Lilly Watkins has always been the strong one compared to her twin. That doesn't change when the dead start walking. Taking care of her family during the apocalypse, she never relied on anyone else. When she meets Daryl Dixon, a more temperamental pe...
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"That means there's another breach," Glenn says after Carl tells him where Tyreese's group came through. Rick turned the group away, probably overly cautious after Woodbury. I couldn't blame him.
"The whole front of the prison is unsecure." Glenn runs his hand down his face in frustration. "If Walkers just strolled in, then it's just going to be cake for a group of armed men."
"Why are we so sure he's going to attack?" Beth asks, crossing her arms. "Maybe you scared him off?"
"This man thrives on retaliation. We learned that when he pitted Daryl and Merle against one another," I speak up, rubbing the back of my neck from stress.
"He also had fish tanks full of heads. Humans and Walkers. They were trophies," the woman, Michonne, speaks up. "He's coming."
"We should hit him now. He won't be expecting it. We sneak in and put a bullet in his head," Glenn says.
"I agree." I stand up, stretching. "We shouldn't sit around like lambs for slaughter with a madman like that."
"We're not assassins," Carol says, looking at the two of us worried.
"No, but they could be. He has that whole town wrapped around his finger. They turned on Merle so fast, it was like a cult," I add, readjusting my weapons slightly.
"You know where his apartment is," Glenn says to Michonne before looking over to me. "We could end all of this tonight." Michonne nods after sighing.
"He didn't know you were coming last time and look what happened," Hershel says, looking at us. I pause, having not considered that. Even our surprise attack had gotten Daryl and I captured.
"You can't stop me," Glenn says, stomping over towards the older man.
"Wait, Glenn, think about it. He's right." I get between them, not wanting either of them to fight.
"Rick would never allow this," Hershel adds.
"You really think he's in any position to make that choice?"
"He got us out, didn't he?" I stare down at the Asian man who falters a bit.
"T-Dog lost his life here. Lori too. I don't think it's worth anymore killing," Hershel speaks up again. "What are you waiting for? If he's really on his way, we should be out of here by now."
"And go where?"
"We lived on the road all winter."
"Back when you had two legs and we didn't have a baby, or another on the way." He looks pointedly at me and I glare at him.
"We can't stay here," Hershel says, trying to reason with him but I felt split. Glenn was right. We couldn't live on the road as we did before. Too much had changed. We didn't even have Daryl to hunt and keep watch. We'd soon have two babies to watch out for.
"We can't run." Maggie walks out at this, visibly upset. Glenn sighs, watching her retreating figure. "Alright. We'll stay put and defend this place. We're making a stand."
Glenn puts together a plan to reinforce the prison, giving us each orders.
"Wait, who's on watch?" He sighs, running out of the common area. I huff in annoyance, letting Carol run ahead to help him. Instead, I take a small census, noticing someone missing.
"Where's Milly? Where's your mom?" I ask Ashley, going into the cell block and searching each cell but coming up empty. I do notice a travel bag and some weapons are missing. Did she run off?
"Don't be mad," Ashley says, stopping me. "She said she's going to get Daryl back for you."
"That idiot," I mutter. "I can't even go after her in case the Governor comes."
I join Glenn to survey the breach. When we get back, we let the others know the damage.
"The boiler room is overrun. We had it previously cleared out," Glenn says, frustrated. "It's a steady stream of Walkers."
"We're wasting time," Hershel says, packing up a bag. "The Governor is on his way and we're stuck in here with Walkers."
"For the last time, running is not an option."
I shake my head. "I'm not leaving without my sister."
Carol looks between the two of us sadly. "If the tombs have filled up again, it may just be a matter of time before they push in here." She turns to me. "And you don't know if Milly will return."
"We didn't give up on your daughter," I remind, watching as pain flicks across her face.
"We just need to scout the far right side of the prison," Glenn adds. "Find out what's going on out there."
"Take a car and make it quick," Hershel says, not at all happy with this plan.
"I'll come with you," I tell him.
"No, stay here, I'll take Maggie," he responds.
"Are you sure she's up to that?" Hershel asks him. Glenn walks away, not answering the older man. Hershel looks at me seriously and I know I need to listen up. "Glenn is trying hard to be the leader, with Daryl and Rick both gone. I think what we need is you, Lilly."
"Hershel, I don't make sound decisions all the time. My family always comes first." I shake my head, taking a step backward. There's no way I can step into a leadership position. Rick needs to snap out of it. "I'll try to protect Glenn from being reckless, but I can't be the leader you want me to be."
"I think you always have been."
I walk away, going outside. Heading to the outskirts of the yard, I spot Rick in a brown button-up, looking around, almost dazed.
"Rick!" I yell out, getting his attention.
He gazes at me, slowly walking towards me. "I've been doing...stuff."
"I got that. How much longer is this stuff going to take? We need you, Rick."
He sighs, staring at me with complete heartbreak on his face. "I don't...I don't know."
"Anything I can do?" I ask him, grabbing onto the fence. When he doesn't answer, I start to turn away.
"I saw something. Lori. I'm seeing Lori. Look, I know it's not really her, but there's got to be a reason. It's got to mean something." He presses his hand against mine on the fence.
"It means you're going or have gone through a traumatic event, Rick. I thought I lost my daughter and saw her everywhere, on every face, in my dreams. When I fell down that cliff with Daryl, she was there. I get it, I do, but you need to be resilient. We can't just go on hold in this world when someone dies. We don't get that luxury," I tell him, smiling sadly.
He pulls away, turning and walking in the opposite direction. Maybe we'll never get him back. Maybe Hershel is right. Maybe I'm supposed to step up.
A gunshot whizzes past my ear before it fully registers what's happening.
"Get down, Lilly!" Rick shouts at me, running back towards the prison. I fall to the ground, making myself as low as possible as I pull out my handgun. I look around, not able to make out where to aim, everything a mess. My eyes lock onto a speeding van plowing through our gates. I'm able to take out the driver but the damage is already done as Walkers spill out the back and into the yard where I'm at.
"Get out of here, Lilly!" Rick screams at me.
"What about you?!" I shoot a Walker that gets too close, realizing I'm being cornered quickly. Shit.
Glenn pulls up in the truck, taking out nearby undead, helping me into the vehicle before driving off. I look behind me at Rick dealing with Walkers all alone. My heart clenches, wondering if this will be the last time I'll see him alive?
