Dead Alive (Walking Dead x Walker!Reader) Ch 4

 Chapter 4: Rescue




 Carl continued to come over in the forest to communicate to me with his paper and crayons. It may not have been as quick and informative as talking was but it was the closest thing where we could talk.

 I asked Carl questions, wondering how he felt during the attack. Carl said that he and his mom woke up one day and saw one of their neighbors acting strange. It wasn't until the neighbor bit on someone that something indeed was wrong. From then on, they packed their bags and left. They had no choice. His mom had insisted on Shane, the leader of the group, to turn around and look for his dad but Shane had predicted that his father was already possibly dead since he was in the hospital. That or it be too late for him.

 Rick emerged from the graves though, dirty but alive. He brought back a couple of friends with him but now the group only had little weapons left to use for attacks. He had recalled also seeing a brother of group member here along with other usable equipment. Carl feared that he wouldn't return as he recalled hearing from his father about the near death experience he had with the walkers.

 Oh, that was one thing as well. They weren't "zombies". They were walkers. Which was what I was. Sort of.

 "I just hope....he comes back," Carl said. "I don't want to see him gone again. It's like...a relief to see him alive but...I don't want to worry about him being gone again."

 I nodded. I'm sure your father will come back. If he can survive being in the hospital and from the city, he'll come back.

 Carl smiled. "Thanks, (y/n)."

 He then began to tell me what the rest of the group consisted of: his father, Glenn, a Korean fellow who helped his father get out of the tank after being trapped in by the walkers, Daryl, a southern man who had a short temper and killed a walker in one shot, Carol, the mother of Sophia, one of the child friends he had now, Morales and his wife Miranda along with their two children, Eliza and Louis, Ed, Carol's husband, T-Dog, Jim, Andrea and her sister, Amy, Dale, a old guy who seemed to be one of those wise old guys, Shane, a friend of Rick and Lori, his mother.

 Rick had gone with Daryl, T-Dog, Glenn and Morales to find Daryl's brother, Merle, left behind.

 Why did they leave him behind? I asked.

 Carl shook his head. "I don't know. Something about him being really violent?" he suggested. I frowned.

 Hmm, seems like trouble.

 "According to my dad, he was. He was very demanding and almost sent them to their death. If he is as Dad says though, I sort of hope he either changes or gets rescued by someone else."

 I nodded. I wouldn't want to hang out with a guy like him anyway. I then drew a really red puffed up face.

 Carl laughed. "I bet that's what he looks like!" Carl joked.

 I laughed along with him. Though the laugh came out more as a gruff gruff gruff with some coughs and hisses.

 Carl was determined to introduce Sophia, Louis and Eliza to me but I told him no. If anything, they would just add fuel to the fire in hunting me down. A scream from them would awaken the whole group.

 Maybe we'll wait til your dad gets here, I wrote. Maybe he can understand me as you do. He seems like the type to think for a moment about it, not go off into action.

 "You're right," Carl agreed. "I don't know why I didn't scream...I guess I was just surprised that you didn't come at me like the last walker did. You looked like us...scared and huddled together.

 Have there been any more walkers around here?

 "No, not after that last one. Most of them I've seen are in groups. It was surprising to see that lone one come near here."

 Well, hopefully your dad goes easy on me. There is no way I don't think I'll be ready to meet the rest of the group.

 "Oh, my mom would have a cow if she saw me talking to you right now," Carl said. "She'd think I've gone crazy."

 I smiled and drew a cow's face with a big caption reading, MOO! Carl burst into laughter and pointed at the picture. I snickered a bit.

 We then did some rock throwing on the river, seeing which one was the farthest.

 "7 steps!" Carl examined when he threw his. I aimed mine and threw it. The rock plopped straight down into the river. I sighed.

 "Don't throw it over. It's more under," Carl explained. "Like this." He threw the rock again with his hand, demonstrating it. I tried again....only I got 2 steps.

 "One more time!" Carl said, showing me again.

 I giggled and tried once more. 4 steps. I titled my head at the rock. "Hrr?" I said.

 Carl thought for a bit, attempting to translate what I was asking.

 That's one thing we've been trying to focus on. As much as the crayons and paper were a big help, we tested ways in which we developed a "walker code" of communication. You can say it was like a rip-off of sign language, only without the hands. I did use hand gestures though to at least try to explain more of what I wanted to say.

 "What?" Carl asked.

 I pointed at the rock and pretended to throw. I then pointed at myself and then to him, returning back to pretending to throw the rock.

 "Who...taught me this?" Carl translated.

 I nodded.

 "Oh, Shane," Carl said. "We were out by the lake and...I was sort of in a bad mood. I was thinking about my dad a lot. Shane helped get me better though. It was fun to play this with him."

 I then clasped my hands together and placed it near my heart.

 "He is my dad's best friend," Carl said. "We've gotten somewhat close....I mean, he was there for me and my mom when he told us about Dad not possibly making it...not to mention, he's what the group looks up to now....we don't have a choice. But....I still want to be with my father."

 I took Carl's hand and placed it against my palms. I separated them away and shook my head.

 Carl nodded. "He'll never take away the place of my father, hmm?"

 I gave him a thumbs up.

 "The walker code is kind of fun," Carl said. "It's too bad there's probably not others like you. Can you imagine if there were? Or...at least some of us could understand you."

 I nodded and huffed, blowing a bang out of my face. Carl giggled. "You look really mad when you do that."

 I giggled a bit too and do another huff, blowing hard to my bang, letting it wave wildly in the air. Carl continued to laugh at the act. I laughed too and huffed again, repeating the act.

 "Carl?" someone shouted. I raised up my head.

 "I better go," Carl said. "I'm sorry if I can't stay long. I think they're getting suspicious of me going into the forest a lot by myself...especially after that last walker attack. I'll be back though. See you soon!"

 I huffed and waved. I then walked away and hid beneath some bushes, peeking above it to see if he made it safely.




 Night time approached fast. I held a rock in my hand and examined it in my hand. It was small, pebble-like with a smooth surface. I then began to lift it up in my hand, catching it up and down.

 I heard a crack of leaves being crushed. I turned around.

 Carl happily walked over to me with new crayons and paper in his pockets. "I can't stay long," he said. "I only have a few minutes left. They're REALLY getting suspicious why I'm spending all my time in the forest. Especially Sophia, Eliza and Louis."

 You didn't tell them why? Did you?

 "No. I told them I had to go pee. They wanted to go with me but I told them it came with a number 2....then they stepped back a little. Except for my mom. She grew really concerned. I told her though that I would be ok. I didn't see any walkers while coming here."

 He then sat down and placed the paper and crayons on a rock.

 Your father still hasn't come back yet, huh?

 "Nope. We're hoping tomorrow he'll be back. I'm kind of scared that the walkers trapped them."

 I notice many of them do that. The groups they form are like wolves trapping their prey. They seem to have some sort of common sense. Then again, they're not as agile as humans are.

 "Yeah, not as swift as Daryl's crossbow."

 I snickered and drew Daryl with a giant crossbow. "Kind of looks like him," Carl said, giggling.

 I smiled and began to write something else when I heard a voice howl out. "Eliza, look out!"

 Carl turned his head. "That sounds like Carol...I hear my mom too."

 Do you want to go check it out?

 Carl gulped and glanced up with a worried look. "I think it's best if maybe you stay behind. I have a funny feeling I know what it is...but they might follow you since you're one of them."

 If anything, I can lead them away from here. I'll try to see if I can lose them somewhere. If they keep following me though...My fingers gripped the crayon as I glanced up at Carl.

 Carl's eyes beamed to bewilderment. "No, we need you! They probably won't be around with you long either."

 Ok, but if this is a second attack, you'll have to leave me here. It's pretty obvious you won't stay here long.

 "Then I'll show my dad the next morning what you are....once he gets here. My dad can show them that you're the possible cure we need! You need to come with us!"

 I'm sure your dad can come up with a good 3 minute argument before one of them tries to attack me with their weapon.

 Carl surprisingly grabbed my hand. "Please, (y/n)," he said. "We need to know....if we can fight this." His eyes shone pleadingly.

 I sighed. Fine....but we'll observe from the bushes. They'll sure by focusing on you guys first...if you're beside me, I don't think they'll catch your scent.

 Carl nodded. "Ok..."

 Don't worry, Carl. I'm sure everyone's going to be fine.

 "I really wish my dad was here right now."

 I nodded. Me too.




 From behind the bushes, it was a battlefield. Walkers were roaming around the camp, growling and snarling. Most of the women and children were hiding in the trailers. Men were at work hitting the walkers' heads.

 I heard someone yelp with pain.

 Any idea where your mother is?

 "She's right there with Carol, Sophia, Eliza and Louis. Oh no!"

 A walker was approaching them with hands reaching out to grip them. A man with short dark brown hair aimed his gun and shot right at the walker's head. The walker fell down, defeated.

 "That's Shane!" Carl said, pointing at him. I frowned.

 I'm getting a sense he seems fishy for some reason.

 "You're probably smelling the food we had earlier tonight."

 No, not that....

 I heard a boom and glanced up. A man with somewhat curly hair had blasted off another walker. He was tall with a sheriff uniform, all dirty and sweating.

 Carl smiled brightly. "Dad!" he yelled, bouncing up a bit.

 I squinted at his dad. He looked so familiar. Wait....sheriff uniform. Curly brown hair....like the guy at the hospital had....changed it to a....same star badge....but where was the hat? Yet, it didn't matter. I knew who he was.

 I slapped a hand on my mouth.

 "What?" Carl asked, shocked. "What is it?"

 I processed a number of hand signals of trying to tell him: That guy that's your dad? Yeah, I actually saw him at the hospital. The SAME hospital where I was!

 There was a whizz of an arrow passing by, hitting down the center of the head of the walker.

 I pointed at the arrow. Daryl?

 Carl nodded. "Daryl."

 My eyes then averted to a walker running toward him. Look out! I pointed.

 Carl yelped as he felt the walker topple over him. "Carl!" I heard a woman cry out.

 I stood frozen in my place. My instincts told me to rescue him. Another part said to eat. Another said if I helped, they surely would kill me. Then, there was the option of running.

 Carl whimpered as the walker prepared to bite on him. Fear washed over his face. It was the act of a child's innocence about to be swooped away. I shook my head. No, I couldn't let him do it.

 Immediately, I pounced onto the walker and snarled. My hands grasped onto the walker's arms, linking them to the ground. The walker hissed and jabbed a nails on my arm. I snapped and roared back, swiping a set of claws across the walker's face. The walker shrieked. He then glanced up at me with a look of disgust. Why? he seemed to ask.

 I knew what he was asking. About why I had turned on my brother and sisters. About why I had stopped him from devouring out enemy. Our food. Yet, he didn't know I wasn't one of them. Yet. Still, I was somewhat human. I may be part walker...but I was part human as well.

 I answered his question with words I never knew I could utter. "Because...friend," I rasped.

 I then slammed my hand at his face and ripped away, tearing apart the flesh. I streaked my claws one more time at the face and then stopped. My work was done.

 I glanced towards Carl. He had tears streaming down his face, frightened. I signed and lowered my head.

 I'm sorry, I wanted to murmur out. I had saved him from the walker...but I couldn't shield him away from scars of what I might be...from what I could do...from the terror of a saver saving him from a monster...in the horror of not a superhero rescue but a monster slaying a monster...his innocence of the world he once knew was gone anyway...how could I saved him from that?

 There was silence for a bit. I heard someone's footsteps come toward me and looked up.

 Carl's father, Rick, was staring at me. His face morphed from confusion to curiosity. He shook his head.

 "You..." he began. "You saved...my son."

 I grunted, trying to find words to respond back. They were stuck, frozen in my throat. I couldn't mutter any words out. How was I able to gasp out those words to the walker then?

 As I attempted again, there was a whish of an arrow zooming pass my face. I gapped and stared at the arrow, struck to the tree.

 "Sh*t, I missed!"

 "Daryl, what the f*ck?"

 "What do you mean, what the f*ck? It's a motherf*cking walker!"

 Carl shouted out one word: "Run!"

 I got off of the walker and rushed back into the forest. Another arrow whisked pass and dunked into a branch.

 "What the hell?! Stop shooting!"

 "Well, just to let you idiots know..."

 I ducked behind a tree and peeked to see if they were following me. "I'm sorry, Carl," I mumbled in my head.

 I then ran again.