A Fresh Start

Chapter 17

A smile had slowly begun to spread across Hershel's face and it was so contagious that one began to spread across mine as well. He too was proud of Rick.

Hope was quickly shatter however when I heard the Governor whisper, "Liar."

And with one swift movement, he'd struck Hershel. My eyes widened when I saw the blood fill the neck of his shirt. Hershel's body fell to the side.

"NO!" Rick yelled.

He held up his gun and shot at the Governor. Gunfire quickly ensued.

"Hershel! No!" I wailed.

I looked over at Maggie and Beth. Both were screaming in agony while they fired at the Governor's people. I was numb. I couldn't move. Was this really happening? Or was this some horrible nightmare. This can't be real. It just can't.

"Amelia, move! Now," Michonne ordered.

Her words brought me out of my daze for a moment. She ducked and rolled to a car nearby. I took a few minutes before I did the same. Bullets were flying everywhere at this point. I didn't care if I was hit or if I died. All I knew was that I had just lost the person who was a second dad to me. The man that taught me so much and that I loved tremendously. I was looking to avenge him in any way I could. When I reached Michonne, she had some guy pinned to the floor.

"Here," she said.

She was able to untie herself. She then grabbed a knife that the man had and cut me loose. I grabbed his rifle then shot him. The tank had taken down the fences. There were some people that shot at us. I quickly took them out. The Governor had left Michonne's sword behind. I saw him head to a woman with a child in her arms. I picked up the sword right when the Governor put a bullet through the little girl's head.

"Here," I said handing it to Michonne.

The cars were quickly advancing towards the prison.

"Get down" she said.

We both laid down and watched the Governor's people advanced even further into the prison. It was chaos. It was hard to see any of our people. I hoped with all I had that they were all right. That they were taking out as many of those assholes as they could. Walkers were emerging from the woods. Michonne and I were quick to take out the ones nearby. I looked over to the prison again. My eyes then caught sight of Rick and the Governor going at each other's throats. I headed over to them, taking out a few more walkers on the way. The gunfire was lessening. As I got closer, I saw that the Governor had his hands tightly around Rick's throat. I got there and used the rifle to pull him back.

"You piece of shit. You're going to burn in hell for what you did," I whispered.

I tightened my grip on him. He loosened his grip on Rick. Unfortunately he was able to elbow me in the gut. I went down. He went back to Rick and gripped his throat. I could see that Rick was turning a shade of blue.

"Let him go!" I screamed.

The Governor wasn't listening. I was just about to get back up and knock him out but Michonne came out of nowhere and dove her sword into his abdomen. It went straight through. She pulled it out and I watched with satisfaction as he collapsed next to Rick. I quickly slung my rifle over my shoulder and stood up. Michonne and I helped Rick to his feet.

"Carl...? Where's Carl?" he struggled to ask.

"I don't know," Michonne replied.

"Come on. We'll find him," I said putting his arm over my shoulder and guiding him to the prison.

There was more explosions. I didn't want to rush Rick. His breath was staggered. The Governor had done a lot of damage. I could see from a distance Daryl taking out walkers. There was one last explosion. I looked up to see the tank was on fire.

"Carl...Carl!" Rick shouted.

He lost his balance and we both went down.

"I got you, Rick. Come on," I said picking us up and continuing.

We got to the prison. There were walkers coming at us. I was about to get to my rifle when two gunshots were heard. I looked up to see Carl just as the second walker fell. I undid Rick's arm from me and he made his way to Carl. They embraced. Rick was crying into Carl's shoulder. I walked up to them.

"Carl. Thank God," I said embracing him after.

"Judith. Where...Where is she?" Rick asked.

"I don't know," Carl replied.

I made my way further into the courtyard. I saw her car seat and stopped abruptly. Rick and Carl had seen it too. We all made our way to it. As we got closer, we saw that it was covered in blood. I backed away placing my hands on my knees. Not Judith. No. Not her.

"No," Rick said.

He started to sob some more. There were walkers coming and Carl quickly held up his rifle and he took them out. Reloading until the bullets were gone.

"Carl. Carl," Rick said wrapping his arms around him.

Carl started to cry then.

"We've gotta go. We've gotta go," Rick said.

"You guys gotta go," I said still looking at Judith's car seat.

Rick and Carl turned to look at me.

"What are you talking about? Amelia, we've gotta move," Carl managed to get out through his tears.

"Listen, get your dad somewhere safe all right. He's gonna need your help," I said.

"Amelia...what are you doing?" Rick asked.

"I have to see if Daryl made it out," I replied.

"No. You're coming with us," Rick said.

"It's not your call. Rick, I have to do this. I have to. You two are okay. You're still here. I know that. I need to know if Daryl made it out or if he's dead. I have to know. Carl, like I said, get your dad somewhere safe. I will find you all after. I swear. Some way or another, we'll see each other again. But right now, you two need to get going," I said.

"Amelia come with us, please. I didn't get to say goodbye to Judith. I can't say goodbye to you," Carl said.

"Bud, this isn't goodbye. Remember what I told you about goodbyes?" I asked placing a hand against his cheek.

Carl nodded.

"I'll see you later. Take care of your dad, okay. You're both going to be fine. I know it. I love you. I love you both," I said giving them both a kiss.

"Get going. Go on. More walkers will be coming soon," I finished.

They slowly backed away and then turned. Carl slung his dad's arm over his shoulders.

"I'll find you two," I whispered while I watched them disappear into the smoke.

I turned to look at the remnants of what was once my home. The realization of losing everything we'd all worked so hard for, finally hitting me. I fell to my knees and let out all the anger and frustration I was currently feeling by screaming a few times. The growls of the walkers brought me back to reality. I stood up and turned. More than a dozen were heading my way.