Chapter 10

There was a roaring noise and she felt something wet land on her face and shoulders. The walker fell back, it's hand still gripping her hair. She was pulled back with it and in turn pulled Daryl down as well. The three of them landed in a tangled heap, not knowing what was going on. Daryl was trying to get them up, hearing shouting and footsteps.

"Oh my God! Are you two okay?" a familiar voice yelled. Hands were cutting the rope binding Cassie and then he could feel searching hands trying to find the ropes binding him. Once they were free he rolled over and found himself looking up at Rick and Maggie. Rick was still holding his gun and Maggie was clutching the knife she had used to cut them free. The Milton walker was on the ground, the back of its head missing. Michonne was watching the door, katana in hand.

He met Ricks eye "Cut that a bit close, didn't yer?" he quipped. Rick grinned at him

"Just glad to see you both okay" He bent and untangled the walker from Cassie's hair before dragging it away. Daryl got to his feet and held out his hand to help Cassie up. She flashed a quick grin at him, as she wiped Milton's blood from her face.

Rick and Michonne took point and Maggie covered their backs. They slipped down the corridors and found their way outside. As they ran for the cars parked there, shots rang out, bullets biting into the ground near their feet.

"Fall back" Rick yelled, They stumbled back into the building.

"You may as well surrender, none of you are getting out of here alive" the Governor shouted from outside.

"Any ideas?" Rick whispered.

"We can try going through the town, like before. The Governor and his men are out the back. It's night, most people will be inside under curfew." Michonne suggested.

"Worth a try" Maggie agreed. Quickly they worked their way through the corridors until they came to the town itself. They stepped into the street and walked confidently toward the wall. The guards on the wall were looking outwards and weren't expecting an attack from behind. Leaving Maggie and Cassie tucked between two buildings Daryl, Michonne and Rick made short work of the guards using knives. Collecting the women they dropped over the wall and made their way into the forest. It wasn't long before they heard the shouts and screams and knew the bodies had been discovered. They pushed their way through the trees, heading to where Rick and the others had left the car. They could hear the shouts of their pursuers as they crashed through the woods behind them.

"We're coming for you, you won't get away" The Governor was taunting them. "We're going to hunt you down. I'm looking forward to getting my hands on you Michonne, my men just want the other two women. Rick and Daryl, you will eventually die knowing exactly what is happening to your women and knowing that you were too weak to stop it" He laughed manically as his men shouted and jeered, calling what they would like to do once they had the women.

"Sick sons of bitches" Daryl muttered. They headed deeper into the woods but they couldn't lose the men following them.

Daryl suddenly stopped them, listening with a keen hunter's ear.

"Bastards have got ahead of us as well. We're surrounded" he told the others quietly.

"Now what?" Michonne asked, "Fight our way through?"

"We're outnumbered, they'll just gun us down" Rick pointed out.

"I've got an idea" Cassie spoke up, swallowing nervously as all eyes turned to her.

The Governors men moved through the woods. They knew they were close to their prey.

"Looking forward to getting me some of those women. Tasty pieces both of them" one of them leered. His companion laughed and agreed. Suddenly they spotted something just ahead. They crept through the undergrowth and saw one of the women they'd been thinking about. She was leaning against a tree, clearly favouring one leg. One of the straps of her tight tank top had slipped down her shoulder and her hair was loose down her back. She looked small and defenceless.

She gave a small shriek when she saw them.

"What you doin' all on your own?" one of the men asked, eying her up and down.

"Please" she cried "Don't hurt me, don't take me back there. I hurt my knee and the others just left me." She lowered her eyes "I'll do anything you want if you don't take me back there" the men looked at each other and grinned.

"It would be nice not to have to share" one of them noted. They advanced on her. One reached out and put his hand on her shoulder, slipping the other strap down her arm. She raised her eyes and smiled at him.

The men smiled back thinking she was looking forward to what they had planned. Daryl and Michonne slipped silently from their hiding places. Quickly they used their knives to kill the men, catching the bodies and lowering them to the ground to minimise the noise.

Cassie adjusted the straps on her top, and flashed a grin at them.

"Glad you didn't wait any longer" she shuddered , as Maggie and Rick came out from where they had been hiding in the trees. They set off once more. Killing the two men had given them a reprieve from the men in front and they made good time. Soon the green of the car could be seen through the trees. Rick and Michonne went ahead to check it was clear. They waved the others over and they all piled in. Rick shoved the key in and turned it. Nothing happened.

He turned the key a second time, again nothing. Daryl jumped out and Rick hit the hood release. Daryl ripped the hood up and swore loudly. The engine had been trashed, pipes had been severed and wires torn out. The car was going nowhere.

"God damn bastard" Daryl muttered as he peered into the trees, looking for any sign of the Governor or his men.

"We'll have to carry on by foot" Rick opened the trunk and they collected all the spare ammo they could find.

They could hear movement from all around them, along with shouts and laughter. A burst of automatic rifle fire ripped through the trees, tearing into the ground and tree trunks close to them.

"You all still alive?" the Governor mocked as they moved deeper into the forest. There was a sudden explosion and they were all knocked to the ground. Ears ringing they staggered to their feet.

"Bastards have got grenades" Daryl helped Cassie up. Rick was looking around, checking everyone was okay.

"Where's Michonne?" he hissed

A quick search found no sign of the woman.

"She left us" Maggie whispered, eyes wide in shock.

"She wouldn't" Rick was unsure "Would she?"

"Don't matter now" Daryl was more concerned about their current situation "We need to find a way to save our own asses"

They were working their way through the woods in the general direction of the prison, hoping to catch a break but everything was against them. They heard groaning and shuffling feet just before the walkers came into view, drawn by the sound of the explosion and gunfire. They had no choice but to retreat towards the Governor's men.

More gunfire erupted by their feet, driving them back. They tried going to the side but bullets sprayed the ground forcing them back towards the walkers.

"Nowhere left to go. Throw down your weapons and surrender and we'll save you from the biters. My men still want the women but at least they'll get to live" The Governor sounded like he was enjoying himself as he called to them.

The four of them stood back to back, covering all directions, weapons raised. They could see flashes of movement as the Governor's men advanced on them.

A soft grunt caught Maggie's attention and her eyes widened as she saw Michonne lowering the body of the man she had just killed.

"Rick" Maggie hissed as Michonne indicated they should head towards her.

"You and Cassie go now" he ordered " We'll cover you" He and Daryl opened fire, shooting indiscriminately into the trees, hoping to cause enough of a distraction for the women to get clear.

Maggie and Cassie ran towards Michonne. As they reached where they had last seen her another explosion ripped the air.