Chapter 8.

Carol left her car quite far from the city center of Lark's Point. She had taken a wrong turn a couple of times on the way, so it was afternoon already.

The world had became so quiet these days that you could hear a car from a distance. That's why she was extra careful now. She took her backpack full of supplies, two handguns and her knives. She locked the car carefully and made sure it seemed abandoned like the others around it.

She had seen walkers on the way, but it all seemed quite calm here in the town. Probably because of the Gov's men who reduced their number regularly, Carol concluded.

She proceeded with caution, watching around all the time. She had her knife at hand and she used it to kill two walkers on the way. She did it noiselessly and efficiently.

She moved so slowly that it took her over an hour to get to the Main Street and near the police station. Finally she was at the end of the littered alley next to the station. Suddenly she felt weak. She recognized the place now. She saw a wicket of the building, a familiar van and few other cars that obviously belonged to Governor's crew.

It was at that moment when the door swung open.

Carol took cover behind a big dumpster. She could still see the door. The angle was narrow but sufficient.

Four men rushed out. Carol recognized Martinez immediately. They started to pack one of the cars hastily. Supplies, rifles, backpacks, cans full of water and gasoline. Men were talking and joking at the same time, but Carol couldn't hear their words.

And then came him. The Governor. He stood on the steps for a moment and glanced around shortly.

He had his checkered coat on. Carol was able to see even his eye-patch.

She felt sick at once.

The Gov and his men sat in the car and left with screaming tires. They were obviously in a hurry, Carol didn't know why. She was relieved to see them drive to the opposite direction. Soon the alley was quiet again. Carol left her hiding place quickly.

She inched closer and closer to the door. Suddenly she had to take cover again. One more man came out now. He was a guard - a small, bearded man who looked around nonchalantly. He was obviously bored.

Carol decided to kill him.

She knew instinctively that this would not be as easy as killing walkers. The knife was in her hand now. Her grip was firm. She was just a few steps away from the man. Then the guard made a fatal mistake. He turned his back on her and focused on igniting a cigarette.

Carol felt calm. She knew what she was doing. She had been practising this for weeks, for months now. That man in front of her was the enemy. He was one of those who made her and Daryl suffer here. She didn't feel mercy.

She took a few quick steps. Her hand swung. Her aim was perfect. Steel sank deep into flesh, just below the ribs, puncturing vital organs. Her accuracy was murderous.

A man made a muffled sound. He turned to Carol, trying to grope the knife out of his back. He looked at her surprised one last time. Then he fell down and died.

- One less, Carol thought coldly and punctured his skull.

Then she pulled the corpse quickly behind the dumpsters nearby and sneaked to the door. She tried it. It wasn't locked.

Now was the time. She knew that six men were out of the game - those who just left and the one she killed. So there would be maybe five or six men inside, she thought.

She stepped into the darkness.

xxx

Soon she was standing in a long hallway. It was very quiet here. There were doors on both sides. She tried to remember the floor plan of the building when she stepped forward.

It was at that moment when someone put a gunpoint to her back.

"Don't move, bitch", said a rough voice behind her.

Strange hands travelled along her body.

"Oh, you've guns and knives with you. Interesting. Let's go, I want the boys to see what I found."

Carol had no choice but to obey him. She felt strangely calm now. Suddenly she knew why. She had seen this moment a thousand times in her nightmares. She walked forward.

Soon she was sitting in the Interrogation Room once again. The one with the table and chairs. Her captor - ugly man with a scar on his cheek - stood on the doorstep.

A tall man with light brown hair came into the room.

"My name is Steve. I'm in charge here now. And I think I remember you. The Big Man gave you quite a treatment last time, didn't he? Did you come back for more?" he asked with a derisive smile.

Carol stared at the table without a word.

"Silent, are we? Well, I want to know if your boyfriend - the one with a crossbow - is with you now. I suggest you tell me. Otherwise we will beat the answer out of you. You wouldn't like that, honey, not at all. And it would spoil your pretty face. We have good use for you later, and trust me, it's more fun with a woman with intact face", Steve said softly.

"I'm not that picky, boss. I can beat her first and fuck her then", laughed the man with a scar.

"You heard the man", Steve noted.

"So I ask once again - is the hunter with you?"

Carol was thinking very quickly.

- They don't know anything about Daryl, she realized.

She had to play smart now.

Suddenly she sobbed and pressed her hands on her face.

"Oh my God, no! He's not with me anymore, he dumped me. He didn't even want to look at me anymore after what your boss did to me", she said with desperate tone.

"Used goods", nodded a man with a scar.

"I get that. The Big Man can be… very thorough", Steve admitted.

"Then why did you come back? Is this some kind of vendetta by one woman?" he wanted to know.

"Yes", Carol said. "But I failed, I can see that now."

It was at that moment when the door opened and the third man rushed in.

"Steve, I found Jackson from the alley. He is dead, skillfully stabbed."

"Fuck! There is only five of us left here then", Steve cursed.

"I guess this is your doing, bitch", he snapped at Carol.

She just nodded.

Steve stood up, evaded the table and leaned towards her. Carol could smell his breath.

"We could rape you and kill you right now. But I know that you're somehow an exceptional case for Big Man. He put a lot of time and effort for catching you the last time. I'm sure he wants a word with you again. He will be back tomorrow at the latest. He will decide what to do with you", he hissed.

"By the time the Big Man is finished with you, you won't be able to walk straight", laughed a man with a scar.

"Put her into cell like the others", Steve commanded.

"Nobody guards alone anymore. Keep your eyes open, boys!"