Fuelling Forces || The Walking Dead

Part 8: Brief Respite

We spent a lot of months on the road, scouting from house to house to try and find safe sanctuary for Lori and the rest of the group. I forgave Rick for his mistakes but I kept my distance sticking with Daryl mostly. He had become one of my best friends and I'd be damned if I allowed myself anything less. Daryl Dixon was a golden example of a good man.

While on a hunting trip with Daryl and Rick, we stumbled upon the prison. I saw the jackpot in these fences, finally a safe place to stay. Possibly even live and create a community within the safety of the fences. I yearned to live with security. We revised a plan on how to get in safely as there were Walker prisoners stuck inside the area. Rick shut the main gate of the prison, while the rest of the group distracted and killed the Walkers surrounding the main building. I sliced away with my one sword having given Carl my other when he had no more ammo in his gun.

That night, Hershel had asked Beth to sing "The Parting Glass", and along with Maggie, she did. I reminisced about my oldies music with my husband dancing with me like a retard. Somehow in my soul I knew that my husband was still alive. Most probably gone insane, leading a bunch of people like the tyrant he was; thinking I was dead. It was a shame I knew that man better than the back of my own hand.

The next day, we got a head start clearing out the remaining Walkers blocking the entrance to the prison. My sword was infested with Walker blood and needed to be cleaned desperately. The smell of it was enough to make me want to hurl. I shook some of it off as we entered into the prison.

We now had a secure cell block, riot gear, flash grenades, and other useful equipment. I felt much better with some of these weapons at our disposal.

Rick, Maggie, Glenn, Hershel, T-Dog, Daryl and I searched for the cafeteria and infirmary, only to be ambushed by a group of Walkers on our way. Glenn and Maggie and I were split from the group almost immediately. Everything was happening so fast. Hershel had found us but got bitten in the lower right calf by a stray Walker that was lying down. I yelled in fright slashing the rotten dead person off Hershel. The group took him inside the cafeteria area and Rick, acting quickly, amputated the lower portion of Hershel's right leg to keep the infection from spreading.

I was working on not completely falling apart when five men in prison garb then appeared, and Daryl aims his crossbow at them. I literally had such a big fright almost going into Tilt-mode at the way they were just staring at us. The way they stood there just watching us unblinking, unhinged me. I almost killed them as I ran towards them and entered the doorway. The group was shouting my name and I managed to get back down to earth.

We rushed Hershel back to Cell Block C and were followed by prisoners Axel, Tomas, Big Tiny, Oscar and Andrew. A standoff occured between the prisoners, T-Dog, and Daryl, with Rick intervening. Rick told the prisoners about how the world has been completely overrun by Walkers (as the convicts had no knowledge of outside conditions). Because Tomas wanted to claim the prison for his own, I almost swiped his arm off when he said this but Rick cut a deal with him to help them secure a separate cell block in exchange for half of their food.

While Rick and the others along with me go to work on the project, Carol, Lori, Maggie, Beth, Carl, and Glenn remained in the cell block to try and save Hershel. I didnt want to be around to see him change into a Walker. I had enough of that being a softy bullshit.

Once our deal was done by clearing a cell block for the prisoners, Big Tiny got scratched by a Walker and then got killed by his friend Tomas while the recon group was discussing what to do. I was disgusted at Tomas' disregard for other human life. As I lifted my sword toward Tomas to end it, Rick signalled for me to lower my weapon. He needed to decide who's side he was on before I killed him with this limp noodle of a man.

We reached the room outside their cell block and obviously Tomas ignored Rick's warning and opened up both doors, allowing a herd of Walkers to rush in. I yelled at Tomas about him being a real dumbass but he just smirked at me salaciously. I gagged. During the fight, Tomas tried twice to kill Rick; he swung his weapon too close to Rick and pushed a Walker on top of him. I gasped, slicing at the Walkers head that was on top of Rick to save his life and went for Tomas myself, swinging a warning at him as he dodged swiftly. Rick grabbed my arm.

"Leah stop!" Rick whisper-hissed at my ear.

"This douche bag is trying to kill you Rick!" I yelled at him.

Said man sent me a look saying he knew. After the Walkers were cleared, Rick retaliated by chopping Tomas straight in the head with a machete which made me jump and squeal in shock before smirking aftef a short few minutes.

Rick did have a plan!

Andrew ran away and Rick followed him. I decided to leave the man to his own devices, having no more energy to swing these blades anymore. When Rick came back, he was without Andrew. I was breathing heavily at the thought of Rick letting the man go. Didn't we have enough stress already with the Walkers inside ths prison?

Rick decided to let Axel and Oscar live, as they didn't appear to be involved in Tomas' plot to kill him. I didn't agree with his ploy at peace, however I had no say in the matter.

We travelled back to Cell Block C. Rick held Hershel's hand as he woke and thanked Lori for saving Hershel's life. I looked away as I could still sense the tense atmosphere between them.

The rest of my time that day was spent helping T-Dog and Glenn clear out the prison, allowing myself a brief grieving period for our losses finally as I strolled towards an empty cell upstairs.