A/N: Phew! A bit better with this chapter hope that you guys like it. Leave a review - thanks. Spitfire47.
Carol clutched her bleeding stomach, she was about to fall but the Governor grabbed her upper arm and held her still.
"Last chance," the Governor said calmly over Beth's screams.
Daryl opened and closed his mouth he looked to see Carol bleeding heavily.
"The youth had a bit of an infection last time I saw him," the Governor thought aloud, "if you did have any idea where he was, freed him than you would've taken him to the medic building in search for medication. So…."
The Governor turned ready to shoot Carol again but Daryl spoke up.
"He's in the medic bay isn't he Carol?" Daryl quickly asked his voice was hoarse but loud enough to get everyone's attention. The tone in his voice made it clear that the mother should answer.
Carol sighed squeezing her eyes in pain. "Yes…"
The Governor re holstered his gun and turned to an enforcer.
"Go check the medic bay, bring Carl over here."
The enforcer nodded ready to leave but then stopped, "what about-?"
"Just Carl."
Daryl straightened knowing that the Governor was hiding something. He looked over to see Carol, blood dribbling out of her mouth and her hands twitched on her stomach. Carol's eyes tried to focus but had difficulty, they landed on Daryl.
"Ju..Judi-."
The Governor delivered a painful kick to Carol to shut her up. Beth screamed again straining against the enforcer that was holding her. But Morgan received the message loud and clear.
"Judith is the in the medic building isn't she?" he scowled.
"Sad case really," the Governor answered, "her group abandoned her, left her to die. Luckily our enforcers were close by."
"Do you really think that the people are that stupid to believe such bullshit?"
The Governor shrugged. "Does it matter? They'll believe whatever helps them sleep at night. Whatever keeps the nightmares away."
The leader turned and opened the door an enforcer came in with three bags in his hand. Merle looked at the Governor giving him a dark stare.
"Too much of a pussy to shoot me while looking huh?"
"Not at all Merle, it's just out of habit. The bags will be taken off when we get to the site."
The Governor nodded and the bags were placed over the men's heads and cinched leaving Beth the only one who had sight. He looked down at Carol who had laid still, her eyes were closed and the blood out of her mouth started to crust a little. Beth bit her lip feeling anger rise and her hands trembled at her side.
The men were forced to their feet Beth was forced to stay at gunpoint she watched the men being escorted out and then at Carol's body that was still in the corner. As soon as the men were out it was just the Governor and Beth. The leader walked over to Carol and bent down feeling a faint pulse on her neck.
"Rick's group really is strong," the Governor mused, "guess that goes for the women too."
Beth felt her heart beat faster. "She might have a chance…."
The Governor gave a look of false sympathy. "I can't have a mentally disturbed person walking around Woodbury it'll put the others on edge."
Beth moved forward wanting to comfort the mother but couldn't take her eyes off the Governor's gun which was trained on Carol's head.
"You should consider yourself lucky…," the Governor quipped he pulled back the chamber on his gun.
"No…no please…."
The leader turned his back to the young woman. "If you hadn't been so beautiful than you probably would be dead by now."
The Governor was ready to pull the trigger when something slammed into his side he felt the tear in his cheek rip open again sending blood into his mouth and splatter into his eye. He let out a frustrated cry and turned to see Beth pulling Carol to her feet. He tried to get up but Beth kicked out her foot making contact with his torso. The Governor crumpled to the ground he was in too much pain to make any attempt to stop Beth and Carol as they hurried past.
Outside the hallway was empty. With one hand Beth dragged it along the wall using it as a guide as she didn't have any light to guide her. With the other Beth half dragged Carol down the hallway, the mother struggled with getting proper footing to walk on her own as each time she straightened her stomach heaved and the bullet entry would push more blood through. Beth moved as fast as she could, listening to the door crash against the wall as the Governor came after them. She made the mistake of turning to see a light blind her temporarily almost causing her to lose her grip on Carol.
"Come on," Beth urged.
Carol groaned as she forced herself to comply but a powerful spasm made her shake uncontrollably. She fell to the ground taking Beth with her. The young woman tried to pull Carol back up but a hand wrapped around her throat and threw her against the wall. Stars danced in her vision and darkness edged. Beth tried to rip the Governor's hand away but he held fast while taking his gun up in the other hand. Beth grabbed his wrist with both hands and twisted the Governor cried out and released Beth who continued to twist his wrist at a painful angle. She stepped forward and slammed her fist into his face making his head snap back and blood flow down his face. Beth unclipped the flashlight from his belt, grabbed the gun from the Governor's weakened grip and made a run for it listening to the coarse howls of pain.
XXXXXX
Outside Beth saw a vehicle all ready and waiting, she saw one person standing outside. By the time the enforcer saw her and realized who she was it was too late. Beth raised the gun and shot. The bullet punched through his skull sending splatter onto the door window. The door opened but Beth shot again hitting the enforcer in the leg. She let out a string of curses as she tumbled out of the vehicle onto the ground. The enforcer glared daggers at the young woman.
"Let them out," Beth said her eyes wide and her voice in a soft whisper. When nothing happened she repeated herself except this time it was louder. One enforcer got out with his hands in the air he undid his holster and tossed the gun his way. He opened the door and led the three bound men out.
"Unbind them."
The enforcer took out a knife and cut through the zip ties and took off the hoods. As soon as he took off Merle's, the redneck elbowed him in the face making him fall to the ground unconscious. Morgan reached out to take the gun from Beth but Daryl shook his head.
"Drive," the young woman ordered.
The female driver just gave her a curious look not completely understanding.
"I said get the fuck out!" Beth elaborated kicking the side door closed. Immediately the jeep's engine roared to life and sped off towards the front entrance. Since everyone was scattered there were only two enforcers who were guarding the front entrance but nothing the guards said made the driver stop.
Beth didn't stop moving however she turned to Merle.
"Where is the medic bay?"
Merle took the flashlight and then pointed it to a building on the other side.
"Go there, get Carl and a vehicle and I'll meet you at the entrance," Beth said turning back to the shed. Before she could move Morgan reached out grabbing her arm.
"What? What about you?" he asked.
Beth turned to the sheds. "Carol's back there."
"Then let me g-."
"I left her back there!" Beth suddenly blurted, "With him."
The three looked at her clearly wanting more information.
"Just get Carl and Judith."
Before anyone could stop her she went back through the door.
"Fuck what are we supposed to d-."
Suddenly a flash blinded the three as the headlamp came on.
XXXXXX
Thirty minutes ago….
Carl saw a small light. It was tiny and weak. He stared at the light wondering why it was there in the first place. Suddenly it grew, it became brighter and more colours surrounded the small flicker of light. Just as the colours brightened it immediately darkened. Carl groaned as a pain entered his mind, it felt like a thousand small insects were biting him simultaneously and holding their grip. He groaned again slowly pushing himself up from the examination table, a small prick drew the youth's attention and he looked over to see a needle injected into his arm. Carefully he took it out wincing as he did so Carl looked down to see a small spot of blood appearing, he merely whipped it away.
Carl swung his legs over the edge feeling a bit dizzy but energized. He felt much better than he previously had. Carl shuddered at the memory, the darkness that cast through his vision and the weakness in his limbs. The blood pounding heavily in his ears and the shallowness of his own breath. It had scared the hell out of him.
A whimper came from a nearby room, Carl pushed himself off the table stumbling as he landed on the ground. He walked over with shaky legs to the door where the whimpering was coming from and pushed it open.
Inside it was dark except for a single candle that glowed on the table. A single cot was set up in the back of the small space and on it was a small flailing figure. As Carl got closer his eyes widened and his jaw dropped. As quietly as possible he walked up to Judith who was now starting to cry as loud as possible in pitched shrieks.
"Shh," Carl said putting his finger to his lips however he had a small feeling that Judith didn't see him. Her whimpers did subside a bit to a low mourn. Gently Carl picked up his younger sister who was swaddled in a thin blanket. Her arms continued to wave showing her discomfort.
"Calm down," the youth urged trying to keep the anger out of his tone but it was hard. He walked out of the room and towards the exit. He grabbed a scalpel off the table as he passed knowing that he'd probably need to defend himself. Carl readjusted his hold on Judith and then pushed open the door.
Outside it was oddly quiet no lights were on in any of the buildings and a couple patrollers walking around with a flashlight. Carl blinked as his eyes adjusted to the dark, gripped the scalpel as he moved towards the back of the town. Carl tried to think about where the others were but he didn't know the town and with a baby in his hand the risk of him getting caught was going up and up. Carl walked quickly trying to keep upright. He felt the medication work but he wondered if it was enough.
"Hey you!"
Carl jumped and turned around pointing the scalpel outward. He squinted as a light was shone right in his face and the scalpel easily taken from him.
"That wasn't smart kid."
Carl straightened he thought that the voice was familiar he blinked thrice.
"Tyreese?" the youth gasped.
The black man looked down at the boy then his eyes went to the child in his hand.
"So it was Judith," Tyreese muttered lowering the light. "I figured."
Carl did a double take.
Tyreese holstered his gun and then clipped his flashlight. He looked at Carl seeing the wound around his neck and seeing the obvious maltreatment.
"What th-."
"You need to get me out of here," Carl pleaded interrupting the man. "Please and if you can help the others."
"Whoa hold up there, I don't even know were the others are."
"But the Gove-."
Tyreese sighed. "The Governor hasn't exactly told us much except that your group had attacked us a couple times. But he's placed us guarding the back most of the time so we didn't see much."
"The Governor has a shed where he keeps people please you have to help them."
Tyreese looked at the youth unsure of what to do, he balled his fist.
The Governor took them in, gave them what they needed to survive and all he wanted in return was more support which his group was more than willing to give. He knew that there were some things the Governor had secret, things that he hadn't asked because he knew it wasn't his business. But when Judith came in Tyreese should've known that something went horribly wrong, he should've spoken up against the lie but he didn't.
"The Governor had all the weak points in the wall fixed only way to get you out is through the front."
Carl was about to reply when shots went off in the distance, Judith reacted immediately. Her arms flew up as she started to cry. Carl did his best to hush his young sister but she continued to fuss as more shots were dealt.
"That could be them," Carl exclaimed, "I have to go over there."
"What?!" Tyreese whispered, "No that's crazy, you have to be careful."
"I need to get to my group it's my responsibility."
Tyreese shook his head. "I understand but I don't think being a blood splatter on the ground is the way to go."
Carl opened his mouth ready to protest but he realized that the man had a point and with Judith in his hands he had to be extremely careful. He felt a lump grow in his throat cutting off his air Carl blinked away the oncoming tears. A sudden squeal caught his attention and the youth turned to see a vehicle spurring out of a lane and whipping past the guards on the front entrance.
"They're there," said Carl his voice filled with confidence. He walked over but a sudden light from overhead blinded him. He even heard Tyreese give a curse.
"The powers back on," the youth gasped, he clutched Judith tighter with both hands. Picking up the scalpel as he ran, he dodged the attacking enforcer and kicked him in the head. The man grunted in pain waving his arm around but Carl was already across the street. The youth turned the corner and nearly ran into Morgan.
The sniper reared at the sound behind him ready to fight but immediately withdrew as soon as he realized it was Carl. Daryl looked over and straightened at the youth.
"Carl what th-."
Carl only needed to take one look to see that a couple people were missing.
"Where's Beth and Carol?" the youth's voice pitched with worry.
"In there," Morgan nodded to the door. Carl looked around the sniper to see Merle trying to get through. "Beth must've jammed her knife into the lock."
"And Beth took the only gun," the hunter growled, as he punched the door in anger. He kicked it as hard as possible but fell backwards.
"Here."
Everyone turned to see Tyreese he flicked the safety on his rifle before tossing it to Daryl who caught it in surprise. Merle took the gun from Daryl's hands, flicked the safety and shot. The door burst open slamming against the wall.
Inside a pool of sticky blood was on the ground, a body propped against the wall and a few bullet holes were punched through the thin metal sheets.
"Let's go in," Merle said but Daryl stopped him.
"Someone needs to take Carl out of here," the hunter replied.
"Well it ain't gonna be me brother."
Carl went ramrod. "What? No I want to be here."
Daryl looked at the youth. "Carl you aren't in condition besides need to take care of Judith."
Carl was about to protest when Tyreese butted in. "I can take Carl out of here I can take him over the back wall, least detection there."
"What about Sasha?"
"Let me take care of that."
Daryl shifted foot from foot, he had only met Tyreese for a couple minutes but that wasn't enough for Daryl to actually trust him. And from what he had seen what other members from Tyreese's group has done Daryl was far from impressed.
"I'll go with them," offered Morgan as he moved over. "We need to get some weapons though you guys have any sort of armoury?"
Tyreese nodded, "might be guarded though."
Morgan took the scalpel from Carl. "We'll have to take care of that then."
"With a scalpel?"
"When you're on your own it's amazing what you pick up."
Tyreese raised an eyebrow but he was interrupted by Daryl.
"When we find Carol and Beth we'll meet you around the back."
Both nodded and moved Carl towards the back using the shadows that the buildings casted as cover from the light.
The brothers watched them leave and turned back to the door.
XXXXXX
Beth stabbed the knife into the door and wriggled it around until the blade broke. The gun in her hand grew heavy as she slowly turned to face the Governor. The leader struggled to his feet he wiped blood from his good eye but couldn't keep it open for more than a few seconds. He gave a pitiful groan as he bent down again using the wall for support. Beth felt a pang of fear go through her heart, the gun in her hand shook a bit but she forced herself to stay calm.
This bastard took everything, she reminded herself.
Beth levelled the gun as the Governor wiped more blood from his eye and glared at the young woman. A ghost of surprise crossed his face but disappeared as soon as he looked down seeing who was beside him.
"Get a-away from her," Beth said her voice wavered slightly.
"I don't think that you're in a position to make demands," the Governor countered putting his foot down on Carol's wounded stomach. The mother let out a sharp cry as he pressed harshly. She tried to move but the pain increased. Beth flinched. She then spotted something just beside the Governor's other foot; his gun. The Governor noticed too and bent down to get it when Beth fired a warning shot that nearly took off his fingers. The leader's head snapped up.
"Kick it over," Beth ordered.
The Governor shifted his weight to the foot pressed against Carol's bullet wound. The mother screamed sending chills down Beth's spine.
"Stop it!" the young woman shouted shaking her head.
The Governor tsked pretending to ponder his situation. "I'm afraid I can't do that, I'll end up breaking Carol's ribs."
Beth flinched as the Governor exaggerated pressing down on Carol again before plastering a joshing look enjoying playing with young woman. Beth caught onto the sick game and snarled.
"Get off her," Beth demanded.
"Like I said," the Governor glowered, this time he pressed down harder than before. Carol bit the inside of her cheek to stop her from screaming, she felt blood flood her mouth. "I might kill your friend here."
Beth squeezed her finger around the trigger but the Governor was faster.
Before she could react he kicked the gun but not gently, rather the exact opposite. Beth moved out of the way as it zoomed past her, by the time she looked up the Governor was on her. He grabbed her wrist and torqued in hopes that Beth dropped the gun. With the other hand wrapped around her throat. Both crashed into the wall, Beth fought back punching the Governor in the face making his grip weaken a bit but not enough to slip away. She was about to punch again but the Governor blocked and countered. Beth's head snapped against the wall making darkness edge her vision. A loud blast deafened her temporarily, bits of blood splattered on her horrified expression. The pressure on her neck immediately released and a damaged scream echoed in Beth's mind. The young woman slid to the ground slowly, her mouth just hung open and her eyes were wide.
Before her on the ground the leader clutched his torn ear, she looked passed the whimpering man to see Carol propped up against the wall, her arm dropped and the gun fell from her grip. Beth looked down at the Governor and back at Carol who was pale and weak from blood loss. The young woman rushed over as Carol released a painful exhale.
"Just hold on," Beth encouraged, tears sprung in her eyes as she looked at the mother. She placed her hands in Carol's giving it a small squeeze. "We'll get you out of here alright?"
The mother gave Beth a weak smile and squeezed her hand. She closed her eyes and laid her head against the wall. Beth held onto her hand giving it another squeeze hoping that Carol would reply but nothing. Beth felt her heart grow heavy as her hands shook, and silent tears fell.
"I'm sorry," Beth whispered, "go be with your daughter."
The young woman picked up the gun and turned to the Governor. The leader was leaned against the wall for support, his breathes came out shallow and blood still dripped from his ear. Beth saw where the bullet tore through the skin and felt an odd stir seeing the man who took everything from her in pain. She raised the gun and aimed at the Governor's head.
"Walk."
The Governor frowned and leaned in Beth's direction intending on attacking but a bullet punched through the wall just inches from his head.
"I said move!" the woman screamed.
Slowly the Governor raised his hands watching the young woman carefully but he obliged walked deeper into the shed.