The crimson stained holocaust raged on as the yellow-orange fireballs exploded all over the prison grounds. Cries rang out as a tank cut down anyone in its path. After Michonne freed herself, she sprung into action. For a quick second she replayed Hershel's brutal end in her mind. Bullets humming past her ears shook her back to reality. Her arms and body became a graceful brown storm whipping through the Governor's phalanx leaving a carpeting of shredded limbs. Every slice, every decapitation was for all of the people she had loved and lost.
First Andre, then Andrea and now Hershel.
She imagined them giving her unchecked power as she let out a deep guttural cry from the deepest part of her. Michonne's blade whistled through the air. A man grabbed her locks from behind and slammed her to the ground. She thrust her katana into his head and used him as leverage to lift herself onto her feet. The gunfire, the tank advance, the explosions created almost a deafening sonic boom that robbed her of logical thought. She froze, not knowing what to do until a quiet hush sailed past her shoulder and spun her body around towards the prison. Michonne could see from clear across the prison courtyard that Rick was in imminent danger.
It was win or die.
Rick could feel his life passing through his lungs. He simply had nothing left after the painstaken runs, the bitter conflicts, and endless deaths.
And now the day would end with his own death.
He kicked the ground violently and tried to tear the Governor's arms away from his neck. The day would end without him ever seeing his children again. Rick wanted to believe that Carl and Judith would be in good hands but even that could not comfort him in his final moments. Would any of his family be spared to care for his children? He hoped that they would forgive him one day for failing. Rick loved all them and he never had said it enough. Unexpectedly, love had ascended into his life again, yet it was a beautiful secret he would take to his grave. Regret was an ugly thing to pass this life with.
Phillip was delighted at seeing Rick's body convulse. The convulsions brought him great joy. He immersed himself in the blue pool of death that rushed over Rick's face. He was tired of the simple little fucker with his shitty morals and ideals polluting his world. The bastard thought that he was better than him, that somehow he was placed on this Earth to be the savior of all. He had lost it all because of him. Phillip inhaled deeply as he repeatedly slammed Rick's head into the ground. Fury enveloped him as he moaned both in triumph and then suddenly in dark agony.
Nothing pleased Michonne more than to see The Governor ripping at his chest as he tried to free her silver blade from his body. She smirked, retracting it slowly so he could feel every edge re-cutting his internal organs. Michonne immediately pushed her katana back into the holster and ran to Rick. She locked her arm with his and helped him walk. He was unsteady on his feet, almost pulling them both onto the ground. Michonne struggled to support his weight. Blood was dripping into his eyes from a head wound. Rick's eyes were rolling out of focus which suggested to her that he had sustained a very bad concussion. She had to bring one of the vehicles to Rick so they could gather Carl, Judith, and anyone else who she could get to. Relieved to see that Carl was running towards them, Michonne began to run for the vehicles. Before she could get far Rick grabbed her arm.
"You don't have to say anything, Rick. I will get the truck so we can get Judith and get out of here." Michonne said, still taking a visual survey of his injuries. She couldn't lose him, not when she had been feeling something awaken in her that she still refused to acknowledge. Rick's breathing was shallow and uneven. The raspy sound from him made Michonne's lungs burn. With all of his strength, Rick steadied himself as best as he could and pulled her close to him. He whispered into her ear, wincing through the pain caused by the contact with their bodies. Through his labored breathing, Michonne could barely make out what he said to her. Actually she was wondering if she had heard him correctly. She looked at him in astonishment, unable to reply to what Rick had just revealed to her.