million dollar man | twd

ᴅʀʏ ʀᴜɴ

[ dry run ]
꧁꧂

Vanessa and Carol stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the teams as they prepared to head out of Alexandria. The rumbling of Daryl's new motorcycle cut through the tension, a familiar sound that Vanessa had come to associate with both hope and danger. Wrapping her arm around Carol's, Vanessa let out a heavy sigh.

"It's just a dry run," Carol said, trying to reassure Vanessa. "And it's us. They'll be fine."

Vanessa shook her head, her worry evident. "It's not us I'm worried about. The fences... you saw how these people struggled; they barely managed against a few walkers."

"Rick's plan will work. I know it will," Carol said confidently. They both turned to watch the gates close behind the departing teams. "What are your plans today?"

"I'm watching Judith," Vanessa replied.

The day began peacefully, with Vanessa spending quiet moments with the baby. But that calm shattered abruptly.

"Vanessa!" Carol's voice pierced through the silence, full of panic. Vanessa sprang to her feet, her heartbeat quickening as she bolted downstairs.

Outside, chaos reigned. Screams echoed through the air. Vanessa grabbed her weapons, relief washing over her that she had left them in the kitchen earlier. She and Carol quickly instructed Carl to stay with Judith and not to leave the house, emphasizing their safety before heading out.

"Plan?" Vanessa asked, gripping her knife tightly as she holstered her gun.

"Stay together," Carol replied, her face grim as they left the house together.

The plan quickly fell apart. Strangers wielding weapons were running amok, attacking anyone in their path. Vanessa lost sight of Carol amidst the confusion but pressed on, focusing on the immediate threats. She maneuvered around a house and spotted a man tying up an Alexandrian she didn't know well.

With measured steps, Vanessa approached the man, her blade ready. She leaped out, her weapon finding its mark as she drove it into his neck. He fell silently, and Vanessa swiftly untied the captive. "Get somewhere safe," she urged before moving on.

Her next target was a man who had just brutally beaten one of her neighbors to death. Vanessa shot him cleanly in the head with her gun, then turned her attention to the fallen neighbor, using her knife to end his suffering before continuing her search.

A blaring horn suddenly filled the air, momentarily disorienting Vanessa. Her hesitation was brief but costly. A figure emerged from behind a house, launching herself at Vanessa. The attacker was a woman, taller and stronger, her wild eyes filled with manic intensity.

Vanessa's head hit the ground with a jarring impact as she struggled beneath the woman's weight. Her assailant's strength and ferocity gave her the upper hand. Vanessa fought to block the knife that came dangerously close to her chest, the blade slicing along her collarbones and causing blood to pool.