𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐒.
chapter twenty-three; From The Watchtower
" We have to hold this place until we can find somewhere else. "

DEAN HAD BEEN the one to wake Vex up. He'd told her about Rick's episode, and him kicking out the new group the night prior. 

  He also told her somebody needed to step up. With the threat of the Governor and Rick on the fringes, it was about time for Vex to put that training to use.

  "I'm not a leader," She told him quietly, tying up her boots, "I never was."

  "You're the only one here with military training," Dean said, "Special operations, warfare-- we need that right now, Vex. We all need you."

  She didn't like the idea of being needed. She never had. By family or friends, her team or her daughter; Vex always fashioned things so that if one day she wasn't there, everyone around her could live if she died.

  But with the way Dean was staring at her, it didn't really seem like she had much of a choice.

  "So, this is where you found 'em?"

  Vex had brought out a map of the prison that Zeppelin had found, hunched over it with Carl, Zeppelin, and Glenn, while the rest of the group, save for Rick, stood around them.

  "We secured that," Glenn said.

  "He thought he came through here," Zeppelin spoke up, gesturing to a part of the map.

  "Means there's another breach," Vex sighed.

  "The whole front of the prison is unsecured," Glenn spoke up, "If walkers just strolled in, then it's gonna be cake for a group of armed men."

  "Why are we even so sure he's gonna attack?" Beth questioned. "Maybe you scared him off."

  "He had fish tanks full of heads," Michonne spoke up, "Walkers and humans. Trophies. He's comin'."

  "We should hit him now."

  "No, we should not," Vex disagreed instantly.

  "He won't be expecting it," Glenn said, "We'll sneak back in and put a bullet in his head."

  "We're not assassins."

  "Vex is."

  "Vex thinks that plan is stupid," The woman herself spoke up, "It'd make him a martyr. If he wasn't coming before that, all his footsoldiers would after you kill him."

  "Can we really risk--"

  "We figure out where the breach is," Vex spoke up, "We fortify where we can. We get people up in those guard towers, each one with a walkie to call if they see anyone. Kids stay as deep in the prison as we can get them, anyone who can or wants to, stays up here ready to fight."

  "If he's really on his way, we should be out of here by now."

  "And go where?" Glenn asked Hershel.

  "We lived on the road all winter."

  "Things have changed," Vex sighed, "You're in no shape to be out there, exposed, and we have a baby here. We have to hold this place until we can find somewhere else."

  Hershel nodded silently.

  "Zep, Carl, you two take Glenn to where Tyreese told you that breach was," Vex said, looking to the kids, "I'll take one guard tower. Michonne, you okay to stay up here in case we need you?"

  She nodded.

  "Good," Vex sighed, "Dean, go scope out solitary. If it's still clear, it might be the best place for kids to go in case."

  "He can't go alone," Beth said worriedly.

  "I can handle it, Bethie," Dean smiled.

  "But. . ."

  "I'll be fine," He urged, "Take care of Judith, yeah?"

  Beth nodded reluctantly.

  "Carol and Axel can stay with you, keep you guys safe," Vex nodded, looking at the woman. "I'll have a walkie; Dean, you take one, and Glenn will take the last one."

  Vex passed out the radios, shouldering her weapon, and heading out to the guard tower.

  She climbed up slowly, taking station at the railing outside of the actual room.

  The woman watched as walkers wandered aimlessly beyond the fenceline, a couple grouping up but not enough to cause concern. 

"Tombs are overrun," The walkie crackled with Dean's voice, "Met up with Glenn and the kids. We're back in the Cellblock. Glenn wants to go check the far side of the prison."

  "Let him," Vex sighed, "But go with him. He's stressed. Whatever Maggie went through. . . it's eatin' him up."

  "Got it," Dean said after a moment, "You good up there?"

  "Yeah," Vex responded, "Eyes on Rick, too. Wandering out there."

  It was silent for a moment until Dean's voice returned.

  "Hershel wants to talk to him."

  "Send him with a walkie, you and Glenn take the other," Vex said, "Tell him to call if he needs me. Otherwise, I'll stay out of his hair."

  Vex watched the woods for another few moments. It was silent. Calm. She watched Rick, watched Hershel talk to him.

  But peace didn't last for long.

  "We have company," Vex called over the walkie, "Get the kids inside now."

  Vex lifted her gun, watching the unfamiliar truck approach.

  She fired her first shot before they got the chance to get out of the truck.

  It started quickly, the woman shooting as they did. She ducked back, waiting for the gunfire to halt for a moment.

  Until of course, the door to the watchtower opened.

  Vex discarded her rifle, unholstering a pistol quickly. The man came at her, Vex quickly ducked to avoid a stray bullet.

  He lunged, the woman falling back against the railing as he managed to land a punch to her cheek.

  "No shit," He grinned, "You're Paul's wife. He got a picture of you and your lil girl."

  Vex's breathing quickened.

  "He's gon' be real happy when--"

  Vex twisted her wrist, pulling the trigger on her pistol quickly and sending the man down.

  He slipped from her grasp, sliding to where her rifle sat, pushing the weapon. Vex moved quickly, grabbing the strap just as it fell, looking up to hear a van crash through the gate.

  The woman looked, watching the van for a moment before turning to where Rick and Hershel were.

  She followed the bullets, a loose smile blooming on her face as she found the man in the brush.

  "Gotcha."

  He went down instantly, Vex turning back to the yard as the truck lowered a gate, walkers stumbling out of it.

  The woman picked them off as they came out, watching a woman emerge from the front in full tactical gear.

  Vex took the shot, sending the woman down-- but she knew it wasn't for good.

  The sound of tires attracted her attention, Vex watching as the men's truck drove away just as Glenn and Dean arrived back.

  She set her scope on Rick, who was crowded by two walkers-- killing one just as an arrow stuck through the other.

  Vex didn't give it any thought-- she couldn't, not right now, as she turned back to the yard.

  "Vex, you okay?!" Dean's voice called, "Vex--"

  "I'm good," She said, looking at the body at her feet.

  "Vex, I need you down here."

  "Yeah, we need someone to keep watch," She retorted, hearing Rick's voice on the radio, "This was bad enough with a warning."

  "We're grouping up. I need you down here. Let's go."

  Vex hesitated, holding the radio. She cursed, kicking the body down from the watchtower, before descending the steps.

WORD COUNT : 1223