Highway To Hell

Chapter 12

"Ivy." I look up from where I'm cleaning my guns, again. Rick's standing a little ways away. "Beth collapsed and we think Hershel is at the bar in town. You comin?" I nod and start putting my weapons back together. 

   "Yeah, just let me get my weapons in order and I'll be right there." He nods and turns to walk away, but the then he turns back.

   "Did you mean it? Did you mean what you said?" 

   "Yes, Rick, I meant it. Do with that what you will. What he did was stupid and could have got any one of us killed. I don't like threats that can think. If you call what he did thinking."

   "He's a person,  Ivy. We-"

   "Don't kill the living. I know, but, Rick, we won't make it through this life without killing people. Shitty people existed before and you can bet they exist now. Only now, there aren't laws to keep those people in check. There's no actual consequence for their actions. What's going to stop another group from killing us all? Nothing. Not everyone thinks like you do. If he becomes too much of a threat," I finish putting the pieces of my gun back together and look up at him, "I will kill him and I won't lose sleep over it." I gather my weapons and put them in their holsters before walking past him. 

   Glenn is walking out of the house, gun in hand, and a worried looking Maggie is trailing behind him. I still don't understand how she and Bela tie into one another, but she isn't any sort of monster so I'm content for the moment. I hop in the SUV and wait for Rick and Glenn to get a move on. They get in and Rick starts her up.

I ignore Glenn and Rick's quiet conversation as we get out of the car and look around. I pull my gun and scan the area around me. I get to the bar first and peer in through the window. I put my gun away and look to Rick and Glenn, who are walking up to me. I walk into the bar and they come in behind me. 

   "Hershel," Rick calls out to the man.

   "Who's with you?" Hershel asks. 

   "Glenn," Rick says, "and Ivy."

   "Maggie send him?"

   "He volunteered. He's good like that. They both are." We walk father into the room. Glenn and I hang back while Rick goes to stand next to Hershel. "How many you had?"

   "Not enough."

   "Let's finish this up back at home. Beth collapsed. Is in some sort of state. Must be in shock. I think you are too."

   "Maggie's with her?"

   "Yeah, but Beth needs you."

   "What could I do? She needs her mother or rather to mourn. Like she shoulda dome weeks ago. I robbed her of that. I see that now." He brings the glass to his lips for another drink.

   "You thought there was a cure. Can't blame yourself for holding out for hope."

   "Hope? When I first saw you running across my field with that girl in your arms, I had little hope she would survive."

   "But she did. She's standing here right now because you helped her."

   "She did. Even though we lost Otis. Your man, Shane, made it back and we saved her. That was the miracle that proved to me miracles do exist. Only it was a sham, a bait and switch. I was a fool, Rick, and you people saw that. My daughters deserve better than that." He takes another sip and refills his glass. 

   "Then give them better than that," I say, stepping forward and leaning next to the bar next to him. "If they deserve better, then get off your ass, put that drink down and give them better. What you're doing now isn't just hurting you, it's hurting those girls you claim to love so much. You're right in saying you were a fool, but you need to stop this pity party and man up." Rick pulls me away.