One she disappeared from sight, I looked back at Carl.

He looked like a walker himself. JC's blood soaked his shirt and his sleep deprived eyes were staring at nothing.

"Carl?" I said gently, putting my hand on his arm.

He looked down at me before shrugging me my arm off.

"I want you all to know," he announced, his voice choked up. "Negan's dead. You don't have to worry about him anymore."

JC's group looked up at him, devastation in their eyes.

"But for that to be a fact," he continued bitterly. "It cost JC her life. So I hope you all think that was a fair trade."

He then walked straight through the middle of the group, everyone making a path for him.

"Carl!" I called, starting to run after him only to be stopped by Maggie.

"Give him some time, sweetie," she said softly. "All he needs right now is time."