Make it Till You Don't

Gone Missing

I was outside in the field, killing Walkers as Glenn and Daryl set up traps for when the Governor and his men showed up; Carl and Maggie drawing attention of as many as they could to the fence and away from us.

I glanced over at Michonne just as two Walkers were coming from in front of us. She nodded, walking forward to take care of them as I turned around, stabbing another.

"Let's go." Glenn spoke up, causing Michonne and I to walk to the truck, climbing in before I drove us up to the gate. "They try to drive up to the gate again, maybe some blown tires will stop them." He told Rick, who was waiting for us in the courtyard, as we got out of the truck.

Rick nodded his head. "That's a good idea."

"It was Michonne's." Daryl told Rick, vouching for her.

Rick looked surprised for a moment, looking at her as she spoke up. "We don't have to win, we just have to make their getting at us more trouble than it's worth."

Once Carl and Maggie came back up, we headed back inside the prison. I sat down at one of the tables, wiping my knife clean on my pant leg. I watched Rick enter the cell block before I glanced over to Daryl. "You think he's going to go through with it?"

He shook his head, leaning against the table, looking in the direction of the cell block.

"Even if we did, it's not like the Governor will just honor the deal. It seems like he really wants us gone." I explained, scrunching my eyebrows together. "So what good will it do handing Michonne over..."

"It ain't like us." Daryl mumbled, turning his head to face me. "I don't think he'll go through with it."

I nodded my head, letting out a hum before standing up, sheathing my knife. "Well, I'm off to wash all this blood off my hands." I brought my hands up, walking off.

After I washed all the blood off, and changed into cleaner clothes, I made my way out of my cell. As I was walking down the stairs, I heard my name being called. "(Y/N), ya seen Merle anywhere?" Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I looked behind me, seeing Daryl coming from the direction of D block.

I shook my head. "No, need help finding him?"

"Nah, s'fine. I'll find him." He replied, walking out and into the common area.

With that, I made my way outside to the lookout spot Carl was at, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Go take a break, I got it from here." I told him, nudging my head behind me.

Carl gave me a nod before handing me the binoculars, going back inside. I let out a sigh, walking closer to the fence, bringing the binoculars up to look around.

I grimaced at the amount of Walkers roaming the field. Stupid Governor. Things were finally looking up for us, then he came and ruined it, and now we are at war with him.

———

About two hours or so go by before Glenn came over, gaining my attention. "Rick wants us all to meet in the courtyard, says there's something we need to know."

I nodded my head, standing up. "Okay. I'll head over now."

He gave me a nod back. "Any clue where Maggie went?"

I shook my head no before he walked off to find her. I made my way over to the courtyard, seeing Hershel, Carol, Beth, and Carl were already there. I made my way to Carol, standing beside her as she held the Judith.

Or 'Little Ass-Kicker' as Daryl likes to call her.

Rick made his way over, Glenn and Maggie behind him, joining us. "When I met with the Governor, he offered me a deal. He said- He said he'd leave us alone if I gave him Michonne." Several looks spread across everyone's face. "And I was gonna do that... to keep us safe. I changed my mind. But now Merle's took Michonne to fulfill the deal and Daryl went to stop him and I don't know if it's too late."

I frowned at the revelation. That's why they're not here... "I was wrong not to tell you, and I'm sorry." Rick apologized, glancing at everyone. "What I said last year, that first night after the farm... it can't be like that. It can't What we do, what we're willing to do, who we are, it's not my call. It can't be."

"I couldn't sacrifice one of us for the greater good because we are the greater good. We're the reason we're still here, not me. This is life and death, how you live... how you die- it isn't up to me. I'm not your Governor. We chose to go, we chose to stay, we stick together- we vote. We can stay and we can fight, or we can go." Rick finalized, walking off to leave everyone to think.

Getting up, I walked after Rick, calling after him. "Rick!" He stopped to turn to look at me. "Let me go after them."

Rick placed his hands on his hips, glancing out the fence. "I don't think it's a good idea, it's going to get dark soon."

"All the more reason I need to." I retaliated, as he looked down to the ground. "Please." He hesitated before bringing his head back up, nodding slightly. Not wasting a second, I made my way out of the prison, dodging as many Walkers as I could as I followed the road to the meeting place, having a feeling that's where they'd be.

———

I was lucky to not run into many Walkers, though I assume it is because they migrated into the woods or other herds, drawn in by the living animals. It would've been easier if I traveled by car, but I didn't want to attract any Walkers with me.

Letting out a sigh, I swung my ax at another Walker, dropping my arm beside me as I caught my breath. I wonder if I could learn to throw a knife. It'd make things easier that's for sure. I glanced up at the sky, seeing I had a couple hours of daylight left, causing anxiety to fill my chest. "I need to find them, and fast."

Seeing as my breathing calmed down, I set off into another jog, hoping that I would come up on the place soon. I neared a broken down car, slowing my pace down in caution. I crept up to the vehicle, checking the inside of the car for any Walkers, only to find it empty.

Taking a moment, I scavenged the car for any sign of food or water when I heard footsteps coming from the woods behind me. I ran around to the otherside of the car, ducking behind it as I waited to see if it was a Walker or not. Based on the sound of the footprints, it wasn't a Walker and I reached down to my gun, putting my knife away.

As I heard a twig snap, I stood up from behind the car, aiming my gun, ready to shoot before stopping myself. "Daryl?" I lowered the gun, walking from around the car to him as he glanced up at me. "Where's Michonne and Merle? Did you find them in time?"

He stopped walking, tilting his head back down with a stiff nod. "Yeah..."

"Where are they?" I asked, looking over his shoulder to the woods but not seeing anyone else.

"Michonne headed back to the prison." Daryl replied shortly.

I must've missed her. I thought as I noticed how he was acting, hesitating on my next question. "... And Merle?" When he didn't say anything, I got my answer and instead of saying anything else, I walked closer to Daryl wrapping him in a hug. I heard a sniffle come from Daryl as he tried holding his tears back. "I'm so sorry..."

"He took the Governor on, all on his own..." He whispered out. "And when I got there, I had to-" I noticed how he stopped himself from continuing.

Guessing what he had to do, I frowned. "Shh... it's going to be okay." I unwrapped my arms from around him, placing my hands on his face. "I know it hurts, but you're not alone. Might not be blood, but all of us at the prison are your family too."

Daryl brought a hand up, grabbing onto one of my wrists, giving it a small squeeze as he gave me a nod. "Good. Now let's go back home." I told him, giving him a small reassuring smile.

———
Published: 06/24/2024