After an hour of sitting out in the cold, we decided to go in. "Where were you guys?" Michonne asks us.

I look at Carl and Kennedy looks to the ground. "We went to watch the sun rise." Carl somewhat lied.

I thought Michonne would let us go, but she noticed my backpack. "Where'd you get the back pack, Lauren?" I tense up.

"Carl found it." I mumble. Michonne raises her eyebrows. "Under one of the pews. There's loads of stuff left under 'em." I smile. I think Carl told me how he found some stuff under them one time.

"Ok, but if you guys went into town, Rick will be hearing about it." She warns us. We nod and my heart rate goes back down.

I hear violent coughing coming from the back room and run to the door. I knock. "Come-" Christian starts coughing again. I open the door to see Christian looking worse than when I left. My heart drops to my feet as I look into his miserable eyes.

Dark purple bags hang under his dull blue eyes that used to shine like the sun hitting water. His cocky smile was gone from his face, replaced with a a tired frown. His skin was pale and beaded with sweat.

Carl put an arm on my shoulder as I sit down hard in the chair I was sleeping in.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. Not-" Christian begins to start coughing again. Blood dribbles out of the corner of his mouth. "Not exactly my good 'ol self." He wipes away the blood with the back of his hand. He looks at it and drops his hand back onto his lap with a thud.

"It's not that bad." I sadly say.

He snorts and goes into another coughing fit. "Zainab screamed when she saw me like this. She came to check on us, but you were-" Coughing fit. "Gone. I guess she wasn't expecting to see me like this."

I pull my backpack off the ground and into my lap. I unzip it and rummage through the books and supplies I have in it till I find the comic. I hand it to Christian. He looks at it and smiles. "Ya know, I really miss running. If I could run one last time before I die, I'd be happy."

Dylan walks in. "Lauren, Zainab and Morgan have gone frantic looking for you." He points towards the front doors.

"Why?" I stand up.

"You think I know? They just asked me have I seen you. I said no. That was a couple hours ago. We just got back from the lake."

"Ugh, fine." I groan and run out the front doors. I see my two best friends walking around the church's fence.

"Morgan! Z! Yo!" I yell to them. They both turn around as I run up to them.

"Where have you been?" Zainab asks worridly.

"Um, under the tree watching the sunrise." I lie.

Morgan puts her hands on her hips. "Mate, we know you weren't there."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I act innocent.

Zainab crosses her arms. "You know exactly what we're talking about Lauren. We woke up just as the door shut. We saw Kennedy leave and couldn't find you or Carl. We knew you guys went someplace. You're lucky Michonne doesn't know."

"Fine." I lower my voice to a whisper. "Carl and I went into town and Kennedy followed us. We went to a bookstore."

Zainab's face lights up. "There's a book store?"

"Yeah, I got you the 4th Harry Potter book." I jerk my thumb towards the church where my backpack was.

She hugs me. "Oh my God! Thanks!"

Morgan clears her throat. I chuckle. "Don't worry Morgan. I got you a dragon book." A smile lights up on her face and she takes off towards the church.

Zainab and I sprint to catch up to her as she makes it to the porch steps. "Hold up dude! It's in my backpack!" I run after her through the church.

I hear the boys yell as Morgan bursts into the room and scares them all. She holds my backpack up and I snatched it out of her hand.

"Hey, if you can't bust in the door while we're hanging out that'd be great." Austin says and Carl and Dylan bust out laughing. Christian tries to but ends up coughing. He cringes and let's out a whine. I look to Carl to explain. He pulls me to the side while the others playfully fight with one another.

"He's getting worse." I state.

Carl sighs and readjusts his hat. "I know. He only just started complaining about his bones hurting."

I look over at the blonde sickly boy. "How much more time do you think?"

"Two more days at most I would say." Carl sadly says.

Zainab calls my name. "Lauren! Explain to this idiot," She points to Austin. "Why soccer is an awesome sport."

I smile. "How'd you even get on the topic of soccer?"

Morgan shrugs. I open my bag and take out the dragon book and toss it to her. She squeals and runs out to the main part of the church.

"Oh yeah, I got something for you." I look back at Carl. He raises an eyebrow. "Close your eyes."

"Why?" He questions.

"Just do it. Please?" I give him puppy eyes. He groans and closes his eyes. "Now hold out your hands." I order him. I take out the Harry Potter book and place it into his calloused hands.

He opens his eyes. "Oh, wow. Thanks." He says with a fake smile on his face.

I chuckle. "I think you'll like it. I promise." I kiss him on the cheek.

"And if I don't?" He questions.

I think for a moment. "Then...you get an 'I told ya so?'" I try to get off easy.

He pretends to think for a moment. "Mmmm, I don't think so." I groan. "You have to steal Morgan's sickle for a day."

"Do you want me to die a painful death?" I yell at him.

"Don't worry, she won't hurt you. I promise." And he kisses me on the lips.

"Oi! Shortie!" Morgan stood at the doorway. "If you could stop making out with your boyfriend for one second that'd be great." We pull away and I groan. Carl laughs and goes to sit on the couch next to Christian.

"I'm not that short!" I walk over to Morgan.

"Dylan's taller than you! And he's pretty short!" She points to Dylan who is slapping Austin in the face. I shake my head. Those two have a weird friendship.

"Not by that much!" I protest.

"Dude, for real. You have to stand on your tip toes to kiss your boyfriend." She points out.

"He's only two inches taller than me." I mumble.

"What was that?" Morgan asks.

"I said why'd you call me!"

Morgan rolls her eyes. "Michonne wants you."

"What for?" I ask.

"You act like I know." Morgan puts her hands up.

I hand her the 4th Harry Potter book. "Can you give this to Z please?" I look over to her and Oscar talking and laughing.

"Sure thing kiddo." Morgan takes it and yells Zainab's name even though we're all in the same small room.

I shake my head and walk out to find Michonne. I almost run into Father Gabriel.

"Oops, sorry." I stumble back.

"It's ok." He replies with a smile. "How are you today Lauren?"

"Good I guess. Have you seen Michonne?" This conversation was just going to be awkward any ways.

"I think she went to go out Judith down for a nap." He points to the room two doors down from the office I was just in.

I knock softly on the door. I hear a faint "Come in." And open the door. Michonne is putting a sleeping Judith in the basket that passes off as her cradle.

We both step out again and she closes the door softly. I follow her to the front church pew and sit next to her.

"Morgan said you wanted to talk to me?"

"I do." She pauses to get her thoughts together. "You do know that Christian only has a few days left right?" I nod. "I asked Morgan first and now I'm asking you. Do you want to be the one who puts him down?"

I honestly don't know. I end up staring at the ground. I hadn't thought about having to do that yet.

"I mean, you don't have to. I can ask one of the others and if they don't want to I will. I don't want you to think that I'm making you do this." Michonne explains.

I shake my head. "No, it's fine. I-I'll do it." I choke out.

"Are you sure?" She puts a hand on my shoulder. I just nod. I don't want to say anything. She hands me a knife and holster. "Just keep this on you until it's time. Okay?" I nod again and button the holster on my belt and on the other side of my gun holster. I feel like an armed criminal, but I guess that's what it's come to these days.