The child's cries grew in intensity, and despite Newt's efforts to comfort her, her cries only grew louder. If she didn't calm down soon, their presence would draw attention to them, and their hope of reaching the Stronghold would vanish.
"We've got to shut her up!" whispered a woman beside them.
"She's just a child, look around you, do you see her parents? She's terrified!"
"No matter how scared she is, if she keeps crying, we're doomed."
The woman's name was Amulet, nearing 25, with black bobbed hair. Newt was her twin brother. Since the advent of what they called the End, which had ravaged the world, they had managed to survive until now. The End had appeared overnight, transforming corpses into moving creatures that had in turn contaminated the living. Priests and clerics had proclaimed that Hell was full and that only the souls of the living could bring rest to those of the departed.
For Newt and Amulet, these explanations mattered little. What mattered now was reaching the London Stronghold. After the second wave of Walkers attacks, they lost all their family in Manchester. They had waited until the streets were clear to begin their journey, but their hopes had been dashed. The streets were still infested with Walkers. They had to find an alternative route, a risky shortcut out of the city. This choice led them to a ruined residential area, where they had discovered a little girl. With big blue eyes and blond hair held back by a simple green headband, there she was, surviving alone amidst the chaos.
Grunts echoed nearby.
"Listen, little one, please calm down!" implored Newt, placing his hands gently on her face, but this only made things worse.
"They're getting closer!" exclaimed Amulet, raising her weapon. "They haven't spotted us yet. What's your name, kid? Hey, what's your first name?"
"Do you really think asking her her first name will calm her down?!"
"And your solution is better, maybe?!"
"My name's Carrie..." the little girl murmured shyly.
The growling became closer and more threatening. Carrie realized this and stared at Newt with panic in her eyes. She sought refuge in the man's arms as Amulet opened fire on the Walkers. Time was running out, it was too late. The choice was simple: flee or end up like those creatures. Newt took Carrie in his arms and rushed off in the opposite direction, closely followed by his sister who continued to fire. Surprisingly, the little girl stopped crying, and even better, she pointed to a shelter where they could hide.
Newt, Amulet, and Carrie finally gained ground and slipped into a house that also seemed abandoned. Newt gently placed the child on the ground and, with his sister's help, barricaded the door. As they turned around, they saw the little girl sitting on a blanket amidst stuffed toys and toy cars. She was playing and humming, apparently already detached from what had happened outside. Newt and Amulet exchanged glances, puzzled by the situation. This was her home, and that was why she had guided them here, she considered it a safe shelter. Newt noticed a moldy meal not far from her, accompanied by a few candles, the room's only source of light. Amulet took a seat across from Carrie, who continued to hum and play with her cars. Amulet handed her one of them. The girl's innocence, which the twins had almost forgotten, shone through. The Walkers weren't the only ones subsisting, there was also this child... Newt sat down beside them and looked at Amulet, who shared his perplexity.
"Carrie," he murmured.
The little girl left her car aside, looked up at him, and handed him a teddy bear, smiling. Newt returned the smile and noticed the girl's outfit. She was wearing a white dress and matching shoes, looking almost angelic. But what struck him most was that she was immaculate.
"Thanks for the teddy bear.
"His name is Ernie," she said in a soft voice. "They all have names. The giraffe is Florine, the lion is Robert, and..."
"Carrie," interrupted Amulet, "how old are you?"
"I'm six."
"Where are your parents?"
"Mom and Dad left and told me to stay here and wait."
"When did they leave?" asked Newt.
"I don't know... Maybe a week ago."
"Seven days?!" they exclaimed.
"Yes.
Carrie resumed her game. It had been seven days since she'd been left to her own devices in the midst of an undead invasion. Her parents had surely wanted to leave to get supplies but had been caught up in the events and left Carrie obediently behind. Now that the twins had found her, she had to leave with them, or she wouldn't last long. The Walkers would eventually find her. Newt and Amulet stood up and whispered in a corner.
"She survived on her own for seven days, how's that possible?"
"Her parents must have left her some food and water. Amulet, we can't leave her here on her own, she might get killed."
"I know, for once, I agree with you. But we'll have to convince her."
"I'll take care of it, you get what you can."
Newt returned to Carrie and sat down beside her.
"Carrie..."
"We have to leave, don't we?" she asked, clutching her teddy bear.
"Yes, we do."
"Mommy and Daddy aren't coming back?"
"I'm sorry."
Carrie frowned as tears rolled down her cheeks. She stood up, grabbed her little elephant backpack, and began to pack as many stuffed animals and toy cars as she could into it. Then she took the only photo she had of her parents. While Carrie finished gathering her things, Newt helped Amulet take what they would need to survive to London. They were ready. No one else was supposed to be with them, but Newt and Amulet had already grown attached to this child. If they were to reach London's Stronghold, it would be for Carrie. The little girl put on a green vest. Newt took her hand, while in the other he held his gun firmly. They exited through the back door into the garden, Amulet taking the lead. Night hid their progress since they had found Carrie. They had to get out of town as quickly as possible, preferably during the night. Their initial shortcut hadn't been very effective, and they needed to find another, where they wouldn't risk running into a horde of Walkers.
"We've got to get out of town, Amulet."
"I know. If we could at least get out of this neighborhood undetected, that would be good."
"The town ends there," Carrie interjected, pointing to the end of the road.
"How do you know that?"
"Mom and Dad said they were going into town and they went the other way. Mom wanted us to go to the London Stronghold. She said it was the only way and that we shouldn't take the main road."
"What do you mean by "main road"? asked Newt.
"Dad wanted to go via Birmingham, but Mum said we had to take a hide road."
"A side road, you mean?"
"I don't know what that means," she said, smiling.
"Did your mom tell you which way she wanted to go?"
"Yes, she said we should avoid the big cities because that's where the dead are most numerous."
"Your mom was smart," commented Newt, stroking the girl's hair.
"Well then, we'll take her advice, but we'll need a car."
The small group thus formed decided to find a working car before daybreak. When they found a suitable vehicle, they were finally able to leave Manchester. Hope was reborn in them. They hoped that what was known as London's Stronghold, a safe place for healthy refugees, might still exist... But nothing was certain, not until they reached it. The sun eventually rose, and Carrie, sitting in the back seat, had fallen asleep with her teddy bear in her arms and the photo of her parents by her side. The drive to London didn't seem so long - normally, it was a 4:40 trip - but nothing was normal now. The Walkers could appear at any moment, and whole hordes could overwhelm them in an instant... They had to remain cautious.
Things seemed to be going well until they broke down between Derby and Leicester. They were forced to abandon their now unusable vehicle and continue on foot. Carrie was courageous, following Amulet and Newt like a shadow. Although she hadn't known them long, she had enough faith in them to guide her to the Stronghold. She was convinced that, like her parents, they would protect her with their lives. Although the journey took longer than expected, she was certain they would reach their destination.
After about an hour's walk, they finally arrived in Leicester. Knowing that crossing the city would put their lives in danger, Newt and Amulet decided to avoid it, even if it meant taking longer. London was at hand. Hugging her teddy bear, Carrie hadn't been able to let go of him since they left the car.
"Newt," she called, tugging at his hand.
"Yes?"
"Mom said we had to go through Leicester."
"It's too dangerous, informed Amulet. Do you see all these creatures everywhere?"
"Yes."
"It's too dangerous," informed Amulet. "Do you see all these creatures everywhere?"
"There are even more in the cities than outside."
"But getting around Leicester is complicated, Amulet," she said with wide eyes.
"I know, but we've got no choice."
"Actually... she might be right," interjected Newt.
"What do you mean? You know it's too dangerous!"
"I know it, she knows it too. But, Amulet, after Leicester, we won't have anywhere to get our supplies. If we don't, the three of us won't make it to London. What if, when we get to the Stronghold, we discover it doesn't exist anymore? What if it's all a lie? We'll need those supplies..."
There was silence.
"It's dangerous. But you're both right. All right, I guess we'll go through Leicester after all."
Despite her misgivings, Amulet finally agreed to go through Leicester, on condition that they were more careful than in Manchester and that they were as discreet as possible. They entered the city and encountered only a few Walkers, which they skilfully avoided. Everything seemed to be going well, but every time they got that impression, things went wrong. And they did.
They'd ventured too far into the city, but they hadn't really had a choice, which was what Amulet dreaded. Carrie was glued to the twins as they cautiously made their way through the city as quickly as possible, but at six years old, Carrie had her limits and that day's walking had exhausted her. Just then, Amulet spotted a group of Walkers in the distance. It was too late to avoid them. The Walkers saw them and began to advance towards them. Without hesitation, Amulet, Newt, and Carrie set off in the opposite direction. Newt held on tightly to the little girl's hand. Carrie let go of his hand for a moment, and her scream startled the boy. What he saw next chilled his blood. One of the Walkers had jumped on Carrie and was trying to devour her. Newt shot the creature in the head and rushed towards her.
He lifted the little girl, took her in his arms, and ran to Amulet. Carrie didn't cry but clung to Newt. When Amulet saw them running towards her, she too began to run. The nearest building was about 300 meters away, a small store where they could find shelter. Behind them, Walkers were trying to catch up, following close behind. All they cared about was their tender flesh. Amulet was the first to enter the store, and as soon as Newt and Carrie joined them, she closed the door behind them. Newt gently placed the little girl on the floor, then helped his sister barricade the door. Breathless, they finally turned to the child...
Her once immaculate dress was now full of blood, and her blond hair had also turned red. Still holding her teddy bear in her hand, it now had a reddish tint. Her hair partially camouflaged her sweet face, but eventually, she lifted it and stared at her saviors. Her former blue eyes were now black, bloodshot, and her angelic face had given way to an abyss, a wound stretching halfway up her neck.
Carrie was no longer Carrie, she had become a Walker, plunging Newt and Amulet into deep turmoil. She stared intently at them before launching herself at them...
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