Hey guys! So, i've been doing some unexpected traveling and thus didn't have time to post. But here it is - a new chapter! I really hope you'll enjoy it and review with all your opinions. xxx

Also, thanks to everyone who stuck around, even though i've been kind of lazy with the uploads. Love ya guys!

Disclaimer:

I only own May and Kiba

Chapter 24: How cruel are we?

"Okay, okay… They had weapons, heavy stuff, automatics…" Randal's pathetic figure said as he was lying on the floor, his face swollen and his nose bloody. Last night, when they came back, Rick asked Daryl to interrogate Randal and that's what he was doing. He had been at it for a while now. All the anger he felt for what had been done to May was welling up inside him as he pressed his hunting knife against the prisoners wound. "Tha… the… I didn't do anything!" Randal cried out pathetically.

"Yer boys shot at ma' boys, tried to take this farm… Took ma' woman, tortured her! And what, you jus' went along for a ride?! Yer tryin' to tell me yer innocent?!" he growled fiercely. "Yes!" Randal screamed out. "These people took me in, not just guys a… a whole group of 'em. Men and women… Kids too, just like you people! Thought I'd had a better chance with them, you know?!" Daryl listened, pacing back and forth like a predatory animal.

"But… We'd go out, scavenge… Just the men. One night we found this little camp site, a man and his two daughters. Teenagers, you know… Real' young, real' cute." He didn't have to go on, Daryl knew what happened next; the same thing that would have happened to May had they not saved her when they did. "The man had to watch while these guys, they… And they didn't even kill him afterwards, they just made him watch… his daughters… Just left them there." Randal must have realized he was digging his own grave as his tone suddenly changed to panic. "But, I… I… I didn't touch those girls… I swear, I never…" but his sentence was cut off by Daryl's foot lodging itself in his gut. "Please… please, you gotta believe me, man, I'm not like that… Please…" but Daryl kicked him again. Then, he heard the shed door open.

*TWDTWDTWD*

May woke up the next morning and found she was alone in the tent. The weather was slowly getting colder but she didn't really mind it as she was used to conditions much worse than this. She opted for a pair of denim shorts, a gray camisole and a flannel, button-up shirt. It was a cloudy morning and the air felt heavy. Kiba was asleep by the remains of their small campfire and he jumped to his feet happily when he saw her. "Hey, buddy. Where's Daryl?" she asked her wolf-like dog, running her hand through his soft, gray fur. He wagged his tail and started running across the farm, heading for a shed. She followed him and, as she reached the shed, she opened its door. She wasn't prepared for what she saw.

Randal was lying on the floor, his face bloody, swollen and bruised with obvious signs of torture. Daryl towered over him, his fists clenched and bloody, his face skewed by an angry frown. She felt a stab through her chest at the sight. "Daryl…" was all she could utter as memories of her own torture came to her mind. Every scar, scab and remaining bruise she had on her body ached as she gave him a pained look and turned around, leaving the shed.

Daryl's heart sank at the disappointed look she gave him. He was a volatile, violent man and, although she may not have noticed it by now, he was sure this was going to change how she looked at him forever. Fuck! he thought as he belted his knife and left the shed. He saw she didn't join the rest of the group and instead wandered off towards the stables with that dog of her following her loyally. He growled loudly and punched the shed door before heading over to the main camp. As he walked up to them, they all gave them expectant looks.

"The boy there's got a gang. They got heavy artillery and they ain't lookin' to make friends." he paused, but no one said anything. "They roll through here, our boy's're dead and our women… they're gonna wish they were." Some of them dropped their gazes to the ground, knowing what had to be done. "What did you do?" Carol asked, giving him a stern look. "I had a little chat…" he replied and saw the same look May had on Carol's face as she sighed and walked away.

"No one goes near this guy." Rick said as Lori walked up to him. "Rick… What're you gonna do?" she asked. "We have no choice. He's a threat… We have to eliminate the threat." Rick replied decisively. "You're just gonna kill him?" Dale asked, appalled by the notion. "It's settled. We'll do it today." Rick said and walked away, Dale following him hastily. Without giving them another look, Daryl walked away, heading for his tent. The group was falling apart and he didn't want to stick around to observe. Who gives a shit? Not me… But, if he was honest with himself, he feared that, after this morning, he and May were falling apart as well and he hated the thought.

May was hiding out in the stables, surrounded by Hershel's horses. She didn't want to take part in their discussion, she couldn't. She rolled up the sleeves of her shirt and started examining her scars on her hands as well as her legs. She just wanted this whole thing with Randal to end. She wished they'd left him out there yesterday; she wanted to forget the entire ordeal and just move on. The world was fucked up enough without it.

Through the stable window, she saw Daryl walk across the farm, going to their tent. He was wearing a denim jacket and, over it, his black leather vest with angel wings on the back. May couldn't help but think that that, paired with the crossbow, made him look like an angel of death. She scoffed humorlessly. That morning, she saw a side of him she'd never seen before. The scene was all too familiar and the fear in Randal's eyes was something she understood completely. Leaning against a pillar, she slumped to the ground, pulling her knees to her chest. Her hands were shaking and she squeezed her eyes shut, clenched her fists and pressed them to her face, trying to stop the shaking.

*TWDTWDTWD*

As soon as the discussion by the camp fire was over, Daryl left the group and took refuge by his and May's tent, purposely located away from the group. He was trying to stay preoccupied, cleaning his already spotless crossbow. He heard a pair of footsteps going his way and he saw Dale coming over.

"The whole point of me comin' up here is to get away from you people." he grunted at the old man. "It's gonna take more than that." Dale replied with a friendly tone to his voice. "Carol sent ya?" Daryl asked. It sounded like something she'd do. "Carol's not the only one who's concerned about you; your new… role in the group." Dale explained calmly. Daryl sighed, turning back to his weapon. "I don't need ma head shrunk…" he said without looking at the older man. "This group's broken. I'm better off fendin' for m'self."

"You act like you don't care." Dale said and, before he could say anything else, Daryl interrupted him. "That's 'cause I don't." he explained, putting his jacket on again. "So, live or die, you don't care what happens to Randal?" Dale asked, coming a step closer. "Nope." he replied automatically. "Then why not stand with me, try to save the kids' life?" Dale asked the anticipated question. "If it really doesn't matter one way or the other."

"Didn't peg ya for a desperate son of a bitch." Daryl replied simply. Dale paused before continuing. "Your opinion makes a difference."

"Man, ain't nobody lookin' at me for nothin'." Daryl said, fully believing his words. "Carol is. And I am, right now." Dale said, trying to persuade the stubborn hunter. "And you obviously have Rick's ear…" he continued, finally getting a reaction. "Rick just looks to Shane." Daryl hissed before gaining some composure. "Let 'im." he added in a calmer tone and walked away.

"What about May?" Dale asked and Daryl knew he mentioned her as one of the last resorts. "She looks up to you. Hell, she loves you. Don't you care about that?" Dale asked. "Things change. People's minds change." Daryl replied, continuing on his way.

"You cared about what happened to Sophia!" Daryl stopped and turned back around. "Cared what it meant to the group." Dale continued as Daryl walked up to him. "Torturing people? That isn't you! You're a decent man. So is Rick. And she knows it. Her mind hasn't changed. Shane… is different." Dale added sharply. "Why's that? Cause 'e killed Otis?" Daryl asked, the old man finally getting his full attention. "Who told you that?" Dale asked, frowning. "He told some story… How Otis covered him, saved his ass… He showed up with the dead guy's gun. Rick ain't stupid. He didn't figure that out 'cause he didn't wanna." Dale said nothing. "It's like I said: the group's broken." Daryl griped out, leaving the old man standing in the dust.

*TWDTWDTWD*

It's time to go back out. May thought as she left the stables, faithfully followed by Kiba. She's been watching the group the entire day, hidden safely with the horses, and notice Dale had been going from one member to the next, always walking away seemingly disappointed. As she crossed the field heading for her tent, she saw Dale walking up to her as well.

"Hey, Dale." she called out with a calm look on her face. "What's up?" Dale caught up to her and they both kept walking. "I'm here to talk to you about Randal." he said and she waited for him to continue. "See, I don't know if you know this, but Rick plans to execute him tonight. The group's supposed to meet at sundown to make a final decision."

May contemplated what she just heard. Did she want that to happen? Was she comfortable with them taking a life in such a manner? Did she want to take part in the decision? No… She just wanted this entire thing to end. "Dale, I…" Words failed her. "I know what you've been through, I can only imagine how you feel but do you really think we can take a man's' life and stay unchanged?" Dale asked and continued, before she had time to reply. "I'm not asking you to decide right now, but will you at least think about this and come to the meeting at sundown?"

"Dale, I don't want us to kill anyone. We don't kill the living. But…" she took a deep breath and nodded "I'll see you at the meeting." she said, leaving for the tent. She hoped she'd find Daryl, but when she got there he was nowhere to be seen. She felt as if she was losing control over everything and she did the only thing she thought might make her feel in control again.

"Andrea?" she asked the blond woman as she approached the shed where they were holding Randal. She was sitting by the door with a gun. "Hey. Dale asked me to guard the prisoner… Make sure no one hurts him." the blond answered before she could ask. "I… I'm not gonna hurt him. I just… I gotta talk to him." May said, feeling emotionally exhausted. Andrea said nothing at first and just looked at her. May wanted her to understand how much she needed this. She pulled the knife from her boot, the one from her belt and placed them on a barrel at the entrance. "There, no weapons." she said. Andrea sighed and opened the door, looking the other way.

May walked in and saw Randal slumped on the floor with his hands tied behind his back. His nose bled recently, his left eye was swollen shut and his lower lip had a fresh cut on it. She crouched in front of him, a few feet away and looked at him. The only light in the barn was the sun coming from a few small windows and cracks in the walls. He, most likely, couldn't see her face as there was a window behind her. "Daryl really did a number on you, ha?" she asked in a calm, almost friendly voice. Randal squinted at her, trying to make out who this was. "Hey, I get it… He's just protecting you guys, I get it. But I didn't do nothing wrong, you can just let me go…"

"Randal, please… don't patronize me." she said, still calm, still friendly. Randal's eyes must have adapted to the light as she saw he was looking at her legs and arms, seeing all the scars his friends left her with. She knew he realized who she was when his eyes widened in terror. "Yeah… I'm the one your friends took." she said, never breaking eye contact. "Then you know what it's like… Tell them to let me go! Please, I swear, I never hurt anyone…" he sounded pitiful. At least she kept her dignity. But then again, she was certain someone was coming for her. "Do you think they'll come for you?" Randal's lower lip trembled a bit before he said anything. "No… No one's coming for me." He wasn't lying; he truly believed nobody was coming to save him. And that's why he was begging. "Look, I'm real sorry for what they did to you, but it wasn't my fault. Just, please, let me go, you'll never see me again, I'll disappear. Or, I can stay and help with whatever you need! Just let me go…"

May stood up, watching the rays of light breaking in through the cracks between the wall boards. She left the shed while Randal pleaded for his freedom. When she was out, Andrea just looked at her and, after she took back her knives, the two women headed for the farmhouse. The sun was setting and it was time for the meeting.

Everyone was there, including Carl who, after getting a stern look from his parents, left the living room. "So, how do we do this? We just… take a vote?" Glenn asked the group. "Does it have to be unanimous?" Andrea asked and Lori replied. "No, the majority rules."

"Let's just see where everybody stands. Than we can talk through the options." Rick said looking around the group. "The way I see it, there's only one way to move forward." Shane said coldly. "Killing him? Right?" Dale asked, his protest to the idea obvious. "I mean, why even bother to take a vote, it's clear which way the wind's blowing."

"If people believe we should spare him, I want to know." Ray said, waiting for someone to speak up. "Well, let me tell you it's a small group. Maybe just me and Glenn." Dale said, looking to Glenn for support. Suddenly, Glenn got a guilty look on his face. As Dale saw it, his eyes widened at the realization of what it meant. "Look, I think you're pretty much right about everything all the time, but this…" his voice trailed off as Dale spoke up. "They've got you scared!"

"He's not one of us! And… we've lost too many people already." Glenn said and Dale realized he'd lost the battle, clenching on to his cap. He turned to Maggie. "What about you, are you okay with this?"

"Couldn't we continue keeping him prisoner?" she asked the room after a small pause. "It's just another mouth to feed." Daryl said and May noticed he was careful not to look at her as he said it. "It may be a lean winter." Hershel added, not saying anything else. "We could ration better." Lori said gently. "Or he could be an asset!" Dale said. "Give him a chance to prove himself!"

"We put him to work." Glenn agreed. "We're not letting him walk around." Rick said sternly. "We could put an escort on him." Maggie chimed in. I wouldn't mind being the escort. May thought. "And who wants to volunteer for that duty?" Shane asked sarcastically. "I will!" Dale said immediately. "Me too." May said flatly. Everyone in the room paused for a moment and looked at her in disbelief before Rick said: "I don't think any of us should be walking around with this guy."

"I- I wouldn't feel safe unless he was tied up." Lori said, wrapping her arms around herself a bit tighter. "We can't exactly put chains around his ankles, sentence him to hard labor." Andrea said sharply. "Look… Say we let him join us, maybe- maybe he's helpful, maybe he's nice. We let our guard down and maybe he runs off, brings back his thirty men." Shane said with a self satisfied tone. "So the answer is to kill him to prevent a crime he may never even attempt?" Dale asked, appalled by the logic. "If we do this, we're saying there's no hope. Rule of law is dead, there is no civilization."

"Oh my God…" Shane sighed, but Andrea looked like she was siding with Dale. "Could we drive him further out? Leave him like we planed?" Hershel asked. "You barely came back this time." Lori said in a shaky voice as the last time they tried to drive Randal out, they encountered a large group of walkers and barely made it back alive. "There could be walkers, you could break down, get lost…"

"You could get ambushed." Daryl added. "No, I don't think we should put our people at risk." Glenn said firmly. "If you go through with it… how would you do it? Would he suffer?" Patricia asked. May was starting to feel sick to her stomach by what they were discussing. "We could hang him, right? Just, snap his neck." Shane asked in a tone May felt was too casual. "I thought about that." Rick admitted. "Shooting may be more humane." T-Dog chimed in. "What about the body? Do we..."

"Whoa, hold on! You're talking about this like it's already decided!" Dale shouted out, giving them all a desperate look. "We've been talkin' 'bout it all day." Daryl said as he started pacing around nervously. "Going 'round in circles, you wanna go 'round a circle again?"

"This is a young man's life!" Dale shouted. "And it is worth more than a five minute conversation. Is this what it's come to? We kill someone because we can't decide what else to do with him?" he turned to Rick. "You saved him! And now look at us: he's been tortured, he's gonna be executed…" he turned to the rest of the room again. "How are we any better than those people we're so desperately afraid of?" Everyone in the room was quietly feeling guilty. "We all know what needs to be done…" Shane said but Rick cut him off. "No, Dale is right! We can't leave any stone unturned here, we have a responsibility…"

"So what's the other solution?" Andrea asked as Lori said "Let him finish." The two women exchanged glares. "We haven't come up with a single viable option yet. I wish we could, but…"

"So let's work on it!" Dale shouted out again. "Stop it! Just… Stop it! I'm sick of everybody arguing and fighting! I didn't ask for this… You can't ask us to decide something like this." It was Carol. Her voice cracked here and there as she continued. "Please, decide – either of you, both of you… I don't care, just leave me out of this." She was talking to Rick and Shane. "Not speaking out or killing him yourself – there's no difference." Dale said, looking at her accusingly.

"Alright, that's enough!" Rick cut everyone off. "If anybody wants the floor before we make the final decision, now's the chance." he said, stepping back. Maggie and Patricia sat down. Most of the others looked away, ashamed of what they knew they were doing. Dale looked around the room, nervously holding on to his hat before he turneTd to Rick. "You once said we don't kill the living."

"That was before the living tried to kill us." Rick stepped out. "But don't you see, if we do this the people that we were, the world that we knew – it's dead!" Dale replied and May saw tears welling up in his eyes. "And this new world is ugly, it's… harsh, it'- it's survival of the fittest! And that's a world I don't wanna live in! I don't believe any of you do. I can't!" May thought he was about to start crying. "Please… Let's just do what's right. Isn't there anybody else who's gonna stand with me?" he asked around and, for a while, nobody stepped up.

"Nobody's coming for him." May spoke up, finally knowing what she wanted. "He knows it and, let's face it, we know it. I mean, you saw what they did to me, you saw how easily they left him there… They probably think he's long gone. And, for all his group did, we never saw him commit a single, violent act. Killing someone simply because he might do something bad is ridiculous. By that logic, we should just all kill each other, then!" She took a deep breath. "I wouldn't mind being the one to drive him out or having him released in to my custody, so to speak, because… I don't think we are the kind of people who can make this decision without serious moral consequences. And I personally believe it's one thing to kill someone in self-defense or while defending one of your own, but a completely different thing to execute someone in cold blood." As she finished, she saw Dale gave her a grateful look, while Daryl's eyes fell to the ground. "He's right. We should try and find another way." Andrea added as well.

"Anybody else?" Rick asked and the room fell completely silent. After a few moments of nobody saying anything, Rick turned to Dale with an apologetic look. "Are you all gonna watch, too?" Dale asked, now barely holding back his tears. He composed himself slightly. "No, you'll just go hide your heads in your tents and pretend we're not slaughtering a human being. I won't be a party to it." he said, heading for the door. He stopped by Daryl, placing a hand on his shoulder. "This group is broken." he said, leaving the house.

I hope everyone enjoyed it, i'll give my best to post a new chapter soon. Kisses!