The Hunter's Prey

Chapter 14

I don't know how long I was out in the forest, but at the end of it I was covered in walker blood. I couldn't go back to the Kingdom. Not yet. Carol deserved to know everything. I found my way back to her house. As I got closer I noticed Morgan was already there talking to her. Whatever they were talking about wasn't just about them anymore. We needed to help our people at whatever cost. Getting closer I could hear what Morgan was saying.

"I killed Richard. I strangled him. He's the one that got Benjamin killed." Morgan spoke as they noticed me. "Do you want to know what happened in Alexandria?"

"Yeah." Carol nodded slightly.

"Negan killed Abraham." I said as I reached them.

"What?" Carol's voice broke as she looked at me.

"Negan beat him to death with a baseball bat." Tears started to fill Carol's eyes. "Now the Saviors have Alexandria, and Rick and everybody else. Everything they do is for the Saviors now. And the Saviors have killed more. Killed Spencer and Olivia. That's why Jesus brought Rick and the others here because Rick wants to fight them."

Carol seemed to take in everything I said as Morgan walked off. Something seemed off in Morgan. He cared about Benjamin a lot. He probably considered him his own son. If I remember right Rick said Morgan had a son before. He died a while ago now.

Some time passed and she disappeared into her house. I started to walk off thinking she wanted space. If I'd just been told someone died, I would want some space. Hearing her door open again I turned back and looked at her. She had a duffle bag on her shoulder and closed the door behind her. She nodded to me as she reached my side.

"Let's go. We have work to do."

There was the Carol I knew. She finally seemed back to normal. Good. We were going to need her. She was the only one that could convince Ezekiel. She was stronger than most people thought. Her guidance is what we needed to take down Negan, for good.

We walked through the forest and soon made our way to the gates of the Kingdom. They opened and we entered. I led Carol to Ezekiel. He was planting something in the royal garden with Benjamin's brother, Henry. Henry walked off to grab something and we approached Ezekiel.

"Carol, (Y/n)." He greeted us, his usually happy demeanor was gone.

"I'm sorry." Carol spoke, and I nodded with her.

"I thank you both." Ezekiel looked down at the newly planted plant.

"I'm gonna be here now. We have to get ready. We have to fight." Carol drew Ezekiel's attention.

"We do." Ezekiel agreed with Carol. "But not today."

Ezekiel walked back over to Henry, who had started to plant another plant. The royal garden had been mostly destroyed besides a few crops Nabila and I were able to save. Carol pulled her duffle bag off and set it on the ground. She walked over to help Ezekiel and Henry. Carol looked up at me and waved me over. I shook my head. I was covered in walker blood and I honestly needed a break from people. She sent me a close lipped smile before I walked off.

I didn't bother returning the crossbow. If we were going to be fighting I was going to need it. I rested it against the wall and walked into my bathroom. I started to strip off my clothes when I felt something in my pocket. I pulled it out. The note from Daryl, I almost forgot I put it in there. I set it on the counter as I pulled the rest of my clothes off. I avoided a glance into the mirror as I entered the shower.

Daryl and I were done. He left me. Told me to stay away. I didn't have a true purpose anymore. All I needed was to kill Negan. To watch the man who destroyed my childhood die. If that meant I had to lose my new family in the process, it was worth it. Negan was going to die. Even if I died alongside him. I was ready for anything he threw at me. My purpose was to kill Negan. Nothing more.