Too Far Gone // D. Dixon

chapter thirty-four

As Maren and Daryl's truck rumbled through the gates of Alexandria, the true extent of the devastation became painfully clear. Walkers littered the once-pristine streets, their snarls and the cries of the terrified residents creating a cacophony of horror.

Alexandria wasn't the same as when they'd left.

It was in a state of complete and utter disarray.

Sasha and Abraham, having already scaled the wall, were engaged in a desperate battle, firing round after round into the horde of undead. As Maren and Daryl assessed the chaos from the truck.

"Glenn!" Abraham bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos, "Can you get the gate?" Glenn nodded, covered in a smattering of blood, both walker and human, rushed to the truck. Maren opens the door for him hurridly, seeing as his face was etched with a mixture of fear and determination.

"What the fuck happened?" Maren asked, her eyes wide with concern.

Glenn shook his head, his breathing ragged, "I don't know, I just got back..." He paused, taking a moment to collect himself, "Listen, we can lead...we can lead some of them away, but they're scattered."

Daryl's brow furrowed as he contemplated Glenn's suggestion. "Nah," he growled, "We get 'em all together, won't have to lead 'em away."

With one look, Maren knew exactly what Daryl had in mind and she wasted no time in springing into action. The group rushed the truck over by the lake and began pouring gasoline, while Glenn worked to clear a path and help position the vehicle. Once the preparations were complete, Daryl climbed atop the truck as Maren drove it further back, still close behind him.

"You ready?" he asked her, his fingers deftly setting up the explosives. 

Maren's gaze was resolute, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and determination, "Do it," she said, her voice steady and unwavering.

Daryl ignited the fuse, and the explosion that followed was deafening. The gasoline-fueled fire spread quickly across the surface of the lake, the flames licking at the undead horde as they stumbled towards the water, drawn in by the sudden commotion.

The intense heat and the roar of the flames were almost overwhelming, but Maren and Daryl remained steadfast, their eyes trained on the spectacle unfolding before them. The walkers, trapped in the burning water, thrashed and screamed, their bodies consumed by the relentless flames.

As the fire continued to rage, Maren and Daryl could see the residents of Alexandria emerging from their hiding places, their expressions a mix of relief and awe. The once-unassailable horde had been reduced to ashes, and the community had been reclaimed, albeit at a heavy cost.

Maren reached out, her hand finding Daryl's, and for a moment, they allowed themselves to bask in the glow of their triumph. They had faced the darkness and emerged victorious, a testament to the unbreakable bond they had forged in the midst of this unforgiving new world.

"We got it back."

                                                                           - TOO FAR GONE -

Upon reclaiming Alexandria, Maren had regrouped. So much shit had gone down since the quarry plan had went the way it did.

The plan had gone smoothly, until it didn't.

That's exactly when the group attacked. A group that had called themselves the Wolves had attacked. They had killed a good chunk of Alexandria in the process, but most of the citizens were able to fight back. With so many people gone to help out at the quarry, there were far less people in Alexandria there to defend it.

However, when one of their trucks had crashed into the tower and been unstable for days, it was then sent tumbling into the streets of Alexandria and had taken down the wall with it.

That day was one of the worst, leaving Alexandria to be crawling with the dead. Deanna had gotten bit, she had died defending the group as they escaped the house they'd holed up in. They'd had no choice but to disguise themselves like the dead and leave, they were out of time and options. Jessie and her two kids, Sam and Ron, had been killed and bitten in the process.