Struggling to Connect: The 6th Book

Chapter 13: One Dies, One Lives

The dead start to descend on us again, and we know we have to get out of there, "go!" Daryl grunts as he stands up getting ready to attack. Michonne steps up as well and I stay with Aaron to get Jesus up and out with us. It's a bit chaotic but we all get out and start our journey back to our horses, also needing a moment to make a plan.

Daryl stays at the back to make sure none get too close for just a little until the sun starts to rise. He comes over to me, "let me" pushing me aside to take over helping Aaron carry Jesus.

I allow him, the dead weight starting to wear on me and I take just a little time to walk on my own before helping Michonne with Eugene. Yumiko looks down at the mask in her hand, all of us getting a glance with the sun being up and grossly utters, "who the hell would do this? Even think about doing this?"

Eugene breathes out, "I suspect some vessel filled with a chunky salsa of abnormal impulses and metastasized rage."

Magna glances behind her at him, not officially knowing Eugene and all his Eugeneism. She just sums it up for all of us, "it's full-on batshit."

"You think there's more?" I ask, worried we aren't out of the woods yet.

We start to get our horses ready to move as Daryl assures me from behind there's more, Yumiko asks, "so, what do we do?

"Right now, keep moving." Michonne directs.

A bit later, Michonne, Daryl and I walk in front of the group and the horses. Daryl looks behind him at the two new members of this small group. Michonne catches on as well, and explains, "Judith found them. Vouched for 'em." He eyes her and I without emotion, a bit skeptical.

I add on, "so do I." They left the comfort of the hilltop to help us get our friend back. They are good people.

Daryl agrees then, "all right."

Michonne doesn't let the silence sit when she adds, "it's gonna mean a lot to them. Bringin' him back. Burying him."

Daryl tells her lowly, "sorry I couldn't do that for you."

Michonne pauses for only a second before continuing walking and adding on, "I'm sorry I couldn't do it for both of us. Thank you. For trying to find him." I can hear the emotion in her voice, but give them a little space to have their moment, "And... for after." They share a look and Daryl puts a hand on her shoulder, with her grabbing it. Although I never got the specifics of what happened all those years ago, I know Daryl and Michonne had do terrible things one day. I wonder briefly if I should ask Daryl about it, but remind myself then that he isn't mind to worry about anymore.

Daryl's dog starts to bark and we all glance around. Magna comments out to us, "we got some tails." We see the dead in the woods to our side.

Eugene ponders for us all, "the living kind or original recipe?

"Let's find out." Daryl replies, "good dog."

We move ahead faster, getting to a bridge point and setting up our trap quickly. we hide to the side while Daryl stands with his bow. The 6 walkers make their way into the bridge and Daryl shoots one in the leg. It doesn't phase it so he resets and shoots another. The man behind the mask screams and goes down, the 3 of the actual dead moving to feast. There are 2 left and they slowly turn to leave, but weren't expecting Michonne and her katana behind them. They both take out their knives and Michonne quickly kills the one closest to her. The rest of us kill the real dead ones and then ascend quickly on the last living dead in a mask. They quickly drop to their knee's in defeat with their hands raises up.

The person pants under their mask but Daryl rips it off and I see a young girl underneath it . I try to place her age in shock as she begs, "Please...Please don't kill me." Daryl's knife above his shoulder to strike if necessary.

"Daryl" I try to get his attention. She's so young, I can't let him kill her.

But he ignores me and keeps his stare on her, "please." She pleads, her face covered in dirt.

Michonne steps closer and harshly whispers, "how many?"

"Please, you killed them all." She tries to assure u, "it's just me now."

Michonne gets closer to her, her katana at her neck, "I don't believe you."

The larger heard behind us starts to close in, and Daryl says to Michonne, "there ain't no time."

"We'll take her with us." I suggest from a few feet away, not wanting to see anyone kill a young girl.

Michonne gives Daryl a wide eyes look but he nods to confirm the idea. She removes her sword from her throat and Daryl grabs at her arm, "get up."

Michonne stops for a second to promise her, "hey! You try anything, you won't have to pretend." She holds her mask to her face referring to what means before throwing it on the ground and leaving with us. We get the girl on the horse, tie her hands to the saddle and cover her eyes and continue our journey back to hilltop.

When we arrive, the eager faces to see our return are short lived at the realization that Jesus lay dead upon the horse in back. People slowly start to bombard us with questions but we don't say a word. I help get the young girl off the horse for them to take to the prison but decline going over there, needing some time to process what all of this means. This means there's something or someone out there again. This means our safety is being threatened again and the life we've come to build is in jeopardy.