Chapter 35 - Infected

I stir awake from my sleep, rubbing my eyes lazily. I open my eyes and take in the soft early morning sunlight filtering in through the sheets covering the cell. I turn my head to the side and see Daryl's sleeping face beside me. I gently move out from underneath the covers and get up, beginning to get dressed for the day. I quickly slip on a clean pair of underwear and bra, jeans and a shirt.

I take a seat on the edge of the bed and begin to put my boots on when I hear him stir from his spot on the bed and I turn in time to see him looking up at me lazily.

"What time is it?" He murmurs in his sexy morning voice.

A small smile comes to my lips as I look at his perfection, "It's early." I say quietly, not wanting to disturb those still sleeping around us.

"Then what're you doing? Get back into bed." He says.

Though the offer is tempting, I shake my head, "No, you stay in bed. I'm on breakfast duty this morning."

"Do you really have to go?" He asks.

I smile and turn around on the bed and place a long kiss on his lips before pulling back, "Come get some breakfast when you're ready."

I climb back off the bed and slip my knife into its sheath before I make my way out of the cell. I walk down the steps and I smile when I see Beth stand there with Judith in her arms, trying to feed her. I walk over to them and lean down to greet the little girl, "Morning beautiful." I say, placing a kiss on her cheek.

She giggles at my touch and I look back up at Beth, a sad smile coming onto my face, "How're you doing Hun?" I ask, wrapping my arm around her shoulder.

She nods her head, "I'm good," She says sadly, "I miss him."

I nod my head, "Yeah, me too."

All of sudden I hear the sound of muted gunshots coming from the direction of the other cell block. I push away from Beth and quickly grab a machete from the pile of weapons before rushing my way outside. I see others running over and I waste no time running into the other cell block. As I slide open the door, the shooting becomes louder as well as screaming and the stench of walkers and blood hits my nose.

I rush into the entrance and can't believe my eyes. There are walkers everywhere, as well as people shooting and running for their lives. I rush forward and take out a walker, it falling into a heap on the ground. I don't waste any time before pushing some people towards the exit before rushing forward and stabbing another one.

I see someone get bit and I rush over and stab the walker. I see the others rush in and begin to take them out, Rick yelling instructions. I run up the stairs past others who are running for their lives. A walker begins to make its way down the stairs and swing my arm across, knocking the walker over the edge. I take down the one following it and soon there is silence in the cell block.

"Are we clear down here?!" Rick yells as I make my way up the stairs, looking for more walkers.

"Yeah." Sasha calls back from below.

"We're safe." Rick states.

I hear footsteps coming up from behind me and I notice it's Daryl and Glenn. I keep my arm ready to attack as I notice a body by my feet. I push it away the bile in my throat before continuing to look in the cell blocks. Suddenly I hear a growling from behind me and Daryl yelling, "Get down."

I turn in time to see an arrow pierce the skull of a walker Glenn is grappling with. I walk over as Rick helps him up before they open up a curtain to a cell, revealing the walker Glenn fought with.

"It's Patrick." Daryl says, "It's all of them." He says, looking around at the devastation surrounding us.

"We gotta take them out, make sure nobody else turns." Rick states.

I look down at Patrick before shaking my head sadly. I prop my machete up against the wall and pull out my knife before turning and making my way to begin one of the hardest days of my life.

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"Patrick was fine yesterday and he died overnight. Two people died that quick?" Carol asks, looking around at the rest of us council members.

"We have to separate everyone that's been exposed." I state, not wanting this to spread around any further than it has.

"That's everyone in that cell block, that's all of us. Maybe more." Daryl states from beside me.

"We know that this sickness can be leathal. We don't know how easily it spreads. Is anyone else showing symptoms that we know of?" Hershel asks.

Carol sighs, "We can't just wait and see, I mean there's children."

I shake my head, "It's not just that, when people die they're a threat." I state.

Hershel nods in agreement, "We need a place for them to go. They can't stay in D. We can't risk going there to clean it up."

"We could use cell block A?" Carol suggests.

"Death Row?" Glenn asks, "Not sure that's much of an upgrade."

"It's clean, that's an upgrade. You think that'll work for Doctor S?" Daryl asks, looking over to Hershel.

"I'll help Caleb get it set up." Hershel says.

A coughing is heard from the hallway and all of us look towards the door before getting up and walking towards the noise.

"You okay?" I hear Tyreese ask and I notice Karen nod her head but I know that something isn't right.

"You sure?" I ask, stepping out into the hallway, "You don't sound so good."

"We're just taking her back to my cell so she can't rest." Tyreese says, keeping a comforting arm around her shoulders.

"Tyreese, I don't think that's a good idea." Hershel states.

"Why? What's going on now?" Karen asks, looking worse for wear.

We all exchange a look before Glenn speaks, "We think it's a flu or something. That's how Patrick died."

"Judith is in that cell block, she's vulnerable. Anyone that may be sick, or even exposed should stay away." Hershel says as he walks forward.

"Wait, it killed Patrick?" Karen asks, a hint of panic in her voice.

"She's gonna be okay. Now that we know what Patrick died from, we can treat it right?" Tyreese asks.

"Don't panic, we're gonna figure this out. But we should keep you separated on the mean time. We'll have Caleb take a look at you, I'll see what we have in the way of medications." Hershel says soothingly.

"David, from the Decator group. He's been coughing too." Karen explains.

We all let out a saddened breath and Glenn sighs, "I'll go get him. There's some empty clem cells in the tombs right?"

Sasha nods, "Yeah, we'll meet you there."

Glenn runs off to find David while Sasha nods to Karen and Tyreese, "Come on, let's get you settled."

Karen covers her mouth as they move past us and I turn away, my mind running at a million miles an hour.

"We'll have to call another meeting later." Hershel says.

"Alright. I'll get to burying the dead ones." Daryl says, slinging his crossbow over his shoulder.

"You where gloves and a mask." Hershel instructs.

Daryl nods and the old man makes his way off and with Carol and Daryl stops in front of me, "You alright?" He asks.

"I'm just worried about everyone that was around Patrick." I state.

"Karen and David are gonna be separated, till they feel better." He says, trying to comfort me but it isn't sitting right.

I shake my head, "You're right," I say quickly before meeting his eyes, "You feeling okay?" I ask.

He bites his lip and nods his head, "Mmhmm, gotta be."

He looks at me for a moment before walking forward and placing a kiss on my cheek. I grip his arms in my hand for a moment before letting go. He turns and begins to walk away and I stare at the wall before me. I don't want anyone getting sick. After everything we've done to get this place to where it is, all that time, and then for it all to be destroyed by a flu? I don't want this to happen, I won't let this happen.

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I walk towards the cell blocks in the tombs with determination and a heavy heart. Bile rises in my stomach at what I'm about to do but it has to be done. For the sake of everyone here, I'm trying to stop this while I can. I reach their cells and I place down the fuel canisters and pull up the bandanna to cover my face. I take a deep breath before I open up the door and walk into the cell. They both look like death is on their doorstep, neither one of them even noticing my presence as I walk in.

On closer inspection I see that the both of them are asleep, oblivious to the word that is around them. It's now or never. I slowly pull my knife out of my belt and rearrange it's position to make it easier and more effective. I glance down at David and I almost loose my nerve but I quickly thrust the blade into the base of his skull and his body slumps on the bed.

I turn and look over at Karen, who hasn't moved an inch. I slowly walk over to her and I feel myself losing my nerve again. I have never really talked to David, but Karen? She's been here since the beginning of the prison's expansion. She's always been a friendly face, someone to rely on. She's also Tyreese's girlfriend. Though I don't want to do this to her, I have to. For the good of the whole group.

I take a deep breath before pushing the blade into the base of her skull, blood trickling down into the bed and floor below. I feel tears brim in my eyes as I think about what I've done. I've killed, no I've murdered two innocent people. I close my eyes and remember why I've done this, for the prison, the group, Carl, Judith, Daryl.

I let out a breath before wiping the blade clean on the bedsheets. I stash the knife back in its place before I lean down and roll Karen's lifeless body off of the bed. Once she's on the ground I grab her around the ankles and begin to drag her back out of the cell and down the hallway towards the back enclosed courtyard.

I let her go and quickly prop open the door before dragging her out. I leave her there before quickly rushing inside and doing the same to the David. Once they are both there I quickly run and grab the fuel canisters before rushing back out. I pull off the cap and dose them with the liquid, covering every inch of them. I place the cans down off to the side and pull out the lighter. I flick it open and take one more deep breath before tossing it on.

The bodies light on fire instantly, everything being consumed in flames. I begin to smell their hair and flesh burning and I nearly throw up on the spot. I quickly take off the bandanna around my face and wipe off any traces of blood before dousing it in what is left of the fuel and throwing it into the fire.

People will come looking soon so I turn and make my way back towards the cell blocks. I shut the door behind me, making it not so obvious as to what has happened. I turn and make my way back towards the others, composing myself and making it seem as if nothing has happened. Though I feel awful, like the scum of the earth at this point in time, what I did was right. I saved this group, I had to do it for them. They are my family and I would do anything to make sure that they're safe.