A War On Her World | TWD: D. Dixon

Ch. 19

My eyes were wide and my jaw was slack at what stood in front of me. I was dumbfounded. I couldn't stop myself from staring at the massive fortress surrounded by chain linked fence, topped with barbed wire.

 It was designed to keep criminals detained, but here we were -trying our best to break in, even with the threat of the walkers that still lingered inside.

Our leader was desperate; using wire cutters to make a break in the metal barrier so that we could get through the outer layer and into the inner one. 

While he worked on that, Glenn slammed a walker against a metal beam, forcing what looked like a weird flat shovel crossed with a spear into its gut to give Maggie the chance to swing her weapon and crush it's brittle skull.

I stood closer to Rick's position as a precaution on my life as I stood as protection for his wife. I knew how to shoot a gun and I knew how to protect myself from the biting corpses but I hadn't done it much. There was a large difference between knowing how to do it, knowing I can do it, and actually doing it; I wasn't confident. 

Guillermo had taught me how to use a gun but he had also always acted as a protector for my son and I in place of my late husband.

My entire body was tense as I tried to pay attention to where everyone was and every aspect of danger in close proximity. It was difficult because of the noises coming in all directions but I raised my arm steady; my handheld the hilt of the dagger that Rick had provided me. 

"Watch the backside," Daryl warned the group, keeping alert and on guard, watching Rick's back.

"Got it," Lori called to acknowledge the man's words. Along with myself, she was being protected from all directions by Beth, Carol, T-dog, Hershel and Carl. Benji was gripping her hand like I told him to, not daring to object. He was obviously shaking and found comfort being in the middle of the safe circle, close to his mother and brother, away from the dangers he witnessed on a daily basis.

We were ready for any attack but luckily we weren't faced with that scenario just yet. Rick had managed to cut through in maximum time, ushering everyone through to the safety of the first section.

I took Benji from Lori so she could climb through and help me get him to the other side. Once my son was in safe hands I quickly went in next, leaving T-dog and Rick on the outside.

"Hurry." Our leader rushed the black man who remained on edge, scanning the forest fringe. He only moved when Rick ordered him to a second time.

"Hurry!"

When we were all inside the area separating us from the open courtyard, Glenn and Daryl laced the breached linked fence shut with a red wire. This time all we had on us were our weapons and the clothes on our backs, so it was easy for me to pick up my boy and run along the right path, turning down a corner and running until we came upon the actual entrance to the field of walkers.

Rick gazed in, observing the scenery in silence. We were all waiting for him to speak our next course of events. Instead, we received words of someone insane.

"It's perfect," He mused.

I was terrified at the thought of being made to leave the secure section -it was a death wish waiting to be fulfilled- but Rick seemed so sure of himself, so zealous that this place was it -it was our home.

"If we can shut that gate, prevent more from fillin' the yard, we can pick off these walkers. We'll take the field by tonight," Rick narrated his plan for the future confidently.

"So how do we shut the gate?" Hershel inquired, needing more than the general layout of an idea.

"I'll do it." Glenn volunteered with no hesitation, "You guys cover me."