Safe haven | Rick Grimes

034. NOTHING LASTS FOREVER

Chapter thirty five

"Nothing lasts forever."

They spent two agonizing nights in isolation. By the third day, the doors were finally opened. Daryl, Michonne, Tyreese, and Bob had successfully returned with the medicine. Those still fighting the virus finally had what they needed to survive. To everyone's immense relief, Glenn was going to be okay.

The heavy cloud over the prison finally began to lift. Scarlett carried Judith back into their familiar cell, a genuine sense of happiness washing over her for the first time in days. She placed Judith gently into her crib, then slung the heavy canvas bag off her shoulder and dropped it onto the floor.

Letting out a long, exhausted breath, she sank onto the mattress. She lay straight back into the pillows, closing her eyes for just a second to breathe in the quiet safety of being home.

A sudden, deafening explosion rocked the prison. Scarlett sat bolt upright on the mattress as Judith burst into terrified wails. Springing to her feet, Scarlett ran out of the cell. Carl, Maggie, and Beth were already sprinting down the corridor, falling into step right behind her.

They burst outside into the courtyard, where Bob and Sasha were already scrambling toward the fence line. As they reached the perimeter, Scarlett's blood ran cold. Standing just beyond the front gates was the Governor—backed by a massive military tank and an entire militia of heavily armed strangers.

"Get back!" Rick shouted, rushing up from behind them with Daryl and Tyreese.

The Governor stepped forward, raising his voice over the idling rumble of the tank. "Rick! Come down here. We need to talk."

"It's not up to me," Rick called back, his voice straining to remain steady. "There's a council now. They run this place."

"Is Hershel on the council?" the governor asked smoothly.

On his signal, a vehicle door flew open. A woman aggressively dragged Hershel out of the backseat, forcing him down onto his knees in the dirt.

"What about Michonne?" the governor added. Another door slammed open, and a man hauled Michonne into the open. "She on the council, too?"

Michonne was shoved down, forced onto her knees right beside Hershel.

Rick's chest heaved as he stared at his captured friends. "I don't make decisions anymore," he repeated, desperation bleeding through his calm exterior.

"You're making the decisions today, Rick," the Governor countered, gesturing to the prisoners. "Come down here. Let's... let's have that talk."

Rick turned his head to look at Daryl. Daryl gave him a tight, solemn nod, silently signaling that they would back him up no matter what. Rick slid his gun securely into his holster and turned back toward his family. He stepped up to Carl, firmly placing a hand on the back of his son's neck. Carl nodded back, his jaw set.

Then, Rick looked at Scarlett. He reached up, cupping her face gently in both of his hands. "We can do this," he whispered, his eyes locked onto hers.

Scarlett embraced him, a brief moment of connection before the looming confrontation. Rick held her gaze for a second longer before turning toward the fences. He opened the gate and stepped out into the no-man's-land between the prison and the Governor's militia, the heavy metal door clicking shut behind him as Daryl secured the latch.

Everyone stood frozen, tracking Rick as he marched down the hill toward the gate. Daryl stepped back into the shadows near Sasha and Tyreese, his voice a low, urgent murmur.