Gareth's POV

Sadie and I led the others into the church, to find that the ones who were here were clearly hiding in one or both of the two remaining rooms from us.

We glanced around, to make sure we didn't miss anyone who might be hidden in the dark, seemingly empty space…..still no one.

"Well, I guess you know we're here!" I finally announced, taking another look around. "...And we knooow you're here….."

"And we're armed!" Sadie added. "...So, there's really no point in hiding anymore…" She shook her head and muttered under her breath, "Bunch of pussies…"

She looked to me and nodded.

I signaled for Martin to take his position.

"We've been watching you, we know who's here...theeere's Eugene, Rosita, Martin's good friend Tyreese, Carl, Judith….and the priest. Rick and the rest walked out with a lot of your guns...listen we don't know where you all are, but this isn't a big place….so let's just stop this thing now, before things get any more painful than they need to be….."

I signaled for the rest of the group to spread out and take their positions.

"Look, we know you're behind one of these two doors, and we have more than enough firepower to take down both…..can't imagine that's what you all want." Sadie called out. "...How about the priest? Father, you help us wrap this up, we let you walk away from this. Just open this door and you can go, you can take the baby with you...what do you say?"

Judith started crying, so I chuckled to myself. "Might wanna take that back, Sade, I think we should keep the kid…..startin' to like this girl."

Sadie nodded. "Suppose Alex could do with a big sister."

I followed the cries to the door that Judith and the others were clearly behind.

Sadie followed me with her gun pointed towards it, looking around as she went.

"This is your chance right now to tell us you're coming out."

No response…

"Are we done?" Martin asked.

"..Hit the hinges." I sighed. I was raising my gun, when two shots came from behind and hit Gregg and Mike.

"Put your guns on the floor…" A familiar voice stated firmly.

I turned around to find that it was Rick, slowly stepping out of the darkness with some of the others.

Sadie stepped in front of me, gun raised and aimed at Rick. "No...you lower your gun, Assh-"

Rick cut her off with a shot that just barely missed her fingers, hitting her arm when she moved to shoot him.

"FUCK!" She screamed. She held her arm just long enough for Rick to aim the gun back at us.

"Put your guns on the floor and KNEEL." He commanded.

"Do what he says." Sadie commanded the others, while she remained standing.

"...Sadie…."

"I GOT THIS!" She shouted.

Rick shot her in the leg, bringing her to her knees.

I had to think quickly on my feet….so to speak. "No point in beggin right?" I asked, addressing Rick, redirecting his attention away from Sadie.

"No." He answered, coldly.

"Still, "You could've killed us when we came in, you didn't, there had to be a reason for that"

"We didn't wanna waste the bullets." He stated.

"We used to help people, we saved people. Things changed, they came in and- After that, I know that you've been out there, but I can see it, you don't know what it is to be hungry...you don't have to do this, we can walk away, and we will never cross paths again, I PROMISE you"

Rick glared at me. "But you'd cross paths with someone, you'd do this to anyone, right? Besides….I already made you a promise…."

He reached for that red handled machete he'd been carrying, but took a few shots from Sadie before he could, finally knocking him to the ground.

The fall triggered the rest to start fighting back.

Sasha began striking Martin with her knife, killing him almost instantly.

Abraham hit Albert with the end of his gun and would've beat him to death if Theresa didn't step through the doorway and begin firing shots, bringing him and a few of the others to their knees.

Sadie ran over to me, her gun raised..

"Get out of here, GO!" She shouted at me.

"Sadie-"

"You cut and run, get out of here...for Alex's sake." She insisted. "I'll come and find you when this is all over with….I'll cover you."

I thought for a moment, but reluctantly obliged, taking Alex from Theresa as I reached the doorway.

I took one last look at my wife, hoping to God that she would make it back out like she promised, and bolting.