The scenery was quickly passing by behind the window. Rick was driving, Merle had taken the passenger seat and Carol was sitting in the back.
Dozens of emotions and thoughts were running through Carlos's head. She was nervous; there was no point in denying it. She truly hoped that this run would show Merle in better light and the group would start treating him differently. The current situation was unsustainable and the atmosphere of distrust and nonstop tension was slowly killing the group from within. She was hurt by Daryl's words and attitude towards her plan and by his doubts about her abilities. She sighed and focused on the scenery outside.
Merle was in excellent mood. He finally managed to get out of the bloody prison. Carol unknowingly gave him a unique opportunity he was so desperately waiting for.
No one believed in the survival of the fittest more strongly than Merle Dixon. No matter what was happening, no matter what shitty state the world was in, he was going to make it. But he felt vulnerable with that bunch of pussies his brother decided to join. They were ridiculously weak, waiting for an execution like the pigs in the pigpen.
Merle scowled. He kept questioning his brother's reasons to come back to the group but Daryl really never told him much. He grunted in disgust. He had always known about his brother's soft side. Daryl had been tougher than most of the folks in their old neighborhood, it was not a question. Merle had made sure that he'd prepared his baby brother well for the shit waiting for him. But still, there had been a side of Daryl that had driven him mad. He hadn't stood up against their father as often as Merle had. He had liked to hang out with the kids from the neighborhood everytime he'd thought Merle hadn't known. And he had been shattered when the useless bitch, who had called herself their mother, had burnt to death.
After all the time he'd spent and all those beatings he'd given to Daryl, trying to teach him they needed no one but themselves, Daryl had chosen the weak group before his brother. Merle was having hard time to forgive him, but he had saved his sorry ass many times before and would do it again. After all, he was the only member of his shitty family worth any attention.
Merle's plan was fairly simple. There was no need to be a genius when you had to deal with the group of women, children and unstable leader. Once Rick was out of the way, and this unexpected trip to town provided an exceptional opportunity for an unfortunate accident, the group will be broken. It would leave him just with Glen and old man.
Merle was not quite sure what he should do with Hershel. He quite liked the old man but he doubted he could trust him after he would kill his daughter's boyfriend. Also, the women and the sheriff's boy were a question. He couldn't afford to be surrounded by anyone he wouldn't trust. Maybe he could leave the guys from Woodbury to take care of them.
Merle wasn't naive to hope he could kill the Governor right in Woodbury, where he was guarded day and night by his henchmen.
But Merle knew his way around Woodbury and was sure there were folks who would follow him into the prison. They were guys, who didn't believe that the Governor was good and capable leader, and who were disgusted by his sick hobby. Such desertion would infuriate the Governor and lure him out of the prison again. Then, with several capable guys and in charge of prison, they could finally try to kill the bastard.
Merle didn't question his brother's loyalty. He might be uneasy about his "friends" being killed but Merle would make sure he wouldn't find out until everything was over. Daryl would find the right way sooner or later. His soft side involved Merle as he proved by letting him join the group.