RIDE OR DIE | DARYL DIXON

gotta be something after

SHE TRAILED DOWN the porch steps and glanced at everyone. They loaded their guns, sharpened their spears, cooked up a majority of their food so they could have the energy they needed. She walked past Jerry and Ezekiel sitting on one of the benches. Jerry set down the stone he used to sharpen his axe, and knocked on his chest plate with a smile as she walked by. She nodded and held up her own, the one he had given her. She continued forward, wincing with each pat on her back and friendly nudges some people gave her. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea for her to train the day before a big fight.

"We'll stick to this road, keep to the trees, we'll get there quicker." She heard Daryl say as she approached and took a spot beside him. "Plus, we can keep an eye on the road that way."

She looked at where he held his finger on the map, catching herself up on the plan.

"Yeah, if they're planning anything, we'll see it." Rosita said with crossed arms. 

Michonne looked over at Maggie. "You think we can trust Gregory? What he told us?"

Willow looked over her shoulder at the fence confinement, still empty with no Saviors, and this time, no Gregory.

"I locked him up inside the house." Maggie answered, warming her hands up in the pockets of her jacket. "He knew I wouldn't let him walk around free. He knew he was coming back to that. He doesn't believe in anything except himself, and he'd have to believe in the Saviors a whole lot  to send us into a trap and think it would work out for him."

"Unless Dwight didn't tell him." Daryl grumbled. "That asshole could be settin' us up."

Willow rubbed her hands together, the friction just barely washing away the cold that continued to bite at them. They were up fairly early, and the sun hadn't fully rose yet. There was dew still covering the grass and cars, and there was a low blanket of fog that stuck close to the ground. 

She looked over her shoulder again when she heard quick footsteps behind her. Heavy steps that kicked up the gravel along the pathway. It was Morgan that created them, quickly walking toward the gate with his stick. She only caught a glimpse of his face, and could tell he was spiraling. 

"Morgan." Willow stepped away and went after him, Carol following her after she also noticed his  state of mind.

"Morgan, what is it?" Carol asked when they caught up.

Morgan stood in one spot, but turned around in a circle multiple times, his eyes wild. "They're gone. They're gone- they're doing something."

Carol and Willow jumped when they heard the metal screech as the gate was brought open. It was the remaining Saviors- the ones Maggie had sent out the other night. 

Morgan rushed forward with his stick up, and Willow ran after him, again. The Saviors began to back up when they saw him coming at them, full force, ready to drive the stick through their throats. Henry took notice from a few feet away and came quickly to intervene.

"Henry, don't-" Willow yelled, watching the boy grab at Morgan's stick. 

Morgan jerked it out of his grasp and spun it around. Willow yanked Henry away just as Morgan began to swing the stick in her direction. It only hit the her side, but it was with enough strength to have her doubled over and out of breath.

She stared up at the end of his stick, now pointed in her face. His eyes were still wild, and his face was emotionless. Vacant of any soul behind it.

Carol slowly reached for the stick, and he didn't fight back when she took it. He released it from his grasp and kept his hands up as he took a few steps away.