"No!" I shouted, catching everyone's attention. The newcomer looked at me, giving Merle just enough time to lift Sam's legs and shove him off the side of the building. His scream reclaimed everyone's attention and we all went rushing to the edge of the building.

I stared down at the street several stories below. I could see Sam's body, broken and mangled, blood pooling around him. Walkers came from all directions, falling onto his body to consume him. I started laughing. I was aware of everyone looking from the body to me. I covered my face and sunk to my knees, laughing and shaking. Andrea and Jacqui were at my side in seconds, hugging me. They probably thought this was the last straw for my sanity.

When I looked up Merle was cuffed to a pipe and the newcomer, an officer like Shane, was in his face. Andrea and Jacqui stayed very close as I stood and made my way to Merle. Everyone was watching me like I was about to murder him and they were going to let me. I'm sure they were all thoroughly confused when I collapsed on the roof and clung to Merle as if my life depended on it.

"Told ya I'd take care of it," Merle muttered so silently only I could hear. I nodded because I couldn't speak. My breath shuddered with sobs and the occasional laugh would burst from my throat without my consent. I truly had never felt more relieved or grateful in my life.

"What is going on?" Andrea asked, sounding not only confused, but a little angry.

"Well, if y'all would listen maybe you'd know," Merle shot back at her. His voice sounded loud in my ear, but it was the sweetest sound I'd ever heard.

"What are you talking about? She's sick!" Andrea retorted.

"Come on, sugar," Merle gently pushed me off him just a bit. "Ain't no reason to cry no more. Tell 'em the truth," He wiped the tears off my cheeks roughly and I sniffled, doing my best to stop the tears. He was right after all.

I sat down next to Merle and took a deep breath, leaning my head back against the pipe and closing my eyes for a moment.

"I didn't even know Sam. Not really, anyway," My voice was calmer than it had been since I'd known any of these people. "He was my neighbor and offered to let me come with him when he left Atlanta. I didn't have anyone else to turn to, so I went with him. He made up this story about us being together and then just decided it was true and expected me to follow along. He raped me and beat me and told all of you I was crazy so you wouldn't listen when I told the truth," An unexpected laugh escaped me again and I shook my head.

Everyone was silent for a moment while I laughed to myself.

"I can't believe how stupid you all are! Merle was the only person in the whole camp who even noticed something was wrong. I even told Glenn this morning and I don't think he believed me," I waved my hand in Glenn's direction before letting it drop limply to my side.

"Is that what she told you?" Jacqui asked Glenn.

"Yeah," He spoke in a soft, choked voice.

"Why didn't you tell Shane?" Andrea exclaimed.

"It was none of my business! I told her she should tell him," Glenn defended.

Everyone yelled back and forth for several minutes. I ignore them and closed my eyes. I was so relaxed I probably could have fallen asleep. The newcomer shut them up, seeming to have the superior diplomatic skills.

"We need to find a way out of here," Rick, the newcomer, insisted. He tried to help me up, but T-dog, who now had the key, made no move to release Merle.

"No," I easily pulled out of Rick's grasp. "I'm staying here," He held his hands up and backed away. Without any fuss the rest of the group left and it was just Merle, T-dog, and me left on the roof.

I walked to the edge of the building and leaned over the wall, watching the last few walkers chew at Sam's flesh stripped bones. T-dog tried to get through to camp on his walkie and argued intermittently with Merle about god only knows what. One sure thing, however, was that I didn't care. I wasn't sure what to think or do now that I was free. All I knew was that I was indebted to Merle and was more than a little eager to fulfill that debt even if it took the rest of my life to repay him.