Alright, dare I say it? These coming chapters are the build ups to the end and I'm extremely nervous about them , so tell me what you think!
The civilians of Woodbury watched worriedly and with fear as they led The Governor at gun point towards the building where Milton's lab. Every now and then The Governor would say something to his people, tell them things were going to be alright and that the threat would be over soon. Rick didn't say anything to stop him, knowing the people needed reassurance unless they wanted some sort of riot on their hands. But with every word of false hope that The Governor gave his people Rick pressed the gun he held to him further against his skin. The Governor would hiss at the feeling and then let out a bit of a laugh. He wasn't afraid, he really couldn't bother to be.
Connor walked behind Daryl, having to have him in between himself and The Governor or else he would likely explode. He knew that he had been the reason that the plan had been ruined. He knew that if he had just listened to Rick than things would have gone according to plan. He had screwed up, he understood that. He could see his mistake walking smugly ahead of them, leading the way. But he also knew that he had to do it. He had to give himself the shot to end this, whether he missed or not. Pulling the trigger had sent a surge of life through his dead body, the nearing taste of revenge the sweetest thing he had ever felt.
He couldn't help but wonder though what would happen after this. Would they allow him to stay with the group after he had deliberately went against Rick's plan? Would they let him tag along per se even though he had taken his own interests over everyone else's. Because killing The Governor didn't just benefit one person. Killing him meant a bit of peace for everyone. It meant freeing this town of the tyranny that existed behind its gate. It meant giving the group at the prison a fair chance to survive. It meant freedom for every side. He had ruined that and although he knew he was going to have to live with that he couldn't quite say he regretted it.
There was only one thing that he did regret and that was the thought of what Murphy would think if he were to see him now. If he were to know the lengths of revenge he was taking. He was putting other people at risk, he knew that. They were supposed to be protectors of the innocent, cleaning up streets of the evil that slept with it. They were supposed to be Saints and yet here he was throwing others in the line of fire just so he could know that he had avenged a murder that wasn't really on anyone else's head. He had been at fault, Murphy had been at fault. No one else had separated them but each other, for a damn lousy pack of cigarettes. They had often times felt invincible walking among the dead. God was on their side, He would protect them. Being arrogant was never really the way to go, especially not when one's own faith was waning.
Swallowing back those thoughts he saw the lab come into view. A cure. Could it be true? Everyone knew by then that no matter what happened they were all infected, they knew that in the end nothing was going to save their lives. Turning was everyone's fate. Nothing could prevent it.
Did he believe in this cure? He didn't believe in a damn thing that came out of The Governor's mouth. But he could see the hope in Rick's eyes, the hope in Daryl's. These were good people. There had to be hope for them somewhere. If there was a cure than that would mean that Rick could save his children and everyone else in the group. It meant striving just a little harder towards the light that was so dim at the end of the twisted and fatal road they all dragged themselves down. Seeing all the broken people that lived in the prison he knew that he had to hold out hope. But what happens if he lost hope in the one source that mattered most? What happens if he lost hope in God?
Daryl looked back at him then, breaking the spell of his thoughts. They were nearing the building, getting closer.
"Thank your God we're here." He said, making Connor's eyes shoot to him with disbelief.
"You believe in God?" Connor asked, surprised as he held Daryl's gaze.
He shrugged a little and rubbed at the back of his neck. "Never did before all this, hell I didn't believe in nothing. But now, you're a man of God, ain't you? Guess He's on our side now." It seemed like there was a faint smile trying to appear on his lips just then.
Connor wasn't sure what to say. Daryl was in his position. His brother had died, had been ripped apart while he stood helpless atop a roof. He had to hear Merle's screams and could do nothing at all to help him. And yet there he was, holding out hope for the faith that Connor felt his own self slipping away from.
The Governor turned to look at Rick, his lips carrying that challenging smug smile that had never faded. "Here we are gentlemen." He said, his eyes never leaving Rick's. For some reason he was enjoying this. Liking the feeling of being such a threat.
Connor couldn't understand what Andrea had seen in this man. He was full of sadistic arrogance. The need to do something horrendous in order to survive. He was making excuses for himself. Hurting the innocent and for what? For his own gain, for his needs. He was throwing people in the line of fire, not caring at all who exactly would get burned.
He dropped his eyes from looking at him, feeling his own thoughts and distaste of The Governor hit far too close to home. He wasn't like him. No he wasn't like him at all. He was doing this for Murphy and he had God on his side, didn't he? All while throwing everyone in the line of fire, just like The Governor. He heavily sighed. I'm nothing like him.
Rick urged The Governor into the lab, his jaw tense and a glare settled heavily in his eyes. He wasn't playing any games. One wrong move from The Governor and he was dead. It was simple as that. Rick had reached his breaking point and seeing that sort of madness in his eyes made Connor glad. This wasn't a peace bargaining, this was war. Man to man war.
The Governor led the way in, opening the doors and stepping inside. His arms made a wide sweeping gesture like he was showing off the room before he returned his eyes back to Rick.
"Take a good look gentlemen this is where our salvation lies. Y'think this was how the world fell too? From the bottle of a vial, in the mixing of chemicals?" He questioned, looking this time at all three men as if it were some sort of open discussion.
"I have it on good authority that it was an act of God." Rick stated, his brows lifting with both threat and accusation.
"Why would God raise the dead? Let them feast on his children's bodies?"
"To separate the chaff from the wheat." Connor stated, looking up finally into The Governor's eye.
He chuckled, staring down Connor before turning his eyes back to Rick. "And let me guess..." He began, his grin widening. "Y'all are the wheat and I must be the chaff. Should I fall to my knees to beg for forgiveness? Or is it too late for a soul like me?"
Rick didn't answer, he just held his eye and listened to his words.
"I wanna tell y'something." The Governor said, looking at Rick closely. This was their talk, their fight. "Whatever happens there is no God, not anymore. We take control of who we are. No one else. No higher power."
Again Rick made no reply. Was he trying to make him lose faith? Was he trying to steer him from the path he was currently on? There was a reason why The Governor spoke only to Rick. Daryl had spoken out about whatever faith he had come to have and Connor felt lost in his faith. Was Rick in the middle? Wavering between death and life? Was this what was all this was?
"Where's the cure?" Rick demanded, not paying attention to The Governor's words. Or perhaps he did but there were just no words or reason to acknowledge them.
"I'll give y'that cure, Rick." He threw his name out carelessly, like he was kicking around a ball that held no direction. "But first y'have to do something for me."
Rick let out an inaudible sigh, his jaw tensing again as his eyes dropped with a bit of a nod. "What?"
Connor observed. His eyes moving between Rick and The Governor. Something didn't feel right. Something told him that this wasn't going to end with a happy ending. Nothing never did. Not before and definitely not now. The world hadn't changed that much. People's real nature only started to show more.
"I'll give y'the cure to save your children, your group...but I want something in return." Another smirk appeared on his lips. "I want Michonne..." The smirk grew into an actual smile just then. "...and I want Andrea."