Make it Till You Don't

First Step

I stood with my ax gripped tightly in my hand, eyeing the Walkers coming close. Once Rick clipped the fence open, all of us piled in, now in-between two fences as Glenn tied the opening shut.

I watched the Walkers on the left, clinging onto the fence that separated us as we ran down the gravel path. We came up to a gate, seeing a bus flipped on its side.

"It's perfect." Rick said, glancing around. "If we can shut the gate, prevent more from filling the yard, we can pick off these Walkers, we'll take the field by tonight."

"So how do we shut the gate?" Hershel asked, pointing to the one on the top of the hill a few yards away.

"I'll do it. You guys cover me." Glenn volunteered.

Maggie shook her head in disapproval. "No. It's a suicide run."

"I'm the fastest." Glenn countered.

I let out a chuckle. "Fastest delivery man around."

Glenn looked at me. "I tell you that and you still hold it over my head?"

I let out a shrug. "If I'm wrong, I'll close the gate then." I gave Glenn a shit eating smirk.

Glenn was about to argue when Rick spoke up. "No. You, Maggie, (Y/N), and Beth draw as many as you can over there. Pop 'em through the fence. Daryl, go back to the other tower. Carol, you've become a pretty good shot, take your time we don't have a lot of bullets. Hershel, you and Carl take this tower... I'll run for the gate."

Glenn turned to me, now sporting the shit eating grin. "Guess you're not doing it either."

"Rick." I walked over to him. "I'm going with you."

Rick started to shake his head. "I'll be fine-"

"Look, I know you'll be fine, but I use an ax. Not much use picking off Walkers at the fence, it'd be better if I cover your back from any getting close."

I saw him contemplate my words for a moment before looking to the yard. "Alright, fine. But you got to stay close, don't wander too far off."

I nodded my head as he looked at the others as they went to their positions. As Glenn handed Rick clips to use on the gate, I gave him a look of victory. "Guess I'm going afterall."

Rick shook his head at our banter as Lori grabbed hold of the gate, looking at us. With a nod, she opened the gate.

The two of us made our way through the gate, cautiously glancing around the bus. Seeing it was clear, Rick and I began to jog up the path as I stayed a couple feet away, swinging any Walker close enough.

Right as I went to swing at a Walker near Rick, an arrow went through its skull. "Damn show off..." I mumbled, keeping the pace.

Reaching the gate, I kept my back to Rick, watching behind us. I opened the door of the tower beside us, seeing a couple in there and taking them out. Glancing back, I saw Rick closed the gate, and went back for his gun. "Rick, this way!" Once he ran in, I closed the door, following him up the steps.

Rick joined in shooting down the remaining Walkers. "This was a big win, Rick." I glanced over, seeing he was happy.

"Yeah, we could probably stay here for a while." He added as the last Walker was shot down. We joined the others as they walked into the yard, exclaiming at the newfound space we secured.

"Can you believe it (Y/N)? Look at all this space!" Carol exclaimed, spreading her arms out, taking it in.

I smiled, letting out a chuckle. "Yeah..."

"Ya alright?" I looked over to Daryl as he walked over, giving him a nod. Seeing this place would do, we moved the cars to the gate where the bus was and Daryl had managed to catch a few animals for us to eat, building a fire for the night.

"Mmm. Just like mom used to make." Glenn said, throwing the bone from our dinner onto the ground.

"Tomorrow, we'll put the bodies together. Want to keep them away from that water." T-Dog spoke up. "Now, if we can build a canal under the fence, we'll have plenty of fresh water."

I glanced over to the gate, watching Daryl pace back and forth on the bus. "What's up?"

I looked beside me at Carol. "Daryl still hasn't eaten." I told her. "He needs to, but I know he won't come down."

Carol put together a plate, standing up. "I'll go make him." She chuckled, having a chuckle of my own as she stalked off.

"That's his third time around." Hershel spoke up, making me glance where Rick was. "If there was any part of it compromised, he'd have found it by now."

Beth began to sing a song called 'The Parting Glass', I listened to her sing as I let my mind wander. This place was a great feat and I am glad we were due for one. But I couldn't help the nagging thoughts in my head. Will it last? What happens if we have to leave?

We scarcely got through these past few months, seeing as the herds are getting worse. Not to mention, every place we ransack already has been cleared out, leaving food a rarity.

As Maggie joined in singing with Beth, I felt a hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts. Glancing up, I saw it was Carol. I gave her a smile as the two finished the song, Rick, who I hadn't realized joined us, spoke up. "Better all turn in. I'll take watch over there. Got a big day tomorrow."

"What do you mean?" Glenn spoke up.

"Look, I know we're all exhausted. This was a great win, but we've got to push just a little bit more." Rick paused for a moment. "Most of the Walkers are dressed as guards and prisoners, looks like this place fell early. It could mean the supplies may be intact. They have an infirmary, a commissary."

"An armory?" Daryl added.

"That would be outside the prison itself, but not too far away." Rick told him. "Wardens office would have info on the location. Weapons, food, medicine. This place could be a goldmine."

"We're dangerously low on ammon." Hershel spoke up. "We'd run out before we make a dent."

"That's why we have to go in there... hand to hand." Rick admitted. "After all we've been through, we can handle it, I know it."He glanced down at Carl. "These assholes don't stand a chance." He then got up and walked off.

I settled down where my stuff was, lying on my back. "Do you think it will work?"

'What? Rick's plane?" Daryl asked, putting his crossbow on the ground.

"Yeah." I answered. "Like he said, this place could be a goldmine... we could stay here for a while, not have to worry about whether Walkers will get us in our sleep." I admitted.

"I think it could work." He nodded, sitting down. "Got no other options."

I let out a sigh, shivering slightly from the breeze. "I guess that's true."

"Here." I looked at Daryl as he held out his poncho.

"What about you? Won't you be cold?" I asked.

He waved me off. "I'll be fine." I rolled my eyes at him. Should've seen that coming.

"Fine." I relented, grabbing it, sitting up and throwing it on. "But if you get cold- and I mean it- you better tell me." I told him pointedly, lying back down.

"Whatever." He grunted, lying down on his sleeping bag.

I let out a small chuckle. "You're such a big old softy."

He glanced at me slightly before looking back up at the sky. "Stop."

"You can keep denying it all you want, but like I said, you pretend you don't care about people. But in reality..." I repeated what I said back on the farm, closing my eyes as exhaustion took over me. "You know it's not true."

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Published: 04/29/2024