Arrows and Scars
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Chapter Twenty Five: Through Hell and Back
Earlier that same morning, Daryl's group went to find an area to scavenge and another vehicle, which they fortunate enough to find. All it needed was a little fix up, thanks to the handy spare parts in the store next to where they found the car, and they'd be on their way.
As the car was being fixed, the group was starting to grow worried about Tyreese's mental state. After telling everyone to run after they lost their first car and doing too many stupid things when they tried to fix the van they had just found, it's as if Tyreese didn't care about living anymore.
Not that the others blamed Tyreese for his behavior after losing Karen the way he had.
...But they didn't want him to die either.
He was family.
Once the group fixed and got the car ready, they drove the rest of the way to West Peachtree Tech. As Hershel predicted, the place hadn't been raided and had everything that they needed to save everyone sick at the prison.
Daryl let out a sigh of relief, knowing that Kagome was going to be okay once they delivered the medicine.
Bob also instructed that they take other things with them, knowing that having other medicines could come in handy later, "Anything ending with –cillin or –cin. C-I-N, grab it." The others did as instructed and grabbed whatever else they could find useful. "We dissolve the pills into the IV's, put 'em right into the bloodstream. Dosage will be tricky but considering the time we lost..."
No one commented as they got everything they needed to save the ones infected with the virus.
IV bags, tubes, clamps, connectors, and much more.
"We got everyin'?" Daryl asked them after filling their bags as much as they could.
"We're good," Michonne told him as she put her backpack over her shoulder.
"Alright, let's roll," the hunter instructed the group.
Shippo nodded, before he sent a quick emotional pulse to Beth through their mate mark. He wanted to let her know that they were all okay and that they'd be on their way home soon. 'I'm coming back, my love.'
The fox demon spoke too soon as the group ran into a bunch of Walkers on their way out. The undead were in almost every direction, and none of the groups weapons and skills, including from the demon, was enough for them to take on so many in such an enclosed space. The only way out was to escape through the second floor window and onto a metal roofed walkway cover next to the building.
Bob ended up tripping on his way out the window and almost drop his bag over the edge, where an endless amount of Walkers were wanting a taste of the living man. Bob refused to let go of the bag and tried to pull it back up, but one of the undead had tangled it's arm around it.
"Bob, let it go," Michonne told him as they tried to pull Bob away from the Walkers.
Bob didn't listen and tried to pull up the bag again.
"Let it go, man," Tyreese urged him, "Just let it go."
"We have the stuff in the other bag, we're fine," Shippo remained him as he finally pulled Bob up, bag and all.
Bob's bag opened once it hit the metal roof, revealing a bottle of brandy.
Daryl picked up the alcoholic beverage, almost waning to crush the item in his hand before glaring at Bob, "You got no meds in your bag...Just this?" he accused the man.
Bob didn't answer since he was too ashamed of his weakness.
The hunter was furious.
Even after Bob had confessed at what happened at the Big Stop, how he was the reason everything got so bad was because he wanted a drink. Daryl told him that wasn't his fault since he thought the man learned his lesson. 'I was dead wrong,' he thought in anger.
"You should have kept walkin' that day," Daryl snarled before he attempted to throw the bottle away.
"Don't," Bob warned the hunter as he put his hand over his gun holster.
Shippo growled at the man threatening his mother's potential mate, attempting to step forward and take care of the matter himself.
But Daryl beat the demon to it.
He got into Bob's face, grunting as he simply grabbed the gun away from Bob's holster.
Bob whimpered in his cowardly state, as his shame continued to show on his face.
Tyreese and Michonne looked at each other, not sure of what to do.
Daryl grabbed Bob by the front of his shirt.
"Just let it go Daryl," Tyreese urged the hunter, "The man's made his choice. Nothing you can do about it."
"We have to save Kagome and the others," Michonne reminded the hunter.
With the mention of Kagome, Daryl released Bob's shirt.
"I didn't want to hurt nobody," Bob admitted in self-pity, "It was just for when it gets quiet."
Daryl shoved the bottle into Bob's hand, "Take one sip when those meds get in our people and my girl, I will beat your ass to the ground," he harshly threatened before grabbing his bag and crossbow and walking away in anger.
"If he doesn't kill you after that, I will," Shippo warned Bob as he followed the hunter.
Tyreese shook his head in disproval before following the men.
Michonne was also disgusted by Bob's selfish greed and followed behind them.
Bob looked down at the bottle and put it in his bag before following his group.
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Meanwhile, back in A Block, a man named Henry's condition took a turn of the worst.
He was coughing out blood and began to have difficulty breathing.
Hershel was preparing his medical tools while Kagome and Glenn held him down and Sasha was holding a small flash light to the man's open mouth for Hershel to see.
"Henry," Hershel pleaded to the coughing man, "I need you to calm down. We're trying to help."
Henry continued to cough, in obvious pain but tried his best to comply.
Kagome had to look away as Hershel had to maneuver the breathing device and put the tool down the suffering man's throat. It was the only way to keep the blood from filling up his throat, but it wasn't a pleasant procedure to watch. Once Hershel finished, he placed the air bag over the tube in Henry's throat and squeezed air into his lungs.
Slowly and gradually, Henry began to calm down once he was finally able to breath without any pain.
Glenn and Kagome let out a sigh of relief while Sasha pulled back and smiled at their small victory before she and Glenn began coughing again, unable to control it.
"Drink some of that," Hershel ordered the three of them to drink the elderberry tea, "All of you."
All three of them reluctantly went to drink some tea. Luckily, Carl saw what the berries looked like when he helped Hershel the first time and went to get more with Souta and Kilala.
"Some council meeting, huh?" Hershel said to them, wanting to keep their minds off things.
Sasha nodded, "We're two members short."
"Somehow I doubt they'd mind," Kagome voiced after she drank the tea. She wasn't coughing as much anymore but she was still sweating profusely just like Glenn and Sasha were now.
"I think we should make some new rules before they get back," Hershel spoke, "I hereby declare we have spaghetti Tuesdays...Every Wednesday...First we have to find some spaghetti."
Sasha raised a brow at Hershel's attempted joke.
"You know...I've never had spaghetti," Kagome admitted to everyone, trying to help the old veterinarian out.
Hershel's eyes widened at the, in his opinion, tragic news, "Oh now we've definitely got to find some."
The girls gave a small smile while Glenn continued to sit silently.
Realizing that his attempted humor wasn't going any further, Hershel looked to Sasha. "You ready to take over?" She nodded yes. "Squeeze every five to six seconds. If you start getting light headed, let us know so someone can take over. We'll do it shifts." When Sasha nodded in understanding, Hershel turned to Kagome and Glenn, "You two, help me go on my rounds."
Both individuals weakly got up from the bed.
"How long will that keep him alive?" Glenn asked the old veterinarian.
"As long as we're willing to do it," Hershel answered.
Kagome nodded, "Until the others get back."
Hershel squeezed her shoulder, "As long as it takes."
The trio walked down the halls of A Block, listening to the sounds of harsh coughing and groaning.
Once they reached the end of the hall, they came across a cell that held Mr. Jacobs, who wasn't moving. Hershel quickly inspected, realizing the man was already dead.
Glenn reached for his knife, but was stopped by Hershel.
"No...Not here," the old veterinarian said before he left to get a rolling stretcher.
Glenn shook his head, "What's the point?"
Kagome glared at him, "The others don't need to see this."
"But they'll see the body," Glenn pointed out.
"Let's just do as Hershel says," the priestess urged, "We don't need everyone to think we're giving up...Because we're not."
"Damn right we're not," Hershel replied when he came back with the stretcher.
Glenn shook his head, "What if Henry dies? How are we supposed to get him down the stairs without anyone noticing?"
"You'll help us," Hershel said simply.
"And if I'm gone?" Glenn asked them.
Hershel sighed in mild frustration.
"Don't make me hurt you Glenn," Kagome threatened her Korean brother, "I told Maggie you'd get out of here in one piece. I'd hate to disappoint her."
It took a few moments for Glenn to finally nod in agreement.
Hershel nodded satisfied by the response, "Now you two, help me get him on this."
The three of them managed to get Mr. Jacobson onto the stretcher and made their way to the visiting room so they could stab Mr. Jacobson's corpse before he could turn.
"What are you doing?" Lizzie asked as she walked down the cells.
Hershel walked over to the little girl, "We're just taking Mr. Jacobson to a quieter place." He quickly checked her forehead and saw that her fever was still there. The old veterinarian took the little girl's hand. "I want you to go into my room and grab my copy of Tom Sayer. Finish it by tonight."
"I won't finish it," Lizzie told him in protest.
"Why?" Hershel asked her curiously. Glenn and Kagome looked at each other, not knowing what she'd say.
"It'll get too dark soon," Lizzie replied simply before coughing into her arm.
Hershel gave a small smile before grabbing the girl's hands, "Give it your best try...We all have jobs to do, and that's yours." The old man turned to the priestess, "Make sure she drinks some tea."
Kagome nodded as she went to Lizzie, "Come on sweetie. You can read some of Tom Sayer to me."
Lizzie allowed the priestess to take her back to her room while Glenn and Hershel took Mr. Jacobson's body away.
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When Rick returned from his run, he had to tell Maggie what happened with Carol. The farmer's daughter was surprised by what she'd learned, but understood why Rick had sent the older woman away.
Now Rick was in the administration's office, "Carl?...Carl?!"
Carl came from around the corner, but kept his distance from his father, "You okay?"
Rick almost snorted, "I was gonna ask you that."
"We're fine," Carl assured, "No one here has gotten sick. Judith's okay too. Beth's looking after her."
Rick let out a sigh of relief, before tossing his bag over to his son, "Found some food on the run. There's a bunch of fruit leather in there. Have everyone brush their teeth after," he instructed his son before dreading this next part. "And Carl...Could you bring Sophia out to see me?"
Carl lifted the bag over his shoulder, "Why?"
"Please," Rick said, not answering his question.
Carl gave an obedient nod and went to get Sophia.
It took a few minutes for the blonde girl to meet up with Rick. She also kept her distance from him, "Is my mother dead?" she asked Rick straight out, figuring it was one of the two likely scenarios of why Rick wanted to talk to her alone.
"No," Rick assured her, "No your mom's okay...But," he paused. He didn't know how he was going to tell Sophia that he kicked her mother out of the group.
Luckily Sophia knew better, "Mom killed Karen and David...Didn't she?" Rick's eyes widened in surprise before giving a small nod as his answer. Sophia wrapped her arms around herself to keep herself from falling apart. "Can she...Will you let her come back someday?"
Rick didn't answer for a few moments, "I don't know."
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Kagome tried to keep pace with Hershel as they walked slowly to check on everyone in their cell rooms. The priestess's fever had gone down and her coughing had lessened, but she still felt very weak. Glenn was taking care of Henry, to make sure he continued to breathe with the mask.
"Do we have to do this?" the priestess asked him weakly.
Hershel nodded, "It's just a precaution."
Kagome sighed before she nodded and began shutting the cell doors for people's room.
No one asked her or Hershel why they needed to do this.
Because they already knew.
If someone turned during the night, they needed to protect the others from being bitten or eaten.
Kagome couldn't look at the others as she closed them off. 'I hate this,' she thought to herself.
Suddenly, one of the sick men came stumbling out of his room and collapsed to the floor. He began coughing immensely before chocking on his own blood.
Hershel and Kagome went immediately at the man's side, but it was too late.
Hearing the commotion, people began coming out of their rooms to see what was happening. Some of them looked at the man, realizing that their fate was inevitable.
Hershel refused to let them think this way, "Everyone, get back in your cells," he ordered sternly.
Sasha, who saw the whole thing, went and got the rolling stretcher. "Let's get him on this," she told them.
All three of them, maneuvered the dead man onto the stretcher.
"Both of you go get some rest," Hershel ordered as he rolled the stretcher to the visiting room. Sasha did as she was told, but Kagome kept following behind the old veterinarian.
Once the stretcher came to a stop, Hershel took out the knife from his pocket.
"Wait," the priestess pleaded before Hershel took his knife down on the man's head. Before the old veterinarian could ask her why, Kagome grabbed the dead man's hand and closed her eyes to pray for him. When she was finished, the priestess covered the man's face with a white sheet that was already on the stretcher.
Hershel gave a small smile to the priestess before he said a small prayer of his own. When he was finished, he jabbed his knife into the dead man's forehead.
"This won't get easier," Kagome said weakly, "But we shouldn't let it change us."
"Amen to that," Hershel agreed.
"Hershel?" Rick's voice startled the both of them.
He'd seen the whole thing.
"He's the third one we've lost," Hershel informed him.
"We're burning them behind the blocks," Kagome added.
Hershel looked to the ground, "Burning them...That's what it's come to."
"Are you both okay?" Rick asked with concern.
Kagome gave a weak nod in reply.
Hershel didn't acknowledge the question as his gaze went to the dead man in front of him. "I had talked to him yesterday about Steinbeck...He told me a quote. 'A sad soul can kill quicker than a germ.'"
"His soul wasn't sad," Kagome interrupted, "Trust me, I know."
Hershel nodded in small relief before looking to Rick, "And that is exactly why I don't want them all to see what happens," he gestured to the dead body in front of them. "I know that...they know. But I don't want them to see it right now."
"They see the both of you," Rick replied to both Hershel and Kagome. "They see you both keep going. Even as sick as you are," he looked over at the priestess who was in obvious exhaustion. "Even when the choices keep getting taken away...Even when we get past this thing, it's not gonna be like how it was, is it?"
"No," Hershel answered, not bothering to lie.
"Was that denial?" Rick asked the old man, "Not seeing things for how they were?"
"No," Hershel answered again, "You just caught a break. You needed some time. You got some."
Kagome nodded, "You deserved it out of all of us."
"After all this...I still think there's a plan," Hershel admitted, "I still believe there's a reason."
"You think it's all a test?" Rick asked them both.
The priestess shrugged, "I've been thinking my life has been a test since I was fifteen years old. And as much as I hate to admit it, I've seen worse things than this...The dead may be rising. This sickness may have weakened us...But we're still here. We still have our humanity...And we all still have our family."
Both men looked at the woman completely speechless. Sometimes they forgot about all she had endured before the apocalypse began.
In the end, they knew she was right.
Still, it didn't make what Rick had to say easier, "I need to tell you both about Carol."
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Sophia did her best not to cry.
'It's just you now,' she told herself, 'You can't be a crybaby anymore.'
If she was going to survive in this world, she had to be tough.
It's what Sesshōmaru and her mother would have wanted.
Suddenly, a knock on the door startled her. Sophia fought back the tears that threatened to fall down her face before she went to the door.
Souta was on the other side as she opened it.
"We're not supposed to," Sophia began to say before Souta grabbed her shoulders, pulled her towards him and held her tightly.
Carl heard what his father said to Sophia, which he immediately told to Souta.
Sophia's eyes widened by the intense embrace.
"You don't have to force yourself to act like you're okay," Souta told her, "She was your mom...You're allowed to be sad that she's not here."
A few tears escaped Sophia's eyes as she hugged Souta back.
This boy knew her way too well.
And for that, she was grateful.
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Kagome couldn't believe it.
'Carol,' she thought baffled, 'How could she have done it?'
Hershel grabbed the priestess shoulder, giving her a sympathetic squeeze as they began closing the cell doors.
"Oh no," Hershel's voice made Kagome turn from her task. She went over as quickly as she could and saw the problem.
"Sasha," Kagome called out in alarm as she saw the woman unconscious on the floor.
"She's alive," Hershel assured after he checked her pulse, "But she needs an IV."
Kagome nodded as Hershel left to get what they need before she grabbed a pillow off the bed and put it under Sasha's head. "Don't give up Sasha," she urged her friend.
Hershel returned and quickly went to work as he put an IV in the unconscious woman's arm. He held the bag up close to his head so the liquid would flow down the tube core easily.
After ten whole minutes, Sasha's eyes finally opened.
Kagome let out a sigh of relief, 'Thank Kami.'
"Welcome back," Hershel greeted Sasha with a smile.
Sasha blinked in confusion, "I...I passed out?"
"You were dehydrated," Hershel informed her.
Kagome took a cool cloth she retrieved earlier and placed it on Sasha's head, "You scared me."
"Sorry Mom," Sasha told her half joking. Kagome had been the mother hen all this time, she might as well be given the title too.
The priestess rolled her eyes at the name, but smiled anyway.
"Well, being hero takes a lot out of you," Hershel voiced to her.
Sasha's eyes went to the old veterinarian, "You should know...I thought you were an idiot to come in here. I was so sure you were just going to be a dead foolish man."
Hershel raised a brow, "I can't tell if that's a compliment."
"I guess a fever makes her brutally honest," Kagome figured, making Hershel give an amused laugh.
"I never once believed in magic or luck," Sasha kept talking, "I do the math and I don't gamble...But I don't know if I'd be here right now if you weren't so damn stupid."
Kagome looked to Hershel, "She does have a point."
"You know what," Hershel said to both women, "I'm gonna take that as a compliment." Both women smiled at him. The old veterinarian kept the bag in the bag up but passed over to Kagome. "Hold it like this for her," he instructed, "I need to check on everyone."
The priestess nodded as she accepted the bag before Hershel stood up and left them alone.
"He's not the only hero here, ya know," Sasha told her.
"Yeah," Kagome agreed, "You've been helping so many people while you've been in here."
Sasha rolled her eyes, "I'm serious."
"So was I," the priestess told her. "You're a fighter Sasha. Don't ever forget that."
It took a moment for the woman to nod.
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For a few brief time, A Block was silent.
Then the time was up.
"HERSHEL!" Lizzie screamed in the cell upstairs that held Henry and Glenn. The Korean was coughing up blood on the floor, while Henry woke up and became a Walker.
The scream was quickly covered by Walker's snarling from the halls.
Hershel was knocked over and was fighting a female Walker that was now on top of him.
Kagome heard the commotion and placed Sasha's IV on the bed. "Stay here," she told a weak Sasha as she got out of the cell as quickly as she could and closed Sasha's cell door.
Although Hershel ordered everyone to stay in their cells, that didn't stop two individuals from helping him.
A blonde woman came out of her room managed to pull the Walker off of Hershel. Another was a man with a gun, who would have fired had it not been for a young Walker coming up and biting him in the arm, firing the gun at the blond woman in the stomach causing her to fall to the ground.
"No!" Kagome cried as she grabbed her knife from her pocket stabbing the Walker who just tore the man's neck out. After retreating the knife from the Walker's skull, she went to the female Walker and stabbed her in the head next. "Are you bit?" the priestess asked Hershel.
"No," the old man told her as he sat up and looked at the chaos around them.
Both of them took in the sight until they heard Lizzie voice from above.
"Come on Henry," Lizzie encouraged Walker Henry to follow her on the perch. "This way. Away from Glenn. Come on."
"Oh my Kami," Kagome said in horror as she attempted to help Lizzie when Hershel stopped her.
"No. Protect the others," Hershel ordered as he rushed up the stairs to save Lizzie.
Before the priestess could protest, another Walker appeared from a cell making some of the sick people panic and try to run out of their cells
"Damn it," Kagome cursed as she put up a barrier around the living survivors to prevent the Walker from grabbing them. The barrier was weak due to Kagome's fragile state. "Get in the cells! Lock yourselves in!" she ordered the others.
Everyone listened to priestess as she went over to the Walker and stabbed him in the head.
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It all happened so fast.
Rick heard the gun shot from A Block and let Maggie go to see what happened. Leaving Rick alone to fix the fence which was being pushed in by the massive amount of Walkers. Thinking he needed help, he went and got Carl so they could finish the job together.
He had no idea that the fence would give out do to the great number of Walkers.
Desperate, Rick grabbed two guns and gave one to Carl.
Both of them began shooting at the Walkers as they slowly made their way inside.
Rick was worried that they'd both run out of ammo before the task was finished.
Suddenly, an arrow zipped passed both Rick and Carl, hitting the closest Walker dead in the eye.
Both of the Grimes turned and saw Sophia with a bow and quiver of arrows, while Souta took out two hand guns and began firing at the herd of Walkers.
The young couple heard the commotion outside and knew that their friend needed help.
Together, all four of them stood together in a line as they took down the Walkers one by one.
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"Hershel what are you doing?" Kagome yelled as the old veterinarian tried to get to Walker Henry, who managed to roll onto the fenced top of a cell.
"Daddy," someone screamed as she ran into the room.
"Maggie," the priestess identified as the farmer's daughter aimed her gun at Walker Henry.
"No!" Hershel yelled down, "You can hit the mask! We need it for Glenn!"
Kagome gasped in horror while Maggie took a deep breath before firing the gun, right in the Walker's head, leaving the mask untouched.
"Where is he?" Maggie asked after she fired.
"Up here," Hershel answered as he maneuvered to get the mask off Henry, "Cell one hundred."
"Go," Kagome encouraged before she checked the cells for any more Walkers.
It looked like it had only been five people who were killed downstairs. Until the priestess went to check the upper levels and found one more person.
Dr. S was locked in his cell, and was now a Walker.
Kagome let a tear run down her face as went up to the cell door and stabbed Dr. S in the eye to get to the brain, making the Walker Dr. S hit the ground with a thump.
It was over now.
The priestess went to the end of the hall and checked with Hershel and Maggie, who got the mask on Glenn before he choked on his own blood. "How is he?" she asked them.
Hershel squeezed the mask, "We got him stable. He'll be alright."
Kagome leaned up against the wall and slid down in exhaustion. She didn't know how much longer they were going to last.
'Daryl...where are you?' she weakly wondered before the world around her started to go black.
"Kagome!" Maggie cried out as the priestess leaned over and passed out on the floor.
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Outside the prison, Rick, Carl, Souta, and Sophia were carefully treading the ground of dead Walkers with knives or stabbing weapons from the fence patrols to make sure every Walker was dead. Sophia retrieved every salvageable arrow she could as she went to every Walker she hit with her bow.
Rick couldn't help but stare at his son and his friends.
All three of them had to grow up so fast in order to survive in this world. But a part of him was grateful that Carl still had friends that would be there to help him in his time of need.
As Carl stabbed the last Walker on the ground, a vehicle drove up to the gates.
Daryl's team had finally returned
"Dad," Carl looked over to his dad, "Everything's going to be okay," he said before he ran over to get the gate.
Souta went to go help him, leaving Rick and Sophia alone.
"You alright?" he asked her with concern.
Sophia looked up to him, before she put the bow and arrows back over with the rest of the weapons, "I have to be."
Rick nodded as he went over to open the second gate to let the vehicle drive through.
Michonne pulled the car over and Tyreese and Daryl swiftly jumped out.
"Sasha? How's Sasha?" Tyreese asked Rick.
"I don't know. I'm sorry," Rick quickly apologized.
Shippo looked at the two men, "We got this. You two go."
Daryl nodded to the fox demon before he and Tyreese ran inside to A Block.
Tyreese went inside first and quickly looked for his sister, while the hunter followed behind him.
They both looked at the blood and Walkers around them in the cell block. The worst case scenario went through his mind before Lizzie stepped out of her cell.
"She's in there," Lizzie pointed to the cell up on the far end of the perch for the hunter.
Daryl nodded and quickly thanked the little girl before he went to the cell. Kagome was unconscious on a bed with Hershel kneeling next to her, with an IV bag in hand. The priestess was sweating a lot and was covered with blood spatters.
"She wasn't bit," the old man assured the hunter, "Kagome killed the Walkers and then passed out from exhaustion and dehydration...She saved a lot of our people."
The hunter sat on the bed and grabbed Kagome's hand, with the arm with no IV, and kissed her knuckles lovingly, 'That's my Baby Girl.'
The remainder of the night was a lot of work, mainly for Bob, who was one of two people who could make the medicine for those who were sick.
But he did it with no complaints.
Daryl stared intently at Bob as he injected the needle into Kagome's arm.
"She'll be fine now," Bob assured him.
The hunter didn't acknowledge him for a few moments as his eyes drifted back to Kagome, "Thanks," he finally said to the man he'd previously threatened.
Bob gave a small nod before he went to see his next patient.
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A little after Bob took care of those who were infected, he treated the children and elderly to make sure the virus wouldn't affect them.
This allowed everyone to go back into their cell rooms.
That's when the fox demon was told about the suprising news.
"You've got to be kidding me?" Shippo told Beth after she informed him about Carol.
Beth put Judith in her play pin in Rick's room before looking back to her mate. "That's what Souta told me...She's the one that killed Karen and David."
The fox demon let out an angry breath, "Did she know about my mother being sick at the time too?"
Beth shook her head, "No she didn't."
Shippo's eyes went red, "Damn it. If she had known...Then that bitch would have."
Beth hushed her mate and grabbed his cheek with her hand, "Your mother's safe."
"But Carol," Shippo tried to argue.
"Was dealt with," Beth interrupted. "Rick didn't want her to come back and be around Carl and Judith...And if she comes back, we'll all have a calmer head about it." Shippo had to take a few calming breaths before his eyes went back to their normal green. Beth leaned up and kissed him which calmed him down completely. "I felt your feelings through the mark...To tell me you were coming home...I knew you would," she admitted with a prideful smile.
Shippo leaned up and kissed Beth's forehead, "I'll always come back for you."
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Kagome woke up feeling sunlight on her face. For a moment, she was confused since there were no windows in A Block. It wasn't until the priestess noticed a familiar wind chime on the ceiling that she realized where she was.
It was hers and Daryl's room.
"Wh-what?" she mumbled out before a familiar hand stopped her from sitting up too quickly.
"You need to take it easy, Baby Girl," Daryl told her as he sat next to her on the bed.
Kagome's eyes widened at the hunter before she smiled, "You're back," she said with relief as she hugged Daryl tightly. He held her back just as fiercely, relived that the priestess was conscious.
Suddenly Kagome pulled back in a panic, "What happened to Glenn and Sasha? Lizzie and the others, are they alright?"
Daryl shushed her before her anxiety spiked even more, "They're fine. Sasha, Lizzie and the others are back in their rooms. Glenn's still recoverin' in A Block with two other people, since they were sicker then you. But they're fine."
Kagome let a sigh of relief before she leaned her head down on Daryl's shoulder, "Thank goodness."
The hunter kissed her forehead, secretly checking to make sure her fever was really gone. "You're okay now," Daryl murmured to both Kagome and himself.
The priestess pulled back to look at him, "Thanks to you...How did I get back to our room?" she wondered out loud.
"I carried you back when Hershel gave me the okay...Wanted you here," Daryl admitted to her.
Kagome tilted her head and smiled, "You missed me?"
Daryl tried to keep his face neutral, but failed miserably, "Maybe."
"Maybe huh?" the priestess repeated, "Because if I remember correctly, you more than just missed me."
The hunter did smile at her then, "Yah," he admitted before saying the words he always wanted to say to her when she was conscious, "I love ya Baby Girl."
Kagome smiled back, "I love you too," she said before leaning forward and kissing him.
"Hey is Kagome awake?" Souta said as he came into the room only to see his sister making out with Daryl. "Oh come on," he whined while covering his eyes.
Sophia giggled next to him as the adults pulled apart, "They're just kissing."
"She just got over being sick," Souta complained to the blonde.
Kagome shook her head at his comment, "Relax you big baby, it's safe to look. Now come over here and give me a hug."
Souta went over to the bed, kneeled down and hugged his sister. Daryl smirked at the scene, glad that the siblings were together again.
Kagome looked over at Sophia, "You too," she encouraged letting Sophia join in on their hug.
"I'm so glad you're okay," Sophia said as she hugged her big sister.
"Me too," Kagome said before pulling back from the hug, "How are you?"
Sophia's smile faltered, "I'm...I'm handling it."
Daryl looked at the trio confused, "What's up?"
Kagome looked at the kids who shook their heads at her unasked question. Daryl still didn't know about Carol. "You should go talk to Rick. He needs to be the one to tell you," Before the hunter could protest Kagome cut him off, "It's important."
The hunter sighed before he leaned over and kissed Kagome before he left.
"Will you cut that out," Souta complained in Japanese as the hunter left the room.
His outburst brought Sophia's smile back.
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Daryl met Rick on his way out of C Block, while Rick was already on his way inside.
The former leader wasn't sure how the hunter was going to react to the news of what he'd done with Carol.
Daryl absorbed what Rick had to tell him and began to pace in overwhelming frustration.
A feeling of loss and betrayal going through his veins.
On one end, he was angry at Carol for killing David and Karen.
And on the other, Carol was his friend. Like a mother to him and Kagome on more than one occasion. Even though she told him about what she saw between Rick and Kagome, Carol was doing it to be a good friend.
Now she was gone.
Out there in the world all by herself.
"Man, you couldn't have waited till we got back?" Daryl hissed at Rick after he stopped pacing.
"You mean until Tyreese got back?" Rick pointed out.
The hunter glared, "I could have handled that."
"And how would you have reacted if you knew about what she would have done to Kagome?" Rick asked his friend, "She would have killed her."
Daryl stopped pacing, trying his best to keep a clear head, "You don't know that," the hunter retorted.
"She told me so," Rick stated, "When I asked Carol if she would have killed Kagome too, she said 'possibly.'"
"Possibly isn't a yes," Daryl countered weakly, refusing to believe that Carol would do that to him and Kagome. 'Not after everythin' we've been through.'
Rick shook his head, "Carol killed two of our own...She couldn't be here." The hunter didn't respond, "She's gonna be all right. She has a car, supplies, and weapons. She's a survivor and a fighter, just like Sesshōmaru taught her to be."
"Stop sayin' that like you don't believe it," Daryl snarled at Rick, hearing the doubt in the man's voice. "And what are we supposed to do about those three girls of hers? Huh?"
"I told her we'd look after them," Rick informed him, "When I told Kagome about it, she said she'd watch over Sophia."
Daryl nodded, figuring that his priestess would do something like that. She loved Sophia like her own kin and would want to take care of her for Carol, despite what had happened.
"I haven't told Tyreese yet," Rick continued, "I don't know how he's gonna take it."
The hunter took a deep breath, preparing himself for what was about to happen. "Let's go find out."
The two left to find the grieving man.
But what Tyreese showed them when they found him, distracted them.
And what happened next, was something no one had saw coming.
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An explosion outside made the whole prison shake.
"What was that?" Sophia asked as the building rumble.
Kagome sat up from the bed on the floor and searched outside with her priestess powers. She sensed a group of people of outside the prison. Weak, scared, and determined innocent souls were at the entrance of the prison. Kagome also sensed three familiar souls amongst the group.
Two of them were Michonne and Hershel.
The other was someone she'd hoped that they'd never see again.
"Oh no," she let out almost in a whisper.
Suddenly Shippo entered the room, "Are you three okay?"
Kagome shook her head before looking at her son, "It's the Governor...He's back."
Souta immediately took out one of his knives, "We've got to stop him."
Kagome grabbed his arm to halt her brother, "He has Hershel and Michonne."
The fox demon nodded realizing the seriousness of the situation, "You two go tell the others," he ordered to the kids, "I'll help Mom."
Souta and Sophia quickly ran out the door to inform the rest of the group.
Shippo gently helped his mother stand up from the ground.
"Where's Beth?" the priestess asked with worry.
"She's with her sister and the others," Shippo answered her.
"He's not going stop, Shippo," Kagome told him, shaking her head in a panic. "I can feel it...Whatever the Governor planning, I know he won't stop until he kills us all."
The fox demon's eyes went red, ready to go after the psychotic man.
Kagome stopped him, "No Shippo. Not like this. We have to stick to the plan."
Shippo looked at his mother defensively. Despite the situation Kagome still wanted to stick to the evacuation plan, "Are you serious?"
"We don't have a choice," she said with regret.
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Rick, Daryl, Maggie, Beth, Tyreese, Sasha, and Carl ran outside as soon as the explosion went off.
None of them understood what happened until they saw the cars parked in front of the prison.
A group of people armed with guns standing outside the prison gates, looking ready for a fight.
In the middle of that huddle was a tank.
That same war machine had attacked one of the towers, which was now on fire and in ruin.
And the person responsible for all of this, was standing right up front on the tank.
The Governor.
"Rick!" the Governor called out to the prison group, "Come down here! We need to talk!"
Daryl glared at the man as the rest of the group armed themselves for an obvious attack.
"Don't!" Sophia called out as she and Souta ran to them.
"Kagome says they have Michonne and Hershel," Souta told as he made it to them.
"What?!" Maggie and Beth said in a panic.
Sure enough, one of the Governor's people pulled out Hershel and Michonne, who were tied up, from one of their cars and forced them to kneel on the ground.
Rick and Daryl cursed under their breaths.
This left Rick with no choice but to go talk with the Governor.
As the leader went down to speak with the mad man, Maggie looked down to a small Kilala who was hissing at the intruders for capturing her mistress. The brunet leaned down to the cat demon. "Can you get down there without being seen?" she asked her. Kilala nodded at her. "Please. Help them get out of there."
Kilala quickly dashed away out of sight, trying to find the best way to sneak past the intruding humans without being noticed.
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The Governor, Philip, couldn't believe his luck.
After burning down Woodbury and abandoning his men, he did all he could to survive.
In time he'd found himself a new group and family. He had a woman he cared deeply for and a little girl he loved like his own daughter.
But they weren't going to survive.
His group was too weak. Unable to do what was necessary in order to live. The only way to protect his new family, Philip had to take up the mantle of the Governor once more.
Because the Governor knew how to take what he needed and talk people into doing what was necessary in order to survive and fulfill his own agenda.
Rick's prison was perfect for him and his new life.
He knew it wasn't going to be easy, especially after what happened last time he'd tried to attack the prison.
After scouting the area for weeks, the Governor quickly realized that the creatures, or whatever those things were that attacked the people of Woodbury, were gone. The only one he saw was the giant cat, which was nowhere to be seen.
That's when he knew he needed to strike before those monsters would return.
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"We can't take 'em all on," Daryl told Sasha and the others as Rick and the Governor talked. "We'll go through the admin building, through the woods like we planned. We ain't got the numbers no more. When's the last time someone checked the stash on the bus?"
"Day before we hit the Big Spot," Sasha informed him, "We were running low on rations then. We're lower now."
Daryl nodded, figuring as much. "Yah, we'll manage. Things go south, everyone heads for that bus."
"Way ahead of you," Shippo told them, as he approached the group. "Kagome told everyone to get ready to travel. She's getting the kids ready now."
The hunter felt a moment of pride when he heard that his woman was one step ahead already.
Shippo quickly went to Beth, knowing that she needed comfort since her father was being held hostage.
This gave Daryl a chance to get the guns and weapons that were stashed near the fence. Slowly and swiftly he passed everyone a weapon. He made sure to give Carl, Souta and Sophia the smaller weapons that he knew they could use.
All three young teenagers were ready to defend their home and family.
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Kagome packed up Judith's bag with cloth diapers, bottles of water, formula, a blanket and a few clothes. Afterwards she locked the infant tightly into her car seat. Judith could sense the priestess's uneasiness and whimpered slightly.
"No, no, no," she smiled at the infant to try and calm her, "You're going to be okay, Sweetie." Kagome leaned down and kissed the baby's head, that's when Judith smiled up at her. "There we go. We're all going to get out of here. I promise you."
Mika walked into the cell, with her bag on her back, "We got everything ready Kagome."
"Good," said the priestess, "Now I want you to get Judith and the other kids onto the bus, okay?"
Mika nodded, as she and another girl grabbed the baby carrier and began heading outside.
The priestess wanted desperately to go with them, but she knew that there were others that still needed help.
'Kami,' she prayed as she went to help everyone, 'I've been asking you for many things lately. But please, I'm begging you, protect my family from the Governor...We can only handle so much on our own.'
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Rick and the Governor talked back and forth.
Knowing that the other wouldn't budge when they tried to negotiate on who was going to live in the prison without any blood being shed.
Hershel was kneeled down, listening to the whole thing. He was proud of Rick as he tried to allow the Governor and his people stay with them, so no one would have to leave.
That it was possible to live in peace.
...But the old man wasn't a fool.
He knew that the Governor wouldn't go for any of it.
So as Rick and the Governor continued talking, he looked over to his daughters as they prepared to defend themselves.
His two little girls had grown into strong and beautiful women. They've overcome so much in this cruel new world and still managed to find a person that made them happy.
He was so proud of them.
If this was his last few moments then Hershel was fine with that, since knew that his daughters would be well looked after.
'I love you both so much,' he thought before reciting the last prayer to himself.
Right before the Governor sliced his head off with Michonne's sword.
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The very moment Hershel had been slain, all hell had broken loose.
Guns on both sides began firing everywhere.
Maggie and Beth were screaming from losing their father.
Michonne had to dodge all of the bullets, since her capture had gotten distracted, and rolled to safety near one of the cars.
That's where Kilala found her.
The small demon cat used her teeth to gnaw at Michonne's bindings to set her free.
Shippo had to grab a gun and began firing at the intruders as the tank broke down their fences. He could feel Beth's devastation through their bond, and it was killing him. The demon wanted nothing more than to rip the Governor's throat out.
But that honor didn't belong to him.
Right now, his mate and family needed him.
Daryl fought valiantly with the teenagers at his side. Each of them fired at the intruders in order to protect themselves.
Rick had been injured by a bullet and was forced to retreat by the knocked over bus in the prison yard.
Tyreese, Sasha, and Bob were also fighting as best they could.
All of them trying to save what was left of their home.
But in the end, everyone knew that it was over.
The prison was lost.
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It wasn't long until Souta and Sophia were out of ammunition in their guns. Both of them had to find a random place to dodge all the bullets and daubery that caused by the attacks of the intruders and the tank.
Their only weapons now were Sophia's bow and arrows along with Souta's knife.
"What do we do?" Sophia asked her boyfriend.
Souta looked across the prison yard and former basketball court. There was no way they could make it to the other side where the bus was parked. The only opening was the destroyed fence on the other side of the prison that was broken from the night before.
"We've got to make a run for it," he finally answered her.
"But what about everyone else?" Sophia asked in a panic, "Your sister, Daryl, Carl, everybody?"
Souta grabbed Sophia's hand and looked her in the eyes, "Sophia, if we want to see everyone again, we have to go now."
The blonde looked at Souta her with uncertainty. They've been training for this moment for a long time. Surviving on their own without any of the groups help. But she didn't want it to be so soon.
"We can do this," Souta assured her.
Before Sophia could answer, another blast of the tank struck the prison.
"Let's go," Souta said as he dragged Sophia behind him by the hand, as they ran out of the fences and into the woods.
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Kagome had been helping people to the bus, using her barrier to protect them from any daubery from falling on them.
In all the chaos the priestess couldn't see or even sense where everyone was or if they were even alive.
But she didn't have time for that, "Come on Glenn," she helped drag her weak friend she saw as a brother outside.
"Glenn! Kagome!" Maggie ran up to them. The priestess let her barrier down in order to let Maggie help her with Glenn.
All three of them struggled as they went to the bus. Once inside they let Glenn lean against one of the seats.
"Where's Beth?" Maggie asked one of the women on the bus.
"She went to find Judith," she answered in a panic.
Kagome's eyes widened in fear. Judith and the children should have been the first people on the bus. 'Where are they?' she thought with worry.
"I have to find her," Maggie told Glenn and ran off the bus.
"Wait," Glenn tried to stop her.
"I'll get her," Kagome said to Glenn as she tried to follow the brunet.
Suddenly a blast from the tank caused Kagome to fall to the ground behind one of the gardens. The priestess tried to stand up again, but she was still weak from recovering from the virus and using her powers so quickly. Any adrenaline that had been motivating her to keep going had finally been drained.
Barely able to lift her head up, she saw the bus begin to leave.
Only a small group of people were on the bus.
None of her family was on it.
...It was over.
Everything they've built was now in ruin.
The prison.
Their home.
'It's gone,' Kagome thought as she began to pass out.
The last thing the priestess could comprehend before the world went black was her body being lifted off the ground.
No matter how many times I watch this episode, seeing Hershel die always makes me cry...But man how cool was it when Daryl used a Walker as a shield from the bullets. *insert fangirl squeal here* This was one of the hardest parts to write about since I knew everyone was going to be separated. The next chapter is going to be interesting to write too. But for now tell me what you think. Next time: Separation and doubt.
Till Then My Readers