Promises

Chapter Twenty Eight

Before I went to the tower, I went to the cell block. I saw Carol and Beth giving Judith a bottle so I pulled out my camera and took a photo of them. I then saw Carl talking to Michone and took a quick shot of them. George was next on my hit list so I walked off to his cell and saw him sitting there. I took a photo and he looked so confused. I put the photo with the others.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"Taking a photo of you so that when I'm on runs I can keep you close to me." I told him.
He walked over and took the camera from me. Holding it above my head when I tried to take it from him. He pulled me into a hug and kissed my check. I saw the flash go off and smiled into the kiss. He pulled away and took the photo.
"Can I have it?" I wondered.
"Here." He passed me the photo and I put it with the others.

Glenn and Maggie were the next victims and I found them, talking. I took the photo and before they could say anything, I ran off. Merle, no matter how much I hated him, he was still family.

When my dad, Rick and Hershel got back I took a photo of all three of them. Adding it to my collection.

"We're going to war." Rick told us and with that I ran out.

In the tower, I had two tables full of Molotovs, guns and ammunition. Under the table, there were melee weapons in case someone got in here. I got bed sheets and covered up all of the windows so that no one could see in. I was set up for anything. I had lots of food and water, in case I got trapped in here. I also had another table with a chair so that I could still write. I had over a year to write about, in detail, so every spare moment was a writing moment.

I was never one to write, I had terrible handwriting so people couldn't really make out what I'd written anyway. I don't know what it was about this but I couldn't stop writing. This is history. Our history. Maybe it's because no one will believe what's happened unless it's written.

I thought that it would be best to improve my aim as its been off recently. I got a gun and aimed it at some walkers, shooting them. At first I missed but after about six/seven shots I got my target, the brain. I wanted to take down as many walkers as I could, target practice.

I decided to layer up as it was a cold night. I wrapped a blanket around me and cuddled my legs.

I thought about going back to the cell block but the thought of being in there scared me. Being in a cell. Trapped. I'd also be able to hear everyone's breathing which I might confuse for a walker. Then there's Merle. The traitor.

The next day, Rick joined me on the tower.
"Why don't you go rest in cell block?" Rick suggested.
"I'm fine up here." I told him.
"But you've been on watch for days..." He reminded me.
"I'm fine." I repeated.

I went to my little writing station and carried on with my documents. Carried on writing. Carried on surviving.

Glenn came up to my tower later that day.
"Are you alone?" He asked.
"Yeah." I told him.
"Do you still have your collection of jewellery?" He wondered.
During the winter, when we were on the run, we came across a jewellers and I looted the whole place. What can I say? I'm a girl and I like jewellery. Expensive jewellery that I could never of had before the apocalypse.
"Yeah, why?"
"I want something."
"I think a big pair of dangly earrings will do you."
"No. I want a ring."
"A ring?"
"A wedding ring."
"Let's see what I've got."
I pulled my bag towards me and got out a selection of rings.
"I feel like this is a proper shop..." he laughed.
"What one takes your fancy?" I asked.
He picked one up and looked at it, "This one?"
"Go ahead." I said.
He pulled me into a hug and went off. My hand went to my necklace. It was still there. My locket.

I followed Glenn down the stairs. I went with him to the cell block. I sat at a table and Carl brought me over a bowl of food.
"Thanks..." I muttered.
I slowly ate the food. Taking in my surroundings; everyone talking, laughing and having fun. A smile grew on my face and I realised why I'd stayed in the tower. I wasn't scared of the cells. I was scared of caring for the people in the cells. I knew what was going to happen to us and I was scared of getting closer. I'd been writing to take my mind off of everything.

Rick wanted to talk to everyone so we were all grouped together, waiting for Rick to give his speech.
"When I met with the Governor, he offered me a deal. He said... he said he would leave us alone, if I gave him Michone." Rick admitted to us, "And I was gonna do that. To keep us safe. I changed my mind. But now Merle has taken Michone to fulfil the deal and Daryl went to stop them and I don't know if he's too late. I was wrong not to tell you. And I'm sorry. What I said last year, that first night, after the farm. It can't be like that. It can't. What we do, where willing to do, who we are, is not my call. It can't be. I couldn't sacrifice one of us for the greater good because we ARE the greater good. We're the reason we're still here. Not me. This life and death, how you live, how you die. It isn't up to me. I ain't your Governor. We choice to go. We choice to stay. We stick together. We vote. We can stay and we can fight or we can go."
He left. Nothing else. No one stopped him. No one said a word.

The tower. If we stay, I can defend us from the tower. If we go, I can take everything that's up here.

I had decided to put my writing aside and focus of defending this place, even if we decide to go we need to stay safe. That job was down to me. Down to me to protect them. Down to me to protect myself.