AN: RIP Merle Dixon. Your death made me cry :( and I will miss you dearly...
Can't believe the season finale is on Sunday night... it feels like just last week that the season just started airing! Might I say this has been a fantastic season, with amazing acting done by the cast, and I think it's been better than season 1 & 2 combined!
I can't wait to write the season finale!
"It's the only way." Rick's southern licked accent soothed its way into Harli's ears and his blue eyes pierced hers, Daryl's, and Hershel's briefly, "No one else knows."
"You gonna tell 'em?" Daryl asked while looking over to Rick and the leader shook his head.
"Not till after. We have to do it today... it has to be quiet."
"How are we going to do it?" Harli asked with her arms crossed, her thumb rubbing roughly across her lips.
"I don't know yet..." Rick eyed her with a sigh, his hand rubbing along the black finish of his AR-15. Daryl shifted awkwardly in his boots,
"You at least got some type of plan?" He asked and Rick nodded, walking towards him,
"We'll tell her we need to talk... away from the others." He said and Harli watched Daryl's eyes move to her questioningly. She shook her head softly and Daryl looked to Hershel, who stared at the ground in displeasure. Daryl sighed and shook his head, staring back at Rick,
"Just ain't honest man..."
"No... no it isn't." Hershel said with a bad taste in his mouth, pushing off his crutches and past Harli. Harli watched him hobble away quickly back towards the cellblock, his demeanor unhappy. Rick saw the hesitant look in Harli's eyes and leaned towards her, staring deeply into her eyes,
"If we do this... we avoid a fight. No one else dies..."
"How can you know that for sure?" Harli asked with the shake of her head,
"I don't... but it's the only card we've been dealt." Rick's gaze shifted to Daryl, who stood and stared at Rick indecisively. "We need someone else." Daryl knew what Rick wanted and he looked to the ground. Walkers crowded up against the gates and snarled at them annoyingly, Harli looking past Rick and Daryl briefly to stare at them.
"I'll talk to him." Harli's green orbs looked back at Daryl curiously as she heard his raspy voice. But Rick was quick to shoot him down,
"I'll do it."
"I'll go with ya-"
"No." Rick denied quickly and nodded his head, "Just me." He wheeled around on his heel and stalked towards the cellblock, Daryl taking a couple slow steps after him. Daryl stopped and shifted his crossbow on his shoulder, Harli walking up next to him and watching Rick disappear behind the heavy iron door.
"Don't like the idea either, huh?" He looked down at Harli, hearing her soft voice directed towards him. Daryl stared into her green eyes,
"It's not so much that... just the way he wants to go about it."
"Then tell him that. I don't want to lure her away somewhere, take advantage of her, and haul her away to meet a cruel fate courtesy of The Governor. I mean... I want to avoid war as much as the next person but... it's just not right." Harli said and Daryl nodded his head, looking at the ground,
"You don't want him to go through with it?" He asked and managed to stare over at her curiously. Harli shook her head,
"No. Because I know he's going to ask for my help and I won't be able to turn him down..." Harli moved around Daryl and spun around to face his front. She saw the doubt in his face; his eyes torn between what Rick thought was right and what Daryl, himself, thought was right. "But whatever Rick says goes... right?"
Daryl only nodded and gripped the strap of his new crossbow tightly on his shoulder, "I can try to talk to him about it... but I can't guarantee anything. I'll do that for you."
"You don't have to." Harli shook her head, "It won't change his mind. He's thinking for all of us and our safety; that's the only thing that matters."
"You sure?"
"Yeah... but thanks." Harli smiled and leaned forward, pressing her lips on his cheek in a small kiss. Daryl took a silent, deep breath upon feeling her warm touch and stared back at her with a small smile,
"Alright." The two survivors turned around and walked towards the center of the courtyard in comfortable silence. They stopped upon hearing the door opening from the other entry way and looked over to see Maggie and Glenn carrying out a large contraption. Harli took quick notice to her handiwork in the hands of the two lovers as they threw it into the back of the silver Dodge. Michonne drug the other one out by herself, Harli quickly jogging over and picking up the other end.
"We putting these out already?" Harli asked and Michonne's dark eyes looked to her in gratitude,
"Better now than later." She said and Harli glanced down at the makeshift spikes sticking out of the wood. Barbed wire cradled around the spikes in a twirl and Harli felt a twinge of an annoying pain in her hand. Michonne had asked Harli to help her the day before in building the two contraptions and the two spent some time together in building them. Michonne even doctored Harli's hand after she received a few small cuts from the razor barbed wire.
The two girls hauled the heavy equipment into the back of the truck and Maggie jumped off the tailgate, "Come on, Carl. Let's get goin'."
"Okay, here." Carl handed Maggie a large pot with a metal spoon and the two jogged off towards the secure corridor of fencing. Harli eyed Beth as she got into the driver's seat and Glenn stood up in the bed of the truck,
"We could sure use your help, Daryl." He said while looking down at Daryl. The crossbow-wielder nodded and lifted his leg up onto the tailgate,
"You got it."
"I'll go open the gates. Wait for me on the other side." Harli said to Michonne and the dark skinned woman nodded, shifting the strap of her katana and walking over to the passenger's side of the truck. She looked up to Daryl, who already knew what she wanted as he tossed her the keys. As Harli turned around and fumbled with the ring of keys, she heard Maggie and Carl's shouts and obnoxious noises bellowing through the compromised prison yard. Every Walker's attention fixated on the two and began to stumble over to them curiously with small snarls.
Harli took her chance to unlock the gate and roll it open once the coast was clear, Beth directing the truck quickly through the space. Harli shut the gate quickly and wrapped the chain back around the two bases. She turned and jumped onto the back of the tailgate, watching the gate moving farther and farther away as the truck rolled down to the broken down fences. Beth rolled the truck around the back side of the gate and came to an abrupt stop, Michonne already out of the truck with her sword drawn. Walkers took notice to their appearance and soon ignored Carl and Maggie's feeble attempts to keep their attention.
"I'm gonna need some help with these Walkers." Michonne looked back at the three in the bed of the truck and Daryl stood up,
"I'll do it."
"I can take care of it, you help Glenn. You're pretty strong." Harli bounced off the tailgate and Daryl looked back at her skeptically, only seeing her pistol and knife strapped to her belt.
"You sure?" He asked and Harli smiled with a nod,
"Of course." She looked back to Michonne and nodded towards her, taking the opposite side of the yard as the two women split up. Daryl watched Harli jog towards a few scattered Walkers as she slid her long knife from its sheath.
"Come on Daryl. Sooner we get this done the better." Daryl tore his eyes from Harli's position and looked at Glenn.
A Walker snarled loudly at Harli and clawed at her, its decaying teeth chomping at her vigorously. Her hand gripped the Walker's collar of shambled clothing tightly and she rammed her knife up through its jaw. The body dropped to the ground and she moved onto the next, running up behind an unsuspecting Walker and slamming her long blade into its brain. With one last dying hiss, she kicked it in the back to slide its head off its knife.
"Harli!" Beth called rather calmly and Harli looked over her shoulder to see a Walker slamming up against the driver's side door. Harli huffed and turned around, stepping back towards the truck quickly. Her hand lashed out and grabbed the back of the Walkers jacket, yanking it backwards and away from the truck. The Walker didn't stumbled back and quickly turned, grabbing Harli's shoulders with its rough hands and shoving her back. Harli gritted her teeth and pushed on the Walker's chest, keeping it at bay as she reached her free hand up. The Walker's fingers gripped tighter and tighter on her tan skin and she let out a discontent grunt in her throat. With all her strength, the blade of her knife plunged into the top of the Walkers skull and she twisted along with a loud crunch. Stepping back and yanking the knife from its head, the Walker fell to the yellow grass underneath it for a long, well rested slumber.
"Harli, come on!" Daryl called while standing in the back of the truck, waving her back over. She saw the spike strips set up in place and smiled to herself, sliding her bloody knife back into its sheath and jogging back to the silver truck. Harli bounced onto the tailgate and her feet dangled from the edge as the group made way back towards the gate above. She watched Carl and Maggie running back to the block yard and Harli bounced on the tailgate from the potholes in the dirt road. Her heart leapt in her chest when she jumped so high she thought she was about to fall off onto the ground. But as she grabbed the side of the truck for comfort, she felt a tug on her jacket's collar and looked over her shoulder to see Daryl cautiously gripping onto her tight.
Harli's eyebrows knitter and she noticed they weren't stopping to let her open the gate. She leaned over the side of the truck to see Rick pulling it open for them and her eyes stayed glued on Rick as they came to a stop. Leaping off the tailgate, Daryl and Glenn followed behind her as Rick approached the three.
"Try to drive up to the gate again maybe some blown tires will stop them." Glenn said as he closed the gap between him and Rick, Daryl by Glenn's side. Rick nodded,
"That's a good idea."
"It was Michonne's." Daryl mumbled and Rick looked over at him, seeing the look in Daryl's eyes. Rick's gaze slowly moved away from the cool shoulder Daryl was giving him.
"We don't have to win. We just have to make them getting at us more trouble than it's worth." Michonne said and Harli observed the guilty look slowly manifesting on Rick's face.
"I think we should build more... you know they're not gonna be bringing just one of two vehicles. Stationing them all over the entrance in the tall grass; they won't know what hit them." Harli crossed her arms and caught Michonne's amused gaze. Harli nodded at her in acknowledgement and her eyes now became set on Maggie and Carl as they walked casually with their rather quiet cooking equipment.
"Let's go." Rick turned around noiselessly and Daryl glanced at Harli before turning around and following after him. Michonne, Glenn, Maggie, Beth, and Carl all pursued after their leader, leaving Harli to slowly walk behind them by herself. She looked over her shoulder with a sigh, pondering on what was coming next.
As she walked into the cellblock, everyone shifted around to find something to do. Harli stepped down the small flight of concrete stairs and her boots thumped soundly against the floor as she walked around everyone. Stopping at the gun cage, she leaned in and grabbed a rifle, tossing the strap around her head to lie securely on her shoulder. She walked into the cellblock and stopped when she heard a familiar voice call her name, "Harli!"
Daryl's voice was stern and she looked up at him as he stood on the perch of the walkway to the upper cells. He flicked his head towards his direction and he disappeared inside his cell; Harli walked up the steel stairs curiously and swung herself up from the railing, stepping towards his cell. She poked her head into the cell, her body soon following and stopped as he turned around. Her eyes lowered to his hands as he held up her bow, a smile halfcocked on his face upon seeing her surprised eyes.
"Doctored it the best I could yesterday while you were workin' on those spike strips with Michonne. I didn't finish it till last night but... I fixed the cam the best I could." He handed it to her and she took it in her hands, studying it closely. She looked back up at Daryl,
"So, it should fire?" She asked and Daryl shrugged his shoulders,
"I tested the drawback and it's pretty smooth. I didn't get a chance to fire it yet; thought I'd leave that part up to you." Harli looked back down at the bow in her fingers, feeling the cool finish gripped in her hands.
"Thank you." She smiled and brought her gaze back to his eyes. He shook his head,
"Ain't no problem." Daryl shifted with a sigh as he shouldered his crossbow, "You see Merle round? I can't find him." Harli stood and stared at him, thinking when the last time she saw his older brother. She shook her head,
"No... not since we were standing watch early this morning."
"Better not be off doin' anything stupid..." He pushed past Harli in the small cell and jogged down the steel steps of the steel walkway. Harli watched him leave the cellblock as she leaned over the railing and then turned around to her cell. She grabbed her quiver of arrows from the corner of the room, tossing the makeshift strap over her shoulder and retreating outside to test out her faithful companion.
She stopped by the back of the large Dodge and rested her quiver on the tailgate, as well as her assault rifle. Grabbing an arrow in her fingers, she docked it on the bowstring and lifted the bow. Harli pulled the bow string back, feeling a slight resistance from the permanently damaged cam. Taking a deep breath, she looked down the sights and brought a Walker's head in them from the other side of the fence. It stood still and continued to snarl at her through the wired fence, its fingers intertwined in the welded wire and body pushing up against the stronghold. Harli's fingers flicked forward and the string released the arrow with a vengeance.
Harli's shoulders dropped and she huffed when she watched the arrow miss its target and pierce the shoulder of the Walker. The Walker stumbled back a couple steps from the impact, but quickly recovered and pushed back up against the fence as if it were antagonizing Harli. Harli grabbed another arrow and docked it quickly, pulling back the string and repeating her process. This time, the arrow missed once again and struck the Walker in the heart. It let out a loud snarl and became more feverish at her attempts to kill it. Harli began to become annoyed at her lack of marksmanship and grabbed yet another arrow,
"Gonna waste your arrows if you keep this up." Harli looked over her shoulder at the soft voice and stared into the dark eyes of Michonne. Harli lowered her bow,
"It's off for some reason." Harli looked back at her bow as if looking for some type of answer. Michonne stopped and leaned on the side of the truck,
"It's not your weapon. It's you." She said plainly and Harli glanced back over at her again. Her gaze dropped back to the bow,
"I used to be so good with it..." Harli mumbled and Michonne nodded,
"When's the last time you used it?"
"The day I got kidnapped and taken back to Woodbury. But, it's been broken since then so I haven't been able to use it. Not like I would've been able to, anyways." Harli's hand brushed over her stomach, remembering how sore she was when she pulled back the bowstring for the first time since her return. "But Daryl fixed it... guess I just have to practice all over again."
Harli watched Michonne walked past her and over towards the fence in a slow and steady walk. Michonne reached out and yanked the arrows from the Walkers body as they stuck through the fence. She returned and held the ends out towards Harli. Harli looked down and took them in her hands, "You and Daryl seem pretty close."
"We've been through a lot together, I guess you could say. It's sort of complicated." Harli set the two arrows back down on the tailgate and Michonne huffed.
"That's what that bite mark on your neck you've been trying so desperately to hide with your hair says, right? "It's complicated"..." Michonne couldn't help but smile and Harli's hand embarrassingly rubbed over the mark on the side of her neck. Harli saw the amused look on Michonne's face and she couldn't help but smile as well,
"That obvious, huh?"
"I've just got a keen eye." Michonne stared at Harli as she dropped her hand, bringing a few locks of hair over the love bite as it slid from her neck. Michonne nodded her head towards the backside of the courtyard, "You still up for making more spike strips?"
"Sure, let's go." Harli set her bow down on the tailgate and left it as she turned to follow Michonne through the courtyard.
.:O:.
Harli tapped her fingers annoyingly on the ground where she sat, her chin resting on her hand. With a sharp sigh, she got to her feet and walked to the edge of the wall, looking around for any sign of Michonne. She had been gone for quite a while; Merle had showed up earlier asking her for help with the lower levels of the prison. Harli wanted to go, but Merle insisted she stay behind and that they would be back in a flash. But it had been well over half an hour and Harli was worried something may have happened or they got stuck up in the cellblock doing something else. She wouldn't be able to finish the spike strips by herself. Harli grabbed her rifle, bow, and quiver off the tailgate and retreated inside the block. Harli shut the heavy door behind her and stepped down the small flight of stairs, putting her bow and quiver down on one of the tables.
"Hey Carol, you see Merle around?" Harli asked and leaned over the table, staring into Judith's tired blue eyes. Carol looked up at Harli,
"Daryl said he was down in the generator room. I don't know if he's still down there though."
"I'll go check." Harli shouldered her rifles strap and moved off from the table. Carol jumped to her feet and rocked Judith in her arms,
"Why are you going down there? What do you want from him?" She asked and Harli stopped, turning halfway to face her,
"Was gonna ask him a question." She smiled and nodded her head. Carol's lips drew into a thin line,
"Just... take care of yourself." Carol said with caution and Harli let out a silent sigh of annoyance. She nodded reassuringly at Carol and turned back around, walking through the cell door leading into the tombs.
Harli stepped carefully though the dark hallways, cursing under her breath for not grabbing a flashlight. But the mild amount of windows occupying random areas of the hallways walls provided just enough light to see shadows. She slid her knife from its sheath for extra precaution and turned a corner, seeing no Walkers meandering about the hallway. With a steady breath, she continued across the cold concrete floors towards the open door at the end of the corridor. Harli tilted her head and her fingers tightened around her knife, her eyes quickly acclimating to the abrupt room of light.
"Merle? Are you in here?" Her voice echoed through the room lightly and she stepped in, glancing around. She heard a shuffle of feet and stopped, holding her knife up defensively as she moved around a generator, "Merle?"
Harli finally moved around the generator and looked down at a body lying on the floor. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously as a hood was over the woman's head and her hands were tied with wire over her stomach. She saw a pair of dreads peeking out from under the hood and all the gears in her head clicked. "... Michonne?"
A hard forced took Harli by surprise as she was slammed up against the wall, her arm twisted up behind her back. She felt cold metal knock her knife from her free hand and press her hand up against the wall as well. Harli gritted her teeth and pushed back with whatever force she could and struggled to get her arms back. But as she glanced over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of her perpetrator, she heard the familiar raspy voice of the older Dixon brother.
"Not a good time to come lookin' for me. Now I got no choice but to tie you up and lock you down here!"
"Merle!? What the hell are you doing!?" Harli hissed through her clenched teeth and attempted to pull her hand from his stumps compression. Merle jolted her arm upwards and Harli felt a twinge of pain rise in her arm, gasping sharply.
"Don't make me knock you out like I did Michonne. My little brother won't take it too kindly."
"Just get off me! It's not like I'm going to run back to the cellblock to rat you out!"
"I don't know that." Merle huffed and Harli sighed, ending her struggle. She looked at him from the corner of her eye the best she could,
"Just trust me, alright?" She felt him staring hard and hesitantly at her. After a few long moments of contemplating silence, Merle finally let her go and took a couple steps back. Harli wheeled her arm around and stretched it, resting her hand on her shoulder and getting it back into working order. Her eyes angrily looked over at Merle, who only stared at her like a mouse that got caught. "What are you doing with her? With Michonne?"
Merle sighed and motioned his stump blade towards her, "Just gonna... take her on a little walk."
"Bullshit." Harli leaned down and picked up her knife, returning it into its sheath. Merle glared at her and she stared back at him equally. He couldn't help but smile that charming Dixon smirk of his,
"You know your boy Rick is gonna buckle, right? He ain't got the balls to take care of this." Harli stared at him solemnly and her eyes shifted down to Michonne's limp body. With a tightening jaw, she looked back at Merle and slowly nodded,
"So... you're gonna do it?"
"Someone's gotta." He shrugged his shoulder, "Noon is risin' fast and I gotta get her there before The Governor blows dust back to Woodbury."
"All by yourself?" She asked skeptically and Merle gave a slow nod. A hard lump rolled down Harli's throat, "I can't let you do that."
"What? You gonna stop me, girl?" Merle asked amusingly and stepped forward towards her as if it were a challenge. Harli shook her head and stood her ground,
"No... because I'm gonna go with you."
"Woah, woah, woah... that ain't happenin' sweetheart! I'm not gonna be the one responsible for your ass and if somethin' else happens to you under my watch; Daryl's gonna chop my balls off and feed 'em to me!"
"Who cares what Daryl thinks? I'm not gonna let you go off and walk into the lions pit by yourself. You're just signing your own death warrant." Harli argued back with a scoff, "Besides, it's either I come with you or get gagged, bound, and locked in here until someone comes and finds me, right?"
Merle's jaw tightened and he ground his teeth against each other, snatching a few chews on the inside of his cheek. He saw a small smirk form on her face and her lips parted to speak, "Besides... you're gonna need me to get to the meeting place. I know exactly where it is and how to get there fast."
"Alright..." Merle groaned and stared back at her with his icy eyes glaring tediously, "I'll let you tag along. But if I say turn tail and run, you best do it." Merle tossed Michonne's katana towards her and Harli caught it in both of her hands. Merle stepped over Michonne and grabbed one of her feet, "You ain't gonna make me do all the monkey labor. Get your ass over here and grab a foot!"
Harli threw the strap of Michonne's katana over her shoulder and stepped next to Michonne, looking down at her unconscious state. Her green eyes glanced over at Merle and then down at the foot he wanted her to grab. 'Sorry...' Harli apologized in her mind and grabbed Michonne's boot, pulling her body along the cold ground. The hood slid off Michonne's head and stayed behind in the generator room.
"You got any keys?" Merle asked as they stopped by a door leading to the backside of the prison. Harli let down Michonne's foot softly and reached into her back pocket, pulling out the noisy keys. Finding the right one, she twisted it through the lock and pulled the door open, Merle hooking both Michonne's feet under his good arm and pulling her out into the sunlight. Harli shut the door and locked it, turning around to see Merle perching Michonne's torso up against the wall. He lightly smacked her face a couple times, "Rise and shine! Time for you to wake up, woman! We ain't gonna drag your ass the entire way now."
Merle shook her shoulder and Michonne's conscious mind began to surface. Her head leaned from side to side, a soft groan rolled up her throat, and her eyes clenched shut from the pain in the back of her head. Michonne's dark eyes suddenly popped open and she stared at Merle and Harli like a deer in the headlights. She growled and gritted her teeth, lunging at Merle in attempts to do some type of bodily harm. Merle only grabbed her by the neck and slammed her back up against the wall, "Can't do much to me when you're all tied up like a hog now."
"What the hell are you two doing!?" She hissed and Merle smirked, grabbing her arm and hoisting her to her feet.
"That ain't none of your concern at the moment. Now start steppin', Sunshine. We got a lot of ground to cover!" Merle grabbed a long wire that hooked to her tied up hands through the opening between her legs. As Michonne didn't move, Merle pushed her along and made her walk in front of the two, holding the long wire leash steadily.
Harli unlocked a corridor gate to the outer perimeters of the prison and Michonne and Merle stepped out, Harli wheeling back and closing the gate. She tucked the keys in her back pocket and jogged after the two marching into the woods. Harli looked over her shoulder at the prison, saying a silent farewell as she didn't know what fate held in store for her. As she found herself back next to Merle, she saw Michonne look over her shoulder with a hostile stare aimed at Harli. Harli immediately diverted her eyes from Michonne shamefully and stared out into the trees, seeing a few meandering Walkers making way towards the prison. It wasn't like she betrayed Michonne's trust. She just needed a moment to explain herself to the katana-wielding woman.
Finally, the trio found the road and began their journey to the meeting place. Michonne stepped so lightly and quietly across the concrete that Harli could barely hear her boot steps on the road. The silence was awkward with the three on their trek. The wind howled and stirred the leaves and dirt plaguing the asphalt, giving Harli's ears some type of refuge from the silence among them. Harli stared in through some abandoned car windows as they passed by, seeing a few decaying bodies being bombarded by swarms of flies.
"So... you two gonna tell me what exactly were all going to do? Why I'm tied up?" She looked over her shoulder at them curiously, searching for some type of answer. Harli sighed and looked into another car as she passed by,
"When we went to meet with The Governor... he set conditions." Her voice filtered through Michonne's ears,
"What kind of conditions?" Michonne hummed and Harli stared at her back. Her words grew hesitant, but ultimately rolled off her tongue smoothly,
"That Rick gives you to him and he leaves us, and the prison, alone." Harli's tone was icy in which she did not intend. The three found themselves in a small neighborhood, Merle and Harli now walking on each side of Michonne. Merle saw the look on Michonne's face,
"I agree with you. He would've blinked!" Merle talked of Rick and Michonne stared back at him,
"But not you two..."
"We're bein' straight with ya!" Merle said and Michonne's tone of voice changed from calm to irate,
"You were straight when you led me into the tombs!"
"Okay, maybe I wasn't straight!" Merle agreed and Michonne continued to dispute with him,
"You put a bag over my head!" Before Michonne passed out she remembered seeing and feeling something being thrown over her head. Harli walked in silence next to the two, letting them hash it out with each other.
"I got it done. He wouldn't of..." Merle said plainly as he spoke of Rick's temptations to buckle under pressure. Merle pushed on her as he noticed Michonne's pace slowing, "Keep movin'..." Merle pulled out his pistol and held it in his hand as he walked, "He was the guy that came back for me on that rooftop. Now... it's all on me. You know... I figure that's why I was back there in the first place; to do the dirty work."
"Walker." Harli nodded her head towards a Walker as it approached them. Merle and Michonne stopped next to her and Merle smiled as he chuckled to himself, an idea popping in his mind. He walked around towards Harli and then looked at Michonne,
"May I?" He asked while tucking his pistol in the waistband of his pants and latching onto the handle of her katana. Before she had the thought of answering, Merle pulled the long sword from its sheath and turned around, "I'll take that as a yes!"
The sheath bounced against Harli's stomach and the two women stood back and watched Merle walk towards the Walker with Michonne's weapon drawn. Harli glanced over at the disgustful expression on Michonne's face at the sight of someone other than her wielding the katana. Harli's green eyes turned back to Merle, "I'm not going to let him hand you over to The Governor, you know." Harli's tone was low, causing Michonne to glance at Harli. Harli's eyes quickly met Michonne's, "I came along to bring you both back with me, alive."
"You know what? I would've figured you'd try to take down Harli there and run!" Merle shouted over the wind a bit surprised. The two women looked over at him and Michonne smiled charmingly,
"Wanted my sword back before I get away." She watched Merle walked up to Harli and carefully slide the sword back into the sheath hanging from Harli's shoulder. Merle laughed to himself and nodded at Michonne,
"It may go down that way. But if I were you... I wouldn't get your hopes up..." Merle walked behind Michonne and grabbed the cable leash hooked between her legs. His blue eyes glanced over at Harli,
"Let's go!"
.:O:.
"You sure this is the right way?" Merle asked while looking around. The trio wound up in a neighborhood up behind the residential area they had just left. Harli looked back behind her shoulder and nodded,
"Yeah... came through here on the motorcycle." Harli looked back forward and continued to walk, a few good feet in front of Michonne as she now became the leader. She kept a good pace and listened to the wind caress the leaves of the trees in soft whispers.
"Why are you doing this Merle?" Harli heard Michonne ask.
"I already told you."
"No... I mean why are you really doing this?" Michonne reworded and Harli glanced over her shoulder to listen in on his explanation. Merle let out a sigh of discontent and kicked at a rock on the ground,
"I wanna be with my brother... My brother? He wants to be in the prison." Merle paused and caught Harli's eye and she looked back forward as if not even being caught, "This little trip... maybe it'll keep that place standin'. If I pull it off, maybe all is forgivin'."
Harli knew Merle wanted to make things right with the group. He wasn't the type of man who was for apologies, hugs, and kisses. All he wanted in this world was to be with his family; to be with Daryl.
"That's a lot of maybe's..." Michonne mumbled and Merle stopped, staring at a vehicle sitting in a driveway. He looked in Harli's direction, seeing her continuing to walk,
"Hey! Hold up there, Apple Eyes!" He hollered. Harli turned around and saw Merle point to the SUV, knowing he was going to check it. Harli turned back around and walked back towards them, stopping next to Michonne as Merle walked towards the SUV. He glanced back at the women, "You gotta play the hand you're dealt... I only have one."
Merle jogged towards the truck and Harli followed Michonne down the small driveway. He opened the door and leaned in it, but as quickly as he opened the door, he shut it while holding a face of disappointment. Merle walked back towards them and Michonne stopped him with her words, "You talk about the weight of what you have to do... how you can handle it? A bad man, someone truly evil, they're light as a feather. They don't feel a thing."
Merle's lips drew into a thin line and he nodded, looking past Michonne, "I've killed sixteen men since this went down..." He admitted and looked for some type of shocked response coming from the women's faces. Seeing none, he nodded his head, "Let's go."
Snarl's sounded through the woodwork and both Harli and Merle turned to see a horde of Walkers stumbling through the woods behind the house. Merle grabbed Harli's shoulder and pulled her along, Michonne waiting for them at the edge of the driveway patiently. The three broke out into a jog down the street and Harli constantly found herself looking over her shoulder to make sure the Walkers weren't too close for comfort.
"We need to find a vehicle. Only chance we'll make it there in time." Merle huffed and looked over his shoulder, Michonne's leash held tightly in his hand. Harli looked over at him,
"There's a hotel up over this hill with a few cars in the parking lot. If we cut through the trees we might stay off the Walkers trail to give us enough time to get a car started." She nodded her head back forward and Merle smiled,
"How you know bout all this stuff when you've only been there once?" He asked and Harli shrugged a shoulder, looking back at him as she felt Michonne's katana bounce against her hip,
"I've got a keen eye."
The three emerged from the trees, keeping their jogging pace up as they moved towards the motel. It came into view and they passed a gated house before slowing to a walk. Harli took a few deep breaths to steady herself and looked around to make sure no Walkers were occupying the area. She saw two trucks and a couple cars sitting in the parking lot, Merle making way towards a black car with large, shiny rims.
"Alright... I think we're good!" Merle huffed and looked around cautiously. Michonne walked quickly as Merle tugged her along,
"Yeah... we're great."
"Harli... you keep an eye out while I hotwire this damn thing!" Merle tossed Harli a glance and she looked over to see him tying Michonne to one of the support beams of the building. Harli turned around and pulled out her knife warily and kept watch, hearing Merle opening the car door. She wondered how he got into it so fast.
"This place is too quiet..." Harli mumbled to herself, her hair tickling her face as the wind played with it like a child. Harli kept a close eye on Michonne, making sure no Walkers decided to crash the party from the dark depths of the motel rooms. Harli heard a light scratching noise and her head flicked back in front of her only to see leaves dancing about on the concrete. She took a deep breath to calm her rapidly beating heart. Harli turned around when she heard the car beginning to choke to life, and finally, the engine started with a loud rev. A sigh of relief rolled out of her lips and she stepped towards the car.
Harli practically jumped out of her skin when the blaring sound of the car's alarmed echoed deafeningly throughout the empty parking lot. It bounced off the trees, the buildings, and even other cars while stretching out in every direction of the air. Never-ending shivers ran down Harli's spine as she heard growls and snarls echoing back in reply to the vehicles noisy song. Turning around in a full circle, Walkers were now descending upon them from all directions.
"Merle!" Michonne shouted and Harli wheeled around to see her struggling to get out of the wire trap she had been placed in.
Harli jumped towards Michonne, but felt a cold hand on her wrist tug her backwards. Harli rammed her fist into the Walkers face and saw two more lurching towards her. Her hand instantly gripped the handle of Michonne's katana and tore it from its sheath, spinning the blade around and slicing off the heads of the dangerous beings. She panted with pumping adrenaline at the beauty of the weapons deadly grace Harli turned with a yelp to meet yet another Walker and with a one handed swing of the sharp blade, the Walker's head rolled across the ground and came to a stop.
She ran towards Merle once she saw a Walker grabbing at him through the driver's side door. Merle shoved it back with his stump and Harli slashed down on its head, slicing the face clean off. Merle heard Michonne shout for them and turned, his pistol drawn and plugged a bullet through a Walkers head as it grabbed her.
"Let's go!" Harli shouted and Merle ran towards the back of the car, shooting the nearby Walkers that would hinder the cars movements. Harli slid over the hood and sliced Michonne's leash,
"Come on girls, we ain't got time to kiss and make up!" Merle shouted and opened the driver's side door. Harli opened the front passenger's door for Michonne and shut it once she got it. Harli dove into the back seat and slid the katana back into its sheath, kicking a Walker away as it tried to get in the back seat with her. Harli pulled the door shut as Merle rammed his foot down on the accelerator, the car shoving back in reverse. Harli slammed back against the seat as the car shoved forward and out of the parking lot.
"God damn it Merle, you almost got us killed!" Harli shouted and slapped his shoulder, sitting up properly in the back seat and letting out her held breath in an angry huff. Merle rolled his shoulder,
"Don't get your panties in a bunch, Cupcake. You had it under control!" Merle stared at her through the rearview mirror with a charming smile. Harli rolled her eyes and shook her head, staring out the window,
"Take a left up here to take the back road. We'll be there in no time."
The hijacked car sped down the back road and the three sat in silence until Michonne couldn't hold her tongue, "So is this your thing then? Take out the trash?"
"Oh, don't be so hard on yourself, Darlin'." Merle replied calmly and continued to keep his eyes on the road.
"The Governor? Rick? Anyone who needs their piss bucket emptied and you come a-runnin'." Michonne looked over at him and Merle smiled, but stayed silent. Michonne glanced back out through the windshield, "Things are different for your brother."
"Yeah they are. Rick says "jump" and he wants to know how high."
"Rick needs him. Respects him." Michonne quickly disagreed with a shake of her head, "Didn't ask him to this little job now did he?"
"Nah... cuz he wants it done."
"You keep tellin' yourself that." Michonne said amusingly and paused for a moment while staring at him, "The truth is, this could've been your shot. With your skills... a whole new beginning. But you choose to stay on the outside. No one's gonna mourn you... not even Daryl. He's got a new family." Michonne shook her head and looked out the window. Her last statement caused Harli to glance at her from the corner of her eyes. Michonne spoke with such harsh terms; but then again, she didn't bother to hold anything back.
"You keep tryin' to get under my skin I'm gonna cut that tongue out." Merle looked over at Michonne, "Your buddy's turnin' you over cuz he's tryin' to save his own ass. You're as much on the outside as I am, girl."
"Maybe... but once The Governor's done with me at least I won't have to live with myself." Michonne bit back and looked at him. Harli shifted uncomfortably in her seat and kept an eye out for signs of the next turn off. But she couldn't help but keep listening in on their conversation. She wanted to say something to make them stop, but nothing came to mind at that moment. Michonne started asked the questions that Harli was burning to ask Merle herself.
"You said you killed... sixteen men since this thing started? You ever kill anyone before?"
"No..." Merle said briefly while staring over at her and catching and eyeful glance from Harli in the backseat. He chewed on his lip and stared back at the road,
"And how bout before Woodbury?" Michonne asked curiously and Merle shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "Before you met him?" Merle only stared at the road ahead and didn't answer. But he gave his answer to Michonne and she hummed, "So he saved your life, cleaned you up, fed you a line of bullshit... why would you kill somebody else for him?" Merle continued to hold his silence as he, himself, didn't know the answer to that question.
"You know we can go back." Michonne pursued and Merle smiled, shaking his head,
"Ain't happenin'."
"All three of us... we can just go back." Michonne stared at him and Merle shook his head, opening his mouth and hesitating to speak. Finally, words formed on his tongue,
"I can't... go back. Don't you understand that? I can't!" There was a long pause from Merle and Michonne closed the silence,
"Why?" Michonne asked and Merle shoved his foot on the brakes and the car gradually came to a stop. Harli bounced off the backseat and stared at Merle as he turned halfway in his seat, glaring at Michonne. Harli heard a snap and saw Michonne lift her hands and pull her fingers from the wire around her hands. Harli looked as equally confused as Michonne was as the two women stared at Merle,
"You two go back with him. Get ready for what's next." Merle nodded and shifted a brief gaze onto Harli. He then leaned over Michonne and opened the door, shoving it open for her, "I got somethin' I gotta do alone." Michonne continued to stare at him, hesitant to get out of the vehicle. Merle nodded at her and finally, she exited the vehicle and stood outside the door.
"You too there, Sweetheart." Merle looked over the seat at Harli.
"Not on my life." Harli spoke and glared back at him with her burning green eyes. Merle leaned on the back of his seat,
"You're not goin'... not this far."
"I'm not leaving you by yourself. If something were to happen to you I wouldn't be able to forgive myself... and neither would Daryl."
"Get the hell out of the car." He growled at her as if trying to intimidate the girl. Harli only shook her head, planting herself heavily in the seat. Her stubbornness was something that no one should reckon with. "Don't do this."
"You try and get me out of this car you can kiss one of your kneecaps goodbye." Harli threatened towards Merle huffed and shook his head, looking out the window on the driver's side door,
"Give her that damn sword so we can get outta here..." He mumbled and Harli rolled down the window to her door, Michonne closing hers as she looked at Harli,
"Don't do this. Come back with me." She asked and Harli shook her head, handing her the katana through the window.
"You and everyone else might not like Merle... might not like the things he did. But he's a good man and he's only trying to do what's right." Harli stared into Michonne's dark eyes and she sighed, nodding and looking down at her feet.
"Take care of yourself." Harli heard the concern in her voice and she nodded, rolling up the window. She looked at Merle from the back seat,
"Let's go..."
.:O:.
They were almost there; almost to the meeting place where The Governor and his men had awaited.
The two survivors made a quick pit stop at a local liquor store and Harli had retrieved a half a bottle of whiskey for Merle upon request. The two sat for a while, in the odd comfort of blaring loud music, while Merle drank most of the bottle of liquor. He attracted numerous Walkers that pounded on the vehicle, Harli wondering what exactly Merle had planned. As she refused his offer of a drink of whiskey, Merle threw the car in drive and off they went. The car drove slowly for the rest of the mile that stood between them and The Governor, the Walkers keeping pace with them along the way. Finally, they rolled in through the large gins that towered over them, the music blaring throughout the shambles of the old, rusty building.
"Get in the back seat and wait on my signal!" Merle shouted over the loud music and Harli jumped into the back seat, her rifle thumping against her back. She leaned on the door and watched Merle, who leaned on his and watched patiently for the right moment, "Now!" The two shoved open their doors and Harli rolled across the ground, hearing the car continuing to roll on without Merle's control.
Harli got to her feet and Merle waved at her quickly to follow him, the two jumping in between two large gins. Harli looked over her shoulder, seeing that the Walkers ignored them and continued on with the car. She followed Merle closely and as quietly as possible, ducking down as they left the comfort of the gins and made way towards a building. Harli yanked her rifle off her back and tucked it under her shoulder, watching Merle open the makeshift door and peek inside. Once safe, Merle looked over his shoulder and nodded at Harli to follow. She shut the door quietly behind her and her boots trekked lightly across the boarded floors, Merle stopping and turning to face her. He grabbed her arm and shoved her into a small metal closet in the corner of the room,
"What the-!?" Her protests became muffled by Merle's hand as he clasped it down on her mouth. She sat on the ground, her hands gripped on the outside of the closet space. Merle leaned in,
"Now you're gonna sit tight and stay put in here until I'm done. If anything happens, you turn tail and run as fast as your spider legs can carry you back to that prison. In no way, shape, or form will you leave this closet until I come and get you, you understand me?" He explained and Harli saw the dead seriousness in his eyes. A hard lump hung in her throat and she let out her held breath, nodding at him under his hand. She pulled her hands into the closet and rested her rifle against her shoulder. Merle stood up and shut the creaky door and left her in the darkness.
Harli leaned forward and stared through the crack of the closet, seeing Merle hunkered down and staring out a window. He quickly turned and moved to another, raising his rifle and aiming it out. As Harli heard rifles being blasted off outside, she knew that The Governor's men had discovered the car and the Walkers along with it. She jumped slightly at the loud sound of Merle's rifle going off in consecutive shots. Harli knew what he was doing now. He was taking out The Governor's men; his own rifle shots being muffled by the enemies own. They had no idea what they were in for.
Merle moved quickly to the next window and pointed his rifle out through the pain of glass. At each firing shot he took at the Woodburians with expert precision, Harli jumped at the sound of his gunshots. 'Come on Merle... hurry up so we can get home!' Harli thought to herself, hearing the rifle pop off a few more shots until Merle stopped to adjust his scope. The rifle threw out the bullet and Harli just about leapt from her place as she saw a Walker lunge at Merle. It grabbed onto his arm and bit at him, but Merle shoved it back and sliced at its face. He rammed his blade forward and shoved the Walker back, Merle disappearing from Harli's sight. She heard a loud crash and saw bright light bursting through the doorway in which Merle and Harli had entered.
Merle's shouts reached Harli's ears and her heart began to pound against her sternum. Merle had been found out. She could hear the thumps against his body from whoever beat him and the painful shouts that Merle barked. "You leave him to me!" Harli heard a new voice shout and a stumbling commotion enter back into the building. Harli lurched back into the closet and gasped, seeing Merle being thrown back into the room as he was knocked to the ground.
The Governor stepped in and kicked Merle in the jaw, his head cocking as he fell back to the floor.
Merle rolled back over to his side and The Governor kicked him sharply in the ribs with the tip of his boot. Harli pulled her pistol from its holster and held it out in front of her, hearing Merle's painful cries as he tried to fight back. Merle slammed his metal stump against The Governor's leg, but it had no effect and The Governor shoved his foot down on Merle's chest, making the man choke out for air. Harli stuck the end of her pistol through the crack of the door and aimed her sights at The Governor, her hand beginning to shake uncontrollably. Fear washed over her quick as she watched Merle get to his feet and slam up against The Governor, the two intertwining with each other and disabling her from getting a good shot. The Governor punched Merle in his face and rammed him up against a table, Merle putting his hand against The Governor's face to try and keep him at bay. The Governor's mouth latched onto Merle's pinky and ring finger, biting down on them with brutal force. Merle let out a desperate shout and The Governor tore his mouth from Merle's hand, his two fingers along with it.
Harli squeezed her eyes shut upon watching The Governor spit out Merle's fingers and head-butt him with nothing but blunt force and ruthlessness. She held her breath and pressed her hand against her mouth to muffle the whimpers that tried to escape her lips. A grotesque snap of bones breaking echoed through the room and Harli managed to tear her eyes open to gather what was going on. The Governor stood with his hand on Merle's neck, Merle choking out for some type of refuge from the pain. Harli's legs shook in anticipation. Merle was caught and she needed to move, she needed to do something to help him but her body wouldn't have any of it. Her brain didn't want to listen to Merle's voice in her head telling her to stay and her body locked her into place, making sure she didn't move a muscle as things went silent.
"I ain't gonna beg!" Merle choked out with a crack in his voice, but he stayed strong. "I ain't beggin' you!" His venomous voice growled and The Governor shook his head,
"No..."
Harli's ears rang and her eyes widened, watching Merle's body fall to the ground with a loud thump. She stopped breathing, nothing on her body moved, and all she could do was stare at the unfolded event in front of her. She saw The Governor move over Merle's body and stare down at him, his pistol down at his side. He tilted his head, "Now you can rot where you lie, you traitorous dog..."
The Governor stepped over Merle's body and disappeared from Harli's sight. She waited a few moments in silence and heard his calm footsteps disappear from her ears reach. Her fingers clawed at the door and she opened it, stopping for a moment as she gauged any hostile sounds around her. Harli immediately jumped out of the cubbyhole and tucked her pistol back into its holster. She kept her body low as she rushed towards Merle's side, falling to her knees as she crouched down next to him. Her hand yanked out a black handkerchief from Merle's pocket and she pressed it down on the gunshot wound in his chest.
"I'm gonna get you outta here Merle." Her voice wavered as her mind scrambled on what to do. His breathing was labored and with each breath Harli heard him gargle on his blood. Her heart pounded,
"I told you... to get your ass outta here!" He breathed and moaned from an abrupt pain in his chest. Harli shook her head,
"I can't leave you!"
"Bitch... I'm done for! He s-shot me in my lung!" Merle grabbed Harli's shoulder and she stared into his blue eyes, seeing his pupils beginning to dilate. "Now you get the hell outta here... be for he comes back!"
Harli closed her eyes and brought her now bloody hand to her face, shaking her head and holding her breath. Warmth crawled up her throat and she felt her eyes watering, knowing that there was not one more thing she could do. Harli took a deep breath and put her hand down, seeing Merle gritting his teeth and a soft nod come from his head, "Now you do one... one more thing for me. Y-you take care of Daryl, keep an eye on my little brother... I won't be able to anymore."
"What am I going to do when I get back? Daryl... what will I do about Daryl?" She choked out and Merle snorted, blood spurting out from his nose and mouth.
"He's got a new family now..."
"Merle?" Harli watched as Merle's eyes glazed over and felt his damaged hand slide off her shoulder and thump onto the floor. He didn't blink, he didn't twitch, and he didn't spit off one last sarcastic remark. Merle was dead.
Harli huffed and the control on her eyes broke, tears rolling off her cheeks and onto his body. She swiped her hand across her face, wiping away the tears on her cheeks and leaning down. Harli's hand rested over Merle's eyes and her fingers pulled his eyelids down for his final rest. She pressed her lips against his forehead and leaned back up, sliding her knife from its sheath. She had to end his transformation before it had the chance to take him. Harli glanced at the knife and then back at Merle's bloody face, "I'm sorry, Merle..."
"Hey!"
Harli's head turned in the direction of the new voice, seeing one of The Governor's men staring at her down the barrel of his gun, "We've got a live one over here!" His partner shouted and they rushed towards Harli.
Harli jumped to her feet frantically and took off in the other direction. As she ran deeper into the building, it grew darker and she could hear the men's boots thumping closely behind her. Harli slammed into a table and tossed it out of her way, hearing it explode against a wall. She saw a stream of light peeking out from under a door and her legs pumped faster as she rammed into the door, busting it open. Harli stepped out into the light on the other side of the building, stopping briefly to determine where she would go to next. The Woodburians were on her like a pack of hound dogs and she would only have a split second to retreat into the woods before they unleashed a fury of bullets.
Harli yelped loudly as she was slammed onto the ground and she clawed at the grass to get out from under the heavy body on her back. She felt a hand hook onto the belt of her black shorts and yank her backwards, dirt digging under her fingers nails. The harsh grass scraped against her belly as her tank top rolled up a couple inches and she found a pair of hands latch around her waist, hoisting her to her feet.
"You're not getting away from me this time." A rough voice whispered in her ear from behind. Her spine shivered out of fear as she knew far too well who held the voice: The Governor.
Harli gritted her teeth and rammed the back of her head against his face, feeling his arms loosen around her waist. Upon hearing his cry of pain, Harli thrashed about to get out of evil arms and make a run for it. The Governor growled and jabbed his elbow in between her shoulders; a strike of pain and a brief sense of paralysis overtook her as she felt to the ground. Her instincts kicked in and she flipped around on her back, her rifles steel digging into her back. She yanked her pistol from the holster and pointed it at The Governor, but he jumped on her and diverted the gun just as she pulled the trigger. Harli struggled against his strength and used both her hands to slowly and steadily pull her pistol back towards her; back towards The Governor. Now may be her last chance to kill him.
Harli pulled the trigger and The Governor shouted in pain, Harli quickly squirming out from under him as she saw the Woodburians scrambling to get to their fallen leader. Harli whirled around on her stomach and kicked her legs under her, jumping to her feet and running for her life. She tossed her hands over her head as a spray of bullets whizzed past her, her ears throbbing from the violent sounds of the guns blazing after her. She quickly dove around the corner of the building huffing with brief refuge from the looming men.
"After her, quick!"
"No!" The men stopped as they heard The Governor shout sternly at them, slowly rising to his feet as he held his stomach. He wobbled for a moment once getting to his feet, staring out in the direction Harli had escaped. "Let her have a few more hours to taste the last of her freedom. She and the rest of her group will pay for what they have done to us; to Woodbury."
"You okay, sir?" Martinez asked and glanced down at the wound he pressed his hand on. The Governor smiled charmingly at his men as they stared at the light amount of blood seeping through his clothing,
"Nothing but a flesh wound."