Chapter Twenty Six

Daryl, Rick and I walked out to the other part of the cell block where the woman was being kept. Hershel followed behind us. Daryl readied his crossbow as Rick began to speak.

"We can tend to that wound for you, get some food and water for you and then send you on your way." Rick paused. "But you're gonna have to tell us how you found us, and why you were carrying formula."

"The supplies was dropped by a young Asian guy and a pretty girl." The black woman replied.

"What happened?" Rick asked. I worried walked closer.

"They were taken." She replied.

"Taken? By who?"

"By the same son of a bitch who shot me." She said a bit angrily.

"Hey, these are our people. You tell us what happened now." He put pressure on her wound.

"You better start talking. You're gonna have a much bigger problem than a gunshot wound." Daryl said as he pointed his crossbow right at her face.

She glared at Daryl. "Find 'em yourself."

"Hey, shh, shh. Put it down." Rick told Daryl. "You came here for a reason." He looked at the woman.

She thought for a moment before responding. "There's a town. Woodbury. About 75 survivors. I think they were taken there."

"A whole town?" Rick asked.

"It's run by this guy who calls himself the governor-" she sounded disgusted. "Pretty boy, charming, Jim Jones type."

"He got muscle?" Daryl asked, slowly walking to my side.

"Paramilitary wannabes. They have armed sentries at every wall."

"You know a way in?" I asked.

"The place is secure from walkers, but we could slip our way through."

Rick didn't seem too convinced. "How did you know how to get here?"

"They said there was a prison, what direction it was in, that it was a straight shot."

Rick pointed to Hershel. "This is Hershel, the father of the girl who was taken. He'll take care of that." He indicated her wound before leaving, followed by Daryl and me.

We walked over to the others who were waiting expectantly. Carl stood guard by the woman to make sure she didn't try anything while Hershel fixed her wound.

"How do you know we can trust her?" Oscar asked Rick, obviously not convinced.

"It's Maggie and Glenn, who cares if we can't trust her?! Why're we even debating?" I replied harshly.

"We ain't. I'll go after them." Daryl replied from beside me, rubbing my arm with his free hand.

"Well, this place sounds pretty secure." Rick said to Daryl. "You can't go alone."

"I'll go then." I said to Rick, annoyed.

"Me too." Axel responded. He looked over at Oscar who have us a nod. "I'm in."

Rick looked from them, then to Daryl and I. He gave us a nod. "We'll go. Daryl, Tasha, Oscar and myself. Axel, I need you here to make sure it stays safe for the others. Let's go."

Rick walked away with Oscar, while I went up to my cell, Daryl following close behind me. I reached into his bag, pulling out a pistol and a few bullets. I reloaded the weapon as Daryl leant against the doorframe, examining his crossbow. I noticed him squint at me from the corner of my eye.

"You sure you're up for this?"
"Daryl-"
"I'm serious. You up for this?" Daryl stared at me, his expression I couldn't read. I hesitated for a moment then nodded.

"Yes, Daryl. Besides, even if I wasn't up for this I would still go. I'm not let you leaving my side again." I stood in front of him, giving him a soft kiss on the lips.

"Fine, but you're stayin' next to me at all times, got it?"

I leaned up again, kissing his soft lips. Daryl gave me a kiss back before walking down the stairs to help Rick. I followed closely behind, grabbing my bag off the table and tossing it over my shoulder. I walked out of the cellblock and into the courtyard, tossing my bag into the trunk of the car. Carol walked up to me, the baby in her arms. I smiled at her, poking the baby's cheek making her laugh.

"You be safe, okay?" Carol said worriedly.

"Carol, I'll be fine. You don't have to worry about me." I gave her a slight hug before getting into the back of the car beside Daryl, and Oscar.

Rick drove the car, following directions from Michonne. The car drive was only an hour, but we didn't make it to the town of Woodbury. Michonne suggested we go on foot, so we pulled over to the side of the road. I got out of the car quickly, feeling nauseated from the car ride. I leaned my back against the side of the car, taking deep breaths.

"They have patrols. We're better off on foot."

"How far?" Rick asked, looking up at the sky. "Nights coming."

"A mile, maybe two." She replied. I looked behind me and spotted a walker quite a ways away. I turned and followed Rick and the others into the forest. We walked for what felt like hours. I walked beside Daryl, taking a sip out of my water bottle before throwing it back into his bag. I had my knife in hand and gun in my pocket. In the bushes I could hear walkers rasping.

"Rick!" Daryl whispered urgently.

"Everyone get down!" Rick whispered as we saw at least twelve walkers emerge from the bushes.

"Stay in formation, no gunfire."

I went at a walker, cutting it's head in half. I could hear another behind me, I turned quickly only to have the walker fall on the ground with an arrow in its head. I looked at Daryl, whose eyes held so much fear.

"There's too many of them!" I told Rick, beginning to feel worried.

"Through here!" He pointed out a hole between the walkers. We ran through the forest until we came across an opening, where we saw a cabin.

"In there!" Rick yelled, running to open the door. The door wasn't locked so we quickly got in and shut it behind us.

"Shit, you guys. It isn't gonna hold." I muttered, staring back at the door. I walked towards a bed, smelling an awful smell. I covered my mouth, trying not to throw up.

A man came out from under the covers, yelling and screaming at us to get out. He ran to the door, trying to open it. But before he could Michonne stabbed him through the heart. I blinked a few times, watching as his limp body fell to the ground.

"Tasha, check the back door." Rick muttered as Daryl and himself grabbed the dead body, throwing it outside for the walkers. I walked back to a wooden door, cracking it open slightly. I looked from left to right, seeing no signs of walkers.

"It's clear!" I muttered, grabbing my hatchet and walking out behind Daryl. We continued through the forest, until we reached an open road with cars. We hid behind some as we observed Woodbury.

"Oh my god." I muttered.

Woodbury was a real town. There was electricity, fences, guards at every gate and there were children. I shook my head, trying to remember the terrible people who took Glenn and Maggie.

"We gotta get them back!" I whispered to Rick. "Right now!"

Rick put his hand on my shoulder, looking into my eyes. "We will."

We walked to the side of the building, finding a place where we could climb over the fence. It was dark, and the town seemed almost abandoned. I ran quickly behind Rick and Daryl, wondering if we were too late.