Echos in the Dark

Chapter 47

"If we let him live he'll find a way to run away and then go to his people and tell them about what we've done they'll be coming and they won't be knocking." Dean said.

"That doesn't change anything. It's all of us against just him. They left him behind meaning that they think he's dead. Maybe if we can somehow take him somewhere further away from here like another state." I glanced at Cass then looked at Dale.

"Dale believe me I really really disagree with this execution but they won't change their mind even if we guilt trip them." I said looking away. Dale looked down but nodded.

"If it helps, if we were to have a vote you can count ours." He smile a bit and nodded then he left.

"I don't understand why would he make this a choice." Cass wondered.

"Sometimes I don't understand my own people too." I said sighing.

-/-

The sun had set and it was time for the meeting. Ace and Carl stayed with Jimmy while we spoke. My brothers, Cass, and I stood next to Dale. "So how do we do this? Do- do we take a vote?" Glenn asked.

"Does it have to be unanimous?"

"How about majority rules?"

"Well, let's just see where everybody stands then we can talk through the options." Rick suggested.

"Yeah, well, where I sit, he only way to move forward-"

"Killing him, right?" Dale cut Shane off.

"I mean, why bother to even take a vote? It's clear which way the winds blowing." Dale said.

"Well, if people believe we should spare him, I wanna know." Rick said trying to get started.

"Well I can tell you it's a small group- maybe just me, Glenn, and these guys." He said pointing to us. Glenn looked a bit conflicted.

"Look. I- I think you're pretty much right about everything, all the time but this-"

"They've got you scared." Dale argued.

"He's not one of us, and we've- we've lost too many people already." Glenn said defending himself.

"How about you? Do you agree with this?" Dale asked Maggie.

"Couldn't we continue keeping him prisoner?"

"Just another mouth to feed." I heard Daryl mutter. I sighed.

"It may be a lean winter."

"We could ration better."

"Well, he could be an asset. Give him. A hand to prove himself." Dale suggested.

"Put him to work?"

"We're not letting him walk around." Rick disagreed.

"We could put an escort on him."

"Who wants to volunteer for that duty?" Cass raised his hand but was ignored. I patted him on his wrist.

"If no ones willing to do it then me and Castiel will take turns."

"No!" Daryl said looking at me.

"He can barely even shoot." Shane said. I glared at him.

"I'd watch what I say. Because unlike you he doesn't need a gun all the time." I said calmly.

"I don't think any of us should be walking around with this guy."

"He's right. I wouldn't feel safe unless he was tied up."

"If tying him up makes you feel better then why not get those dog collars that shock when the dog misbehaves? Or chain his legs together so he can walk but not run?" I said getting tired of this.

"We can't just sentence him to hard labor."

"And killing a child who's just trying to survive makes you feel better?" I snapped. I felt hands on my shoulders. I knew my brothers were holding me back.

"Look, say we let him join us, right? Maybe he's helpful, maybe he's nice. We let our guard down and maybe he runs off, brings back his 30 men."

"So the answer is to kill him to prevent a crime that he may never even attempt? If we do this we're saying there's no hope. Rule of law is dead. There is no civilization."

"Could you drive him further out? Leave him like you planned?" I perked up.

"Yes, I can." Castiel spoke up. I nodded.

"How? We can't waste gas especially for a trip going farther away and then coming back."

"I told you don't underestimate us." I said glaring at Shane. He's getting on my nerves again.

"Oh what? Because you guys are just some hunters? This ain't where we can just fuel up at the nearest gas station." I really really wanted to tell him that Cass can just teleport all the way to even Russia to leave the kid. But I couldn't.