Safe haven | Rick Grimes

102. THE MONSTERS END

Chapter one hundred and two

"The monsters end."

They made it back to the tower just as the horde arrived, running up to the entrance alongside Carol and Kelly, who had just arrived as well.

Uncle Daryl threw the front door open. "Go, go, go!" he urged.

Daryl sprinted inside, with Kelly and Carol hot on his heels. As Uncle Daryl slammed the door behind them, a walker wedged its way into the frame. He grabbed the creature, throwing it hard against the wall before Carol stepped in and stabbed it through the head.

With the door finally secure, they rushed upstairs to join the rest of the survivors. The moment they reached the main floor, Dog and the three younger children—Judith, Caroline, and Rick—ran straight to their brother. They threw their arms around him, and Daryl held them back tightly, refusing to let go.

Inside the tower, the survivors gathered tightly around Gabriel as he outlined the strategy.

"Our plan remains the same," Gabriel announced, pointing to a map. "We lead the horde away—just not from Oceanside as we had originally planned. Once the walkers are clear, we evacuate directly to rendezvous point B. Luke, are we ready?"

Luke stood up quickly, nervously adjusting his glasses. "Yeah, yeah. Uh, technically. Okay, so these are the final pieces that we need to connect to the wagon. But in order for it to do the whole Pied Piper thing that we need it to do over the cliff, we've gotta get from point A to point B. I just have to plug and plug, and then we should be good to go."

"That wagon is on the other side of the horde," Magna pointed out, her voice grim.

"So, someone's gotta go right through it? Covered in skins?" Jerry asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

Gabriel nodded firmly. "Four groups. Two people in each. One carries the cargo, the other protects. It is absolutely crucial that all of this equipment makes it to that wagon."

"We can make it through," Lydia spoke up. Everyone turned to look at her as she stepped forward. "I'll help."

"We're willing to do this," a girl from Oceanside interjected coldly, "but not if she goes with us."

"We know she's earned trust with you guys, but... Oceanside isn't ready," Rachel added, stepping in to defuse the tension.

"That's fine," Gabriel said smoothly, placing a reassuring hand on Lydia's shoulder. "As it happens, Lydia's role is right here inside the tower."

Uncle Daryl surveyed the room, his expression hardened. "Look, we're not all gonna make it through. But this is the only way."

Kelly stepped up beside him, making eye contact. "If Daryl's going, then so am I."

Uncle Daryl gave her a firm nod, and the final groups began to form.

The teams quickly prepared for the run, coating themselves in thick walker blood to blend into the sea of dead outside. The children and Dog stood huddled together, watching the tense preparations in silence.

"It's time," Gabriel announced, stepping forward to pull the heavy doors open.

Jerry and Magna slipped out first, followed closely by Luke and Jules. Rachel and her companion from Oceanside moved next, with Carol, Kelly, and Uncle Daryl bringing up the rear. Before the door clicked shut behind them, Uncle Daryl paused, casting one last lingering look at the kids before disappearing into the gloom.