Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
-Robert Frost
"The Governor will retaliate, and it will be quick. Quicker than you think. He will show us no mercy..."
Milton stood before the group now.. his group. He knew Philip too well to dare to hope for his surrender. He knew what he had done to Woodbury and to the Governor was, in his eyes, unforgivable. Yet he understood.. because Milton wasn't quite sure he could forgive himself for it either. He had never taken a life before.. but that all changed when he saw he had the life of Andrea and Beth in his hands. He wouldn't talk about what happened around them.. why should they have to carry the guilt? No, this was his burden... and his alone.
He knew that, even though the air was silent this morning.. it was only a matter of time before they came. It was only a matter of time before the faces around him faced the Governor.. and it was also only a matter of time before he would have to bury one of them.
Michonne had made her way back last night, and Daryl had come back some time later. He had met with Rick for a short while, and then went to bed. No watching.. no eating... something wasn't right. It wasn't until after that Milton discovered what was wrong.
"Merle's dead." he stated simply.
Milton couldn't quite believe what he was hearing.. sure, he never really got used to the man.. and the way he called him "Milty" irritated him beyond words.. but he never wanted this for him. He never wanted him to die, but one thing was clear now: Daryl would be out for blood. If the Governor was coming to the prison.. things were about to get very ugly.
Andrea was on the mend, and fortunately she remembered very little about the night before. Beth, on the other hand, seemed to remember it all too well. He had hoped she wouldn't take it hard.. but she seemed to be at least somewhat affected.
Things were different now that Merle was dead, and that he had died at the hands of the Governor. He had once been by the Governor's side.. just as Milton had been. Yet, he didn't hesitate to kill him? What did he have in store for Milton now? Surely whatever he had in mind for him would be so much worse than what had happened to Merle.
"He'll come for me next." Milton really hadn't told anyone about his relationship with Andrea. Or what the two of them had been through back in Woodbury.. so naturally, Rick was just as confused as ever.
"Why you, particularly? The last time I checked, he wants us all dead."
"I took something from him... w-well, maybe that's not entirely accurate. I'm not so sure she ever belonged to him."
"Andrea."
"Is it that obvious?"
"You brought her and Beth here, safe. I'm not so sure I could have pulled that off."
"I'm not proud of what I did... there were people.. they.."
He couldn't fight it anymore.. Milton had been forced to endure more stress than he had ever been under before in his life. It was more than anyone should have to bear. It was unfair to ask anyone to.. but it was forced upon him. The moment Beth came to him.. the moment he saw Andrea in that chair.. the rules of the game changed. He had blood on his hands, and he knew it was because of the choices he had made. It was tearing him apart on the inside.
This wasn't him. He didn't kill people. He didn't hurt others for his benefit.
Yet he had to, didn't he?
Did he?
Couldn't he have escaped with them without claiming any lives, or losing his own?
No matter how he tried to justify things.. it never worked. Those people were dead, and they weren't coming back. They had once had a family.. friends.. and now there was nothing left. Emptiness..
The same emptiness that engulfed Milton now.
"You did what you had to do. Nobody chose this life.. we woke up one day and it was here. We have to do what is necessary to survive."
He couldn't look him in the eye.. regardless of what the Governor had done.. no one else needed to die. Milton didn't want to carry a gun, much less fire it.. he had been terrified back at Woodbury, and not only for himself. Looking back, he was disgusted with himself. It had been so easy at the time. Now.. he wasn't sure how he could live with himself.
"Can we have a moment, Rick?"
Andrea.
She was out of bed finally...
He couldn't allow her to see him like this. He wiped his eyes and straightened himself up.. yet it all felt so wasted.
Rick walked back into the prison, and she smiled.
"We have to talk, you know?"
Damn. He had been afraid she would want to talk. Was there really any point in lying to her, now?
He sighed and sat down at the table. It was almost a peaceful day.. the sun was shining.. the birds were even chirping somewhere in the distance. It was almost ironic. The peace was somewhat dampened by the sound of walkers at the gates, though. It was difficult to soak in the sun while being faced with flesh eating monsters.
"..Milton... What happened at Woodbury last night?"
Nothing. He couldn't explain, really. There weren't words enough for the horrible things there..
He opened his mouth to speak, but a crushed, anguished sound erupted from his throat.. and he broke down. Andrea had never seen him cry before, and it was heart breaking. He covered his face with his hands and sobbed, yet he had never been more beautiful before to her. She tried to move his hands, but he turned from her.
"No, Andrea! You don't know.. you haven't..." he was on his feet now, tears running from his blood-shot eyes, and he couldn't stop backing away from her. Why wouldn't he let her in? It was almost as unbearable as his tears.
"You didn't have to do it."
"Do what..?"
"..I...You didn't have to kill them." He was beginning to hyperventilate, and he was scaring the hell out of Andrea.. she had never seen him so upset. He had always worked so hard to hide his emotions from her.. and yet now, here they were.. raw, and overflowing.. all for the world to see. He couldn't force them in now if he tried.
"I've killed a lot of people since this went down. I'm not proud of it, and it doesn't get easier. Sometimes there is no choice..." she pointed to a nearby walker, "It's us, or them."
He couldn't stop himself now, it came out, and it had to be said.. it needed to be said.
"I was going to kill him. For everything.. for you, for me.. for the group. I led a bunch of walkers to the town. Beth came.. she.. God, I don't know.. she was looking for you, and it got so crazy and out of hand.. the walkers attacked, and there was shooting... people got attacked.. there were good people that died, Andrea. Genuine, decent people. I saw them get ripped apart right in front of me. Philip shot at Beth.. we ran. I didn't know what else to do. What else could I do!?" He shook his head, and the tears came fresh all over again.. "I knew something wasn't right when she said you never made it to the prison. Somehow I knew right where you were. When I found you... I couldn't stop. I had to get you both out of there. You were going to die. I didn't really care about what happened to me. Maybe I deserve to die..."
"Stop... Milton.. stop."
"I killed all of those people.."
"No one should have ever had to do what you had to do last night. But, because you did it.. I'm still alive. Beth is alive. You're alive..."
"They opened the gate..." he was talking abnormally fast.. if he didn't tell her everything now, he never would.. he would lose his nerve. "They were shooting the walkers.. it seemed like it helped, to have the gate open, even though it was dangerously stupid. I stole one of his cars... and I.."
"You what?"
"I drove through the gate... and, I ran them down.. yes.. mostly, walkers got hit.. but I killed innocent people. People like you and me. How am I supposed to live with that?"
"You're not a killer, Milton... you are not the Governor. It had to be done. You know that.. deep down, somewhere, you know that. You don't have to be the bad ass and carry a gun, and take out walkers left and right. I fell in love with you when you were just the little crazy scientist that still cowered behind the Governor. I know you can protect me.. you proved that to everyone. You don't have to try to prove to me that you're not a monster.."
"It feels like I am."
"Well, stop feeling and start listening. Do you remember when I said I would shoot you?"
"I do.."
"I'll still do it. Chin up. You're too pretty to ruin it with tears. Now come on inside before I send Hershel out here to beat you with his crutches."
He smiled for the first time since Woodbury.. and it was a genuine smile. She was right. She loved him, and he did what he had to do to protect them.. he would, in his own way, mourn the lives that were lost.. but right now, he had to think of this group.. his group.
Inside, Rick was gathering up as many guns as he could. It didn't look like enough.. not near enough. Especially since he knew how much the Governor still had locked away. If they won this fight.. it would cost them greatly. He seemed to understand this as well as Milton did, and it wasn't good enough for his people.
"This wouldn't even clear out the walkers that are out there right now.. we need more guns." Rick began to pace.. Glenn shoved himself up from the table, "Maybe Maggie and I could go on a run.."
Carol nodded, "We're getting low on formula anyway.."
"No. Too dangerous.. and not after what happened the last time you two went on a run. We can't risk it. Tomorrow, maybe.. not now... not until this is over."
Beth looked as nervous as she had back in Woodbury, and just as innocent. "Do you think we can win?" she had her hands on Carl's shoulders, and he seemed fairly pleased about this. Milton guessed he had a crush on her.. young love was cute. He wished he had been fortunate enough to know it at such a young age.. but it was enough, to know it now.
"I don't know. Maybe? The Governor's got more fire power than we do.. but from what I understand, Milton took out a lot of his men last night.. Right?"
They were all suddenly looking at him, and he felt his cheeks burn. He had never been particularly good at interacting with people.. and groups of people were out of the question. He simply looked at the ground and nodded, but couldn't resist a smile when Andrea squeezed his hand. She admired the courage it took for him to even be there. He wasn't exactly your everyday social butterfly.. but he was trying.
"Milton here knows more about our dear Governor than any of us do... he can help us figure out his battle pla-"
"I bet he will." called a ragged voice,
everyone looked to see whose voice it belonged to, and it should have been fairly obvious.
Daryl. He looked as though grief had thrown him for a loop.. Milton had lost his parents at a young age, but had never known the loss of a sibling.. however, he imagined it was almost as unbearable.
His clothes were still covered in Merle's blood, and it made him shudder. His hair was just as messy as the last time Milton had seen him, and his eyes were blood red. He also noticed he had his crossbow in hand... and he didn't seem to be thinking highly of Milton at the present time.
"Daryl.." Rick breathed, and he lowered his head as if he were trying to stress something very important to a child that just wasn't grasping the gravity of it all. "Are you okay?"
Daryl didn't even seem to notice Rick had said anything. He still had his eyes on Milton...
"Ya'll killed my brother."
Fear immediately sank into him. The Governor was unstable, and he was violent... but he hadn't lost a brother, either. He didn't have the anger that Daryl had.. actually, when it came down to it.. Milton would have put money on the Governor being just plain crazy now. Seeing Daryl like he was now... that was pain. That was grief. Philip had lost Penny.. and maybe, in ways, Milton had made it all the more worse in saying that a shred of humanity remained within her.. but after seeing the walkers the night before.. that theory had died. There couldn't be anything less human about them. Yet they seemed more human than the Governor was.
"I...I didn't know about Merle until Rick told me. I didn't hurt him.. I promise I didn-"
Before he knew it, Daryl was on top of him.. he had slammed him down on the table, and somehow had a knife at his throat. Milton hadn't even really noticed him move his way. It just happened so fast.
He looked crazed, and seemed to be shaking with the effort of holding back. He could feel the cold steel against his throat, and when he swallowed, he could feel it pressing in. Daryl's eyes cut through him like a knife through hot butter.. Milton almost wanted to tell him he did kill Merle, even though he hadn't.. Daryl needed a release. He needed to hate someone.
And you can see my heart beating
You can see it through my chest
Said I'm terrified, but I'm not leaving
I know that I must pass this test
Everyone seemed to be moving in slow motion around them, and he saw two pairs of arms wrap around Daryl's. Glenn and Rick pulled him off, but not before he could slide his arm, and the knife, against Milton's throat.
As my life flashes before my eyes
I'm wondering will I ever see another sunrise?
So many won't get the chance to say goodbye
But it's too late to think of the value of my life
His hand flew to his throat, and Andrea was at his side at once, trying to pry his hands away. "Let me see, baby.. Please, Let me SEE!"
He dropped his hands immediately. She had never called him that before, but he couldn't appreciate it.. not now. Especially not when he saw the blood on his hands, and on hers. He heard shuffling and yelling to his right, but he couldn't look.. he could only guess Glenn and Rick had a difficult time restraining Daryl.
"Hershel!" screamed Andrea; it took him a moment to get over there, but he did. Andrea moved out of the way, and Hershel leaned in to get a good look, while trying to apply pressure on the wound.
It seemed like hours passed, but Milton knew it had only been mere moments. The warm, copper smell of blood made him feel light headed, even though he had already seen so much... too much, really. "He'll live. He's lucky, too. Any deeper, and we'd be putting a bullet in his head." Andrea's eyes flashed from Hershel's face to Milton's.. maybe it looked worse than it really was. Maybe, Milton was just in shock...
Maybe.
"Carol, hand me that towel over there."
Hershel began unbuttoning Milton's shirt, and his hands stopped him. He couldn't quite speak yet.. but Hershel believed he knew why he didn't want everyone to see.
"Look boy, now isn't the time to be shy. Don't worry about this. Lay your head back, and try not to think about it. I'll have you patched up soon enough... then you can bite my head off."
Hershel's chuckle didn't ease him any.. Milton didn't want Andrea to see what lurked underneath his shirt. He escaped the Governor's clutches, but not without suffering for it. His body had changed.. and he felt that Andrea didn't need to see it.
But she did. Soon, it was visible. There was nothing he could do. Maggie gasped, and Carol's jaw fell open, Andrea looked beyond sick... which was his biggest fear.
"A..Andrea.."
She shook her head.
"I didn't want you to know."
Andrea began to back up until her back hit one of the gates that separated each room.
"You're fine now, kid. You'll be in a bit of pain.. but you'll live this time." Hershel helped him sit up, and patted him on the back. The group seemed to move over to where Daryl was now, and Milton thought perhaps they did so to give him and Andrea some privacy. The cloth was irritating against his neck when he looked down, but it was bearable.. and it was certainly necessary.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
She had sunk down to the floor, with both knees drew up against her chest. He wondered when the two of them would catch a break. He knelt down beside her and placed both of his hands on her knees.
"What could I say? The night I left.. he followed me.. and he took me back to that awful room. He thought he could... 'encourage' me to stay away from you. He was wrong."
"You still could have said something."
"It would have made things worse. Besides, I'm alive. We're both here, and we're okay."
"At least for right now.."
This was true. He knew it. This was subject to change at any given time. No one was promised another day.. it just seemed to make each day they were given all the more precious.
"It's your turn now, you know."
She looked at him, clearly confused.
"What did he do to you? Why were you..."
"Naked?"
He nodded; as much as he didn't really want to know why.. somehow, he felt he had to. He had to know. Not knowing had tormented him more than knowing ever could.
"It's not what you think."
"I really hope not.."
"It isn't. He just cut.. everywhere. I know you saw that, though."
Milton nodded, and suddenly he remembered how she looked when he opened that door..
"You know.." she began to cry, "I understand if you don't want me anymore."
The idea was insane. It made no sense.. how could he possibly want anyone else? How could she even think that? Hadn't he given her every part of him? He had seen every inch of her body as well, and had found it all more beautiful than he'd imagine it could be.
"He must have hit you over the head."
"He didn't.."
"Well, why do you think that, then? I never really wanted anyone until I met you. Now.. I simply can't imagine wanting anyone else."
"What if he kills one of us tonight?"
Milton couldn't quite bear the thought of her dying.. not at the hands of the Governor. Not at the hands of anyone.
"I'll kill him before I let him touch you again."
Somehow, she knew.. he meant it.
Later.. Milton had sat down by Michonne to discuss the Governor's potential strategy.
"I think he'll bring those big trucks, personally. We've got the razor wire out there just in case, but it might not be enough for more than one truck." Michonne explained, "How much ammo do you think he has?"
Milton shook his head, truth be told.. he didn't really know. He knew that there was a large room in which the Governor kept most of the weapons locked up. He had seen it a couple of times, but he also didn't know how much it had taken the night before to rid the town of the walkers.
"Either way..." he looked at the table filled with too few guns and sighed,
"it's more than we have."
"He also has more men."
"Mmhmm... and he doesn't have children to protect."
"So, what's the plan, science boy?"
Science boy. This was Michonne's new nickname for him. He might have been insulted, but he knew she hadn't meant it negatively. Also, she had a way about her.. she just seemed genuine. Maybe he was hoping to fit in more than he did.. but he felt he could trust her. She didn't have any reason to be nice to him, but she chose to be anyway.
It was true, what she had said.. he did have more men. He had more experienced men, who didn't have a single problem with killing innocent people. They had done it before. It would've been just as easy to shoot Judith as it would be to shoot Rick to these people. Man.. woman.. child.. it really made no difference.
"I don't have one."
"I'm not surprised."
Daryl stood behind him, his bow over his shoulder.. he seemed more composed than he had earlier, at least.. he wasn't at Milton's throat now with a knife.
"I'm sorry about your neck."
It wasn't much of an apology.. but it was an apology from Daryl Dixon. He imagined these were rare. Regardless of how it was cut... he'd take it.
"I'm sorry about your brother."
Michonne drummed her hands on the table for a few seconds, "I think I hear Rick calling me."
It didn't take her very long to make herself scarce. The idea of being alone with Daryl didn't exactly thrill Milton, but it could have been worse, too. He could be the Governor.
"Look...I know you didn't kill Merle."
"And I know that this doesn't change anything. Your brother is still dead. His killer is still out there.. and he's coming for us next. I may not have killed him.. but I didn't take out the one who did."
Daryl snickered, "You know.. My dad, he uh.. he liked to drink a lot. I think Merle got that from him. I don't know.. maybe it just got too hard on him, ya know? Life, I mean. Anyway.. My dad would get all drunk and come home and.. well, he liked to knock people around for fun. I used to tell myself, 'I'll stand up to him tonight. When he comes through that door.. I'll do somethin' about it.'.. and I never did. Merle was always the one to take the beating, mostly. He got me a couple'a times.. but not like he got my brother."
Milton felt uncomfortable listening to Daryl tell him about his childhood... he really didn't have anything that compared to it, and he didn't know what to say to any of this.
Daryl shook his head, "Anyway, yeah.. I thought maybe if I'd stood up to him, maybe Merle wouldn't be the way he was. Man, I was wrong blamin' you for his death. We ain't that different, you and me. Sure, it was my dad that bullied me.. but the Governor's done the same to you."
He had never really looked at it that way, but Daryl was right. The Governor had been nothing but a bully to him. It hadn't always been that way.. Philip had been a loyal friend to Milton. He tried to get him to socialize more, even though Milton was content to be the recluse he had always been. He often had dinner at Philip's house before the outbreak. His wife made a great lasagna, and Penny was a well behaved child. Philip's wife was warm and loving.. she had always been kind to Milton.. always encouraging him to try new things, and humoring him when it became clear just how sheltered he was.
"You know.. I was so afraid of losing the one friend that I had.. I would take any abuse he threw at me. When I met Andrea.. it didn't really matter anymore. It started to really bother me... Maybe I don't deserve to get beat down all of the time.. Maybe I deserve something mo-"
Daryl jumped up from his chair and ran to the door to stick his head out. Milton waited patiently for him to come back,
"We got a problem."
"What is it?"
"Your bully's here, an' he brought company."
It had begun. While Milton had known he would strike against them.. he also dared to hope against it. There just wasn't enough time left. His heart began to beat like a drum, and every little thing began to overwhelm him. Where was Andrea? Carl? Where was the baby? Why wasn't anyone grabbing up guns?
Rick and Glenn ran inside and shut the door, while the rest of the group emerged from their cells.
Rick immediately began to take charge of the situation, which was something Milton admired.
"Okay, Carl.. you take Judith and get in one of those cells in the back. Beth? You go with him."
Carl shook his head, "No, Dad. I can help! I'm a good shot. You know I am!"
Carl WAS a good shot, this was true.. but there were bigger threats than walkers out there. He was too easy a target.
"Look at me, Carl. Now is not the time for this. You get back in there, and you don't come out, do you understand me? I won't lose you too."
Something about this struck Carl, and he did as he was told. Beth followed behind him, shaking nervously. She glanced over her shoulder at Milton, and smiled weakly. "Good luck."
"Andrea, you and Milton need to take one watch tower. Glenn.. Maggie.. you get the other. I want the rest of you on the ground with me. We've got some armor over there we stripped off the guards. Get it on, and do it in a hurry.
"Rick.." Hershel fully expected to be on the front lines, and Milton didn't like the idea of it. Apparently Rick didn't either.
"Hershel.. I can't. I cannot put you out there. If something goes wrong.. Look. I just need you to stay here. If someone gets hit, you'll need to be ready..."
"That's my little girl there, Rick." Hershel glanced at Maggie, "You're crazy if you think I'm not going to protect her every chance I get."
Rick nodded once, as if to say, "Look, old man, I don't have time to have this conversation right now."
Milton felt Andrea's fingers lace around his own, and realized that they seemed to have more weight than the gun Rick had put in his empty hand.
Have you ever loved someone so much, you'd give an arm for?
Not the expression, no, literally give an arm for?
When they know they're your heart
And you know you are their armour
And you will destroy anyone who would try to harm her
It seemed everyone was saying their goodbyes. Maggie kissed Glenn and wrapped her arms around him, whispering things that no one else could hear.. he knew this from the way Glenn kept nodding his head. Hershel began to utter a bible verse.
"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
When he met Milton's eyes, he smiled, and Milton smiled back.
"Alright.. on the count of three."
Daryl stood on one side of the door; Rick stood on the other. Michonne and Carol stood behind them, ready to run. Ready to kill. Ready to die. Ready to face whatever waited for them out there.
Andrea lifted her face to Milton's, "Whatever happens.. I love you."
He smiled, and felt hope.. even in spite of the beasts at their door. Even in spite of the gunshots he heard now outside.
"And I love you."
The door opened, and it wasn't his mind that controlled him any longer.. his body had now taken over. Maggie and Glenn ran to the left as quickly as they could, dodging bullets the entire way. "Go, go, go!" he heard Maggie scream.
Andrea followed closely behind him as he made his way to the tower. He would have to climb a small set of stairs to get to the top, which meant they would be unable to protect themselves efficiently. He heard a bullet pass by his head, and felt the wind off of it. It lodged somewhere in the building behind him. He stopped at the stairs and pushed Andrea in front of him "Go! I'll cover you!" she seemed uncertain at first, but began to climb quickly. Milton screamed when a bullet grazed his arm, and he clamped his free hand over it, aiming his gun quickly and firing off a shot, which luckily hit one of the Governor's men in the shoulder. "Are you okay?!" Andrea yelled after him, he nodded and joined her at the top. The Governor had climbed on top of one of the tanks to have a better shot, and it seemed had armor on too. His armor, of course, was better than their own. The best thing that they had were their helmets, which had a face shield. This offered some comfort. They might get shot in the arm, but they sure wouldn't get shot in the head.
Andrea took out a bearded man beside the Governor, who quickly turned his attention to them. Milton could see him smile and turn to say something. "Andrea.." he placed a hand on her chest and began to pull her back against the wall along with him. The sun gave off a glare on their face shields, but he caught what the Governor had said. He had asked for something.. and Milton had been around Woodbury and seen enough to know what he had in his hand now.
A rocket launcher.
Could they run? Probably wouldn't make it. He heard a 'swoosh' and there wasn't enough time to decide. "Andrea.. JUMP!" he screamed, they jumped over a nearby railing just as the rocket hit the tower, he managed to roll as he hit the ground, but his helmet fell off and bounced back several feet. Andrea hit hard, and she was sure she had at least sprained something, if she hadn't broken it.
Milton covered his head as debri rained down on them from the tower. He looked up to see Rick dive under a table just in time to miss a bullet. But that wasn't all he saw.
Somehow... someone had unleashed walkers inside of the gates.
They shuffled closer to where Daryl and the others were standing.. and they had their backs turned. They wouldn't hear them over the sound of the guns.
"RICK!" he screamed, and he knew there was no way he heard them.
He glanced back at Andrea, "Go.. I'm fine.. just go!"
She climbed to her feet quickly and took cover behind a small storage building.
Milton knew what he had to do.. they were completely open to attack.. and the walkers were closing in fast.
He slid another clip in and headed off in their direction.. he wasn't as good a shot as Andrea or the others... but he prayed with all he held inside himself that he would hit his mark.
The gun jerked back as he shot at one of the walkers mere inches from Daryl, and he was relieved to find he had nearly taken its head off with one shot. Blood splattered the ground and the walker fell at once. Daryl turned and came face to face with at least 20 walkers. As if instinct took over, several arrows left his bow and found home in skulls. Milton had almost reached them when a walker stumbled out from around a corner onto him, before he could scream, he had fallen to the ground with it on top of him. He struggled to reach his pocket as he held it by the throat, dodging its nails. He finally found what he was searching for: he pulled a small knife from his pocket and stabbed the walker in the head with it. The walker's skull wasn't half as hard as it would have been when it was alive.. and he had little trouble killing it. A bullet bounced off the ground by him and he flipped the walker over, taking cover behind the body. Blood splattered his face as they shot up the corpse, and he shoved himself off of the ground and onto his feet the first chance he got, wiping frantically at his face.
"Never thought I'd be glad to see you, man." Daryl called after him, he flashed a quick smile and aimed with both arms at the Governor, he hit him in the chest, and the Governor flinched, but he was wearing a bulletproof vest, so it did little to hurt him.
Suddenly Rick screamed, "CARL! Get back INSIDE!".. Carl had come to help, and while they could have used the help... this was no place for a child. What should he know of death at such an age?
Michonne slashed her way through the walkers as the others tried to take out as many of the Governor's small army as they could. Rick tried to reach Carl in time, but nothing could have prepared any of them for what happened next. As Milton could have guessed.. the Governor would target the weakest first. It took one shot to the stomach to bring the boy to his knees. Before he knew it, Rick had him in his arms, rushing him inside of the prison. He emerged later with another gun.. one in each hand now.. and he was pissed. Firing both at the same time, he managed to kill 5 men within a few short minutes.
There was another loud explosion; Maggie and Glenn ran toward them from the other tower. He thought for a moment.. where was Andrea?
The Governor had gotten back in the tank and was now breaking through the gates, running down walkers as he did so.
"Andrea.." Milton breathed, and he saw her on the ground by the small building, clutching her ankle. It was only a matter of time before they began to shoot that building up. He ran to her, and miraculously dodged each bullet that came his way, even though it took him falling to the ground and crawling at one point. "Get up! you have to get up!" she looked at him with tear-filled eyes, "I can't.. I think it's broken..!" He weighed the situation for a few short moments. If she tried to limp over, she'd be too slow, and she'd get shot. If she stayed.. she was a goner, as well. There was only one option.
He helped her up and threw her over his shoulder.. if he could get her inside of the prison, it was worth the risk.. but unfortunately, she did slow him down.. and he was a prime target for the Governor's men. He heard the gunshots, and he knew it was coming.. his own death. Possibly Andrea's. He regretted his decision immediately to make a run for it.. but there was no going back now.
The bullet reached his location.. the bullet that would send him to an early grave.. and instead of killing him, Michonne lept in front of him and slashed at the air with her sword. Somehow... beyond belief... she had deflected it. He didn't know if luck was on their side, or a higher power.. either way.. he was eternally grateful.. and he knew he owed Michonne big. He would scavenge as much as necessary to add to her collection of cat objects if they survived this.
With the help of Michonne, he got Andrea back to the prison and joined the group outside once more. It was time to end this once and for all.
"I'm not waiting here to die.. I'm going out there." Michonne declared. It seemed like a long shot.. but no more than waiting there and hoping they had enough bullets to take out the rest of his men from a distance. It was too unlikely.
Hershel had returned to the prison to tend to Carl and Andrea, and the rest of the remaining members of the group decided to make one final stand against the Governor.
They would march out on him and his men.. to death, perhaps.. but they would do so with their heads held high in defiance. Michonne climbed onto Daryl's motorcycle with him, and they rode out into the crowd of walkers and 'soldiers'. Daryl slashed with his knife at nearby bodies-alive or dead- and Michonne was more than capable of bringing death with her sword. The way was clear for the time being. Carol, Rick, Maggie, Glenn, and Milton made their way out behind them with all guns blazing. Milton managed to take out 3 men to the right of the Governor, and with the aid of the others, the remaining men fell quickly and swiftly. Carol took a shot to the arm, and Glenn took one to the leg. All things considered, they were unbelievably lucky. It seemed the Governor was all that was left. All of the walkers were dead-truly dead-at the moment.. and the threat was minimal. The Governor still had his fair share of ammo at his disposal, yet, instead of firing at them like expected.. he froze in place... his gun fell from his hand, and his expression went blank. Milton wasn't sure what happened.. none of them were.. not until Daryl's head appeared behind his back, wearing a smile on his face. He had the Governor by the throat, and grabbed one of his arms, placing it behind his back. The Governor kicked, but Daryl easily avoided his blows. Daryl drug him down from the tank and lead him towards one of the nearby gates. "Come on!" he called to the group. Carol, without stopping, shot a walker on the way. Milton couldn't help but chuckle.. Carol was a brilliant shot.
"Get those chains over there, Michonne." Daryl said. Milton wasn't entirely sure what he had planned, but he knew that it would be brutal.
"Milton.. this isn't you, buddy." The Governor said, his tone pleading. "I haven't always made the best choices, but I've kept my people safe."
Milton stepped back away from him. "Uh uh. Milton.. you've been afraid of him for too long, man. It's over." Daryl beckoned Milton over. "Tell him."
Milton, for the first time, looked into his eyes.. and he felt no fear. He felt nothing but pity. As much fear as he had for this man.. he knew deep within himself.. he was more of a man than the Governor could ever be. He knew love.. he knew hope.. the Governor had a chance at these things.. but he threw it all away.
Michonne appeared on the other side of the fence with the chains in hand, "Feed it to me," Daryl instructed. Milton heard the familiar sound of walkers, yet no one made an effort to hold them off. They hadn't become an immediate threat. Not yet.
Daryl roped the chains around the Governor and Michonne secured it on the other side.
"Come on guys, you really gonna leave me like this?" he chuckled nervously. "Are you, Milton?"
Milton didn't like what was happening.. but he couldn't deny that the Governor had brought retribution down upon himself.
"It's over.." Milton breathed, and Daryl patted him on the back. "Hell yeah it is." The Governor switched his gaze to Daryl, "That's what you think, you backwoods hillbilly... my people will hunt you down, do you hear me? Do you think this is the en-" It wasn't Daryl that landed the punch, to the Governor's surprise... no.. it was Milton. He drew back his fist and shook it in pain. It wasn't nearly as easy as he had seen in the movies. The Governor stared in shock, and Milton couldn't take it anymore. It WAS over.. and he longed to be rid of it all.
Daryl smiled at him as the rest of the group made their way back to the prison.
Rick held the gate open for him,
"You might'a killed my brother.. but know this.. he still won." Daryl said simply, the Governor didn't have anything more to say. Even with the sun in his eyes, he could hear fate approaching him. The sound of death was not a pleasant one.
Daryl ran for the gate and Rick closed it behind him.
"I can't watch this." Milton frowned, Michonne, without warning, hugged him. Which, in a way.. scared him more than the scene before him. Michonne was not the type to show affection.. and not in such a way. Yet he welcomed it. Daryl forced Milton to turn away. "You've done more than your share, man.. go. Go check on Andrea. We'll be in when... well.. when it's over."
Milton nodded and went inside the prison.
"Are you sure about this?" Rick asked,
"As sure as he was about killing Merle."
Daryl didn't bat an eyelash as the walkers approached. The Governor began to whimper. "Let me go.. and I'll leave. This doesn't have to happen. Daryl, you're not like Merle.. you're not a killer. You can turn this around.. my blood doesn't have to be on your hands, boy."
Michonne placed a hand on Daryl's shoulder the second he showed signs of doubt,
"Yet it was alright for you to have our blood on yours."
Rick turned and went back to the prison to see about Carl and Milton. Michonne didn't particularly care to kill innocent human beings.. but this man wasn't exactly innocent either.
Daryl grabbed her hand as the walkers were close enough for the Governor to reach out and grab.
"Tell me this is right. Tell me Michonne..."
"So many innocent men have died at his hands. They cry out for justice.."
The Governor's screams sliced through the silence, and justice was met.
Inside the prison, Milton heard the screams, and he covered his ears. Tears streamed down his cheeks. He leaned into Andrea's chest, and she stroked his hair until the screams died out. Until mere moments had passed..
Until one final gun shot rang out.
Later that afternoon, Daryl and Michonne came back inside of the prison. The mood was lighter inside than it had been outside. Carl was injured, but he would survive. Carol, Glenn, and Andrea were also on the mend. It seemed they all escaped with their lives. There was no explanation for it. By all means, they should have all perished. They had a significant disadvantage.
Milton was the first to speak to Daryl.
"Is he..."
"He's dead, Milton. I'm sorry."
Milton nodded, and somehow he was able to accept it. Didn't it always have to come to this?
"We uh... we buried him. If you'd like to go have a word."
"Is it safe?"
"Actually, yeah. The yard's clear. Gate's not entirely repaired, but it'll keep 'em out for quite a while."
Milton decided to have that word after all.
The chains were gone from the fence, but blood remained in places. Milton walked past it quickly, and tried to banish the thoughts that threatened to resurface.
He stood in front of the Governor's grave and didn't quite know what to say. A small wooden cross had been shoved into the ground behind the pile of dirt. There were no great words, no little phrases to sum up how greatly he'd be missed. It simply read, "Philip".
It seemed appropriate. Here, beneath the earth.. he was Philip. That's all.. nothing more. The Governor was just a title. A title he never really deserved. Milton ached for the man that he once was. His friend. His protector. Yet, he knew he had found all of those things and more in the group. He had found a family. A life that he might not have chosen for himself, but he wanted nonetheless.
He knelt down and gathered some of the dirt in his hand,
"You used to talk of doing great things.. even when the whole world was falling down around us. You protected me when I couldn't protect myself. You taught me how to survive. How to talk to people more. But..." he wiped a tear from his eye and shook his head, "..you never taught me how to kill my best friend."
He let the dirt fall from his hand back to the grave, and as it did, he stood to his feet. The stars were beginning to come out, and the sun had begun to set. Andrea was waiting for him up the hill, with a welcoming smile on her face. Milton waved goodbye to his friend, and his past, and turned to face his new life.
Even as horrible as the day had been... it had come to an end. As all things must. Life must end.. friendships must end..
But love.. true love, like the love Milton and Andrea shared.. that was forever.
Love it? Hate it? Leave a review and tell me what you think!
For those who have asked repeatedly for me to continue this story.. you will be happy to know, I intend to. I will be writing a new 'fic titled, "Return to Woodbury", which will tell the events after this chapter, and so on, and so forth :)
As always, I am very grateful for all of the reviews, and views I have gotten on this story. I have very much enjoyed writing it, and hope to do more. This fandom is, after all.. one of the greatest around.
Thank you all so very much.
xoxo