I win

Chapter 17 I win

POV Carl Grimes

Everything happened very quickly, at first I was looking at T-Dog tied up on a bed and the next a voice surprised me behind me. Justin quickly turns around, but is hit in the head with a rifle butt, causing Justin to fall to the ground. Justin doesn't move. "You killed him!" I yell at Dr. Jenner with tears streaming down my face.

"He's not dead, I just knocked him unconscious, forgive me, but I was scared. Why the hell did Justin have a gun?" Says Dr. Jenner picking up a gun from the floor and then handcuffing Justin's hands. I have to help him, but I'm scared, I'm really scared and Sofia seems to be just as scared as I am.

Why am I such a coward? Why? Why? I mentally repeat myself over and over until another figure enters the lab, it's Lenny who only raises an eyebrow at us.

"What happened here, Jenner? Why is Justin unconscious? Lenny asked the doctor.

"Just an oversight, nothing to worry about, take the two kids into the next room while I clean up this mess." Dr. Jenner says waving his hands dismissively. "I guess everything went according to plan, no problem?"

"They showed some resistance at first, but the gas quickly neutralized them, we've tied them up while Eliot watches over them, they're still sleeping like babies." Lenny says scratching his head and then looking at me. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you, I'm not a monster." Lenny takes us by the hand and leads us into another room.

Several minutes passed and neither of us said a word. "I know it must be difficult, but we don't plan on hurting them." Lenny says with a smile in my direction.

"You will hurt our parents." I say weakly with my head down. "You'll hurt them all."

Justin told me to stop being a cry baby, but I'm so scared, my parents are in danger, Justin is in danger and I can't do anything about it, I'm a coward. Justin was right, I'm just a burden to everyone.

The sound of multiple gunshots startles me. "But what the hell is Jenner doing?" Lenny says quickly before starting to head for the door. This is bad, he can hurt Justin. What would Justin do? What would Justin do in this situation?

"Wai...wait please." I say stuttering a bit. "Something's wrong with me, help." I begin to breathe rapidly until a worried face appears on Lenny and he comes running to where I am.

"What do you have? You can breathe?" Lenny crouches in front of me, placing his hands on my shoulders as he watches me with concern. At this, I reach one of my hands slowly into my pocket gripping the knife Justin handed me tightly. The next thing I know, I'm pushing him against Lenny's neck with all my might.

Hot red liquid splashes my face along with my hands as Lenny falls back clutching his neck.

Oh my god, oh god, what have I done? My parents are going to kill me. I start to hyperventilate as tears begin to stream down my face. "Sorry, sorry, sorry." I don't know how long I was in shock but a voice brought me back to my senses.

"Huh, you did good Carl." Justin says giving him a thumbs up. "You should see how Jenner looks." He says covering his mouth and suppressing a giggle, before this, my knife falls to the ground I pounced on Justin hugging him while I started to cry.

"I was scared, I heard shots and he was about to leave." I say pointing to Lenny who is on the ground holding his neck with blood coming out of his mouth. "And I just panicked, I just…" I whisper with tears in my eyes as Justin pats me on the back.

"It's okay, I'm not upset about what you did, in fact, I'm a little shocked, I thought you were a baby, but looking at you now, you don't look so much like a baby anymore." Justin says ruffling my hair as he separates me from him. "No more hugs, they make me uncomfortable, we have to rescue the NPCs." Justin says waving his hands dismissively.

Did Justin just refer to adults as NPCs? I always knew Justin had a screw loose.

"NPCs, what is that?" Sofia asks, who was in a corner in the room, although she seems to be a bit traumatized just like me.

"Justin refers to our parents." I say as Sofia just nods her head.

"But first..." Justin says before taking a rifle from his back and pointing the gun at Lenny who is on the ground. Lenny tries to cover his face with his hand, however, a shot goes through his hand along with his head. I look quickly at Justin and then at Lenny.

Justin just killed Lenny in front of us, he killed him easily, I don't doubt him, he didn't regret it.

"Now I want them to repeat after me." Justin says as I and Sofia have our eyes wide open.

"I win." Justin says with a chuckle. At this, I and Sofia fell silent. What am I supposed to do?

"I didn't hear an answer." Justin says out loud.

"I win." I say quickly as Sofia repeats after me.

"Exactly, we win and he doesn't." Justin says pointing to Lenny's body "We survived and he didn't." He says waving his hands with a smile on his face. Given this, a new sensation runs through my body, I am no longer a baby, I will no longer hide in my mother's skirts, I will never be a burden again.

I thought Justin was a bit crazy, however, I don't think it's a bad thing, after all, he's my older brother now.

"I win." I say as a smile begins to form on my face. At this, Justin's smile for some reason gets bigger.

_______________________________________

POV Rick Grimes

Shane is right, something bad is happening right under our noses, currently, we are all gathered in my room except for the children, who are in Justin's room. We have to make a decision about the action plan that we will carry out, this decision must be made by the whole group.

"They're hiding something Rick, they had something to do with T-Dog's death, if we don't do something any of us could be next." Shane says with a shotgun slung over his shoulder looking at each of us.

"He is right." Says Daryl placing his crossbow on the table "We are in the dark, this place only offers false security, Eliot and Lenny killed T-Dog, you can see it in his eyes." Daryl says crossing his arms.

Dale takes a step forward. "We have to calm down, we all have to calm down, there is no need to use violence, we are civilized people." Dale says quieting the room. "Maybe if we talk to them we can come to some kind of understanding, possibly it's just a misunderstanding."

Shane just snorts audibly. "We cannot be weak in crucial moments like these, we have to protect our own." Shane exclaims hitting the table and making some people flinch.

"Shane, stop." I say placing my hand on Shane's shoulder. "We are a group and we must all give our opinion, we cannot act on our own as we would put the rest of the group in danger." I say while looking directly at Shane.

"I'm so fucking sorry, it's just, we have to do something about it." Shane whispers crossing his arms.

"This is bullshit, why don't we just go after those little soldiers and beat the truth out of them?" Merle asks with a smile, "Who's with me?" He says, as Daryl and Shane raise their hands, however, they're the only ones. "Fucking cowards." He says shaking his head and walking out of the room, closing the door tightly behind him.

"Will you let him go?" Dale asked looking at me.

"It's Merle, being Merle." I say sighing a little, this whole situation is complicated, we finally have a place that we could call home, however, things can't be that easy.

"Let's do it your way then Rick let's go with them and hold hands while we sing Kumbaya." Shane said with his hands in his hair laughing at me. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep us safe Rick, everyone should understand that." Shane says with a dark look pointing at me with his hand.

He is putting the whole group in danger by his paranoia, I clench my fists as I grab Shane by the shirt ready to punch him, however, we are interrupted by a scream from outside the room.

"What do you think you two are doing? Are they coming to finish what they started? Go to hell!" I hear Merle's scream before shots are heard outside the room causing panic among those present.

"Merle!" Daryl yells grabbing his crossbow and walking out of the room.

"Fuck Rick, I told you so man!" Shane yells at me, reloading his shotgun as he follows Daryl. The other members of the group are not far behind either, Glenn quickly draws his pistol as the women take cover.

*Initiating security protocol 17 sleeping gas released on the 6th floor*

"What's that? Gas?" Lori asks in a panic.

"The children, Rick, the children." Carol says alarmed.

A strange gas starts to circulate in the air causing the people around me to start to collapse, I quickly cover my nose and mouth with a handkerchief as I leave the room, however, the whole place is filled with this gas. I'm starting to lose the coincidence as I fall to my knees.

"Area clear, proceed." I hear Eliot's voice and I see a person approaching me with a gas mask, in that, I fall face down while my eyes close. Shane was right, he was right all along.

I take a deep breath when my eyes open again, how long was I out? I try to stand up, however, it is impossible, my hands are tied and I am not the only one in this position. Around me is the whole group except the children, we are tied up in the cafeteria as if we were mere cattle. A great rage floods my body to find ourselves in this situation.

A few minutes passed and some people began to wake up. "But what the fuck?" Daryl exclaims. "Merle, Merle." Daryl yells.

"Calm down little brother, I haven't kicked the bucket yet." Merle says with his hands tied. "It's not as bad as it seems, even if I'm not on another roof." Merle says with a sigh. "What's the big plan now friendly officer?" He asks me sarcastically.

"This didn't have to end like this." Eliot says with his rifle in hand. "We are not bad people, it is for a greater good." Elliot says softly.

"Why do they do this to us?" I ask out loud. I need to understand for what reason they are doing this and for what reason they killed T-Dog.

"We need test subjects, I'm sorry." It's all Eliot says, at this, my face loses all its color while everyone else falls silent. Do they plan to experiment with us?

"Damn, let me get my hands on you, you better start praying now." Daryl yells trying to reach Eliot but his restraints prevent him. Some of the women have already begun to cry while the look of fear is seen in each of us.

"Where are the children? Where is my son?" I yell at Eliot who just goes silent. "If they do anything to the children, I will kill you with my bare hands, no matter where you hide, I will chase you, I will find you and you will wish you had never been born." I say gathering every bit of poison in my voice.

At that moment Eliot's radio came to life. "Hello? Does anyone hear me? I need help." I hear Justin's voice coming from the radio.

Justin? Why are you using Lenny's radio?" Eliot asked quickly over the radio.

"Doctor Jenner attacked Lenny, we need your help... he's hurt." Justin stutters from the other end of the radio, while Eliot's face fills with concern.

"Where are you? I'm on my way." Eliot puts the radio in his mouth and responds quickly, then looks at us, and then runs off.

"Well... friendly officer I think it's time you start thinking of a new plan." Merle snorts as he begins to try to free himself from his bonds. "These assholes used military knots, I'm good with fucking knots. Just wait a moment and good Merle will set you free."

"Hurry up Merle, we don't know when he'll be back." Shane says quickly.

"Could you shut the fuck up? Fine thanks." Merle says as he continues to try to free himself from the restraints.

However, shortly after, a loud explosion is heard above the facility.

"What the hell was that?" Merle asks

"Not good, Merle, hurry up!" Daryl yells.

_______________________________________

POV Justin

"Thanks, Eliot, I'm really scared, I'm in Jenner's lab, come quickly please." I say dramatically into the radio before stowing it on my waistband.

"Well, that will keep Eliot distracted while we go get the others." I say with a smile on my face, hopefully, Eliot will end up devoured as we make our escape.

"What do we do now Justin?" Carl asks me

"Take Lenny's weapons, I don't expect you guys to know how to use them. However, it would be nice to have them with us." I say pointing to Lenny's body, at which Carl quickly starts to grab Lenny's weapons and I can even see a smile on his face as he does so. They grow so fast.

"Remember, what happens down here, stays down here. Jenner attacked Lenny, we had nothing to do with it, okay?

"In accordance." Both children respond.

"By the way, we have 28 minutes before this place blows up." I say quickly.

"What?!" Carl and Sofia exclaim at the same time.

"Hurry up." Is all I say as I walk out of the room, shortly after Carl and Sofia start following me carrying guns as we run through the halls bordering the area to avoid running into Eliot. However, a loud explosion causes us to stop.

"Didn't you say there were 28 minutes left?" Carl exclaims.

"We're going to die? We're going to die." Sofia begins to cry as she hugs Carl.

"Hush, stop being so dramatic, we'll be fine." I say waving my hands as we approach the control room. Upon entering the room we see several screens on along with a countdown indicating that there are 25 minutes left for decontamination.

"There are our parents." Carl says pointing his finger at one of the screens. It shows the rest of the group tied up in the cafeteria as they try to free themselves. "They're in the cafeteria, let's go." Carl says, starting to run, however, I grab him by the back of his shirt stopping him. "Justin, what are you doing?" Carl asked me.

"I think... the plan has changed." I say pointing my finger at one of the recordings, specifically the one found in the elevator.

*

****Click to see image****

*

*A facility intrusion has been detected, all staff must evacuate immediately*

"Well, things are going to get more exciting." I say placing my rifle over my shoulder as a smile spreads across my face.

Wesker's men are here.