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chapter forty-one | the cared for
A BANJO PLAYED in the background as Ethan walked with Michonne and Andrea to the gates that led to their freedom. Well, Ethan and Michonne saw it like that, Andrea very much disagreed with them.
It was very noticeable when she was walking so fucking slow.
"Hey, hey, hey," Merle called out. Ethan glanced to the side and saw him stuffing his face with a hotdog before getting up from his seat on the bench, "where are you girls off to all of a sudden, huh?"
He finished his food and started to jog up to them. Michonne placed a hand around Andrea's arm, tugging her forward when the blonde tried to stop and talk to the redneck.
Ethan decided a while ago, Daryl was the better sibling. He wasn't as annoying.
"Hey, come on, now," Merle noticed they weren't stopping, "Hey, hey, hey!"
They weren't going to stop, but Merle stopped in front of them with his arms up. "Y'all breakin' my heart runnin' away like that," he stared the women up and down.
"We're leaving," Michonne spoke loud and clear.
Merle chewed on the food left in his mouth for a moment before swallowing the rest, "it's almost curfew. I'd have to arrange an escort. I mean, the party's still goin' on, girls."
Michonne breathed in, a smirk appearing on her lips. Merle was proving a point. The point Michonne was trying since they arrived, that they can never leave this place.
Ethan glanced at Andrea next to him, almost giving her a look that screamed, 'I told you so.'
The redneck backed up suspiciously, "Alright, wait here a second."
He turned to the guard at the gate, "Brownie, come 'ere. Listen up, bro." The guard squatted, so Merle could talk quietly without the bystanders hearing their conversation.
Michonne turned her body to Andrea as well, she gave her the same look Ethan gave her earlier. Ethan adjusted his pack on his shoulders, watching as Andrea walked forward to the guard and Merle.
"The governor told us we were free to come and go whenever we liked," she exclaimed.
Merle turned around to her, with a very annoyed look. "Sweetheart, nothing personal here, but you're gonna have to step back."
Andrea looked down at his finger that was pointed at her with her lips curled. She spun on her feet and walked back to Ethan and Michonne.
"See? There's always a reason why we can't leave yet," Michonne said all-knowingly. Andrea's eyes dropped to her feet, the realization hit her.
But then, Merle did something that surprised all three of them. He opened the gate.
"Now if I was y'all, I'd find some shelter before nightfall."
