𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘-𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 || 𝘙𝘐𝘎𝘏𝘛𝘖𝘜𝘚 𝘈𝘕𝘎𝘌𝘙
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[ ɪꜰ ɪ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏꜱᴇ ʏᴏᴜ
ɪ'ᴅ ꜱᴜʀᴇʟʏ ʟᴏꜱᴇ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ
ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴅᴇᴀʀ
ɪ'ᴠᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ ʙʏ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ]
[ ATTEMPT OF RAPE! WARNING! ]

THE MASTERPLAN WAS in motion and Roland pushed over the truck yard gate and rushed inside with Matt quickly following behind. They parked the white pickup truck two blocks away from the steel mill for a quick getaway. Travelling the rest of the distance to the truck yard on foot and instantly splitting off.

With the long and tiring drive from yesterday and now, they had gone over the plan continuously. Never straying away from the other topics on their mind. Only focused on the main task that they had gone over so many times that Roland could say it subconsciously with ease. But that was a good thing, it only made it better for him to be ready for the steps to come.

Running to one of the semi-trucks, Roland stepped up onto the skirt and pulled on the door handle. Getting no luck leaving him to grab his pistol and countdown to three. Once he mentally said three, he slammed his gun to the glass and caused it to shatter. Wincing in pain from the sharp pulse in his shoulder, but quickly pushing it to the back of his mind and unlocking the door and getting it open.

"Okay, okay." He muttered as he reached over to the passenger side door and unlocked it. Matt reappearing and jogging over, holding a single key up in the air. When he hopped into the passenger side door, he handed the keys to Roland. Inserting them, Roland stopped and before hesitantly turning it. A second later, the engine rumbled loudly to life making him smile. But he quickly shut it off and hoped out and Matt following his actions.

They both walked around to the front of the vehicle and stopped in front of one another. "Alright, so we need some gas. Search everywhere and holler if you find something." Roland ordered and Matt nodded before they split off from one another to search.

But as Roland searched, he felt this overwhelming anger towards this 'Mandy Greyson.' Her people took Emily away from him. They could be doing all of the things Matt had told him about Madi and that was enough to piss Roland off to the point where he wouldn't even know what to do if he got his hands on the leader.

There was no reason for him to ever forgive or let Mandy live. She had taken the one thing Roland cared about and he wouldn't feel any form of sympathy or empathy towards the woman. And even if he wanted to spare her life, he would leave it to Matt to decide. The Crawford man has experienced and known what this woman was capable of. He lost his girlfriend because of this woman, so Matt had the answers Roland still had questions too.

A lot being with what Emily did before she left her group and was on the run for god knows how long. Going through all this effort to save this girl and make sure she was safe made Roland hope it would make up for all the pain and anger he put the girl through. But he was most hopeful to find out more about this girl and what she wanted out of her life. Roland wanted to be there for her and be able to comfort her the best way he possibly could.

Because even if he was embarrassed to say or admit it, he considered this girl his child. They had been on the road for a month possibly and Roland never realized how much he cared for her until that moment she was taken. And even when he was shot, he was going to chase them down until he couldn't find them. But now he had Matt by his side and they both would be getting what they wanted by the end of the night. In the process of killing every single person that got in their way.

"Hey, Roland!" Matt called out and got the man's attention as he saw the taller man holding two jerry cans of what he guessed was gasoline. "Found some?" Roland asked as he walked over to the back of a beat-up pickup truck with around maybe four cans filled to the brim. "Yeah, help me with these." He grunted and Roland grabbed two before moving to the passenger side door and placing the red objects in the back behind the seats.

Hopping out, Roland rubbed his hands on his pants as Matt moved towards him. Right as Matt was going to climb inside, Roland stopped him. Placing his hand on the Crawford's shoulder and sighing. Matt formed at the sudden change of emotion appearing on the Grimes' face.

"I need to know." Roland began as he leaned against the rusting car behind him. "What'd she do?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest as he caught his bottom lip between his teeth. Matt stared at him, clenching his jaw before lowering his head. "She never told you?" He muttered as he placed his hands on his hips.

Roland shook his head in response and Matt cursed quietly under his breath. Enough was to be told by his expression that Roland could see there was something bigger going on relating to Emily.

"She's immune," Matt confessed and he swears he could see all the colour drain from Roland's features. "I remember the first time we brought her in. Had a bite mark on her heel and we decided to wait it out so she wasn't alone. But as the days passed, nothing happened." He explained as Roland felt the metallic taste in his mouth overwhelm his tongue. "Mandy took her in as her surrogate daughter and began searching for experienced doctors. When she did find the people she needed and got everything, Emily left. That was when Madi and I left as well since the one chance to figure out what was keeping her alive was gone." Matt finished and Roland closed his eyes.

That explained the sheer awkwardness she had showed whenever he was around and she was switching out her shoes of some socks. The small detail of her purposely turning away from him gave him the answers to his questions. Now he understood and why these people were hunting her mercilessly. Did he agree with what they were doing? Surprisingly, yes. But would that stop him from taking her away from them? Absolutely fucking not.

Emily meant more to Roland than anyone would ever understand and he was fine with that. As long as she knew that he cared for her more than himself, then he was glad and happy. If she knew that then he could keep going on with his life protecting her with his full being.

Matt placed a hand on his friend's shoulder for comfort and gave it a tiny squeeze. "I know you don't think we'll get her back." He pointed out as Roland looked up at him. "But trust me when I say this. We'll get her back, man. I promise." His words comforted Roland a lot more than he was expecting. And he definitely wasn't expecting to hear a sniffle come from the cold-hearted survivor he'd gotten to know over the past day and little.

"But should we?" Roland asked, wishing he didn't. "Are we maybe doing something wrong here? What if they do find a cure and we ruin the chance for us all to come back?" He questioned as Matt opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Uncertain of how to answer these valid questions.

Roland let out a shaky breath and leaned against the car behind him. With a hesitant hand, Matt placed his hand on Roland's shoulder and gave it a tiny squeeze. "Roland, you're doing this because this is Emily's life we're talking about here. Would you rather her possibly die and for all of it to be for nothing? Or would you rather save her and make sure you can keep her safe?" He asked and Roland looked up at him. Bitting his bottom lip as he nodded and took in a sharp breath.

Without shedding another word, Roland motioned for them to get a move on and that was all Matt needed. They both got inside and started the semi-truck before driving out of the truck yard. Turning down the main road leading to the base, Roland took in the full view he was given now with his own eyes.

Two watchtowers were indeed placed at the front with the old metal build-up to around 8 feet tall with searchlights mounted on each railing of the towers. They scanned over the fields at very slow speed with the lights behind the gate being on. It almost looked abandoned despite one man being in each tower. The gate at the front giving Roland barely a view on the inside, but he didn't care for that.

Looking at Matt, Roland asked, "Got the lighter ready?" Right as he said that the two searchlights landed on the pair as they drove directly at the gate. Soon enough, gunshots began ringing out and one whizzed past the pair's heads as they ducked down. "Matt, get that shit goin'!" Roland ordered loudly as he peeked over the steering wheel to see the gap between them and the gate closing quickly.

And with urgency, Matt flicked the lighter continuously. Cursing every time it gave him sparks in return. "Matt!" Roland yelled and Matt flicked the lighter one last time and making a flame appear. "Okay, jump!" He yelled back and Roland opened his door and hopped out.

His feet hitting the paved road with his legs giving out and causing him to roll across the ground. Grunting in pain as his hands skidded across the road and his body washing over with pain all over. Slowly coming to a stop on his stomach and seeing Matt having jumped out soon after him and watching the semi break through the gate with a loud rattle. When it made an impact with whatever stopped it, the explosion soon followed after it.

The large flame erupted from the body of the semi and soon the whole vehicle engulfed his vision. Flames painting the sky and almost the entire front yard of the base. Distant yells and screams could be heard and Roland quickly stood up as he stared at the destruction. Black silhouettes could be seen and it hurt him to see a woman running over to a child that was screaming. He couldn't exactly see what was happening, but he could only imagine what he and Matt just caused.

He was taken from his thoughts as Matt placed a hand on his shoulder. His eyes quickly darting between the destruction and his friend. Not sure what he should be focusing on and wondering if they did the right thing. "Come on," Matt muttered and Roland reluctantly nodded and followed as they ran towards the back of the building.

As soon as they came to the back of the building, the growls of walkers and them walking towards the front. They quickly moved around the fence and to the gap between the building that they just barely got in between. The two watchtowers were vacant with the guards most likely at the front trying to deal with the fire.

Matt led the way as they ran to the back door and entered. Instantly being welcomed by the cries and yells from down the hall. They didn't pay it any mind as Roland followed after Matt who took a turn and pointed at a door to their left. "Here. This is the armoury." He whispered and Roland nodded as backed up with Matt beside him.

"On three. One, two, three!" Right on queue, they kicked the door at the same time and busted it open. The loud bang of the door hitting the door no doubt possibly grabbing the attention of anyone nearby. But thankfully gunfire could be heard outside, giving them info on how much time they had. Rushing to the lockers, the pair opened them and shrugged their backpacks off before grabbing ammo and shoving most of it in each of their bags.

When they were done that, Roland grabbed one of the M4's and loaded the clip into the weapon before slapping the side to get a bullet in the chamber. "Where are Mandy and Emily gonna be?" He asked as he held the assault rifle with one hand as he used the other to get the strap of his bag around his shoulder. "Here, I'll lead," Matt told him as he moved past Roland and exited the room with the Grimes hot on his heels.

With their guns raised, they carefully moved down the halls and moved as fast as they could to wherever Emily and Mandy would be. And as they turned down a hall, they both stopped as their aim was placed on two guards who stopped at the opposite end. A silence falling over them as both pairs sized one another up.

"Matt?" One guard called out in slight confusion. "Are you responsible for this?" The other asked and Matt clenched his jaw. "Mandy needs to die, Jason. No other way I could've done this." He replied simply. "Where is she holding, Em?" Roland cut in sharply, taking a small step forward. Jason, looked at him with squinted eyes as he looked him up and down. "It's too late. She's being prepped for reproduction." He announced with a weird sadistic smirk on his face.

Roland's jaw clenched tightly as he felt his body become overwhelmed with anger. Not wasting a second to let his finger clench around the trigger of his rifle and let the bullets fly. Taking in the joy of seeing bullets enter each of the guard's bodies and their blood splatter across the walls. A satisfaction washing over him as he let go of the trigger and saw the dust from the drywall float in the air for a few moments.

They hadn't planned on this happening. No casualties were what Roland had preferred since they weren't apart of the problem or his problem. But he did promise himself that he would kill whoever got in his way. Despite them being unarmed or armed, this Jason had crossed a line he should know to never cross.

"This way," Matt muttered urgently as they walked down the all, stepping over the bodies and up a set of stairs. The dim lighting from the fluorescent lights above flickered as more gunfire continued to ring out from outside. At the end of the long hall, the flame from the truck could barely just be seen from where they were.

Matt came to a stop at one of the doors and motioned Roland to stand on the opposite side of him. Placing his hand gently around the handle, Matt mouthed a countdown. On queue, he turned the door handle and pushed the door open and Roland entered with his gun raised. A coldness of anger and rage take control of his body as his eyes widened at the sight shown to him.

Mandy was stood and leaning against a wall to his left. Her eyes glued to a naked Emily who was unconscious and defenceless with a man in nothing but his underwear looming over him. A disgusting smile on his lips as he stared down at the girl. The situation was clear as day and able to be understood by anyone who was told verbally. It was a sight he feared he would see and something he never wanted to see happen to even his worst enemies.

Emily helplessly laying there and unknown to what was happening in the current world around her. Unknown to the fact that the woman who took her in was standing there and willingly watching her be raped was something Roland would never be able to erase from his head. And all he hoped for was that Emily would never find out and know how this went.

"You mother fucker!" Roland yelled as he charged at the man, retrieving his knife from his pocket and stabbing the man in the back. Yelling in pure psychotic rage as he continued to stab the man mercilessly. Blood covering his hand as he held the man by the throat and stabbed him one last time in the back of the head.

Ragged pants left Roland's lips as he pushed the man's limp body to the side as he shrugged his bag off his shoulders and his jacket with it. Quickly covering Emily's naked body in the jacket. A drip of the blood being left on her cheek as he stood up beside the bed.

"You stupid fuck! Do you know what you did?" Mandy exclaimed but was quickly shut up as Matt punched her in the face. Knocking her to the ground as she collided with the wall and groaned in pain. "Shut the fuck up, you bitch!" Matt snapped as he pointed at his former leader sharply. He looked at Roland and froze on the spot. Seeing the man frozen in place with this fury forming around him as his eyes slowly found Mandy's.

His footsteps towards the woman were slow and each one had Mandy trying to move further away. When her back was pressed against the wall, Roland stopped and looked to Matt. "Get Em's pack and get some clothes out. I'll get her changed when I'm done with her." Roland said in a low tone that had Matt quake in slight intimidation. Hesitantly nodding and backing away and turning his back to the pair and moving to the small pack in the corner of the room.

Roland turned his head towards the woman whose blood covered her face from her nose. Her eyes watering up from the pain and fear as she said, "She's gifted and could save us all. Are you seriously going to kill me for trying to give humanity a chance at survival?" She questioned and Roland pursed his lips. "I don't give a fuck about what you wanted to give. You were goin' to watch her be raped and that's something I can't stand by." He growled.

In a quick movement, his foot collided with the woman's jaw and knocked her over to the side. From there, all the anger and fury was released with each kick he landed on the woman's stomach. Taking in each of her muffled cries of pain and grunts. He believed that releasing this anger on this woman as much as he could, would be able to satisfy him. Which it did very much.

But it didn't stop the other thoughts fluttering about in his head wondering what could've happened if they didn't make it. Emily could've experienced one of the most traumatizing things that Roland never wished upon anyone or even his worst enemies. And the fact that Mandy had taken Emily in as her own daughter was enough to disgust Roland.

He had no respect for the sick people in the world and wished he could kill every single man and woman who had these disturbing thoughts. Even Mandy allowing one of her men to act out on those thoughts with a 14-year-old girl was disturbing and there was a dark and ruthless place just for people like her in hell.

Landing one last kick, Roland backed away from the hunched-over woman before turning to Emily. Matt not even making eye contact as he walked over to Mandy and stared at her blankly. Roland quickly dressed Emily's limp body before putting his jacket around her before picking her up. "Alright, babygirl. Let's get you out of here." As soon as her body was against his, he felt every other emotion besides relief fill his body. Being able to hold this girl in his arms made everything seem just a little better than before.

Turning back to Matt, Roland cleared his throat and Matt shook his head. "You two leave." He waved off and Roland pursed his lips and sighed. "Remember where we meet?" Roland asked and Matt nodded silently as his glare was fixated on Mandy's face that was covered in blood and her jaw popped out of place. Her breaths shallow and desperate.

So, with a nod in response, Roland turned towards the doorway and began walking out. Only stopping when papers laid out on the table beside the door caught his eyes. Grabbing them, and stuffing them in the pocket of his jacket before finally stepping out. Looking down at the girl in his arms and holding her closer to his body. Promising himself that he would never let her feel this type of pain ever again.