𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍 || 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘉𝘌𝘛𝘛𝘌𝘙 𝘓𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛 𝘈𝘏𝘌𝘈𝘋
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[ ʜᴏʟᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɴᴇ, ᴀʏᴇ
ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ꜰɪɢʜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴘʀɪᴅᴇ ᴏʀ ɢʟᴏʀʏ?
ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴏʟᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜱᴄᴀʀꜱ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ ᴛᴏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛ? ]

IT'D HAS BEEN a day since Rick and Shane got back and Roland could tell that just by the cuts and bruises covering their faces what happened. But Rick hadn't told anyone specifically what happened and Roland wasn't going to pry on what happened. Either way, he was just a lot happier as to what had happened yesterday between him and Beth.

They had discussed what they were and settled on them being a couple. It was rather a cliche for them and they both knew but didn't care. Glenn had been the first person Roland told and was congratulated with a hug and a few laughs. Then slowly Roland told his brother, mother, then father since those people were the ones he was closest to.

But those thoughts were moved to the side because of Randall's inevitable fate, death. This was why the group was surrounded by the small fire at the break of dawn early in the morning to hear Rick's decision. "So what you gonna do? We'd all feel better if we knew the plan." Lori stated as she poured some water into a cup before glancing up at her husband. "Is there a plan?" Andrea questioned. "We gonna keep him here?" Glenn asked as well and Roland sighed.

With all these questions, he could clearly see the slight annoyance in not only his father but Shane as well. "We'll know soon enough," Rick assured them, nodding to Daryl who was approaching the group. His knuckles were bloody with his crossbow slung around his shoulder. Roland had requested with going as well, but Rick denied him and it may have or may have not pissed Roland off.

"Boy there's got a gang, 30 men." He started once he stopped in front of the group. "They have heavy artillery and they ain't looking to make friends. They roll through here, our boys are dead." He explained as he glanced at the women within the group. "And our women, they're gonna- they're gonna wish they were." Daryl finished and Roland didn't need him to explain anymore. He got the hint loud and clear.

It disgusted Roland that people like that were still alive and hadn't died yet. Those types of people were the crumb of the earth and didn't deserve the light of day. And Roland promised himself that if he ever ran into someone like that he would just them like a fish. They were a waste of life Roland would never forgive someone for being so disgusting and wasting their lives doing such disgusting acts.

"What did you do?" Carol asked, nodding toward's the man's knuckles. "Had a little chat," Daryl replied before walking away towards his camp far off the farm property. Roland let his eyes follow the man before sighing and wringing his hands together before holding his head in his hands.

"No one goes near this guy," Rick told the group as Lori turned to him. "Rick, what are you gonna do?" She asked as the man clenched his jaw. "We have no choice. He's a threat. We have to eliminate the threat." He explained as Dale's eyebrows knitted together. "You're just gonna kill him?" Dale questioned as Roland looked up from his spot on his log. "It has to be done, Dale." He told the man who glanced at him. "It's settled. I'll do it today." Rick announced before walking away, Dale hot on his heels.

Roland remained in his spot before glancing up at Maggie who sighed. "Is Beth doing alright?" He asked softly and the woman looked down at him with a nod. "She's getting better since you visited her." She stated with a gentle smile that Roland returned with a tiny nod before she walked in the direction of the house. Roland glanced at Glenn for a moment and could see a slight conflict the boy was having with himself.

From where Roland was standing, he could tell Glenn had confessed his feelings to Maggie. It was clear as day just by the simple things Roland had seen the pair do. They weren't around each other as much as they used to and barely shared any words. It saddened Roland seeing the pair like this because he knew they were amazing together. But one thing Roland wouldn't do would be pushing Glenn to do something that takes a lot of confidence and consideration to confess.

Coming to terms with your feelings was a lot more complex than it may look. It took weeks upon weeks for Roland to even realize that he liked Amy, but shorter for Beth because he had that experience he could fall back on. He knew that type of feeling that slowly blossomed into love and much more. And when those feelings blossom and become more complex and demanding on the mind, it becomes a problem. Which was what Glenn had experienced back in the town.

Sighing lightly, Roland stood up with a grunt before jutting his thumb over his shoulder. "I'm going to go to the house." He told the remaining members of the group as he backed away before turning on his heel. Quickening his pace before going up the steps of the house and entering.

Walking into Beth's room, he saw the girl picking at her nails. Lifting his hand, Roland knocked on the door with his index and middle finger knuckles, alerting the girl of his presence. Upon seeing him, Beth smiled brightly as she let her hands fall into her lap. "How're you doin'?" He asked as he walked around the bed and taking a seat at the chair still placed beside the bed. "Better." She replied sweetly.

"I'm glad." Roland smiled as he grasped the girl's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Bringing it to his lips before pressing a gentle kiss to the smooth skin before seeing the girl blush. It was an adorable sight that Roland was glad he got to see as often as he did.

Beth pointed to her lips and Roland chuckled as he leaned forward and kissed the girl. Feeling it being reciprocated before he pulled away and leaned back in his seat. Both spent the remainder of the day talking to one another and just being in each other's company until the meeting that would be held.

When the meeting was called, the group was gathered inside the living room. All members scattered around on the couches, chairs, or leaning against the wall. Roland was located at one of the doorframes. Occasionally glancing into Beth's room to see the blonde sleeping. Smiling every so often when she glanced over her shoulder at him. Giving one of her sweet smiles that swelled his heart.

The deafening silence put the entire room into a tension-filled space that Roland was wanting to get away from. If there was anywhere he could go besides here, then he would be happy. Just the feeling of no one being able to speak up was enough for him to get tired of this already. He just wanted to be either in his cot or by Beth's side for the rest of the night. Either was a better option than this.

Thankfully, Glenn was the first to speak up. "So how do we do this? Just take a vote?" He asked as he glanced around. "Does it have to be unanimous?" Andrea added. "How about majority rules?" Lori suggested as Rick ran a hand down his face, "Well, let's- Let's just see where everybody stands. Then we can talk through the options." He told the group as he placed a hand on the back of one of the couches.

"Well, where I sit, there's only one way of moving forward," Shane spoke up as Dale glared at him. "Killing him, right? I mean why even bother taking a vote? It's clear which way the wind's blowing." Dale shrugged and Roland sighed from his spot on the doorframe with a sigh. "Well, if people believe we should spare him, I wanna know," Rick explained to the man with a wave of his hand.

"Well, I can tell you it's a small group- maybe just me and Glenn." Roland quickly noticed how Glenn looked up at the older man right after his words. And it was clear that Dale's expression told how he was feeling by the sudden change from the boy. "Look, I- I think you're pretty much right about everything all the time, but this-" Glenn couldn't even finish before Dale cut him off abruptly. "They've got you scared." He exclaimed motioning to the group. "He's not one of us." Glenn fired back. "And we've- we've lost too many people already."

Dale squeezed his Boonie hat before looking at Maggie. "How about you? Do you agree with this?" Maggie sighed, looking over at Rick. "Can we continue keeping him a prisoner?" She asked as Rick pursed his lips. "Just another mouth to feed," Daryl spoke up as a few people nodded. "It may be a lean winter," Hershel added. "Well, we can ration better," Lori suggested from her position beside the man.

"Well, he could be an asset," Dale exclaimed as he looked at each member for a brief moment. "Give him a chance to prove himself." He suggested as Glenn looked at Rick. "Put him to work?" He added as Rick shook his head. "We're not letting him walk around." He told them. "We could put an escort on him." Maggie shrugged as Shane glanced around the room. "Who wants to volunteer for that duty?" Shane chuckled a Dale glared at him. "I will." He told him.

Rick held his hand out for them to stop. "I don't think any of us should be walking around with this guy," Rick told them as Lori nodded. "He's right. I wouldn't feel safe unless he was tied up." She told them. "We can't exactly put chains around his ankles, sentence him to hard labour" Andrea explained to the group and Roland nodded. "She's got a point there." He spoke up as the blonde glanced at him, a ghost of a smile on her lips.

"Look, say we let him join us, right? Maybe he's helpful, maybe he's nice. We let our guard down and maybe he runs off, brings back his 30 men." Shane explained to the group and Dale frowned. "So the answer is to kill him to prevent a crime he may never even attempt?" He questioned with a wave of his hands. "We do this, we're saying there's no hope. Rule of law is dead. There is no civilization." Dale exclaimed as Roland sighed as he looked over into Beth's room.

This meaningless meeting was only going to lead one way and everyone knew it. As much as Dale wanted, he could fight against it, but there was no way to stop it. Everyone was against him staying alive and that should be enough for the older man to understand that even if he tried, there was no way he could win.

"Could you drive him out further? Leave him like you planned?" Hershel asked as Lori shook her head. "You barely came back this time. There are walkers. You could break down. Y-You could get lost." She listed off as Daryl nodded. "Or get ambushed." He added as Glenn nodded. "They're right. We should not put our own people at risk."

"If you go through with it, how would you do it?" Patricia spoke up and Rick looked down. "Would he suffer?" She asked as Rick looked up at Shane for some help. "We could hang him, right? Just snap his neck." Shane shrugged as Rick nodded. "I thought about that. Shooting may be more humane." He told the group as T-Dog looked at Shane. "And what about the body? Don't we bury him?"

Just as a large discussion was about to happen, Dale cut in. "Hold on, hold on. You're talking about this like it's already decided." He spoke up as Daryl pointed at him, "You've been talking all day, going around in circles. Just wanna go around in circles again?" Daryl snipped as he paced slowly back and forth. "This is a young man's life and it is worth more than a five-minute conversation!" Dale yelled.

Utter silence filled the room as all eyes were on Dale to see the frustration in the older man's eyes. Rarely or never did this happen, and they all could see the pleading in his voice and eyes. But as stated before, the winds were blowing one way and nothing could stop that.

"Is this what it's come to? We kill someone because we can't decide on what else to do with him?" He questioned the group before pointing at Rick. "You saved him and now look at us. He's been tortured. He's gonna be executed. How are we any better than those people we're so afraid of?" Dale exclaimed as Shane bounced his leg as he stared at the man. "We all know what needs to be done."

"No, Dale is right. We can't leave any stone unturned here. We have a responsibility-" Rick couldn't finish as Andrea butted him abruptly. "So what's the other solution? We haven't come up with a single viable option yet. I wish we could." Andrea explained as Dale huffed. "So let's work on it!" He exclaimed.

"Stop it. Just stop it." Carol spoke up as everyone quietened down and turned to the woman. "I'm sick of everybody arguing and fighting. I didn't ask for this. You can't ask us to decide something like this." She told Rick who sighed as she looked to Dale. "Please decide- either of you, both of you- but leave me out," Carol told them as Dale pointed at her. "Not speaking out or killing him yourself- There's no difference."

"All right, that's enough." He told the man who lowered his hands to his sides. "Anybody that wants the floor before we make a final decision has the chance," Rick told the group as silence filled the room once again. Roland had closed his eyes and let his head rest against the frame as he listened to the bickering between members of the group. He wouldn't speak his mind unless asked to, but he would keep his mouth shut and let the others decide until then.

If he was being honest, he didn't care what happened to Randall. Sure, he leaned more towards the side of killing him, but he also didn't oppose the idea of letting him go. He just believed that if they let Randall go they needed to drive him our far away and far enough away from his original camp to not bring them here. Roland's main priority was to keep Beth and his family safe.

When no one said anything or stepped forward, Roland could feel relief. But he thought too soon since Dale spoke up again, causing the boy to sigh. "You once said that we don't kill the living." Dale reminded as Rick looked at him. "Well, that was before the living tried to kill us." He explained Dale pointed at him. "But don't you see? If we do this, the people that we were- the world that we knew is dead." Dale exclaimed. "And this new world is ugly. It's... harsh. It's- It's survival of the fittest. And that's a world I don't wanna live in." He told them.

"And I don't believe that any of you do. I can't. Please. Let's just do the right thing." Dale pleaded with his eyes watering. His emotions boiling over as he wrung his hat tightly in his grasp. No one said a word and Dale looked around hopelessly. "Isn't there anybody else who's gonna stand with me?" He asked desperately as he glanced around at everyone.

Roland could feel a pair of eyes on him and when he opened his, he saw his dad watching him. Clearly wanting him to speak up since he had barely spared a good enough sentence to contribute. And Roland did feel the need to say his piece, but Andrea was quick to jump in before him. "He's right. We should try and find another way." She stated as she looked around at the group.

More silence filled the room as Roland licked his lips, glancing at his dad who adjusted his stance. "Roland, what do you think?" Rick asked and everyone's eyes adjusted to the boy who leaned against the doorframe. His eyes glancing across the room as he contemplated all the sides and which could be better than the other. But even with him figuring out what was best, he knew the outcomes.

His arms crossed over his chest as he sighed, letting his head lower as he said, "I killed one of Randall's buddies. Watched the life be sucked from his eyes and realized what kind of world we lived in." He explained before looking at Andrea. "I learned that we're the ones who decide when we want to go." Andrea smiled lightly and nodded before Roland looked at Dale. "I lost my humanity the moment I killed that man and I know I can't get it back. Every single one of us will lose that piece of us sooner or later." He explained as Dale shook his head.

"The world we knew is gone!" He barked at the older man, stopping Dale from trying to convince him otherwise. Silencing him and making the man look up at him. "I know you wish things were different, but it ain't how it used to be Dale," Roland explained as he lowered his head, trying to see the older mna's eyes. When he did, he gave a sympathetic look. "Things ain't gonna change with one decision. We'll all have to let go of that older part of us and move on with the world." He told the man who sniffled and shook his head.

Roland let out a sigh as he looked at the rest of the group. Keeping eye contact with his father who had his hands resting on his hips. "Do what you guys need to, but I think killing him is the best option here." He told him before glancing at some members of the group. Giving a tiny nod and hum before walking past his father and out the door.

Night had struck and Roland found himself sitting silently in his tent. Hand brushing over the texture of his pistol. It'd been a few hours since the meeting that had gone well, in Roland's opinion. His opinion didn't matter as much as he was to believe. There was no need to get them into a war that they weren't ready for or at all suited against. This would be far different if they had bigger guns and a lot more ammo. But they didn't and the risk was too high for them to just let Randall go and put them in a constant state of anxiety.

Standing from his seat, Roland exit's his tent. Eyes finding his father and mother sitting by the campfire a few feet away. But he could barely say or do anything before yell cut through the air. His heart suddenly dropping as he turned to where the yell came from. Barely able to piece anything together before his feet were carrying him across the property.

"Get that gate open!" Rick yelled after his son who was yards ahead. Roland didn't wait to stop and pull the chain off. Instead just preparing his shoulder and colliding with the metal gate. Groaning in pain and continuing to push himself farther and farther through the dark field. The pain not settling in and being silenced as the adrenaline coursed through his veins.

"Dale!" Roland yelled, only getting a gut-wrenching scream in response. "No, no, no." He said aloud as he could see a walker's figure trying to attack the older man.

From the left, Daryl came running and tackling the walker off Dale. Stabbing it into its head before Roland's feet slid across the dirt to a stop. Chest heaving for a rest as he stared at the scene in front of him. Dale was alive, but his entire stomach was ripped open. The harsh smell of blood filled the air with Dale's intestines ripped from his stomach. Roland's bottom lip quivered as he tried to hold the acidic vomit wanting to erupt from his stomach.

"Help! Over here!" Daryl called out as he crouched down to Dale. The distant yells of the others drew Roland's attention as he raised his arms and waved urgently. "Someone! Get the hell over here!" He exclaimed as he walked around Dale and crouched down above the man.

With a trembling hand, Roland placed his hand on the older man's cheek. Feeling it sweaty and seeing scared eyes look up at him. Something was wanting to be said, but Roland shook his head. "No. Don't talk just relax for a second." He told Dale who's lip continued to tremble.

When the others arrived, Roland took a step back. Face scrunching up with tears brimming in the corner of his eyes. "All right, just listen to my voice," Rick told the man who moaned in pain, twitching slightly. "Okay, hold on now. Get Hershel!"

As Rick continued yelling for Hershel and Andrea was crying, holding her surrogate father's cheeks, Roland shook his head. There was no way they could carry him out of the field without him losing too much blood. And even if they did, he would die within seconds. That's exactly what Hershel said when he made his way over.

"You have to do the operation here. Glenn, get back to the house." Rick ordered as Roland quickly grabbed his dad's shoulder. Cupping his father's face, Roland shook his head. "We can't save him." He muttered as Rick moved away from his son's touch. "No!" He exclaimed as the sobs from the others filled the air.

Roland walked around Dale, crouching down to the man's left and taking his hand. "Hey, Dale. Look at me." He told the man whose eyes were wide and afraid. But when they connected with Roland's, the boy gave a pursed smile. "Remember the song you showed me, from Sam Cooke?"

After a moment, the dying man nodded with a moan as Roland smiled. Tears continuing to stream down his cheeks as he kept Dale's hand tight in his grasp. "A change is gonna come. I promise you, we will do better." He whispered to the man who groaned in pain. "Just play the song in your mind. Let it relax you, okay? Just think of the beautiful song."

Roland took a sparing glance up at his father as he told the man to do as he told. Giving him a brief nod before Rick clenched his jaw and pulled his revolver free from his holster. When Roland glanced back at Andrea, he didn't waste a second to step away from Dale. Grabbing the blonde by her arms and lifting her into him. Allowing her to hold him tightly as she sobbed in his shoulder. Shedding his own tears as he could barely hold it together as it is.

When Rick couldn't pull the trigger, Daryl carefully took the gun from the man's hand. Taking the initiative to do the deed that no one had the strength to. Roland softly brought his hand to the back of the woman's head. Caressing her hair softly as he watched Daryl softly crouched down beside a suffering Dale. Watching the man painfully lift his head and press it against the muzzle of the weapon.

"Sorry, brother," Daryl muttered before his finger clenched around the trigger. A gunshot ripping through the air and causing to Roland closes his eyes as Andrea sobbed harder into his shoulder. Nails digging into his back as she crumbled right in his arms. He lowered her slowly to the ground and allowed the woman to just use him as a support to keep herself from just crumbling to the ground in sobs.

"It's okay. He's someplace better." Roland whispered to the woman. But unlike most things he had said to others and didn't fully believe in what he said. This was one thing he did believe in. He knew Dale would be someplace better and far away from this cruel and dark world.

Roland never thought he would ever take the spot to bury a friend of his. Back in the old world, it was someone else doing that. Someone who didn't know the person they burying and allowing the people mourning to mourn. But here Roland was, with T-Dog, carefully lowering Dale's corpse into a grave they had both dug.

Climbing out of the grave, Roland felt the sharp pain in his shoulder continue to pulse. But he pushed it away to get this done. Everyone else was either sleeping or mourning the loss of the one person who always tried to look at the bright things in life.

Grasping the handle of his shovel, Roland looked up at T-Dog. "You can go to sleep. I got it from here." Roland spoke up, just above a whisper as the man looked at him. "Are you sure?"

A nod was given in response as T-Dog silently nodded as well. Grasping his shovel and placing a soft hand on Roland's shoulder. Giving it a tiny squeeze before he walked away. But the Grimes's eyes stayed fixated on Dale's body covered in a white blanket.

Sniffingly lightly, Roland wiped his nose with the back of his hand before taking the shovel with two hands and began putting the dirt back into the grave. Clenching his jaw tighter and tighter every time he did. His mind drifted quite frequently in the process as he tried to draw it away from the fact that he was burying his friend here. The man wanted nothing more than for them to just be human.

But in the midst of filling the hole, he found himself talking to the man. Feeling like this was his chance to get all of what he was thinking out there. Even if he was talking to himself. "You were way too good for this world, my friend. The best I would describe you is that you were a martyr." Roland chuckled quietly. "You died believing in the fact that we all should've kept our humanity. Keep the part of ourselves that reminded us of our life before all this happened."

He scooped up a large chunk of dirt before dropping it into the hole. "I always respected you for it and always will." He said before stabbing the shovel into the ground. Resting his chin on his hands that rested on the hilt of the shovel. Licking his dry lips as he shook his head. "You were the only person wanting Randall alive and I wish I joined your side if I knew this would've happened."

"I still had so much I wanted to learn from you. We had so much more to talk about and learn from one another." Roland said to the man as he stared down into the grave. Unknown to the fact that Beth had noticed his lonely figure outside her window and had come outside. Worried about what could possibly be wrong and want to see if he was okay.

His lips continued to wobble every moment that he let his mind drift too far. Thinking of all the memories he had shared with the man when the world came crumbling down around them. Learning from the wise man and knowing that now that he was gone, he would never get the blunt truth and honesty that Dale once used to give.

"Why did you have to die, hm?" He questioned harshly as he started digging again. Close to filling up the hole as Beth drew closer from behind. "You had no right to leave when you did. You had no right!" The boy told the man, eyes welling up in tears of frustration and sorrow.

Once he filled up the hole, he patted the dirty down to make the surface smooth. Dropping the shovel to the side and sitting down below the grave. Arms resting on his knees as he stared at the fresh patch of dirt. Shaking his head slightly before pressing his hand softly onto it. "May we meet again," He cracked just as he felt a hand softly touch his shoulder.

Looking up to find Beth with pain in her eyes. Roland grasped her hand softly before standing to his feet. Being welcomed into her arms as he broke down. Sobs ripping through his throat harshly as he clung to the girl for dear life. Allowing the truth to settle in as he let the sorrow, pain, and frustration run through his entire body. Dale was gone and there was nothing he could've done to stop it. All he could do was try and do what Dale wanted from him and everyone else.

To just keep their humanity.