After the stunt I pulled, as Rick put it, I still wasn't allowed to have my own cell to sleep in. Even though we reconciled after the farmhouse, the trust he was gaining for me was fractured. I accepted that with only a few glares and mutterings under my breath.

I sat at a table in the common area sharpening my knife. Merle sauntered up behind me.

"You know we're the only ones inside right now," he said, stepping closer.

I ignored him and continued to sharpen the blade on a rock.

Merle placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it. "How about we get cozied up in my corner over there?"

"If you don't stop touching me I'll cut off your only hand," I warned.

Merle released his grip as some of the group began entering.

Merle chuckled. "No need for threats, pretty lady. Just an offer. Think about it."

I finished sharpening my knife and began loading guns. Everyone else organized the weapons and did the same as me.

"Carl, come here," commanded Glenn. He handed the kid some ammo. "You stash these at the loading dock. All right?" He handed more to Beth. "Beth, put more up on the catwalk. If anyone gets pinned down we need to make sure they have plenty of ammo. I'll go work on the cage outside."

Glenn picked up a gun, a blowtorch, and gloves before he started for the door. Merle stopped him.

"What we should be doing is loading some of this firepower in a truck and paying a visit to the governor," said Merle. "We know where he is right now."

"Are you suggesting that we just go in and kill him?" Glenn asked, turning toward the man.

"Yeah, I am."

"We told Rick and Daryl that we'd stay put," Michonne shot back.

"I've changed my mind, sweetheart. Being on the sideline with my bother out there... ain't sitting right with me," said Merle, leaning up against the cage.

"How do you suggest we do that? Go in with guns blazing? I don't think any of them would hesitate to put a bullet through your brother's skull the first chance they got," I told him.

"Jolene is right," Glenn added. "The three of them are right in the middle of it. No idea we're coming. They could all be taken hostage or killed. A thousand things could go wrong."

"And they will," Merle stated, matter of factly.

Carl glared at him. "My dad can take care of himself."

"Sorry, son. But your dad's head could be on a pike real soon."

I scoffed in disgust at what he said. Carl left the room without a word.

"Don't say that to him," Maggie said as she loaded a gun.

Glenn looked like he was considering Merle's suggestion for a moment but shook his head. "It's not the right move. Not now. Can't take the risk of putting them in the crossfire. That's my decision. It's final."

Glenn left with his tools, slamming the door behind him.

"Use your fucking head," I muttered.

After a while of pacing back and forth, Merle grabbed a duffle bag and began filling it with guns.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Getting my brother," he responded as Glenn came back inside.

"Hey, you're not going," Glenn told him.

"I don't need permission."

"I can't let you." Glenn held tightly onto his gun.

"You can't stop me," Merle continued.

"If you're going to live here with us, it's gonna be on our terms," Maggie said. "If Jolene and Michonne can do it, why can't you?"

"'Cause it's my brother out there, that's why," he shouted back. "What's the matter with ya'll?"

Merle went up the steps to leave but Glenn blocked his path. They got into each other's faces and suddenly they tackled one another. Merle held Glenn to the ground. Maggie got on top of him and put him in a chokehold. Michonne rushed over and help his weaponized arm.

"What do we do?" I asked Beth, frantically.

The girl grabbed a gun off the table and pointed it to the ceiling before firing. The sound echoed through the prison. Everyone whipped their heads toward Beth in shock. Maggie and Michonne were able to pull Merle off of Glenn.

"Let me go!" Merle yelled. "Let me go!"

"Stupid son a bitch," I said as I angrily picked up the duffle bag he had off the floor. "That man has hurt us all. Not just you. Stop being so selfish."

___

Rick, Hershel, and Daryl returned from their meeting with the governor. We all gathered in front of the cells. This was the first time I had been allowed in here. I walked past a cell where I saw Judith sleeping. On a small table sat a framed picture of Rick, Carl, and a woman. Lori. A ball formed in my throat. I had heard Carl was the one to do it so she wouldn't turn. Too much for a kid to do.

Rick stood in front of us all with a rifle in his hand. "So, I met this governor. Sat with him for quite a while."

"Just the two of you?" Merle asked him. Rick nodded. "Should have gone when we had the chance, bro." Merle walked past Glenn.

"He wants the prison," Rick continued. "He wants us gone. Dead. He wants us dead. For what we did to Woodbury." Rick paused for moment, studying everyone's faces. "We're going to war."

Rick had a serious, almost scared expression on his face as he walked past everyone, out of the cells. The rest of us looked around at one another. No one knew what to say to the information we were just given.

"What's everyone's thoughts on this?" Hershel began.

"Ya'll know what I think," Merle said. "We need to get them before they get us."

"That's a stupid idea," I shot back.

Michonne stepped forward. "Is it? The governor won't stop until we're dead. If we get the jump on him now, he won't be expecting it. We could finish this."

Carol shook her head and crossed her arms. "They have more men than us. We have two children here. We can't risk it," she said.

"Then what do you suggest?" Glenn wondered.

"We take our chances on the road. We get far away from here."

"I agree with Carol," said Hershel. "We can find somewhere else. It's not worth it to put everyone's lives on the line to keep this place."

"What makes you think he'll stop if we leave?" I asked. "If he is hell bent on revenge, I don't see him giving up even if we run."

Michonne nodded at me. "You all know she's right. That man is not stable. He takes what he wants and he does not take no for an answer. That's exactly why we need to strike."

"Why don't we just wait for them to come to us? That way we can prepare. You all know the ins and outs of this place. They don't. We could use that to our advantage," I suggested.

Although a few of us had made up our minds on the matter. Daryl, Maggie, Beth, and Glenn were on the fence. Carl, of course, wanted to lead the charge to Woodbury.

"I'm going to talk to Rick. Get his opinion," Hershel informed us. "We need to come to a decision, quickly."

The rest of the group dispersed. I noticed Carl stomp off into his cell with Judith. He sat down on the bed next to his sister and put his head in his hands. I walked over and leaned up again the doorway.

"You good?" I asked him.

"Why do you care? It's not like you're really part of this group," he said back with attitude.

I raised my eyebrows. "No need for that, Carl."

He looked up at me before quickly looking away. "Sorry..."

A slight smile formed on my face. "I used to be a teacher, you know. Not the worst I've had. You can be mean to me." I stepped into his cell and picked up the picture. "She's beautiful."

"Was," Carl said.

I set the picture back down. "Still is. You look like her. She's still with you."

Judith began fussing. "Can I pick her up?" I asked the kid.

Carl nodded.

I slowly lifted the baby, making sure her head was supported. I bounced lightly in order to calm her down. Soon, her eyes closed.

"What did you teach?" Carl questioned, breaking the silence.

"English."

"You like comic books?"

I smiled. "I used to have a whole collection of them in my classroom."

Carl stared down at his fingers and picked at his nails.

"I know you want to fight," I told him. "But we have to make a group decision. It has to be what's best for everyone."

"But what if what we choose to do isn't best?"

"Then we'll figure it out." I stroked Judith's sleeping face with my thumb.

"Not if everyone dies," mumbled Carl.

I wanted to say something, but I couldn't. I had been thinking the same thing. But I couldn't diminish his hope. If there was any left to begin with. Death was coming. I could feel it deep inside of me.

"I can take her," Rick said behind me.

I turned around and placed his daughter in his arms. "You spying on us?" I teased.

"Only a little."

Rick nodded at me as I passed by him. I felt his eyes on me as I walked away.