quick shoutout to AnneAC who let me know that this chapter was broken. i don't even know what happened lol. but now it's fixed and re-uploaded for you. let me know if you guys spot any more broken chapters in the future, kay? enjoy! xx

Kei awoke the next morning still very sleepy. She hadn't had a good rest like that in months, and a measly 8 hours wasn't nearly enough. She concluded to herself that after 3 days straight of sleep, she would surely be right again.

She slid off the bed and stretched, her muscles tensing briefly before relaxing. She let out a yawn as she grabbed the blankets out of her duffel, tying them up around the bars of her cell and turning them into privacy curtains so that she could change. She shed yesterday's sweaty, tattered clothing and put on a relatively fresher set. After changing, she pushed her makeshift blanket curtain aside and walked out into the cell block.

She made her way downstairs where she had a filling feast of 3 slices of jerky and a scoop of peanut butter. After breakfast, she went on to find Rick, only to hear from Carol that he and a couple of the men went out to find any weapons or gear on any of the prison guard walkers. It wasn't long after that they came back. When they did, they had tossed their findings onto the table in the other room, discussing amongst each other what was useful and what wasn't. Kei walked in to join them, looking down at the table with an impressed expression.

"Not bad," She chimed, looking through the supplies with a critical eye.

"Flash bangs, CS triple chasers," Rick spoke, holding up a small metal can, "Not sure how they work on Walkers, but we'll take em…"

Kei went on to study the pistols on the table, taking them in her hands and pulling out the clips. Daryl grabbed a riot helmet off the table and held it upside down, watching as yellowish liquid dripped out.

"I ain't wearin this shit," He grunted in disgust.

T-Dog held a glove upside down, watching as a mass of pus and gook dripped out onto the floor. Kei winced in disgust, putting her hand over her nose.

"We could boil 'em," T-Dog offered, watching as the hunter shook his head firmly.

"Ain't 'nough firewood in the whole forest, no!" He picked up a police baton and started swinging it like a bat, "'Sides, we got this far without 'em, right?"

"Hershel?"

They all looked up to see Carol in the doorway, her head jutting back towards the cellblock where their group resided.

"Everything alright?" Rick asked. Carol started to make her way back before stopping to look at him expressionlessly.

"Yeah, nothin' to worry about,"

Hershel moved from the table and followed after Carol towards the cell block. Kei looked to the leader and watched as his eyes fell to the floor. She could tell that something was picking away at this man, and it was getting in the way between him and Lori. She wasn't blind, and she certainly wasn't stupid. Those two were drifting, and it was beginning to really show.

Her attention quickly went over to Daryl as he reached over and grabbed a grenade. She watched as he shook it, stared at it for a moment, then shook it next to his ear in curiosity. A smile couldn't help but appear on her face. He caught sight of it immediately and looked at her, watching as she looked away quickly and turned her attention towards the gun in her hand. He let out a scoff through his nose and continued to sift through their findings.

It was time to head back out into the heart of the prison. Kei recited the schedule in her head: Clear out Walkers, find the key areas like the armory, cafeteria, and the infirmary, and then head back to the cellblock. Sounded simple enough, but even she knew it was easier said than done. Rick helped T-Dog put on a bullet proof riot vest while Daryl, Glenn, and Maggie readied their weapons. Kei shouldered her Katana and loaded her 9mm handgun, placing it in between her belt and her jeans.

"Kei," T-Dog called out, tossing her a small flashlight. She caught it quickly and nodded to him, placing it in her back pocket. She returned her attention to making sure her knife and katana were secure. After that she turned to Rick and watched as he handed Carl the keys,

"Great, let's go."

The group began to flood out of the cellblock, Rick taking point to lead the rest of them. Kei was the last to exit, but stopped in front of the cell block door. She turned to look to Carl as he shut it, watching as his big blue eyes looked up at her. She put her fingers through the bars, placing them on his own with reassurance. Her expression had said enough to him. She would bring them back, and she would bring them back alive. He nodded to her firmly, determination and bravery beaming from his expression. She smiled. This young boy who was once so fearful was growing up to be so brave. He knew he had others to look out for now, and he had proven himself more than once that he was capable of protecting this group. She was so proud of him.

"We'll be back," She whispered quietly.

And with those words, she turned away and followed the group on towards the eery darkness of the tombs.

Slowly, they wound through new hallways and new doors. Daryl stuck his hand through the bars of one door and unlocked it, slowly opening it up with a squeal. Slowly, they walked through the door and into the dark, the eeriness and the quiet of it all creating a thick sense of tension in the air. Everyone turned on their flashlights and pointed them forward, the light helping them see their way through he dark corridors.

They treaded over the damp concrete floors with caution, looking around every which way. Daryl, T-Dog and Rick were up front, Maggie and Kei in the middle, Hershel and Glenn taking up the back. They each held their weapons at the ready, prepared for any Walkers that might show their moldy, puss covered faces around the corner. No one said a word, their breathing was light. The air was thick with tension and adrenaline, all of them being as quiet as they could so that they didn't attract whatever dangers lurked in the dark.

They turned another corner, facing a hall littered with corpses and barred doors that were wide open in each direction. The rank and musty smell of wet dust and damp rotted flesh wafted through the air, making Kei wrinkle her nose in disgust. She stepped over and around the corpses on the ground, deceased bodies stripped of flesh in patches, puddles of blood long since dried surrounding each one. She saw Glenn pull out a can of white spray paint and began painting arrows along the walls. They pointed back towards the cellblock, acting as a guide for them in case it got too hairy and they needed to retreat. She winced a little at the the hissing from the can, the sound seeming even louder as it echoed in the empty hall around them. After finishing the arrow, he turned back around and accidentally bumped into Maggie. She let out a loud yelp in response.

Everyone shot around quickly and watched wide eyes as Glenn let out a small and quiet "Sorry." He held her shoulder in reassurance and the two walked forward together. Kei let out a slow and shaky breath, following after them as Rick turned and motioned for everyone to keep moving. Flashlights darted back and forth, everyone searching for any sign of movement. Everyone's breathing was tense, but quiet. They listened closely, ears searching for a sound other than their feet shuffling, or heart beats thumping.

Rick came to a sudden stop at the end of a corner, leaning up against it and briefly looking back at everyone. Kei and the others held onto their weapons tightly. Rick then looked over to Daryl. He gave the hunter a small nod and the two men jumped around the corner, shining their lights down to the end of the empty hallway. Nothing. The leader slowly stepped forward and pointed his light towards the wall beside him, signaling for Glenn to place an arrow there.

As they reached another crossroad of hallways, Glenn spray painted another arrow. Rick and Daryl looked down each of the hallway ends, checking to make sure there were no walkers wandering about. The first hallway to their right was empty. As Rick and the others wandered to the hallway on the left, Kei started lagging when she heard a loud and odd noise. She stopped in place, lowered her flashlight, and held her breath. It sounded like a muffled thump, like something had knocked into something else. The girl took in a sharp breath through her nose and rushed forward, following the rest of the group closely as they stalked along down the seemingly empty hallway.

Up ahead, she saw Rick and Daryl just barely turn the corner before the sound of snarling and hissing echoed through the air.

"Go back…" Rick whispered hastily.

Kei watched Daryl and Rick's flashlights frantically shine over a small horde of walkers in prison gear. They had quickened their pace and began staggering forward towards the small group. Maggie, and Glenn latched onto Kei's arm and jumped back, tugging her along as they started making a run for it.

"Go back, go back!" Rick shouted and they all turned, quickly jogging back the way they came. Daryl and Rick quickly made their way up to the front of the group to guide the rest out of harm's way,

Kei turned her head and held her flashlight over her shoulder. She saw the horde staggering after them a lot quicker than she had expected. Then again, they were probably the first meal the horde had seen in ages, naturally that would rile them up a lot more than regular Walkers in the outside world. She turned around and quickly caught up up behind Glenn and Maggie. The two of them were beginning to lag behind as well.

"This way!" Rick's voice bounced off the concrete walls. Glenn, Maggie, and Kei were struggling to keep up with them. Kei kept her eyes fixed on Daryl's angel winged vest several feet ahead. She watched as he and the others crossed a hallway and kept pushing forward. Just as she was about to cross the hallway as well, Kei smacked straight into a Walker, knocking it back and almost getting herself caught in it's grip in the process. Another one was coming up quick to her left. Glenn grabbed for her arm and yanked her back, dragging her and Maggie into a nearby closet.

"In here!" He yelled.

They flung themselves inside and Glenn slammed the door shut. The three jumped when Walkers slammed themselves up against the door. They clawed and pounded and hissed in attempts to get in. Kei panted heavily and ran a hand through her hair in stress. Glenn pointed his flashlight in her direction,

"You hurt?" He whispered. Kei squinted her eyes against the intense light and shook her head in response. Glenn let out a sigh of relief and pointed his flashlight to the floor as he looked over to his girlfriend,

"Maggie?"

"F-Fine," She assured, putting her hand to her heaving chest. Kei looked around the rather large closet, shining her flashlight towards the back. She found metal shelves and small plastic totes, but they only seemed to be filled with janitor supplies like sponges and cleaner. She let out a small huff. Nothing of good use against walkers.

"The bangin's stopped," Maggie mentioned quietly while looking to the door. Kei and Glenn glanced at each other before looking to the door as well. They listened closely with Maggie, the three of them trying to control their harsh breathing. It really was quiet. They didn't hear hissing, just the sound of their own heavy pants and tense breathing. The Walkers must have given up and wandered off.

"What should we do?" Kei asked, "Should we try to find them?"

Glenn shook his head and looked from one woman to the other,

"They could be anywhere," He insisted, "Let's try to find the arrows and head back. I don't want us getting lost and end up running into another group like tha—"

"Shhh!" Maggie let out suddenly, pointing her flashlight over to the door. Glenn immediately went silent and furrowed.

"What?" He whispered.

"I heard somethin'," Maggie whispered back.

"A walker?" Kei asked, watching as the brunette shook her head.

"A voice, it was callin' for Glenn," She answered, "I think it might've been the others."

The three of them exchanged hesitant looks before Glenn finally nodded and turned off his flashlight. The girls turned their lights off as well and the three stood up. Glenn slowly opened the door, a loud creak coming from the hinges. Kei listened closely as they stepped out. No Walkers nearby. No heavy footsteps or menacing growls, just the sounds of their frantic breathing as Glenn turned every which way.

"Rick!?" He whispered sharply into the dark.

"Daddy!?" Maggie whispered out as well.

Kei was on high alert, keeping her steps light and her ears open for any Walkers. They slowly crept around a few corners, waiting for a response as Maggie continued to whisper out for her dad.

It was then a blood curdling suddenly cry came out of nowhere and Kei's heart leapt up in her throat. Frantic human cries echoed through the hallways, and that only made her adrenaline spike as they rushed forward to find the source. A loud cry followed by a single gunshot rang through their ears. That only made Kei's heart pound harder, and their legs move quicker as they rounded a corner, seeing a mass of struggling flashlights, and Hershel sprawled out on the floor with a blood stain forming on his lower pant leg.

"NO! Daddy!" Maggie's voice cracked. She cried out for him, her eyes spilling with tears at the sight of his bloody leg, and the fallen walker beside him with chunks of flesh in it's mouth. Kei stared in shock as Rick and Glenn grabbed Hershel's arms and began hoisting him up. As they did so, Kei's ears perked up at the foul sound of hisses over Maggie's frantic cries. The girl turned around sharply, her hand instantly reaching in back for her sword.

"Walkers!" She shouted, watching as they had spilled out from the hall behind Maggie. Rick looked up quickly and he and Glenn slung Hershel's arms over their shoulders,

"Daryl!"

The hunter darted forward and pushed Kei back.

"Go! Go! Go!"

He pulled the trigger of his crossbow, taking down prison walker that had staggered up to the front. Kei grabbed onto Maggie's arm and pulled her along through the hallways, following Rick and Glenn as they frantically carried Hershel through any hallway that crossed their path.

"Run! We're blocked! Get back, get back!" T-Dog shouted. Walkers had come out of the hallway in front of them. The group double-backed towards Daryl and went down the last available hallway.

"Oh God! Oh God!" Hershel yelled, the excruciating pain and the fear of it all becoming too much for him.

"T!" Rick shouted as they stopped at a door that had been handcuffed shut. Kei turned and looked back at the horde of Walkers. They were coming in close. She turned and watched as Maggie and Daryl and everyone frantically shouted and barked for T-Dog to open it. Kei quickly slid out her sword and watched as one walker in prison guard wear began staggering towards them faster than the rest of the horde. She let out a frustrated grunt and charged forward, ignoring Daryl's voice bark out her name over her groups yells. She swung her sword across the Walker's head, slicing off the top half in one go. The creature crumpled to the ground and another one staggered up in its place. Kei quickly pulled back her sword and thrusted the blade up through its jaw.

Just as she yanked her blade back out, T-Dog had shoved through everyone and slammed his fire iron down through the handcuff chain, yanking back and snapping it in half. He then lunged forward and shoved the doors open with his shoulder,

"Get in! Get in! Get in!" He yelled, frantically ushering Rick and the others through.

Daryl rushed forward towards Kei and latched onto her arm, pulling her back and through the door like his life depended on it. He shoved her forward as T-Dog slammed the doors shut behind them. The Walkers slammed against the steel doors and started banging and groaning loudly. Daryl growled and slammed his body against the doors, T-Dog and Kei following suit. T-Dog pushed all of his weight into the door as the Walkers slammed up against it once again.

"Daryl! Kei! Go!" He shouted. The man struggled as he shoved his fire stoke through the two door handles. Daryl ran forward and fell to his knees next to Hershel, pinning the man's other leg down as Rick ripped off the pant leg of the other, exposing the monstrous chunk missing from his leg. Kei rushed over and fell to her knees as well, sticking by Hershel's side and looking at his wound in shock. Her thoughts began to race a mile a minute, her brain running against the clock as it tried to find a solution: "Okay, a bite wound on the calf," She thought,"Fatal. The wound provides a stronghold to the virus, which will spread to other parts of the body." She nodded to herself, taking deep, frantic breaths to try and calm herself down. "Okay, okay. Keep the virus from spreading. Cut it off somehow to keep it from spreading."

And that's when Kei's eyes widened.

Cut it off.

Wasting no time, she reached over and yanked the hatchet from Hershel's belt and leaned over, reaching out and handing it to the leader.

"Rick," She spoke quickly, watching as his frantic blue eyes looked towards her. His eyes fell to the hatchet for only a second as things began to process. His eyebrows furrowed as he nodded firmly with a few sharp breaths through his nose.

She watched as Rick tore his belt from around his waist and hastily wrapped it just above Hershel's knee as tightly as it would go. Daryl put all his weight down on the farmer's lower body to keep him from moving. Hershel's one good fist helplessly beat against the hunter's back as he howled in pain. Maggie held her father's head in her hands for dear life, tears streaming down her cheeks as she watched her father cry and call out her name.

Rick's fingers wrapped around the handle of the hatchet and he held it tight. He looked at Hershel's leg, and then back to Hershel, not even giving so much as a second thought,

"Only one way to keep you alive!"

He raised the hatchet over his head and slammed the blade down onto Hershel's leg. Kei screwed her eyes shut, flinching at the sound of blood hitting the floor, and metal hacking against bone and flesh. Hershel's screams were unbearable, along with Maggie's sobs.

Not long after, Hershel's screams subsided and he lost consciousness. With one more swing of the hatchet, Rick severed the rest of the man's leg, dropping the hatchet and staring down in horror at what he just did.

"Oh jesus...," Rick's voice struggled to say, "He's bleeding out…"

Kei's eyes looked back over to the severed leg, her stomach turning over as she tried to mentally settle her sick stomach. Before she even had time to let out a gag, she heard Daryl suddenly mutter out a low "Duck." She saw movement from the corner of her eye and looked over, the rest of her group ducking down as Daryl jumped up. He pointed his crossbow at the wired window ahead. The flashlight docked under the sights of his weapon shone into the eyes of five figures as they stared in. Kei stared back in shock.

Five men, all in prison garb, looking very much alive.

The smallest man to the right placed his hand to the wired window and look out at them with wide eyes,

"Holy shit…"