Chapter 25-John's Mistake
It was the night after Otis's death. The group was around his grave as Patricia cried Daryl looks at the grave and starts to speak. "I didn't get to know Otis very well, but what I know that Otis cared about this family. Otis was the first person to see us he could have kept his mouth shut, but he didn't Otis brought us together brought Hershel here which led to all of us meeting. Otis brought this family together. Otis was a good man in a world with not many good men left. Otis wanted Randall to live. He was out here because he was scared of the monsters that we are becoming. Were gonna change no more deciding who lives and who dies. Were going to do it Otis's way were taking Randall out today. We lost our humanity. We need to get it back. That's how we're going to honor Otis," Daryl says to the group as Maggie holds a crying Patricia. The group started to leave the grave. The group began to take down the tents as winter was coming and they need to get inside.
The plan was to move most of the supplies to the car and the others on the porch until Randall was gone. They were then going to move the rest to the shed. They were going to move the rest to the shed.
With Adam 2 days ago in the store.
"We're to close to the car we won't be able to get out with them behind us I love you Dean tells Sam that to and tell Glenn thank you," Adam says to his brother before he walks away from the door and pulls out his handgun and starts to shoot the walkers. He hears Dean banging on the. Adam shoots the walkers in the head and pulls a shelf down in front of the head, making some of them fall. Adam starts to move towards the back of the store. Adam pulls down another shelf. Adam backs up and falls over a dead walker Adam falls back and cuts his side off the side of the shelf. Adam pulls himself back up quickly. Adam holds his side, which was now had blood coming out of it fast. Adam moves to the back of the store. He opens the door to the loading dock and jumps down. He starts to move towards the woods once he was far from the store he tears off part of his shirt and wraps it around his waist. Adam gets to the woods, sits down by a tree, and closes his eyes as he falls asleep, not knowing if he would ever wake up again.
With Bobby's group
Bobby was sitting down in the woods, watching Adam, who was asleep. Charlie was cleaning his side when Adam's eyes started to open. Bobby moves in front of Adam, who looks at him. "Bobby?" Adam questions.
"Hey, son," Bobby says to Adam, who shoots up and looks at Bobby in shock Adam winches and holds his side Adam lets go of his side and hugs Bobby who hugs him back. "I'm so glad your alive," Bobby says to Adam, who smiles.
"I'm glad you're alive, too," Adam says to Bobby.
"You were alone, does that mean Dean and Sam are dead?" Bobby asks Adam, who lets him go.
"No, as far as I know, they are alive. After we got separated from you, we met a group let by two men Daryl and Shane Bobby I am so glad you're alive, and you can come back with me, but I have to get back to the farm," Adam says to Bobby as he gets up.
"Woah Adam slow down. What farm?" Bobby asks.
"After we got separated and met Daryl and Shane we went to a quarry with them Bobby that group is my family after we lost the quarry we went to the CDC after that then to a farm that's our home," Adam tells them as he starts to walk back to Hampton. Bobby's group grabs there stuff quickly and follows the man.
"I found one of my boys now were going to find the other two," Bobby tells Adam, who nods as they start to walk back towards Hampton to get a car and then go to the farm.
The Farm
Daryl and Shane had everybody gather in front of the house so they could discuss the plans for the day. "Ok, look winter is coming and it's coming fast we need to have the tents down and get them loaded in the cars look we have to have a plan if we get overrun. The plan is that if we get overrun, we try to lead the walkers off the farm if that doesn't work we leave and meet on highway twenty it's between Senioa and Hampton we have taken back roads we have all seen it. Does everybody understand the plan?" Shane asks the group who nods.
"Now let's say this does happen we have to try to take them out from here, and behind the fence, all of the supplies have been but into the trucks van and the RV. Now we have the Rv does not leave the front yard unless we have to leave if walkers come. Get as many people and supplies in the Rv and leave. Everybody else gets into the trucks and vans and go always keeps the keys in the car so that we can leave. That clear with everybody?" Daryl asks everybody nods once more.
"Now the plan for today is to take down the tents. Daryl Alicia and T-dog will be taking Randall out while the rest of us get will do work here. Once Randall is gone, we will move the supplies on the porch to the shed. We're going to build a platform on the shed to watch the back of the farm. While the platform is being, we need people going on patrol, making sure there are no walkers. We have our jobs lets move the rest of the supplies that need to be moved to the car and then get to patrol and the platform," Shane tells the group who nods and starts to move around and get to work.
With Bobby and Adam
Adam Bobby Charlie Lee and Clem were close to Hampton. Adam was telling Bobby what has happened to him. Dean and Sam, since they lose each other, Adam was about to tell Bobby about what happened the night of the attack. "Daryl Shane Alicia Jim and Amy were still on the run to King County. They were on there way back with Morgan and Duane. We were all eating fish that Andrea had caught that morning Liza gets up and goes to the Rv to use the bathroom. When she came out, a walker was there, and the walker bit her on the arm. We got attacked by a herd. We lost Liza, and John's brother James Grizelda was bitten in the side, and we lost many others, including Carol's asshole of a husband. Sam got bitten on the wrist," Adam tells Bobby, who stops and looks at him.
"Sam got bitten you said he was still alive," Bobby says to Adam.
"He is Daryl cut off his hand, and Liza was teaching Madison how to be a doctor just in case something happen to her. Madison took care of Sam. He's alive. He only has one hand, though," Adam tells Bobby as he starts to walk again.
"I got to admit the more you talk, the more I respect Daryl and Shane," Bobby says to Adam. Lee and Charlie nod, agreeing with the man.
"You should respect them two of the best men I have ever met. They would die for that group in a heartbeat I know it," Adam tells Bobby with a smile as he walks.
The Farm
Shane was taking down a tent when Carl came over to him "Hey, Shane," Carl says to Shane. Shane looks over at Carl. The two were away from the others as this was John and Rick's tent because they were on patrol.
" If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell my parents?" Carl asks Shane.
" I think it's probably a bad idea for both of us, bud," Shane tells Carl. Carl sighs before he walks away. "Hey, Carl comes back here," Shane says to the kid who walks back over to Shane.
"It's my fault, Otis. It's my fault he died," Carl tells Shane, who looks at him.
"Carl, why would you say that, man? He got bit by a walker. Why would you say-," Shane says to Carl before the kid interrupts him.
"I saw that walker I was gonna shoot," Carl tells Shane, who looks at him.
" It was stuck in the mud. I was throwing rocks at it and stuff. But I was gonna do it shoot it right in the head. And it got free, came after me and ran away. If I had killed it,Otis would still be here," Carl says to Shane.
"Carl, I want you to stop. It's not your fault. Now I want you to help Morgan and Duane move the tents into the truck," Shane tells Carl, who nods as he leaves. Shane then walks over to Amy, who had just taken down a tent. "Amy, can you finish that tent for me?" Shane asks Amy who looks at him and nods. Shane then leaves and finds Rick and John walking the fence. "Hey, Rick, can we talk for a moment?" Shane asks the man who used to be his best friend.
"Yeah, what's up?" Rick asks Shane as John stands by him.
"Alone," Shane says to the man. Rick looks at John and nods. John walks away from the two men.
"What's up, Shane?" Rick asks.
"Have you seen Carl lately?" Shane asks Rick.
"Last time I saw him he was with his mom," Rick tells Shane.
"Look, he came to me. Okay, I wasn't supposed to say anything, but he was out in the swamps yesterday, and he came across a walker stuck in the mud. He got scared, ran off," Shane tells Rick.
"The same walker that killed Dale?" Rick asks.
"That's the one," Shane tells Rick.
"I'll have Lori talk to him," Rick tells Shane.
"Look, I think he wants to talk to his father," Shane says to Rick. Rick nods.
"Rick word of advice. Carl will go down a dark past just like you are. Rick John has darkness. Don't let that darkness take over you," Shane tells Rick before he walks away.
"What was that about?" John asks Rick, who looks at him.
"Carl. Can you finish without me?" Rick asks John, who nods as Rick walks away.
With Bobby's group
Bobby's group had just got into Hampton and were walking the streets looking for a car. "So, we got a plan, Bobby?" Charlie asks.
"We're going to get a car and then head down highway twenty, then we sleep there and then head to the farm tomorrow," Bobby says. Adam looks at him.
"No, we get to the farm tonight," Adam says.
"Look, Adam, I know you want to see Dean and Sam, so do I, but we need rest the farm will be there tomorrow," Bobby tells Adam, who nods. Bobby then walks over to a truck and opens the door. Bobby finds the keys and turns the car on he sees the car has half a tank. "Ok, let's go," Bobby says to the other four nods and gets in the car, and Bobby starts to drive.
The Farm
Rick walks into the barn and up to the second floor and sees Carl sitting down and looks out.
"Mom said you'd be here," Rick says to Carl, who looks up at his father.
"Told her I would stand lookout. I got tired of helping Morgan and Duane," Carl tells his father.
"Carl, what happened to Otis has nothing to do with you," Rick tells his son as he sits down.
"He died, dad," Carl says to his father.
"Yeah. Feels like there's a lot of that going around. That's why I need you. No more kid stuff. I wish you could have the childhood I had, but that's not gonna happen. People are gonna die. I'm gonna die. Mom Daryl Shane. There's no way you can ever be ready for it. Daryl tries to be, but he can't. The best we can do now is avoid it as long as we can, keep one step ahead. I wish I had something better to say, something more profound. My father was good like that. But I'm tired, son, so please stop blaming yourself," Rick says to his son as he hugs him.
John was close to the shed. He watches as Sam walks up to Andrea and asks her for help with moving things as they planned Andrea nods and walked away from the shed with Sam. John smiles as he walks over to the shed and opens the lock with the keys that Sam got from Glenn with a lie telling the kid that Daryl ask Sam to check up on Randall. John opens the door. John walks in and grabs Randall after he unlocks the cuffs. He locks them back up and takes Randall out and locks the shed before he leaves into the woods with the kid.
T-dog was waiting for Daryl on the porch when Merle came up. "You two better come back safe," Merle says to his friend.
"You worried about us, Merle?" T-dog asks his friend.
"I worried yes, so please come back safe," Merle says to his friend, who nods.
"We will don't worry," T-dog tells Merle, who nods. Daryl comes outside with Alicia.
"You ready?" Daryl asks T-dog.
"Yeah, I'll go get him," T-dog tells him as he walks off the porch and towards the shed.
"Yo, Randy. Governor called. You're off the hook," T-dog says as he unlocks the shed door.
"Oh, hell no," T-dog says as he looks at the empty shed.
With John
John was pushing Randall through the woods, "shh," John says to the kid. After a little, John takes off the blindfold. Randall's eyes widen, and he looks scared. "I get it. I'm the last face you probably want to see, huh? Listen, I'm gonna take up out of here, okay? I'm gonna get this off of you so you can breathe, but I want you to keep quiet. You listen good. Do you hear me?" John asks Randall, who nods. "Okay," John says. "Don't do anything stupid," John tells Randall. John takes off the gag as they walk.
"Hey, hey, keep it quiet. Now you're group you know where they're at? John asks him.
"No, I don't I really don't," Randall says to the man.
"Okay. Get your little ass up here. Now I'm the only shot of you getting out of these woods alive. You hear me? Now you start talking, boy. Where are they at?" John asks Randall.
"We had a camp set up off the highway," Randall tells him.
"Okay," John says to the man.
"About five miles from here," Randall tells John.
"Okay," John says once more.
"Who knows if they're still there," Randall tells John.
"So, you're gonna take me to them?" John asks Randall.
"Why?" Randall asks, confused.
"Because, man, I'm just-I'm done with this group, man. They're doomed, and I want no part of it. That's all," John tells Randall.
"So, you're not gonna kill me?" Randall asks John.
" Come on, man. If I was, you'd be dead. Come on," John says to the kid. John pushes Randall forwards.
"Hey, you ain't gotta be so rough. We're on the same side now. You're gonna like it with us. Gets a little crazy sometimes, but it's a tough bunch of guys. You'll fit in good," Randall tells John, who nods.
"Less talking more walking," John says to Randall.
"Look, I run my mouth when I get nervous. I can't help it. I got a lot going on, you know?" Randall asks John.
"It ain't all about you," John tells Randall.
"I ain't saying it is I'm just trying," Randall starts to say but is caught off guard by John grabs Randall by the neck who screams before John snaps his neck and drops the boy to the ground. John then over to a tree and runs into breaking his nose and making it bleed before he does it again.
The Farm
Daryl was looking at the shed with Shane. "What's wrong?" Madison asks as she came over.
"Randall's missing," Glenn tells her.
"Missing. How?" Madison asks
"How long's he been gone?" Hershel asks.
"What's going on?" Amy asks as she and the group come up.
"It's hard to say," Hershel tells her.
"The cuffs are still hooked. He must've slipped 'em," Shane tells them.
"Is that even possible?" Carol asks.
"It is if you've got nothing to lose," Morgan tells her.
"The door was secured from the outside," Travis tells them. Away from the group, John hides his gun in the leaves and starts to walk towards the group.
"Daryl! Daryl!," John yells as he comes out of the woods.
"What happened?" Andrea asks.
"He's armed. He's got my gun!" John tells them.
"Are you okay?" Ofelia asks.
" I'm fine. Little bastard just snuck up on me. He clocked me in the face," John tells them.
"All right, Shane Hershel, get everybody back in the house Merle T-dog and Glenn with me," Daryl says to the group who nods.
"Nick, I'm gonna need your gun," John says to Nick, who looks at Daryl, who nods at the man. Nick hands John his gun before the five men walk into the woods.
"Just let him go. That was the plan, wasn't it, to just let him go?" Jim asks.
"The plan was to cut him loose far away from here, not on our front step with a gun," Daryl tells him.
"Get everybody back in the house. Lock all the doors and stay put!" Daryl yells to the group.
"Let's go back in the house," Daniel yells to the group.
"Okay," Maggie says as the group goes inside. Daryl John Glenn T-dog and Merle walk into the woods.
"He couldn't have gotten far. He's hobbled, exhausted," Daryl says to them.
"And Armed," Glenn adds.
"So are we Merle, and I can track him," Daryl says to them.
"Daryl, I don't see nothing," Merle tells his brother, who nods agreeing with him.
"Hey, look, there ain't no use in tracking him, okay? He went that way. We need to pair up. We spread out. We just chase him down. That's it," John tells them.
"Kid weighs a buck-25 soaking wet. You trying to tell us he got the jump on you?" Merle asks John.
" All right, knock it off. You T-dog and Glenn start heading up the right flank. Me and John will take the left. Remember, Randall's not the only threat out there. Keep an eye out for each other," Daryl tells the four who nods. Merle looks at his brother. Worried, Daryl nods at Merle, who nods back as they separate. "Looks like he busted you up," Daryl says to John as they walk.
"I'm fine, man, don't worry about me," John says to the man.
With Merle Glenn and T-dog
They have been falling something for a moment when Merle looked at the ground "This is pointless. You got a light? Merle asks the two.
"We're back to square one," Glenn says.
"If you're gonna do a thing, you might as well do it right. There's two sets of tracks right here. John must've followed him a lot longer than he said. There's fresh blood on this tree. There's more tracks. Looks like they're walking in tandem," Merle says to the two. They then hear an animal, and Glenn jumps.
"Sorry," Glenn says to the two.
"Yeah, There was a little dust-up right here," Merle tells the two.
"What do you mean?" T-dog asks.
"I mean something went down," Merle tells them.
"It's getting weird," Glenn says.
"Had a little trouble," Merle tells them. A walker then grabs Glenn. T-dog grabs the walker and throws it down Glenn then grabs his machete and swings it into the walker's head.
"Nice," T-dog and Merle say to Glenn, who nods.
Daryl and John were walking through the woods still when Daryl spoke. "Does this feel right?" Daryl asks John.
"As right as any," John tells him.
"Snatched your gun, huh?" Daryl asks John.
"Yeah. It's my favorite piece too. Gonna wish he'd killed me when I find his sorry ass. Go on," John tells Daryl as Daryl walks in front of him.
Got his neck broke no bites," Merle tells them.
"Yeah, none you can," Glenn starts to say.
"No, I'm telling you he died from this," Merle tells Glenn and T-dog.
"How's that possible?" T-dog asks.
Daryl and John were getting close to a field. "You say he got you with a rock?" Daryl asks John.
"That's what I said," John tells him.
" Inside the shed? 'Cause that door was shut when T-Dog rolled up," Daryl tells him.
"I saw that too. Must've slipped through the rafters in the roof," John says to Daryl as he raises Nick's gun at him from behind Daryl stops.
"So, this is where you planned to do it?" Daryl asks John.
"It's as good a place as many," John says calmly.
"At least have the balls to call this what it is-," Daryl starts to say as John cocks the gun, and he turns around.
"Murder. You really believe if you walk back onto that farm alone-no me, no Randall-," Daryl continues you to say.
"I want you to hush up," John says to Daryl.
"You really believe they're gonna buy whatever bullshit story you cook up?" Daryl finishes.
"That's just it. It ain't no story. I saw that prisoner shoot you down. I ran after him. I snapped his neck. It ain't gonna be easy, Alicia, she'll get over you," John says to Daryl.
"Why? Why now?" Daryl asks
"Because I'm sick of following you. My brother died following you, and the women I love will die following you as well as everybody else in the group after you I'll kill Shane and this group will have Rick and me as the leaders and no he didn't know I was gonna do this I'm taking back what's mine," John snarls at Daryl.
"So what kill me in cold blood. Screw my girlfriend? Kill my best friend. Lead my family, my group. You might be able to live with that, but Rick won't be able to look his son in the eyes. He definitely won't lead those people or support you!" Daryl yells at him.
"I don't care if he can live with this I will kill him to I can live with this. You wanna talk about what I can do, Daryl. How about what you can do here I am. Raise your gun," John says to Daryl.
"No, no, I will not," Daryl says to the man.
"You're a coward Daryl everybody who follows you dies because you're too scared to do what's needs to be done. James Liza Grizelda. They're dead because you left for that run for Morgan and Duane. Jacqui stayed behind because she was scared of dying from walkers. She was scared that you wouldn't protect her! Sophie and Jimmy are dead because you wouldn't attack that group when we had the change. People die because you are a coward now raise your gun!" John yells at the man
"You're gonna have to kill an unarmed man. Watch my hand. Nice and easy. Easy does it. Now listen to me, John. There is still a way back from this. Nothing has happened here. We're gonna lay down our guns, and we're gonna walk back to the farm together. Back to Alicia. Back to Rick. Put this all behind us," Daryl says to John as he approaches him and pulls out his gun. Daryl hands his gun to John who grabs it Daryl then pulls out his knife and stabs John in the stomach John shoots his gun as Daryl lays him to the ground.
"Damn you for making me do this, John. This was you, not me! You did this to us! This was you, not me! Not me! Not me!" Daryl yells at John as he dies. Daryl sits there for a while beside John's body.
"Daryl?" Daryl looks up and sees Carl looking at him with his gun in his hand. Daryl stands up and looks at the kid.
"Carl. You know you should be back home with mom," Daryl says to the kid as he walks towards him, not knowing that John has turned behind him and was getting up. Carl aims the gun at Daryl and pulls back the hammer on the gun.
"Just put the gun down," Daryl says to the kid. John's walkers start to move towards the man and child. "It's not what it seems. Please," Daryl says to Carl, who pulls the trigger and shoots John's walker. Daryl turns and sees John's walker dead on the ground. Daryl starts to walk to the walker Carl following him. "Wait, Wait," Daryl says to the boy as he stares at John's body, not knowing that a herd was heading for him his home and his family.
Hey guys. This was so much fun to write, and so far, my favorite chapter to write so far. Better angels and Beside The Dying Fire are two of my favorite episodes of The Walking Dead. I am so excited to right these I think I have some fun ideas for the Beside The Dying Fire, which will lead to a story that I am very excited to write. Do you guys think Bobby and Adam should run into the group next chapter? As always, any suggestions and ideas will be welcomed. Thanks so much for reading, and reviews would be great. Are you excited for Beside the Dying Fire I know I am. See you later.