Saved

LV

We had hardly made it to the next building before Rick caught up to us. 

"Riley! Wait!" He yelled, grabbing my arm and jerking me back. I turned to look at him, he was panting, sweaty, and he looked nothing like the brother I used to know. This man before me was afraid. 

"What's up Rick?" I asked, glancing over my shoulder at Daryl who had picked up Dale, who had apparently started to drop since his head was resting comfortably on Daryl's shoulder, and my gun was in Daryl's hands, possibly after falling form Dale's grip. 

"We can't just leave." Rick growled, and it was like someone dumped a bucket of ice water over my head. I started at him, trying to decide what to say, if I could even say anything to change his mind. I hardly even noticed the crowd that was developing around us. 

"Yes we can. We have to. He's never going to stop. He's going to take more and more, until there's nothing left. And then he'll kill everyone. Daryl, Dale and I... we can't stay here. He'll kill us or take us back, and if we go back we are dead anyway. We came back here for you. For you and the rest of our family. We want you to come with us. Rick... I want you to come with us. It's what is best for everyone. We won't have to live under Negan's thumb, praying that he won't kill anyone. Praying that we collected enough to please him. We're going to go... and I want you in that RV when we do." I said, and for once, I felt strong. I felt independent. 

I had relied on other people my entire life, and for once... I was saving other people. 

"We can't go back out there. That's not what's best! We will all die if we go back out there." Rick said, hysteria evident in his face. I felt bad for him, whatever had happened to make him this way, I wish I could change it. But this man, this shell was not my brother anymore. 

"Rick... you're my brother and I love you. But you're not the brother I used to know. You were fearless. You would do anything to keep your family and your friends safe. And now... you're what? Going to hide behind these walls and let a tyrant terrorize you and your family because you are afraid of what's out there? We have a better chance out there than we do in here. You have to know that. But God. Even if I die out there, tomorrow, the next day, at least I'll die free. Without the fear that Negan will torture my child, or my husband, or any of you. We leave tomorrow at sunrise. I hope to see you there." I said, glancing at all of the faces surrounding us. I recognized some of them, but the rest were strangers to me. Hopefully they wouldn't be strangers for long. 

I didn't wait for a response from Rick who looked like he was struggling to find one, I turned, took my gun from Daryl so I could hold his hand once again, and we walked away, towards the house that Daryl said was ours. 

It didn't take us long to put Dale down to bed, and find Maggie and Glenn who had said they'd watch him while we went out to get the RV. Once they were settled, we silently left the house and started walking in the direction of the gate.