}{ Saving Grace }{

Chapter Ten

There was a nip in the air today. Its bite blew through the full, healthy trees and over the lush, green grass. It rushed through the streets, unhindered, and rose up over the town walls with a vengeance.

"Not cold are ya?" Merle piped up from where he stood on the wall. He had spotted Gracelyn walking up a mile away and it wasn't because her hair was a personal beacon. She was dressed in a stark white windbreaker with her rifle at her side. "Cause if you are, I would be more than happy to warm ya up."

She looked up at him and couldn't help but crack a smile.

"The windbreaker Jolene gave me works just fine. I'll remember the offer though for the next time." She laughed back as she climbed up the ladder leaning against the wall. Merle bent down and grasped her left forearm with his left hand, helping her up. Little Merle, Merle's metal encased stump of a right hand, bounced gently against his hip.

"So, Barbie's with me and Jacobsen today, huh?" He asked and looked her over. While licking his lips lustfully, playfully, he gives a small 'mhm'. "Could be worse, I s'pose."

"Shut up." She laughed and shook her head. She smiled at Jacobsen and gave a small wave. He waved back.

"Yup, could be worse." He started again and clicked his tongue. "Could be stuck up here again with nothin' to look at 'cept Martinez's ugly mug and listening to Jacobsen babblin'. At least with you, I can stare at your ass when I get bored."

Gracelyn said nothing. She just continued to shake her head as she moved to the edge of the wall. She looked out over the dirt path that led into the city, remembering the day she and her brothers had driven up it to return Milton Mamet home.

It seemed like yesterday…

"Now, now… is that regret I see in those doe eyes, Barbie?" Merle watched her from his spot. She looked over at him, squinting when the sun hit her face. "You're not sorry for joinin' us fine citizens of Woodbury, now are you?"

"No, just… remembering." She had faltered for only a split second, but Merle noticed. It was hard not to when you spent so much time with someone. She had been following him around like a lost pup for weeks. Just appeared suddenly one day on the wall with her rifle in hand and the day after that and the day after that and the day after that...

He looked back at the town behind him, watching a few people walk around and then licked his lips in consideration. He looked back at Gracelyn. Her hair swayed in the breeze, fly-aways catching in the sunlight like pieces of gold thread. He ran his tongue along his bottom front teeth, causing his lip to protrude outward.

"How long's it been?" He questioned. He hadn't cared enough to keep track of it. He only cared about himself after all.

"Since…?" She encouraged, not bothering to look back at him. She knew exactly what he was getting at and he knew that she was avoiding it. He shifted his weight from his right leg to his left and tapped his encased stump of an arm against his side.

"Since your wonderful brothers left you behind with us heathens." He clarified and rested his left arm on the gun slung slanted over his shoulder and chest. He watched her turn her head to the side as though she was going to look at him, but stopped. She stared out at nothing, but Merle could she her eyes gloss over.

She lost herself to the thoughts she had pushed so far back into her mind she had believed had disappeared altogether.

"Just forget I said anythin'." He spoke up and looked to his left, sun hitting the side of his face. He moved on along the wall to the other side, leaving her to the biting wind. She looked back out at the path after a moment.

It had been a month since Liam and Kenneth had just vanished into thin air.


~Flash Back~

"Welcome to Woodbury Miss Lyn." Philip let his hand fall from her shoulder and then walked passed her, nodding his head at Milton as he went. Gracelyn followed him with her eyes and then had turned on Milton once the Governor was long gone.

"What the Hell? Did you know he was going to do that? Did you two plan out the whole damn thing, knowing I would come here to kill the biter?" She interrogated, the feeling of embarrassment and anger still holding strong. Milton looked almost terrified at her. Despite the dress pants and the tucked in short sleeved dress shirt, he reminded her of a skittish mouse. She could see a bead of sweat beginning on his brow and knew: he hadn't known anymore than she had.

"I'm sorry." She apologized as her anger slipped away. Her eyes softened. She sighed softly and let her eyes drift to the floor. She was suddenly aware of the stinging on her back.

"Does it hurt?" Milton piped up softly. Gracelyn looked to him and took notice that he was looking at her from the corner of his eyes. She shook her head, her hair falling over her shoulders. He looked away and at the makeshift desk beside him. He turned his back to her and began shuffling papers. "You have Doctor Stevens look at it."

"Yeah." She replied, but didn't move. She watched Milton carefully as he tried to appear busy. "You know, I really didn't expect him to trust me as much as he apparently does."

"You've been very helpful since you arrived." He pushed the neatly stacked papers aside and pulled the familiar notebook closer to him. "Philip knows that. He's grateful."

"Grateful." She gave a small laugh. "All I've done, is collect flowers and insects; taken inventory of food and water. All the things a complete moron could do. And he's anything but grateful."

"He's letting you and your brothers stay."

"Liam and Kenneth don't want to."

"I'm sure they'll come around."

"How can you be sure?"

"Because you're their sister." Milton glanced back at her. His expression made the idea seem obvious. "They would do anything to keep you safe; happy."

"Keep me safe…" She scoffed and shook her head. "If my brothers ever find out that the Governor laid a hand on me today the way he did… they'll kill him."

"You had a knife." Milton felt guilty. He didn't mention that before he had piped up in the alley about the knife, Philip had never even noticed it, which meant that his actions towards her then were something else entirely. He turned back to his desk and began shuffling through things once more. "You had just suffered a traumatic experience before hand. He was worried about what you would do being in such a delicate state. He couldn't guess at your intent."

Gracelyn grit her teeth. That word, 'intent', stung.

"Were you worried?" Gracelyn countered with. She knew she was being unfair. Milton hadn't done anything to her. He was an innocent bystander. "Did you think I was going to hurt someone in town?"

"No." Milton replied.

"Myself then?"

"No."

"So why the Hell did he?"

Milton said nothing. He had no answer that would satisfy her. He didn't even have one to satisfy himself. As good of friends as he and Philip were, as they appeared to be, the Governor kept secrets even from him.

"Please, help me understand, Milton." She almost begged him. He ceased what he was doing and looked at her.

"I'm positive that he didn't know what you would do. Neither did I. We couldn't be sure what was going on in your mind." His voice had picked up speed. He was becoming increasingly uncomfortable again. "Why he reacted the way he did… I don't have an answer for that."

Gracelyn noticed his nervousness. She refrained herself from going on.

"I knew him before all of this." Milton, however, felt a need to explain; to defend the Governor. "Philip was a good man. He still is, but there are things that have happened that have essentially broken him down. He never asked to be 'The Governor.' However, he became that man and fussed together the broken pieces to try and bring back normalcy. Surely, you can understand that a little. We all can on some level."

Gracelyn's eyes drifted to the model. She licked her lips slowly and then nodded her head. Of course she understood. Everyone still alive could. They all shared a common bond now.

Slowly she walked to the corner of the warehouse where the armchair and bookcase sat. Milton followed behind her quietly with his notebook in hand and made sure to keep a few feet of distance between them.

"I haven't seen so many books since I worked at a library. Well, it was actually a Bookmobile that branched out of a stationary library." She released a ghost of a laugh; the laugh of a memory far away. She gently ran her fingers over the bindings of the books in the bookcase as she passed by. She tugged one out and read the back cover. "Growing up, I always had my nose in a book. My dad called me the 'bookworm' said it was the 'Ennis Syndrome.'"

"I'm not familiar with that syndrome." Milton spoke up and watched as she pushed the book back into its place on the bookcase. Gracelyn laughed and looked back at him with a genuine smile.

"Ennis was my mom's maiden name. She always had a book in her hand. Sometimes she would read three simultaneously." Gracelyn looked back at the bookcase, eyes scanning the titles on the bindings. "I tried to read two at the same time. I got everything mixed up."

She moved to the record player and looked at the title of the current record waiting to be played.

"Glenn Miller." She spoke aloud and smiled. She flipped a switch and the machine came to life. She gently took the needle and placed it on the record. After a moment of scratching, music echoed softly through the warehouse. "Good song. 'In The Mood' is my favorite though."

She looked to Milton from over her shoulder and noticed the notebook.

"What's so special about that thing?" She turned around and nodded at his hand. He took the notebook in both of his hands before him and glanced at it.

"Just keeping a record." He replied simply, returning the notebook to his side once more.

"Record of what?"

"Everything." Gracelyn couldn't help but to laugh. It was so… Milton.

"May I?" She outstretched a hand, hoping he would comply. He looked at her hand and then at the notebook, contemplating. Slowly, he handed it to her.

"I don't see why not." He replied as she took it. Her fingers gently grazed his hand in the exchange. His face flushed, cheeks burning. He quickly turned on his heels, hoping that she hadn't seen and headed to the makeshift desk. He nearly missed the chair when he went to sit down. He gave a small, clearing cough and pulled himself to the desk.

Gracelyn moved to the armchair. She crossed her right leg beneath her and let her left dangle, toes grazing the hideously designed round rug on the ground. She leaned back in the chair, making herself comfortable and opened the notebook. She read and read as Glenn Miller played in the background faintly until the record finished.

Hour after hour passed by.

Milton finally looked up from his work. His gaze fell upon the armchair where Gracelyn sat slouched and fast asleep. His notebook lie open in her lap, thumb visible on the page filled with scribbling. He peered down at the watch on his wrist: 11:43 PM. He hadn't realized that so much time had passed by.

Milton jumped as the door to the warehouse swung open with a fury. Merle rushed inside and caught sight of Milton.

"Where's the girl?" He barked. Milton nodded his head to the corner where Gracelyn was just starting to wake up, having heard Merle's shout. "Hey sweetheart! Wakie, wakie!"

Merle marched to the corner and pulled Gracelyn to her feet. The notebook fell from her lap and onto the floor.

"What's going on?" She asked through a yawn and rubbed her eyes. "Why are you shouting?"

"The Gov'na has requested your presence." He answered; a hint of sarcasm in his voice.

"Why?" Milton asked and rose from his seat. Gracelyn could hear the suspicion in his voice, unhindered by coyness. The light from the desk lamp bounced from the desk top and cast shadows over parts of his face.

"Seems her brothers have flown the coop." Merle replied and took Gracelyn by the upper arm, all but dragging her to the door of the warehouse.

"They what…?" She asked. Suddenly she was wide awake. Milton followed at their heels as they stepped out into the alley and then into the street. "What do you mean, Merle?"

"Your brothers are gone, Barbie Doll. Ducked tail and ran off into the night, takin' that Hum'ma with them." Merle explained as he pulled her along beside him. Gracelyn stumbled a few times. Had Merle not had such a firm hold on her she would have gone face first into the pavement.

"Would you be a little more civilized?" Milton spoke up from behind the two, watching as Merle tugged Gracelyn once again. She stumbled and Milton quickly lurched forward, hand at the ready to try and catch her, but she recovered. Something felt wrong about this to him; very, very wrong.

"I'm just doin' my job." Merle retorted, restraining himself from lashing at the good scientist. He was irked, but not by Milton or Gracelyn.

"You're going to hurt her." Milton protested and laid a hand on Merle's arm, intending to pull it away from Gracelyn. Merle suddenly halted and spun on Milton, glaring down at him.

"Boy, you better let go." His voice was low. Milton swallowed hard and let his hand fall from Merle.

"She's already hurt." Milton's voice shook, but became stronger as he went on. "You're going to make it worse."

"She'll live." Merle opened the door to Philip's apartment building and pulled Gracelyn inside. "…for now…"

Gracelyn and Milton heard the soft words that slipped past Merle's lips like an omen. Gracelyn tried to look back at Milton, but Merle tugged her along up the stairs. He knocked on Philip's door and waited, not bothering to make eye contact with either of the two with him. The door opened to reveal Philip, who didn't look too pleased.

"Bring her in." He ordered and Merle was quick to obey. He tugged Gracelyn inside the apartment, Milton following. Philip closed the door and turned around. Merle let go of Gracelyn's arm and took a step away from her. She looked at the three men before her, completely at a loss.

"What's going on?" She demanded and looked to Philip for the answer. "Merle said my brothers are gone."

"They are." He began and walked further into the room. He placed his hands on the back of a chair and leaned. "Walked straight through the front gate."

"What?" She really didn't understand now. "How did they get passed the guards?"

"Slit one of their throats; snapped the other's neck." He explained, face expressing his rage. Gracelyn looked over at Merle for confirmation. He met her gaze for a moment and then looked away.

It was true.

"Then they drove off in that Hummer you all arrived in. Stole several of weapons and a bit of the ammunition; food and water. Even stole some medical supplies."

Gracelyn opened her mouth to say something, but didn't know what to say. She didn't know what she could say. It didn't sound right. That wasn't something her brothers would do. Especially, not without telling her or taking her with them.

"What was the plan?" Philip's accusation hit her like a hot poker. "Earn our trust and then take us for everythin' we have?"

"You can't actually believe that I had something to do with this." She snapped as he eyes narrowed. Her face contorted in anger. "I was with Milton all day!"

"It's true." Milton said his peace and was silenced by a flaming stare from Philip.

"Not all day." Philip corrected and straightened himself up. "Where were you this mornin'?"

"I had been in my room until you showed up." She replied sternly. His look spoke to her, asking if she really had been in her room all morning. "I went to bed late, woke up late and then was greeted by you when I stepped out of my room for the first time."

"What were you doin' up so late?"

Gracelyn wanted huff and stamp her feet in frustration. She didn't care much for explaining her every action and why she had done them, but she had the feeling that if she didn't convince Philip, then something horrible was going to happen. And it was only Philip who needed convincing. As Gracelyn looked from Milton to Merle she could tell that neither of them believed she had played a role in her brother's treachery.

"I asked you a question." Philip brought her attention back to his hard stare.

"I was sitting at my window; waiting, watching." Gracelyn realized as the word slipped out how poorly she had worded her answer.

"Watchin' what?"

"The town."

"For?"

"The biter." She replied bitterly. She wanted to say, the biter that you all led me to believe was in Milton's lab, but she refrained. She didn't want to dig herself in deeper.

"When were you supposed to meet up with your brothers?" Philip pushed himself away from the chair and rounded the table slowly. "Later? After they had done all the heavy liftin'? After they had done the dirty work?"

"I had nothing to do with that! With any of this!" Gracelyn screeched. "I haven't even seen them since yesterday when you were telling them they were doing a piss poor job at keeping me safe!"

"I told the truth! Now, tell me the truth!"

"That is the truth, you dumb son of a bitch!"

"Quit lyin' Lyn!"

"I'm not lying!"

"You are! Now tell me! How long had you all been planin' this?!"

"I don't know!"

"You do! How long?!"

"I don't know anything!" Her eyes burned with tears. Her anger was quickly becoming fear and panic. The look that crossed his face frightened her. "I haven't done anything wrong! I swear!"

She looked to Merle and then to Milton. Her eyes pleaded with them to help her; to make this mad man who was accusing her see that she was no liar; that she was no traitor.

"Merle." Philip stared at Gracelyn. Merle's gaze moved to the taller man and then he took a step towards Gracelyn. He grabbed her upper arm and, with alarm, jerked away. He grabbed her upper arm again and held on tighter.

"Please, I haven't done anything…!" She looked up at Merle and then tried to pry his hand from her.

"Get her out of my sight." Philip ordered and turned away from her, heading for the bottle of whiskey on his counter. "And take care of her."

"Yes, Gov'na." Merle complied.

"Please! I didn't know what they were planning!" She pleaded and struggled against Merle's firm hold.

"Come on, Barbie." Merle instructed softly with gentleness in his voice. He began pulling her towards the door, but she struggled and fought against him. She dug her heels in to the wooden floors of the apartment.

"I swear I didn't know! I swear!" She continued to scream as tears rolled down her cheeks. Merle pulled her out of the apartment and closed the door, leaving Milton to watch Philip with dread apparent on his face.


Gracelyn closed her eyes and let the icy wind strike her face.

They had locked her away in her room that night; wouldn't let her out for three days. Not to eat, not to perform chores, not for anything. Two guards had stood watch by her door per order of Philip Blake; the mad king of Woodbury. He suspected that Liam and Kenneth were truly coming back to take her with them.

This had gone on for a week. Then two weeks. Until finally 'Philip had seen the light' or as Milton had said the day he came to free her:

"He has seen the errors in his calculations."

He had been trying to make her feel better or perhaps just sticking up for the one person he called friend inside of Woodbury. Either way, it made no difference to her. The sad fact was that her brother had left her.

They never came back…

…and she never tried to escape.