Out of the Woods (The Walking Dead)
Killer Within:
The next day was such a warm and sunny day, a great refresher from the winter season. Suzy walked along the road, gazing at the people out having fun like how the world used to be. She thought about how Merle was the night before. After the run with the Governor, he went into this stressed state that only a bottle of whiskey could pull him out of. She remembered him telling her about how the Governor brought him to the infirmary to guard the door as the Governor strangled that poor soldier, Wells, to death. He told her about how it felt to turn around to pretend it wasn't happening. He told her about how he then had to assist with removing that man's head from his body. By the time Dr. Steven's returned, the body was gone; being burned in the pile of the dead biters that were dragged away from the gates. Like he was nothing. The Governor would then smile, pat him on the shoulder like a child, tell him good work, then prance off to go enjoy drinks with with the Woodbury townsfolk. Carrying that kind of weight was getting to him, she could tell even though he always tried to pretend like that wasn't true. The saddest part was she knew there was nothing she could do to help him. This was what had to be done.
Suzy noticed Michonne across the way, observing the people kind of like she was. Watching them have fun like nothing was wrong with the world. Merle said not to say a word to anyone because no one could be trusted. She believed it. But Michonne was not from Woodbury nor did she believe for a second this place was as great a paradise as it was trying to seem. She saw through the bullshit and they needed help. What if Merle's talk with the Governor went south? They needed other options, a back up plan. Their options were lean enough as it was and there was no one else in the community they could trust. Michonne made her distrust so clear, Suzy wished she could do the same. The last time she had, it didn't work out in her favor.
Suzy made her way over to Michonne, knowing there was going to be at least one person listening in to see what she would say. If they were to talk out in the open, she would have to be super careful with what she said.
"Hey," Suzy awkwardly approached, "Where's Andrea?"
Michonne didn't reply, only shrugged in response that she didn't know.
"Crazy what happened yesterday right?" Suzy said, putting her hands on her hips like how Michonne had hers, "With Wells I mean."
"Yeah," Michonne gave a single nod, "Crazy."
Suzy glanced around to double check if anyone was creeping around. In the distance, she saw Shumpert blatantly watching her. He was enough distance away to not hear anything, thankfully. And with all the background noise of people talking to one another, it was even more unlikely he'd be able to hear. Was the risk worth it?
"You thought about asking the Governor about what happened?" Suzy asked.
Michonne looked at her with a suspicious look in her eye. A moment passed before she responded, "Why?"
"I don't know," Suzy shrugged, "Might put some things into perspective. About what happened."
Michonne stared back at her. Michonne could tell Suzy was dancing around her words like an acrobat. Suzy couldn't tell if it was because she was confused as to what she was talking about, or because she was suspicious of her specifically.
"You've been here a long time?" Michonne asked, seeming like she was loosening up on her.
"Yeah." Suzy replied, "Been one of the main soldiers here since before the walls were completed. Actually going out on my first run today since winter started."
"Awfully long time for a main soldier."
"Well, I wouldn't say I'm a main soldier anymore, since-" Suzy hesitated. How should she say it? She looked Michonne dead in eye, "Since I realized how hard it was to go over the wall. Believe me when the Governor says how sturdy they are. They make sure the walls are safe. They make sure nothing can get in...Or out. You know?"
It was clear Michonne was trying to comprehend what Suzy was saying. Suzy didn't break eye contact so it would be clear there was more to her words. Michonne could see how nervous she looked and gave another concerned and/or confused expression. She repeated Suzy's words in her head...Nothing can get in or out.
"I only say that because I heard you guys were planning on leaving today," Suzy continued, "So I thought you'd wanna know."
Suzy gave an awkward smile for Shumpert to see as she backed away.
"You should check the truck," Suzy gestured to the trucks the Governor brought back from Wells' camp. "See if they forgot anything. I'm sure there was at least one thing they missed."
Suzy's smile faded back to her serious expression. She walked away like she was never talking to her. Michonne stood there for a moment. Check the truck... On the surface it seemed like Suzy wasn't actually talking about anything. But Michonne caught on quickly she was trying to tell her something. Why she couldn't simply say it wasn't clear to her yet, but she realized what she was actually saying.
Michonne walked over to the military truck that was brought back. On the surface, nothing looked out of place or left behind by those who emptied it out. Once she got closer, she could see the bullet holes on the side. Climbing onto the top, she saw a gun attached. Only the odd thing about it was that there was no sign of ammo inside. Wouldn't military men want ammo in their guns to fend off biters or bandits? Unless they didn't know bandits were coming. The Governor really tried to say it was biters that killed them all. But looking at the truck for five seconds proved otherwise. When she looked down, she could see remains of human blood. Once she got down from the truck, she saw the Governor standing there staring at her. He stood his usual way with his hands in his pockets and an innocent smile on his face. The second Shumpert saw Michonne going towards the truck he ran to tell the Governor.
"Pretty amazing," He smiled, "We find more ammo, we could cut down a whole pack of biters."
Michonne didn't reply, only looked at him with a suspicious stare.
"I hear you and Andrea are leaving today." He said, "That's a shame. We could use a soldier like you."
The same words, just repeated at someone else. His attempt at his usual flattering did nothing to phase her.
"You seem like you're holding your own." She said, calling him out on the lie he just told, "Even the National Guard was overrun."
"No amount of training can prepare you for the world today."
Michonne stepped closer, curious to see what excuse he would say next, "You'd think one soldier would-drive away...Especially against something so slow."
"Those men were heroes," Only because everyone loved to hear a hero's story, "Not the kind to leave anyone behind. If only we'd got there sooner..."
He circled her, knowing she knew he was full of shit but kept going anyway.
"And you were with us." Yeah, okay...
"Lots of bullet holes," She said, gesturing to them, "You think 'biters' figured out how to use weapons?"
The casual laugh the Governor gave was already so telling to her. He was uncomfortable with her asking the questions that poked holes in his lies. He was desperately trying to keep up his "nice guy" facade.
"They must've encountered bandits weeks ago." Why did it have it be weeks? How would he know that? It was almost laughable how he had almost a full story explanation to every answer.
"It's ugly out there, but then-you know that better than anyone."
She remembered something else Suzy said. Wells and how he didn't make it.
"It's too bad what happened to Wells." She said, looking him in the eye.
The expression on his face almost looked like remorse.
"It is," He frowned, "Dr. Stevens couldn't revive him. Merle put a bullet in his brain."
"No funeral?"
"We cremated him, quietly." At least that was almost the truth. Guess it was time to play the sympathy card full force, "These people have been through so much I figured, thank God, at least no one knew him."
Michonne stepped closer, not breaking eye contact and knowing he was absolutely full of shit. She mocked him, "Thank God."
As Michonne walked away, the Governor sighed with his hands on his hips. He knew that didn't go well at all, but it wasn't like he could show it. When he looked up, he saw Suzy standing across from him. She had been on her way to wait at the main gate with a bag on her shoulder. That's right, screamer pit run, he recalled. Suzy had seen him talking to Michonne and stopped in her tracks to listen in. He looked at her with a somewhat annoyed glare that quickly changed into his charming grin.
"Making friends already, Susan?" He said, making her face run cold. Shumpert might not have heard what she said, but it was obvious she said something about Wells and the truck. How was she supposed to answer that? He stepped closer to her, making her heart quicken. Would he do anything to her out in the open like this?
"I'm-" She looked down at her feet. It made her too uncomfortable to look him in the eye. "I'm not really good at making friends."
"That's a shame," He said, stepping into her personal space. Him being close like that made her feel like she was going to throw up. He then spoke in a more commanding tone, "Look at me."
Suzy slowly raised her head to look at him. What could he possibly want from her? What was he getting out of this.
"You should be careful about who you make friends with then." He said with a dark stare. He left after that. Michonne was already gone, probably didn't even see her there, so there was no one else around to hear or see what just happened. What happened exactly? He threatened her, that was the only conclusion she could come to.
Suddenly she didn't feel like going out with the others to the pits anymore. All she knew was she needed to talk to Merle, and she had to talk to him now. She went to the main gate to wait as patiently as she could. He would be there soon. There was just a few things he needed to do first.
"Hey, Merle." Andrea called out to Merle who was walking down the street.
"What's up, blondie?" Merle smirked at her.
"You got a second?"
"Sure." Merle nodded. Andrea took him to the side and she handed him a map.
"I circled where you can find that farm I was staying at with Daryl." She said. Merle opened the map and looked at the circle she made right off the highway.
"Ah, you were right off Route 9 right before it becomes Dahlonega Highway." He said, "And you're saying that the farmhouse is just a day's walk from there?"
"Give or take." Andrea replied and gestured to the map, "This is where we looked for Sophia when she got lost. Even made it up around here."
Merle smirked at her, "How come we never hooked up?"
Andrea held in a laugh, "You called me a whore, and a rugmuncher."
"Got a way with words, don't I?" Merle chuckled.
"Seemed to work pretty well with Suzy, I'll give you that."
"Nah," Merle scoffed, "She wasn't a fan of the Dixon charm either."
"So how'd you two get together then?" Andrea asked, "Was it just from being stuck together in Atlanta?"
"Not exactly." Merle replied, biting his tongue, "She's just someone who stuck around even when she shouldn't've because I didn't deserve it. I think I owe her the same in return, dont'cha think?"
"Yeah," Andrea nodded, "Sounds fair."
Merle put the map to his chest, "Why are you doing this?"
"I'd want the same thing if it was my family out there," Andrea replied.
"Sure you don't wanna come with us? Suzy's real fond of ya. Ya ain't curious about the ol' gang?"
The sad look on Andrea's face didn't seem like she wanted to answer that.
"Ooh!" Merle observed her expression, "Oh yeah, you really was cut loose, weren't you?"
"I'm sure they came back," Andrea shrugged and sipped her water, "I didn't stick around to find out."
"Ain't that a big ol' pig sack?" Merle said, "We got somethin' in common, blondie. We got left behind by the same people and saved by another."
Merle went to walk away, but stopped when Andrea decided to ask another question. A question that reminded him they were still out in the open.
"Have you ever thought about leaving this place?"
Yes... He shrugged, "Never had a reason to."
"So the Governor is a-a good man?" She asked.
"Lemme just put it this way," Merle looked her dead in the eye, "Suzy and I wasn't in the best shape when he found us. He should'a just kept on goin'...Yeah. He's a good man."
Saying those last words had to have been the hardest lie to say with a straight face. He turned back around and checked to see if anyone was nearby listening, as they usually were. There weren't any in plain sight, but he wasn't taking any chances. It wasn't exactly a lie, it was what both he and Suzy thought when they first got here. If someone was a bad person, why would they save injured and dying people on the side of the road? The Governor really could have kept driving or stopped to put a bullet or knife in their brains so they'd be out of their misery. Because he wanted something from you, he thought. That's right, do a shit ton of his dirty work for him. Because we owed a token of gratitude.
With the map in his pocket, he went to find the Governor and repeated his pitch in his mind. He hoped the Governor was in a good mood. He knew he had to tread very carefully if he was going to get the green light for this. Merle asked around and found him on top of the rear gate playing his usual golf. Merle climbed up the ladder as he watched the golf ball the Governor hit shoot right at a wandering biter's head, knocking it to the ground.
Merle whistled, "Pretty good."
"We should visit Augusta." Governor smiled. Good mood. Perfect. "Take only the women and let them play. It'll be historic."
"And break decades of tradition?"
"Absolutely." Governor hit another golf ball.
"I don't know," Merle said, "Some things are worth holdin' onto."
Here goes nothing. Merle took his shot, "You know, I was thinkin' of taking Tim and Martinez out on a scouting mission later this week."
"For what?" Governor hit another ball.
It was perfect. The Governor would probably say no to taking more men along with him. Then he'll say Merle is to go on his own if he want's to go so badly. Then he can hide Suzy in the trunk of the car he takes until they get far enough away and let her out. It was because he knew he couldn't let the Governor know Suzy would be involved. He would never let her go if he knew.
"Blondie." Merle replied, "She said my brother was still alive."
"Eight months ago." Governor said as he set up another ball, "You can track with the best of 'em, but it's like a needle in a haystack."
Merle knew he had to give him at least some of the information. Odds are Daryl wasn't at the farmhouse anymore, so it wasn't an exact location to where he was. The Governor couldn't know.
"She told me, uh-where I could find that farmhouse they were holed up in."
Governor nearly laughed, "He could be anywhere."
"I know my brother." Merle said as the Governor hit another ball, "If he's out there, I'll be able to find him."
"What if someone gets hurt during this search, huh?" Jackpot. "What almost happened to Crowley last time."
He remembered what happened to Crowley. The Governor was talking about the time Suzy had kicked Tim and Crowley's ass then shoved him into a bunch of walkers. Merle fought to hide his smirk, "Then I'll go on my own."
The Governor nodded, attempting to show some kind of compassion, "I get what you're feeling. I really do, but I can't risk it. I need you here. This whole place would fall apart without you."
Bullshit...
"And Susan?" The Governor set up another ball, "She'd be going with you, too? Even though she's not allowed out on any runs without me there to keep an eye on her, right? Or if I say so?"
Merle's silence answered that question. He knew this whole time...There was no getting past him.
"This is my brother." Merle kept his cool even though it was hard. This wasn't going his way anymore.
"Tell you what, huh? You get more concrete information, I'll go with you myself. Then Susan can come, too. All right?"
Merle didn't say anything. He smirked in response, knowing what the Governor just said was either complete bullshit or the truth, only it wouldn't be a good thing for Daryl or Suzy if it was the truth. There was no way in hell Merle was going to get a yes from him. He knew that now. They were both prisoners here. Nobody leaves...
Merle left the Governor to his golf while he made his way back to the main gate where Suzy was meant to be waiting with Martinez to leave for the screamer pits. He didn't know how to tell her the Governor shut his request down. However, when he got there, there was only Martinez. No Suzy.
"Where is she?" Merle asked.
"Said she forgot something in your guys's place." Martinez said, "Don't know what it could be though, but she went back for it. Said she'd just be a minute."
"Got it." Merle nodded, "I'll be right back."
Merle quickly made his way back to their apartment. What could she possibly want to talk about right now? They were supposed to be heading out to the pits and jumping back here would only cause suspicion. He made his way up the stairs and down the hallway. Of course when he walked in, there she was sitting there on the couch waiting for him.
"What are you doin'?" He asked, "We got a job to do. Shouldn't keep Governor waiting."
"Did you make your pitch to him yet?" She asked.
"Yeah." Merle hesitated to say more. He opened his mouth to, but he shut it since he was currently at a loss.
"And?" She gazed at him, confused as to why he wasn't elaborating. "What did he say?"
"It's a no-go right now, honey." Merle sighed, "He knew the whole time before I even brought it up. Prolly not every little thing, but he knows something's goin' on at least with you."
"He's onto us-" She began pacing the floor, "We're running out of time, Merle. Even if he trusts you, there's no way in hell he would ever trust me again after what I did."
"Just calm down and stop freaking yourself out," He said, "He doesn't know what we're doin'. All he knows is somethin's up. He doesn't want neither of us to leave even for a search."
"Merle, he's gonna kill me." She didn't know why she said that so out of the blue. Merle looked at her like she insulted him.
"What did you say?" He asked, "Hmm? Why would you say that?"
"I don't know. I just know, okay?" Suzy pleaded, "I can't say how, when, or why, but I know if we don't get out of here soon, he's going to kill me. The way he looked at me before...I felt it."
"How'd he look at ya, huh? What happened?"
"Shumpert saw me talking to Michonne and she went to inspect the military truck." She replied, "He knows I said something to her."
"Do us a favor, kay?" He pointed his finger at her and looked her in the eye, "Don't talk to her. She ain't right in the head from bein' out there so long. And anyway, you know walkin' around in the open runnin' your mouth is exactly what we agreed not to do."
"We can trust her, Merle. Believe me." She said, "She can help us. She already wants to leave with Andrea, she can find a way to help us sneak out-"
"Honey, you're not thinkin' clearly," Merle grabbed her shoulder to calm her down, "We need to be smart about this. It don't matter if we can trust her, 'cause the more you tell her, the more the Governor is gonna know it was you who told her shit. Talkin' to anyone puts us in danger. Do you understand that?"
"I know." Suzy frowned, knowing he was right, "But it's like you said. The Governor turned down our plan, the only plan we had that we just got. So if we can't get Michonne to help us, what do we do now?"
"I'm still tryin' to figure that out," Merle replied, pulling her into his chest so she cold hold him, "When the time is right, we'll slip away quietly. Start being ready. He's not gonna lay a hand on ya."
Suzy looked up and kissed him tenderly. Oh how he wanted to push her onto that couch and have his way with her like he did last night after their nightly drinks. He had more than usual due to what happened with Wells and the shootout, but thankfully she was there for him to get out all his frustrations in the best way possible.
"Merle-" Suzy said in between gasping for air while he began letting his one hand wander her, "Martinez is waiting for us."
"Man, fuck him. He can wait." Merle replied, "I wanna enjoy you."
"You can enjoy me every night," She giggled.
"But I wanna you now." He chuckled right back, groping her butt through her black jeans. She could feel herself succumbing to that obnoxious charm of his. Being under his spell was damn hypnotic.
"Fine," She put her hands on his belt to unbuckle it. There would be no need to remove anything else. He pushed her back onto the couch and had her pull her own boots and jeans off. Merle was right. Martinez could wait a little longer. It wouldn't take him long to figure out what they were doing. Merle hoped it would piss him off anyway.
Once they were done, they left to go meet Martinez at the main gate. As they walked down the street, Suzy saw the Governor holding his golf club at his side while talking with Milton and Tim. She could feel him looking at her as she passed by. She did her best to act like she didn't notice. Merle was good at acting so casual like nothing bothered him. In a way, she admired that kind of quality about him because it made him more difficult to read. It made him good at getting the Governor to think he would do anything for him. It's part of what made him so strong.
"'Bout time, assholes." Martinez said, clearly annoyed, "Come on, we're burnin' daylight."
"Sorry, chico, was too busy puttin' the wood in her to notice the time."
"Merle!" Suzy gasped, not knowing whether to laugh or hit him for that. Martinez's face looked like he was about to vomit.
"Thanks for the image I didn't fuckin' need, bro." Martinez said then turned around to open the gate. "Now let's go."
The three got in one of the military trucks and had Merle be the one to drove out of the gate, Crowley being there to close the gate as soon as they were gone. It felt weird being outside the walls again. Was it good? Was it bad? The sad thing was knowing she had to go back. She couldn't be happy until she was out for good. Merle was doing everything she could, she didn't know how to tell him how much she appreciated it. It was a debt she would never be able to fulfill. But with their only chance now gone, what were they to do now? Merle said to wait until an opening came. What exactly did that mean? She had to find a way to talk to Michonne again without anyone, especially the Governor finding out. Even if it would be of no help to them, she had to at least warn her so she could get herself and Andrea out before it was too late. She didn't want anyone else falling into the same state she and Merle were in now.
That was her plan, at least for now. If she played her cards right, she could make a plan so all four of them could sneak out together. They didn't have to stay together afterward. Once they were out, they were going to do what Merle said. Live off the land at least until they found somewhere else to hunker down. She only hoped that was sooner rather than later. She couldn't imagine what else the Governor would have Merle do the longer they stayed. For his sake, they had to get out soon.
At this point, it was leave...Or die...