Without A Voice

Epilogue 3

~word count: 1160~

~Flashback~

Jane stood next to Rick. She watched as the Governor stood behind Michonne and Hershel. Rick was pleading with them. Trying to convince him to be peaceful. She locked eyes with Daryl whose face was filled with anger and regret. This could only end badly. She knew it but she couldn't do anything. Dale's gun was gripped firmly in her hand.

Rick continued, "We get to come back. I know... we all can change."

"Liar!" The Governor swung the katana deep into Hershel's neck.

Jane's eyes went wide, and she pointed her gun right at the Governor. But Rick got him first.

"No!" He screamed and took a shot, hitting the Governor in the shoulder.

Everything went so fast. As the Governor stumbled back he took one more shot. But not at Rick. The girl standing next to him. Jane.

As he fired his gun, Rick could do nothing but watch. She felt a searing pain run through her. It was so bad she fell unconscious. Jane's body hit the ground with a sickening thud. It was so sudden. He couldn't see her face but he could see the blood pooling around her head. Her body didnt even twitch. She was dead. Daryl felt nothing but regret. Guilt. Sadness. Tears welled in his eyes. Carl cried as he pulled her body into a fenced corner and tied it off. It was all he could do in the chaos to prevent the walkers from eating her corpse. Her body was warm as if she was just sleeping. But the blood streak left behind made it hard to pretend.

~Present Day~

"Something's goin' down. Daryl get her out of here. We'll meet you back at the tracks." Rick peeked out the door.

Daryl nodded as he handed him a gun he took from one of the dead guys but Jane hesitated, "What about you?"

"We gotta get the others." He firmly stated before heading out of the door, Bob and Glenn following close behind.

The others? They were alive? Joy sparked inside her for a moment before being interrupted by Daryl clasping his hand around hers. She accepted and he led her out of the warehouse. It was chaos. They hid behind every corner as walkers flooded the so-called sanctuary. The fire from the explosion consumed everything around it. Jane picked up a crowbar that was leaning against a shed as she and Daryl fought their way to the concrete wall surrounding the perimeter. They looked it up and down before Daryl moved her in front of him.

"I'll boost you up." He bent down and rested his hand on his knee, "Here."

Jane didnt hesitate. She threw her crowbar over the wall before putting her shoe into his hands. He lifted with ease as she clasped the hard ledge. She pulled herself up and kneeled, peering down at Daryl.

"Come on. I'll pull you up." He held her hand out but he just shook his head.

She furrowed her brows and signed more aggressively, "Come on!"

"I gotta help the others. Go to the tracks. I'll come get you." He gazed up at her, "Go!"

She shook her head, "No! I don't want to leave you!" Tears brimmed in her eyes.

"I'll come get you when everyone's safe. I promise. Now go!" Daryl demanded as the walkers grew closer.

With one last look, she hopped off the wall and grabbed her crowbar. She ran as fast as she could, escaping the chaos. The forest blurred around her as she made her way back to the tracks. A few walkers noticed her but she made quick work of them, bashing their skulls in with the red crowbar. Her skinned knees stung as the cool breeze hit them. No pain could stop her. She knew Daryl would find her. There was no doubt in her mind. Minutes passed and her heart raced faster and faster. It felt like an eternity. That never-ending feeling of uncertainty. Anxiety. Her stomach knotted in anticipation. Standing at the tracks she kept looking around. Spinning in circles, waiting to see his face. As she stood in the grass, she could feel someone's boots behind her. Turning, she lifted her crowbar, ready to attack. Her heart stopped at the sight of him. Daryl.

She dropped the crowbar and ran to him, hugging him as tight as she could. His grip on her was one she never thought she would feel again. She looked into his cold blue eyes as he pulled her lips onto his. He was holding a ghost. A girl he had begun mourning. Every time he looked at her all he could see was her body lying in the prison courtyard. Blood pooling around her pale face. Like a vision. A nightmare. They spent minutes in each other's arms before Jane finally backed away.

"Where are the others?" She looked at him with concern.

He pointed behind her and when she turned around it was like fireworks going off in her head. Her eyes immediately locked on to the one person she had been searching for. Carol. She ran over and embraced her aunt.

Carol kissed her on the forehead before stepping back and pulling something out of her coat pocket, "I believe this belongs to you."

Dale's gun. Her gun. Jane grinned and grabbed it, shoving it into her holster, "Thank you."

"Follow me. I'll take you to the others." Carol softly smiled and gestured for them to follow.

She led the two to a cabin in the woods a few miles away from where they had met up. Daryl held her hand the whole way there, afraid to let go. He wasn't going to lose her again. Never.

As Carol opened the door, Jane stepped inside.

"Look who I've got." Her aunt smirked.

Everyone was wide-eyed. They gawked at her, unsure if they were dreaming. Carl, who was sitting next to Rick, rushed over to her. He squeezed the air out of her lungs and she laughed. Her arms held him close, knowing that he was the reason she was alive. His kindness saved her. It was unreal. A dream.

"How?" Maggie gazed at the ghost in front of her with disbelief. She was there when the Governor shot her.

Rick held Judith with a smile on his face, "Luck."

"I thought you died." Carl looked up at Jane with happy tears.

Jane moved her hair out of the way to show everyone the bandages, "Can't get rid of me that easily." She suddenly knelt down and looked at him with nothing but sincerity, "You saved my life. Thank you."

The group couldn't believe what they were seeing. She was alive. That's all that mattered. Her teary eyes trailed her family. They all greeted her with hugs and handshakes. Jane had escaped death more than once. She knew it would come again. And one day her luck would run out. But not today.