Without A Voice

Chapter 29: Trapped

~word count: 954~

~ Authors POV ~

Jane walked outside to check on the group's progress. They were moving cars and trying to figure out what to do with the walker bodies. Or at least that's what they were supposed to be doing. When she got closer she noticed the two prisoners locked behind a gate. The others were in a heated discussion.

"It's just been us for so long... They're strangers. It feels weird all of a sudden to have these other people around." Maggie sighed.

T-Dog gestured to the group, "You brought us in."

"Yeah, but you turned up with a shot boy in your arms, didn't give us a choice." She admitted.

"What's going on?" Jane glanced over everyone's faces.

"They want to join our group." Glenn scoffed at the prisoners, "They can't even kill walkers!" He argued with T-Dog.

She bit her lip before sharing her thoughts, "They haven't done anything to hurt us so far."

Carol shook her head, "They're convicts, bottom line!"

"Those two might actually have less blood on their hands than we do." T-Dog made a point.

Daryl added, "I get guys like this. Hell, I grew up with them. They're degenerates, but they ain't psychos. I could have been with them just as easy as I'm out here with you guys."

"So you with me?" T sounded hopeful.

"Hell no! Let 'em take their chances out on the road, just like we did!"

T-Dog was about to start talking when Rick butted in, "When I was a rookie, I arrested this kid. Nineteen years old, wanted for stabbing his girlfriend. The kid blubbered like a baby during the interrogation, during the trial, suckered the jury. He was acquitted due to insufficient evidence, and 2 weeks later shot another girl. We've been through too much. Our deal with them stands."

The point he was trying to make was about trust. It was something they didn't have.

He directed his attention to the others, "Move the cars to the upper yard. Point them facing out. They'll be out of the way but ready to go if we ever need to bail." He tried to compromise with T-Dog, "We'll give the prisoners a week's worth of supplies for the road."

"Might not last a week."

Rick was getting sick of T-Dog's arguing, "Their choice!"

He scoffed, "Did they really have one?"

"Hey! Hey, whose blood would you rather have on your hands? Maggie's, Jane's, or theirs?"

T-Dog shook his head with a scoff, "Neither."

Glenn left to bring the prisoners some supplies before they went to scavenge outside. Jane stayed near Carol waiting for her friends to return. There were only some walkers but nothing they couldn't handle. She watched as Daryl opened the fence while Glenn and Rick carried the wood they found inside. They suddenly dropped it and excitement covered their faces. When Jane turned to see what they were looking at she smiled. It was Hershel. He was up and walking. Glenn wanted to cheer but Daryl shushed him. Suddenly walkers appeared behind Carl. Fear gripped everyone as they were separated from each other. Jane locked eyes with Daryl. Locked behind metal gates, he couldn't protect her. Their hearts raced, praying everything would be okay. Carol grabbed Jane by her wrist as they followed T-Dog through a gate. He pushed against it, trying to keep it close. Carol and Jane frantically pulled on the metal doors to open them but when they turned back it was too late. T-Dog was bit. Without flinching Jane pulled out her gun and shot the walker that attacked him.

"No!" Carol cried out. She opened the door to the prison while her niece helped T-Dog through, "Hurry!"

As they ran the walkers followed close behind. Jane and Carol held T-Dog up, helping him through the corridors. They had no idea where they were. They were lost.

"There's a set of double doors that will lead to a corridor that will lead you back to your cell block!" T-Dog was getting tired of running.

Carol's eyes were filled with tears, "No, you should stop!"

"I'm getting you there!"

She insisted, "You should stop!"

He was clearly in pain, "Why? Sit here, and wait to die?"

"I'II do what I have to, you're not becoming one of those things!" She shook her head.

T-Dog's eyes glistened, "I can't ask that!" He reassured them both, "This is God's plan. He'll take care of me, always has. He's gonna help me lead you both out of these tunnels."

Alarms blared throughout the prison. It was chaos. But for Jane, it was silent chaos. Carol held her close as they cried, sprinting through the halls with an injured T-Dog staying nearby. They were both out of bullets. Trapped as biters stumbled towards them. Suddenly T-Dog threw himself into the hoard. Jane covered her mouth in shock as they began ripping him apart.

"Go! Go! I'm dead! Both of you get out of here!"

Carol was sobbing as she hesitated but knew what she had to do. She pulled Jane by the arm and started running. Walkers seemed to be coming out of nowhere. They were cornered. That's when Jane noticed a slim metal door. She tugged Carol's hand away from her wrist and charged into the room. When the both of them entered, she slammed the door shut. Carol turned over a metal case and pushed it against the door. She grabbed a mop and shoved it between the handle and the wall. It was dark. Nearly pitch black. Jane held onto Carol as tight as she could. Without her eyes, she was nothing.