Safe haven | Rick Grimes

026. I'M GONNA LET NOTHING HAPPEN TO YOU OR YOUR SISTER

Chapter twenty six

"I'm gonna let nothing happen to you or your sister."

For the rest of the night, Scarlett let go of Rick. The moment she did, Carl broke free from Maggie's grip and ran toward her. He threw his arms around her and began to cry, terrified that she was going to die—and by his own father's hand, of all people.

When everyone finally headed to bed, Judith was fast asleep in her box inside the cell. Scarlett lay on the bottom bunk with Carl right next to her, just as he had been for the past few nights. He held onto her tightly, and Scarlett wrapped her arms around him in return. In the doorway, Rick stood silently, watching them.

By morning, Rick went out to the walkway to set up wood paneling along the railing, creating a barrier so the group could duck for cover if the Governor returned to retaliate. As he set the panels down, he crouched and picked up his binoculars. Looking through them, he spotted Michonne down by the overturned bus. He continued to scan the area until the lenses landed on the graves.

There, standing by the burial plots, was Lori.

Rick lowered the binoculars, grabbed his gun, and immediately headed down to the gravesite. But by the time he got there, Lori was gone.

He scanned the perimeter and looked out past the fences. He saw her again, standing just inside the woods. Driven by the sight of her, Rick ran toward the outer gate. He quickly unlocked and threw it open, then rushed to the second gate, unlocking it as well. He walked out into the clearing toward the spot where she stood. As he approached, Lori reached out, bringing her hands up to gently cup his face.

Meanwhile inside the prison, Glenn took charge, drawing a map of the layout on the concrete floor with chalk. Carl knelt across from him, while Maggie, Hershel, Beth, Michonne, Carol, and Axel stood watch. Scarlett stood among them, cradling baby Judith in her arms.

"Now, you said you found Tyreese's group here? We secured this area," Glenn said, pointing to the chalk lines.

"He thought they came through here," Carl replied, gesturing to a specific section of the map.

"That means there's another breach," Glenn said. "The whole front of the prison is insecure. If walkers just strolled right in, it's gonna be a piece of cake for a group of armed men."

Beth spoke up. "Why are we even so sure he's going to attack? Maybe you scared him off."

"He had fish tanks full of heads," Michonne revealed. The group turned their eyes to her in shock. "Walkers and humans. Trophies. He's coming."

"We should hit him now," Glenn insisted.

"What?" Beth asked.

"He won't be expecting it. We'll sneak back into Woodbury and put a bullet in his head."

"We're not assassins," Carol countered.

Glenn stood up and walked over to Michonne. "You know where his apartment is. You and I could end this tonight."

When Michonne hesitated and sighed, Glenn snapped, "I'll do it myself."

Michonne nodded in agreement. "Okay."

"He didn't know you were coming last time, and look what happened," Hershel interjected, trying to reason with Glenn. "You were almost killed. Daryl was captured. You and Maggie were almost executed."

Glenn stepped aggressively toward the older man. "You can't stop me."

"Rick would never allow this," Hershel warned.