Terminus
And...it's been almost a year. Trust me, it's never deliberate. I've been trying to figure out how I'm going to do this, if I was going to do Terminus or just jump it. I decided I would do it but I wanted to do it differently. That itself, took some time to figure out as well. Finally, now, nearly twelve months later, I present you all with chapter three.
Side Note: I don't really know how long it was between arrival at Terminus and the break out, and I can't remember if it was ever mentioned anywhere, so I'm using my own minimal interpretation for the sake of this story.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXxx
Willa gritted her teeth and jiggled her foot nervously as she watched from the bushes as the others crept through the fence of the train station. Terminus stood, large and imposing, and there had been a debate on what they would do, how they would approach. There was no question as to sneaking in, but it took a lot of arguing as to who was going. Willa had started to insist on staying with them but the closer they got, the more uneasy she felt. Daryl had said they should use a watcher and, since Willa was still mostly untrained in weapons or fighting (although Daryl had taken her with him each time he went hunting and showed her how to use his crossbow), it made more sense to have her hang back with their spare weapons and a watch.
They gave her a time limit of two hours. They told her to stay in roughly the same area so they could find her again. They said if they weren't back in those two hours, she was to leave. Rick had been firm on his instructions to her, and firm on making sure she understood that, were she to leave with their stuff before the two hours and they came back, he would find her again. The way he had spoken had sent a chill down her back but Willa had assured him, with her eyes holding his, that she wasn't going to leave them, especially not Daryl.
That had all been nearly four hours ago and she still had no sight of any of them. There had been a lot of noise in the first hour but since then, things had gotten quiet. Willa couldn't stand not doing anything but she also didn't know what she alone could possibly do.
"Don't move." Cold metal touched her back between her shoulder blades, causing her to mentally curse at taking her jacket off even though it was hot. "I want you to stand up slowly, hands in the air, and move away from that bag."
"I...I'm not from here." Willa pleaded, doing as the female voice behind her instructed. "I came with four others, they went into the train station to find out…"
"I don't need your story!" The woman hissed, keeping her gun against the younger girl's skin. Willa let out a breath, caught between fear and frustration. "Stay right there and don't move." The gun point slid slightly and out the corner of her eye, Willa could see her bag get knocked over, a foot rummaging around the possessions that came out. The action slowed down considerably as Rick's red handled machete became visible. The young girl held her breath as she waited for whatever was going to come next. The foot stopped moving and the woman behind her was quiet for a long stretch. Only the distant sound of groaning walkers reached their ears.
"That belongs to Rick Grimes." Willa took the risk, turning her head just slightly to be able to get some idea of who she was dealing with. She knew people, if they knew of Rick, would have just as likely a chance of becoming helpful as they would killing her or holding her hostage with her newly made connection to the man. At this point though, she would risk the less desirable options, just for the sake of knowing that she at least made an attempt to save her friends.
"How do you know him?" The woman asked, gun back between Willa's shoulders, her own breath suddenly right by the girl's ear.
"Through Daryl." Willa spoke calmly. She slowly lowered her hands and risked turning around, coming face to face with an older woman with short grey hair. "Daryl saved my life."
"Then we need to save his." The woman decided firmly, as if the names of the two men was enough to convince her that this girl wasn't her enemy. She picked up the bag and led Willa away from the station.
It surprised the younger woman how little persuasion was needed to convince her to cover herself in dirt and grime to mix in with the walkers that were moving towards the fence. As the two women made their way out of the forest to scope the situation, Willa felt oddly confident with her momentary companion, Carol, and was ready to believe the two of them could save the others.
"There." Carol whispered, looking through the fence. Willa followed her gaze and saw men lifting a bound and gagged Rick, dragging him across the ground. Daryl, Michonne and Carl were dragged after him, as well as people the brunette didn't recognise. "Come on, we need a better position."
Silently they crept along the fence line, watching through the chain link as the people within the inner fenced space moved around, as if oblivious to what was happening mere feet from them. Carol lifted her rifle to look through the scope, watching people at the fence stabbing through to the walkers on the other side before gesturing at something and running away.
"Carol." Willa hissed, crouching down and tugging on the woman's arm. Both of them looked to the side, seeing a large group of walkers staggering aimlessly towards the train station.
"Get that flare set up." Carol instructed, looking back through the scope. Willa blinked, mildly confused, but did as she was told, propping the flare through the links in their fence. She looked back to the older woman when the rifle fired, the slight 'ting' of the bullet hitting metal sounding out. Looking in the direction she was sure Carol was firing, Willa finally noticed the tank on the other side of Terminus's fence. The second she realised just what her companion was doing, a shot made good of it's hit, popping a leak in the tank, smoke billowing out at the approaching walkers. "Light the flare, now."
"On it." Willa agreed, lighter already in hand. The flame sparked up the fuse, sending the flare out, straight into the smoke. The tanker erupted, dead bodies flying as black smoke and flames rose up in the air through the now broken fence. Following the older woman's lead, Willa quickly rose and moved from their location.
"You stay close, stay alert." Carol ordered, pressing a gun into the brunette's hand as they made their way through the walkers, past the broken fence. "We'll look quick and head back out."
"But…" Willa started to question.
"They can get themselves out." Carol stated firmly, creating a reminder of the strength the others held. Willa gripped onto the gun, glancing at it quickly and gnawing on her lip. "We need to get as many weapons away from these people as possible."
Carol shot people on the way as they walked through the chaos but Willa had yet to raise her gun, too unsure to make a move. No comment was made on the behaviour even though she knew there was silent judgement happening in the older woman's mind. They found the weapons with minimal looking, Willa reverently picking up Daryl's crossbow and slinging the strap across her shoulder. Carol took Michonne's sword and gathered the other weapons before they hurried on, finding themselves in a room lit with candles.
Gunfire rang outside and the sounds of the dead grew closer then either cared for. Quickly and quietly they made their way across the room, heading for the opposite door and hopefully their way out of this forsaken place.
"Drop your weapons and turn around, I want to see your faces." A new woman's voice sounded behind them and Willa near instantly dropped the gun just from the command. Her eyes darted to Carol who hadn't moved but also looked fearful and mildly ashamed. They hadn't looked when they came in, hadn't taken stock of the room, and now they were paying for it. "NOW!"
Their eyes met and Carol gave the smallest of nods before leaning slightly to let the sword fall to the floor. Willa bent the slightest bit over and let the gun fall to the floor with a clank. She was more careful to lower the strap for the crossbow. A split second look told her Carol was reaching for the rifle and Willa threw herself onto the floor as the older woman turning, letting loose a barrage of shots at their would be attacker who had no other choice but to dive out of the way. The new woman lost her gun and Carol was quick to race over, kicking the weapon out of reach.
Willa rolled over and watched them scuffle, knocking over candles as the pair rose and fell, struggling to gain the upper hand. She took their lack of attention on her as a way to dig into the bag, getting her hand around a bolt for the crossbow and frantically load the sharp tool into it's housing. The two women rolled apart, the attacker picking up a piece from broken stand as Carol readjusted her grip, rising to their feet to face each other once more. The rifle was steady, pointed directly at the woman's chest, who looked defeated in that moment, lowering her makeshift weapon.
"The signs, they were real." She spoke with a heavy sign. Her expression one of tired resignation as she seemed to become aware of what was to happen. "It was a sanctuary. People came and took this place."
"Just tell me…" Carol started, beginning to look uncertain about her position, wavering in her stance.
"And they raped." The woman continued with a break in her voice. "And they killed, and they laughed."
Willa looked between the women, crossbow tilted up but not quite aimed anywhere specific as she stayed on the floor, positioned behind the unknown woman, watching Carol's face for any sign of something to do.
"Over weeks!" The Woman's voice got louder as her breathing shifted, almost to a sobbing state. "But we got out, and we fought, and we got it back! And we heard the message!" She seemed to shift again, settling down into a new level of hysteria: the eerie calm. "You're the butcher or you're the cattle."
"The men they pulled from that train car," Carol spoke up loudly, wanting to be heard this time. Her grip adjusted again, her frame stiffening against the woman's sob story. "Where are they?" When the woman didn't respond, choosing instead to just stand there resiliently, Carol tilted her rifle and fired the shot to her leg.
"Wha.." Willa jumped with a yelp as the woman gave out a pained cry, falling to the floor and clutching her leg.
"WHERE ARE THEY?" Carol repeated even louder, lowering the angle of the rifle.
"Carol…" Willa hissed carefully, getting onto one knee, crossbow tilted towards the woman on the floor even though there didn't seem to be any threat at all anymore. The grey haired woman shot the brunette a warning glare before angling the rifle back on their enemy.
"Now...point it...at my head." The woman instructed through gritted teeth. Her new state of manic brought her to tears as she sobbed through her pain and anger. "You could have been one of us. You could have listened to what the world is telling you."
"You lead people here, take their stuff, kill them...eat them...and...you're saying she could have been part of that?" Willa questioned in disgust, finally getting to her feet, bag slung over her shoulder, crossbow aimed as she stepped in beside Carol. The simple statement from the crippled woman brought about a newfound sense in the young woman. There was no joining to be had in this place, especially not now. Not after everything.
"No...not at first." The woman panted out, gasping in breaths. Panic was evidently overcoming her. "It's what we had to be. And because of that, we're still here."
The sad realisation of the woman's fate hit Willa like a freight train and she lowered the crossbow, putting her other hand on Carol's arm, adding slight pressure to get her to lower the rifle.
"There's nothing more here." The young woman remarked. Her eyes moved to the wounded woman on the floor and a sigh crossed her lips. "For anyone."
"Let's get out of here." Carol insisted, receiving no argument as she crossed to the far door, Willa right behind her. They opened the door, letting the walkers in and slipping out as the woman screamed her objection on deaf ears.
***WDWDWDWDWD***
Carol handed over wet wipes to Willa as they made their way back through the forest, discarding the disgusting sheets they had worn to hide among the dead. Their steps slowed as they heard voices, Willa feeling wildly uncertain as it came from the general area that she was meant to be.
"She's probably long gone, we told her to be, we ain't got no extra weapons now." Daryl's gruff voice was tinged with sadness and the young woman felt an ache in her chest at being the cause of it, even though she knew that it was unfounded. Her pace picked up minimally, she didn't want to seem too eager in front of the woman whom she'd just witnessed accomplish so much.
"That place is on fire." An unknown woman's voice stated in a tone that spoke she wanted finality.
"We're not dicking around with this crap, we just made it out." A heavy southern accent spoke up. Willa could see a whole group of people crowding around, Daryl and Rick's backs towards her and Carol. She couldn't help the tiny smile forming as she got nearer to them.
"The fences are down, they'll run or die." Another brunette woman, equally southern as the rest, looked pleadingly at Rick as if trying with her words and eyes to get through to the slight mania that was overcoming the leader.
"Daryl." Willa spoke out, unable to hold back anymore and increasing her pace as she watched the hunter turn. A shocked and relieved look came across his face as he moved to greet her at almost the same pace she was accomplishing. She threw her arms around him, face buried into his vest as she felt his arms lock tightly around her. His head turned, cheeking pressing to the top of her head and his eyes closed for the moment. When he opened them again, he was looking directly at Carol.
"Hi." Carol muttered quietly.
"Hi." Daryl returned the greeting, a warm grateful look on his face.
"Did you do that?" Rick asked, coming up beside Daryl and looking at the girls. Willa looked at him, feeling uncertain over who he was more surprised to see. Carol looked like she was holding back tears as she gave a single nod, tucking her lips in to stem off crying. Why she seemed to feel she had to hold a strong front before Rick, Willa was sure, but the tears fell freely when the man hugged her.
"You have to come with me." Carol insisted when she and Rick finally moved apart from each other. Willa shifted herself under Daryl's hold and he dropped one of his arms, swiping the crossbow off her shoulder in the process but kept the other arm lodged firmly across her shoulders as he tucked her in beside himself.
Daryl had felt well beyond hopeless when they had returned to the forest to find Willa and the weapons gone. It crept up on him, the nagging sensation that he had let down another girl. He couldn't help himself from refusing to release her from his grasp, even as the group followed Carol to a new destination, no one knowing what lay ahead of them. He just wanted to ensure that this girl was safe. He was mildly annoyed that she hadn't listened to express instructions to leave after two hours but his gratitude overcame it.
And it was all worth it to see Rick and Carl reunite with the baby. A warmth spread through his chest as he watched the little family connect and he glanced down at Willa, watching her wipe a tear from her cheek as a smile crossed her mouth.
***WDWDWDWDWD***
"I'm proud of you." Daryl spoke quietly as they took watch by the low fire. Everyone who didn't know each other had been introduced, accepted among the group, and walked together a ways until it had gotten too dark. Camp has been set up and now the majority were taking naps and lightly dozing in a fitful slumber. Daryl and Willa sat away from the group, relatively hidden in the shadows with their people to one side and the open road to the other. The calm surrounding them was momentary, the risk of it breaking being ever high.
"For what?" Willa asked, lifting her head from his shoulder. They hadn't spoken much since taking over watch and Willa had begun it standing near him. As the time progressed, they had sat down, the girl gradually moving closer to the man as the temperature lowered until she was curled up at his side, his arm slung on her shoulders once more.
"For working with Carol to get us out." Daryl continued, his hand squeezing slightly on her shoulder. "Someone you didn't know."
"For you." Willa spoke up before she could stop herself. She felt a tension come across Daryl as his head slowly tilted down, eyes looking to hers in the dark. Her lower lip was captured between her teeth, unsure how else to continue.
Daryl didn't know how to process her admission. He knew she was attached to him, it was hard to not notice when she stayed by his side as often as possible, every chance she got. He was the one that took care of her with Joe's boys, he was the one that vouched for her competence with Rick. He didn't want to admit it but he knew his chest had crumbled when they returned to the forest, only to find it empty. He chastised himself for thinking she would still be there after the orders giving to leave after a certain time, and it had been double that by the time they had returned. His insides crumbled under the thought that he had lost another person that he cared about, that had gotten under his skin.
Another girl who made him see things differently.
It was inexplicable the relief he felt when her roughened voice called out to him and he turned around to see her standing only a few feet away, his crossbow over her shoulder, a smile on her face. Hugging her wasn't exactly the urge he had felt at the time but given the audience, it was by far the better option, especially with all the newer people. There was a wild second where he thought he was so destroyed that he had just imagined her there but then his hands touched her warm skin, his face buried in her hair, inhaling the scent of smoke and that tangy scent he had come to relate to her. He completely forgot about everyone else around him as he absorbed her presence, his grip on her being enough to calm the adrenaline coursing through him after the escape.
Then he saw Carol and another flutter came to his chest but this was different. His friend was back, the only woman he hadn't managed to let down in any way until Willa came along. Knowing she had been instrumental in their escape and had pulled Willa out of her shell, Daryl felt mass amounts of gratitude for the childless mother.
"Daryl." Willa whispered, almost as if she were afraid to even make a sound in the silence that overcame them. His eyes blinked as he came back to the present situation and he took stock on the conditions.
Their group to their side, sleeping or just quietly reflecting, getting "reacquainted" in a few cases, judging by the soft ragged breaths that came from more than one location. Open empty road along the other side. Trees at a distance in front of them, far enough away for them to see anything that could come out of their depths. The fire burning so low, it was at risk of going out.
And the girl beside him, her legs tucked up under her body, hands lightly twisting at her loose jeans over her thighs. Her shoulder pressed lightly against his ribs as she remained leaning on him and her head tilted back, her dark eyes seeming even deeper in the blackness of the night, her hair equally so as it cascaded over his own arm in it's tangled waves. The smoke smell still lingered on her but he assumed it was on himself as well and it truly didn't bother him. He looked back at her face, his eyes zeroing in on her tongue as it peaked out, wetting her lips before retreating, letting her lower lip free from the confines of her teeth.
Neither of them could say who really moved first. A harsh shudder had coursed through Willa's body against the cold and she moved higher as he moved lower. Perhaps it was accidental, perhaps one, or both, of them had made the gesture. However it started, it ended with a pair of chapped lips pressed down on a pair of tender ones. Willa's right hand lifted and grasped onto the hand holding her shoulder, the left raising to lightly brush it's fingertips on the stubble of the man's chin. His opposite hand gradually reached out, barely daring to touch his fingers across her mid section. She curved herself closer into him, letting go of his hand to place that hand on his cheek while the other tucked in between them. He tightened his arm behind her head and parted his lips against hers.
The sound of Judith crying broke them apart and Willa ducked her head down to avoid looking up at Daryl. For his part, he loosened his hold ever so slightly, hand running gently along her upper arm. Her tension relaxed under the touch and her eyes lifted slowly to catch his.
"Sounds like Rick's up." Willa whispered. Daryl gave a slight nod, shifting his eyes to look towards the camp before returning to the girl. "He'll probably take the rest of watch if the baby is awake."
"Wanna get some shut eye?" Daryl asked, his voice coming out gruffly under the sudden dryness of his mouth. He received a nod in answer before Willa slowly got to her feet, stretching out her stiff limbs. Daryl watched her for a minute and accepted her hand when she reached down to him. They moved toward the group as Rick got out of an abandoned car, the infant on his hip. The men exchanged looks and a nod, the leader letting his right hand and the girl take the car for a couple hours of rest without a word passing between them.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
I'm pretty much convinced that the next chapter I write, whenever that comes out, will be Grady Hospital. I managed to write this one within the span of twenty four hours even though it took me eleven months to even start it so perhaps there's hope for me yet.