Daryl's Angel: Saviour (Book Two)

Chapter 42: What Must Be Done

An hour after we get home, most of Alexandria gathers in the church for a town meeting. Rain trickles, lightly tapping on the old shingles as people settle into the pews, an anxious buzz in the air. Some people stayed home, the mothers with young children and the elderly, while others couldn't leave guard duty to join us.

Rick starts the meeting with a brief explanation of what the Hilltop was like and what we stand to gain from it. He also tells them about the Saviours and what they did to Rory, and what the Hilltop still does for them in return.

"They're dangerous, but we have the chance to get the upper hand," Rick says. "Andy and Jesus will lead us to their base, we'll break in, and we'll kill them all. We fight. We remove them from the equation."

I watch the faces all around me. Most look mildly uncomfortable, others look resigned to it, and still others seem tense with fear. Rick surveys us all, continuing his sermon. Jesus sits on the stage near Rick, head bowed, with Andy on the other chair, flanking Rick.

"And we can work with the Hilltop. Maggie hammered out a deal. We're getting food—eggs, butter, fresh vegetables, but they're not just giving it away. These Saviours, they almost killed Sasha, Daryl, and Abraham on the road. Now, sooner or later, they would've found us, just like those Wolves did, just like Jesus did," Rick says. "They would've killed someone or some of us, and then they would try to own us, and we would try to stop them, but by then? In that kind of fight, low on food, we could lose. This is the only way to be sure, as sure as we can get, that we win. And we have to win. We do this for the Hilltop. It's how we keep this place. It's how we feed this place." He pauses, looking around at all of us again. "This needs to be a group decision. If anybody objects, here's your chance to say your piece."

I fidget, pursing my lips. I wonder if this is what Dale felt like back on the farm, when we were debating whether or not to kill that kid. This is so much bigger than one life, though, and already I know I'm facing a losing battle.

Before I can stand, I hear a creak, and everyone turns towards the back row as Morgan gets to his feet. "You're sure we can do it? We can beat them?" he asks.

"What this group has done, what we've learned, what we've become, all of us—yes, I'm sure," Rick says.

"Then all we have to do is tell 'em that," Morgan says.

"Well, they don't compromise."

"This isn't a compromise. It's a choice you give them. It's a way out, for them and for us."

"We try and talk to the Saviours, we give up our advantage, our safety," Rick insists. "No, we have to come for them before they come for us. We can't leave them alive."

"Where there's life, there's possibility," Morgan retorts.

"Of them hitting us."

"We're not trapped in this. None of you are trapped in this."

"Morgan..." Rick says. "They always come back."

"Come back when they're dead, too."

"Yeah, we'll stop them. We have before."

"I'm not talking about the walkers."

Tense silence hangs for a moment as Morgan and Rick stare each other down.

Rick sighs, turning to everyone. "Morgan wants to talk to them first," he says. "I think that would be a mistake, but it's not up to me. I'll talk to the people still at home. I'll discuss it with the people on guard now, too, but who else wants to approach the Saviours, talk to them first?"

I steel my nerve as I rise to my feet. I feel Daryl grab my wrist as if to stop me, but I brush him off, taking a deep breath as eyes fall on me. Rick's head tilts, slight exasperation in his eyes, but he shouldn't be surprised by this.