We Meet Again

Chapter 12

Michonne set her trap and waited, the descending afternoon sun signaling night's approach. In her hiding place, crouched behind a dense juniper bush, she tried to focus on the ticking of the kitchen timer. But flashes of Rick kissing Jessie kept popping into her head.

She had anticipated his anger, his rage even, but his betrayal had completely blindsided her. Michonne slowed her breathing to counter the pressure building in her temples. Why her, of all people? She admitted Jessie was attractive, in a desperate kind of way. Her sad eyes and weak disposition screamed for someone to rescue her. And Rick had foolishly heeded her call.

While part of Michonne believed Rick really wanted to help Jessie, the other part suspected he had just wanted to take a jab at Michonne's pride.

Within seconds of meeting Pete, Michonne had pegged him for a misogynist with an inferiority complex. So when she'd heard the gossip about him beating his wife, she had been disgusted, but not surprised. Scum like him enjoyed preying on the vulnerable.

The kitchen timer sounded, the shrill noise echoing through the darkening woods. Michonne estimated that any walkers within a quarter mile would be drawn by the sound and she planned to dispose of every last one of them.

"What the hell are you doing?" a woman's voice asked from out of nowhere.

Michonne whipped around to find Sasha squinting in confusion, a sniper rifle resting at her side.

"Are you following me?" Michonne raised her voice in irritation.

"I spotted you from the tower." Her voice was clear and calm and very Sasha.

"Go home. I'm not in the mood for company."

"Then you should learn how to cover your tracks better."

Since arriving at Alexandria, she and Sasha had hardly seen each other. Michonne had been busy with Rick and constable duties, while Sasha was either manning the tower or teaching at the community school.

Michonne sucked her teeth. "And you should learn to mind your own business."

She and Sasha had grown close during their time on the road together, and Michonne valued her friendship. But now Sasha just felt like an annoying little sister.

"Tyrese used to say the same thing, until he realized it made absolutely no difference."

"Shhh," Michonne said, motioning for Sasha to crouch beside her.

Michonne heard their moans before she saw the group of walkers. A man, long dead, stumbled into the clearing where the timer lay, followed by six more of his kind.

Sasha raised her sniper rifle and Michonne placed a hand on the barrel, stilling the woman's movements.

"I got this," Michonne said, before darting into the clearing.

"There are too many!" Sasha yelled from behind her, but Michonne ignored her, rushing toward the walker mob.

Sasha's yells had alerted them to her presence and they shambled in her direction, meeting her halfway.

Michonne slid her katana from behind her back, the familiar movement snapping her into killing mode. This rush – this bloodlust – was exactly what she needed to block out the pain of Rick's betrayal.

She slammed her boot against the chest of the first walker, knocking him to the ground. Michonne raised her katana above her head, disgusted by the gore hanging from the corner of the walker's mouth. She brought her sword down hard, stabbing the creature dead center through his forehead.