Safe haven | Rick Grimes

029. PREPARE FOR A POTENTIAL WAR

Chapter twenty nine

"Prepare for a potential war."

Rick, Daryl, and Hershel had headed out for their high-stakes meeting with the Governor. Their departure left the rest of the group back at the prison to prepare for an inevitable war. The courtyard and cells were a hive of tense activity; everyone was busy loading the firearms they had retrieved and stashing ammunition anywhere a defender might need it. Because of Merle's volatile presence—and the fact that nobody trusted him—Scarlett had been left in charge. Holding baby Judith tightly in her arms, she kept a watchful eye on the group. So did Merle.

"Carl, come here," Glenn called out.

Carl walked over, his expression grim. Glenn held out several heavy boxes of ammunition. "Stash these at the loading dock. All right?"

Carl nodded and took the boxes.

Glenn then turned to Beth, holding out another stack. "Beth, put more up on the catwalk. If anyone gets pinned down, we need to make sure they have plenty of ammo."

As Beth took the boxes and walked off, Glenn grabbed a set of power tools. "I'll go work on the cage outside," he said, turning to leave.

"What we should be doing is loading some of this firepower into a truck and paying a visit to the Governor," Merle interrupted, his voice dripping with condescension. "We know exactly where he is right now."

Glenn stopped in his tracks and turned around. "You suggesting that we just go in there and kill him?"

"Yeah," Merle smirked. "I am."

Michonne stepped forward, her hand resting near the hilt of her katana. "We told Rick and Daryl that we'd stay put."

"I've changed my mind, sweetheart," Merle shot back, stepping closer to her. "Being on the sidelines with my brother out there ain't sitting right with me."

"The three of them are right in the middle of it," Glenn argued, his voice rising as Carl walked back toward him. "They have no idea we're coming. They could get taken hostage, or killed. A thousand things could go wrong."

"And they will," Merle muttered darkly.

Glenn and Carl stopped. Carl turned fully toward Merle, his chin lifted defiantly. "My dad can take care of himself," the boy said firmly.

"Carl, go. Please," Scarlett commanded gently but firmly, adjusting her hold on Judith.

Carl hesitated, then began to walk away toward the steps.

"Sorry, son, but your—" Merle started to call out.

Before he could finish the sentence, Scarlett's boot lashed out, striking Merle squarely in the knee. The sudden force sent him crashing to the floor. As Merle hit the ground, bracing himself with his hand, Scarlett stepped forward and brought her boot down hard on his remaining good hand.

Merle groaned in pain, trapped beneath her weight.

Carl paused on the steps, watching the exchange in silence.

Scarlett leaned down slightly, her voice dropping to a dangerous, icy whisper. "You don't talk to him."

Satisfied that the message had landed, Carl turned and walked out of the block.

Glenn looked down at Merle, then back at the group, solidifying the chain of command. "It's not the right move. Not now. We can't take the risk of putting them in the crossfire. It's my decision, and it's final."