Carl was more than happy to hug his dad again. After he and Elide came running with half the herd at their heels, the big shock fell over the people of Alexandria. But Rick told them he had everything under control, which may have been partly a lie.

After everyone went back to their homes to their families, Carl decided to check on Elide. She had just walked past him earlier and hadn't even looked at him. He was worried, so he knocked carefully on her door. He knew she was in there and just opened the door, even though she didn't answer.

He found her on her bed, but something was not quite right. She was sitting on the edge, staring at the blood covering her hands. By now she was wearing a black shirt, which was why Carl's shirt was lying in some corner.

"Elide?"

Hearing his voice, the girl looked up and stared wide-eyed at the wall in front of her. He wasn't supposed to be here.
Carl was uncomfortable with the situation and was about to take steps towards her when her voice suddenly rang out. "What do you want."

He stopped and drew his eyebrows together. Her voice was rough and he couldn't make out any emotion in it. Still she sat with her back to him.

"What do I want? I want to check on you, what happened out there?" Carl asked in a firm voice, feeling his hands clench into fists.

Elide laughed out. "Didn't I tell you not to worry about me? I'm fine," she muttered sarcastically, pressing her fingernails into her already burning skin again.

Carl felt the old familiar ache in his chest as he realised what Elide was saying again. He really thought they were friends.

"What the hell is wrong with you? We were friends weren't we?"

His voice was getting angrier and Carl was starting to lose his patience too.

The girl stood up and turned to Carl, who was now looking in shock at Elide's face, which still had blood on it. Her eyes were red, but there was no sign of tears. Carl hadn't the slightest idea what was going on inside her and it scared him.

"Friends?" She breathed suddenly laughing and shaking her head. "You hated me from the start, Carl, remember? You didn't even want me in the group," she hissed and took a step closer to him.

He didn't want her in the group at the beginning, yes. But everything had changed and Carl was deeply surprised that she brought up the subject again.

"I didn't want you in the beginning because I thought you were a danger to us, okay? This is my family and I only wanted what was best for them," he replied desperately, gesturing with his hands.

"And I'm not your family?"

Carl faltered at the question and shook his head. "Of course you are. And you know it. What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?" It pained Carl to see Elide like this, even if he had no idea what had happened.

Elide laughed, sounding like a crazy laugh as she walked then backwards and leaned against the wall. Carl watched the whole thing intently.

"You know what the funny thing about all this is?" Elide looked at him out of wide eyes that shone suspiciously. Slowly, the boy shook his head.

"Your dad is the only one who sees what I am," she breathed with a grin, pushing herself off the wall. "Or who I am. Because you, Carl Grimes, don't have a clue. Maybe you really shouldn't have included me in your group back then."

"What the hell are you talking about? Come to your senses, Elide! This isn't you! You would never say something like that," Carl shouted, holding her by the wrist. The blood on her hands had long since dried, so Carl only had the crumbs that had fallen off on his hand.

Elide breathed in and out loudly and pushed him away, slamming him against her wardrobe. He looked at her with wide eyes. "Don't touch me, Carl and just leave me alone. The Elide you know is dead," she hissed and was opening the door when she heard Carl say in a firm voice; "You're right. I have no idea who that person is in front of me. But I do know that the Elide I know would never be like you."

And with that, she ran out to the bathroom. She closed the door with a loud bang and let out a bloodcurdling scream as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her whole body ached and her mind played tricks on her.

She didn't want to be like that, but all the words left her mouth all by themselves. She was terrified, because something was dying inside her and no one could help her. Everyone was dead. Her family was dead. And she herself was killing people too. Her family would hate her for it and those quiet voices in her head kept letting her know it. She just wanted her real self back.

Carl, who heard her scream, contorted his face painfully. He just wanted to know what was happening to her, although he already secretly knew what it was. He had gone through the same thing, only he was quiet about it. No one knew, no one heard. Carl Grimes was already broken and he knew Elide was just breaking too, losing the last piece of herself and he didn't know how to help her.

She hated him again and the realisation left Carl freezing in place.