A/N: Andrea's death hit me really hard. I will never forgive the walking dead writing for killing her off the way thstill they did. It was so unrealistic. Anyways, herenews story picking up at the season 3 finale and continuing into season 4. It shows what could've happened if Andrea was alive.
"All right lets go in, weapons at the ready. We don't know what's waiting for us in there", Rick addressed Daryl, Michonne, Tyreese, Sasha, and Karen.
The six of them entered the dark Woodbury building. It was so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. It was eerie. Rick didn't know what to expect. Or even if they would find Andrea here at all. They moved through the halls with Rick leading and Sasha bringing up the rear. The building stunk of rotting flesh, mold, and sweat. The lighting was dim and there were too many rooms.
They finally entered familiar territory. "This is where the Governor held Maggie and Glenn", Rick realized. Daryl nodded his head in agreement. "We'll go in. You guys stay back to cover us", Rick told Tyreese, Sasha, and Karen.
They slowly approached the metal door. Michonne's steps faltered. Blood was seeping under the space at the bottom of the door. It was a good amount of blood too. She turned to Rick, "will you open it?"
She looked frightened, something he never thought the katana-wielding warrior could be. He nodded and hesitantly touched the handle, apprehensive to what it would reveal.
It had to be done. Besides, Andrea may not even be on the other side of the door. He took a deep breath and nudged it open with his boot.
The room was lit by a sole bulb hanging overtop a chair. And there laid Milton, at the foot of the chair. Daryl had already entered the room. "Dead", was all he said while looking down at Milton and giving his shoulder a light kick for good measure.
Just then Michonne knocked into Rick's shoulder, "Andrea!" Rick was too stunned to move. He hadn't even noticed Andrea in the room. He shook his head and moved in front of her. She was sitting on the cold, hard floor with her back resting against the wall. She was bloody and had bruising on her face. Michonne was already kneeling next to her. "You're burning up", Michonne told her with a hand on her forehead.
"Tired", Andrea whispered to Michonne. She could barely lift her head. She sat with an unwavering trance looking at Milton's dead body.
"Rick", he heard Daryl's voice call from behind him. He turned on his heels and faced Daryl. "Get a look at this." He gestured to the chair in the middle of the room. It was blood soaked. A broken handcuff wrapped around one arm of it. "Look at these tools...he tortured her." Torture? That thought snapped Rick into action.
"We gotta go. We gotta get outta here before he comes back", he told Daryl quickly while taking a quick scan of all the tools laid out on the table. He turned to Michonne, "come on."
Daryl was right behind him. They both moved towards Andrea. "She's probably exhausted and in shock. Daryl and I will carry her", he told Michonne. He took another look at Andrea. She sat in the same position, eyes glassy, and body limp. She was in another world. She probably didn't even register that she was being rescued. How long has she been like this? He shouldn't have let her leave the prison. Both men moved an arm around their shoulders and put their arms around her small frame. They hoisted her up slowly. She still didn't react. They could feel the body heat rippling off of her. They stepped out of the room and back into the hallway while carrying Andrea. "Alright. We've gotta get a move on. We don't want him coming back while we're still here", Rick told the new members of their group. As a group, they took off running through the halls. Rick and Daryl moving as fast as they could go, while Michonne insisted on flanking them for protection.
"Pile into the cars. Tyreese, Sasha, and Daryl in one. Michonne, Karen, and I will take Andrea in the other", Rick yelled ahead. He knew that Tyreese would refuse to part with his sister. He trusted Daryl to handle them. He also knew that Michonne wouldn't leave Andrea's side so she would be coming with them. And Karen looked harmless enough. Maybe she could help make sure Andrea was alright during the car ride home.
It was pitch black by the time they got outside. They would have to stay alert for walkers on the road. He heard behind them as Michonne sliced through a couple of walkers along the journey. He couldn't really think of anything other than getting Andrea out of Woodbury for good.
They finally reached the cars hidden behind a few bushes. The groups piled into the cars, while Rick and Daryl rested Andrea in between Karen and Michonne, in the backseat. "Alright, see you soon", Rick said as Daryl jogged to the other car.
"You bet", Daryl replied.
TBC, let me know what you think :)