"Do we take it and run, or do we get Milton out with us?" Andrea asked Carol quietly, as they sat gazing out at the trees from their picnic spot.
"Can we risk it?" Carol asked, bringing a piece of cantaloupe to her mouth to eat, thinking how she was almost sad to be leaving. It was the first semblance of real life they'd had in a long time.
"Probably not, but once we steal it, we have to go so be ready. Phillip will be out on patrols tonight so we'll grab it and then head out. I've got a pack so we'll have supplies and weapons." Andrea told Carol who looked so scared right now, Andrea didn't know if she could handle it.
"You gonna be okay?" Andrea asked, putting her hand on Carol's arm.
Tears sprang to her eyes but she nodded.
"Yeah. Just scared." Carol said, smiling at Andrea.
"Me too." Andrea replied.
#################################################################################
The group made their way through the forest once again, the route incredibly familiar by now. They knew that Woodbury was low on numbers now due to the group that was killed by the walkers last time, so they were unlikely to be patrolling the forest. Daryl led the way keeping an eye out for traps and walkers alike. Michonne, took the flank, keeping an eye out for strays as they continued on.
Arriving on the Southwestern edge of Woodbury, they decided to try a different way in. There was one area of the town that didn't have guards on the high walls of the "walker yard". Trees stood tall over that area as well which would make it relatively easy to scale. The walkers themselves were kept in the locked shed within the yard, so they shouldn't have any trouble with them.
Daryl knew from what Michonne said, where Merle stayed. The real problem would be finding him there because he was often on duty patrolling. Daryl would be waiting in one of the trees for Michonne to return with Andrea and Carol, then the both of them would be going in to take care of their business.
It was dark soon after they arrived and Daryl and Michonne darted quickly to the backside of the walker yard. Tossing a rope over the treelimb, Daryl began climbing until her reached the branch, then pulled himself onto the limb. Michonne was right behind him. Daryl reached out a hand to help pull her onto the branch, then pulled the rope up behind her.
Michonne pointed to the yard and Daryl nodded, settling onto the branch comfortably to wait. Michonne climbed down until she reached the lowest branch, then lowered herself to the ground within the yard.
Moving her way across the yard, she disappeared into the darkness as Daryl waited.
############################################################################
Andrea waited until Milton left his lab before bolting across the yard and into his workroom. Racing over to the computer desk, she opened the drawer and grabbed the flash drive, slipping it into her pocket. Heading out the door, she checked the yard for guards but found no one and began to move across the way stealthily.
She was nearing the other side when hands reached around her from behind and grabbed her, pulling her back and covering her mouth.
For a second, Andrea thought for sure she was dead, but then she was spun around to face Michonne.
"Shhh." Michonne said, knowing that Andrea was probably still angry over their last meeting.
"I came to get you and Carol out." She whispered.
Andrea took a deep breath. She had been furious with Michonne about blinding Phillip, but after learning what she knew now, she just wanted to get out of here.
"Carol is waiting in her room. Stay here and I'll go get her." Andrea said, nodding at Michonne.
Michonne sighed.
"All right, but hurry. Daryl is waiting to help get you out." She said quietly.
Andrea nodded and started walking toward Carol's room.
Knocking on the door, Andrea waited, looking around for anyone coming.
The door opened.
Carol stood in front of the door with a tight smile on her face.
"Wasn't it nice that Aaron stopped by." Carol said, her eyes wide as she looked at Andrea.
"I didn't mean to interrupt." Andrea said smoothly as Aaron jumped to his feet feeling foolish at getting caught.
Andrea arched an eyebrow at him.
"I, uh…just stopped by. I was just leaving. Carol, it was nice to see you again." He said, sliding by Andrea as he left.
Andrea entered the room and closed the door behind me.
"Awkward." Andrea said, noticing that Carol was shaking.
"No kidding. Why do men have such bad timing?" Carol asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Come on. We've gotta go now. Michonne and Daryl are here and waiting for us." Andrea said, grabbing Carol's hand.
The two slipped out of the building through the back door. They didn't want to risk being stopped by someone in the street. Heading for the "walker yard", they met up with Michonne who rushed them over to the tree.
Daryl was standing on the lower branch reaching out a hand as Michonne and Andrea helped Carol climb.
"Boy am I glad to see you." Carol gushed, feeling incredibly happy to see a friendly face.
"Don't get too excited. We're not out of here yet." Daryl said, hugging her quickly before reaching down for Andrea.
"All right, Michonne, I'll be right back." Daryl said as he began tying the rope around Carol to lower down the back side.
"Once you get down, you run as fast as you can for the treeline. Rick and the others are waiting." Daryl said, as he started to slide the rope with Carol attached, downward.
Carol nodded.
Andrea climbed up to Daryl and nodded as he slipped the rope around her next.
"Keep her safe. We've gotta go for Merle." Daryl said.
Andrea stopped him, putting her hand on his arm.
"That's not a good idea, Daryl." Andrea said.
"I don't gotta choice. He's my brother." Daryl said, finishing the knot.
Andrea sighed and began climbing down.
Once she hit the ground, Andrea slipped it off and looked one last time up at Daryl to smile, before turning and running into the darkness.