Merle was dead.
The news came as a shock to the whole group, the hard part was that Daryl had to be the one to tell us. He had indeed tried to kill the Governor, which ended in the Governor killing him.
Daryl tried not to show it, but it had taken a toll on him. His only family member had died, turned and then died again. Still, there was some kind of weight off of his shoulders, he didn't have to walk in his brother's shadows anymore, he didn't have to take any responsibility for Merle anymore.
I was currently standing in my cell, packing my things, which was quickly done. I didn't really have a lot of important stuff, actually none. Except my mother's ring. I threw some clothes and toiletries in a backpack, some extra weapons, like a hammer and a knife and threw the bag over my shoulder. My machete and gun were safely tucked away in my belt and after brushing my hair quickly, I threw it in a bun.
I met Daryl outside, sitting on the ground and packing his things. He looked up quickly when he saw me and the corners of his mouth turned up a little bit, forming something that looked like a smile and quickly turned back to gathering his stuff.
''You know Merle's never done something like that his whole life.'' He said, not looking at me. I smiled softly at him.
''He did it for you. Gave us a chance.'' I told him and extended my hand out to him. He turned around and grabbed it, hauling himself up.
''Be safe.'' I said and gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked away. He didn't return the favor, but he also didn't pull away. I bit my lip and smiled a bit when I thought of the shock on his face.
My attention turned towards Rick, who was looking at Carl. I followed his gaze towards the boy and saw him angrily stuffing his bags in the trunk of the car. I frowned a bit, before walking to Rick.
''Rick.'' I said to get his attention and he looked away from Carl and to me.
''Do you want me to go with Hershel and the others or with you?'' I asked him, leaning against the side of the car. He seemed to think about it for a moment, his eyes focusing on something behind me. I automatically turned around, looking over at the small bridge that connected two buildings from the prison, but saw nothing.
''Go with Hershel, he might need an extra adult with 3 kids.'' He forced a smile at me, asking me if I was okay with it. I nodded and gave him an awkward thumbs up.
''Good luck,'' I said and patted his upper arm before turning around and walking away.
Things had gotten pretty awkward around Rick and me after what happened with the offer the Governor made. I tried to ignore it, but it was hard to. He was trying too hard, everything he did, he'd ask me if I was okay, if I agreed. He'd ask me one more time, and I was gonna hit him.
I walked over to Hershel's car. Carl and Judith were already sitting in the backseat.
''Hershel!'' I called him out, he was already making his way towards the car and had his hand up in a form of greeting.
''You ready?'' I grinned at him as I tried to help him in the car, but he ignored it, wanting no help.
''As ready as I'll ever be,'' He gave me a smile back and I looked at the rest of the group, who'd be going into the prison tombs. I gave them all a smile, before sitting down in the drivers seat and driving off.
We'd be going into the woods, away from the fight, so that the kids would be safe. Hershel decided to come along, since he couldn't really run with his fake leg. Rick, Daryl, Michonne, Tyreese and Sasha went into the tombs for the plan. Lori stayed in one of the other cell blocks along with Dr. Stevens and Carol. Since Lori wasn't fit to travel or run yet we thought it was best if she stayed inside the prison and we'd come and get her if things got out of hand.
We knew that the Governor was going to attack, since we didn't hand me over yesterday and that meant we were going to war.
It was silent car ride. Carl was glaring furiously out the window, apparently he wanted to come along, but Rick refused. Judith was sitting in her little seat, we'd found in a car a few days ago, she was silently observing everyone.
I parked the car a when we were far enough the forest and turned off the engine. I turned around and looked at Carl.
''You okay to go?'' I asked him and he nodded, still looking out of the window. I bit back a sigh and stepped out of the car. Carl grabbed Judith and carried her as Hershel and I covered the car with leaves and vines. I had my gun still in my holster, but it was ready to fire if we needed to. Carl, on the other hand, had his gun in his hand and with the other he carried Judith.
''Carl,'' I said, making him turn towards me. ''Put your gun back.'' I said, as nice as I could. His behaviour made me nervous, he wasn't thinking straight and could do something reckless any second now.
''What if something happens and I need it?'' He asked, although it didn't really sound like a question, it was more an argument.
''You don't think I can protect you? You don't think Hershel can?'' I questioned him and I saw him purse his lips together.
''It's my job.'' He snapped at me and I raised my eyebrow. There was a small glint of hesitation in his voice, like he knew he was wrong, but he tried to cover it up by glaring at me. I wanted to get angry at him, but I realized he was just a boy that wanted to prove himself.
''At least give me Judith,'' I sighed, ''I don't want you accidentally shooting her.'' He seemed like he wanted to say something else, but handed Judith over anyway. I gladly accept her and balanced her on my hip.
Judith was one of the few babies I actually liked. She was the quietest baby I've ever seen. She never really cried, except when she was alone or something. We all crouched down behind the car, except Hershel. He was checking out the area, looking for any walker that they might have attracted.
''Carl,'' I started and took a deep breath in, ''are you okay?'' He turned to me with a surprised look on his face.
''Mm-hmm,'' He nodded, before looking away again. His gun raised, checking his surroundings.
''No I mean, are you really okay?'' It was silent for a few moments before we heard rustling behind us, Carl quickly turned around and aimed his gun at the sound. But he quickly lowered it when he saw it was just Hershel who had returned.
''And?'' I asked Hershel.
''Took out two walkers, but furthermore I couldn't find anything.'' He said as he sat down next to me with a sigh. I nodded at his words, even though he wasn't really looking at me.
Then the waiting began. None of us really wanted to talk, because we had no idea what we had to talk about.
My mind thought back to Daryl, hoping he was okay. The plan was quite simple. The group would hide in the tombs, wait for the Governor and his group. If the Governor did what we expected then they'd go into the prison, find it empty and decide to search the tombs. Which is where Rick and the rest were waiting for them. We'd throw in a smoke bomb and start shooting at them, they'd run and then Maggie and Glenn will shoot at them outside. Hopefully, we would kill the Governor in the process, but if they'd just run we'd come after them.
I wondered what my mom would think about all of this, she'd probably say something like: 'We shouldn't kill people, they're already so little left of us. We should talk to them.' As much as I wanted to believe those words, she'd be wrong. I was kinda glad she didn't have to see those things. Didn't have to see me kill people. She'd be heartbroken. Maybe her death was for the best, she was with her family instead of this horrible reality, the reality she didn't belong in.
When I looked at Carl I smiled, my sister would have loved to meet someone her own age. They would have loved each other. She was always holding everyone's spirit up, even if she didn't even realise it. She was just so innocent, never had to do the things I had to do, Carl had to do.
My thoughts were interrupted by gunfire, coming from the prison. Carl stood up and started to pace around when he heard it.
''I should be there.'' He mumbled and I frowned, not sure what to say. After a few minutes, the gunfire finally ceased and we were left in silence. Carl wanted to get up and take a look around, but I pulled him back and pushed a finger against my lips and signed for him to listen.
When he finally did listen he heard the same thing I did, footsteps, and they were coming towards us fast. I peeked over the car and told everyone to keep low. I saw someone running towards us and grabbed my gun out of my holster. Carl and Hershel saw me and quickly did the same. What I realised is that the boy wasn't running towards us, it seemed to be running away from the prison. He looked fairly young, maybe 17 or 18 years old. The fear was clearly set on his face as he stumbled over his feet with a shotgun in his hand.
When he was just a few meters away from us he stopped as he saw us.
''Whoa, whoa, whoa, don't shoot.'' He said, holding his hands up. Carl stepped away from the car and closer to the boy.
''Drop the weapon, son.'' Hershel said, who was aiming his gun at the boy, just like Carl.
''Sure.'' He said, lowering his weapon ''Here, take it.'' He started to crouch down, putting his weapon on the ground. There was a moment of silence before the sound of Carl's gunshot could be heard and the boy dropped dead to the ground.
I couldn't help the sharp intake of breath that I did when I looked at what just happened. Hershel and I exchanged a worried look and when I looked at Carl I saw that he was pretty shaken up too.
''C'mon.'' I softly said, placing my hand on Carl's shoulder, ''Let's go.'' Carl's shoulders were tense as I led him back to the car, avoiding the boy on the ground.
When we arrived back at the prison, I let out a sigh of relief when I saw that we hadn't lost anybody. I handed Judith over to Rick as he slowly kissed her forehead. I walked over to Maggie and Glenn and gave them a quick hug. Tyreese and Sasha had come to get Lori, Dr. Stevens, and Carol. I gave Michonne a warm smile, which she returned.
''Glad you're alright.'' Someone mumbled behind me and I turned around to see Daryl standing there.
''Did you expect anything different?'' I joked and he snorted.
''We're plannin' on going after the Governor.'' He said, leaning against the wall. ''Ya wanna come?''He asked me and I hesitated. Of course I wanted to come and kill off the Governor, but I wasn't sure if I should.
''Nah, I'll stay here. For if he comes back.'' I said and he nodded, pushing himself off the wall and going to Rick to tell him the news.
Apparently I wasn't the only one who stayed behind. Rick, Michonne, Daryl, Tyreese and Sasha were the ones who did go. The rest decided to stay behind and help defend this place, in case the Governor decided to come back here.
We said our goodbye's again. Hoping that, just like last time, everyone would still be alive when they came back.
When the rest of us returned inside the prison we found out that Lori was doing fine. She was improving so much already, considering the fact that her belly was cut open. I sat next to her, started talking to her about everything that just happened. When I told her about Carl she frowned, mumbling something about having to talk to him.
After I was done talking, she started to talk about what happened during the attack. Which wasn't a lot. They were just silently waiting, Carol talking her out of any worries she had.
When she was done talking I excused myself and went outside. I walked towards the field, where we buried people and sank down by my mother's grave. I had never visited her grave, I was always too scared too. Scared that there'd be too many memories, that I had to re-live the moment she died over and over again.
''Hey mom.'' I said and my hand flew to her ring attached to the necklace.
''Gosh I miss you.'' I mumbled, smiling softly to the grave. ''I wish you could see everything that has happened. I've changed so much in these few days.'' I wiped my hand under my eyes, getting rid of the few tears that had fallen down.
''I'd like to think that, if you were here, you would have been proud of me.'' I stopped after that, not knowing what to say. So instead of saying anything I just sat there. Waiting for the sun to go under.
At the end of the day, they came back.
The Governor was alive, as far as they knew, but he hadn't returned to Woodbury. Apparently, after the attack here he had gunned down every one of his men and then drove away. Rick decided to take in every resident of Woodbury that wanted to join us, which were mostly old people and families, since all the soldiers had been killed by the Governor.
Michonne told us that she'd keep looking for him. But even though he was still alive, it was over. It was finally over.
For now.