When the dead roam - (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 43 - Who's side are you on?

She tugged at her sling around her neck as the fabric dug into her skin. She had been uncomfortable for days and worrying about the group locked outside only added to the level of agitation she possessed. Her boots kicked up the dirt at her feet as she made her way towards the gates.

"Hey!" She yelled loudly, picking up her pace. "Rick wait up!"

He slowed down so she could match his speed. "What'd you need?

"Nothing, I just wanted to say thank you" she said honestly. He raised his eyebrows. "Like you said, we don't see eye to eye, but you're a good man Rick. So, I'm sorry for being such a pain in the ass"

"Well alright then" he smiled down at her and nodded. She returned his smile and before following his gaze towards Carl and Nicole. "Kid's settling in well"

"Yeah, seems to have taken a liking to Carl"

"He could do with a friend" he smirked at her. She chuckled slightly and nudged his shoulder.

"Wait... what the hell?"

She took off towards the gates.

A thin rope was hanging a few meters above the invasive horde, attached to a tree just outside the gates. Spencer hung from the thin material, gripping tightly and guiding himself across. Each time his hands moved, the rope wobbled and his grip loosened a little less. He kept his feet wrapped together and cautiously used them as is main source of power.

"Spencer! Spencer what the hell are you doing?" Lou yelled, clambering to the top of the watch tower.

"Spencer get back here right now!" Rick ordered, close behind her.

She stopped just short of the barrier and used her good arm to hold the rope in place. A few meters to left a female hung from the paneling, shooting any 'walkers' that threatened to pull Spencer down but the noise only attracted more. Lou kicked the metal walls. "Shit. Spencer you gotta move!"

The rope snapped.

His fingers slipped and he dropped into the crowd of dead.

Lou grabbed her gun from her waistband and began firing into the horde. They dropped like flies but it still wasn't quick enough. The seconds seemed to pass quicker than normal and Lou hated that she was powerless. With only one working arm there was only so much she could do.

The dead pulled on Spencer's clothing as he scrambled to his feet. He darted towards the fence and began to pull himself up the snapped cord but with nothing to hold his weight he was sent straight back down. He was loosing time. In one last effort he jumped.

His hand wrapped around Rick's wrist and he was pulled up the wall slowly. Lou stopped firing and with her good arm began tugging on Spencer's shirt. Hastily, they pulled him over the threshold and he dropped next to the wooden stairs in a heap. His chest pumped up and down as he struggled to gain control of his breathing.

"Tara! What the hell?" Rick shouted, causing all attention to be turned towards the dark haired female that had been hanging from the barriers a few moments ago. "You already risked your life once for these people!"

She stuck up her middle finger.

Lou cocked her head to the side. "These people?"

"Lost a damn shoe" Spencer muttered. "Crap"

"You're bloody lucky it was just a shoe Spencer! What the fuck were you doing?" she snapped.

"I wanted to help. Thought I could get a car and draw them away"

"You ever make a climb like that before?" Rick asked, obviously livid. Spencer shook his head. "You wanna help? Don't make us come running to help you! You got an idea you come to me!"

"How could you be so reckless?"

"Me? You wanna talk about reckless Lou? How many times have you almost died for that redneck?" He said, standing up and squaring up to her. "Maybe Tara's not the only one that needs to decide"

"Decide what?" She scoffed.

"Who's side you're on. Are you one of us?" He narrowed his eyes. "Or one of them

"Fuck you" she spat, pushing him backwards before making storming off down the ladders. "Asshole"

She jumped off the last step and ran a hand through her hair as she marched through Alexandria. Her blood was boiling as she found herself restraining from taking on the walkers by herself. The gun in her waist band knocked against her skin and with every bounce came another inch of desire.

Spencer was right. Sooner or later she was going to have to choose between the groups and she didn't particularly like the thought of leaving someone to defend themselves; even if they were strong enough.

"Lou, Lou wait!" Rick shouted after her, once again jogging to keep their paces matched.

"He's right" she said through gritted teeth. She stopped walking and pointed towards the young adult male who was watching her intently from the lookout. "Sooner or later, I'm gonna have to decide who's side I'm on"

"You don't have to decide anything right now"

"Maybe not" she nodded, a large sigh escaping her lips as she calmed herself down. "But either way, someone's gonna get caught in the crossfire"

"Okay, well we'll deal with the fallout when the time comes"

"Gee Rick" she laughed lightly. "Anyone would think you were trying to be my friend"

"Me? Never" he smirked, patting her shoulder. His eyes drifted towards the sky as something caught his attention. A few meters above the town, floating through the clear blue atmosphere were five green balloons. Lou raised her eyebrows.

"Oh my god...is that?"

"Glen!" Maggie shouted. She raced towards them, holding the knife in her holster to ensure it didn't fall out. "It's Glen. He's alive"

Rick nodded at Lou, a small smile evident on his face. They knew he was alive; Michonne was right and for a moment they relished in the joy they felt.

Until the bell tower cracked.

It happened in what could only be described as slow motion. First the foundation ruptured. Then the building dropped a few meters, crashing in on itself. And then finally, it fell. The bricks connected with the walls of Alexandria and sent the metal barriers crumbling. As the building connected with the ground a cloud of dirt forced its way out of the grass and scattered out across the sanctuary.

The dead began to make their way through the gap in the fences.

Their safety has been comprised.