Chapter 6-Turning the tides
The House
Madison stares at Troy from where she laid on the bed. Troy smirks. "You haven't changed, Madison," Troy says.
"How badly am I hurt?" Madison asks.
"Your back was pretty badly burnt. You have burns on the top of your arms and legs. There were small patches on your stomach and lower arm. You are lucky you're alive, and they will all scar," Troy tells her. Madison nods.
"So how did you survive. I thought the bombs would have killed you," Madison says.
"They threw me into the water. I washed up, and I woke up in a cabin," Troy says.
"How did you get there?" Madison asks.
"Walker and Crazy Dog saved me. They circled around before going north to see if they could find you and the others. They found me and saved me. The last person I expected to save me is the only reason we are alive," Troy says to her.
"Did you see the kids?" Madison asks.
"No. Did you not see them?" Troy asks.
"I did. They left in a car. I was just wondering," Madison says.
"Who was in the car?" Troy asks.
"Nick, Alicia, Luciana, and Strand," Madison says.
"They all made it? Makes sense, and you found Luciana," Troy says. "What about Shane?"
"He got surrounded. I don't think he made it," Madison says.
"Sorry to hear that. I know he meant something to you," Troy says. "And Daniel?"
"I don't know what happened to him," Madison says. "Knowing Daniel, he's out there being Daniel. How long do I have to stay here?"
"From two weeks to two months, Madison. I don't know. You're hurt, and I couldn't really tell you how long," Troy says. "Your kids are strong, Madison. Alicia is scary as hell, and Nick doesn't take anybody's shit. They're alive," Troy says. Madison nods as she starts to feel tired. "Get some sleep," Troy says. Madison nods as she lays down and goes to sleep.
Before
Nick cuts and burns the corn and all the plants they have with a machete. He looks around and sees all of them gone in one block. He looks at Madison, who was working on other plants.
After
Everybody sat in Al's van as they went down the road. Al looks at Nick. "I see you're going through something there," Al says. Nick looks at her. "I mean, you gotta be, right? Took my van. Lookin' for some people? What'd they do to you?"
"Al," Morgan says. "He's not talkin'. So maybe we can leave it be, huh?" Daryl sat on the end beside Alicia. Shane sat beside him.
"Look, I'm really just trying to help. We're all breathing here. It means we're on the same team," Al says. Nick doesn't say anything as he goes to Strand and Luciana.
"Where is this turnoff?" Nick asks.
"We should've reached it by now," Strand says.
"Did she tell us the right way?" Luciana asks. Nick looks at Al.
"Yeah, I did. Just not all of it," Al says. Daryl looks at Shane, who nods. Daryl slowly unholsters his gun.
"I don't you understand the situation here," Nick says.
"Al, it's not worth it," John says.
"No, this is gonna go our way. You have something I want-your story. And I have something you want-where I found that flag. But I'm not gonna let you take my van. And I'm not gonna let you threaten us anymore," Al says.
"Well, this is how it's gonna be!" Nick says.
"Do you know how many times I've been zip-tied?" Al asks.
"What?" Nick asks as he gets closer to her. Al kicks him and grabs him. Daryl presses his gun to Alicia's head.
"Don't move," Daryl says.
"Nick," Luciana says as Shane holds his gun to Strand before he can pick up his gun.
"Sorry, Strand," Shane says.
"Drop it," John says. "We have you," Nick drops his hammer, and Alicia drops her barrel.
"Don't move. Pull over," Daryl says.
"Don't, Lucy. I'm fine," Nick says.
"Listen to her," Morgan says.
"Let's just take a pause," John says. "Better not be anything more than this,"
"Come to a stop. Take your hands off the wheel," Al says.
"Don't do it, Lucy," Nick says.
"Luciana," Strand says as they see a group of walkers.
"Change of plans. Keep driving. Go around," Al says. Nick elbows Al as Alicia grabs for the gun. Al punches Nick and throws him upfront making him hit the wheel, sending the van off the road. The walkers coming towards it. Daryl opens his eyes and sees Alicia still beside him. Daryl grabs her barrel as Al cuts John and Morgan free. Daryl hands the barrel to John, who holds it. Shane grabs Strand's gun and hits him over the head. Daryl and John get out of the van and start killing the walkers. Daryl stabs the last one in the head after a few minutes.
"Let's tie these assholes up," Daryl says as he goes towards the van.
Before
Madison walks over to Nick. "You okay?" Madison asks. "I'm goin' on a run,'' Nick takes a deep breath.
"I'm coming with you," Nick says.
"You sure?" Madison asks.
Nick nods. "You're looking for food. I want to help," Nick tells her. "I should help," Madison nods as they walk away.
After
Nick opens his eyes and sees the dead walkers as Al starts the van and tries to move. "Wait, wait. Stop, stop. Woah! Woah," John says. "Yeah, Al, forget it. You're just digging a ditch," John says. Daryl stood with Shane as Morgan sat down.
"You lied to us," Alicia says to Shane and Daryl.
"Of course I did," Daryl says.
"She wouldn't want this, and you know it," Shane tells them. Al turns off the van.
"Well, she needs a tow. We gotta get her one," Al says.
"We?" Stand asks.
"Yeah, we got it in this ditch. We gotta get it out," Al says.
"And then?" Alicia asks.
"And then we talk about whatever it is we have to talk about-your story, where I found the flag-or not. Or you can just go on your way," Al says.
"I saw some trucks at a service yard a while back," Luciana says. "We could use one to tow it out,"
"How far back?" Daryl asks.
"Untie us first," Luciana says.
"The start of a negotiation often requires an act of faith. We untied Daryl," Strand says.
"You think we can trust 'em?" John asks.
"No, if they try anything, I've killed for less," Daryl says.
"You're a ball of sunshine," Alicia says. Daryl just stares at her as Al hands John a gun. Daryl pulls out his knife.
"I'll do it. Watch 'em," Daryl says to Al, who nods. He walks up to Alicia first. He had the gun barrel ducked on his belt with his gun. "You grab for this. I'll see how well it does at killing someone," Daryl cuts the zip ties. He goes to Luciana and does the same. Alicia stands up as Daryl cuts Strand free. Daryl walks over to Nick and pulls him up. He looks at Al, who nods. He walks towards the van.
"What the hell?" Luciana asks as she stands.
"Nope," John says. Al comes over and ties Nick to the van.
"This way, maybe you'll come back, and you won't do anything crazy. Again," Al says.
"You okay?" Luciana asks.
"I'll stay here with him. I'm only going to slow you down," Morgan says
"I'll stay too," Shane says. "Just in case,"
"You gonna be here when we get back?" Al asks. Morgan looks at Daryl.
"I'll be waiting for him. If I'm not, something went wrong," Morgan says.
"But we should get a move on if we want to get this truck out before dark. Be careful with him. He's squirrelly," John says. Daryl walks over to Morgan.
"You gonna be okay?" Daryl asks.
"Yeah, stay safe," Morgan says. Daryl nods as he walks over to John.
"Come on," John says to them. Strand, Alicia, and Luciana walk up the hill. John, when first Daryl stayed in the back.
"Make sure she comes back," Nick says to Alicia.
"I will," Alicia says. Daryl and Al walk up the hill. Daryl stands beside John as they walk. A little bit later, Morgan was reading his book as Shane sat against the truck.
"What are you reading?" Nick asks. Morgan doesn't say anything.
"Hey, you mind getting something to eat from my pack?" Nick asks. Morgan puts the book away and digs into his bag. He pulls out a knife. He walks up to Nick and cuts the zip ties.
"Now you can get it yourself," Morgan says. Morgan sets his knife down and grabs his leg. He looks at Nick, who was looking at the knife.
"Aren't you worried I'm just gonna-" Nick grabs for the knife, and Morgan hits his hand with his stick.
"I would give up Nick," Shane says. He tries again, and Morgan hits him again. Nick tries to run, and Morgan hits him in the leg taking him to the ground.
"I'm not worried," Morgan says. Nick looks at him and stands up. Nick goes in his bag and comes out with a granola bar.
"I got a protein bar," Nick says. He looks at Morgan. "Do you like peanut butter?"
"I do," Morgan says. Nick opens it and breaks part of it off. He holds it out to Morgan, who grabs it.
"What about me?" Shane asks.
"You suck," Nick says
"Glad to see you don't change much," Shane says. Morgan takes a bite and sighs.
"Thank you," Morgan says. "I'm going up by the road, Nick. Shane is coming with me. You move more than five feet from this truck-" Morgan says.
"Yeah, I get it," Nick says. Morgan nods. Shane walks over to Morgan and helps him walk.
"I'm okay," Morgan says as they walk.
"Then why am I with you?" Shane asks.
"I want to see what he will do," Morgan says. Nick goes to Morgan's stuff and grabs his book. He puts it back and goes into the van, and looks around. He grabs Al's camera and looks at the video. He fast forwards past Daryl and John and starts to watch Morgan's part. Shane watches Morgan as he trains.
"That is an interesting way to fight," Shane says. Shane looks and sees a car coming towards them. "Morgan, we gotta go," Morgan nods as they start to go down the hill. Morgan had dropped his stick on the road. They get to the car and shut the door.
"Get down," Morgan says. Nick looks out the window.
"What is it?" Nick asks. Nick sees a blue El Camero. He tries to open the door, but Morgan grabs him. Nick hits his leg and punches Shane. Nick grabs Morgan and pushes him to the front. Morgan pushes him back and Nick tries to run. Morgan grabs him. Nick pushes Morgan in the front, and Morgan hits the horn. Nick punches his leg. Nick kicks Shane and grabs the hammer before he leaves. The car alarm goes off without turning off. Nick dodges walkers. Morgan and Shane run out and shut the door. Morgan groans as Shane pulls out his knife.
"Hey, toss me my stick," Morgan says. Nick starts to run down the road.
With Daryl's group
Daryl hands Al Alicia's barrel as they see two of the dead. Daryl shoots one with his crossbow out. Al kills the other with the barrel. "The sound draw more of 'em?" Al asks
"It's not that loud. It does, more for me to kill," Alicia says. Daryl scuffs. "What?" Alicia asks.
"You remind me of Shane back on the farm," Daryl says. Luciana looks around as Alicia glares at Daryl.
"There. The cables. That one would work," Luciana says as he points at a truck.
"Okay, I'll try to get it started," John says. Daryl pulls John's bullets out of his pocket and gives them to John, who smiles. "You can check the rest for gas. Maybe we can put a bow on this thing by sundown. Then we can get back to looking for Laura, yeah?" John says to Al, who nods. Daryl looks around by himself as Luciana fills up a truck. Daryl keeps watch around them. Strand walks over and looks at Al, who leaned against a truck.
"So, your mission is one of benevolence?" Strand asks.
"Benevolence?" Al asks.
"Yeah. We're alive after our rather aggressive introduction. This is an inconvenient kind of danger you're putting yourself into. You're doing it for a reason," Strand says.
"Yeah. I need you guys to clean up the mess you made.
"And you want something beyond that. Our story," Strand says.
"That's right," Al says.
"For who?" Strand asks. Daryl stops what he is doing and looks at Al wondering the same thing.
"We don't know how this all ends. The story might be the only thing that's left," Al says.
"Then who cares? There won't be anybody around to watch it," Strand says.
"Doesn't matter. Just matters that it's captured," Al says.
"Why, Al?" Strand asks. Al looks at Strand and looks down, and sees the scar on his hand.
"What happened to your hand? Why do you try to hide it?" Al asks.
"Let's stay on topic. Why Al?" Strand asks
"Because the truth matters. Even if it's just heard out loud, even if it's just heard once," Al says.
Strand chuckles "By you?" Strand asks as he turns around.
"Yeah. By me. 'Cause, that's the trade. The truth about you. Your story for where I found the flag," Al says.
"They're just words," Luciana says.
"The truth isn't about words. It's about what really happened...and what's happening now," Al says.
"You're a puzzling creature," Strand says.
"I have no idea how she's alive," Alicia says. Daryl smirks.
"Oh, I think you do," Al says.
"I do. She knows her shit. Except for the shit about the truth," Luciana says.
"We shall continue to consider your offer," Strand says.
"Or not," Al says. She looks at Daryl. "What do you think about all this?" They all turn and look at the redneck.
"I think by the end of this, somebody is either going to be dead or hurt. I've been down the same road they are now. Glenn got caught because I tried to kill someone and he died too. I wanted to find the governor after what he did to Merle, and I didn't, and he killed Hershel. Revenge won't make it better. It won't bring back who you lost, and it for sure as hell isn't what whoever you're trying to avenge would want," Daryl says.
"You have all the answers don't you?" Alicia asks.
"No, I've just dealt with more shit," Daryl says as he grabs the gas canister and walks towards the truck.
With Nick
Nick runs down the road and slows down on the side to breathe. He sees some blue flowers and sits down by them.
Before
Madison drives out of the diamond with Nick beside her. She stops by Mel and rolls down the window. "Hey. Good luck out there. Pretty, uh, slim pickin's unless you know where to look," Mel says.
"We'll manage," Madison says.
"Good to see you back on the horse, Nick," Mel says. Nick gives him a thumbs-up as Madison starts to roll the window up.
"Whoa, whoa, wait. Here," Mel says as he pulls the book Luciana grabbed out of his pocket. "You should give this back to your girlfriend. Figured you knew Charlie didn't really like children's books," Mel says before he throws the book to Nick. Madison rolls the window up and drives away.
"We never stood a chance, did we?" Nick asks. "She was never gonna stay with us. Didn't matter what we did," Nick says.
"We'll get here back," Madison says. Nick sighs.
"How do you do it? How do you come out here?" Nick asks.
"Here's my trick-wherever I go, I try to look for something good. You know, it could be an old billboard with a stupid pun to sell ravioli. I could be an armadillo. Could be some piece of evidence that people were actually helping each other. A sign I don't know. Something good. It's out here. I always see something," Madison says. Nick smiles.
After
Nick holds a blue flower and hears a walker growling. He grabs his hammer and hits it in the head as two more come over. Nick hits the second one, and the other one grabs him and takes him to the ground. Morgan's stick goes through its head. He pushes it off him. "Thanks," Nick says.
"That horn's calling all the walkers out of these woods. We need to find someplace safe," Shane says as he helps Nick up. They hear the horn in the distance as they leave.
Thanks for reading. Troy and Madison will have parts here and there, but that's about it for now. The next chapter will end the episode and decide Nick's fate. I'm excited about it. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time