The story of the Russell family continues. Dangers lurk around every corner and they must adapt to survive. On their journey they will encouter a new cast of characters, all cpavle of being either friend or foe.
Other books in this series:
Book 1: A...
Seeing a familiar face should've been a joyous occasion for Ashlyn. It should've been one of her family members, yet it wasn't. Instead she was face to face with a mad man that scared her. She screamed and jumped back, seeking cover behind Michonne. She did not want to be anywhere near Merle.
"Now, put down your weapons," Merle warned. Michonne did so slowly. "That's it. Nice and easy." He waited till she'd put her sword down before he continued, "now that we're all nice and acquainted again." He turned to Andrea. "How about a big hug for your old pal Merle?" He held his arm out in such a way that it fully showed the prosthetic fitted to the stump of his amputated hand. The metal base had a large knife fitted to it.
Andrea was in no state to reply. The exhaustion finally caught up with her weakened and exhausted body. She dropped to the ground, unconscious.
"No!" Ash cried out, even more scared now.
"Ssh," Michonne hushed. "It's okay, she's just unconscious."
"Merle, what you got there?" the leader asked as he rounded the bushed to get a look at what was happening. He looked at Andrea's still form. "She infected?" He moved his hand towards his knife.
"Governor, I know the blondie and the kid," Merle added.
The Governor set his hands on his hips and sighed. "We'll take them back to Woodbury. Blindfold them." He turned to Michonne. "For everyone's safety, you have to understand."
Now Ash was fully crying. She didn't want to be blindfolded, she didn't want any of this. She was scared and she wanted her parents. She wished she'd never seen the helicopter crash, never said anything. She clamped onto Michonne for dear life, the only thing protecting her from all these scary strangers. Well, the scary strangers and Merle.
"Not the kid," Merle said. He and the Governor stared at each other in silence for a long while. "My responsibility."
"Your responsibility," he reiterated.
Merle grabbed Ash by the arm and began walking back to one of the trucks. Ash screamed and protested. She hit him, kicked him, even tried to bite him. She wanted to be with Michonne, she'd keep her safe, she'd done so for months. Merle seemed strangely unbothered by it. He kept on walking and eventually lifted her into one of the trucks and put her seatbelt on.
"You quit that now, kid," he said. "You're coming with us. And if you behave none of you have to get hurt, Andrea will even be treated in our infirmary."
Ash choked on a sob. Merle seemed less mean than she remembered. "You promise?" she hicupped.
"If you behave."
She gave a weak nod, her bottom lip still trembling. Andrea and Michonne had kept her safe for months. Maybe now she could finally protect them, for just this once.
"Good," he patted her head and threw the door closed.
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