Don't Dream It's Over // Glenn Rhee

Chapter 48

Kira

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Glenn and I finish up with the run. We have everything we need and gather it all outside the store and by the back of the truck.

"We just hit the powdered formula jackpot." Glenns smiles.

"Oh, thank God." 

"I also got beans, batteries, cocktail seiners, many mustards."

"It's a straight shot back to the prison from here. Probably make it in time for dinner." I say, placing a few things in the backseat of the truck. "I like the quiet. Back there, back home, you can always hear them outside the fence no matter where you are." Glenn turns to me and shows me a small smile.

"And where is it ya'll good people are calling home?" A voice breaks from the side and we turn our heads. Glenn and I quickly pull our guns out and aim it at the man standing a few feet away from us, aiming a gun right back at us. His right arm is covered by a jacket, but there's a long knife sticking out from under it. 

"Merle?" Glenn says beside me. I shoot my head at him.

"Merle?" I question. "As in Merle? The Merle we were all talking about that night at the camp?" Glenn exhales a shaky breath. Merle laughs, slowly setting down his gun and holding his hand up. His nose is bloody, his undershirt is completely covered in dirt and sweat. He just didn't look good at all.

"Wow!" He exclaims, as if being really excited to see Glenn again. He continues slowly coming closer, and I feel the alarms in my head ringing.

"Hey, back the hell up!" I demand.

"Okay, okay, honey." He smiles, stopping in his tracks. "Jesus."

"You made it." Glenn says.

"Can you tell me, is my brother alive? Huh?" Merle asks. 

"Yeah." Glenn answers. Merle exhales deeply, pleased to hear that Daryl was still alive. I imagine he was picturing Daryl doing well. If this turns out to be a happy family reunion, I really hope I get my reunion with Jack sooner than later.

"Hey, you take me to him and I'll call it even on everything that happened up there in Atlanta. No hard feelings. Huh?" Merle is calm, hoping to get on Glenn's good graces. But something is still ringing in my head that Merle isn't someone we can easily trust. 

Merle glances at his right arm, his eyes lighting up and his smile brightening. "You like that? Yeah. Well, I found myself a medial supply warehouse. Fixed it up myself. Pretty cool, huh?" The last thing I remember hearing about Merle was that the group had reached him, but all that was left of him was his hand. He had no choice but to cut himself free to get away from any possible walkers at the door, or maybe he was just that desperate to get himself free. Like an animal. If they're caught in a trap, if they're that desperate, they'll chew off of their own limb to set themselves free.

"We'll tell Daryl you're here and he'll come out to meet you." Glenn begins. Merle's face drops.

"Whoa, hold on, hold on. Just hold up." He moves closer, but Glenn orders him to stay put. "Hey, the fact that we found each other is a miracle. Come on, now. You can trust me."

"You trust us." Glenn demands. "You stay here." Merle holds his gaze with Glenn for a moment. He chuckles, an unhappy chuckle before he does the unthinkable. He quickly reaches behind him, pulls out a gun and fires a shot. Glass shatters behind me and I dive for the side of the truck, landing on my hands and knees, dropping my gun. I pick my head up, frantically searching for my gun. I feel Merle's rough hand grab at my hair and he forces my head back. He pulls me on my knees and pulls the gun to my head, throwing his arm across my neck and holding me there. Glenn appears around the corner, aiming his gun at Merle.