Daryl's Angel (10th Anniversary Edition)

Chapter 42: Prepare

The next morning, in the common area, we watch as Glenn sketches out a shoddy map of the prison in chalk on the concrete floor. Carl sits in front of him as he does it.

"You said you found Tyreese's group here?" Glenn asks, pointing to one section of the prison.

"Yeah."

"We secured this."

Carl points to another spot. "He thought he came through here."

Glenn sighs. "Means there's another breach." He stares at the map, then sighs again as he pushes his dark hair from his face. "Okay. The whole front of the prison is insecure. If walkers just strolled in, then it's gonna be cake for a group of armed men."

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

"He had fish tanks full of heads," Michonne says. She leans against one of the cages, deadly serious. "Walkers and humans. Trophies." Her expression is cold. "He's coming."

"We should hit him now," Glenn says.

Beth's eyes widen. "What?"

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

"We're not assassins," Carol says.

Glenn gets up and moves to Michonne, a man on a mission. "You know where his apartment is," he says. "You and I could end this tonight." Michonne sighs and he leans a little closer. "I'll do it myself."

Michonne nods. Glenn returns it, backing up to his map again.

"He didn't know you were coming last time," Hershel says, "and look what happened. Oscar was killed, Daryl and Hope were captured, and you and Maggie were almost executed."

"You can't stop me," Glenn says.

"Rick would never allow this."

"You really think he's in any position to make that choice?"

"Think this through clearly," Hershel says. "T-Dog lost his life here. Lori, too. The men that were here. It isn't worth any more killing." Glenn's jaw clenches as he looks away. "What are we waiting for? If he's really on his way, we should be out of here by now."

"And go where?"

"We lived on the road all winter."

"Back when you had two legs and we didn't have a baby crying every four hours."

"That wasn't a life," I cut in. "We can't leave, not when we have the chance for something better." I don't mention that, if Daryl happened to come back and we were gone, how would he ever find us again? I know the chance is basically nil, but there's a part of me that hopes.

"We can make it work somewhere else," Hershel retorts. "We can't stay here."

"We can't run," Glenn insists. "Hope's right. Why should we lose what we have because of one asshole?"

Maggie pushes off the wall and disappears into the cell block. Glenn watches her go, pursing his lips. He bows his head for a moment, then looks around at each of us.

"Alright," he says. "We'll stay put. We're gonna defend this place." He points to the floor, focusing on Hershel. "We're making a stand." He squats again. "Carl, you and I will go down to the tombs. We need to figure out where the breach is."

"You got it," Carl says with a nod.

"You'll need some help," Michonne says.

"No, in case anything happens, I need you out here." He looks around again, his jaw clenching. "Who's on watch?" he snaps. When no one answers, he stands and pulls out his pistol. "Damn it."