The Walking Dead Season 3

Chapter 3

Hershel sits up. Since we found crutches, he can get up. "Just take your time." Lori says as Hershel grunts. "Daddy, don't push yourself." Beth says quickly. Hershel chuckles. "What else am I going to do?" he asks, grasping the crutches. "Can stand looking up at the bottom of the bunk any longer." He says, nearly falling as he situated himself. "You know, I think I'm pretty steady." He says, moving forward quickly. "It's a good start." Lori says. "Wanna take a rest?" I ask. "Rest? Let's go for a little stroll." He says, chuckling.

We walk outside. "It's starting to look like a place that we could really live in," Hershel says, examining the prison. "You watch your step," Lori says. "Last thing we need is you falling." I add. "You're doing great, Daddy." Beth says. "Ready to race, Hershel?" Carl jokes. "You give me another day, I'll take you on." He replies. we stop, looking at Rick and them through the fences. Carl turns. "Walkers! Look out!" he cries. We start firing. I stab two, dodging another. Carol and T run to flake the gate, Beth and Hershel run back into a gate, and Maggie grabs Lori and Carl. Carl pulls me behind him, and Lori shuts the gate.

We head for the cell block, but more come out. We turn, running. The alarm turns on, echoing through the halls. "Something's not right!" Lori cries, clutching her stomach. "Are you bit?" I ask worriedly. "No, no, no, I think the baby's coming!" she gasps. More walkers come. We duck into a room. Maggie lays Lori on the floor. She holds the chains tightly.

Maggie rips off Lori's pants. I crouch next to Lori, holding her back. "I gotta push." Lori says, pulling herself up. She pushes, and screams. Blood drips on the floor. "Lori, stop! Something's wrong!" I exclaim.

We lay her back down. She's pale and her eyes are closed. "Mom," Carl says, holding her hand. I lay her head on my lap. "We have to get you back to dad." Maggie says. "I'm not gonna make it." Lori says quietly. "Lori with all this blood, I don't think you're even fully dilated. No amount of pushin' is gonna help." Maggie says frantically. "I know what it means," Lori says as I wipe the sweat off of her. She's burning up. "An I'm not loosing my baby." She says. "You've gotta cut me open." She adds. "No." Maggie says. "You don't have a choice. Carl and Alex have knives." "You won't survive!" I say, tears running down my face. "My baby has to survive. Please. My baby. For all of us. Please, Maggie!" Lori begs.

"Carl, baby, I don't want you to be scared, ok? This is what I want. This is right. Now, you take care of your daddy for me, and Isabelle, alright? And your little brother or sister, you take care of them." Lori says. "You don't have to do this!" Carl begs. "Your gonna be fine. You are gonna beat this world, I know you will. You are smart, you are strong, and you are so brave. And I love you." She says. "I love you, too." Carl says. "You gotta do what's right, baby. You promise me you'll always do what's right. It's so easy to do the wrong thing in this world. So if it feels wrong, don't do it. If it feels easy, don't do it! Don't let the world spoil you. You're so good. You're my sweet boy. The best thing I ever did. I love you." She finishes.

"Isabelle, never hold a grudge. That's wrong. Always remember what you do, and learn from it. Look out for the group, and hold them together. Don't let them rip each other apart. Tell Rick I love him and I'm sorry. Take care of Carl and the baby and the group, and yourself. Don't forget that people are still out there, and family may still be alive. You're like my little girl and I love you, and whenever you die, be ready and don't regret it." Lori says to me, reaching up an wiping away my tears. "I love you, too," I whisper.

"Maggie, when this is over, you're gonna have to do it! It can't be Rick." Lori says fiercely. "Alright. Alright. Goodnight, love." Lori whispers.

"I'm sorry." Maggie says, and cuts into her. Lori begins to scream, and I cover my ears. Tears run down my cheeks. "Stop! Stop it! You're killing her!" Carl cries. Lori passes out, and goes limp. Maggie pulls the baby out.

I hear a high pitched noise, and I slowly realize it is coming from me. I'm screaming. Maggie is shouting something, and Carl's fingers fumble over my mouth, cutting off my voice. I collapse back onto him, holding his arm as he wraps his other arm around me as we sob. Lori's head falls from my lap, her face tilting towards me. Her eyes are closed, her skin pale and lifeless.

The baby is still, not crying or moving. Maggie pats it's chest, and it begins to cry. Carl gives his jacket. "We have to go." Maggie says. "We can't just leave her here." Carl says. "She'll turn." he adds. Maggie and I walk to to door, waiting. Sobs continue to erupt from my body as I wait, tears rolling down my cheeks. The gunshot sounds, and I flinch. Carl walks out without a word.

We exit the prison, walking out slowly. "Where is she?" Rick asks. He starts crying and collapses. Glenn hold Maggie and Carl, and, after a moment, Daryl comes and holds me. I bust out sobbing, not able to stop.

Lori, Carol, and T Dog are all gone.

In one day.