Last One Standing ~ TWD Daryl Dixon

24

Jo

Executing Rick's plan was the hardest thing I had ever done. I wasn't stupid, he put Michonne and I together and put us in a place that if one of us went rogue and deviated from the plan we wouldn't get anyone else killed or effect the outcome. Which is how Michonne and I found ourselves standing in the doorway to cell block B. From here we could watch everything unfold and be ready to run in if things went south and we ended up fighting hand to hand.

The Governor and his men rolled into the prison in a convoy of four truck, machine guns blazing. I wanted more than anything to cover my ears as my head started to pound harder. Michonne stiffened beside me as Martinez fired a grenade launcher at the first guard tower. I flinched. He reloaded and fired again and again, blowing out the windows of two more guard towers including my own. I must have made some motion because Michonne lay a hand on my shoulder to keep me in place. When the fifty caliber machine gun started firing both Michonne and I dropped further back into the doorway. I gritted my teeth and covered my ears as the bullets winged off the buildings and chewed up the walkers in the field. Glass shattered and dirt sprayed.

I couldn't imagine the amount of ammo they were burning through shooting up the outside of the prison. I knew objectively that everyone of our people were safe, but I couldn't shake the nervousness running through me.

One of the trucks rolled over our buried spikes and even over the gun fire I heard the front tires pop. The group all jumped out of their trucks and ran in formation towards the door. Now all there was to do was wait. I peaked around the corner and saw Maggie, Glenn, Rick and Daryl moving into position.

"They will be fine," Michonne said in a quiet voice.

I turned back to her and frowned. Her eyes dropped to my hand. Without realizing it I had let my hand fall to the handle of my kukri knife. I let out a deep breath and nodded working my hand on the leather grip. Across the courtyard Daryl was moving into position on the rooftop. I watched him get situated and crouch down at the edge, his rifle up and in position. I breathed slowly, everyone was going to be just fine. It surprised me to find I was more worried about Daryl than I thought.

Right on schedule the screams started. Even from across the courtyard I could hear them coming. They piled out the door, pushing and shoving their way passed one another, desperate to escape. Just as their nerves were fraying our people opened fire. The screams started again and despite The Governor's attempt to rally them, his people threw themselves into their vehicles and drove off.

I stepped forward when I saw The Governor standing out in the open. When the guns turned in his direction he jumped into the last remaining truck followed by Martinez. As the last of the dust settled Michonne and I stepped out of the doorway. We jogged over to the courtyard as the other's emerged from cover.

Daryl met my gaze and he ran his eyes over me, then nodded as though satisfied I hadn't been hurt.

"We did it," Rick said, looking across the field. "We drove them out." His eyes ranged over the damage but I could see a grim kind of determination on his face.

Daryl turned his gaze back to Rick. "We should finish it," Daryl growled, his voice raspy.

"It is finished." Maggie argued motioning to the damage surrounding us. "Didn't you see them hightail it out of here?" Maggie asked, not understanding.

"They could regroup," Michonne said calmly.

"We can't take the chance," Glenn growled. "He's not going to stop."

Carol was breathing heavily, still holding her rifle. "They're right," she said firmly. "We can't keep living like this."

Maggie looked horrified at the idea of going back into Woodbury. "So we take the fight back to Woodbury, we barely made it back last time." Maggie argued.