The Sheriff and The Archer

Chapter Twenty-Three: Gag-Worthy

"Jade?" I laced up my boots. "Unlock the door," Gareth called softly. Something was up. Be casual.

"Yeah?" I leaned against the open door. He let himself in the room.

"I was thinking that today you and I could do something together. Bury the hatchet, if you will."

"Oh, I've already thought about it, that's why I came back, I decided that it didn't matter anymore." Tears pricked my eyes, I turned from him to make my bed so he wouldn't see me. Stop.

"We need to talk about other things too. Like Mary," he put his hands behind his back and looked out my window.

My eyebrows furrowed. "Is she okay?" When I was leaving she was a wreck.

"No. She tried to leave, to get you. She didn't want to be here anymore so..." he trailed off and faced me.

"Oh my God. No." They killed her.

"We couldn't hurt her, however. She was family, so we put her in the arch with the rest of your old group." She's with them? Oh my God. They must be beating the shit out of -

I sat on my bed. "Can I see her? I want to say goodbye."

"You may, but I will be present."

I quickly countered, "I will only be a minute, you don't have to -" He told me to stop being silly. I nodded.

"But first!" He chirped. "You have to meet our new member!"

"New member?" They didn't kill the person? He led me downstairs and to the sitting hall, where I saw many people sitting down at tables. No one caught my eye, there wasn't a new member... a cry let out, silencing my thoughts.

"A baby?" I asked, widening my eyes.

"Yes, a baby." He nudged me forward, the woman, Kelly, held the baby out for me. Cautiously I took her, at least I think it's a her.

"What's her name?"

"We're going to call her Mitchie," She smiled.

"Where did you guys get her?" I asked Gareth. The baby settled into my arms. I smiled down at her.

"One of the women who came after you left had her."

"What was her originally name?"

"Janice," Kelly said doubtfully. "Or was it Jenna? Julia? Judy? No! Judith! Yeah, it was Judith," She nodded her head and smiled because she remembered.

Oh my God. Sheriff's little sister... Judith. Don't worry, baby. You're gonna see your family again.

"After I talk to Mary can I take her?"

"Sure!" Kelly was way to eager to get rid of Judith. Bitch.

"Thanks." Carefully I handed Judith back to Kelly and walked away led by Gareth. He's so stupid, he didn't even blindfold me. I know exactly how to get there and back. Well, I think. He told me we were almost there.

"Okay," I replied.

A building came into view that I had never seen before. It was connected to Terminus, the top was shaped like a dome, with a huge window in it providing sunlight. It was made up of red brick and had ivy growing up the side of it. It was actually kind pretty. Three men that I knew the names of stood outside of it, acting as guards.

"Men!" Gareth called out. They looked towards their authority and gave him all of their attention. We walked forward, they opened the doors.

I prepared myself to see something horrible, bloody, gag-worthy, but I did not prepare to see the people I loved most hanging from the ceiling by a rope attached to both of their wrists. I gasped at the sight. Some weren't moving at all, Mary was hacking up blood.

"Oh my God!" Their heads weakly turned to me, they looked like they were on the brink of death. I examined each of them for a second, I decided, out of everyone, Carl looked the worst. Maybe it was because I cared about him so much, my mind was just making it seem worse. It seemed as though he was hit by a bus, yet in the mess of things his hat remained, almost mocking him. His eyes were locked onto mine, they weren't a lifeless grey, but they were near it. He was going to die, they all were going to die - soon.

Gareth looked confused, "What? You -"

"Get them down! Now!" My grip on my bow became stronger and stronger until my hand started to hurt. Stay calm. You're not supposed to protect him. The food! "They're borderline inedible!" I screeched and winced at my words. Get them down. "Do you want from starvation?" I asked Gareth. He looked down with a worried face and shook his head no.

"Get them down!" He ordered to the guards standing in the room. They pulled on some pulleys that were holding my people up. They dropped down slowly and started to take off the ropes. Each one of them that could move huddled together. Mary stared at me. "I just didn't want them to escape," Gareth justified himself, sounding exactly like a six-year-old that had been braided.

"It's okay. I'll - I'll get them cleaned up. Can you get me some water and bandages? If you don't can you get me towels or any kind of cloth? We need them to be healthy," I gulped back the lump in my throat and took a few steps forward.

"We'll be back," Gareth called and took the guards with him. I turned to the door and made sure they were out of ear shot before I ran to the group. I stopped when I realized that maybe they didn't want me.

"I'm so sorry," my voice cracked and I covered my mouth. I swallowed the lump in my throat and fought back and tears that dared fall. As confidently as I could I told them, "I'm getting you all out of here. I'm on the inside now, they trust me again... I think. Once you guys are healthy again we can go. They won't hurt any if again." Carl stared up at me in disbelief.

"You got me believing you switched over to their side." He tried to stand up but fell over. I slide to hold him up best I could.

"Judith," I looked at Rick, "She's fine. When I go back I'll start taking care of her. She won't leave my sight, I promise." Carl's eyes teared up as he sat up on his own. "They'll be back soon. Are all of you okay?" I looked to all of them.

Answers came back to me and I was relieved that none of them were actually dying.

"J-Jade. I have to talk to you. It's important," Mary looked like Hell - in a word. Her upper arms were bloody from holding onto the rope. I felt bad for her.

"What? Mary -"

"Jade, what are doing?" Gareth and a few others walked in holding pales of water and towels.

"He collapsed. I just woke him up," I squeezed Carl a little bit before I stood up. "Let's clean them up, shall we?" I smiled at the people of Terminus. They started to walk, each getting someone to help. I was about to go help with Carol, because she wasn't looking too good, but Gareth pulled me back.

"Time to go," his hand nudged my shoulder in the direction of the door. I turned ninety degrees so I could see the group. Carl's eyes found mine and it was like we formed an agreement right then and there: we were going to survive.

I don't know how I feel about this book right now. I'm excited about the sequel though (reminder: you don't need to have read this book to read the sequel)