averescu ϟ Carl Grimes Gay

eighteen.

E I G H T E E N
T H E O D O R E

"Can we talk? There's a problem."

"What's up, sweetie?"

"Dresden, Nic, and Avery need to talk to you in the radio office."

"How bad is it?"

"It could be bad or it could be good, I don't know."

"Thank you, Paris."

I had to completely turn around and go the other way. I was hoping to be able to stop by Rick Grimes' cell and scare him a little bit, but now my plans were flipping upside down.

Dresden, Nic, Avery, Jedidiah, Harmony, and the Twins were all inside the office, scattered around the circular wooden table. They seemed to be intently staring down at some papers, so I was interested to see what was going on.

"You needed to see me?"

"Hey, Teddy. I need you to come look at these charts."

"All right."
Nodding, I place my palms on the tabletop and study the neat writing on all of the papers.
"We're here?"

"Yes."

"And this is the horde?"

"You've got it."
Dresden nods.
"Nic and the Twins took some tests, and these are all of the results."

"We're very behind on a head start."
Leyton sighs.

"If we want to make it, we can't stay here."
His brother continues.

"Delancey is on our side. She thinks we're onto something."
Jedidiah shrugs.

"I wouldn't call it a side."
Avery shakes his head.
"It's a fact. These are the results, we don't get a yes or no."

"How long would you say we have?"
I ask.

Nicholaigh thinks for a moment.
"I wouldn't even say two days."

"I can work with that. I want everyone to pack their things up and getting ready by 11."

"Wait, we're just leaving?"
Harmony frowns.
"Mister, we can't move 60+ people in just two hours."

"We can."

"This is my home, I love it here."

"Come here, butterfly."
I sigh, leaning down a little bit to get to his height.
"The last thing I want to do is take this away from you. I know this is the place you've grown to love, but I can't set the world on fire if you're left behind."

"Sir, you said that we would make this into a kingdom."

"You know, there are times where things have to change drastically for the well-being of ourselves."
I explain, holding onto his hands.
"I love you, and I refuse to leave you behind— so, I need you to put that pretty little smile on for me, okay? Can you do that?"