So happy to see how many people are enjoying the story so far! It's not all that conventional, but it's a great challenge writing a story in such short chapters. So let's get on with it!

Ch. 8 - Andrea

Andrea clamped down on the mini flashlight between her teeth. Crouched in front of the door, she quickly worked at picking the lock. The Governor never stayed away for long.

Luckily, her lock-picking skills hadn't faded with time. With the tell-tale click, she was in.

The stench of death made her eyes water. Against the north facing wall, human heads bobbed around in illuminated fish tanks stacked one on top of the other.

"Sick fuck," she whispered. She stepped forward. The eyes of a female walker shot open. Andrea abruptly halted at the movement.

A low, guttural growl drifted from the other side of the room. She turned, noticing a metal grate positioned in the center of the wall. She directed her flashlight at the barrier. Two milky white eyes peered back at her.

Bringing the Governor to his knees would be easier than she'd planned.

Ch. 9 - Michonne

Michonne limped over to their ride, a compact SUV in almost new condition. She'd declined the pain pills Hershel offered her, needing a sharp mind to tackle the challenges ahead. She'd manage the pain.

"Know how to use one of these?" Rick held a cylindrical metal canister out to her.

"What is it?" Michonne asked, taking the item. It felt lighter than it looked.

"Tear gas." He cupped her hand in his, turning the can over. He pointed to a small metal loop. "Pull this pin to activate it before you toss it."

A tingling sensation swirled where he touched her. Their eyes connected. The swirl blossomed into a surge of energy.

His pupils dilated.

She pulled her hand away swiftly enough for it to be awkward. "Thanks."

The smile lines at the corners of his eyes made her heart skip a beat. "My pleasure."

Ch. 10 - Rick

Michonne was unlike anyone Rick had met before - or after - the apocalypse. The only time he'd seen a katana was in a Japanese movie from the 50s that Shane had dragged him to see. And now here was Michonne, live and in the flesh, decapitating walkers with the eerily precise swing of her blade. She could be a hallucination, except for the fact that he'd been able to touch her.

She was a woman, not some phantom. With her as a member of their group, he hoped the odds might lean in their favor.

She wiped stale blood from her sword with a soiled cloth. "Woodbury is less than a mile from here. We should be there before dark."

In the dwindling light of dusk, her beauty elevated to another dimension, enhancing her already striking features. "Let's move," Rick said, at a loss for words.

Ch. 11 - Andrea

The Governor burst into her room, his gun drawn. "What the hell did you do with her?"

Andrea clicked the last piece of her pistol into place, wiping it down with an oiled rag. Her dad had required her to dismantle and assemble the gun in under a minute before he'd gifted it to her for her fifteenth birthday. She enjoyed the ritual; it reminded her of simpler times.

She rose from her seat, holstering her gun. The Governor towered over her. Crossing her arms, she said, "It's still alive. For now."

He aimed the gun at her chest. His gaze brimmed with brutality. "Tell me where she is or I'll blow you away."

Andrea laughed, feeding off his distress. "Then you'll never find her."

He flashed a smile as sharp as a chef's knife. "Oh, I will. And you're going to wish you'd just told me to begin with."

A/N: The next three chapters will be posted tomorrow. I'm pleasantly surprised to see how much this story evolves with each scene and how much more I discover about the characters. Can't wait to see where this goes! Thanks again for the reviews, faves and follows!