Hey. I'm sorry. I usually never recommend listening to music to a scene, but if you want a full experience, listen to Coma Baby by Nicole Dollanganger when you see Daryl get to the feed store when tracking Merle.
So, this was how the day would be going for Kaylee. Trying to stop a horrible trade off from happening and getting kidnapped by a man she considered family when no one else did. Yup, that's how Kaylee thought it would be.
Michonne had woken up, and her first instinct was to start fighting at her bonds that Merle forced Kay to tie. Once Merle used Kaylee as leverage, Michonne calmed down and cooperated with the rest. Currently, they were long way out at who knows how many miles, walking down an abandoned road. Though Merle wasn't stupid, he ended up tying up the teen as well, having no choice but to take her with him so she wouldn't let the others know about this. Especially if Angela were to find this out, Merle found no worry to this as his plan was forming well so far. With a handgun in his hand, Michonne's sword on his right side and his rifle on his left side, Merle had the reigns in this situation.
"Governor made Rick an offer." Merle told, holding a cord of the two as if they were pets he was leading. "Turn ya'll over 'n we all give peace a chance."
Hearing grunting and gnawing, Merle looked to Kay seeing her chewing at the binds. She was trying to get out compared to Michonne who was calmly walking beside her. "Unless ya want your teeth turn to bits, I'd stop that, Princess."
Kay glared back at him, spitting whatever nasty dirt got in her mouth. "Merle, this is stupid and you know it. So does Rick."
Merle laughed, "Ya say that, yet look where ya are now." he retorted with an extended arm out. Kay huffed at him, going back to grinding her teeth against the phone wire. "I agree with you, though." He told Michonne. "He would have blinked."
"But not you." She inquired, glancing to Kay seeing her attempt to escape.
Merle scoffed, shrugging at her. "I'm being straight with you." he told her, the gun in his free hand pointing at Michonne's back. Sure, he could have it going back and forth between her and Kaylee. But Merle knew Kaylee couldn't get free or take Merle down if she wanted to.
Michonne glared over her shoulder at him from his words. "You were straight when you led me into the Tombs." She nodded to Kay who had stopped chewing the wires at this point. "You could've let her go, letting the Governor have her?" She shook her head, finding it disgusting.
"Okay, maybe I wasn't straight." Merle admitted.
"You put a bag over my head!" Michonne barked at him. "Took a kid from the safety of her home."
"I got it done, and maybe if someone wasn't nosey." Merle hinted, giving a side look to Kay with his brows raised. "She wouldn't have."
"I heard Rick tell you, but you said you didn't want to take me." Kay told, keeping beside Michonne finding her more protective than Merle right now. "Merle, we can turn around right now."
Merle's lips curled at her words as if offended. "Keep moving." He told, shoving Michonne in turn the cord yanking Kay with her. She yelped taking an extra step, Michonne turned to her to make sure she was okay.
"Merle, I will assure you my sister won't hurt you too much if we go back now." Kay tried to convince, not even looking at him as she tried to keep up with their steps. "Don't you want to get back to Daryl? To the others? Their family."
"Family?" Merle spat at her. "The same family that left me on that rooftop?" Kay raised her shoulders feeling as if being scolded. "He, the Governor, was a guy that came back for me on that rooftop." He shook his head. "Nah. It's all on me."
The two didn't respond, Kay kept her eyes on the ground seeing her words were falling on deaf ears. He looked to the teen, seeing he finally got her to become silent. "You know?" He started. "I figure that's why I was back there in the first place. Do the dirty work."
Kay looked over, eyes shifting up and down Merle. "You don't want to do this, Merle."
"On this again, huh?" He asked her.
"But-"
A walker snarling in the distance paused her words. They looked toward an open field, a backyard to a house where a walker in a raincoat was wandering toward them. Merle laughed, though why was what boggled Kay's mind. It was answered when Merle tucked the gun into his belt and gripped the handle of Michonne's sword on his hip.
"May I?" Merle asked, removing the sword with a distinct 'shing'. Leaving the two girls to approach the bloody faced walker. "I'll take that as a yes." He grinned back at them.
He extended his arms out to welcome the walker, as if he was allowing himself to be a fresh meal. Once close enough, Merle swung the sword back over his shoulder, then sliced through the neck. The head rolled off its shoulders with a thud, the heavy staggering body falling next to it after. Unlike a bullet or a blunt object to the head, slicing a head off caused the blood to spray out from the neck like a fountain. Merle looked over the blade, whipping it left to right to get the blood clean off, as he looked over his new kill.
With a laugh, he turned around surprised to see Michonne and Kaylee still standing there. He at least expected the teenager to tug out and make a break for it. "Oh! Ya know what?" Merle tipped the edge of the kataka to the sheath. "I'd figured you would have run."
Michonne grinned from her spot, her eyes locked onto her precious weapon. "Wanted my sword back before I get away."
Merle laughed, sliding the katana into it's sheath with a clink. He rose his brows at Kay who just looked away with her nose in the air. "Like I was gonna be able to make it far tied like this." She muttered.
"It may go down that way." He told them both, thumb hooked around the nozzle of his rifle. "But if I were ya'll, I wouldn't get my hopes up."
Kaylee looked back as he walked back over to them. "You know Rick and Daryl will find me missing, they wouldn't allow this." She told him.
Merle shrugged, walking around behind them and taking the end of the cord that was tied to them both. "Move." Was his only response, as the women walked on. Kay glanced to Michonne with worry, were they really going to be given as sacrificial lambs?
So far, Rick couldn't find Merle or Michonne anywhere. Already having the cell blocks searched, he ventured out to the courtyard finding Daryl on patrol while he searched. He paused, seeing the leader rushing over to him. Angela was searching the yard and double backing the cell blocks.
"It's off. We'll take our chances." He informed the redneck.
Daryl nodded, approval over this decision compared to before. "I'm not saying it was the wrong call, but this is definitely the right one." He then noticed Rick's concerned look and heavy breathing. "What's wrong?"
"I can't find Merle or Michonne." He told, looking around as he spun on the spot.
"Rick!" The men turned, seeing Angela running toward them. Her eyes in a panic as she almost fell into Rick, who caught her by the arms. "Rick- Ri-" She coughed, trying to catch her breath as her rifle dangled off her back.
"Slow down, Angela. Breath." Rick told her as Daryl approached with a hand gently on her back. "Did something happen?"
She nodded, causing both men's hearts to sink. Were the others alright? No blood was on her person or injury, so it must be something else. "I searched for Merle and Michonne, but I can't find Kaylee either!"
"What?" Daryl tilted his head, as she nodded at him again.
"They've gone." Rick confirmed to the two.
"Gone?" Angela then grabbed Rick the collar of his jacket, her teeth grit tight wanting to punch him. "You let Merle take her!? You said she wouldn't be part of the deal!" She barked at him.
Rick shot his hands up, indicating he wasn't going to hurt her or that he was innocent, hard to tell when one's mind only saw red. "I swear, I told Merle not to get her involved. He said so himself-"
"Clearly he was lying." She snarled, finally pulled off Rick by Daryl's arms..
"Angie, Angie." Daryl whispered, in means to lower her voice. She didn't fight as Daryl kept a space between the two.
Rick took a few steps forward, hand out in attempt to calm her. "We'll find her."
"Where was Merle seen last?" She asked them.
"This way." Daryl turned her toward the stairs that led to the generator room.
Rick and Angela ran after, Daryl and Angela with their rifles ready for any walkers still invading the location. Reaching the room, Daryl remembered the conversation, the spot Merle stuck by when he found him.
"He was in here." He told them, looking at the counter seeing some items missing from before. "Said he was lookin' for drugs."
"No surprise." Angela muttered, checking behind the door as Daryl rounded the generators.
"Said a lot of things, actually." He responded, finding something off from their conversation.
Rick and Angela followed around the other end of the generators. "Like what?" Rick asked, his rifle now in his arms, slung over from his back.
"Said that ya were gonna change yer mind- Here we go." Daryl crouched down finding a pillowcase on the ground. He picked it up, inspecting it for a moment then tossing it back down to the dirty floor. "Yeah, he took her here. They mixed it up."
"He hurt Kaylee?" Angela questioned, looking around wishing to see what Daryl saw.
He shook his head, "Maybe." he guessed, not able to tell much of the struggle in the room.
"Damnit!" Rick cursed, eyeing up the door to the exit.
"That's it, Merle is dead." Angela declared, seeing Rick heading toward the exit. She and Daryl followed.
"I'm going after him." Rick told.
"Ya can't track for shit." Daryl told, catching up to stop him.
Rick turned back, "Then both of us." he offered.
Daryl shook his head, "Nah, just me." he went around to stand in front of Rick. "I said I'd go n' I'll go."
Angela stepped forward, beside Rick. "I'm going too." She held a finger up before Daryl could respond. "That's my baby sister out there, I'll die going out alone if that's what it takes, Daryl."
The hunter nodded with a swallow, "A'right." he approved, not wanting to deny that she had a right to go for her sister. He looked to Rick, "If they come back here, ya need to be ready." he told.
Daryl pushed his back against the door, letting Angela exit first. He paused, nodding to Rick. "Yer family too." He assured, and left taking lead for him and Angela to find their siblings and Michonne- Before it's too late.
More miles, who knew but God at this point. Some abandoned mailboxes and loads of foliage confused Kaylee. She hadn't been this way, and determined he was taking a different route in case the others tried to go after them. It was silent, excluding Kaylee attempted to bite at the wires until she almost chipped a tooth. Michonne was calm as she walked, keeping an eye on Kaylee since Merle wasn't. If given the chance, she would get the teen's binds off and make sure she could get to safety.
"Merle," Kay started again, almost tripping on a branch she failed to see. "What is it you'll gain from this? What is it you really want out of all this?"
Merle sighed through his nose, possibly growing annoyed by her constant pestering. Well, he had the chance to duct tape her mouth, if Michonne hadn't started struggling beforehand.
"I want to be with my brother." He answered. "My brother, he wants to be in the prison." He looked up at the ladies. "This little trip, maybe it'll keep that place standing. If I pull it off, maybe all is forgiven."
"Forgiven? Going back now and forming a new plan will bring forgiveness." She told, nodding her head at the road behind them.
"That's a whole lot of maybes." Michonne muttered, being ignored as Merle spotted a vehicle at an abandoned house beside them.
"Ya got to play the hand you're dealt." He responded, gently tugging at the cord for the women to follow. "I only got one."
Seemingly tired of walking, wanting to speed the process along, Merle let go of the cord and jogged over to the grime and leaf covered van. He tucked his handgun under his arm and opened the door, it squeaked as he inspected the inside. With a look of disappointment, he shut the door, looking up to give them a indication the van was no good. He walked back to them, standing at the front of the van.
"You talk about the weight of what you have to do, how you can handle it." Michonne spoke, looking deep in his eyes for something to spark from her words. "A bad man, someone truly evil, they're light as a feather. They don't feel a thing."
Merle kept avoiding her eyes, but heard her words and what she was trying to say. Kaylee stepped up the best she could from her restraints and nodded. "You kept me from him beating me any more than he could, there's good in you, Merle." She swallowed dryly once his eyes fell on her. "There has to be."
He eyed the teen down, giving her a stone cold frown. "I've killed sixteen men since this went down." He told, making her blink up at him, as if expecting more from him. Merle just stepped forward, nodded at the two. "Let's go."
Snarling was heard nearby, Merle turned spotting more than he alone could handle heading into the woods. He gently pushed Kay forward, his hand on her back as the three jogged silently out of the area.
Daryl and Angela followed the trail, the hunter finding it simple to keep on his brother's tracks. For a while, he tried to hide them but gave up a good few miles behind. Angela was trying to track as well so she could turn this semi jogging hunt into a full sprint one.
"Angie!" Daryl called, she turned back seeing Daryl was pointing in another direction. She groaned and walked back over, almost taking lead again. "Hey, slow down, need to keep with the track." He told her.
"We need to hurry Daryl, before they make it there." Angela informed.
"Angie, Angie, wait." Daryl reached forward, grabbing her wrist. She turned around as they slowed down, letting him lead her back to the proper trail. "We're gonna find 'em n' bring 'em back, just like before."
"Before, we had a team and didn't have to worry about our home being attacked while away." Angela countered, feeling Daryl move his hand from her wrist to holding her hand. "The prison could be under siege right now."
"Rick n' the others can handle it fine, just try to-"
Angela spotted a walker emerging behind a tree to her right. Daryl saw it beforehand, and tugged her back behind him. With his crossbow now in his arms, he raised it up and fired a bolt into its head. It let out a dying groan and fell to the ground, the leaves crunching beneath it.
Angela walked over, yanking the arrow out, kicking it in the head as some blood got on her pant leg from the squelching splatter of the kick. She walked back to Daryl, and returning the bolt after cleaning it on the side of her pant leg.
"Let's hurry. If not the Governor, the walkers might get them." Daryl told her, leading with her following behind, taking her time better.
They ran for a good while, Merle leading the two toward a building that looked to be a cheap motel at one point. "Alright." He panted, giving the lot a look around. "I think we're good."
"Yeah, we're great." Michonne said sarcastically, letting the cord be tugged as he tried to get her over to the motel.
Merle lead the two like they were his dogs and tied them off at a nearby support beam for the building. Kaylee frowned, standing beside the beam as he struggled a bit. Only having one hand can be at fault, but he managed to wrap around the wooden beam enough that it felt tight to keep the women in place.
"Is this necessary?" Kay asked, tilting her head as she squinting at him.
Merle didn't answer, as he walked over to a 1990 Chevy Caprice, ripping off the antenna from the hood. Kay sighed, leaning her shoulder against the post. "Do you really think Merle is going to hand us to the Governor?" Kay asked, as Merle rounded the car using the now bent antenna to unlock the car.
"Me, but not you." She told, watching Merle before glancing to the teen.
"What does he want with me? Was it because of that walker girl you killed?" She asked.
Michonne shrugged, "Maybe." she told.
Kay sighed, leaning off the beam feeling the aging paint chipped wood feel weak. "You're pretty calm over this whole thing. Got a plan?"
Michonne didn't answer, she looked around for any walkers within the area. "Whatever it is, don't hurt Merle."
"You really want him safe, don't you?" She inquired.
Kaylee looked up, then back to watching Merle as he got the door unlocked. "He's my family." Michonne glanced to her, then back to giving the area a scan or two.
Merle got the door open and crawled under the wheel reaching for the wires. With only one hand, he had to just feel around for the wires. The motor sputtered a few times, but stopped when he lost his fingered grip on the wires.
"Come on." He grunted, eyes scanning the ceiling of the car. Once he heard the start of the engine, he grinned, "Yeah!" he cheered. "That's the deal." He reached for more wires, but suddenly the car's alarm blared out. "Oh, shit"
The girls looked over, the alarm echoing out for who knows what to hear for miles. "Uh, Merle?" Kay called, but the sound was hard to call over as it was piercing her ears.
It rung out in a high pitch, the women looked around seeing walkers in the treelines follow the sound. They felt surrounded as more emerged from behind the buildings, possibly some inside too! Around the corner a fat meaty walker emerged across the lot, making its way toward the car. Kaylee grew antsy, looking around as the walkers grew closer.
"Merle!" Michonne barked, tugging at the wires around her wrist. Kaylee started to try and chew at them, then yank her arms from the post. "Come on, Merle!"
Michonne looked behind Kaylee, seeing a walker leave the building as it was approaching behind her. "Kaylee, behind you!"
The teen turned, yelping at the sight of the female walker as he stalked toward her. The teen reached for her knife at the hip only to drop it onto the cement ground.
"Merle!" Michonne spotted a male walker reaching her, she reeled back and kicked it in the stomach. It knocked to the ground, Michonne slammed her boot into it's skull as it squished like a rotten grapefruit.
Kaylee scrambled for her knife as the female walker reached for her. She stumbled back, dropping the knife again, screaming. Michonne ran over, roping the walker's neck with the wire and trapped it against the beam. Kay looked around reaching for the knife at the walker's feet as Michonne pulled tightly at the wire. It sliced the walker's neck as she pressed her shoe to pull harder to behead it. Kaylee looked over toward Merle, finding the meaty walker heading towards him.
"Merle! Look out!" Kaylee barked. Finding it a struggle to pick up the hunting knife, she fished out her switchblade in her pocket and flicked it opened. She positioned it to cut the wires, watching in haste as the walker knelt down at Merle still under the wheel.
The snapping sound of the wires cut through with the knife caught Kay's attention. The alarm finally died off, but Kay hoped Merle wasn't. "Merle!" She screamed, running around the car as the meaty walker was clawing for him while he was stuck under the wheel.
Merle saw Kay behind the walker, and instinct kicked in for the redneck when it spotted Kay as a easier meal to feast upon. The meaty walker growled reaching around to grab her, her mind panicked and she just stabbed it and leaving the blade lodged into it's fat arm. Merle used his bayonet and stabbed into the back, pushing it from Kaylee.
"Get back!" He barked at the teen, Kay fell back onto the pavement tripping over the curb. Merle slid out the katana from the seat and sliced the walker's face in half, it heavily fell to the ground.
Michonne watched as Merle helped Kaylee beck up, checking to make sure she was okay. Snarling was heard behind her as a male walker emerged from another motel room. It grabbed her arms as she grunted, trying to shake it off her. Merle and Kaylee spotted the woman in trouble, Merle removed his gun from his belt and fired at the walker's head. The blood splattered, staining the wall and some getting on her. Merle fired at near by walkers, Kaylee use the loaned switchblade knife and stabbed at others, pushing their rotten bodies away.
"Key, cut her free!" Merle demanded, covering her as she ran around the car toward Michonne.
Kaylee used her blade to slice the wire and help Michonne to the car. Merle opened the back door, urging Kaylee to get in, the teen dove into the back. Michonne climbed into the passenger seat, Merle shutting the two doors. He came around, tossing the rifle into the back almost hitting the teen. He got in and put the car into reverse, the tires skidding on the pavement as it jolted backwards. Kay gripped the seats tightly, sliding about with no seatbelt to secure herself. With a grinding sound, he move it into drive and sped out of the lot, the three catching their breath as the motel faded in the distance.
A half hour into the drive and the open road was found again. Kaylee, with her hands now free, watched outside the window. The two up front were silent, so the teen followed in suit and kept silent as well. She looked over herself, seeing the marks the wires left on her wrists were starting to fade. Merle was too focused on his drive to stop and tie her back up. The silence seemed to be killing Michonne as she finally spoke up.
"Is this your thing, then?" She asked. "You take out the trash?"
"Don't be so hard on yourself, darlin'." Merle told, as if she was insulting herself instead of him.
"The Governor, Rick, anyone who needs their piss bucket emptied and you come a-running."
Kaylee leaned over, hand on Merle's seat. "Michonne-" Merle laughed, indicating he wasn't bothered by her words.
"Things are different for your brother." Michonne continued.
"Yeah, they are." Merle agreed, Kaylee looked to him. "Rick says jump and he wants to know how high." He nodded to the teen. "That goes for your sister, Princess. His tail wags when she gives him any attention."
"She doesn't boss him around, and Rick doesn't either." Kaylee defended. "Rick has done a lot to protect and keep us going, if anything its Angie that follows Daryl."
"Not from what I've seen." Merle muttered, earning a look from Kay.
"Rick needs him, so does Angela." Michonne told, glancing over at him. "They respect him. Didn't ask him to do this little job, now, did he?"
Kay sat back, not feeling her words would get through to either of them. Merle shook his head, "Nah," he answered. "'Cause he wants it done."
The samurai grinned shortly, "You keep telling yourself that." her face contorted to a snarl. "The truth is this could have been your shot." Kay perked up, what had she meant? "With your skills, a whole new beginning. But you chose to stay on the outside."
Kay leaned forward again, seeing Merle slightly frown in attempt to ignore her. Michonne glanced to the teen then back at narrowing the man down. "No one's gonna mourn you," Michonne told, making Kay's eyes go wide. "Not even Daryl. He's got a new family."
"Wait-" Kay was cut off again, as Merle shook his head glancing to the teen in the mirror.
"You keep trying to get under my skin, I'm gonna cut that tongue out." He threatened. "Your buddy's turning you over 'cause he's trying to save his own ass." Merle nodded to Kay again. "You too."
"That's not true." Kay told, shaking her head as she eased back and folded her arms. "Rick wouldn't do that. He wouldn't…" She kept telling herself, looking out the window.
Merle scoffed, giving short glances to Michonne. "You're as much on the outside as I am, girl. You, Princess? Just an accident waiting to happen, with your leg slowing them down." He told her.
Michonne looked behind to the teen who just tightened her arms, folded around herself. She saw her blink a few times, trying to fight back tears, clearly hurt by the words he told her. Merle peeked at the mirror, seeing her rub her nose as she finally got silent for him.
"Maybe." Michonne muttered to Merle, referring to the words he gave her. "But once the Governor's done with us," Kay shuddered at the notion. "At least we won't have to live with ourselves."
Michonne gave a dark look before focusing back to watching the road. Something came to mind, not wanting to hear the girl sniffling in the back to hide her hurt feelings.
"You said you killed sixteen men since this thing started?" She questioned, Merle rolled his shoulders at her pestering. "You ever kill anyone before?"
Merle glanced to her then back to the road. "No." He answered.
"And how about before Woodbury?" She asked, looking toward him. "Before you met him?"
The sniffling had stopped from the back, Merle peeked at the mirror seeing Kaylee calmer and watching the trees pass by through the mirror. He kept shifting and avoiding her gaze, not feeling comfortable with this subject to be talked about. Especially with the young teen in the back, listening to it all.
Michonne concluded how he was reacting and answered to her questions. "So, he saves your life, cleans you up, fed you a line of bullshit. Why would you kill somebody else for him?"
Kay looked over tilting her head at Merle as Michonne's eyes softened once the teen started paying attention. "You know, we can go back." The samurai offered, only to get a cruel chuckle from the man.
"Ain't happening." He dismissed.
Kaylee brought a hand up on the back of the seats to pull herself between the two. "Why not? You belong there, Merle." She told, Merle kept shaking his head.
"All of us." She smiled softly to Kay who nodded. "We can all go back."
This was a rare offer, not to Merle, but one that Michonne was giving. She could be telling him to stop and let her go, let her and Kaylee go back. But, she was including the redneck, the one man that knew he didn't belong there. He frowned deeply, struggling to speak as he kept shaking his head at their urging.
"I can't go back." He told, trying to get it through these girls' heads. He looked to them, one with a hard look and the other with a pleading look. "Don't ya'll understand that?" Merle looked back to the road. "I can't."
"Why?" Michonne questioned.
Kay reached for his shoulder, feeling him flinch at the touch. "I promise to put a good word in, so will Michonne. We can all go back and-"
The teen jerked forward, Michonne holding her bound wrists up to keep her from falling forward when the breaks were slammed. The car screeched to a stop, the girls looked to Merle in question as he put it in park. Looking to Michonne, he leaned over and with his bayonet he cut Michonne of her restraints. The two watched him, as he eyed the samurai with a hard swallow.
"You go back with them." He looked to Kay nodding to her. "Take her back there, safe and sound. Get ready for what's next." Merle leaned over Michonne and opened the door then sat back. "I got something I got to do on my own."
Michonne didn't move, Merle nodded for her to move. She climbed out of the car, Merle leaned over to hand the katana back to her. The redneck looked back to Kaylee as Michonne opened the door for her.
"Got that knife, Princess?" He asked, seeing her confused and concerned features.
"Er, yeah." She told, taking it off the seat and holding it out to him. Merle smirked, he reached over and curled her fingers around it and gently pushed it back to her. She looked up, even more confused as Michonne watched the interaction.
"Take care of it, you're gonna need it more than I did." He told her, turning around toward the wheel.
Kaylee hesitated, and leaned forward, wrapping her arms around his neck to hug him tightly. "Don't do this, Merle." She pleaded softly, her voice cracking as if she was going to cry again. "Come back, home."
Merle didn't move, he just unlatched her arms off her as Michonne helped her out of the car. She shut the door and leaned into the front seat as Kaylee stood by the trunk, keeping herself from crying. Merle heard the girl sniffling, he looked away to keep eye contact from Michonne. She soon leaned back and shut the door with a slam.
Merle punched the car into drive, and off he went down the road leaving the women free. Kay stepped after, shaking her head at this. "This isn't right." She denied, turning to Michonne. "We have to go after him."
"He's a man on a mission." She dismissed, shaking her head. "If he chooses to do this, let him do it."
Kay frowned at Michonne, wiping her tear crusted cheeks. "You're just like the rest of them! Never giving someone a chance, I know he kidnapped me, hunted you down and other shit. But he's a good man inside, and Daryl deserves to have his brother!"
"Angela needs you more." Michonne countered calmly, turning around ready to head back. "Let's go." Hearing no steps following her, the samurai turned to find Kaylee limping in the opposite direction- Toward Merle's direction.
"I'm going after him, and you can't stop me." She stated over her shoulder.
With a sigh, Michonne slid her katana sheath strap over her chest and marched up to the teen. She grabbed his wrist, but the sound of a click made her stop. Kay had her gun pointing at Michonne, she must have gotta it back when sitting in the car. Michonne raised her hand and let the teen go, as Kay awkwardly walked backwards with the gun trained on her.
"What do I say to Angela?" Michonne questioned, watching the teen leave in a limping haste.
Kay looked behind her, and turned to jog the best she could with her leg. "Tell her, she would do the same."
After running and jogging after the trail, Angela and Daryl spotted someone in a field clearing. The two ran out of the woods, their weapons up in case it was a Woodbarian. Lucky for them, it was Michonne, Angela ran faster as Daryl followed behind.
"Hey!" He called as Michonne stabbed a walker head on the ground. "Where's my brother and Kay?" Daryl asked.
Michonne looked up, her eyes fell on Angela who scanned the area, trying to find any sight on her sister. Daryl marched up, seeing the look in her eyes as he eyed the sword up, approaching her. "Ya kill him?"
Angela kept spinning around, Michonne shook her head at his question. "He let Kaylee and I go."
The older sister stopped, marching up to her. "Where is she then?"
Michonne sighed, "She went after Merle." she calmly told.
Angela stepped forward, in her face. "You didn't stop her?"
The calm woman just stared into her eyes, not one of disdain but of understanding. "Told me to tell you, 'you would do the same'."
"Shit." Angela hissed, blowing into a sprint down the road.
"Don't let anyone come after us." Daryl ordered her, and ran after to catch up to Angela.
Michonne stood and watched the two bolt down the road, before making her long walk back to the prison.
Kay hadn't felt this flaring pain in her leg since she got frost bite back during the Winter. She tried to run the best her leg would allow, not stopping even when the throbbing was giving large signs to stop and rest. The teen wouldn't rest until she caught up with the car, to which she was surprised to actually find in a lot of a bar building. Feeling sweat drench her shirt and hair, Kay nearly dragged her leg to the car, seeing it empty. But the sight of the rifle inside and the engine running made her sure that it was Merle's. The sounds of clinking bottles made her follow the sound, making a haste to the trunk, she switched out the knife and popped the old trunk with ease. Kay resisted in any pained noises, as she climbed into the trunk and held it down. She heard Merle humming as he returned to the car, the door opened and slammed.
After some silence, Kay heard the radio upfront play loud rock music. She dared to peek out, curious what he was planning but stopped when she heard growling and saw walkers approach through the crack of the trunk. With her one hand holding the door down, she covered her mouth to keep from making any noise. The music got louder, suddenly the car jolted into drive, slowly driving from the walkers. It stopped, Kay almost shutting the trunk as the walkers were catching up. The car moved and stopped again, allowing the walkers to be within a distance to follow. Was he leading them somewhere, Kay thought.
The car continued doing this for a good while, Kay's arm was growing tired and she switched hands to keep the door in place. She stuck her knife between the crack to keep the trunk from closing, if she accidently locked herself inside. Soon, the car was in a steady pace with a large amount of walkers following.
Kay watched through the crack, spotting silos and a barn or so pass by. The music was blasting so loud, Kay heard that louder than the distant walkers following. After passing some silos, she felt the car weight jolt, taking a risk, she spotting Merle and barrel rolled out of the car and slid behind some silos. Finding herself now in a death trap, as the car was now luring the walkers and would stop, she jumped out of the trunk and limped over to some silos in chance of following wherever Merle was going.
She found a barn and hid inside, looking around for Merle Kay looked out the window spotting men standing around with cars. She recognized Martinez, and it clicked that the Governor's men were there in waiting for their women delivery.
"Merle, where are you?" Kay whispered to herself, watching the men look around in confusion to the echoing music.
It then hit her, this was all a ruse! He planned on going alone to trap walkers out and to kill the Governor himself. Kay grinned to herself stupidly, she knew Merle was good after all! But, this was also dangerous, how would Merle knew he'd make it out alright? Well, the teen checked her clip and cocked her gun, taking the assumption to help Merle the best she could. Even if it meant killing the living, to protect her family.
Kay was spacing out, jumping when the sound of gunfire hit her ears. The men were scrambling to kill the walkers at the blaring car. Distraction, she guessed. Without warning, one of the men fell down, as a bullet blasted into his leg. The next gunman watched but was soon gunned down with him at bullet pierced his neck.
The other men tried to take out of the large amount of walkers, but the injured gunman was soon held down by three walkers as they feast upon his flesh. Kaylee moved to another window, ducking in fear a bullet would hit her, wherever Merle was shooting from. She watched another gunman fall, trying to figure out where Merle was. Her eyes looked up to a building across, just as the light of a bullet blasting out of a gun came out and hit a fourth gunman.
"There he is!" She whispered to herself, raising her gun and aiming. "Don't be scared, don't be scared." She told herself.
Pulling the trigger as the bullet whizzed past a walker and shot a fifth gunman in the arm. Distracted, he was soon grabbed by a walker and pulled down to be a meal as well as he screamed for help. Kay felt her stomach churn at the feeling, but ignored it as she shot another in the leg, watching him fall to the ground.
Martinez seemed to have noticed gunfire coming from the barn she was in as he and another starting approaching. Kay knelt down, lifting her hand to see she was shaking horribly, trembling at this rush in her system. Moving toward the back door, she heard yelling.
"You leave him to me!" Kay looked back out, gasping to find the Governor had found Merle. His two men had been beating him up, nose bloody and cuts from punches being thrown.
"Merle, no!" She softly shouted to herself, leaving the barn to round the corner.
The Governor threw him back into the building as the two men turned back to shoot at the walkers. Kay took a deep breath, and raised her gun, pulling the trigger. She got lucky, one bullet shot through the one gunman's throat, and a second rushed shot pierced through the man's ear. The two men fell to the ground, one gurgling as she ran over ducking from the men's fire and the walkers' sights.
The gurgling dying man reached for her leg, but she reacted in defense and kicked him in the face to get him to let go. Rushing inside, she heard screaming from Merle echo out. Hiding in the shadows, she found the Governor holding Merle against the pipes and choking him. Kaylee closed her eyes, and tried to even her breathing, raising her gun at the Governor. When she pulled the trigger, it clicked, making her heart sink.
Oh no, she thought in panic. Her eyes shot up, seeing Merle now coughing as he was let go, the Governor stepping back to giving him a good look over. He was a damaged and broken man, hell bent on some stupid suicide mission that had failed in the end. Kay put the gun down, and took out her switchblade, creeping around as the Governor took his gun out.
"I ain't gonna beg!" Merle coughed out, head dizzy from the blood rushing back to his skull. "I ain't begging you!"
The Governor, mouth covered in blood, gave a sickly grin at the man. "No." He affirmed, raising his gun at the man's heart.
The Governor suddenly felt a blade stab into his arm, as it was tugged down by a heavy weight. He let out a yell as the gun was fired, the bullet hitting the ground as it fell from his hands. Seeing red, he punched the figure that had tackled him, finding not only a switch blade lodged in his arm but the attacker- Kaylee on the ground holding her cheek.
He chuckled darkly as he looked down at the blade, gripping it tightly he yanked it out, ignoring the blood oozing from his arm. Kay spat at the ground, glaring up at the man as he was finding his blood fascinating on her knife as it shined in the light.
Merle realized that he hadn't felt the bullet pierced his body, looking over to see the reason why. Kay got to her feet, her hands trembling as the man held her knife, she reached down for her hunting knife as the two did a stand off. She ran at him, letting out a battle cry but he simply tripped her back to the ground. She dropped the knife, as it slide across the cement to who knows where.
"You… bastard." Kay groaned, struggling to stand as her leg wasn't working well from the run she had and being in the cramped trunk. "You won't win."
"Really?" He challenged, licking his teeth of the blood from biting Merle's fingers.
"Kaylee!" Merle called out, just as she turned and tried to tackle the man again.
The Governor allowed her, but when his knife made contact with her gut, she felt the world freeze around her. Something cold was touching her flesh, slicing the skin and organs of her body. It registered to be true, when her growing blurry vision saw the Governor rip the said switchblade out from her gut and shove her to the ground. She heard yelling, screaming more like, as she stared at the old moldy ceiling of the building. Everything was muffled, shifting of footing and soon someone came into her vision. Tears started to shed from her eyes, her body shuddered now registering what just transpired.
Kaylee was stabbed, Kaylee was bleeding furiously as a hand was held against the open stomach wound. Kaylee was dying.
"Princess! Hey, Kaylee!" It was Merle, she was sure it was. His blurry face was hard to focus on as he kept pressing on her stomach.
"Mer-" She coughed at his name, tasting iron in her mouth as it dripping down her lip and to her chin. "Merle…"
"Hang on! Ya hear me!? Hang on, damnit!" He barked at her, his hand pressed hard as he looked around trying to find something to stop the bleeding. Merle felt his hand grow covered in red, the blood staining her shirt and growing more as time passed. "Stupid!" He barked in her face.
Her mind was blaring about waiting for the pain, but at this point, Kay knew the Governor had fled. No more gunfire was heard, only Merle grunting and cursing by her side on the floor.
"Me-Merle…" She choked out, swallowing the iron but coughed feeling it rising up her burning throat. "Merle.. I'm-"
"No, your not!" He denied, shaking his head as he pressed hard on her stomach. "I ain't letting this happen, ya hear me!?"
"You're… alive…" She let out weakly, darkness circling her eyes that made the redneck panic more. "I'm... g-glad..."
Merle shook his head, ducking his face as he refused to look at her face. "It was supposed to be me, damn kid."
Kaylee winced, the pain starting to set in as she brought her hands over Merle's feeling two fingers missing from his pinkie and ring finger. Merle felt sweat pour from his head, her hands gripping his tightly as if trying to find an ease. With his injured hand, he held her hands tightly looking to her face. She held fear, he saw it in her eyes, but her lips were curled in a painful smile as blood stained her mouth and lips. A gurgling was heard as the blood was trying to raise faster up her throat.
The redneck couldn't stand to watch her suffer, his head hung cursed to hear her gurgling in attempt to talk as her grip grew more and more tight. Soon, it loosened, as the grip was gone. His own was tight still, refusing to let go. He shuddered a sigh, letting go of her hand as he looked up. Her eyes were haunting hazel locked onto her as her chest stopped moving and mouth was pouring of blood. He leaned back looking at his blood covered hand, it was trembling badly after what had just happened.
"Angie!" Daryl called behind him, as she was falling behind from exerting her energy too early in the tracking.
She ran over, seeing they had finally arrived at the feed store location, where Merle would be with Kaylee. The two spotted walkers laying in the grass and bodies eaten alive. Angela saw a car in the distance with walkers dead around it.
"What happened?" Angela questioned, her gun ready for anything- Including for when she spotted Merle.
"Somethin' happened." Daryl responded, his attention caught when he heard a walker grossly munching on some meat.
Up ahead, more bodies were found, including a walker feasting upon a body. Daryl jogged ahead, raising his crossbow and shooting the creature in the head, letting it fall onto the body. "C'mon." Daryl called, Angela jogged after as Daryl pulled another arrow out ready to reload.
The hunter stopped short, spotting something walking in the distance. He raised his crossbow, looking through the scope, only to slowly lower at the sight he saw. "Angie," Daryl reached over, touching her arm. "Angie, wait." He called as she raised her gun at the approaching figure.
Soon, it was within sight that Angela realized what she was seeing. Merle, bloody and injured limped toward them. He was beaten and tired, carrying something- someone in his arms. His breathing was heavy as he cradled a blood covered brunette teenager in his arms with deep care.
"No, no, no." Angela stammered, her feet shifting about as she watched Merle grow closer. "No, it can't- no, no…"
Merle stopped short, looking down and getting to the ground. He gently laid Kaylee to the ground, angling her head as it resting to the side, eyes closed with a stab wound found in her temple. Angela stumbled back, her gun dropping from her hand as she felt her world fall apart.
"K-Ka-Kay…" Angela croaked out, taking two steps before falling to her knees, forcing herself to crawl to her sister. "Oh, Kay…"
Her trembling hand reached for her cheek, her hand curled and caressing her cold pale cheeks. "K-Kay!" She finally burst, crying out and cradling Kay's face. "Kaylee, please! Wake up!" She begged, lowering her head to rest beside her sister. "Kaylee!"
The woman sobbed over her sister's body, Daryl slowly approached from behind shaking his head at the sight. The girl he loved like a little sister, family, was laying there dead on the ground. He saw not only the knife wound in her head, but the real cause on her stomach where the blood was coming from that covered her shirt. His eyes shifting to Merle, spotting the blood on his blade that was dripping. He looked up at his brother, seeing darkness in those blue eyes. Anger, regret, pain- so much running through the older Dixon, something he rarely saw mixed with his brother's usual emotions. His fist on his side clenched hard, eyes closed turning away as he heard the older sister crying loudly in anguish of the baby sister's demise.
Daryl could conclude that his brother didn't do the deed, someone else. The only job Merle was forced to do, was to keep her from changing when they arrived. Merle was planning on walking all the fucking way back to the prison with the teen, so her sister could say goodbye.
The Dixons stood by, allowing Angela have her moment with no word to say. Daryl ducked his head down, heaving sighs as he wished he had gone faster to prevent this from happening. Angela sniffled, as she rose her head up, her eyes red and stained with tears that streaked down her face. Those green sharp eyes looked up at the Dixons, tears falling more as they pierced into the older one. She started breathing in a laboured manner as she launched at Merle, grabbing his shirt and pounding his chest, letting her voice screech into the air.
"Bring her back!" She screamed at him, pounding and punching his chest and shoulders. He allowed it, standing there taking the abuse. "You monster, give her back! It should've been you!" Daryl walked over, taking her by the shoulders to tug her from Merle. "It should've been you!"
The hunter ripped her off Merle as she hung limp, falling to the ground from Daryl's arms. The woman was broken, more broken than she could be. Her life, her world, and only blood was there on the ground dead in front of her. Angela looked to her body, feeling her stomach churn at the sight. Merle stepped back, keeping his space as he looked around at the sight before him. Angela dry heaved mixing with her crying was all that was heard, Daryl kelt behind her as he rubbed her back trying anything to comfort her. He reached up as his own eyes stung, looking at Kay's body. He stood, adjusting the strap of the crossbow over his chest. With a deep breath, he knelt down and scooped Kaylee into his arms and stood back up.
"Angie…" He gravily called, cadling the teen just as gently and close as Merle did with ease.
Merle stood by, taking steps toward Angela to help her up. When she saw him within her sights, she swatted him away, slowly making it to her feet with a stumble or two. Once she was stable enough, Daryl took lead with Merle following and Angela lagging behind, making their long trek back to the prison.
When The trio arrived back at the prison, Rick was the first to inform the group. They all ran out to greet the return, only to see the fallen member in Daryl's arms. Carl was the first to react, he turned away and ran back to the prison with Beth chasing after, tears escaping his eyes as he entered the block. Carol and Maggie were distraught approaching the distant looking Angela as she was silent and looking ready to collapse any moment. Rick was shocked to the sight, seeing the blood covering the teenager and her limp body held in the hunter's arms. He and Glenn lead the hunter to the yard where they were handle the burial. Hershel instructed Merle to follow him inside to deal with his injuries. Michonne wasn't expecting this when they had returned, feeling partly responsible for the results of this.
The funeral was short for the fallen family member, Kaylee, at sundown that evening. Everyone stood by but Merle, sitting in his cell to reflect on what happened. Hershel gave the ceremony as everyone stood there seeing the sheet wrapped body rest in the hole below them. A cross was made with for her, she would be joining T-Dog, Axel, and Lori among the graves.
Rick looked over the body down below, never wanting to imagine that he'd have to bury or put down this innocent brave teenager. Then again, he thought the same about Lori and look what happened there.
"Does anyone have anything to say, before we bid goodbye…" Hershel sighed, blinking his eyes to keep them dry. "To our precious, Kaylee?"
It was silent for a moment, Angela stood beside Daryl as he kept her close letting leaning her weight against him. He feared she would collapse, like she almost had during the walk back or break down in hysterics.
"She was like a sister." Beth swallowed, sniffling as she rubbed her nose. "Kind, resourceful, and always thinking of others."
Carol nodded, wiping her eyes. Hershel reached over, pulling his daughter into a hug and rubbed her arm. Carl sniffled too, coughing as he tried to keep his voice from from cracking like Beth's had.
"She was there for when… Mom died." Rick looked down to his son, standing beside him. "Makes me wish I was there for her, when she needed someone. Always making sure everyone was alright, even Merle." He added.
Rick cleared his through, hands folded in front of himself as he stood tall before the grave. "Kaylee, someone who was braver than all of us. Went ahead and took the risk to save someone, who we all thought was not worthy and at the cost of-"
He sighed, shifting his head as everyone looked to Rick, Michonne's eyes lingered on Kay before focusing on Rick. Rick pinched his eyes, and blinked looking toward the cross to continue.
"Kaylee will be remembered, and her death will not be in vain." He stated, looking now to everyone around him. "I am sorry, sorry that I allowed this to happen. I should've protect her, kept her close and safe. Kaylee cared about everyone single member, putting them before herself even at death."
Rick knelt down, taking a handful and of dirt and tossing it gingerly into the gave. Everyone took a handful and did the same respect, taking a moment of silent for her. Soon, everyone started dispersing when Glenn and Rick got to work on covering the gave.
Thank you for the follows and favorites.
RedVelvetPanPan- Ahh, then this might have raised it to red alert. I deeply apologize for feeding on the emotions, hehehe. Judging by this chapter, it won't be chill for a while.
I posted this early because we will be entering a new era for the story. Kaylee now gone, the writing will be slower as I figure out where to put Merle and make sure he's written well. Sorry for the tears, but they were delicious!