Carl's pov:

When Carl wakes up, he finds himself lying on the floor tied up in a dark room. The air is stuffy and cold, making Carl shiver in fear.

The room lights up when the big steel door swings open to reveal a tall man in a uniform. His name tag says "Richard."

"Why hello." Richard begins to say. "What's your name, kid?"

Carl looks up at the big man with his eyes wide in fear.

"Speak when you're spoken to." Richard spits.

"C- Carl. My name's Carl." Carl says, trying to make his voice sound tough, although it doesn't work very well.

"Well, C- Carl." Richards mocks him. "I have something to show you."
A sickening smirk spreads across his face as he flicks on a light switch.

The dark room suddenly lights up and Carl squeezes his eyes, adjusting to the light.

When he opens his eyes, he sees a very large TV screen in front of him. The screen shows a boy, maybe a couple of years older than him, tied up on the floor just like he is.

The boy has curly, long brown hair that was sticking to his forehead from sweat.

"That boy that you see on the TV..." Richard says. "Well, he's been bit."

Carl stays silent.

Poor boy. He's gonna die alone.

"And I think we both know that you know what that means," Richard says coldly.

Carl just nods, his eyes still glued to the screen with the curly-haired boy on it.

Being bit means he's gonna get really sick. He's gonna have a fever and eventually die and turn into a walker.

Like Jim.

"And if you press this button..." Richard holds a red button in front of Carl. "It will light that room on fire. His death will be quick and harmless."

I'm sorry, what?!

"All you have to do is. Press. The. Button." Richard repeats.

"I'm not gonna kill him," Carl says softly, afraid to look away from the screen.

"His death will be worse if you don't," Richard states in a demanding tone.

While Richard goes on, trying to get Carl to press the button, Carl tones him out and focuses on the boy on the TV screen.

The curly-haired boy is wearing a loose gray tank top and shorts. There's no bite on his arms, legs, or neck.

If there was a bite on his torso, the blood stain would be visible.

So that means Richard is lying. The boy isn't bit.

Why would he want me to kill him though? Can't he just do that himself?

"Press the damn button, Carl." Richard practically yells, making Carl jump a little.

"I- I don't want to." Carl finally says.

"He's gonna die anyway, kid, just press the button and you could leave this room and have a better life. A new bedroom with new clothes. Food and water. Just press the button."

"He's not bit," Carl says, finally turning his head to look Richard in the eyes.

His dark eyes widen slightly, in shock at what Carl had just said.

Then, a smirk appears on Richard's face, even crueler than the one before.

"Smart boy." He says. "Much smarter than that friend of yours."

Nell?

What did they do to her?

"She's NOT my friend." That is all Carl could say.

"Well, that sucks, because then I guess she won't be coming to save you," Richard says and pulls out a gun.
He presses the gun against the side of Carl's head and places his finger on the trigger.

Richard sighs.
"It also sucks because I really liked you too, Carl. You're just too smart. We can't have someone like you spilling all of our secrets, now can we?"

Carl's heart speeds up as he thinks of ways out of this situation.

There is none.

He can't run because he's tied up.

He can't fight because he'll get shot before he can even move.

All he can do is lie on the floor, helpless.

This is how I'm going to die.

I was probably going to die sooner or later by walkers anyway.

I'm never gonna see my dad or my mom or Shane ever again.
This is it.

And so, Carl shuts his eyes and prepares for his death to come.

"My dad.." Carl stutters. "He will kill you."

Richard laughs.
"Too bad you won't be here to see it." He says with a smile on his face.

Carl closes his eyes for what feels like an eternity, but Richard never pulls the trigger.
The gun stays pressed against the side of his forehead.

"You know what?" Richard finally says, breaking the anticipation.
"I've changed my mind. Your father will probably come looking for you. Which means I can use you to my advantage."
Richard finally lowers his gun and clicks it back into his holster.

Shit. He should have just killed me.

Then, a walkie-talkie in Richard's pocket goes off.
"We have a code yellow at the entrance to the compound. I repeat we have a code yellow at the entrance to the compound."

Richard laughs and looks down at Carl.

"Looks like your daddy is already here." He says.

"Be good, follow instructions, and maybe I won't kill you," Richard says, reaching into his pocket to pull out a cloth.

He ties the cloth around Carl's face so that the cloth lays in his mouth. So he can't speak.

Then, Richard bends down and unties the rope around his ankles. Although, he leaves the rope tied around his wrists.

"Get up," Richard says, grabbing onto Carl's skinny arm and forcefully pushing him to his feet. "Time to see your daddy."