Season 2-Episode 3: Save the Last One
Merle left her for only a short amount of time. He needed his space for a moment so he could think. He had to figure out what he was going to do with her. Should he put her down now? Or should he wait until she turns? Another option was to just walk back to camp without her and just leave her there, sitting against the tree. He quickly moved that idea out of his head. As big of an ass he was, he knew he wouldn't be able to live with that. That was a reason he saved Penny in the first place. It didn't matter how long he's known her. He knew she was special in some way, and he knew she was strong. He couldn't give up on her just yet.
Turning, he walked back to where he had left her, but she wasn't there.
"Penny?" Merle questioned. Where did she go? "Penny!"
There was no answer. As he gazed down, he saw a rag soaked in human blood. He picked it up, knowing it belonged to Penny.
Suddenly, a distant, high-pitched, and pain filled scream rang in Merle's ears. Merle ran to find her location, hoping to save her once more.
"Penny! Penny!" Merle shouted as he ran through the woods. When her screaming stopped, he was even more worried. "Penny!"
Merle stopped and raised his pistol, raising his guard as he heard a branch break. He knew someone or something was close by. He prayed it was Penny.
As he gazed ahead, he saw her walking with her back facing him.
"Penny?" Merle hesitated.
Penny stopped walking, hearing his voice call her. Merle lowered his gun and carefully walked closer to her. He put his hands on her shoulders.
"Penny? You all right?" He said, anxious. He turned her to face him. He looked into her now silver-grey eyes and immediately knew what she was. "Penny. Penny, you remember me, right?"
Merle didn't want to believe it. She stared at him for a moment, then attempted to lunge. She grunted and he struggled to keep her back. Her breathing was heavy and raspy. Merle pushed her back so he could back up away from her. He lifted his gun, not wanting to pull the trigger. As he looked at her, he knew something was out of the ordinary. She stood, but did not continue attacking. She stared into his eyes as if she were pleading for help. Her mouth was open and her breathing was heavy. It looked as if she wanted to speak, but Merle knew that was impossible.
"Help… Me." A raspy voice escaped Penny's lips. Merle's gun fell from his hands as he stared in shock. This couldn't be happening. "Please… It hurts."
Afraid she could still attack, he picked up his gun and aimed it at her just to be cautious.
"Come on. Come on honey." Merle walked towards the camp, gesturing for her to follow him. "Come on, come on honey."
Penny walked towards him and he backed away so she could continue following him.
"I swore to myself I'd protect you no matter what, and I ain't gonna stop now." Merle thought out loud. "Come on darlin'."
The walk back to the camp took about an hour and a half. Merle knew she was special and he knew she was still there. He wasn't quitting. He wasn't the type that gave up easily.
Merle and Penny walked out of the woods and up to the camp.
"Shane! Andrea!" Amy yelled in terror as she gazed at what was behind Merle. Merle, and Penny as a walker.
"Merle!" Shane yelled running over with Andrea at his side.
Dale climbed down the ladder on the R.V. and jogged over, holding his rifle.
"Oh God. Carl get back." Lori said worried. She made her son hide behind her.
"Merle, what the hell are you doing?" Andrea yelled, aiming her gun.
"Dixon you have three seconds before I blow your head off. Do you hear me!" Shane aimed his pistol at Merle.
"Hey hey hey!" Merle raised his hands in defense. "Don't you worry, she's fine. She's just fine. No harm will come to any of ya."
"Dixon this isn't a joke. You're putting everyone here at risk. Put her down." Andrea lowered her gun, trying to reason with him.
"Merle, what were you thinking? You can't just bring in walkers like this. Andrea is right. You need to put her down." Dale explained.
"No. I ain't doin' that." Merle said seriously.
"Put her down or I will." Shane cocked his gun, ready to do what he felt was necessary.
"You'll have to kill me first." Merle blocked Penny from Shane's view.
"Merle, I've got a family to protect." Shane lowered his gun, trying to reason. "I've got Lori, I've got Carl. Carol has Sophia. Morales has his own family. This just ain't safe man."
"Help." A quiet and raspy voice was heard. Everyone looked at the walker, knowing it was impossible. "Not… Dead… Not."
Everyone stared in shock. Penny looked at everyone then seemed to be getting woozy. Penny collapsed on the ground completely unconscious. Merle turned and picked her up. He knew this was the real Penny. By the looks of it, she was most likely in a coma. Merle carried her to his tent. He laid her on Daryl's bed.
"Nobody's gonna come near ya. I promise." Merle said to her.
He turned and sat on his bed, across from her, and watched her.
He wasn't giving up yet.
Penny actually tried sleeping. It didn't work out. New worries crept into her head. What if the farm isn't safe? What if Carl doesn't make it? What if they never find Sophia? Those questions just wouldn't leave her mind.
Penny grabbed her bag and left the R.V. As she loaded her gun, Daryl also left the R.V. with his crossbow over his shoulder.
"Where are you going?" Penny asked him, still angry with him.
"Going to look for the girl." Daryl answered her.
"No, because that's what I'm doing." Penny snapped as she finished loading. She grabbed her flashlight and strutted past him.
"I guess we'll have to look together then." Daryl commented. He looked up at Dale who was on watch. "I'm going for a walk. Shine some light in the forest. If she's out there, give her something to look at."
"You think that's a good idea right now?" Dale asked him.
"Dale." Penny interrupted. "It's fine."
Penny led the way into the forest, hoping she didn't have to make any more conversation. She was too angry to talk. She only wanted to know one thing. Why did Daryl care so much about finding Sophia? And why was he so sure they were going to find her?
"You really think we're gonna find Sophia?" Her question slipped out.
"You got that look on your face same as everyone else." Daryl said as he shined his flashlight on her face. "What the hell's wrong with you people? We just started looking."
"Well, do you?"
"It ain't the mountains of Tibet. It's Georgia. She could be holed up in a farmhouse somewhere. People get lost and they survive. It happens all the time."
"She's only twelve." Penny snapped.
I should've taught Maggie how to defend herself. Why didn't I? Penny thought. She hated that she was blaming herself, but she couldn't help it.
"Hell, I was younger than her and I got lost." Daryl responded. "Nine days in the woods eating berries, wiping my ass with poison oak.
"They found you?" She looked at him.
"My old man was off on a bender with some waitress. Merle was doing another stint in juvie."
Of course, Penny wanted to laugh.
"Didn't even know I was gone. I made my way back though. Went straight into the kitchen and made myself a sandwich. No worse for wear. Except my ass itched something awful."
Penny chuckled loudly, forgetting her bad mood.
"I'm sorry." Penny laughed. "I'm sorry, that is a terrible story."
Daryl actually laughed with her.
"Only difference is Sophia's got people looking for her. I call that an advantage." Daryl said.
"I guess it is." She replied.
"I'm sorry by the way." Daryl said.
"Sorry for what?" She knew exactly what, but she wanted him to say it.
"For saying what I said. About you and my brother. It wasn't right."
"Thank you." She replied. "Just don't let it happen again."
"It won't."
"Good. Because if it does, you best pray that I'm dead." Penny, this time, meant it more as a joke than a threat. She smiled at him.
Daryl laughed which made her laugh with him. The two continued walking through the woods, finally enjoying each other's company.
The two suddenly heard the trees rustling. Immediately on their guard, they walked towards the sound, wondering if it was a walker, or perhaps Sophia herself.
They saw a small campsite, but no occupants. The tree rustled again. Daryl and Penny turned to see a walker hanging from a tree.
"What the hell?" Daryl commented as he examined the hanging walker. Daryl noticed a note pinned to the tree. "Got bit. Fever hit. World gone to shit. Might as well quit. Dumbass didn't have enough to shoot himself in the head. Turned himself into a big swinging piece of bait. And a mess."
Penny got sick to her stomach, but forced herself not to throw up.
"You all right?" Daryl asked her.
"Trying not to puke." She answered, leaning on her knees.
"Go ahead if you gotta." Daryl told her casually.
"No, I'm fine." She answered, obviously not fine. "Can you talk about something else for a minute?"
Daryl wanted to mess with her some more. The last time she almost puked in front of him was when they gutted the walker in these very woods. He might've failed last time with trying to get her to give into her weak stomach, but he's not going to fail this time.
"I guess we're the closest he's been to food since he turned." Daryl said, noticing the walker struggling to get to them. "Look at him, hanging up there like a big piñata."
Daryl shined his flashlight onto the walker's dangling legs.
"The other geeks came and ate all the flesh off his legs." Daryl commented.
Penny couldn't take anymore. She vomited right into her hand. She coughed in agony, hating him for doing that.
"You were supposed to change the subject, asshole." Penny choked.
"Call that payback for laughing about my itchy ass."
"There wasn't a lot that came up." Penny shook her hand to get the vomit off.
"Let's head back."
"Shouldn't you?" Penny gestured to the hanging walker.
"No. He ain't hurting nobody." Daryl said. "Ain't gonna waste an arrow either. He made his choice. Opted out. Let him hang."
Daryl turned to head back, but Penny walked closer to the biter, making it go crazy.
"You want to live now, or not?" Daryl asked her. 'It's just a question."
"What are you talking about?" Penny asked him.
"At the C.D.C. You said you should stay. When you were talkin' to Andrea, I heard you say you, attempted it, before. Just wonderin'."
"If I answer you, you'll shoot him. Fair?"
Daryl nodded his head, agreeing. He just wanted to know. He didn't really know why. He guessed that he just cared.
"I don't know if I wanna live. I don't know if I have to, or-sometimes I think it's just a stupid old habit." Penny answered him.
"Not much of an answer." Daryl said as he shot the walker. "Waste of an arrow."
Daryl walked off with Penny behind him. The entire walk back was silent, just what Penny had wanted. Now? She didn't want silence anymore. She wanted to talk to Daryl. Confess her plan that she made with Andrea that night. But for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Daryl and Penny made it back to the highway and walked up to the R.V. Andrea was with Dale and Carol went back into the R.V. Daryl followed.
"Penny." Andrea called out. Andrea handed the .38 gun back to Penny. "Thank you, but, I don't need it anymore."
Penny took the gun.
"Okay." Was all Penny could think to say.
Penny went back into the R.V. and saw Carol sleeping, and Daryl getting ready to sleep.
"Hey, Daryl?" Penny asked, lying down.
"What?" He replied quietly.
"We're going to find her. I know it." Penny whispered. "I had a lot of doubts, but, I know we will."
"Yeah." Was all Daryl said.
They both closed their eyes and went to sleep.
That morning, Penny did not feel refreshed. She did not feel safe. She did not put herself back to the first day of the apocalypse and made it happen differently. No, she was back in this car jumping at every noise. This was her life now.
Everyone got out of the car. It was very quiet, no sign of anything.
"Penny." Lucy spoke up, breaking the silence. "I'm going huntin', okay?"
"Okay." Penny replied.
Lucy was a fifteen-year-old girl with long, dirty-blonde hair and blue eyes. She had a very small, petite body and a pretty baby face. She always had that sweet, happy tone in her southern voice. Lucy could indeed pass for a twelve-year-old.
"You mind if I use this?" Lucy asked, picking up the .38 gun.
"Wouldn't you rather use the bow?" Penny asked her.
"Oh no. I can't use that, I suck." She answered. "I have a knife. I'm a knife thrower. It's what I do when I hunt. It was quite popular back at home. I just want the gun for protection against those biters. Just in case there's too many of 'em."
"Okay, take it. If I hear a gun shot, I'm coming after you." Penny warned. "Those gunshots attract more of them."
"Okay." Was all Lucy said back. Then she strolled off into the woods.
"Be back in an hour!" Penny practically yelled as Lucy went further and further away.
"Okay!" She yelled in the distance.
Penny didn't know what she should do while Lucy was gone. She didn't want to just sit there and worry until she got back.
She decided it was best if she ate something. Penny got out canned food and a bottle of water from her backpack. To savor it, it took her a half hour to finish it all.
Afterwards, she changed her clothes. She changed into a black tank top with a black sweater over it, black shorts, and black sneakers. She sat and relaxed. She figured Lucy would wake her up when she returns soon. She didn't even realize she fell asleep.
"Penny." A voice said. It wasn't Lucy.
"What mom?" Penny asked, waking up.
"When did Lucy leave?" Nancy asked her, looking worried.
"Around one, why?" Penny got worried as well. "Isn't she back?"
"It's now almost four. You told her an hour, right?"
"Yeah." Penny responded. "I'll go find her. She probably just got lost." Penny tried keeping her cool, but you could still hear the worry in her voice.
The only weapon she could use was her bow and arrows, because Lucy took the gun. After she put the arrows on her back, she heard a nearby gunshot.
Oh no, Penny thought.
Penny picked up her bow and ran into the woods. She put an arrow into the bow and prepared to shoot.
"Lucy!" Penny shouted as she began walking through the woods on guard.
Shouting really isn't the best idea. I could attract biters. But if they come for me and leave Lucy alone, it's worth it, Penny thought.
"Lucy." Penny said quieter. She was scared.
The gunshot was close. Where was she?
"Penny." She heard a voice whimper. Penny turned to see Lucy fall to the ground. There was a dead biter on the ground, but there was another right behind her. It growled and lunged.
Penny immediately shot it with her arrow, killing it. She ran to Lucy. She had bites. One on her arm, and another on her leg. They looked really bad. Penny felt Lucy's forehead. The fever. She had a fever. A really bad fever.
"Penny, please." Lucy whimpered as she cried. "Penny please, shoot me."
"I can't do that." Penny replied, fighting tears.
"Please Penny." She cried. "I don't wanna be like them."
Lucy offered Penny the gun. She slowly took it in her hand.
"You're my best friend, Lucy." Penny told her, starting to cry.
"You're my best friend, Penny." Lucy replied, also crying.
Penny quickly raised the gun, put it to Lucy's head, and shot her. She died right there.
Why me? Why? I get close to someone and they die. My guard was down. If only I went with her. Why didn't I? Why did I think she could take care of herself? Why! Penny thought.
Penny sat on the forest floor and cried. More like screamed. She just kept screaming at the top of her lungs while she dug her nails into her scalp, tears streaming down her face. She couldn't stop. Not caring what came.
Let them come! Why shouldn't they? They're evil! Penny thought.
Nighttime came, and she was still in the woods, crying and crying nonstop in darkness. Finally, she wiped the tears off her face and stood. She took the gun and the bow and arrows. She looked over and saw a small rose bush. Penny picked a single red rose, and placed it on Lucy's chest. She walked out of the woods and saw Nancy had lit a fire. Nancy looked up at Penny as Penny stood there staring at her and Maggie. She gave Nancy a look of grief then walked over to the car without saying a word. She opened the passenger door and slammed it shut after she sat down inside. Nancy knew very well to leave her alone.
Penny sat there and looked out the window the entire night, not sleeping at all, wanting to mourn.
Penny awoke to find herself in the R.V. Dale, Carol, and Daryl were sleeping, which meant Andrea was on watch. Penny stood and stepped over Daryl, leaving the R.V.
"You need something?" Andrea called out, sitting at the top of the R.V.
"No. Mind if I take watch with you?" Penny replied.
"Seat's all yours." Andrea said.
Penny climbed the ladder and sat next to Andrea.
"Nightmare?" Andrea asked.
"Yeah. In a way. More of a memory." Penny nodded her head.
"What happened?" Andrea turned to face her.
"My best friend, Lucy. She died." Penny ducked her head, not wanting to continue.
"How'd she die?" Andrea asked, hoping she wasn't going too far.
"I-I killed her." Penny said, tearing up. "She was bit, and I-she asked me to do it."
Penny took out the .38 gun.
"She handed me this gun. She asked me to end it for her. And I-I just did it."
Penny began to cry, but she was still fighting so she wouldn't cry harder. She was losing that battle.
"You had to do what was necessary. But I'm sorry you had to go through that. I know how you feel." Andrea tried to comfort her.
"You know what? You do." Penny looked at Andrea with thankful eyes.
Penny had to put down Lucy. Andrea had to put down Amy. Penny was so thankful that someone finally understood her pain. And that someone was a true friend.
Unaware to them, Daryl was awake, listening the entire time. This time, he finally felt real sympathy.
"Oh shit." Shane groaned as he fell to the ground. That fall hurt his ankle so bad, it just gave out.
"Got to get to the street, double back to the truck." Otis said to Shane.
"Look, we ain't gonna make it, okay?" Shane grunted as he heard the walkers getting closer.
"Got to try, man." Otis told him. "Come on, get up."
"You're gonna take these bags, and you're gonna go." Shane went to remove his bag.
"I ain't leaving you behind." Otis told him.
"Okay." Shane said getting up. "How many rounds you got left?"
"Four. You?" Otis replied.
"Five and one in the pipe." Shane answered.
They needed to get this stuff to Carl. If not, he'll die for sure. Shane stood and limped alongside Otis, the man who shot Carl, wanting to make things right.
As they walked, they would turn and shoot. A herd of walkers were right behind them.
"Down to my last." Otis warned.
"Me too." Shane replied. "I'm sorry."
Shane stopped. Otis gave a confused look as to why Shane said, "I'm sorry." Shane shot Otis's knee, making him fall. Shane tried pulling the bag off of Otis, but Otis fought back.
"Will you give it? Give it!" Shane yelled as the walkers got closer and closer.
Shane kicked him several times, making Otis scream. Otis kept trying to fight back.
"I'll kill you." Otis gripped Shane's hair.
"Let go of me! Let go!" Shane yelled after hitting him repeatedly. Shane pulled away, making Otis rip a chunk of hair out of Shane's head.
Shane grabbed both bags and limped as Otis was torn apart by walkers.
Shane got back to the car. He jumped in, put the bags on the side seat, and drove off, trying to bury his guilt.
The whole drive back to the farm, he thought, I did what was necessary. I did what was necessary.
The question was, did he really do what was necessary?
