Sorry this took forever to update. These last couple of months have been really tough for me since my father unexpectedly passed away. I'm doing better now and writing helps so thank you for being patient.
One Thing - Finger Eleven
The next few months went by without much incident for the group as they slowly made the high school their newfound home. They strengthened the fences around the building but they were still pretty weak so Tara and Daryl always ventured out to kill walkers around the area so they wouldn't build up a huge herd. Lori's pregnancy was showing more and more everyday as the group became nervous about the upcoming birth. The expectant mom was grateful to have Lilly around since she was a nurse and would know what to do in case an emergency happened.
Maggie was happy for Lori but sad at the same time since the pregnancy only reminded her of the painful miscarriage she had suffered. So far, she hadn't gotten pregnant again even though sometimes she and Tara forgot to use protection. Maggie guessed it wasn't in the cards for them right now which gave her mixed feelings about the whole situation.
Lori and Rick's relationship was still strained and they barely spoke to one another. Tara tried to talk to Rick about it, but he was reluctant to say much. Tara understood. She wouldn't want anyone digging around in her relationship or whatnot.
Carol and Lilly kept an eye on Meghan and Carl most of the time. Carl was tired of being thought of as a little kid so he was always excited when Tara took him along on supply runs or hunting. With Tara's help and training, the youngster was becoming more proficient with a firearm. Hershel and Beth tried to keep everyone's spirits up since the fall of the farm and the losses they had suffered still effected most of them. Glenn mostly hung around with Tara, especially when they had night watches together.
Harley kept guard over her territory and people, only barking or growling when walkers were near the fence. So that night, Tara knew something was dead wrong when Harley suddenly started barking and growling with ferocity that she had never heard before.
"Glenn! Where's Harley?" Tara asked as she ran down the hallway towards the schoolyard.
"I let her out about thirty minutes ago. It was clear when I was out there," Glenn replied as he and Tara ran as fast as they could to the door that led outside.
The growling grew more intense before the whimpering started. Tara forced herself to run faster, passing the empty hallways. Finally, Tara and Glenn reached the door, not ready for what faced them. Harley was cornered by four walkers who were ready to devour her. The fence had been broken as a herd of walkers headed their way, ready to enter the school where a wall had been broken by the apocalyptic chaos.
"Shit! Glenn! Warn the others! Tell them to get out! I'll get Harley! Go! They're gonna be overrunning this place soon!" Tara yelled as she pulled out her knife. Glenn hesitated for a second before sprinting into the building, yelling for the others to make their way to their getaway cars.
Tara ran to where Harley was, grabbing a walker before it could bite her dog. She roughly pushed the creature away, sinking her knife into its soft skull before letting it fall to the ground. Tara quickly dispatched the other walkers before realizing that she and Harley were slowly being surrounded by dozens of walkers.
"Alright, Harley...lets go girl!" Tara yelled as she grabbed the boxer's collar, pulling her along towards the school. Harley gave a walker one more growl before keeping up with Tara's pace, running through the long hallway.
Tara was dismayed to see that school was already overrun with the undead creature as she jumped over dead bodies that her friends had killed. Suddenly, Tara fell to the ground as a female walker ran into her. She could hear the snapping teeth merely inches from her neck as she tried to kick the walker off her. Tara knew she had to act fast since a group of walkers was quickly making their way to her.
Just as the creature was about to take a bite out of Tara's flesh, she felt the walker being lifted off her body. She watched as Harley grabbed the walker by the neck, breaking it with one snap of her powerful jaws.
"Good girl! Come on!" Tara quickly scrambled to her feet, sprinting her way to the entrance.
As they were running, arrows zoomed past them, hitting the walkers that were giving chase. Tara was relieved to see Daryl jogging towards her, arrows quickly leaving his crossbow one after the other
"You get bit?" Daryl asked with alarm as he pointed to the blood all over Tara's shirt.
"No...Harley killed a walker and its blood dripped all over me," Tara explained as she, Daryl, and Harley ran out of the school. She was dismayed to see that walkers were already all over the parking lot, blocking the exits.
"Come on!" Glenn yelled from the black truck that was waiting.
Daryl swung open the passenger door as Tara pulled the rear door open, letting Harley jump in first. Tara barely made it into the safety of the vehicle before walker hands threatened to grab her. Glenn didn't hesitate as he slammed on the gas and peeled out of the parking spot, running over walkers as they made their way past the exit.
"The others?" Tara asked in alarm, wondering where Maggie and Lilly were.
"They're good. They made it out in the van and SUV. Rick said he would wait for us on County Road 205. So we're about ten miles away," Glenn replied as Tara allowed herself to relax. She checked Harley over for any bites or scratches, relieved to see that the boxer had escaped unscathed from the ordeal.
Tara glanced out the window, looking up at the moon that filled the night sky. The trees serenely passing the large truck by as Glenn navigated his way down the road, driving cautiously in case a walker wandered out in front of them. Finally, after a few minutes, Daryl spotted the other two vehicles waiting by the side of the road.
Glenn parked the truck behind the van, cutting off the engine. Tara barely made it out of the vehicle before Maggie was on her, hugging her fiercely and kissing her.
"Are you alright? Are you bleedin'?" Maggie asked in a slight panic as she noticed the blood on Tara's shirt.
"I'm alright, Maggie. I promise..." Tara placed a kiss on Maggie's forehead. Just then, Meghan ran up to Tara, wrapping her arms around Tara's long legs.
"I'm glad you didn't become walker snacks!" Meghan exclaimed as Tara chuckled.
"I'm glad too, shortstop," Tara picked up her niece as Beth made sure that Harley was alright.
"Tara..." Rick motioned for her to come talk to him and Daryl about their current predicament.
Tara handed Meghan to Maggie before making her way to the car where Rick and Daryl were whispering to one another.
"We need to find a house or somethin'. It ain't safe to be out in the roads at night. Anythin' could pop up out here," Daryl explained as Tara nodded in agreement.
"We grabbed the weapons but not much else so we need to find food also. Ugh...we're so fucked right now," Rick hit the hood of the car in anger making the others jump slightly.
"Hey...we'll be alright. Daryl and I will go walk up the road and see if we can see anything," Tara suggested as Daryl hopped onto the roof of the SUV, surveying the area in the dim moonlight.
"Hey! Wait up! I see a roof a couple of miles up the road. Might be somethin'," Daryl announced as his eyes adjusted to the darkness that surrounded them.
"See? Let's go check it out. Maybe there are supplies, but at least we'll have some shelter," Tara replied in a hopeful voice as Rick sighed, holding his head, trying to keep his headache at bay.
"Alright. We're gonna drive up a few miles and check out the house. Come on," Rick ordered his group as he climbed into sports utility vehicle.
Tara gently grabbed Maggie's hand, leading her to the truck. She climbed into the driver's seat as Maggie took over the passenger seat. Daryl, Glenn, and Beth jumped into the backseat as Harley hopped into the front, sitting between Tara and Maggie.
"Let's go," Tara started the truck, following the car Rick was driving and the van that Hershel was navigating.
The group drove a couple of miles until they came across a small house with some broken windows. Tara parked the truck behind the van and everyone climbed out, observing their surroundings. Daryl grabbed Tara's arm, nodding towards the house.
"Let's make sure it's safe," Daryl led Tara to the front door of the house which was eerily quiet. Tara slowly opened the door, peeking her head into the living area of the house which was empty except for a couch and fireplace.
"Check the upstairs. I'll check the first floor," Daryl said as he made his way into the kitchen, crossbow in front of him.
Tara slowly made her way up the stairs, the wood creaking quietly under her boots. She listened for any groans or moans but heard nothing as she opened the door to the first room which had been an office. The room had been ransacked with all the drawers torn from the desk and trash scattered all over the floor.
She continued down the hall, checking the remaining rooms but finding nothing of importance. Tara went downstairs where she met up with Daryl who was waiting for her by the door.
"Good?" Daryl asked as Tara nodded.
"Yeah. Just some empty rooms," Tara commented, opening the door and motioning for the others to come inside.
Rick and the others walked into the house, surveying their new temporary home. Harley bounded around the living, sniffing all the new smells that filled her nose. Lori sat down on the couch, already tired from running from the walker horde. She placed her hand on her stomach, trying to comfort her unborn child.
Lilly, Carol, and Maggie began to search through the kitchen, looking for anything that could be salvaged. Hershel kept Meghan and Carl occupied, making them a bed on the floor so they could get some rest. Beth sat down next to Meghan so she wouldn't be too scared to go to sleep, telling her a bedtime story. Tara and Daryl built a fire in the fireplace as Rick and Glenn kept watch by the windows.
"Find anything?" Rick asked Maggie and Lilly who both didn't look too optimistic. Carol sat down next to Lori, taking her hand.
"We didn't really find any food. Just a couple of cans of fruit," Maggie held up the two cans as Rick sighed.
"Better than nothin'. Let's all get some rest tonight. Glenn and I will take the first watch," Rick announced to his group as they found places on the floor to sleep.
"Cool. I'll take the next watch. I'm gonna find another shirt to wear since this one is full of walker blood," Tara slowly made her way up the stairs with Harley in tow.
She went into the master bedroom, making her way to the closet. Tara could barely see in the darkness but she finally found a plaid shirt. She quickly discarded her bloody one onto the floor, buttoning up the new one that still smelled faintly like laundry detergent even after all those months in the closet.
"What do you think, girl? Lookin' good?" Tara asked Harley who gave her a soft bark.
"I'll take that as a yes," Tara smiled as she reached down to pet the brindle boxer behind the ears. They both quietly went downstairs where everyone was already on the floor trying to get some much needed sleep.
Tara bent down placing a kiss on Lilly, Meghan, and Beth's forehead before heading to where Maggie was sleeping in the corner, laying down next to her. Maggie immediately snuggled up to Tara, resting her head on Tara's chest, listening to her heartbeat.
"I love you..." Maggie whispered against Tara, holding her tighter.
"I love you too," Tara replied, feeling a little alarmed when she heard Maggie start to cry. "Are you ok, babe?"
"Yeah...I was just scared that you weren't gonna make it out of that school alive. I saw all the walkers and I was so scared..." Maggie admitted as tears fell down her face.
"Hey...you know it's hard to get rid me. I have like nine lives so I'll always make it back to you. I promise..." Tara said as Maggie leaned down to kiss her, their lips meeting in passion and desire.
Tara could feel herself get excited and knew they needed to stop before things got too out of hand. She let her hands run down Maggie's body before pulling away. Maggie glanced at her in understanding, feeling Tara's hardness poke her through her jeans.
"Get some sleep, baby. I got a feeling that we have a long few days ahead of us," Tara said as Maggie positioned herself so that her body was entirely on Tara's. Harley snuggled next to the couple, turning three times before curling into a ball to sleep.
Tara waited until Maggie fell asleep before she finally allowed herself to close her eyes. Maggie snuggled closer to Tara, her hand holding onto Tara's plaid shirt, making sure that she wouldn't leave. Tara finally fell into a restful sleep after a couple of hours, her arms holding Maggie close, their heartbeats beating as one.
A couple of hours later, Tara felt her shoulder being roughly shaken as she opened her eyes. She blinked the sleep out of her eyes as Glenn came into view, panic written all over his face.
"What?" Tara asked, a bit angry at being woken up so early.
"Walkers! Surrounding the house! We gotta go!" Glenn warned as Harley growled, hearing the walkers moving around outside.
Maggie was awake, hearing everything that Glenn had said. The couple quickly scrambled to their feet as Tara pulled out her gun. Harley's growls become more fierce as the walkers began to bang against the walls.
"We have to be quick runnin' from the front door to the cars. Don't stop for nothin," Rick muttered as his hand was on the doorknob ready to open the door to their escape and possible deaths.
Tara quickly scooped up Meghan, feeling Beth and Maggie take a handful of her shirt. Maggie could feel her heart beat rapidly in her chest, scared of the walkers that seemed to have them surrounded on all sides.
"Keep your head down on my shoulder," Tara whispered to Meghan who promptly did what she was told.
"Ready?" Rick glanced back at the others, seeing determination on all of their faces.
"Let's rock n' roll!" Tara raised her firearm in front of her as the others took her lead. Maggie had her pistol in one hand and her other clinging to Tara's shirt.
Rick said a silent prayer before opening the door, seeing a clear path from the door to the cars. He ran as fast as he could as the walkers immediately took notice of their potential meals, clamoring their way to the path. Tara fired a few bullets at a couple of disgusting creatures that were dangerously close to grabbing Glenn, who was running in front of her. Harley kept up the pace, leading the pack with Rick. Finally, the group made it to the vehicles as Rick threw open the car doors. Tara jumped into the truck with Maggie, Meghan, Beth, and Daryl, the engine roaring to life.
Rick, Harley, Lori, and Carl were safely in the red SUV as it peeled out of the driveway, running down creatures in the process. In the white van, Hershel was behind the wheel with Lilly, Carol and Glenn. They immediately followed the SUV with Tara's truck right behind them. Meghan clung to Maggie for dear life as Tara drove the truck, hitting a few walkers that got in her way.
They drove down the isolated road for a few miles until Rick pulled over, slamming the door behind him as he jumped out of the SUV.
"We can't ever catch a damn break!" He said in frustration as he ran his hand through his sweaty hair.
"We'll find something...we have to," Tara encouraged as Daryl climbed out of the truck.
"Should stay in the cars for the rest of the night. Daylight will be in a few hours and we'll be safe for the time being," Daryl added to the conversation as Rick nodded in agreement.
"Fine...keep an eye out for anymore herds," Rick marched back to the SUV, still in a bad mood.
"I'll let Hershel know what's going on," Tara made her way to the van as Daryl climbed back into the truck.
"So what are we doin'?" Hershel asked, glancing at the parked vehicles in front of him.
Tara leaned against the van window. "We're gonna stay out here for the night. Maybe we'll find something better during the day."
"Hopefully," Hershel sighed before leaning out of the window to hug Tara. "Keep safe tonight and keep an eye on my girls."
"Always," Tara smiled, making her way back to the truck, hands in her pockets, feeling the pocket watch that Hershel had given her.
Tara jumped back into the truck, cracking the window open a bit so they could get some fresh air. "Y'all get some sleep. I'll stay up for a couple of hours."
"You sure?" Daryl questioned. He was still pretty tired and could feel Beth falling asleep against him.
"Yeah. Get some rest, buddy," Tara reassured her friend as he laid his head back against the seat, closing his eyes.
Tara glanced over at Maggie who had a sleeping Meghan in her arms. Maggie reached over, taking Tara's hand, their fingers interlacing together.
"Get some rest, babe. It's gonna be a long day," Tara whispered so she wouldn't wake up her sleeping passengers.
"I love you. It'll get better...right?" Maggie asked with uncertainty in her voice.
"It has too. We've been through so much already. What more could we possibly face?" Tara brought Maggie's hand up to her lips, placing a soft kiss on it. "I love you too. Now sleep."
"Sing somethin'..." Maggie smiled as she rested her head against the seat.
Tara thought about it before gently singing a few lyrics from Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" to Maggie:
"I feel wonderful because I see
The love light in your eyes.
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you."
"I love you more..." Maggie said softly as she closed her eyes, falling into a slumber.
Tara simply sighed as she glanced out the window, wondering if her family would ever truly be safe. She thought about the woman who was sleeping peacefully in the seat beside her. Tara knew she wouldn't have made it this far without Maggie next to her. Maggie was her survival. Maggie was Tara's living proof that love was alive and not dead, even in this unforgiving world. The stars shined bright against the black night sky as she thought about everything they had already been through. How much more could they possibly take?
Turns out, Tara didn't know how much hardship their group would face over the next couple of weeks. Every time they would find a house to stay in, a herd of walkers would appear and drive them out. They traveled from house to house in rural Georgia, not finding any luck wherever they went. Not only that, but supplies and water was low.
By the second week, the group was almost starving from the lack of resources. Daryl and Tara would go out hunting whenever they could with Harley since she was good at tracking animals. Usually they would return with a few squirrels if they were lucky. Tara always made sure the kids and Lori got their share first and she always gave Maggie what she had left over after a few bites.
Tara and Daryl cautiously made their way to the small one-story house they had found nestled in the Georgia woods, but still close to the county road. The others waited as they checked the house, searching for any walkers or strangers. They both heard noises coming from one of the rooms down the hall.
They both stopped in front of the door as the noises intensified, scratching and banging against the the wood growing louder. Daryl placed his hand on the doorknob.
"Ready?" Daryl asked, both of them low on energy.
Tara simply nodded as she readied her knife for whatever was about to charge at them from the other side of the door. Daryl swung open the door as a walker stomped its way towards them, teeth chomping. Tara grabbed it by the shirt collar, struggling for a few seconds before stabbing the creature in the head.
She kicked away the body, trying to gather her energy before she and Daryl picked up the dead body and tossed it out the back door.
"You alright?" Daryl questioned with concern as Tara nodded.
"Yeah...just don't have a lot of energy," she answered as she closed her eyes for a few seconds.
"We'll go out huntin'. We're bound to find somethin' out here," Daryl said while Tara nodded in agreement.
The duo made their way to the front door, motioning for the others that it was safe to enter. Carl immediately made a beeline for the kitchen, searching for anything that could be edible. Tara sat down on the couch, trying to ignore the growls that her stomach was making. Maggie sat down next to her, placing her hand on Tara's thigh. She knew that Tara was running herself dry trying to take care of the group and help Rick lead. They kept quiet since they were all hungry and tired. Carol wrapped her arms around her frail body while Lori sat down on a recliner, her pregnant belly bigger than ever since she was almost eight months along.
Harley laid down on the floor, her little ribs barely visible underneath her dark fur. Tara hated that her dog was starving along with them, but she hadn't been able to find much dog food while out on the road. Beth sat down next to Harley, petting the dog and gently scratching her soft fur.
"I found these," Carl emerged from the kitchen with a couple of cans in his hands. Tara noticed that he was holding cat food.
Rick glanced at the cans and Tara could tell that he was tempted. Hell, she was even tempted but she wasn't sure she could eat cat food.
"It says it's tuna. It can't be all that bad," Carl hoped out loud as he grabbed the can opener he had found in one of the kitchen drawers. They all watched as he opened the can, the distinct aroma filling the room.
Carl reached into the can, taking some between his fingers. He seemed unsure as he started to raise the food to his mouth. Before he could take a bite, Rick slapped his hand away.
"We ain't eatin' any damn cat food. We're better than that. We won't stoop that low..." Rick said as Carl cleaned the food off his fingers with a towel.
"Give that food to Harley," Rick instructed as Carl did what he was told. Tara didn't say anything as Harley eagerly engulfed both cans of food, eating in record time.
"We'll find food..." Daryl started to say when they heard the familiar groans and moans of a walker herd.
"Shit!" Tara cursed as she glanced out of the window. Outside, a herd of walkers were already starting to surround the house, banging against the back door.
"We know the drill. Get to the cars and don't die," Glenn muttered as he pulled out his gun. He was tired of running from shelter to shelter, never having a chance to get any real rest or food. These walkers were making their lives a living hell.
Tara grabbed Maggie's hand as they ran away from yet another shelter to their getaway cars. As Tara drove as fast as she could down the road, she wondered briefly if this was going to be the routine for the rest of their lives. So far life didn't seem worth living if this was going to happen over and over again.
Rick parked his SUV on the side of the road as Tara stopped behind the vehicle. She climbed out of the truck as Rick pulled out a map. He studied it for a few minutes, his eyes narrowing every so often. Beth kept watch as the others talked about what the new plan was. They definitely couldn't continue to run from house to house, starving from lack of food.
"We've been goin' in circles tryin' to escape all these damn walker herds," Daryl spat angrily, kicking the truck tire in the process.
"We'll find somethin'...we have to. For now, Glenn, Maggie, and Daryl go try to find some water. Tara and I will hunt around for some food. Maybe we'll get some squirrels. The rest stay here and keep watch," Rick instructed as everyone agreed to the plan.
Rick went to go get ready, barely glancing at Lori as he made sure his pistol had some ammunition in it. They were running low so every shot was precious now and couldn't be wasted. Tara was walking back to the truck to get ready for the hunting trip when she noticed that Carl was softly sniffling, leaning against the van, away from the rest of the group.
"What's wrong, buddy?" Tara questioned as she stood next to him.
Carl glanced up at Tara, tears leaving the corners of his eyes. "My Dad hates me. I was only tryin' to help with the food thing and he just made me throw it away. He and my Mom are always fightin' and I can't do anythin' right by him."
Tara sighed as she knelt down so that they were eye level. "He doesn't hate you. He just has a lot to deal with right now and he wants you to be safe. Rick might be a little hard on you, but that only means that he loves you and wants you to succeed. My ol' man was always hard on me and quick to discipline me, but he only did that so I could be what I am now. Your father loves you and so does your mom. Nothing will ever change that.'
"You think?" Carl wiped his eyes, drying his tears.
"Of course, and you know you always have me, too. I'm here for you," Tara promised as Carl leaned forward, hugging her tight.
"I love you...be careful," Carl said with some embarrassment that only a pre-teen could feel.
"Love you too, Champ. Take care of Meghan while I'm gone," Tara stood up, returning the quick salute that Carl gave her before he bounded away to find the girl in question.
Tara continued to the where the truck was parked, opening the door to grab some more bullets. She was putting a full clip in her handgun when she felt herself being hugged from behind. She could feel the familiar embrace that was distinctly Maggie as she smiled.
"Be careful out there. If anything happens to you then I'm gonna have to kill Glenn and Daryl," Tara half heartedly joked as she pulled Maggie so that they were facing each other.
"I promise I will. You better be careful too," Maggie leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on Tara's lips.
"Come on, Romeo. Let's get this huntin' trip started," Rick grinned as he walked past the young couple with Harley right on his heels.
Tara said her goodbyes to Maggie before following Rick and Harley into the forest, leaving their group behind. They walked in relative silence, cracking a few jokes every now and then. They both were determined to find something for the group to eat as Harley sniffed around, looking for squirrels or rabbits.
"You don't think it's hopeless, do you?" Rick asked as they continued to walk, spotting a clearing in the woods.
"No. Things will get better. They have to," Tara encouraged, ignoring the hunger pains that plagued her.
The two remained quiet as they followed Harley through the woods until they came across some railroad tracks. They decided to follow the tracks for a couple of miles to see if they led to anything useful. Suddenly, Rick spotted a building that might just be the answer to their prayers.
"Look! A prison! It has a sturdy fence. If we kill those walkers that are trapped in there then we'll have shelter," Rick said with enthusiasm as Tara observed the brick prison that seemed like their best chance of survival yet.
"It could definitely work. We just have to find a way in and make sure no other walkers can get into the yard," Tara studied the layout of the fence, trying to figure out their best entry point since all the gates were probably locked and the fences were too tall to climb over.
"We'll figure somethin' out but we need to get back and inform the others. We need to get rid of those walkers before sunset so we have somewhere safe to be tonight," Rick began to run back to the road with Harley keeping up the pace. Tara gathered her energy before she followed them back to where the others were waiting.
The group seemed confused as to why Rick and Tara were running when no walkers seemed to be chasing them. Rick pulled out the map, pointing out the prison that could be found just a few miles away using the highway as he told the group about their goldmine find.
"What makes it more secure than the school?" Glenn asked, still a little apprehensive about the whole idea.
"The fences are stronger and taller. Walkers won't be able to get into the premises. We just gotta make our way in, kill the walkers in the yard, and then we can focus on the building. But it has guard towers...it's our best chance," Tara informed the others as they all seemed to agree on the plan.
"We need to do this now. We need to find a secure place for the night. It's right here. Plus, there's probably weapons and food in that prison," Rick placed his finger on the map where the prison was located.
"Well, shit. Let's do this then and I found a few rabbits so we have somethin' to eat later," Daryl smiled as he held up about four rabbit carcasses.
Rick nodded in response as the group laid out a plan to get into the prison's exterior fences. After making sure that everyone knew what to do, they piled into their vehicles and drove to the location with Rick leading the way. Tara kept focus on the road, but she could tell that Maggie was nervous. She reached over, taking her girlfriend's hand.
"Hey...everything is gonna work out. I just know it," Tara said as Maggie glanced over at her.
"I know. I'm just a lil' anxious," Maggie admitted as a small nervous smile spread across her face.
"Don't be. We'll be alright," Tara changed gears as they drove the few short miles to the prison.
Rick parked about a mile away from the prison so that they were out of sight of the walkers that were in the field between them and prison's outer fences. They all climbed out as Tara observed their current situation.
"Alright...we're stickin' to the plan that we set up. Tara and I will run out there first, get rid of the walkers in the way, and cut a hole into the fence. You all follow after a few paces and then Glenn and Daryl will seal up the hole after everyone's in the outer premises," Rick recounted their plan as the others nodded in agreement.
Tara grabbed a pair of wire cutters from the back of the truck, ready to make a mad dash to the outer fences. Rick glanced over at her as they both took a deep breath. They could see the guard towers which would come in handy when they had to pick off walkers from a safe distance.
"Be careful," Maggie pleaded, already anxious about all the walkers that stood in their way.
"Always..." Tara replied as she stood next to Rick, gun ready to fire.
"One...two...three..." Rick counted before sprinting off toward the first gate with Tara right behind him. They ran as fast as they could, firing at walkers that were in their way.
They finally reached the fence where Tara cut a hole in the sturdy wires. They both ran in as the rest of the group quickly followed them into the prison field that was overgrown with grass. Once everyone and Harley was safely through the fence, Glenn and Daryl hurriedly tied the fence back together so that the outside walkers couldn't follow them in.
"We need to close the gate on the other side of the field that leads to the courtyard. Walkers are comin' in through there!" Rick yelled as he stabbed an inmate walker in the head.
Tara glanced over at the other side of the field where the gate that led to the courtyard and prison entrances was open which allowed walkers to freely move into the field. She knew that she was the fastest one there.
"I'll do it!" Tara called out as Daryl threw some chains at her so she could lock the gate. He also threw a rifle at her which she strapped to her back.
"Hurry! Everyone watch each other's back! Kill as many of these walkers as you can!" Rick shouted as everyone did what they were told. Carl made sure that Meghan was safe as he shot at roamers that got to close.
Tara sprinted towards the gate on the other side of the field, briefly hearing Rick tell everyone to make their way up the guard towers and take out the walkers from there. Tara hoped that she wouldn't accidentally get shot since some of her friends still needed practice with target shooting. She could hear bullets all around her as walkers went down. One almost ran into her as she kicked it away, stabbing it in the head before continuing on her way.
"Seriously?" Tara groaned as a couple of creatures lunged at her, almost scratching her in the process.
Tara pushed one of the creatures away, plunging her blade into the walker's skull, killing it instantly. Suddenly, the other walker knocked her over to the ground as another joined the small pile up.
"Shit!" Tara cursed as she tried to keep one walker from biting her arm while also trying to grab her gun since her knife had been knocked from her hand.
Just as the offending creature was about to bite down onto her forearm, two gunshots rang near her, hitting the walkers in the head. She quickly pushed the dead bodies off as she scrambled to her feet, picking up the chains and knife that had fallen. Tara glanced over at the guard towers and saw Daryl keeping an eye on her, shooting down walkers that got too close.
Tara continued her path to the gate, drawing the courtyard walkers' attention as she closed the doors, wrapping the chain between them for extra security. The walkers on the other side tried to grab her, but couldn't get past the secure gate. Satisfied that nothing could get through to the field they were currently in, Tara started to make her way to one of the guard towers.
Various walkers tried to attack her, but Tara whipped out her gun, firing at them before they had a chance to get to her. Tara finally made it to the guard tower, throwing open the door and climbing up the stairs. Harley greeted her enthusiastically as Tara grabbed the rifle, firing at walkers she spotted far away through the scope.
Walkers kept going down until finally the field was clear of roamers. Tara looked through her scope, searching for any stragglers that might have gotten away but found none. They had managed to kill all of the creatures without any damage.
"Alright! We got 'em all! It's safe to get down," Rick shouted, smiling at the change of their luck. He was certain that they had just secured their new home.
"You good? I almost thought you were walker chow out there," Daryl told Tara as they made their way down to the ground, the cool evening wind hitting them in the face, a welcomed breeze.
"Yeah...I'm alright," Tara said as she glanced at the sky overhead which was slowly turning dark from the impeding night.
Tara barely made a few steps into the grassy field when she felt her back being hit from behind. She turned around and could barley say anything before Maggie hit her shoulder.
"You idiot! Why do you always have to volunteer for the dangerous tasks? You almost got bitten!" Maggie hit Tara a few more times, tears escaping from the corners of her eyes.
"Woah! Hey! It's ok! I'm ok! I promise!" Tara pulled Maggie close, feeling Maggie surrender to her touch. Tara knew her girlfriend was just upset at almost seeing her turn into a walker meal.
Maggie calmed down after a few minutes, double checking to make sure that Tara had not been scratched or bitten. Lilly and Meghan both gave Tara a hug as Harley explored the field, sniffing all the new smells and growling at the walkers that were stuck behind the other side of the fence.
"Let's get a fire started while Daryl skins those rabbits," Glenn patted Tara's shoulder, knowing that they were all starving and ready to eat something.
Rick observed the courtyard in the dying sunlight, wondering if they had what it took to kill the walkers in the prison yard and take over the prison. He was sure that they did.
Maggie, Beth, and Lilly tried to keep Meghan occupied with stories while Carl and Lori sat on the soft grass. Carol, Daryl, and Hershel helped prepare the rabbits for dinner as Glenn and Tara built a small fire. Soon, the smell of rabbit filled the air as the group ate a well earned dinner, celebrating their victory for the day, finally safe for the night for the first time in weeks.
Rick glanced at the courtyard again. "This place most likely fell early in the walker takeover. That means that there are probably all kinds of supplies and food in that prison. All inmates and guards are dead, turned to walkers. I say tomorrow we takeover the courtyard and make our way into the prison. Kill all the walkers. We'll have shelter and supplies that could last a long time."
"I second that," Tara agreed as Daryl and Glenn nodded.
"Well, if it's a goldmine like you say, Rick, then we would be stupid to leave," Hershel replied as Rick and Tara formulated a plan to make sure that they could successfully clear the whole prison the next day.
Afterwards, the group sat in the soft, cool grass, the flames from the fire keeping them somewhat warm. Maggie rested her head against Tara's shoulder, placing soft kisses on her every so often. Daryl was massaging Carol's shoulders since she had complained of sore muscles. Carl was resting against Lori who ran her fingers through his brown hair. Lilly was leaning against Glenn as Meghan fell asleep, nestled beside her with Harley. Rick kept glancing back over at the courtyard, anxious for morning to arrive. Beth leaned against Tara's other shoulder, tired as she watched the fire.
The quiet was getting to Hershel as only crickets chirping could be heard. "Bethy, Maggie...why don't you girls sing something."
Beth nodded before the lyrics of Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" left her soft lips, her voice softly singing the woeful lyrics.
"I took my love and I took it down
Climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
Till the landslide brought me down."
Maggie let Beth sing a few of the lyrics before joining in on the chorus:
"Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Even children get older
And I'm getting older too."
The Greene sisters sang the rest of the song, a calm feeling washing over the group with the melody of their sweet voices. Tara closed her eyes as she treasured Maggie's angelic tune. Beth and Maggie continued to lean against Tara as they ended the popular song.
"Thank you, girls. That was beautiful," Hershel smiled, focusing on the flames of the small fire.
"It was. We should get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow. Hopefully, we'll be sleepin' inside by tomorrow night," Rick smiled, watching while Lori laid down next to Carl, her hand securely on her large belly.
"Come on," Tara said to both Beth and Maggie. She knew they both wanted to use her as a pillow as she laid on the ground. They didn't waste a second as they both cuddled against her, trying to keep warm.
Glenn let Lilly and Meghan snuggle against him while Harley trotted over to Hershel to keep the older man warm. Tara glanced over at Daryl and Carol who were wrapped up in each other. Tara smirked, deciding to ask her friend about that later. Rick sat next to his wife and son, taking the first night watch.
Tara kept watch over Beth and Maggie for about an hour before she finally allowed herself to fall asleep, finally getting some rest she desperately needed.
The next morning, the Grimes group was up early, ready to clear out the courtyard and prison of its undead inhabitants. Rick decided that he, Daryl, Glenn, Carol, Maggie, and Tara would go first and make sure all the walkers in the prison yard were taken care of. Lori and the rest would stay in the field and keep an eye on things. Once the courtyard was clear, Lori's group could join them and Rick's group would then move onto the inside of the prison.
"Alright. We're gonna open the gates...don't panic. There'll be a lot of walkers but Lori and the others will distract them through the fence so they aren't immediately jumpin' on us when we get through the gate," Rick instructed as Tara and Maggie both grabbed their knives, ready for some action.
Rick's small group gathered around the gate while Lori, Beth and Lilly walked along the fences, taunting the walkers so they would move away from the entrance. Hershel stood by the gate, ready to secure it again so creatures couldn't get back into the field.
"Y'all be careful, ya hear? And Tara take care of Maggie," Hershel sternly said, patting her shoulder.
"You know I will," Tara replied as she glanced over at Maggie who looked a little anxious.
"Let's go," Rick opened the gates after deciding that most of the walkers were distracted by the others.
Rick, Glenn, Daryl, Carol, Maggie, and Tara ran through the opened gate before Hershel securely closed it again. The walkers took notice of them even with all the ruckus that Lilly and Lori caused by banging on the fence.
"Form a protective circle! Everyone has each other's backs!" Rick yelled as he, Glenn, Carol, and Maggie formed a circle, their backs facing towards one another so no one was left unprotected. Tara and Daryl were back to back, each keeping an eye on their surroundings.
Slowly, the walkers started to descend upon them as they took out creature after creature. Maggie stabbed a female walker with her long knife, letting out a little grunt as she reclaimed her blade. Daryl fired arrows at approaching roamers as Tara busily killed walkers dressed as inmates and guards. With this strategy, the walkers in the courtyard were readily defeated one by one.
The group began to relax letting their protective circle fade as they confronted walkers on their own, becoming more confident with each kill. Maggie was in the process of killing an inmate walker when two dressed in riot gear suddenly appeared from around the corner, both ganging up on her. Maggie tried to stab at the creatures but their skulls were protected by the heavy duty helmets.
Tara ran as fast as she could, watching in horror as the two walkers knocked Maggie to the ground. She and Daryl both grabbed the walkers, forcefully pushing them away from Maggie.
"Are you okay?" Glenn knelt down next to Maggie who was holding her elbow.
"Yeah...I just hit my elbow really hard," Maggie grimaced in pain as Tara became pissed that the walkers had hurt her girlfriend.
Tara kept pushing the riot gear walkers, grabbing one by the collar, she found an opening in the bottom of the helmet and drove her knife through the walker's chin, killing it instantly. Daryl took her lead, quickly disposing of the last walker in the courtyard. Tara panted, catching her breath as Rick motioned for the rest of the group to join them in prison yard.
Tara turned her attention to Maggie, checking her elbow which looked a little scraped up but not broken. Beth immediately gave the young couple both a hug, witnessing the whole ordeal from the other side of the fence. Harley bounded into the yard, bouncing around and taking in all the new scents.
"I'm sorry you got hurt, babe," Tara apologized as Maggie gave her a sweet smile.
"It's alright. I didn't get hurt too bad," Maggie leaned over, giving Tara a quick kiss on the lips.
"We got the yard secure. Now, we're gonna go into the prison," Rick informed the others as they turned toward a door that was labeled Cell Block C.
They made their way to the doors as Daryl grabbed one door handle and Rick grabbed the other. They both nodded at each other as they swung open the doors. Everyone prepared for an onslaught of walkers but none appeared, just a dark hall that seemed to lead to nowhere.
"Stay together. Be ready for anything," Rick whispered as he, Daryl and Tara led the way. The corridor was filled with cell blocks that stretched towards a door that led to another part of the prison. There were two staircases that led to a second floor of cells that were quiet and vacant. Rick decided that they would explore more later after getting some rest.
The sunlight passed through some of the windows but it was still kind of dark as their eyes adjusted to the dimness. Tara was expecting numerous walkers to be waiting for them in the corridor but only a few staggered along. Tara and Rick killed the loose walkers while Daryl and Glenn took care of the few walkers that were stuck behind cell bars. Soon, all of the walkers in the hall were dead and the block secure from danger for the night.
"Alright...we have a few granola bars left so we'll eat those tonight and get some rest. Pick out a cell around here and tomorrow we'll dwell deeper into the prison, find weapons and food, get rid of dead bodies. We'll be alright," Rick said as he walked over to a cell, opening the door.
Tara and Maggie picked a cell down the hall, glad to finally be able to sleep on a bed even if it was a small one. Harley explored her new home, sniffing around the jail cells that the others had picked out. Meghan laughed as the boxer chased around a dust bunny that was in the cell that Lilly had selected. By the time, dinner was eaten and the cell block cleaned up, it was time to rest for night.
Maggie was on her way to check on Beth and tell her goodnight when she noticed that Lori was seated on the stairs, softly crying to herself. Maggie sat down next to the expectant mother, placing her hand on Lori's knee.
"Hey...what's wrong?" Maggie asked as Lori just shook her head.
"I think the baby's stillborn. I haven't felt it move for a while...what if I give birth and it's a walker? What if it's stillborn, turns into a walker in there, and then tears its way out of my stomach?!" Lori cried as Maggie wrapped her arm around her shoulders.
"I ain't gonna lie...that might be cool to see," Maggie teased as Lori couldn't help but let out a little chuckle.
"I'm serious, Maggie!" Lori admonished as she gently hit Maggie's knee to get her back on topic.
"You can't think like that, Lori. I'm sure the baby's just fine. Just these last few weeks have been hard for all of us," Maggie tried to comfort Lori, rubbing her back softly.
"Rick and Carl hate me. They barely talk to me. Only time Carl lets me be near him is if we're asleep. I should have just died back on the farm," Lori quietly sobbed, feeling like her family had been torn apart.
"Don't talk that mess. The baby will love you. They love you. Hell, I love you like a sister. You're gonna be alright...I promise," the younger woman tried to talk some sense into Lori.
"Still. Maggie, I know this is a lot to ask but if the baby is stillborn or I die or we both die, would you please put us both down. Rick can't be the one. He just can't," the pregnant woman gave Maggie a heartbroken look that made it hard for her to argue.
After some thought, Maggie finally answered. "Ok. I will."
Lori leaned over, giving her a hug in thanks. "How are you copin' after that miscarriage? I know it's been a few months but stuff like that doesn't go away."
"I'm alright. Tara's been a big help," Maggie answered as Lori nodded her head in understanding. The women talked for a few more minutes before Maggie walked Lori to her cell. She passed by Hershel and Beth's individual cells, both of them peacefully sleeping.
Maggie quietly made her way back to her cell, being extra quiet so she wouldn't wake up the sleeping occupants. She quietly opened the jail cell door, closing it securely before making her way to the bed where Tara was already laying down.
"Hey...I was wondering where you ran off too," Tara whispered quietly as Maggie laid down on the bed, snuggling under the blanket that Tara had found in a closet.
"I was just havin' a heart-to-heart with Lori and we talked for a little while," Maggie cuddled on top of Tara, placing soft kisses on her neck.
Maggie started to move her body against Tara's, reveling in the heated friction that their bodies created. She could feel Tara start to harden underneath her, loving the feel of Tara's hands all over her body as their lips met in passion filled kisses.
"Maggie...we gotta stop. Everyone's just a few feet away," Tara groaned, feeling Maggie's hot breath on her ear causing her body to shiver.
"We better be really quiet then," Maggie bit down lightly on Tara's shoulder.
"I don't know..." Tara said with uncertainty as she tried to listen to see if anyone was awake. She could only hear a few snores coming from down the hall.
"Please, Tara. I need you..." Maggie begged, biting softly on Tara's ear.
Tara knew she couldn't deny Maggie as she flipped them over so that she was on top, thrusting against Maggie, her cock so hard, begging for freedom and release. Maggie groaned when she felt Tara's hard bulge press against her center. Tara placed kisses down Maggie's neck, kissing the exposed skin on her chest as Maggie moaned softly in her ear.
She reached down, unbuttoning Maggie's jeans, letting her hand slip beneath the denim fabric. Tara moaned when she felt how wet Maggie already was, her fingers lightly rubbing against Maggie's excited clit.
Maggie grabbed a handful of Tara's hair, colliding their lips together as Tara let her fingers slip into the tight wetness. Maggie reached over, unbuckling Tara's jeans, letting them fall down just enough to pull out her dick. She began to softly tug on Tara's cock, feeling it get harder by the second.
Tara moved her fingers faster in Maggie's wet pussy, moaning as she was slowly being jacked off. Maggie leaned forward, sucking on Tara's neck until a dark mark was left.
"Tara...please I need you inside me," Maggie pleaded as Tara pushed her jeans down, moving up so that she was completely covering Maggie's body. Tara's erection softly touched her girlfriend's pussy, the tip rubbing against Maggie's clit.
"Please..." Maggie begged. Tara lined up her hard dick to Maggie's entrance, slowly entering, feeling the tightness wrap around her. They both moaned at the intense feeling of Tara filling up Maggie to the brim.
"Fuck..." Tara muttered as she felt herself being enveloped by the wet tightness, Maggie's pussy clenching around her.
Tara kept up a steady pace as she moved in and out of Maggie, trying to keep as quiet as possible. Maggie pulled her close, wrapping her legs around Tara's waist as Tara increased her speed. Tara could feel Maggie squeezing her wet cock, the feeling her own personal heaven. Underneath Tara, Maggie moaned softly with every thrust that was delivered, her hands slipping under Tara's shirt, caressing the muscles that were hard at work.
"God, Maggie...I love you so much," Tara moaned between kisses, knowing that they are both close.
"I love you, too," Maggie whimpered as Tara drove even deeper into her. She knew that no one but Tara could ever make her feel this good, feeling the love pour out of her as they made eye contact, keeping it as Tara moved her hips faster.
Tara thrusted hard into Maggie sending her over the edge as she came all over Tara's hard dick that was buried deep inside her. Maggie's moans were muffled by the rough kisses that Tara placed against her lips, quieting her down. A few more thrusts and Maggie felt something warm spill into her, filling her up as Tara reached her point of ecstasy.
Tara collapsed on top of Maggie, totally spent. Maggie wrapped her arms around Tara's body, holding her close as they finally fell asleep in the dead of night, both exhausted from their eventful day.
The next morning, everyone was more rested and in a relatively good mood as they waited to see what steps would be taken next in their prison takeover.
"Hey! Nice love bite ya got there, Chambler. Get some lovin' last night?" Daryl teased as Tara just shook her head.
Rick smiled as he explained what their tasks for the day would be. "Alright, Tara, Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, Hershel, and I will explore the prison further. Hopefully, we'll find the cafeteria and see what's left in there. Maybe find more weapons. The rest of you stay here."
"Do I have to stay here?" Carl almost pouted at the thought of missing out on the action.
"Hey, buddy. You have an important job here. You gotta protect your mom, Lilly, Beth, Carol, and Meghan. So don't let me down, alright?" Tara said as she handed Carl a loaded firearm.
The pre-teen grinned, liking the sound of that better. He slipped the gun into his holster before giving Tara a salute. "I won't let you down, Marine."
"Atta boy!" Tara laughed as she ruffled up Carl's hair causing him to giggle.
"Let's get goin' then. You guys be careful," Rick instructed as he opened the door that led to the rest of the prison. Glenn, Daryl, Maggie, Tara and Hershel carefully followed, closing the door behind them.
They were greeted by more dark hallways that led to more cell blocks and other hallways that that held offices. They took turns killing the stray walkers that appeared every now and then. Rick was surprised that they hadn't run into more creatures and wondered where they all were. They explored the prison for a couple of hours, still not finding the armory or the cafeteria.
They entered the front area filled with tables, some overturned, some broken. Rick realized that they were close to the kitchen when suddenly they heard groans. Tara glanced around as suddenly, groups of walkers seemed to surround them on all sides.
"Run!" Rick shouted, knowing that they were greatly outnumbered.
Tara grabbed Maggie's hand as a group of ten walkers descended upon them. Tara stabbed a couple of walkers as they ran down the hallway, separated from their group, confused and lost in the darkness that filled the prison. Tara knew that they needed to find a hiding place to wait out the walker hordes. She hoped the others had run away in time.
"In here!" Tara grabbed Maggie's arm, shoving her into the janitor's closet, closing the door behind them. They both could hear the sounds of walkers slowly making their way down the hall.
"You think the others are alright?" Maggie asked, worried about their friends and her father.
"Yeah...they all went down to the cell block. They should be safe. We'll just have to wait out the walkers then we can join them," Tara explained to Maggie, trying to ignore the feeling of Maggie's body pressed tightly against her.
Tara glanced around the small room, finding that it was filled with cleaning supplies and mops. She tried to focus on the words that were written on the bottles and not Maggie's warm breath that made her skin quiver with excitement.
'Dammit, Chambler! Get ahold of yourself!' Tara thought to herself as she felt her jeans start to tighten as her erection grew harder.
Maggie noticed that Tara seemed to be a little anxious and she wondered why until Tara turned to face her and Maggie felt the hardness that was suddenly poking her.
"Wow...excited much?" Maggie teased as she reached down, her hand lightly rubbing the growing tent in Tara's jeans.
"I'm sorry...I just felt your body against mine and yeah," Tara sighed, letting out a soft moan as Maggie continued to stroke her.
"Don't start what you can't finish," Tara muttered as Maggie leaned up, biting on her neck hard, breathing into her ear.
Tara couldn't control herself any longer as she roughly pushed Maggie against the wall, knocking over mops and brooms. She ripped off the tank top that Maggie was wearing and quickly shoved her jeans down, almost ripping off Maggie's lacy panties in the process. Tara didn't waste a second as she unzipped her own pants, letting them fall to the floor.
Tara lifted Maggie off the ground, forcing her to wrap her legs around Tara's waist. Maggie nearly screamed as Tara plunged into her wet pussy with no warning, filling her to the hilt. Maggie moaned, throwing her head back as she felt Tara's large cock start to pound relentlessly into her.
Maggie leaned forward, capturing Tara's lips, biting slightly down. Tara could feel her muscles tremble as one arm held Maggie close while the other one was against the wall behind them, keeping them both steady, the pressure making the tone of her muscles stand out.
Maggie moved her body in rhythm with Tara's, allowing her to go even deeper inside, squeezing at Tara's cock that impaled her with every hard thrust. Tara's hips picked up the pace, Maggie's back slamming hard into the wall behind them as Tara's animalistic urges took over, bringing them both close to their personal salvation.
"I'm so close..." Maggie whimpered, loving the feel of Tara's dick stretching her tight pussy muscles. A mixture of pleasure and pain filled her body as Maggie moaned out Tara's name, her nails scratching down Tara's back, feeling the scars that were there.
Tara slammed into her a few more times with thrusts that became more intense with each stroke, their lips meeting in a sloppy kiss as Maggie came hard, her body hit with a wave of fierce pleasure.
"Oh, Tara..." she moaned as her walls squeezed around Tara, a warm gush of wetness covering Tara's already slick cock.
"Fuck..." Tara groaned as she thrusted against Maggie a few times before cumming deep inside, her seed filling up Maggie, some spilling out onto the floor.
They both leaned against the wall, trying to calm down from their highs, Tara still buried deep inside of her girlfriend. Maggie placed small kisses on Tara's jawline, holding her close. After a few minutes, Tara gently pulled out of Maggie, setting her down onto the ground.
"Well, that sure is a way to pass the time," Maggie teased as she started to get dressed, watching while Tara pulled up her jeans.
"You're telling me," Tara replied, buckling up her belt. They still heard walkers moving down the corridor, knowing that they were stuck in the closet for a while longer. Tara let herself fall to the floor, reaching up to pull Maggie into her lap.
Tara held Maggie close as they listened to the moans and groans of the roamers out in the hallway, not sure how long they would be stuck in their own prison.
Meanwhile, Rick and the others made it safely back to Cell Block C, locking the door behind them. Daryl wiped the sweat off his forehead as he wondered where Tara and Maggie had run off to. He could only hope that they were safe, wherever they were.
"Where's Tara and Maggie?" Lilly immediately asked as walkers made their way past the door, moans and groans filling the hallway on the other side of the door.
"We got overrun by some walkers. There's probably a breach somewhere. We'll find it soon enough, but they took off down the other hall across the buildin'. There ain't much we can do but wait for the herds to wane down a bit," Rick sighed dejectedly, hoping his friends were alright.
So the remaining group waited for about two hours as the herds moved to the other part of the building away from their safe place. Hershel paced nervously down the hall, worried about his daughter's safety. He could only hope that Tara was able to find them a good hiding place. Beth and Harley sat on the bottom bunk of a cell, silently waiting for their loved ones' return. The minutes seemed to stretch into hours, making time go seemingly slow. Finally, a few minutes passed without any walker noises or movements. Rick looked out the window of the door, seeing that the hallway outside was relatively empty.
"I think it's safe to go out now. Glenn, Daryl, and Hershel are goin' with me. The rest of you stay here...hopefully we find Tara and Maggie alive," Rick instructed as everyone agreed to the plan. Even Carl didn't complain about being told to stay behind, he just wanted his friends to be found safe.
Rick, Daryl, Hershel and Glenn retraced their steps, going back to the front where all the walkers had suddenly appeared. The area was eerily quiet now with a few dead walker bodies littering the floor. Rick and Daryl made their way to the hall where they had last seen Tara and Maggie run down, their flashlights cutting into the darkness. They motioned for Glenn and Hershel to join them so they could explore the dark corridor together.
No one was prepared for what happened next. As Hershel walked by a seemingly dead walker, it suddenly came to life, lashing out and biting him on the calf. Hershel let out a bloodcurdling scream as Glenn stabbed the roamer in the skull, killing it instantly. Rick and Daryl ran to Hershel who was on the floor, blood running onto the floor from the bite.
From the janitor's closet, Tara and Maggie heard the scream, immediately jumping up. Tara didn't care if walkers were still out in the hallway as she swung open the door, knowing that Hershel was in trouble. The couple ran as fast as they could with Tara in the lead, killing any walkers that got in their way. They finally reunited with the others as Maggie dropped to her knees beside Hershel, not believing that he had been bitten.
"Daddy!" Maggie sobbed as tears ran down her face. She was definitely not prepared to lose her father, the thought bringing more tears.
"Come on! Let's get him out of here before more walkers come this way!" Rick yelled as he, Glenn, and Tara picked up Hershel carrying him down another hall with Daryl leading the way after he had grabbed Maggie and forced her to run with him.
They ran until they reached two double doors that were labeled "Cafeteria". The doors were locked with handcuffs which none of them took notice of, given their current emergency. Daryl repeatedly slammed his body into the doors until the cuffs broke apart. The doors swung open as they carried Hershel into the prison eating area. There were numerous long tables that filled the room, some toppled over, and chairs littering the area.
Tara, Glenn, and Rick placed Hershel on a table. The older man was in obvious pain from the bite, all of them knowing what would happen if they didn't act fast. Rick pulled up Hershel's pants, observing the deep bite, knowing what needed to be done. He glanced over at Tara who was thinking the same thing. They both shared a thought as Tara nodded.
"We need to amputate the leg," Tara pulled off her belt, tying it above the bite. Without a warning, Rick pulled out his hatchet, swinging the blade down onto Hershel's leg, messily attempting to amputate it.
"What are you doin'?!" Maggie demanded as Hershel yelled in pain. She made a motion to stop Rick, but was grabbed by Tara.
Tara felt Maggie struggle against her as Rick continued to cut at Hershel's leg. "Stop, Maggie! If we amputate your father's leg then maybe it will stop the spread of the disease."
Maggie stopped fighting against Tara as she sobbed, watching as Rick continued to cut off the infected leg just below the knee. Hershel cried out in pain until the pain and shock became too much, forcing him to pass out from the agony. Finally, Rick amputated the leg, blood pouring onto the table beneath Hershel. Tara pulled off her plaid overshirt, placing it on the bloody stump in an attempt to stop the bleeding. She knew they needed to get Lilly down here as soon as possible to stop the heavy bleeding, but Hershel was still breathing which was a good sign. Maggie fell to the floor, her body shaking from the sobs that escaped her body as she thought about how much she still needed her father around. This felt like an awful nightmare, but now she was faced with the harsh reality of Hershel not surviving, and leaving her and Beth behind.
Suddenly, they heard a noise from a room adjacent to the one that they were in, where the serving line was located. Daryl shined his flashlight in the direction of the noise, revealing five figures watching them behind the cafeteria counters. Tara pulled out her gun, prepared to fire until she noticed that the figures weren't walkers, but prisoners.
"Holy shit..." One of the prisoners with a mustache said in disbelief.
Maggie stood up, glancing over at the prisoners who all took a good look at her. Tara immediately stepped in front of Maggie, blocking the prisoners' view, realizing that they weren't alone in the prison after all. She wondered briefly if they were truly safe within the prison walls after what had happened to Hershel and now these guys. Tara hoped that her future father-in-law would survive his ordeal, silently promising him that she would protect his daughters from the men that stood in front of her. Tara knew she would kill them without any hesitation if they even touched Maggie.
The leader of the prison pack, a large Hispanic man, walked over to Rick. He had a look in his eyes that Tara didn't trust at all. On the table, Hershel continued to bleed, and Maggie continued to cry, holding onto Tara for dear life. Tara realized just then that their fight for survival had only begun...
Another chapter done! I'm really sorry it took awhile to get out but like I said I'm doin' a bit better now. Well, our group finally found the prison but now they are faced with new challenges to keep it.
As always review if you want to. I send my love out to all of you and thank you for being patient and reading my stuff. Love you all.