Brace yourself guys this is the last chapter for this part of the series. I'm still in a bit of shock that I've finished it. I need to thank every for reading this fic, commenting, kudos'd. They always brightened my day, still do. Thanks to people who cheered me on, especially when things got tough and I lost my mojo for a bit. ArchLucie you've been a champion xxx without her this chapter might have taken much longer, she talked alot of sense into me) and Sevus for reigning me in several times throughout the fic.
There's a longer note at the end but I won't ramble on any longer. Hope you like this chapter. And remember there will be more to come :)
Chapter 47: The Last of Us
Hunting had been a big waste of time today. The area appeared void of anything living. The only signs of life were the stray walkers that wandered through the woods aimlessly and the two trying to avoid said life forms. The ones who unfortunately crossed their paths were unceremoniously dropped to the ground and would never rise again.
It frustrated both of them coming up with nothing for a hard days out tramping in the woods. But when there was no game around, because walkers more than likely scared it off, what could you do?
Settling amongst the brush they waited, crouching so they couldn't be seen. The sounds of approaching walkers making both of them tense. They gave each other a look, telling the other to wait it out. The herd was small by comparison of late, maybe only a dozen at the most. Sure they could both easily take them out without so much as breaking a sweat but that would be wasting energy they didn't have. They'd both decided to only take walkers out on this trip if they posed a threat to them or if they stumbled in front of them. So far this group were just walking on their merry way. If only it were that easy all the time. Goodluck has an expiry date in most cases these days.
As the walkers passed, heading in the opposite direction they needed to go, one nodded to the other signalling it was safe to move. And without words they moved on through the woods. Moving back onto the game trail, both knowing the outlook wasn't good, especially after walkers had just trodden through. But they had a job. Make yourself useful. Go hunting. In retrospect it wasn't the worst job nowadays. It just had a higher risk than most others on offer or assignment.
They both knew they shouldn't be wandering this far. He was gonna have their hides when they got back. But the reward for all their effort today felt so close, calling to them like a beacon. All they had to do was follow their noses, hopefully a freshly baked pie would be sitting on a window sill on the way.
Two miles later and they were still following this invisible trail to god only knows where. Another doomed walker staggered across the path and it hardly had time to get a decent snarl in before it's knees were kicked hard enough to make it buckle and a blade was impaled through it's left eye, pulverising the brain and dropped like a sack of potatoes to the ground. Wiping the blade clean on the grass, each checked the surrounding woods for any other stragglers. The woods were deceptively quiet. Which either meant more walkers were on their way or life had moved on from this area completely. They waited for more movement, with their backs to each other and circling around as they deduced the area safe, for now.
Now back on the path to the beacon silence remained between them. Not that conversation ever really occurred to each of them. Today, neither of them were in a chatty mood. The lack of any game souring both their moods.
They could see structures through the trees and they trudged forward. Trying to remember the map they'd been looking over this morning, it was coming up blank to what actually lay out here. It had to be some of farming or industrial buildings that lay ahead, as it was too tall to be residential. And the closest town was at least thirty miles.
Finally making it out of the brush, they both stopped in awe. The switch flipped and they knew exactly where they were now. The West Georgia Correctional Facility. They really were off the beaten path now.
The guard towers still stood strong at each corner of the fenced-in yard. One by each of the gates granting access to the facility. Fences surrounded the buildings, most looking to be well intact. Caging in the monsters. There were so many wandering around penned in like farm animals, only these animals bite and they sure as fuck weren't tame. Maybe this wasn't a safe place after all. They could both see the bounty of supplies that this place held. More than any other place they had come across recently, and not this close either.
Travelling further out for supplies would only increase from here on out. It was always a risk to travel. But sometimes it didn't matter how far you went. Sometimes trouble finds you under your own roof or in your backyard or on the way out of the gate.
But what were the chances this place had been raided? All the walkers in the yard looked to be prisoners. So if they could take out the remaining prisoners and not alert any more walkers in the area, locking this place down would be simple. Well maybe not simple, but it had more potential than the shitty ransacked housing development ten miles north of here.
"Well, fuck me...never thought I'd ever be lookin' at a prison 'gain, 'specially from th'outside" he smirked.
"Damnit Merle, quit fuckin' around. Let's go" Martinez groused.
"You orta be polite to a man with a gun" Merle taunted, pulling the handgun from his belt, then rolling his eyes at the man. "Take a fuckin' joke man, geez light'n the fuck up" he mumbled turning back towards the brush and deciding to call it a day and head back to town.
Merle's POV:
The walk back to the car was met with relative silence. And it wasn't until we'd made it back to the car that Martinez finally spat out whatever had been bothering him since we'd stumbled across the prison.
"Ya know he's gonna have a fit when he finds out we were huntin' out this far" Martinez stated.
I knew that and couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes at him. "And?"
"And...its your ass he's gonna chew not mine" Martinez snapped.
"Stop bein' such a pussy man" I grumbled.
I can't believe this is what my life has come to now. Sure I wasn't livin' the fancy life before the world turned to shit but huntin' used ta be fun. Quality time spent with my brother. Was probably the few times we got along, at least until I couldn't keep my trap shut and piss ol' baby brother off, even that used to be fun. Now I just have to find the fucker.
It's been a long while since I went on that run into Atlanta with the group. Felt like days passed as I sat on that rooftop chained to the pipe, when only a day had passed before I escaped that hell-hole. I was still high right up until the sun set then the drugs wore off and I realised how fucked I was. Daryl would come find me, then we could take off like we had planned, although probably without the supplies we had intended to steal. I thought he would have come...
So there I was contemplating my own existence on that damn rooftop. Even sent a prayer or twelve up to the man above, knew I had a shit show of it being answered, not with my track record. But it didn't stop me from wailin' and carryin' on. Probably wasn't the smartest idea hollerin' the way I was but the drugs in my system were telling me otherwise. Was probably the reason why those dead pricks were banging against the door so damn persistent like.
I was cuffed to the pipe, my wrists was getting bloody the more I pulled against them. But what choice did I have?
Walkers kept pushing against the door, my only saving grace was the fucking chain that prick had tied to the door. Fuckin' no good asshole droppin' the damn key! Did he do it on purpose?
I don't really remember the exact moment I thought cutting of m'own hand off were a good idea. I have flashes of seein' the saw and then seein' the walkers push against the door and panic set in. Next thing I know I had the saw in my other hand, it was half bloody. Then my hand was lyin' next to me and it wasn't attached anymore. I could have sworn in that moment this was the worst drug trip I'd ever been on. The thing was, the drugs had worn off by then.
The two things that jolted me back to reality was the pain screaming up my arm now, the realisation of what I'd done hadn't quite set in. And secondly the loud banging had intensified in that moment. Must'a smelt the blood I reckon.
Then I was off. How I managed to get down the fire escape still baffles me. Let alone manage to fight off two walkers and find something to cave each of their heads in. The adrenaline was pushin' me forward, certainly wasn't the blood loss or the screamin' pain pushin' me forward.
It was a few days later when I found m'self locked up tight in an abandoned apartment, the drugs wearing off in the worst kind of way. Don't even really remember how I got there in the first place or where the fuck in Atlanta I was. Probably the safest place for me in the end, since I was so out of it.
The withdrawals on top of the pain from my arm, what was left of it anyway, had me out of it for a few days. I think. Time was a big fuckin' blank if I were honest. Weeks could'a gone by and I wouldn't 'ave noticed.
Hallucinated a shit load of things that I knew weren't real. Had a whole god damn conversation with Daryl like he was right next to me, 'fore I turned to ask him somethin' and no one was there. Had a whole fucking conversation with thin air. He would have given me shit if he saw me doing me that, I laughed to myself. That or he would have thought I was high, which wouldn't have been a hard bet to make.
Then there were the hallucinations about the walkers. I had a couch pushed up against the door from the beginning but I watched them break through the door and just as they were about to bite down on me, they'd vanish. I tell ya, if I knew being sober was this much of a nightmare I would have shot that cop on the roof before he tossed my baggie over the side of the roof. Fuckin' officer friendly.
I wanted a hit of somethin' then, anythin' to get me through, wipe out the pain, bring my brand of normal back. But for a lack of drugs available, I dunno maybe I wasn't lookin' hard enough, maybe I didn't care to look, I got reasonably clean. Figured that if I was gonna be on my own while I found Daryl I needed to keep my shit together and that meant no drugs. I know fucking shocker right?
Nearly a month of wandering on my own. Once I was over the withdrawals and able to drive, I found the first car I could hot-wire and booked it to the quarry. Course they weren't there though. Saw the graves and still didn't think for a second Daryl was six feet under. Takes a shit load more ta kill a Dixon.
So I was on the road headed south out of Atlanta, found a few things on the way to where ever. There was the medical warehouse where I got my new addition. No meds though, my hand or what was left of it was slowly gettin' infected. Met an old guy just wantin' to be left alone, which I did by the way, thought 'bout robbin' him but I weren't in any good shape to fight, even if he was old. Two ravaged camps. And more fuckin' walkers.
Then thirty miles out from Woodbury I came across three men offerin' me sanctuary, food, medical help. I was running one hell of an infection by the time I came across them. Would probably be dead if they hadn't of found me. The offer seemed too good to be true. Still think its too good to be true.
Two and a half months after the incident on the roof...
"You've been with us for over a month now. Dr Stevens said your wound is healing remarkably, considerin' the condition we found you in. Said you refused pain medications" the tone in his voice, completely giving away he was fishing for information.
"Yeah? What of it?" I huffed, annoyed.
"Just thought it was curious that's all" Phillip mused. "So do you think you'll stick around? Or you going to continue to search for your brother, Daryl, right?"
"Don't got nowhere else ta go. Still gonna look fer' my brother"
"You think he'd still be alive after all this time?" he sounded doubtful.
I was starting to get annoyed. Who th'fuck did he think he was? "He's alive. I know it." I snapped back, glaring at him.
"Alright. Was just stating a likely fact, that's all." Phillip said backtracking, holding his hands up in front of him, feigning his surrender. Was all bullshit.
"If I can survive out there with one hand, my brother sure as shit can survive too" I said raising the bandaged stump for emphasis.
Phillip grinned back at me, his eyes flicking down to the bandages. "If you say so Merle. We'll make sure to keep an eye out for him." he offered.
"Sure, whatever" I grunted.
He'd have those conversations with me every two days like clock work. He never bought up the obvious drug thing again either. Sure there were still bad days where I wished I had somethin' to take the edge off but things were different now.
Finally after two weeks of me givin' over the information I only wanted to share, he started to trust me more. As much as he could in his situation. And I got better duties, promoted. Got to actually go outside the walls, go huntin'. And sure I would hunt but it was just an excuse to look for my brother.
I think he caught on to it and started to limit the time I got to go out or I'd have him or someone else accompanying me making sure I was stickin' to the task. He's a crafty fucker I'd give 'im that. One thing he's yet to learn is ya never fuck with a Dixon. Sooner or later he'll learn that lesson.
So here I was a few months later. In Woodbury. My home for now. Wasn't much but I had a roof over my head, running water, food, the occasional warm body in my bed and walls to keep the biters out. But it was just that really. This was just a temporary stop on the way to find my brother.
Sure those walls kept everyone here "safe" but sooner or later it would turn to shit. I just hoped I'd be miles away before that shit happened. They were so happy here it was god damn sickenin' half the time. They had their BBQs and the Sunday picnics but they were so delusional. Think I felt the safest outside the walls, in the woods. When I was lookin' fer' Daryl.
The drive back to Woodbury was slow going, a decent sized herd cut us off from our original road back to the town so the detour was a pain in the ass. Walkers were herding together more an' more nowadays and Woodbury...well it was just gonna get swallowed up like everything else these days. Sure they had walls but get enough of these fuckers and walls don't mean shit. I tried to tell him but I'd have better luck growing my hand back, I chuckled inwardly to myself. At least I can laugh about it, right?
"It's been months since you last saw him, why do you keep searchin'?" Martinez asked glancing over to me.
"Wouldn't you?" I responded.
"Ain't no one I got to search for...everyone I love are dead" he said turning his attention back to the road.
"Well I know he ain't dead...can't explain it. He's out there, jus' need ta find 'im" I mumbled. Martinez appeared to be lost in his own head right now. It was a few minutes later when he spoke again.
"Do ya even know where to look? I mean, he could be anywhere. Ya know that right?"
Truthfully I had no fuckin' idea where he could be right now but I wasn't about too admit that out loud. I kept an eye out for spots I knew he would likely go but they always came up empty. I thought about heading back towards where home used to be but I doubted Daryl would want to head back too that shit-hole. I sure as shit wouldn't, so he wouldn't either. So I looked when I could, it was all I could do for now.
Every time I asked to search for my brother there was always an excuse. Governor had a way to derail those plans every time.
"The town needs you."
"We're out of meat."
"We're running low on supplies."
"Walkers need to be rounded up for tonight."
"We need someone on patrol."
"I need you."
Always a damn excuse. Should 'ave been more aggressive 'bout it. Might 'ave found Daryl by now if I had. I don't know why I didn't see he was being such a manipulating prick. I never would have stood for this before, if someone had told me to go check the snares before the end of the world, I would have cussed till I was blue or beaten them black and blue or ended up in the slammer for a night. The last one had happened usually because of a combination of the first two but that's neither here nor there.
But Governor...the way he was, the way he acted towards everyone, even the welcome chick he was banging that he thought no one knew about...It was all an act. He was without a doubt one of the most cunning pricks I'd ever come across and that's comin' from me, Merle fucking Dixon.
At first I didn't see the manipulation. He gave me purpose. Told me he couldn't keep this place safe and running without me. Promised to help me look for Daryl, which never happened, well not recently anyway. Told me I owed him for saving me. That should have been what kicked my ass into gear and got my head out of the sand. But it wanted to believe it. I was lost and Daryl wasn't here.
As we returned to Woodbury the last thing I wanted to hear was the sound of screams and gunfire. Screams meant walkers. And gunfire meant more walkers. Its the never ending circle of the shitty apocalypse. Without the guns we'd be fucked. And living in a town where the majority of people had fuck all training with weapons made us vulnerable. I'd said it to Gov more than once they needed trainin' but he didn't want to listen.
"We're tryin' to build a life here, a community, a place to call home. Havin' everyone armed puts everyone on edge and they won't see it for the good it could do. We have th'walls. We have armed guards on th'walls. We don't need ta run this like a millitary camp. This ain't Nazi Germany."
Would I be too much of a prick to tell 'im I told ya so?
Walkers were piling up around the main gate. I could see three people clearly standing on the barricades, only one was taking care of the walkers on the gate the other two were shooting into the town. So that was bad sign.
"Too many of 'em at the gate, gonna 'ave ta go round back" I said assessing the situation. Martinez nodded and parked the car. I immediately reached over to the back seat, grabbing all the weapons we'd bought with us. Which wasn't much, two rifles with fairly decent scopes, one handgun and two small machetes. We were only going hunting, so we didn't expect we'd need a god damn arsenal.
Arming ourselves with the weapons we had, we stealthily slipped out of the car and edged along the buildings trying to blend in, even if it was still daylight out. There were still walkers making their way towards Woodbury and by the looks of it we didn't have the time to take out each one, only the ones who crossed our path.
We moved through the abandoned streets, taking out a few walkers attracted by the gun fire coming from Woodbury. The rate of gun fire has decreased, so it either meant one of two things, one; they'd taken out what was left of the walkers inside the town, or two; the town was fucked and over run by walkers. Or worse. I hoped it was the first one as I'm not equipped yet to rough it on my own. I'd rather leave on my own terms than being forced out.
Reaching the south side of town we could see how the fuckers had gotten in. A piece of corrugated iron had come loose, leaving a wide enough gap for someone or something to squeeze through. Remnants of several somethings were hanging off the iron as they pushed their way through. Luckily a little gore never deterred me in any situation and we didn't exactly have time to fuck around worryin' 'bout gettin' our clothes dirty.
Squeezing through the hole we were immediately faced with one of the bastards. The sound of the iron being shifted instantly caught its attention as it heaved its body upright and left what was left of...Saunders? No that's Marks? Oh fucked if I know. It snarled and staggered towards us, viscera falling from its chops and splattering on the asphalt below.
"Got it" I muttered, as Martinez took care of the gap in the fence, pulling the iron back into place.
A well aimed blade up through the jaw, shut the fucker up for good. I had to be careful when I did that particular move, learnt the hard way when I found an extra ripe fucker and as I pulled the blade free, a whole mess of gunk slid down the arm-piece. I swear I was findin' bits of walker in the stump for weeks after. Ok it weren't that long but it was fuckin' disgustin' either way. Enough ta make ol' Merle want ta hurl when it first happened. And shudder now jus' thinkin' of it.
As we jogged to the main street we could see the carnage that had been left, several dead townsfolk, mostly the elder folk that didn't stand a chance. Must have been taken by surprise, walkers drawn to the noise on the main street and then...buffet time. By the looks of it at least eight or nine had gotten through. Should 'ave had more spotters on all the streets, not jus' the main gate. Either way most had been killed by the looks of it, only one were alive, still snacking on Mrs Rodriguez by the looks of it. I only recognised her by the slippers she had been wearing. She wore them every god damned day, even in the street. Sweet ol' lady too.
"Start makin' sure the dead are gonna stay dead" I say to Martinez, who nodded before jogging off in another direction. I headed straight for the corpse still munching. The scuffing of my boots caught its attention but too late, before I was stabbing it through the skull and then bent to one knee and quickly put the blade through Mrs Rodriguez's ear and into her brain.
I glanced up to see a few bodies nearby and started to get to work. Didn't need our problems to start fucking multiplying. The gun-fire had stopped just as we entered the town via the fence. And the guns were pointed back out the way they should be, outside the gate. Two other men were taking care of the rest of the dead down towards the gate and Martinez was making his way back toward me.
I had just pulled my blade free from another corpse when Martinez stopped in front of me, panting a little. "Shumpert hasn't seen Gov since this all started. We better go find 'im." Martinez didn't wait for me, just carried on ahead going to the opposite side of town. At this point we both knew if he wasn't down at the gate, there had to be another reason why he was elsewhere. Had he found another breach? Was he fighting walkers? Doing clean-up like we had been doing? Was he dead? If he were dead...
And it probably wouldn't hurt to make sure no more of these fuckers were lurking anywhere else in town. So we searched.
The gates to the empty courtyard near the warehouse were open, a bloody hand-print on one of the gates giving us some more unwanted breadcrumbs. Walking towards the gate, for the first time in a long time I was filled with dread. Whatever was left on the other side of the gate I knew I wasn't gonna like very much. If Gov was dead, well I guess I could go looking for my brother without anyone holdin' me back. Which would be a welcome change, sick of the god damn roadblocks. Or maybe I could become the new chief...nah fuck that, Dixon's were never meant ta be politicians. Although it'd certainly get my dick wet more often.
Rounding past the gate Gov was crouched next to a body. A child's body. His daughter's body. Fuck. Clutching her tightly to his chest as he sobbed for his lost child. Blood coating his arms and clothing. Fresh bite marks covering her arm and one nasty looking one on her neck. Watching him now, he was nothing like the man I'd come to know over the last few months.
"Shit..." I mumbled, scratching the back of my head.
"She's gonna be fine" he sobbed shakily pushing hair back off her face.
"She's gonna come back as a walker" Martinez reasoned.
"Don't you think I know that" he growled angrily.
"Ya need ta take care of it" I pressed.
Phillip...The Governor, just stared at me coldly, grabbed the gun from his holster, flicked the safety and pointed the barrel towards me.
"Leave" he sobbed not dropping the gun.
"Ya need..."
He cut me off, glaring heavily at me. "I'll do it. Jus' leave me be. Let me say goodbye" he said dropping the gun tot he ground, his attention focussed once again on his dead daughter.
Martinez and I shot each other a look both unsure about leaving him here like this. But both of us knew he was probably one of the very few in this town that if pressed wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger. Especially now. Now he was a liability. Martinez nodded his head towards the main street and started to move off. I stood there for a second looking down at Penny's lifeless body, I had no feelings really about the situation, it was sad sure, she was just a kid but I didn't know her. I was the scary guy round town with a knife for a hand, most people steered clear of me and that didn't bother me in the slightest. Fuck 'em. Most parents steered their kids well away from me.
Remember me sayin' I didn't wanna be round here when shit was gonna turn for this town, well I knew this was the point it all was gonna change. And now I felt compelled to stay.
Fuck.
I glanced back over my shoulder as I left the yard, Gov still clutching her body. He was either going to break from this and let it consume him or he was going to turn into even more of a prick than he already is. I don't know what option is worse.
Several weeks had passed since the breach in the south side of town. Life started to return back to what it was before, well as much as it could. Governor was starting to make more appearances. But the change had definitely taken over. After Penny dying the anger took over. The schedule of runs changed, more men went out, armed heavily. Hunting was put on the back burner...for now, well that's the bullshit excuse he gave. After the breach, the town had a more military presence around. No actual military. But curfews were put in place, more armed guards on the wall. Both of those I agreed with, before the town was to la-di-da about it all. Yes, I love a BBQ as much as the next man but we had more important shit to worry about. I guess the breach was a wake up call.
And then he started fight night. Anyone with half a brain could tell it was a reaction to his daughter's death. But in a twisted fucked up way it was still needed. The townsfolk attended, every one of 'em sceptical as hell, including me. But I could see the appeal, show 'em yes we need to be afraid but we can also beat the shit out of them for sport. Plus I got to beat the shit out of some of the guys for sport as well. The brighter side of fight nights.
"I know our town has been through a lot the last few weeks. The breach on the south wall was...unforeseen. I, as you know lost my precious Penny" he declared before bowing his head in his own personal moment of silence. "Other families too suffered tragedy. But that stops now." People started cheering. "Tonight we start to heal, show these things we aren't afraid of them anymore" the cheering got louder, "That we can build a better life here. I know things around here have changed, we have more people patrolling the walls, a curfew in place. But I assure you I have done this to keep you safe in here because I want Woodbury to survive. To thrive. Where your children can grow up and remain children while they still can. Where we can still have a civilised community. But tonight...tonight we take back control of our town. So let's start this night off right. Are. You. Ready?" the cheering grew louder until it was cut off by the music. The Governor stepping off the arena and making his way up into the stands. People clapping his back or shaking his hand as he passed.
After he gave his politician worthy speech, the townsfolk cheered, music blared through the speakers amping the crowd up further and the spotlights came on revealing the chained up walkers. I was standing on the sidelines thinking this felt almost normal. When Gov had suggested it, I wasn't sure how everyone was gonna take it. Gov had immediately offered me up as a competitor for the night and soon enough several other men volunteered too. I couldn't help thinkin' they had a grudge with me. Wasn't my problem, they were gonna be the ones all bloody and bruised at the end of the night. One thing Dixon's knew how to do was scrap. And so I wiped the smug looks off their faces. Like any good Dixon would do.
The night let out the aggression the whole town had been feeling and everyone, adults and kids alike left happy and cheerful, adrenaline still pumping in the aftermath. Even Governor nodded his head at me in salute of a job well done. Maybe that was the start of me feelin' like I fit in, like this place could be home, like I mattered. Should 'ave just packed my things that night and gone and not looked back. But I didn't.
Gov had summoned me, wanting to go over supply runs and walker wrangling. I only caught part of the conversation as I closed the door behind me.
"...with how the town's grown and with the supplies we have, there's no way we'll get through the winter. Not unless we make a push further north and get what we need. It'll mean we'll have to travel further but..." Milton mentioned leaning over an unfolded map, palms resting on the table.
"No." Gov answered, eyes still focussed on the map.
"But sir?" Milton pressed.
"I mean it. We can risk travelling that far, especially when we have no idea if anything would come from it. We need to find something closer to Woodbury. I'm not risking leaving the town unprotected for supplies that might not even be there" Gov sighed standing straight and folding his arms across his chest.
Having just walked in on the conversation I wondered if suggesting the prison would be off the table. If he was that desperate surely with the prison being thirty minutes down the road wouldn't be too far of a stretch and we'd be close enough to home. I could see this turnin' sour the minute I open my mouth. But it never stopped me in the past, why would it be any diffr'nt now?
"Hey Gov. I have a suggestion on where we could find supplies. Enough that we wouldn't have ta make as many runs each week." I hedged cautiously.
"And what is this grand suggestion of yours?" Governor said raising an eyebrow at me, clearly sceptical.
" 'bout amonth ago Martinez an' I were out huntin', prob'bly wandered too far fer' your likin' but we found somethin'. A prison."
"A prison?" Milton guffawed, chocking on some of his tea.
"Yes a prison" I rolled my eyes. "From th'looks of it, the fences were still in tact, couple a dozen walkers roamin' round. Gimme some men an' weapons an' we can clear it out easy."
"No" Governor said throwing a heavy glare my way. I of course couldn't shut my mouth.
"I haven't spent any time at this particular joint but I know my way round. We won't have ta search every block, find the Admin block, get some keys..." I rattled off only to be cut off, Gov glaring viscously in my direction.
"The prison is a death-trap. No one. And I mean no one is to venture back into the red zone again. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?" He snarled.
"Understood" I growled, clenching my fists at my side.
So I know this was probably the chapter no one was expecting, as you can probably guess by now, the entire chapter was from Merle's pov, plus the intro at the start which was in 3rd person (so weird for me to write btw). The time when this takes place is about the same time as our group is leaving the fire-station and a few weeks after. This was meant as a little teaser for the next part "The Dangers of being Incarcerated" but I'm still proud of how this turned out. Even if it took me forever to write. Writing Merle and parts of Gov were taxing at times lol.
I know some of it was probably a bit hard to read as I was jumping from rednecky accents then regular. From my perspective when things got more emotional for Merle I thought even his general story telling would start to incorporate a bit of his accent. I hope it wasn't too hard to follow. I swear I rewrote this chapter about 6 different times, hence the wait.
Yes I had planned to do this final chapter like this as well. Had started making notes and writing bits for it about 6 months ago. So I'm sorry it didn't have any of the group in this chapter. This was my take on Merle and Gov to a certain extent too.
Thank you to everyone who read, commented, kudos'd, and helped support me writing this. Its been over two years of work writing this. So I hope you'll return for the next part.
