Death do us part

Not us

  After last night, I ate a lot, then went to bed. It was about 8 am when I woke up, and went downstairs and just as I did, Daryl walked in followed by Hershel. They didn't look happy, but they weren't mad. Daryl walked past me and didn't really acknowledge me. He went and sat over on the steps, so I followed.

  "Hey." I mumbled. "I'm back." I smiled and looked over to him.

  "Where'd you go in the first place?" He asked, looking down.

  "I don't know. Someone knocked me out, then I woke up somewhere hidden." I said. He looked up at me and he looked exhausted.

  "Are we going to war?" I asked. He shook his head. "What are we doing?" I asked. He shook his head again.

  "It's not us." He said, looking down. I didn't want to pry, so I just stayed quiet.

  "Daryl, Melody, we need you out here." Glenn said, nodding towards the door. Maggie and Carl had wooden spoons and pots and Carl handed me a spoon and a pot as well. Daryl, Michonne and Glenn got into a truck after loading on some pieces of wood with barbed wire attached.

  Maggie, Carl and I went in between the fences and started shouting  and banging on the pots, while Glenn, Michonne and Daryl put the barbed wire along the gravel road. Michonne killed any near walkers.

  I watched Rick run out with his gun and I kept shouting until he opened the gate to let them in and then closed it again.

  I ran back before Carl and Maggie, and met with the rest of them.

  "They try to drive up to the fence again, flat tires will stop them." Glenn explained.

  "Good idea." Rick said.

  "It was Michonne's." Daryl said, staring at Rick. A look of slight guilt flashed across Rick's face.

  He sighed and we all walked back towards the cellblock.

  A few hours passed and I felt like I needed to do something. I walked outside and saw Daryl and Rick running into a supply room, so I followed, curious of what they were doing.

  I walked in and they were at another door at the other side of the room, so I rushed over.

  "If they come back, you need to be ready." Daryl said, ready to leave.

  "Where are you going?" I asked.

  "Merle took Michonne to give her to the governor. I need to go look for them." Daryl said.

  He gave a nod at Rick and Rick started to walk away. Daryl opened the door and stepped out and I followed.

  "I'll go with you." I said, letting the door close behind me.

  "No, it has to just be me." He shook his head.

  "Well, the door shut and it locks automatically, so." I trailed off.

  "Then you're just going to have to go back another way." He said, turning to walk away.

  "Daryl, wait." I stopped him by grabbing his arm.

  "You don't have to go alone." I said, giving him a let me go with you look.

  He sighed. "Yeah I do." I looked up at him and moved towards him a bit, kissing his cheek. He looked down and I let go of his arm.

  I backed up and he just kind of stood there for a second before turning and and walking into the woods without even looking at me.

  I walked around to a gate and went back into the prison. The first thing I did was grab some extra ammo and the bag that Elise gave me. The other one was now for emergencies.

  I slung the bag over my back, not even checking to see what else was in there, then I ran down the stairs and out the exit that Daryl had just went out of.

  I ran in the direction that I thought he had gone, I wasn't quite sure, but after a little while, I saw Michonne. She was in a yard near the edge of the woods. I ran up to her hoping that she knew something.

  "Where's Merle?" I asked.

  "So you knew about it too?" She ignored my question.

  "Only that he took you. I'm so sorry, if I'd have known before, I would have stopped him- Wait, where is he?" I asked again.

  "He let me go. You know, Daryl just asked me the same question not 10 minutes ago." She looked up at me, leaning on her sword.

  "Where did Daryl go?" I stood up straight.

  "He told me not to let anyone follow him." She said, looking behind her.

  "Thank you anyway Michonne. I hope you make it back safe." I smiled and ran in the direction she looked, hoping that it was where he had gone.

  I got my gun out just in case anything happened and kept one hand on my belt, hovering over my knife.

  ***

  I had been walking for a long time and I finally got to where The governor and Rick made that first deal.

  I walked around the building until I saw a car. Around the corner, I saw bodies everywhere and I kept walking until I rounded another corner, finding Daryl on the ground crying.

  I looked to see why and saw a walker on the ground next to him. The walker had a metal stub for a hand and a knife attached to it. It was Merle.

  I lowered my gun and put it back in its holster. I stayed quiet and slowly walked over to him.

  He looked up at me and his face grew angry, but he was still crying.

  "What are you doing here." He cried. "I told you not to come!" He stood up and started to pace.

  I put my hands up in defense and inched my way towards him still. His face got angrier and he wiped some of his tears, but they kept coming.

  "Go! Leave!" He cried.

  When I got close to him he pushed me away. It wasn't an extremely hard push, but it was enough to cause me to lose my balance.

  I didn't leave, I just stood for a few seconds, then walked towards him again.

  "I'm not going to leave." I said lowly.

  He looked so defeated. I walked up to him and wrapped my arms around him. He leaned his head down on my shoulder and I reached up and wrapped my arms around his shoulders. He just kept crying and I felt terrible for him.

***

  -Kenzie