Chapter 52: Salvation


DPOV

~3 months ago~

We had gathered up plenty of food for the group, meat that we had caught with snares and using our bolts and arrows. Wandering back to the prison, Kat seemed in a good mood, like she was happy with our outcome and I couldn't blame her. We were lucky today. "Tell me, what were you like before all of this?" I asked, remembering all the times I had told her everything about myself.

Kat was the only person who knew the good, the bad and the ugly parts of my life. Carol seemed to know all about it, without even needing to ask and I respected her that way. Kat, was silent and would listen to me when I'd speak of my past, but she never gave me the usual look others would. Of disgust and pitty. "What do you mean?" she asked me, her head turning to me and blue eyes light. "What exactly do you want to know?"

Her eyebrow was quirked high on her forehead, her smile sweet and her eyes curious as she looked to me. "Anything, I don't care if it's the funniest story you tell me, I'm just curious," I shrugged, knowing that it was stupid to ask her in a moment like this, where it was just us and where I randomly started the conversation. "I've told you everything about my life, maybe more than I should have," I suggested, unsure myself of how much she really needed to know about me.

Smirking, Kat seemed to remember something and gained some of that hidden sass I would see from time to time. "Difference is, I'm sober now and the last time you told me anything, I was not drunk, but I was way past tipsy," she teased the facts. Not saying anything, I wasn't going to push her, but I knew that sometimes silence was a better answer than saying anything without patience. "Well, I grew up in a small family, it was just me, my dad and mom for a while. Then, baby Carl was born and I had a kind, funny uncle called Shane," she began.

"Growing up, I didn't have many friends, only a girl called Ella and I hadn't spoken to her for years," she shrugged as she looked away with a sad expression. "She distanced herself from me, but she was the only friend I ever had," she told me summarized versions of these stories. "There isn't much else," she fumbled for more to tell me about her life.

Of a life she had before the world went to shit. "I had a boyfriend, he was an asshole, but I figured it out when he tried to ditch my brother to try and get into my panties," she revealed to me the asshole she had dated, which left me wondering if she ever did have sex before. "I broke up with him and one day I caught him threatening Carl. He had Carl pinned against a wall, his neck being squeezed by the guy's hand and his pals all laughed as they watched," she spoke sadly, slowly, but her eyes were distant, as though she was back to where it had all happened.

Waiting, I listened to the story and imagined it. Imagined big guys stood around Carl, threatening him and it made my blood boil. No asshole should ever hurt a kid. It's wrong. "So, I hurt each one of them and eventually, Shane found us and stopped the fight from going any further," she summarized once again. "In the end, most relationships I've had are all shit," she concluded her small story telling time.

"Seems we got that in common," I grumbled, keeping close to her side as she smiled and flashed her pretty blue eyes at me. Wandering back to the prison, was peaceful and I couldn't of had better company, than what I had with Katherine.


Present day...RPOV

Running as fast as possible, Carol followed closely behind me and we ran down streets quietly. As to not draw attention of the walkers, there was one in our way, which I sliced his stomach with my machete and Carol stabbed its head with her knife. Jumping into a cop car of the people from Grady, I started the car and Carol got into the passenger seat beside me. "Stop. Stop right now. Stop," I ordered as nicely as I could as I began to drive and followed after Lamson, speaking to him through the cop microphone. "I won't ask again," I warned him.

Telling Carol to hold on, I then clenched my jaw and allowed the engine to rev, speeding closer and closer to Lamson, until it hit him and sent him flying to the floor. Carol was gripping on tightly, her eyes glued to Lamson and her back firmly pressed against the car seat. Panting, we saw how Lamson was laid out on the floor, I instantly knew there was no way he was going to be able to move. "Help me," we heard him cursing us, mostly myself, for what happened to him just now. "You crazy...you crazy son of a bitch," he insulted me. "I think you...I think you broke my back," he informed me.

Wandering over to him, Carol kept her distance and stayed quiet as she would glance between myself and Lamson. As though she was trying to guess what was going to happen next. "Didn't have to be like this," I informed Lamson of what he had done wrong, that he could of stopped and it would have been relatively fine. "You just had to stop," I stated what he had to do.

Lamson was panting, staring up at me as I stayed stood over him and stared down at him. "I couldn't," he panted, his mouth full of blood and eyes scared as he stared up at me. "I don't know you," he said with fear. "But I think...I think I'm getting the idea," he mumbled, as though he knew me and what I had been through.

"You just had to stop," I repeated as I ducked down and tried to get it through that thick skull of his. To tell him about what happened and why he was in this position. Not simply because I was an asshole who enjoyed running people over.

Walkers had been roaming around, getting closer to us as I looked back. Carol was a little worried, so she aimed her gun up and fired a few shots at the walkers. "Take me back," he pleaded. "Take me back to the hospital," he tried to convince me to help him, along with myself. "I did it for your daughter," he said, which made me glare at him.

Thinking of Kat, I then remembered how everything could have been ruined because of him. How my daughter got ran over and how she could have died that day. Kat always seems to be the one who is most reckless in our group. Always risking her life for everyone. "Not after this, no. Can't go back, Bob," I stated and shook my head at him.

Straightening up, I glanced at the few walkers that were still wandering over to us. Carol had stopped shooting and simply watched mine and Lamson's exchange. "I was gonna iron it over," Lamson tried to convince me. "She's under it. And you've been out here too long," he breathed out. "You'll die. You'll all-" he went to say, but I cut him off.

Without hesitation, I pulled out my gun, aimed and shot him in the head. "Shut up," I growled, tired of hearing his mumbling, his plea and his lies. It was all bullshit and none of it made sense. Nothing that he was saying connected to one another, so, I killed him and ended the suffering I was deliberating of giving him.

I had been deliberating on to kill him, or let the walkers eat him. So, I chose the mercyfull approach and shot him in the head. Looking up at Carol, she hadn't jumped at the shot, instead she looked between Lamson's dead body and then up to me. "I was getting tired of him talking too," she spoke in a cold, serious tone. Without another word, we wandered back to the car and drove back to the others.


CPOV

Gabriel had been locked in the office for a long while, myself and Michonne were sat looking after Judith. The next thing we heard, was cries and screaming. Then, it was our names, to which we instantly knew it was going to be Gabriel out there. How he got out, we weren't sure. Instinctively, I ran towards the door and tried to pry the boards off. It didn't work, so Michonne had fixed Judith up to carry with us and picked up the axe, to start chopping the board in half.

Michonne had been giving me commands and I followed them. Trusting her to know what she was doing, as she kept Judith strapped to her back and began to chop at the board. When the door was opened, Gabriel ran in and had led a few walkers in with him. Raising my gun, I shot down a few walkers and watched as Gabriel ran to stand behind me. "Get back," Michonne ordered as she took the lead.

Killing as many walkers as she could, I noticed how there were too many for us to handle without someone either dying or getting bit. That was when the idea occured to me. "The rectory, come on!" I called as Michonne stumbled back and away from the walkers. We need to get out. Away from the walkers.

Running to the office, I watched as Michonne kept running with her back to us and watched where her footing was, along with the walkers that followed her. When she was inside the room, Gabriel shut the door and Michonne looked for anything to keep the door still. "That's how I got out. Crawl under to the back. Just go. Take the little one and go!" Gabriel ordered as he pointed to a hole in the floor.

Judith began crying as myself and Michonne began to get ready to climb out of there. Gabriel was holding off the walkers as long a she could, looking at the machete I had given him, it was dug into the floor board. Instantly, I knew he used it to lift the floor boards up and used it as a way to escape us. Handing me Judith, I was already in the hole and ready to leave. "Hey, hey. You wait for me," Michonne ordered as she looked directly into my eyes.

Nodding, I climbed down and cluchted Judith to me tightly. Crawling out, I got to my feet and raised my gun, in case walkers were too close to us or if there were any that could come from around the corner. When Michonne and Gabriel got out, I saw Gabriel holding a bloodied machete, to which I was surprised to and made me wonder if he had killed a walker before he got out. "I can't run anymore," Gabriel panted as Michonne got him to his feet.

"We're not running," Michonne assured him as she stared directly into his eyes, being completely honest and comforting towards him. Acting quickly, we used whatever boards we could pry out and started hammering the door shut again from the outside. Using my gun as a hammer, we kept slamming the nails into the board and watched as the walkers were trapped inside the church. Safe...for now.


DPOV

Keeping the other officers cuffed, I heard footsteps come closer and saw how Carol and Rick wandered into the building alone. No Lamson beside them and it made me wonder what happened between the three of them out there. "He wouldn't stop," Rick stated.

Wandering over to them, I kept my eyes on Carol and Rick, curious as to what happened and if the pair of them were okay mentally. Possibly, even emotionally. "This change things?" I questioned, knowing that with three, it wasn't going to be as great as it would be with two.

"It has to," Carol argued, whilst Rick glanced at the two officers we had captured from Grady. Unsure that either of them were fine, I looked to Carol and knew I could read her better. From the way she could look into my eyes, I knew that they had done something to the cop. They killed him, didn't they?

Shrugging, I knew that we would have to try and find a way to save Kat and Beth from Grady. We needed to bring them back to where they belonged. "Maybe not," I argued. None of us were certain of what could happen, but I wasn't going to stay negative about it all. I have to stay positive, for Kat.

Rick changed the weight on his feet, staring directly at me and squinting slightly. As though to challenge and argue with me at the same time, but we both knew we wanted the same thing. For Kat and Beth to be returned to us safely. "She said the plan won't work. The guy who did is dead," he told me the contrast of people who made us more uncertain about what was true and what was false. "Maybe we gotta rethink this," he suggested.

Carol was finished with staying silent and observing our exchange. Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I knew that we needed to try and find a way to bring the girls back to us. "They also said the cop in charge didn't have any love for him," Carol reminded us. "Maybe you did her a favor," she shrugged as her eyes darted between myself and Rick.

"I don't know if they'll play ball," Rick said as he glanced over my shoulder and at the two cops behind us. At the only people we could depend on in bringing Beth and Kat back to safety. Back to those who loved them, where they belonged.

Glancing at Carol, I knew that she too was unsure as to what these two other cops were capable of. "Let's find out," I encouraged as we both turned around and wandered over to the two cops that were left.


RPOV

Wandering over with Daryl and Carol at either side of me, I knew that whatever was going to be discussed, wasn't going to be easy to digest. "He was a good man," the woman began. "He was attacked by rotters. Saw it go down," she lied with ease.

Laughing softly, it sounded convincing enough to be considered true. Yet, we all knew it wasn't the real case. Lamson was killed by my hand. "Huh. You're a damn good liar," I commented on the woman. Seeing how she didn't quiver or look away as she lied to my face.

The girl became nervous, as though she didn't like being around me and was afraid of what could happen to her in the future. "We're hanging by a thread here," she cried. "He was attacked by rotters. That's the story," she concluded as though it was all truth. Sticking to that story, to cover us and to convince Dawn of the lie we were about to tell.

Daryl didn't seem convinced by the lie that the woman was willing to go along with. How her voice trembled as she talked to me, how she looked as though she feared me rather than had any respect for us. "You said the trade was a bad idea," Daryl pointed out. "What changed?" he asked her.

The woman didn't hesitate, although she looked nervous and fearfull of what may happen to her. Curious as to what exactly we were all capable of. "Lamson was our shot," she told him. "So it's this or you go in guns blazing, right?" she questioned. "You don't want that," she stated what some of us didn't want before.

Currently, I wasn't certain if any plan was going to work. But one of them would have to, for Beth and mostly, for Kat. "If this is some bullshit you're spinning and things go south-" Carol defended, as though she was willing to kill them in order to save Beth and Kat. Carol has always been caring towards the girls. Towards our people.

Blinking nervously, the girl was filled with fear and it made me wonder as to how she coped with everything this evil world could offer her. "I know," she stopped Carol from continuing her sentence. "I know the good ones from the bad. Let us help you," she pleaded as she tried to convince us that she truly wanted to help us.

Looking to the other cop, I saw he was more stern and tough. As though he was a steel wall, that would never move. "What about you?" I asked him. "You wanna live?" I challenged threateningly, getting in his face and trying to see what he would reply with. "How much?" I questioned, knowing that he was the type to not go down without a fight.

He kept his gaze glued to mine, our eyes cold and staring each other down. His eyes never wavering away from mine. "Dawn's afraid she'll look weak in front of us. Thinks it'll tip things against her. Hell, it will," he commented and informed us all about Dawn. "She'll see this trade as a rip-off if she thinks you took out one of our guys," he told us what would happen if we went with the truth. "So it's a good thing Lamson got aced by rotters," he followed the woman's lie of a story.


MPOV

Staring at Judith, I smiled at her sweet face and caressed her head. Whenever Kat or Rick was away, I always knew that they were my priority to protect. Carl and Judith. They were both young and I protected every Grimes, but these two were vulnerable compared to their strong adults. The father and older sister. Yet, since her return to the prison after being captured by the Governor, she had taken more of a motherly role to the pair of them. "Where did you go?" I asked Gabriel.

Gabriel was leaning over the wooden fence, his eyes glued to a random spot numbly. I didn't care much for Gabriel, but I worried for him. Carl had placed a lot of faith and trust into him, but I wasn't sure if it was placed there rightly. "The school. I had to see," Gabriel spoke as he never made eye contact with me. "I had to know," he told me as his eyes met mine.

The sound of a wooden board banging against the floor as it fell, made myself, Carl and Gabriel turn our heads towards the sound. The walkers had broken down a wooden board that was nailed to the door, shaking the door more with extra force as we watched it become looser by the passing second. "Where do we go?" Carl asked me worried.

Suddenly, a huge firetruck drove over and rammed against the front door and steps. Breaking the steps effectively and parked outside the door, blocking the walkers from leaving the church. Abraham then stepped out of the truck, then Maggie and finally Glenn. Following behind them, was Rosita and Tara. "You okay?" Maggie asked me as she wandered over to me and pulled me into a hug.

Wrapping my arms tightly around her, I was glad to see them back and safe. But, it made me wonder as to what they were doing here. "Yeah," I whispered into her shoulder as I held her close. "You're back," I pointed out bluntly.

Pulling away, I looked to Glenn and we both wrapped our hands around each other's arms in a kind gesture. Gulping, Glenn had a look on his face of disappointment and sadness. "Eugene lied. He can't stop it. Washington isn't the end," he gave me all this information bluntly. Something inside me in that moment, died. It made me feel like everything we had hoped for, was all a painting that was made of oil and not paint. It hadn't stuck. "Where is everybody?" he asked as he looked around curiously.

Fear was in his eyes, but there was also curiousity, as to where we all were. Little do they know, Kat is captured and injured, while Beth is held at a hospital in Atlanta. Turning to Maggie, I offered her a warm smile. "Beth's alive," I revealed to her. "She's in a hospital in Atlanta. Some people have her, but the others went to get her and Kat back," I informed Maggie of what happened while they were away.

At the sound of her sister being alive and well, she began to tear up and I held her hands to comfort her. She could hardly stand still as her eyes threatened to spill tears. "Do we know which one?" she asked me, her voice cracking with the joy in her heart.

"Grady Memorial," I answered with a nod.

Turning to Glenn, she had the widest smile on her face as tears ran down her cheeks. Pure happiness and joy enveloped them, as they pulled each other into a hug. "Oh, my God," Maggie laughed as she held onto Glenn.

Smiling, the exchange was sweet as Glenn had kissed her cheek and held her tightly in his arms. I wish this would finally happen to Daryl and Kat. "Let's blow this joint, go save your sister," Tara suggested that we'd all leave and go looking for Beth. Maggie laughed and agreed to the suggestion, climbing up into the firetruck, we had been told of what happened to Eugene and we all left the church, for good.


KPOV

Feeling a presence surround me, I had finally found a door and opened it. Pulling myself out of the unconscious state I was in. My head felt like it was underwater, trying to swim up to the surface and find air. Breathing, I clenched my eyes shut and moved around. Sensing I was returning to my body, I fluttered my eyes opened and saw a slowly illumiating light. My sight becoming apprehensively clear as I glanced around a white room, the familiarity of it, was sickening and I knew instantly that I was in a hospital room.

Turning my head, I saw that there was a woman sat on my bed, her back to me and she was wearing a cop outfit. Who the hell are you? "Kat..." I heard a faint voice call to me, making me remember what my name was and I then saw a young, thin blonde rush to my side. Her arm was bandaged up, her body close to me and her baby blues stared down at me. A small smile pulled at her face, making me realize who it was I was staring at.

Reaching up, I hardly could move my body. Suddenly, it felt like I was in a void. Between floating and falling like a ton of bricks. "Beth?" I asked her in a raspy voice, it was rough and unfamiliar to myself. Trying to get a better view, I saw as the woman got to her feet and gave me an awkward smile.

"I'll leave you two alone," the woman said as she offered us both a small nod, before she opened the door and walked out. Leaving us, I turned my gaze back to Beth and smiled. Both of us were silent, but I saw how a tear escaped her eye and slithered down her cheek.

Quickly, she wiped it away and laughed softly. It was as though she was happy to see me, alive and well, along with awake from the state I had been in, in order to get her back. To have this conversation and try to sneak her out of here. To return her back to the others, back to Maggie and Glenn. "You're safe, that's all that matters," she spoke confidently, trying to reach up, my body was still too weak to move. "I won't let anything happen to you here Kat," she assured me as she took hold of my hand.

Her words startled me a little, making me wonder what exactly these people did here. As to what it was that they did, to make Beth say such a thing. Taking a better look at her, I hadn't noticed the marks on her face. Stitches evident, red as the color of blood. Oh my God. "Thanks," I thanked her and curled my fingers around hers. "Your sister...Maggie, she's alive," I sighed out, still too tired to fully form small sentences.

The sound of her sister's state, made Beth giggle with happiness, a brightness in her eyes. An innocence about her that made me think of Judith, of how they were both good. How they both were symbols to us, showing us that good people did exist. "Who else?" she asked me as her wide smile was given to me.

What she did, to show me she was pleased with the words I had said, made her fingers curl tighter around my hands. Both hands clutching one of mine, as I stared up at her and hoped for her to get to be back with her sister. To be back with the others, where she belonged. "Daryl, my dad, Carl, Michonne, Glenn, Sasha, Tyreese, Bob, Carol," I listed people she knew and cared about. "And Judith," I smiled at the last name, knowing that Judith was someone she had much love for.

At the sound of my sister's name, Beth laughed and a tear fell from her other eye. Tears were building and threatening to fall, yet, I couldn't help but noticed it wasn't tears of sadness or grief. It was relief and joy. She knew who was alive and it was all that mattered to me. "That's great," she giggled. "Did anyone...die?" she asked as she turned serious and kept her voice plain, leveled.

Shaking my head, I shut my eyes for a second and took in the serenity I had for only a moment. Although, I did feel a little tired and weak from the hit. From what I sensed, I knew they had re-stitched my wound and cleaned it better than I ever could have. "No," I answered her. "It's so great to see you," I smiled widely and reached up slowly to gently brush a stray strand behind her ear, away from her face. "Me and Daryl...we've been searching for you, came across this boy...said he knew you. That you got him out of here," I informed her how I got here and who helped me to get to this very moment.

Beth seemed surprised, her eyes widening and her lips parting at the thought of whoever I was explaining. The image of the boy in my head, but I had no name to go with it. "Noah?" she asked me, to which I had no way of answering and instead, I closed my eyes and tried to keep awake for her. "Kat, you should get some rest, I'm going to find a way to get us both out of here. I promise," Beth was encouraged to get us out of here and to promise me that we would be gone, safe and away from whoever these people were.

A door opening startled Beth, making her take a step back and look towards the door, her hands still clutching mine as she looked to the woman who had been in the room with us earlier. "You won't have to scheme or do anything else," she said to Beth. "Get ready, both of you," she ordered of myself and Beth, making me look to the woman confused. "You're both leaving to be with another group," she informed us. Could it be...dad?


DPOV

Staring into the hunting rifle, I watched as cars began to drive towards the meeting point. To where Rick was to be for when those from Grady would be there. I was focused, ready for anything and needing to stay focused for those lives we were putting at risk. Kat and Beth. Snapping my fingers was the signal. "They're headed towards the vantage point," Tyreese informed Rick.

Rick was speaking to us through the radio, as he was below us and waiting for the cop car to show up. "Okay. Copy that," he agreed as he waited for the others to come. Prepared, my body was tense, my heart pounding, but my breathing slow as I kept myself steady. Level head Dixon, you know what can happen if this goes south. You can't let that happen. Not to Kat and not to Beth.


RPOV

Waiting, I watched as a car slowly pulled up and stopped in front of me. The wind was blowing gently, the streets were quiet and I was ready to do what I had to in order to bring Kat and Beth back safe. "Officer Franco. Officer McGinley," I called out the names of the cops that got out of their car, holding their guns up and aiming it at me. "I'm Rick Grimes," I introduced myself to them. "I was a deputy in the King County Sheriff's Department. I'm here to make a proposal," I gave them as much information as possible.

Arms raised in surrender, I wanted to keep things calm and make sure that nothing went crazy. I wasn't only putting my life on the line, but Beths and Kats. Knowing this, motivated me to not do anything stupid. "Lay your weapon on the ground," one ordered. Mumbling a calm 'All right,' I slowly reached for my gun and lowered it to the ground. Turning for them, I knew this was standard procedure in case I had a gun behind my back. "What's your proposal?" one asked as they slowly stalked closer to me.

Thankful that these guys were being reasonable, I knew that this was going to be a reasonable exchange. "You have two of my people, I have two of yours," I stated the facts. "We want to make an exchange. Then we'll be on our way," I said the plan, knowing it was basic and could be easily done. "No one gets hurt," I informed them of what the best part about the exchange would be.

"Who?" the other officer asked.

Remembering the names, I began to list the exhange details. "Officers Shepherd and Licari for Beth and Katherine," I told them the exchange that would be made. "You picked up a girl yesterday after your people hit her with a car, a girl with a stab wound in her side, she's my daughter," I said, hoping they'd understand the desperate measures I was taking in order to get her back.

Taking a few steps closer, they exchanged a look and kept walking closer. "Noah, he's with you?" he asked after he gulped and realized that the intel wasn't just from the sky. We know Beth is there, because Noah told us and they also have my daughter. "That's how you know?" he questioned where I got the intel from.

"Yes, he is," I answered with a nod, unsure as to why they were keen to know if Noah was with us or not.

The one who was asking all the questions furrowed his eyebrows at me and gave me a strange look. The one who was silent, had given me a confused look when I mentioned Kat. But, he then realized who I was talking about and seemed to be in kind understanding as to why I would want Katherine back. "What about Officer Lamson?" he continued to ask me more questions.

Keeping a straight face, I knew better than to tell the truth. I chose to stick with the false story the two cops had made, hoping they'd repeat the same one when it came to the meeting. "He was attacked by the dead before we got to him," I lied.

A quiet walker growled as he slowly appeared into the scene. Shuffling along the floor, it was getting closer to us and I knew that we would be safe. "Where are your people?" the silent one asked, which earned him a quiet shot from either Sasha or Daryl above me. Killing the walker and answering their question.

Smiling, I was proud of my group and how strong they were. How Sasha was a great shot, how Daryl was more motivated than ever and how I was prepared to do whatever I had to in order to bring back Beth and Kat. "They're close," I answered them with a nod. "Radio your lieutenant. I'll wait," I suggested as I relaxed and waited patiently for the answer to my request of an exchange.


DPOV

After Dawn had agreed to the exchange, I felt nervous to see either Beth and Kat. Making our way into the hospital, Rick held onto the woman we had captured, while I held onto the man we had captured. Ready to exchange them for two important members of our group. Rick was the first one to look into the hallway, the doors were seperating us from the others. Stopping us from entering the hallway. Staring out the window, I saw how they were all holding their guns, I saw how Kat was sat in a wheelchair and Beth looked cut up and was wearing the same clothes as the last day I had seen her.

Kat looked good as new, yet she had a few bruises and looked tired compared to Beth. Beth looked ready, alert and about to fight. My heart pounding, I knew that things could go south quickly, so I had to act quick and cautious. We need to get them out of here as quickly as possible. "Holster your weapons," Dawn said through the radio to us.

Rick looked back at us, then gave us a nod and told the others to radio back. "You, too," he told Dawn and the others, along with the pair that had lead us to the building, to make the exchange. Wandering in after we all put away our weapons, Beth and Kat came closer to the front, Kat's hand gently holding Beth's as they stopped and stared at us. My breath caught in my throat at the sight of them. Damn, I missed them.


RPOV

The two officers that accompanied us wandered over towards Dawn and stood beside her. Looking at Kat and Beth, I offered them small smiles and felt something in me shatter. I never want to see Kat in a wheelchair again. "They haven't been harmed," I informed Dawn as I looked away from my daughter and noticed how Beth had severe cuts on her face. Cuts that had been needing stitches.

"Where's Lamson?" Dawn asked, confused as to what happened and possibly testing to see if what I had said was a lie.

Surprising me, Shepherd went along with the lie she had created in order to make the exchange happen. "Rotters got him," Shepherd said. "We saw it go down," Licari agreed with Shepherd, the pair of them keeping serious and straight faces as they lied to their leader. Shit. I hope this never happens to my group and myself.

Dawn's eyes were wide, as though she was processing the lie and trying to figure out if it was true or false. "Oh," she mumbled numbly. "I'm sorry to hear that," she apologized, her eyes wide and lips thin when she spoke. "He was one of the good guys," she commented. "One of yours for one of mine," she ordered.

Hearing this, it made me eager to bring back Kat and Beth to us. To make the exchange and go home. "All right," I agreed, to which I gave a nod to Daryl and made him exchange his captured officer for Kat. Halfway towards the hall, Kat smiled at me and was placed beside Daryl. The officer stopped to give us a bag with the right medicine and the weapons she would wear on her belt. Taking her, Daryl lead Kat in the wheelchair directly towards us, I smiled to her and placed a gentle kiss to her forehead. God, I missed her.


KPOV

When dad finished kissing my forehead, he pulled away and moved to lead the other hostage towards the other officers. I had learned from Beth that the woman was called Dawn, but she hadn't told me how she got those cuts, but judging by the marks, it was something brutal. When I was recieved, slowly, Tyreese got me back onto my feet and Carol allowed me to lean against her.

Smiling at her, I was pleased she had kept her word and looked out for my family. She had even come after me, looking for me and offering to rescue me from here. "Glad we could work things out," Dawn said once Beth was passed to my dad and began to wander over to me. Dad had mumbled a soft 'Yeah' in agreement before he began walking towards the exit. "Now I just need Noah," she made us all stop in our tracks. "And then you can leave," she demanded, rather than negotiated the handing over of Noah.

"That wasn't part of the deal," dad snarled, not liking the way this woman played her game. That is cruel. Beth had got him out, there must have been a reason for it. No way in hell is this bitch taking Noah, especially if he doesn't want to be here.

The woman was being stubborn, as she wasn't supposed to be. Greedy, stubborn bitch. "Noah was my ward," she informed us. "Beth took his place and I'm losing her, so I need him back," she spoke coldly, her eyes were as cold as the soul that was within her. One of them tried to convince Dawn not to insist. "Shepherd!" she yelled. "My officers put their lives on the line to find him. One of them died," she rambled on, as though any of us cared what had happened to those of her group, other than her and her group.

Daryl glared at the woman, shoving Noah back before he could move forward and away from us. "No, he ain't staying," he snarled as he moved to stand beside my dad. Watching the pair of them, I knew that trouble was going to happen. What? I wasn't sure.

Dawn glared at Daryl, her eyes cold and made me shiver at the sight of her. What the hell is with this bitch? "He's one of mine," she threw back at Daryl. "You have no claim on him," she declared, which was true, but it wasn't going to stop Noah from doing what he wanted to.

"The boy wants to go home, so you have no claim on him," dad argued, which made sense as to why Noah would want to leave this place. The kid might have a family, someone waiting for him. He needs to know, he needs to leave and Dawn can't take his right to choose from him.

"Well, then we don't have a deal," Dawn spoke as coldly as she was staring at us.

Taking a step closer, I didn't like how everything became so tense. Carol tried to pull me back, but I stumbled a little and Carol took hold of me once more. "The deal is done," dad stated, not needing to go in circles again. Why can't she just find someone else to be a ward? Noah doesn't need to be here. He doesn't want to be here.

Noah tried to protest for Rick defending him, telling all of us that it was okay. That he had to do this. Respecting the boy, I felt bad for him having to do what some bitch was saying. Just because she thought she had a claim on him. Beth then ran over to Noah and hugged him, the pair had clearly bonded over their time in the hospital and it made me sad to watch this exchange. "I knew you'd be back," Dawn said numbly as she looked to Noah.

Suddenly, Beth stiffened and slowly pulled away from Noah. Walking over to Dawn, Beth kept her distance a little and took a few steps, so that they were face to face. "I get it now," Beth said with a croak in her voice and a nod. Everything in that moment, happened so fast. The sound of flesh squelching as it was being cut, I had looked and seen Beth had pulled out a pair of scissors. Without a second thought, Dawn pulled out instinctively and shot Beth in the head. My heart sank and sped up, the sight made me blink and gasp.


DPOV

The moment the shot sounded, I saw how Beth's head bobbed and how she was shot. Without a second thought. Everything turned silent, my heart was thundering inside my chest and I felt an overwhelming rage flood into my veins. Disappointment was the pain that struck my heart, as I had failed to protect Beth once again. Her dead body collapsing to the floor and never moving. The blood from her head spilled along the floor, staning the white marbel.

Inside me, I could no longer hold the anger and pain. Instinctively, I pulled out my gun and clenched my jaw. Baring my teeth as I raised my gun, Dawn shook her head and pleaded that she hadn't meant to kill Beth. Without a second of hesitation, I aimed at her head and pulled the trigger. Watching as Dawn fell to the ground and never moved either. Staring down at Beth, I felt the tears pour from my eyes. She was so close to making it. I failed her again. I keep failing everyone I care about. I'm a failure. Sobbing, my body quivered and I could hardly keep my eyes away from the young, dead blonde on the ground.

When Kat came over to comfort me, I couldn't stay on one spot. I kept pacing, feeling completely destroyed as I stared down at Beth's dead body. I worked so hard to try and get her back. For Maggie, for Beth. This is how it all ends? She deserved happiness, a life. I should have done something more to save her. Feeling absolutely destroyed, the only person who could pull me back to reality and give me the comfort I needed, was Kat. She had rest her hands on my shoulders and tried to bring me away from Beth. I'm a failure.


RPOV

Watching Beth get shot, I felt her blood splatter all over my shirt and face. Taking a step back, my eyes were wide and my heart stopped for a second. Shock streamed into my soul, as I could not believe the fact that Beth was killed. The daughter of a man I cared about, his daughter, who I had promised myself to bring back to her sister. Was now dead. Worry struck me, as I thought of what it was going to do. How everyone was going to react. Wiping the blood, I looked to it and then glanced down at who it came from.

Her blood soaked the white floor and I knew that this was real. That it wasn't all a lie. That I hadn't imagined it. She killed Beth. Knowing how Kat had risked her life in order to get Beth back, how Daryl tried his hardest to bring back Beth and keep Kat safe. It was all for nothing, all those plans and stress. Only for it all to end the worst way possible. I should of kept Lamson alive...maybe this wouldn't of happened. First Hershel, now Beth. Poor Maggie.


KPOV

When Daryl reacted, I felt myself slowly crumble at the sight. Beth's blood pouring onto the tiles of the floor and Daryl's tears trying to clean it. Dawn was dead, because Daryl had shot her down. Everyone raised their guns, but I had kept completely silent. Everyone was ready to kill one another for what had happened. I was entirely distroyed both mentally and emotionally. All the good people die, because of the bad ones.

Every ounce of hope that was in me, died when I saw sweet and innocent Beth get shot in the head. Her sacrifice for Noah to leave, left me heart broken. Not only for Beth, but for Maggie, as she would no longer see her sister. What is this hell I'm living in? "No!" one of the officers ordered as she raised her arms to stop everyone from shooting. "Hold your fire! It's over. It was just about her. Stand down," she tried to calm everyone.

Slowly, everyone in the room lowered their weapons and Daryl turned his head to stare down at Beth's corpse. Letting a few tears escape, I felt the pain in my nose, the lump in my throat and the break in my heart. Poor Beth, she didn't deserve to die. Daryl's pain, was something I could feel. I watched as he sniffled and cried. Stalking closer towards him, I had let go of a quietly crying Carol and placed my hands on his shoulders.

Trying to pry him away from Beth and bring him into a hug. He gently shrugged my hands away and stared down at her body. His tears never ending, but I knew that he was only angered with the fact she was so close to escaping, that she didn't even get to take a step outside the door. "You can stay," someone offered us a place here. "We're surviving here. It's better than out there," they said, but I knew there was no turning back after what had happened only seconds ago.

We can learn to forgive, but we would never forget. Beth is someone we didn't want to see die, and yet...here she is. Her light is out now too. She saved me, saved Noah and now...I have no idea where we go from here. "No," dad rejected them with a shake of his head. We were all either upset, shocked, or trying to progress and move on from the trauma we all had gone through in the matter of a few short minutes. "And I'm taking anyone back there who wants to leave. If you want to come with us...just step forward now," dad offered them a place with us.

No one stepped forward, either they were afraid of the unknown outside these walls, or were afraid of us. Either way, none of us cared. Daryl was the one to take Beth's body with us and Carol was the one to offer to lean against her as we walked out of the building. Never wanting to return to Atlanta, I had moved on from all the memories and pain that was inside this place and wanted to get that fresh start Daryl offered me. Yet, I had no clue if we were ever going to be able to start over, not after all we had gone through.

Stepping out of the building, we came out, only to find Abraham, Michonne, Glenn, Maggie, Rosita and Tara waiting for us outside. Clearing a path for us to get to them. At first, they were waiting to see Beth come out, alive and happy to be back. But, when their eyes began searching and stopped on the corpse in Daryl's arms, Maggie dropped her gun, fell to the floor and cried. Glenn comforted her the best he could and everyone else looked sad at the sight. Daryl hadn't stopped crying and I could no longer feel anything anymore. This world sucks. Everyone dies and no one is safe. Not even the innocent. Not even the good. There is no hope...


Hope you liked this chapter! Now, seeing as this is the midseason finale in the show, I would like 10 reviews! Thank you everyone for the reviews and feedback. But, from now on. I won't be replying to the reviews, as I don't want to be critical or come across as such. I respect everyone's thoughts and decisions. If you wish to talk to me about the story, you can talk to me privately, but I am afraid that I can no longer reply to your reviews. Also, I won't post the next chapter again until all 10 reviews are recieved. So, get typing!


P.S, you guys know I love each and everyone of you. Especially those who have stuck by me through every chapter from the very beginning. So, props to you guys and I hope to see your thoughts in the reviews.


So, the questions I want to be answered in the 10 reviews:

1) What did you think of this chapter?

2) What did you like or hate about this chapter?

3) Any moment you may have enjoyed?

4) What do you invision for Kat and Daryl?

5) What do you think of this new, numb, darker Kat?


Until the 10 reviews, I will not be posting. I mean it!

Much love,

HeroJustInTime90 xxx