June 22nd, 2011

The day had only just begun but the group was already at work

"Okay, let's get the other car in. We'll park 'em in the west entry of the yard" Rick said

"Good. Our vehicles camped out there look like a giant 'vacancy' sign" Daryl said

"After that, we need to load up these corpses so we can burn 'em" Rick said

"Gonna be a long day" T-Dog said

"No kidding" Winter sighed

"Where's Glenn and Maggie? We could use some help" Carol said

"They're busy in the guard tower" Sam said

"Guard tower? They were just up there last night" Rick said

"Glenn! Maggie!" Daryl yelled. Glenn popped his head out as he was getting dressed

"Hey, what's up, guys?" Glenn asked. The group chuckled

"You coming?" Daryl asked

"What?" Glenn asked. Winter covered her mouth as Sam laughed. The group found it extremely hilarious

"You comin'?" Daryl asked. Glenn looked confused by the question

"Come on, we could use a hand" Daryl said

"Yeah, we'll be right down" Glenn said

"I swear.." Daryl muttered

"Kids these days" Carol chuckled

"How many rounds you think they went?" Daryl asked

"You can't just ask shit like that" Carol said as she lightly smacked his arm

"I'm very uncomfortable now, I think I will leave" Sam said as he began walking away

"Hey, Rick" T-Dog said causing everyone to turn towards T-Dog who was looking at something. They all looked to see what he was looking at. The smile on Rick's face faded as he saw two prisoners. He began walking towards them

"Come with me" Rick said. The group followed and approached the fence. The two prisoners walked towards the fence

"That's close enough. We had an agreement" Rick said

"Please, Mister. We know that. We made a deal. But you gotta understand.. we can't live in that place another minute. You follow me? All the bodies- people we knew. Blood, brains everywhere. There's ghosts" The blonde said as Maggie and Glenn joined the group

"Why don't you move the bodies out?" Daryl asked

"You should be burning them" T-Dog said

"We tried. We did" The blonde said

"The fence is down on the far side of the prison. Every time we drag a body out, those things just line up. Dropping the body and just running back inside" The other said

"Look, we had nothing to do with Thomas as Andrew. Nothing. You trying to prove a point? You proved it, bro. We'll do whatever it takes to be apart of your group. Just please, please.. don't make us live in that place" The blonde begged. Winter felt sorry for the prisoners. She knew that a lot of people immediately thought bad of anyone who had been in prison, because they must be terrible people. But, that isn't the case.. There are good people who have done time. She felt that they were good people. She could see how genuine they were

"Our deal is not negotiable. You either live in your cell block, or you leave" Rick said. The blonde sighed

"I told you this was a waste of time. They ain't no different than the pricks who shot up our boys. You know how many friends' corpses we had to drag out this week? Just threw 'em out, like. These were good guys. Good guys who had our backs against the really bad dudes in the joint, like Thomas and Andrew. We've all made mistakes to get in here, chief. And I'm not gonna pretend to be a Saint, but believe me.. We've paid our due- enough that we would rather hit that road than to go back in that shithole" The other prisoner said. Rick turned to Daryl. Rick had Maggie bring a car over so the two men could leave. They were escorted to the gate where they could reach the car. As they went through, the gate was locked behind them. They stared at the group

"I don't think we should do this. It ain't right" T-Dog said

"Well, what do you suggest?" Rick asked

"Let them prove their worth" T-Dog said

"Are you serious? You want them living in a cell next to you? They'll just be waiting for a chance to grab our weapons. You want to go back to sleeping with one eye open?" Rick asked

"I never stopped. Bring them into the fold. If we send them off packing, we might as well execute them ourselves" T-Dog said

"I don't know. Axel seems a little unstable" Glenn said

"After all we've been through. We fought so hard for all this, what if they decide to take it?" Carol asked

"They're outnumbered. It won't even be worth attempting" Winter said

"It's just been us for so long. They're strangers. I don't- it feels weird all of a sudden to have these people around" Maggie said

"You brought us in" T-Dog said. Winter didn't make eye contact with Maggie

"Yeah, but you turned up with a shot boy in your arms. Didn't give us a choice" Maggie said

"They can't even kill walkers" Glenn said

"I think we should give them a chance" Sam said

"They're convicts, bottom line" Carol said

"Those two might actually have less blood on their hands than we do" T-Dog said

"I get guys like this. Hell, I grew up with them. They're degenerates, but they ain't psychos. I could have been in there with them just as easy as I'm out here with you guys" Daryl said

"So are you with me?" T-Dog asked

"Hell, no. Let 'em take their chances out on the road just like we did" Daryl said

"What I'm saying, Daryl-" T-Dog was cut off

"When I was a rookie, I arrested this kid. Nineteen years old, wanted for stabbing his girlfriend. The kid blubbered like a baby during the interrogation, during the trial- suckered the jury. He was acquitted due to insufficient evidence and then two weeks later, shot another girl. We've been through too much. Our deal with them stands" Rick said

Sam had gone with Glenn, Daryl and Rick to get wood. The four were returning as they carried wood in their hands

"Looky here" Daryl said as they entered through the fence. The group looking over to see Hershel walking around with crutches. Sam smiled, happy to know that Hershel was recovering

"He is one tough son of a bitch. All right, Hershel!" Glenn yelled

"Shh! Keep your cheers down" Daryl told Glenn

"We still have walkers around" Sam said as he heard their groans

"Oh man, can't we just have one good day?" Glenn asked. And just like that, things got even worse. Walkers had appeared out of nowhere behind the group around Hershel. Sam's eyes widened

"No!" Rick yelled. They ran as fast as they could to reach the others. Gunshots were heard as Lori fired bullets into the walkers. Glenn ran back to close up the gate

"Get out of there! Now! Lori!" Rick yelled. Sam's heart was racing as he held a gun in his hand. He could see Winter by Carol and T-Dog. She was shooting walkers. Sam, Rick and Daryl kept running

"Come in here!" Rick yelled. As they were getting close to the gate, they remembered they needed the keys. Glenn was running behind the others as he was trying to catch up

"The lock- hurry up! The lock! Keys!" Rick yelled as Glenn tossed Sam the keys, who then tossed it to Rick. Rick caught them and they continued towards the gate. When they arrived, Rick tried to quickly unlock the gate. When they got in, they saw the two prisoners

"Out of my way!" Rick yelled as he went to unlock the next gate. Sam was sweating as he felt fear. He had gotten comfortable here. He had let his guard down. He thought they were safe. They weren't. They'll never be safe. Gunshots echoed as Rick finally got the gate open. The four rushed towards the walkers to try and get to the others. They opened another gate and finally made it to all the walkers. Sam looked around but didn't see Winter. They began shooting the walkers. Rick turned to Hershel and Beth who were safe behind a gate

"What the hell happened?" Rick yelled

"The gate was open!" Beth said

"Where's Lori, Carl- everyone else?" Rick asked as the other three killed walkers

"Maggie led Lori and Carl into C block" Hershel said

"And T was bit! He ran off with Carol and Winter" Beth said

"Anyone else?" Rick asked

"I couldn't tell" Beth said

"Stay put" Rick said. Soon enough they had secured the area

"Those chains didn't break on their own. Someone took an ax or cutters to 'em" Glenn said. Sam's breath was shaky. So much was happening at once. Then, alarms started blaring

"What the hell?" Sam asked

"Oh- you gotta be kidding me!" Daryl yelled. The alarms were attracting more walkers. They began to shoot at the speakers

T-Dog had been bit and alarms were blaring. Winter didn't know what was going on. T-Dog was leading Carol and Winter through the tombs

"There's a set of double doors that will lead to a corridor that'll get you both back to our cell block" T-Dog said. Winter could feel tears in her eyes

"You should stop" Carol said with a shaky voice

"I'm getting you both there!" T-Dog said

"Stop!" Carol cried

"Please.." Winter said. T-Dog looked at them

"Why? Sit here and wait to die?" T-Dog asked

"I'll do what I have to. You're not becoming one of those things" Carol said

"I can't ask that" T-Dog said

"We all agreed to this, remember?" Winter asked

"This is God's plan. He'll take care of me. Always has. He's gonna help me lead you both out of these tunnels" T-Dog said. Winter couldn't help but cry as she followed him. She didn't want to say goodbye to him. This wasn't supposed to happen. Carol and Winter had moved so they were helping T-Dog stay up

"We're almost there" T-Dog said when suddenly they heard groaning. Walkers were infront of them. Both Carol and Winter went to shoot them but wouldn't you know? They both were out of bullets

"Oh shit" Carol said

"We need to head back" Winter said

"No. We're close. We're close!" T-Dog yelled. Winter's eyes widened as T-Dog tried to go ahead. Both Winter and Carol tried to pull him back

"No! You can't!" Winter begged as T-Dog had broke free. He ran towards the walkers as he yelled. He slammed them into the wall

"Go! Go! Go! Go!" He yelled at the women who watched him. Winter was horrified as she watched them dig into him. Carol grabbed Winter's hand and led her. The door was in front of them. Winter and Carol looked at T-Dog

"Go! I'm dead!" T-Dog screamed. He was being ripped apart. Winter hated the sound of his screams. Carol pushed on and took Winter with her

They had gotten the alarm to turn off. It turns out Andrew was behind it all. As they searched the tombs for the others, Sam couldn't help but worry for Winter. Was she okay? As they went through the tombs, they saw two walkers feasting on a corpse. Rick quickly shot both walkers and the small group approached. Sam knew who it was. It was T-Dog. Daryl picked up Carol's headscarf. As the situation set in, Sam felt sick to his stomach. Winter had been with Carol and T-Dog. She was probably dead. Sam's hands began to shake as he just stared at T-Dog. She was all he had left

"Maybe they got out?" Glenn asked yet no one responded

"Let's keep moving" Rick said as he began to walk away. Sam didn't move, he couldn't. Glenn looked at Sam

"Come on" Glenn said before leading Sam out. When the group had made it outside, Sam's knees had given out beneath him. He didnt say anything, nor did he react. He just sat there, with a blank expression on his face. Sam was just there

(2062 words)
01/14/23