Chapter 1

Martinez watched as Michonne ran as fast as she could with her brother Noah on her heels into the darkness of night. He knew after he warned her that tonight Phillip was coming for her she would flee and take her chances outside among biters and degenerates because for her there was no safety behind the walled community of Woodbury, and he knew she'd fair far better away from her psycho brother-in-law Phillip. If the Governor knew he had a hand in helping her escape it was certain death for Martinez, but he didn't care. No woman should be subjected to the likes of the Governor especially not after the world had completely gone to crap and the undead ruled. That was added suffering he wanted no part of.

Every stride they made away from Woodbury Michonne felt overwhelmingly free from the horrors of her husband's brother. From the moment she'd discovered his chamber of death, he'd held her captive in their apartment that overlooked the town. Forced to pretend all was well to keep her younger brother Noah from any harm, she remained silent. Dutifully watching as he lied to the other survivors in their community about his pillaging and murdering deeds, she had hoped someone would stand up to him. After realizing that the others were resolved to ignore his dealings for their own survival or condoned his actions, she knew she had to take Noah and leave for a hard life on the road that was probably safer than the confines and comforts of Phillips' reign.

After their parents' untimely death in a car accident, Michonne forced herself to push all of her emotions down so that she could care for Noah. It wasn't until she met Bryan that she allowed herself any happiness. He wasn't one to be deterred when he wanted something and he wanted her. Her husband won her heart and proved to her that he was every bit of the man he showed himself to be.

Marrying Bryan turned out to be the best thing that had happened to Michonne. Over the years, the only source of contention between them had been his creepy twin brother Phillip. Michonne didn't like the way he looked at her, or the way he always tried to convince her that he was Bryan whenever they were alone. She would tell her husband her concerns, but those warnings always fell on Bryan's naïve ears. He loved unconditionally and always saw the best in people; only the best.

That blind spot for his brother had Michonne questioning whether it was too much for her to deal with. She'd resolved it was time for him to choose, but the world became a nightmare and they were forced to survive together. Once the outbreak spread, Bryan stepped up as the leader and Woodbury managed to carry on with minimal loss. Everyone looked up to Bryan and trusted him without question. On several occasions, Phillip tried to usurp Bryan's role as the leader, but the others would never listen to him.

It was clear to Michonne that Phillip was jealous of Bryan, and she suspected he wouldn't hesitate to act on his hostilities towards his brother the moment the opportunity became available.

Bryan was adamant that he and Phillip not leave Woodbury together. He wanted to make sure if anything happened to him, his brother would lead the group. Michonne couldn't understand why Bryan broke his own rule the day he accompanied Phillip and a few other men on a scouting run. Phillip insisted that they go together and when Bryan agreed, Michonne resolved in her soul she would never see her husband again. When only one brother returned she didn't mourn. She hardened her heart like she did when her parents died and vowed to keep Noah alive the way she and Bryan promised each other they would.

Michonne knew in her soul that he died at hands of his brother, but no one would tell her what happened. "He got surrounded by biters." Those were Phillip's words to her as he pulled her into an unwelcome embrace to comfort her. From that moment on he'd assured her he would do everything in his power to keep her and Noah safe, if she agreed to be his, but if she didn't agree, she would be his regardless and Noah would be exiled from Woodbury. As the days passed by she spent hours working out to build her physical strength while slipping into an emotional abyss. Her sole focus was getting away from Woodbury.

Phillip had given her time to grieve over the loss of her husband, but the time had come for her to take her place in his life and his bed, and he was intent on her submitting to his demands. Now. He walked into the apartment expecting her to be waiting for him. So they could be alone, he'd instructed Martinez to take Noah on patrol under the guise that he was teaching him how to keep the town safe.

When he discovered they were gone, the same rage that pricked his soul every time he watched his brother and his beautiful wife together boiled over inside of him, and he no longer tried to hide the monster within. He'd ordered his men to set up search teams to bring them back unharmed. They'd searched unsuccessfully for days which turned into weeks and months without so much as a trace of where they'd gone, but he refused to give up looking for them.

Michonne and Noah had survived each day out of pure will. They'd hunkered down in a town that looked as if it had been overrun early. In a pawn shop, she'd found a Katana and it instantly became her and she became it. She and the sword were one in such a way that you couldn't tell where one began and the other ended. Noah teased her endlessly calling the sword her other half.

They'd taken out the biters methodically section by section of the town, and had traps strategically set to protect them from humans and the undead. Michonne was cleaning out the house they thought would be the best for them to make home until they had to run, when Noah came running into the kitchen where she was taking inventory of the food they had on hand. "Chonne! Someone is down at the general store," he breathed.

"What?! Did they see you?"

Shaking his head to respond, "It's some Asian guy and a white chick. They didn't look bad," he added.

She grabbed her sword and slid it over her shoulder so that it rested on her back. "Are you armed?"

Noah brandished his machete. "Good. Follow my lead, and don't get ballsy."

"I'm a man. I was born ballsy. Unlike you, who grew a pair within the last few months." Michonne smacked him upside his head before leading him out of the backdoor.

They stealthily made their way to the general store; remaining hidden so that they could see if the couple was friend or foe. Before Michonne could make up her mind whether to approach them, one of Phillips henchmen, Merle, appeared. She gave Noah the signal to run and leave her if she was captured, but he vehemently shook his head to her orders. "Stay here," she growled through clenched teeth. "If you so much as think about helping me, I'll kill you myself."

Michonne knew Merle was a heartless pig and had no use for him while they were in Woodbury. The idea of those kids falling into his arms bothered her, and she decided to help them and deal with the fallout later. She eased to the side of the store to get a better vantage point of what was happening. She heard the couple talking about a prison and a baby and that they were looking for formula. She couldn't sneak up behind Merle without being detected and helplessly watched as he held a gun to the girl's head forcing the guy to surrender. Michonne needed help, but not her brother. They would find the prison and get them to help. At that moment all she could do is watch Merle force them into the car they'd driven and head back in the direction of Woodbury.

When they were out of sight, Noah approached her. "Why didn't we help them? You know he's taking them back to the spawn of Satan. How could you let him?"

Her emotions ran high. She wanted to help them, but she couldn't risk her brother's safety. "Stop it Noah! We couldn't help them. We need help to help them, and we're going to get it." Michonne lead the way to the prison avoiding the roads as much as possible following the fresh tire marks along the way. Hopefully, they'd make it to the prison in time where people were there to help the couple.

The sounds of an engine approaching sent the duo into the woods hoping they hadn't been seen. Just over the horizon was the prison. If we can just make it there, she thought to herself. Crouched down they ran as fast as they could trying to go undetected. Michonne new their efforts were futile when she heard the gun shot and watched in horror as her brother her only reason to keep going fell to the ground.

Rick, Daryl, and Tyreese returned fire running towards Michonne and her fallen brother. The hail storm of bullets around them didn't register with Michonne. The only thing she was aware of was Noah writhing in pain clutching her hand. "Stay with me," she pleaded. "Do you hear me?! Noah, stay with me!"

The out gunned attackers retreated and Michonne's sobs flooded the air. "We have to get them into the block before her screaming attracts walkers and those douche bags come back maybe with reinforcements," Daryl said anxiously.

Every time Rick tried to pull Michonne away she swung at him landing a right on his lip that was steadily swelling. "Let us help you!" he commanded surprised at the power in her punch.

"Noah," she whimpered. "Help him please. He's my baby brother. He's all I have," she wailed. Her worse nightmare had come true. Overcome with emotions Michonne was suddenly drawn into a deep darkness, and she fainted.

"Well hell," Daryl groaned. "Now we gotta carry'em both."

"I'll get her," Rick said staring down into the grief stricken face of the woman. They both looked as if they'd been through hell, but her beauty radiated in spite of her anguish. "Ty you cover us," Rick ordered handing him her Katana before he stood with her in his arms.

In cell block C, While Rick watched over the beautiful fighter, Hershel worked feverishly with Carol's assistance on Noah's gunshot wound, but there was nothing they could do to save him. Rick's heart broke for her, but he also knew somehow she posed a threat to him and his group and until he knew what was going on and who she was running from she was in his custody. Protective or otherwise, but he wanted it to be protective.