THE NEXT MORNING, AFTER LICKING THEIR WOUNDS, THE GROUP GATHERED OUTSIDE THE CELLS,

Merle was locked outside, no one trusting him to be within arms distance of them. Daryl was allowed in with them, standing on the second level with Beth and Carol.

Vivian forced Carl to wear one of the riot vests they found in the armoury, trying to give him as much protection as possible.

Liam stood next to Vivian, an arm wrapped around her leg. While he didn't quite understand what was going on, he knew something serious was being discussed.

Hershel was sitting on the steps, trying to convince Rick to abandon the prison while they still could,

"We're not leaving." Rick shot his idea down, putting a full clip into his rifle,

"We can't stay here." The oldest group member argued,

"What if there's another sniper?" Maggie spoke up, "A wood pallet won't stop one of those rounds."

"We can't even go outside." Beth added,

"Not in the daylight."

"Rick says we're not running, we're not running." Glenn told his girlfriend and her father,

In reality, Vivian knew they could leave the prison if they truly wanted to. But no one would leave alone, not without the rest of the group. They were family, and whatever decision Rick made, they would stick to.

"No, better to live like rats." Merle commented,

Rick turned towards him and narrowed his eyes, "You got a better idea?"

"Yeah, we should have slid out of here last night and lived to fight 'nother day. But we lost that window, didn' we?" The older Dixon smirked, "I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now."

"We ain't scared of that prick." Daryl commented,

"Y'all should be." Merle responded, "That truck through the fence thing, that's just him ringin' the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shoot, he could just starve us out if he wanted to."

"Let's put him in the other cell block." Maggie spat out.

"No. He's got a point." Daryl responded,

As much as Vivian didn't like looking at his stupid face, she had to admit Merle was right. They were loosing people left and right.

The eldest Greene daughter turned to Merle, "This is all you. You started this."

"What difference whose fault it is?" Beth began to walk down the stairs, "What do we do?"

"I said we should leave." Hershel repeated, "Now Axel's dead. We can't just sit here." Rick began to walk away, heading towards the door and Hershel stood, "Get back here!" Their leader paused, "You're slipping, Rick. We've all seen it. We understand why. But now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy. Now you have to own up to that." Rick turned towards the old man, "I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear and do something."

Rick gave him a short nod before leaving the cell block.

Marcie met up with Andrea after rumors were being spread around about the Governor paying the prison, where their old group was currently located, a visit. But deep down, Marcie knew it wasn't a friendly visit.

"Well, come in." The Governor grumbled as the two women stormed into his room,

"What's this I hear about the prison?" Andrea questioned, placing a hand on her hip, "You said you were gonna leave it alone. No retaliation."

"I went to negotiate." He responded, "Bad enough we got biters at our gates. We can't have aggressors just miles away."

"So you went and welcomed them to the neighborhood?" Marcie raised her eyebrows,

"You know they shot at us?" He took what she assumed was pain pills for the recent injury to his eye, "I don't know who these people were when you two were with them, but they've changed. They're bloodthirsty."

"I know they wouldn't attack without a reason." The brunette woman spat, and the Governor narrowed his eye at her,

Andrea turned to Milton, who was sitting at the table with papers littered around him, "You knew about this?"

"I was informed this morning." He answered and Andrea gave him a serious look, "I didn't know."

"Don't drag him into it." The Governor commented,

"You're right. This is between us two and you. I'm sick of this. Sick of the lies. And I'm not gonna watch this town and my friends gun each other down." Andrea responded,

"Well, it's too late." Milton stood to leave and the Governor walked over to take his seat,

"What do you mean it's too late?" Marcie asked,

Did he kill them all?

"I don't know what you're trying to prove, but enough is enough. We're going to see them." Andrea stated, "We'll work this out."

Marcie hated to say it, but, "She's right. If anyone could work it out between the two groups, it's us."

"Well, they're hostile." The Governor commented before motioning to the pile of papers in his hand, "These are all the able-bodied people we have. They're gonna carry arms and receive training. We won't get caught sleeping again."

"One car, that's all we need." Andrea continued,

He stared up at Andrea, "The roads are blocked. We barely made it back ourselves."

Marcie made eye contact with the blonde, "We won't need a car. I'll get some supplies." The two made their way towards the door when the Governor called out their names,

"You go to that prison, you stay there."

Marcie gave him a glare before they both left the room. They stepped out onto the street and looked around. The military trucks that the Governor and his men had collected only days ago were now being used to hand out weapons to all the able-bodied people.

That included elderly and the young, which made Marcie sick to her stomach,

"I have a feeling that Rick and the others weren't the aggressors." Marcie commented,

"If we don't get this straightened out between them, we're going to have to pick a side." Andrea replied,

The brunette looked over at her, "I know what side I'm picking... do you?"

Before Andrea could answer, they overheard a conversation between Karen and Martinez, "Noah's only 14. Okay? He has asthma. He can't run more than 10 yards before losing his breath. What good is that to you?"

"The Governor wants everyone who can hold a gun in front of the town hall now." Martinez replied,

"No." Karen turned towards the two women, "You have to straighten this out. They want Noah to fight."

"Who's talking about fighting?" Andrea asked, before turning to Martinez, "You're supposed to be teaching people to defend themselves, not raising an army."

He stepped closer to her, "Wake up. The only way to defend ourselves is with an army."

Marcie gulped nervously. She needed to get her parents out of there before they're forced to be apart of the Governor's army and end up getting hurt or killed.

Martinez walked away and Marcie turned to Andrea, "I'm not going to let the Governor use my parents as his pawns."

"Are you getting any closer to convincing them to leave?"

She shook her head, "After the attack, it's gonna be hard. They can't fight Andrea, they can't survive out there."

"We need to get to the prison and talk to them." Andrea stated,

"You heard the Governor. If we go, he doesn't want us coming back. And I can't risk not being allowed back in." She replied,

"What the Governor doesn't know won't hurt him."

The two headed towards the front gates, watching as the walls were being reinforced. It was going to be hard to sneak out.

"We sealed it thoroughly." Milton stated, coming to a stop beside the women, "Nobody's getting in or out."

Andrea turned to the Governor's right hand man, "I'm gonna ask you something and I need you to be honest."

"Okay."

"The fight at the prison, you swear you didn't know anything about it?" The blonde asked,

"I wouldn't advocate a move like that." Milton answered, "It's just posturing."

"Good. Then you have to cover for us." Andrea stated, "We're going to the prison. And the Governor can't know."

He shook his head, "Don't."

"Look, Milton, we have to. We've been with them since the start. We owe it to both Woodbury and them to try and get this sorted with no more bloodshed." Marcie tried to convince him,

"Don't put me in this situation." He begged,

"I wish there was another way." Andrea replied,

"If he finds out..."

Marcie and Andrea shared a look, "That's a chance we have to take."

"Maybe you do, but I don't. I'm sorry. I can't." He began to walk away and the two women followed after him,

"Look at what's happened." Andrea started, "Woodbury is an armed camp with child soldiers. Cannon fodder in a war over what?" She grabbed his arm to get him to stop walking, "Is that what all your work is for?" Marcie could see the hesitation in his eyes, "Please, help us get out of here. We can't take a car. They won't open the gates. We just need to sneak out, make our way to the prison, and talk to Rick."

"This is a betrayal." Milton stated,

"No, it's an attempt to stop this before more people get killed." Marcie replied,