Chapter 18-Despair and hope
Mike's P.O.V
The only thing the man could hear was screaming as he gripped his spear. He stabs a walker through the head and pulls the spear out before he swings his spear to the side, hitting another walker in the head. One grabs at him, but he hits it with the end of his spear, knocking it to the ground. A bullet goes through its head. He looked at Cassidy, who was staring back at him. "Have you seen anybody?" Mike asks Cassidy, who shakes her head as she wakes over to him. She raises her gun and shoots a walker behind her through the forehead.
"I've seen people being eaten, and that's it," Cassidy tells Mike. "There was nothing, and then there were walkers everywhere," Mike nods as he stabs another walker through the forehead.
"We have to get out of here," Mike says.
"What about the others?" Cassidy asks.
"What about them? There are too many walkers, Cass. If we stay, we'll die too," Mike explains. Cassidy nods, and the two of them run for one of the downed fences running into the woods away from the school they once called home.
Morning
Mike and Cassiday sat in a tree. They climbed it during the night and stayed until morning. "What now?" Cassidy asks. "We've lost everything," She says weakly.
"We're going to Texas," Mike says.
"What the fuck is in Texas?" Cassidy questions.
"Daryl and Shane," Mike says. "They'll help us."
"They could be dead," Cassidy says.
"If you have another plan. I'd love to hear it," Mike says in irritation. Cassidy doesn't say anything, and Mike falls from the tree and hits the ground. Cassidy follows him.
"Should we at least head back and see if we can see anybody?" Cassidy asks Mike, who nods as he starts to walk back towards the school. The two of them walked in silence. Neither of them knew what to say. In a matter of hours, they lost everything. It only took them about an hour to reach the school and what they saw left them both shook them to their bones. All the fences were down, and walkers walked around the parking lot. Some of them they recognized, and there were still bodies on the ground.
"You see enough?" Mike asks Cassidy, who nods as she heads into the woods. They walk for a few minutes before Mike stops when he hears Cassidy start to cry behind him. He turned around and looked at the blond as she sobbed. Mike walks up to her and wraps his arms around her. He lets a few of his own tears fall as well. He stops when he hears footsteps behind him. He grips his spear as Bill comes out of the woods, followed by two walkers. Mike quickly goes over to them and kills the first one. He hesitates when he sees Emily is the second one. But he hits her in the head and knocks her to the ground before he stabs her through the face. He goes over to Bill as Cassidy does the same.
"Are you okay?" Cassidy asks Bill, who shakes his head. He lifts his shirt to reveal a bite on his chest.
"Fuck Bill," Mike says.
"Emily got me," Bill says with a chuckle. "You two okay?" They nod as they help Bill up. "I saw Elijah go down. He's dead."
"I figured," Mike says. "Come on. Let's get you someplace better," Bill nods as Mike and Cassidy help him move.
They walked for about an hour before they came across a small town. Mike leads them to a store. He goes inside and stabs a walker before Cassidy brings Bill inside and sets him down with a grunt. "Oh, fuck," Bill says. His was turning paler with sweat going down his face. "What do you guys plan on doing?"
"We're going to look for Daryl and Shane's group in Texas," Mike tells Bill, who nods.
"Good idea," Bill says. "I didn't expect this to be the day."
"I don't think anybody expects the day they die to be the day," Cassidy says. Bill chuckles.
"I guess not," Bill says. "I'm glad you two made it out alive,"
"We wish you could come," Mike says to Bill, who nods.
"I'd slow you down anyway," Bill says with a smile. He pulls a necklace off his neck and holds it out to Cassidy. "My daughter gave that to me for my birth. I want you to have it," Cassidy nods as she grabs the necklace.
"I'll protect it with my life," Cassidy says. Bill looks at Mike.
"You don't need to give me anything," Mike says. "My last present to you will be making you don't turn and burying you."
"I know you'll keep it," Bill says. "I can feel it. Fuck, this moves faster than I thought. Mike, I need you to."
"I got it," Mike says. He pulls his gun off his hip. Cassidy bends down beside Bill.
"Close your eyes and think about your daughter," Cassidy tells Bill, who nods. Cassidy starts to hum a song, and Mike pulls the trigger killing Bill. Cassidy closes her eyes after, and Mike holsters his gone. He starts to look around the shop for a shovel. He finds one and walks outside. He starts to dig a grave. Mike did this task in silence. Mike had just finished the grave when he saw a walker coming towards him. Mike hits the walker in the head with the shovel. He starts to stomp on its face. His stomps get more violent each time. "FUCK YOU!" Mike shouts in rage as the walker's skull turns into mush. "Fuck this fucked up world," Mike says as he drops the shovel. He went inside and looked at Cassidy, who was looking right back at him. "Grab him," Mike says. Cassidy nods as she helps Mike carry Bill to the grave. They set him in the grave, and Mike starts to shovel the dirt back on the grave. Cassidy goes back into the shop and starts to look for supplies.
Night
That night the two of them sat in silence by a small fire they had made as they ate two cans of beans. Mike's gun was beside him. He watched as Cassidy kept glancing at it. He sets his spoon in the can and pushes the gun over to her. "Fucking do it if you want to," He says. Cassidy looks at the gun.
"I can't," Cassidy says. "I won't," She pushes the gun back over to him. Mike nods as he continues to eat.
"We'll need supplies. I found a few bottles of walkers and food that should last us a few days, but we don't have a car," Mike says.
"Then we'll walk until we come across one," Cassidy says.
"It'll snow again," Mike points out. Cassidy sets her can of beans down and goes to the back of the shop. She comes back with some winter clothing. She sets them down.
"We'll be fine with these," Cassidy says as she continues to eat. Two sit in silence for a little while before they hear a noise outside. They both stand up quickly.
"If there is somebody in there. We come in peace," A man says from outside. "Just come out slowly," Cassidy looks at Mike, who nods. They both walk outside and see a man with two other men behind him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. We have been traveling a little to look for someone. I'm Philip, or my friends call me the Governor,"
"The Governor?" Cassidy asks.
"I have a community back in Georgia. But as I said, I was looking for someone, but they are probably dead by now. Who are you?" The Governor asks.
"Mike, and this is Cassidy," Mike says.
"This is Shumpert and Martinez," The Governor says. "As I said. I have a community back in Georgia. Would you guys like to join us? We are heading back." Mike and Cassidy nod.
"Yeah, we would," Mike says. The Governor smiles.
"Well, climb on it," The Governor says. The two nod as they climb in the back by Martinez, and the other two get in, and they leave.
Morning
The small group drove on the road. "Who was this person you were looking for?" Mike asks.
"A man that I saved and trusted who betrayed me and killed some of my people," The Governor says. "If he's alive out there. I'll find him," Mike nods as they continue to drive.
Two days later
After two days of driving, the group arrived at a gate which proceeded to open for them. The Governor stopped the car and got out, followed by the others as people gathered around them. "Did you find him, Governor?" A man asks.
"No, I'm sorry I know I promised you I'd bring our fallen friends justice, but I have failed, and I am very sorry," The Governor says. "But I promise you this. If he is alive out there, I will find him one day. I will find him and avenge our fallen families. I will bring justice to them by bringing you all the body of Merle Dixon!" The Governor shouts. His people cheer as Cassidy and Mike look at each other in mild shock. "But something good did come of this. I found some folk who needed help. This is Mike and Cassidy. They will be joining us. Treat them as if they have been here in Woodbury since the start," The Governor orders his people, who nod as they walk away. "Follow me," The Governor says. The two of them nod as he leads them to an apartment building. He leads them inside and to a room on the second floor. "You'll both stay here. Tomorrow could find me, and we'll talk," They nod as they go into the room. They set their weapons down and look at each other.
"They are looking for Merle," Cassidy hisses.
"It might not be the same, Merle," Mike says.
"They came from Georgia. I'm pretty sure it was," Cassidy says.
"Okay, then we don't say anything. We never met them, understood?" Mike asks Cassidy, who nods. "Good, let's get some sleep," The two of them go to bed.
Thanks for reading. This chapter was really fun to do because it was something different. We might spend another chapter with these guys. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.