THEY COVERED THEMSELVES IN BLOOD AND MUD.

Carol and Marcie needed to blend in with the walkers. It was the only way they could make it to the compound without having to worry about getting attacked by the dead.

They slowly walked through the woods, guns in hand, until they found the fences.

Marcie peered through the chain link and her eyes widened. She could see men standing over a group of people, tying their hands behind their backs. One man got lifted to their feet and she could see their faces clear as day.

It was Rick. And Glenn and Daryl and Bob.

It took everything within her to keep from crying out for them.

It had been so long. Only a few weeks, but to her it felt like forever.

Keeping quiet, the two walked along the fence until they found a suitable target. A large tank of propane on the other side of the fence, inside their walls.

It was close enough to the building to cause damage. To cause a distraction for them to get in and get their people out.

The people of Terminus who were on the fences began to back away in fear. Carol and Marcie looked over to see the large herd heading towards their front gates.

Even better.

Carol set up the fireworks while Marcie lifted her rifle and aimed it at the propane tank. She fired a few shots, piercing a hole in the tank and causing gases to leak.

Carol lit the firework before grabbing Marcie's arm, pulling her away from the fence and they covered their ears.

A large blast filled the air. Walker guts were splattered across the concrete, and dark smoke drifted into the sky.

The fences were down. They had a way in.

The two women grabbed their guns and headed down the hill, towards the main tracks that led into the entrance that they just blew open.

They avoided the fire that still burned across the ground. Some of the walkers around them were on fire, but its didn't distract them from their cravings for human flesh.

It's amazing how much destruction a little firework could cause.

Smoke and screams filled the air. Marcie and Carol stuck by each other, carefully still trying to blend in with the walkers.

She stared down at a woman who was being torn apart by three different walkers. Still alive as they dug into her arms and stomach.

But she wasn't innocent. At least, that's what Marcie told herself.

Rotters around them were being taken out by snipers on the roof. Carol tugged Marcie into a doorway to avoid the bullets and they raised their own guns.

They killed a few of Terminus' men before a few walkers caught sight of them. Marcie pulled the other woman back before slamming the door shut, keeping the rotters away,

The women wandered from room to room, their guard up in case they ran into anyone. They made it into a room that had tables filled with random stuff. One had stuffed animals, another had jewellery and watches.

Another had weapons. And Marcie spotted a familiar crossbow. She quickly grabbed it and placed it on her back, the strap against her chest.

She was so close.

The brunette spotted another familiar weapon. It was her butterfly knife, the one the Governor took from her that day at the prison. How it ended up at Terminus, she didn't know. She grabbed it, swinging it around with a small smile before placing it into her back pocket.

Carol shoved something into her pocket before looking over at Marcie, "Let's go."

The next room was even creepier. It was filled with lit candles, which Marcie thought was a major fire hazard.

On the walls, in thick black paint, was the words 'NEVER AGAIN. NEVER TRUST. WE FIRST, ALWAYS.'

On the ground were names written in white paint, candles and various items next to them.

A memorial of some sort?

They headed towards the exit before there was the familiar click of a gun, "Drop your weapons and turn around. I want to see your face." A woman snarled,

Marcie swallowed nervously, staring down at the shadows coming from the walkers on the other side of the door,

"Now!"

The brunette set the crossbow down and Carol gave her a nod. She turned around quickly and fired at the woman. She fell to the ground, her gun scattering away from her. Marcie loaded Daryl's crossbow with a little difficulty before lifting it up and trying to take aim.

Carol and the woman were fight hand-to-hand, knocking over the shelves that held the candles.

The woman gained the upper hand, holding a candle stick and was about to hit Carol. But Marcie fired first, the arrow landing in her thigh.

The woman cried out before falling to the cement floor, the arrow not enough to kill her, only to wound her,

"The signs... they were real." She sobbed, "It was a sanctuary. People came and took this place."

"Just tell me where-"

"And they raped and they killed and they laughed over weeks. But we got out and we fought and we got it back. And we heard the message. You're the butcher... or you're the cattle."

Marcie felt bad, she really did. Maybe they were good one upon a time, maybe they were a sanctuary.

But you weren't the butcher or the cattle. That's what they chose to be, it was the easy one. You can still be good in this world, but it was the hard choice. To give mercy when needed, and to be the executioner when demanded.

She lowered the crossbow, "The men they pulled from that train car, where are they?"

The woman didn't answer and Marcie pressed her foot against the woman's wound, causing her to cry out, "Where are they?!"

"Now... point it at my head." The woman began to laugh and Carol and Marcie shared concerned looks, "You could have been one of us. Both of you. You could have listened to what the world is telling you."

"You lead people here and you take what they have and you kill them? Is that what this place is?" Carol questioned her,

She shook her head, "No, not at first. It's what it had to be. And we're still here."

"You're not here." Carol stated, "Neither am I."

She grabbed her gun and Marcie placed the crossbow against her back. They walked towards the door and walkers came piling in. The woman began to scream, begging even, and Marcie tried her best to ignore them as they walked away.

The found the train cars, but they were empty. They were all empty.

"They must've made it out." Carol stated, "C'mon, we need to get out of here."

Marcie nodded, following the woman towards the giant hole in the fence. She spotted a walker wearing a familiar looking poncho, and the brunette stabbed the undead before taking the fabric back, tucking it into the strap of the crossbow,

They made it back to the hill and took a moment to glance back at the compound. It was up in flames, completely destroyed.

"They won't hurt anyone ever again." Carol muttered to Marcie as she took off her blood covered blanket.

The younger woman nodded before they went back into the trees, putting the crossbow back over her chest, "Let's go find them."

They didn't make it far before she spotted footsteps in the dirt. She quickly followed them, urging Carol to keep up.

She was beginning to get impatient. They were so close to them, she wasn't about to lose them again.

At first, she saw the group through the trees. Marcie wasn't sure at first, but when she saw Maggie and Glenn, and Carl's hat, she knew.

Then she spotted him. His arm against a tree, his dark clothes ripped to reveal his tanned skin underneath.

Marcie couldn't breathe. She tried, but the sight of him took her breath away.

She found them.

She dropped the crossbow gently into the leaves below, creating a sound loud enough to get his attention.

And when he turned towards her, a large smile broke out on her face, "Hi."

Daryl sprinted towards her, knocking the breath from her lungs as he lifted her off the ground. She let out a small laugh, wrapping her arms around his neck, "I found you." She muttered into his skin.

She tried not to cry as Daryl set her feet back onto the ground, but the tears fell anyway. Daryl cupped her neck, using his thumbs to wipe away the tears on her cheeks before leaning in and placing his lips on hers.

God, she had missed his kisses. Missed the musty smell of his skin. The leather vest she could never get him to wash.

He began to pull away and rested his forehead against hers, "Don' leave me again."

"Never." She whispered.

Carol stepped up behind them after hugging Rick and the others, and Marcie let Daryl go so he could reconcile with his friend. Carl was next, running up to Marcie and wrapping his arms around her middle,

"Woah, hey there, bud."

"Dad said he didn't think you made it out. Michonne, too." Carl sniffled into her shift,

"I'm glad I was wrong." Rick came over to embrace her, "You did all that?"

"With some help." Marcie smiled over at Carol and Daryl, before reaching for Carl's hand, "C'mon, there's some people you need to see."