Chapter 40 - No Sanctuary

I lead the way down the train tracks as Tyreese and Carol walk behind me, Carol holding Judith in her arms. We are all silent, none of us really wanting to say a word unless it's necessary. There's so much tension in the group and no way of alleviating it.

"We're close." I say as I look up ahead and see a sign.

We look at it for a moment when I hear a noise coming in from behind us. I turn around and see a walker make its way onto the tracks. I turn to Tyreese and he shakes his head, "I can't, not yet."

I snake my head and pull out my knife, "You're gonna have to be able too." I say, walking forward.

The walkers makes a grab for me and I quickly stab it in the head, it falling down the the ground. I pull it out and glance to the side, seeing a herd of walkers making its way towards us.

"More." I whisper to the two, looking over at them.

I lead them away from the tracks and up behind a hill in the woods off to the side. The walkers spill out from the other side and begin to make their way towards us. I nod towards the others for us to go when suddenly I hear the sound of automatics coming from up the tracks. We all turn and look it confused as the walkers make their way towards the noise. We wait there for the walkers to go and the noise stops not too long before that.

Once it's been a decent amount of time, we walk out from behind the hill and onto the train track. I glance down the way towards Terminus before turning and walking the other way.

"That gunfire, it could have been from Terminus." Tyreese says.

"Someone was attacking them." Carol says.

"Or they were attacking someone." I murmur.

"Do we even wanna find out?" Tyreese asks.

I turn and look at Judith who is asleep in his arms and I nod my head, "Yeah."

"There's another track due east, it will get us there. We'll have to be careful." Carol says.

"We're gonna get answers." I say, looking between the two of them.

We walk off the track and begin to make our way in the direction that Carol tells us to go. We walk in the woods for awhile until I hear the sound of talking coming from up ahead. I tell the. To be quiet as we sneak forward quietly, wanting to get the surprise on the person. We walk closer and see a man walking around with fireworks in his hands. The sound of radio comes on and we wait by the trees to listen. I can't quiet hear what the woman on the radio says but the man replies, "Don't have to tell me, I wipe my own ass."

"Alex didn't get it you see, the chick with the sword was bad news. She looked like a weapon with a weapon." He smiles confidently and I begin to sneak forward.

The woman replies and the man speaks again as we walk forward, "I told Adam I want the kid's hat when they bleed him out-" He begins when I place my gun to his head.

"Keep your finger off the button and drop it." I say and he holds his hands up.

The radio goes off again but the man speaks to us, "Listen, y'all don't have to do this. Whatever you want, we got a place where everyone's welcome."

"Shut up man." Tyreese says threateningly.

"We're friends with the chick with sword and the kid in the hat." Carol says as I glare at the man.

"Tie him up." I say and Carol walks forward, pulling the man's hands behind his back.

Tyreese walks forward and pulls the radio out of his hand and checks him for weapons as Carol ties him up. Tyreese pulls him to his feet and pushes him along as we go inside the cabin, pushing him into the corner. Carol makes sure he sits down and a plan comes to mind. I quickly walk outside and rifle through his things, grabbing what will be helpful. I stuff them in the duffel back before making my way back inside.

"They attacked us, we're just holding them." The guy says.

"I don't believe you." I say.

"Who else do you have? Know their names?" Tyreese asks.

"We just had the boy and the Samurai that's it. We're just protecting ourselves." He argues.

"I don't believe you." I repeat.

"There's a bunch of us out there, in six different directions. There's a lot of gun fire back home, we need to set off our chargers all at the same time to confuse the dead ones. That's good for you too!" He says.

"No it isn't. There's a herd heading towards Terminus right now. We don't want to confuse them away, we need their help." I say, pulling the bag over my back.

"It's a compound, they'll see you coming. If you even make it that far with all the cold bodies heading over." He points out.

I walk over to Carol and Tyreese as I put the bag over my back as well as the gun, "Are you gonna do this?" He asks.

"I'm gonna kill people." I say.

"I'll go with you." She argues but I shake my head, "No, you stay here with Tyreese and keep an eye on him. It'll be easier if I'm alone." I say.

"Why you?" Carol asks, looking at me as she tries to understand.

I look between the two of them before looking at Judith, "I owe it to them."

They both look at me and I turn and make my way out of the cabin and into the woods towards terminus.  I hold my knife tightly in my hands as I walk along, keeping an eye out. Then suddenly I see one walking along by itself. I whistle and draw it's attention, it's undead eyes looking for its next feast. I quickly take it down before pulling out the blanket and cutting a hole in the middle.

I pull it over my head before looking down at the walker. Memories of Rick and Glenn walking down the streets of Atlanta through the herd come to mind. Before I can chicken out I cut it open and proceed to put its blood and guts all over the blanket. The smell is completely awful and I nearly gag but I hold it together. I wipe my hands clean before grabbing some mud and smearing it on my face and hair. It helps cover up the smell and makes me less identifiable.

I grab my knife and slip on the gun and bag again before making my way again. We aren't too far away so once I'm fairly close I sneak off into the woods to go around another side. I see the fence and I follow it along the distance until I'm at a high vantage point. I try to get an idea of the place when my eyes land on something that stops my heart. On the ground I see Rick, Glenn, Daryl and Bob zip tied and gaged and being hoisted away.

I want nothing more than to shoot at the people but I push it back, knowing I need to be smart about this. I sneak further along the fence line until I see my target. I grab the automatic and look down the scope to see what's going on. The walkers are beginning to come to the fence and as I look around I see a gas tank. An idea comes to mind as I look at it and right on cue I hear the screaming from the people inside.

The walkers from before begin to converge on the place and I know that know is my chance. I quickly go through the bag and grab out the fire cracker and launcher. I set it up quickly before grabbing my gun and aiming at the gas tank. I shoot a couple of times before it actually does damage, gas spilling out. I quickly light the firecracker with my lighter and cover my ears.

Suddenly there is a massive explosion and I feel the earth move. I look back at it and see it's done a lot of damage. I grab the bag and gun before rushing my way down to where the walkers gather. I walk slowly into the crowd, none of them even noticing my presence. I keep my eyes peeled as I go, looking for my break to go get the guys back.

I actually make it into the compound, people beginning to fire at the walkers. In right in when I notice people shooting up ahead and I sneak my way into a alcove, aiming my gun and shooting them down. However my shooting attracts a walker and I quickly go into the building, closing the door behind me. I look around and find that I'm in some weird storage unit.

I walk in and look around, seeing so many random things. To my side is a table of watches and I look over, spotting on that looks so familiar. It's Rick's watch, the one he gave to the kid. I pick it up and realise that he must have ended up here. I look at it sadly before putting it in my pocket and looking around for more. Then my eyes land on the crossbow, Daryl's crossbow. I rush over and grab it, slipping it over my shoulder.

I quickly make my way out of the building and into another random sector of the building, this room giving me the chills. There are hundreds of candles in different positions, as well as random objects set up in a circle arrangement with names on the floor. On the wall in an inscription, Never Again, Never Trust, We First, Always.

I walk through it slowly, taking to all in when suddenly I hear a gun click from behind me, followed by a female voice, "Drop your weapons and turn around. I wanna see your face."

I look at the door in front of me and see walkers clawing to get in when the woman yells again, "Now!"

I grip the crossbow and put down along with the bag. I grab the gun and then quickly turn, firing it as I go. The woman falls to the ground and the gun flies out of her hand. She scrambles towards it and I kick it out of the way and she charges for me, ramming into a candle stand. She knocks me to the ground and tries to take the gun and we knock over another candle stand.

I kick her away and she rolls off and I scramble to my feet. I aim the gun and cock just as she is about to swing the candle holder. She looks at me and lowers her arm, taking some deep breath before she speaks, "The signs? They were real. It was a santucary. People came and took this place-"

"Just tell me where-" I begin but she continues, "And they raped, and they killed, and they laughed over weeks! But we got out and we fought and we got it back! And we heard the message!"

She looks me right in the eye, "You're the butcher or you're the cattle."

"The men they pulled from that train cart, where are they?" I demand, my gun aimed at her head.

She doesn't say anything so I lower my aim and shoot her in the thigh, "Where are they?!"

She lays on the ground and clutches her leg as she looks at me, "Now, point it at my head." She says before beginning to laugh, "You could have been one of us. You could have listened to what the world is telling you!"

I look at her in disgust, "You lead people here, you take what they have and then you kill them? Is that what this place is?"

She shakes her head, "No, not at first. It's what it had to be, and we're still here."

I look at her and shake my head, "You're not here... And neither am I." I say, bedding down and grabbing Daryl's crossbow.

I turn and make my way towards the door and open it up, letting the walkers slide on through last me towards the woman. I hear her begin to scream but I ignore it and continue on looking for the others.

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I walk through the woods and shake my head, I couldn't find them. But that means that they got out. I toss the blanket off of my face and wipe off the mud. I begin to make my way back towards the cabin where Tyreese and Carol wait when I hear something, the sound of people talking in the distance. I walk along with Daryl's crossbow and my gun swinging against my body when I see a sight that makes my heart stop.

"The hell it isn't, that place is on fire. Full of walkers." A woman I've never seen before says.

"The hell I'm not dicking around with this crap. We just made it out." A man I've never seen before says as I walk forward slowly.

"The fences are down, they'll run or die." Maggie says and I come to a stop behind them.

Then he turns, his eyes locking with mine. He pushes away from the tree and runs for me, sweeping me up in his arms. I wrap my arms tightly around him as he spins me around, a happy sob coming out of me. My legs wrap around his waist and I never want to let him go. I pull my face back and he looks at and I crash my lips to his. His hands hold me up and we kiss, so much powerful and raw emotion coming out. I know that the others can see us, but neither one of us cares.

I pull back after a long time and look him in the eyes, tears springing in mine, "Hey." I breath.

"You're here." He says, his voice barely above a whisper.

I unwrap from him and set my feet on the ground, "I made you a promise." I whisper.

He looks at me and I know he's got a million questions, but instead he lays his forehead on mine and I wind my fingers in his hair. I glance over and see Rick walking towards me with a look of amazement in his eyes.

"Did you do that?" He asks, looking as if he is about to cry.

I nod my head and he just looks at me before pulling me against him. I let out a laugh and he holds onto me tightly, "Thank you." He whispered into my ear.

I hold onto him for a moment before I pull back and look him in the eye, "You have to come with me."

He nods his head and I look around at everyone, "Come on."

I turn and look at Daryl, holding my hand out which he takes. His hand moulds perfectly with mine and I never want to let it go. As we begin to walk I hold out his crossbow to him, "I think you might want this back."

He takes it before looking at me, "What happened to your face?" He asks, concern covering his face.

Memories come to mind but I shake my head, "I'll tell you later."

He nods his head and I feel a hand be placed on my shoulder and I turn to see Glenn there. I let out a laugh, "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." I say, hugging him tightly with out letting go of Daryl's hand.

"I've missed you so much." He whispers and his wife walks up behind me and I reach for her and hug her.

She holds onto me tightly, "Rick told me everything."

I pull back and look at her before nodding my head and I look around, confused for a moment, "Where's Hershel?" I ask.

Her face drops and my heart stops as the realisation comes crashing around me. I can't help the tears that have been flowing on and off this past week come once more, "I'm so sorry." I whisper, hugging her again.

I pull back and wipe at my eyes as someone else steps up to me and I smile, "Hey kid."

Carl smiles and hugs me tightly and I place a kiss in his hair before quickly hugging Michonne, Bob and Sasha in the process. We reach the familiar ground and I turn back and look towards the cabin. As we walk up, Tyreese walks out with Judith in his arms and Carol walks out with the bags. Rick and Carl drop their guns and sprint forward, Sasha following closely behind.

Rick takes Judith off of Tyreese and the three of them embrace while Sasha and Tyreese hug. Carol walks forward and Daryl steps forward and hugs her tightly. I smile at the reunions and I see Rick and Tyreese exchange a beautiful moment as well as him and Carol. Daryl steps back and pulls me into his side, where I rest my head on his chest. We are all together again, though there are some people missing. Important people who should be here. But we are lucky that we've all found each other, that we are all still alive. We're together here as a group, as a family and that is the most important thing left in this world.

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I walk forward towards Tyreese and Carol and notice the bodies of walkers laying off to the side, "What happened?" I ask.

"There were a bunch of walkers here... And he got his hands around Judith's neck." Tyreese explains.

Anger consumes me and I go to step in and kill the guy when Tyreese grabs my arm, "No, he's dead. I had too. It's okay, I could."

"I don't know if the fire's still burning." Rick says and Carol speaks up, "It is."

"We need to go." Rick says.

"Where?" Daryl asks.

"Somewhere far away from there." Rick says, nodding to the fire.

Daryl comes up behind me and grabs my hand, his face nuzzling into my neck. I close my eyes at the touch and take it in, the first contact we've had in nearly a week.

"Come on everyone!" Rick calls out.

I open my eyes and look into Daryl's for a moment before beginning to walk forward, our hands still entwined. We all walk together away from whatever is left from Terminus. We eventually meet the train tracks and I can't help but shake my head at the sight of them. This time round, we walk the opposite way, leaving behind the false hope the gave.

Instead I walk hand in hand with the man I love and adore with all my heart and the people I consider my family. This time I'm staying, nothing in the world will make me leave. This is where I belong and this is where I'm going to stay. Always.