Chapter 22

I despised being told what to do! I glared at Shane. I could see a bit of fear in his eyes.

"Prue what's going on with your eye….."

"If they are a dark red color I suggest you shut your mouth before I tear it off!" I snarled.

He opened his mouth to say something but then immediately closed it. I was shaking with rage.

"How dare you order me! I am not a woman to be ordered around Shane. I am a free woman and I will do as I please! You would do well to remember not to speak to me like that again." I said venomously.

I turned on my heel and went back to the farm.

"Unbelievable! Dale was right all along. Shane is no longer the man I once knew." I said to myself.

"Prue?"

I turned and saw Sophia and Carl standing there. They wore matching worried expressions. I bit my bottom lip nervously and walked over to them.

"Prue is everything okay?" Sophia asked.

I knelt down in front of them.

"I am not sure." I said honestly.

"What's wrong with Shane? He is okay?" Carl asked.

I looked at Carl. I knew that Shane was like an uncle to him. I knew not how to tell him of Shane's newfound insanity. Lucky for me Shane came striding out of the woods with the bag of guns. However Dale was not with him. I knew Shane would not risk killing Dale after I had seen what had happened between them. However the look on his face and the way he walked towards the group. I looked back at Carl and Sophia.

"Come with me and stay very close to me." I said.

They nodded and we ran forward to the others. Shane was handing out guns.

"Shane what are you doing!?"

"Protecting this group!"

"My dad will kick y'all out!" Maggie said.

"We aren't gonna leave!"

"Shane stop this now!" I said.

He ignored me and then T-dog spoke.

"What the hell!?"

I looked over and saw Rick, Jimmy and Hershel bringing two walkers towards the barn. We all ran over and I kept Carl and Sophia close by.

"What the hell is this!?" Shane roared.

"Shane back off!" Rick said.

Shane turned his attention to Hershel.

"You think these are people!? Let me ask you something! Would a living breathing person be able to walk away from this!?"

He aimed his gun and shot the walker in the stomach. I pushed Carl to his mother and Carol came for Sophia.

"Shane stop!" I pleaded.

He aimed and shot the walker another 3 times.

"That's it's heart! It's lungs! Why is it still coming!?" He barked.

Hershel was staring at it. I looked away and Daryl came and stood by me.

"These ain't people! They're dead! They are the some son of a bitches that got Amy and Jim!" Shane said.

I looked at Andrea and saw her nodding.

"SHANE THAT'S ENOUGH!" Rick shouted.

"Yeah you're right man that is enough!"

He walked up and shot the walker in the head. Hershel watched it fall and he seemed to be in some sort of trance. I watched Shane walk over to the barn.

"SHANE NO!"

He shot the lock off the chain and broke the board. He rustled the chains and stepped back. Rick was shouting to Hershel to take the walker he was holding. The walkers started to come out. I glared at Shane. Daryl pushed me behind him and started to fire at the walkers. I knew he was only trying to protect me and the others. I sheathed my sword and took out my pistol. I started to shoot the walkers down. I had no choice. As soon as they were all on the ground I looked at Hershel. He looked broken and fragile. I turned on Shane and walked forward.

"Prue just listen…."

SMACK

Shane stood there absolutely dumbstruck. I slapped him again and then kneed him in the stomach.

"YOU STUPID, HEARTLESS, WICKED MAN! HOW COULD YOU!? LOOK AT HERSHEL! THOSE WERE PEOPLE HE KNEW! PEOPLE HE CARED ABOUT AND LOVED! YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!" I thundered.

"Prue stop!" Glenn said.

I ignored him and kicked Shane in the groin. He fell to the ground and I looked at him. Anthony came up and pulled me back.

"I THOUGHT I KNEW YOU SHANE! I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND! SOMEONE I TRUSTED! I WAS WRONG!"

I pushed Anthony off and walked off. Daryl came after me and jumped in front of me and held me by my shoulders.

"Prue ya need to calm down!" He said.

I glared and struggled against him but he was much stronger then I. He shook me a little and then held my face in his hands.

"Listen to me woman! Shane is a dick and it don't excuse what he did! But yer not helping any by losing it! Ya need to take a breather and calm yer shit!" He said.

I looked into his eyes and stopped struggling. I calmed down and he let me go. I looked down at the ground and shook my head.

"We were safe here. Protected! We had food and water! Shane just robbed us of that!" I said.

Daryl took me in his arms.

"I know. I know. I promise ya no matter what happens I'ma keep ya safe! Yer not gonna get hurt so long as yer with me." He said.

I wrapped my arms around him and took a deep breath. Dale came back and stared at the horror of what had happened. I walked up and put my hand on his shoulder.

"We were unable to stop him." I said.

"It wasn't your job. We all knew this would happen." He said.

I nodded and looked at the walkers.

"MOMMA!"

I turned and watched Beth and Patricia run forward. Beth knelt down beside one of them. I looked down and squeezed my eyes shut.

"No please! Please come back! Do not leave me in this world alone!" I begged.

"Prue….promise you will fight! Promise you will keep going!"

I looked at her and then at the other. Tears streamed down my face.

"I swear! I swear it!"

I opened my eyes when I heard a scream. Beth's mother was not shot in the head. I ran forward and pulled beth away and then shot the walker. I looked at Beth.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

She shook her head and began to cry. Patricia came forward and I looked up at her.

"I am so sorry! I had no choice." I said.

"I know….it's alright. Thank you for saving her." She said.

I nodded and Patricia led Beth back to the house. I looked at their mother. I closed her eyes and then Andrea, T-dog, Anthony, Brandon, Carol, Glenn and Daryl came over with Rick. I looked at Rick.

"I think we should clean their mother and step-brother up and give them a proper burial." I said.

Rick nodded in agreement. I learn the name of the step-brother was Shaun. We cleaned them up as best we could and then found a spot on the farm and buried them. Maggie brought her family. I stepped forward.

"I may not have known Mrs. Greene and Shaun…however they will never be forgotten. They have a beautiful family and I hope that they have found peace." I said.

Everyone nodded and I stepped back. Daryl put his arm around me and I rested my head on his shoulder. Maggie, Beth and Patricia walked forward and said their good-byes. Hershel stood frozen.

I faced the my sister as she woke up from death. I aimed my bow at her with tears poring down.

"I am so sorry it had to come to this! I love you my sister! I love both of you! I will see you again!"

I squeezed my eyes shut and wrapped my arms around Daryl's neck and held back the tears. As we walked away I could no longer fight the tears. They came pouring down my face and Daryl held onto me.

"Prue it's alright! Yer okay!" He said.

"I had….no choice! She was a walker! But she….she….was still….my sister!" I sobbed.

Daryl said nothing and looked at me. He took my face in his hands and wiped the tears away with his thumb.

"Is that why? Watching all this…..reminds ya of yer sisters?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Ya did what ya had to. They weren't yer sisters no more. Ye heard what Jenner said. It ain't them no more. Just a mindless son of a bitch. They'd be proud of ya." He said.

I shut my eyes and started to cry once more. He pulled me back into his arms and I buried my face in his warm chest. He let me cry and just held me. It was the first time he ever let his soft side show to anything but love. I held onto him and let myself feel everything I had been keeping inside for so long. With Daryl there with me it was easier, it did not hurt as much as it had.

"I…love you….Daryl." I choked out.

"I love ye too."