Chapter Thirty Eight
When my bonds fell, Merle stood back so I could haul myself up onto my feet at my own pace. As I did, he examined Laurent's body, taking the dead man's weapon and placing it on the table before continuing rummaging through his unneeded pockets with a thoughtful frown on his face. I had to grip the wooden table top to help myself up, my entire body weak and burning with intense pain from the brutal beatings I had endured. Wincing, I finally straightened up and Merle glanced over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow as the painful hiss reached his ears.
"Everything hurts." I breathed as an explanation and the man's jaw tightened at the comment, though he said nothing more. "You saved me." I muttered, bringing both our attention onto what had just happened. Merle hesitated before standing up straight and eyeing me with a smirk.
"Surely ya hadn't lost all faith in ol' Merle, huh?" He sniggered and I wheezed a scoff. "We gonna 'ave to head out pretty sharp-ish, darlin', before they come snoopin' around." I nodded.
"We need to get Michonne." I told him, firmly. I expected some protests and was surprised when Merle's face turned incredulous - as if I had outright suggested the terrible thing of leaving her behind.
"Of course; can't forget Micky." He held out Laurent's gun to me to take though I hesitated before doing so and eyed him nervously. "I need ya armed, girl." I nodded once, swallowing back the thoughts of the weapon's previous owner and taking the outstretched weapon. "Can ya walk?"
"Only one way to find out." I muttered, shooing the man away to give myself some space. I lost my balance on the first step I took and latched onto Merle's arm for support. The man grumbled a bit at the contact but allowed me to use him as leverage to get myself straight again. It took a few attempts but I made it across the room to the door with a wobbly limp. Though it was good enough for Merle.
"C'mon." He grunted, leading the way out into the corridor, checking it was clear before beckoning me out. Merle had pretty much unlocked Michonne's door by the time I had managed to get myself to him and had stepped inside. I followed quickly, worrying about what state I would find my friend in.
The scene before us was gruesome to say the least, heart-breaking to come to terms with. Michonne's unmoving body was strung up on a single hook in the ceiling, her arms tied and held high. Blood dripped from the bounds and I gathered they had been acquired much the same reason mine had; in a bid to escape. Her body was equally as beaten and what horrified me the most was the bare minimum clothes she was wearing, most of her clothes had been discarded on the floor. Thoughts of what she had endured sickened me and I limped over towards my friend, willing the tears not to break. Her head was bowed and dreads covered her face; I was unsure if the woman was actually conscious.
"Michonne." I tried, quietly as not to startle the woman. The response was minor but the body before me let out a wince of a sigh. "It's Ruby and Merle, Michonne. We've come to get you out."
"Ruby?" She breathed and I sighed with relief. She was alive. Though there was no time to talk, we needed to leave. Now.
"Help me with her." I glanced over my shoulder at Merle. The man was stood back, observing Michonne in her state with a bemused expression, one of complete shock and with slight horror. When he made no move forward, I softly urged him; "Merle, please." That snapped the man out of his senses and he marched forward, his expression now a scowl. One terrifyingly dark. He gathered up Michonne's clothes before gesturing me to help her back into them. Carefully we dressed the woman, as not to hurt her too much. We ignored the all thoughts for a moment as we did, though I knew anger was brewing in both of us.
"Wow, Micky, ya look like shit." Merle whistled, getting to work on cutting her bonds. I was surprised when Michonne breathed a chuckle.
"Nice to see you too, Merle." She murmured back and Merle smirked. When he had cut one of her hands free, I looped it over my shoulder to keep the woman standing and to ease the weight from her. It was painful for me, the extra pressure, but I kept myself up and willed myself to remain strong for Michonne. When Merle had cut the other hand free, he caught the woman before she buckled and took her arm around his shoulder.
"I'll take her weight, ya go on." He nodded and I let Merle take her.
Merle directed us out of the dingy maze Michonne and I had been locked in and thankfully we didn't run into any of the Governor's men; probably because they were all defending the town against the attack. Gun fire and cries echoed in the background and I couldn't help the nagging feeling that the attack could be from Rick and the others. They had come back for us. Merle led us out onto the streets of Woodbury, which were in utter chaos. People were running, screaming, some were even on the floor; dead. At the far end of town, a large smoke cloud had grown and the Governor's men were firing in its direction. Returning fire came from the smoke and my heart leapt at the prospect of Rick, Daryl and the others lingering within it - just merely down the street from us.
"In here." Merle urged, gesturing to an empty looking building. I took one last glance at the battle down the street before leading the way inside through the front door. I was thankful that it was empty and Merle heaved a sigh before carefully lowering Michonne down onto a chair. I limped over to her, checking her over to make sure she was still breathing as Merle scanned the room we were in.
"What happens now?" I asked. "How do we get out of Woodbury without getting noticed?" Merle hesitated before turning away from the window and glancing at me with a raised eyebrow.
"If I get us out of Woodbury, ya'll will take me to my brother, right?" Merle asked slowly. I paused, remembering that while I was glad to see Merle, I had already pushed my luck bringing Michonne to the prison. I wasn't sure if Rick would be pleased if I showed Merle where we were either. But surely he'd understand? Merle is Daryl's brother after all.
"I knew you weren't doing this out of the goodness of your own heart." I muttered, smirking. Merle grinned back before holding his hand over his heart.
"Savin' ya ass was out of the goodness of my heart, darlin." He replied in a feign sincere tone. "Though gettin' ya out - that's sumthin' we're gonna bargain over." I breathed a chuckle of disbelief before turning back to Michonne. Her eyes stared back, though she appeared too weak to contribute, merely observe the interactions around her. I needed Merle to get her to safety, to get her help. And there seemed to be only one way he'd help us.
Before I could reply though, the sounds of footsteps alerted our attention. They came from the back of the house and I felt the fear course through me again. They would find us. I couldn't bear to think of the pain we'd have to endure again, a feeling of horror over-whelmed me and I shuddered when Merle went to investigate. With each step he took, my breaths were shallow and Michonne's hand reached out to grab mine weakly. I squeezed back as assurance and we both watched as our handless friend crept slowly towards the room at the back. When he disappeared from sight there was a sickening silent pause and we were unsure what to do. Then suddenly-
"Ya better lower the gun, Blondie, before things get real ugly." Merle's voice hissed. I glanced at Michonne. There was the sound of shuffling steps before Merle emerged again, though this time he was not alone.
"Andrea?" I gushed in exasperation. The blonde woman stopped for a moment, merely staring at me in shock, before she rushed over and held me in a hug. I hissed in pain as she squeezed too tight and she immediately let go, holding me at arms length and studying my face in horror.
"What the hell have they done to you?" She murmured in disbelief. For the first time, I forgot the pain and merely lavished in my friend's presence. She was here. And that meant the others must be too. "We've come to get you." She stated before her eyes turned towards where Michonne was supporting herself. Andrea's eyes immediately fell sour. "You! You're the one who tricked her here!" She cried, raising her gun to Michonne's head. Merle quickly stood forward, holding his knifed arm in Andrea's direction with an expression that told her to back off.
"What are you doing?" I cried, confused at Andrea's actions. The woman eyed Merle with a glare before glancing at me. Her gun was still raised.
"She's the one that took you off alone, she's the reason you're here!" She stated and I shook my head frantically at her assumption.
"No, no! Michonne was captured with me!" I told her, scared that Andrea seemed very willing to put a bullet in Michonne's head. "Andrea, she's suffered more than me at the hands of the Governor. You've got to believe me." Andrea stared at me for a long moment before lowering her gun slowly. Merle backed off and stood behind Michonne.
"The others thought that she'd tricked you, to bring you to Woodbury." She explained. I shook my head to deny this accusation and Andrea sighed before turning to Merle. "The hell are you doing here?" She demanded, none too nicely. Merle smirked.
"I'm a resident here, sugar tits." He told her. Andrea narrowed her eyes. "Though if it weren't for little ol' me; Ruby 'nd Micky wouldn't be here right now." Andrea turned to me with a raised eyebrow.
"He saved my life." I nodded. Andrea scoffed in shock. "He was going to help us out of Woodbury. Though I didn't know if Rick would want me to bring him back to the group." Andrea's expression hardened at this and she nodded thoughtfully.
"Not sure you're going to be welcomed warmly by everyone, Merle." Andrea told him. Merle shrugged.
"Like I give a shit 'bout what ya people think of me." He muttered. "Though I'm curious to know, is my brother here?" Andrea paused at his direct question and I too found myself intently interested with the answer. The woman hesitated before meeting my gaze. She smiled slightly at me and nodded. "Then ya gotta take me to him."
"I don't have to do anything-"
"Now, look here, Blondie-"
"Guys, please!" I hissed, hearing voices outside and realising that the two were getting quite loud. The conversation passed by the building we were in and we all held our breath, waiting for them to pass. When the voices drifted away, I breathed a sigh of relief. "Andrea, he's the right to see his brother again." I told my friend, firmly. Her jaw hardened at the comment, while Merle grinned. "Though we don't have to take him back home with us." Merle's grin flattered then. "We'll let Rick decide." Andrea looked happier with that idea.
"So, what do we do now?" She asked, with a sigh. "I've been sent to locate you and take you to safety. Rick and the others are providing the distraction. I've been told to meet the others back at the vehicles when I've got you." I nodded.
"You take Michonne to the cars - she's in dire need of medical care." I told Andrea, firmly. "And you make sure the others know that she's not the one who sold me out. You do not let them harm her, alright?" Andrea frowned before nodding.
"What about you?" She asked. I hesitated before sighing.
"I need to find my sister." I managed after a moments pause. Andrea's eyes widened and Merle scoffed.
"Ain't ya sister the one who is screwin' the Governor?" Merle asked with a frown and I glared at the man. He shook his head. "Darlin', she's a hopeless case. The girl is the Governor's pet; will do anythin' 'nd everythin' for him. Ya can't expect 'er to come with ya-"
"I don't expect her to." I denied. "I just need to talk to her. I need to understand why she can willing betray her own sister for that monster." Merle studied me for a moment before sighing.
"Well, ya ain't got the first clue on how to find 'er so looks like I'm gonna 'ave to stay behind with ya." He muttered before winking at me.
"You sure about that?" Andrea asked me hesitantly. I smiled a little.
"Merle's an old friend of mine, remember?" I assured her. "So, you take Michonne to the meeting point, Merle and I will catch up with you later?" Andrea hesitated before sighing and nodding with understanding.
"The cars are the same place we parked them before, you remember where that is?" I nodded after scanning my memories to locate them successfully. Andrea studied my face for a moment before taking me in another hug, this one more careful. "You stay safe and if things start getting dangerous, you get out. I know you want answers from you sister, Ruby, but your life is more important. We can get the answers you want later, just stay safe." I nodded and smiled. "Good luck."
Andrea then turned to Michonne, who eyed the woman before her through narrowed eyes. The blonde, hesitantly, reached down and looped one of Michonne's arms over her shoulder before heaving her up carefully. Merle scoped the back for the pair and confirmed that it was clear. Andrea promised she'd take care of Michonne for me, before the two vanished out the back and began their journey to safety. Merle returned to me, eyeing me with a raised eyebrow.
"Ya sure 'bout this, darlin?" He asked, slowly. "Cause there may be some answers ya don't wanna know." I shrugged, carefully as to not strain my bruised body too much.
"I'd prefer to know." I replied, an attempt of defiance and Merle nodded once before leading the way out of the building we had taken brief lodge in.
The streets still remained a battlefield, but as we passed across to the opposite row of buildings, I couldn't help but scan the smoke in an attempt to spot any familiar figure. Now that Andrea had confirmed that the others had come to get me back, I was over-whelmed with happiness and warmth; they cared enough to come back for me. The thought made me smile and I felt hopeful to set eyes on familiar faces once more and be back at the cell block that I now called home.
Merle's pace was quick and the man urged me to follow rapidly. I lagged behind, my pace a hobbled limp, but Merle didn't lumber on without me and would pause to wait for me to catch up before carrying on. He was persistent and his eyes were constantly on alert. His movements reminded me of Daryl's when the younger Dixon scouted in the woods, eyes alert, movements meaningful. The pair were more alike than I actually realised. Suddenly, Merle's pace came to a halt and I knew something was wrong as his whole body tensed. I waited beside him, urging him to do something, to say something. When he turned to me, he had a grave expression on his face.
"The Governor's apartment is in the next buildin'." He explained. "But we gotta problem, girl." I raised an eyebrow.
"What problem?" I urged.
"Martinez 'nd a couple of others are positioned outside." He told me. "We can't get through 'em without givin' ya away." I swallowed down, realising that this would conclude my journey to answers. Though Merle hesitated. "Though, I reckon I got a plan." My ears perked up at this. "I'll distract the goons, while ya sneak in through the door. The Governor's apartment is up the stairs 'nd then the second door on the left." Merle paused. "Ya will 'ave to go alone in there, girl, if ya really want these answers. Once I get the goons distracted, I can't help ya." I thought the idea over, daunted by the idea of facing Jessica alone and worried that perhaps she wouldn't be alone. Though I realised that perhaps this may be my only chance to find these answers.
"Alright." I breathed, nodding. "You distract them, I'll go up. We'll meet up in that building ee met Andrea in after I'm done." Merle hesitated before sighing and shrugging.
"Don't fuck 'bout though. Ya get in, ya get what ya want then ya leave." Merle warned slowly. "We don't got time for much else." I nodded firmly.
"Be careful." I urged the man.
In return Merle scoffed in disbelief before sauntering away to provide the distraction. I watched him approach the group, getting their attention and drawing it away from the door. When I saw the opportunity, I made my move. As quickly as I could through the burning pain, I limped towards the door, thankful that Merle's distraction was working. When I reached it, I glanced back, meeting Merle's gaze briefly. With a pause, I opened the door and slipped inside, shutting it firmly behind me and realising that now, I was alone.
"The Governor's apartment is up the stairs 'nd then the second door on the left."
I nodded once at Merle's echoing instructions and eyed the empty hall briefly before limping towards the stairs that I assumed Merle meant. Attempting the stairs was much more painful than I had assumed and I gripped the banister for dear life, the rail providing leverage upon each step. Once I had reached the top, I had to pause to gather my strength. I hadn't truly appreciated the Governor's damage in its entirety but I knew that I'd be aching and bruised for a while now. Carefully, I eyed the door Merle's instructions directed me to and swallowed back the feelings of uncertainty. I wanted these answers after all.
The steps I took across the hall to the door were small and hesitant. When I found myself standing outside the room that was apparently the Governor's apartment, I had to bite back the urge to knock. What was the point of being polite? With a sigh, I turned the handle and went inside.
The Governor's apartment was surprisingly lavish, taking me completely by surprise for a moment. It was so clean, so normal looking; completely the opposite of what I was used to now. I took a few steps inside, letting the door close behind me, and I observed the room with a feeling of brief awe. Though I then remembered that gawping at the room wasn't what I had come for and my attention was soon directed away from the lavishness and soon on locating my sister. When taking immediate observation, Jessica wasn't to be seen and I wondered if perhaps she wasn't in the apartment at all and was perhaps aiding the fight else where. As I suggested this possibility, I realise how stupid it seemed; Jessica wouldn't be one to engage in fight, she'd much rather cower away and let everyone else argue it out. Oh no, she was here somewhere.
Before I investigated more, I spied something on the dining table. Michonne's and my weapons. Michonne's katana stood out the most though my gun and knife sat beside it. I quickly limped over and took my gun with a sigh of relief. I checked it was loaded, finding all ammo still accounted for. I pocketed my knife and gun - still holding onto Laurent's - then sheathed Michonne's katana back into it's strap and looping it over my shoulder. The woman would be overjoyed when I returned the sword back to her. I then begun my look around.
I investigated the bedroom, though found it empty. Then I ventured towards the bathroom and still found nothing. It was only when I returned back to the main living space, that I spotted another door across the room. It was open slightly and there was an odd blue glow around the frame, coming from inside. Cautiously, I limped over to it, thankfully that I had armed myself, before slowly opening the door to reveal its contents.
The room was quite small and at first appeared empty. Though when I ventured further in, I found a single arm chair in the middle facing the wall to the left. The wall it was facing was where the blue glow illuminated from and I turned to look at its source, though started back at what I saw.
Heads. So many decapitated heads, some heads of walkers, some heads of once living people. They were contained in large fish tanks, all stacked up in rows and the number of them was over-alarming. I stumbled back against the door frame, not truly able to comprehend what was before me, memories of Ben's and Billy's heads came to mind and I felt sick at the sight of more of them. I was so over-whelmed with them that I hadn't noticed another in the room as well.
"It's strange, isn't it? How someone could keep so many of them as if they were his pets." A voice sounded from the back of the room. I whizzed around in an instant and raised Laurent's gun defiantly. When I set eyes on my sister, my eyes narrowed and I hesitated before lowering it, realising that she wasn't armed. She wasn't a threat.
"Strange wouldn't be how I'd describe it." I countered, bitterly. "More sick to fuck." Jessica breathed a chuckle and shrugged, before turning her gaze back to the wall of heads, a sudden hint of fear in her eyes now. I eyed her cautiously, reminiscing on everything that had happened between us before shaking my head. "What happened to you, Jessica?" I asked, slowly.
"The world went to shit, that's what happened to me." She retorted in a stiff tone. I narrowed my eyes at her.
"You weren't always like this." I shook my head. "You weren't always such a heartless coward who would willing sell her sister out."
"You're the one who left in the first place." Jessica muttered, eyeing me with a glare. I stared at her in disbelief.
"That's because your boyfriend and his friends were murderous rapists!" I cried.
"You left me."
"I offered you the chance to come with me!" I reminded her, my anger brewing. "You're the one who betrayed me and told the Governor everything. You're the reason Michonne and I have been hounded. You're the reason we were tortured and nearly killed. You're the reason Michonne was raped!"
"If you had just stayed then none of this would have happened-"
"Stayed?!" I cut in. "Why the hell would I want to have stayed? So I could be beaten to death or become someone's fuck buddy?"
"For me!" Jessica screamed, suddenly. Her eyes flared and I back off slightly, completely taken back by this turn about in Jessica. I had never seen her so angry. "You chose that woman - Michonne - over me! I'm your sister!"
"Well, the same could be said about you too, Jessica. You chose the Governor over me."
"His name is Philip-"
"And he's one sick bastard." I hissed, eyeing her carefully. "You know he's the one who raped Michonne, right?"
"I don't believe you." I scoffed in disbelief.
"Of course you don't. He's got you brainwashed into thinking that he actually loves you. It's like Bo all over again."
"Philip does love me." Her tone wavered and she didn't sound completely sure about the statement. I shook my head, smiling sadly at my little sister. "You have no idea what you're talking about, Ruby! You don't know him."
"I know him well enough to know that the moment he gets bored of you, he'll throw you aside like you're nothing." I told her, firmly. "You don't mean anything to him but someone to sleep with when he feels like it. You need to start realising that, Jessica. I'm your sister, remember? I tell you this for your best intentions-"
"My best intentions?" Jessica scoffed. "You trying to play the big sister role again after abandoning me, huh?" I shook my head, completely shocked by Jessica's words. She sounded so different, so brainwashed. These weren't her words.
"What have I done to you, Jessica, that's made you hate me so much?" I asked, quietly. Jessica's face started a bit at my question. "I don't recall ever betraying you, I've only looked out for you and wanted what's best for you. But then you went and sold me out. Twice. You sold me out to someone who wants to kill me." Jessica didn't reply, merely stared at me with an increasingly vulnerable expression. The pity that welled up in me only made me angry. I didn't want to pity her anymore. Not after everything she'd done. "Tell me!" I screamed, watching as Jessica flinched at my voice.
Suddenly, Jessica hitched a sob and collapsed into a heap on her knees. I watched in shock, unable to do anything, as her cries echoed in that unusually horrific room. My sister lay before me, crumpled into a mess and crawling towards me.
"I'm sorry." Her cries began. "I'm sorry, Ruby, for everything. I've been so awful to you! I was so blinded by love that I didn't- Oh God, I'm sorry!" I stared down at her as she gripped my jeans and couldn't speak to save my life for a few very long moments. She continued her apology, it mixing in with each sob. Slowly, when I regained me bearings again, I pried her grip away from me and backed up. My heart welled at the sight of my broken sister, but I knew better than to let my guard down. Not after last time.
"I'm your sister, Jessica." I began, slowly. She stared up at me with large, watery eyes. "I should come first before some guy, especially a guy like the Governor." She nodded frantically.
"I know and I regret everything that I've ever done to you!" Her eyes wandered to the gun in my hand and I tensed slightly. Though I had misinterpreted her observation. "I don't want to live anymore, Ruby." I started at this. "Kill me, please. I can't carry on anymore." I shook my head.
"Shut the hell up, Jessica. Get up." She shook her head.
"Laurent was right; I'm not cut out for a world like this. I can't adapt like you, Ruby. I'm not as strong as you." Tears carried on streaming down her face and I frowned at everything she was saying to me. "I guess that's why I attached myself to Philip. He kept me alive. I knew that if I was with him, then I'd be safe. That's why I didn't want to go with you; going with you was the more dangerous option-"
"You stayed with him because you're a coward, is that what you're saying?" I muttered and she nodded.
"I am a coward." Jessica breathed. "A coward that would trade her own sister in if it meant that she would stay safe. And I can't live with knowing that anymore."
Suddenly, she leapt forward, making a grab at the gun and I stumbled back when she collided with me. Her grip tightened around the gun and I tugged it away, though ended up falling back against the wall of fish tanks. There was a groaning sway as the tanks threatened to fall and I quickly rushed away in case they did. They didn't, thankfully. Jessica made another attempt at the gun and before I could stop myself, I had struck her hard, making her fall back.
Jessica eyed me nervously from her position on the floor, holding her face where I'd hit her. I stared back, in shock at what I'd done. No matter what she'd done to me, I never wished to hurt her like that. I swallowed back, before hiding the gun from sight so Jessica wouldn't be so tempted to jump me again.
"I will not kill you, Jessica." I told her, firmly. "That's not what I came here for. I came to get answers. And now I've got them." I stared down at her carefully before shaking my head.
"Take me with you." She suddenly begged. I raised an eyebrow at her and immediately shook my head. No way. "Please, Ruby! I'm your sister! I can't stay here any longer."
"You should have thought about that before you betrayed me." I muttered, making a move to leave. Though a noise behind me caught my attention.
I spun on my heels and spotted a caged door in the wall that I hadn't noticed until now. I glanced over my shoulder at Jessica who was staring at the door with complete fear. I took out my gun again before shuffling toward the door, cautious as to what was behind in. The lock made a loud echoing noise when I unlatched it and I slowly pushed the door open, stepping back away from it as I did. Then there was a pause.
Suddenly, a small being ran out of the darkness, its head covered with a white bag and its arms tied behind it's back. It ran forward, startling Jessica and I, though stopped when the chain around its neck went tight. It continued to thrash though, its muffled snarls and groans all too familiar. Hesitantly, I removed the bag from its head.
"Her name is Penny." Jessica breathed, as a zombified girl, no more than eight or nine, was revealed under the bag. "She's Philip's daughter." I turned to her in shock.
"His daughter?" I hissed in shock. Jessica nodded, getting to her feet and stepping toward the thrashing girl.
"He's trying to find a cure from the infection, to save her." She told me, quietly. "He can't understand that his little girl is gone and this is just a mere shell of her being." I eyed the girl quietly and instead of pitying the man who clearly loved his daughter, I felt nothing but anger toward the walker girl. As she continued to thrash wildly, trying to get to us, I saw a simple solution to getting back at the monster that had ruined so much that I'd cared for.
When I raised my gun to walker Penny's face, Jessica turned to me in shock.
"You can't-"
"Watch me." I muttered, cocking the gun. There was a pause before Jessica spoke again.
"Let me." She begged suddenly and I glanced at her. "Let me do this. I need to do this, after everything that man has done, it should be me." I eyed her carefully, not wanting to trust her with a gun. "I won't kill myself, or you. I promise. Pinkie swear." I scoffed, knowing that Jessica wasn't the best person to trust with promises but nethertheless gave her the gun, carefully. I was readily armed anyway if she tried anything.
Jessica hesitated before slowly raising the gun to Penny's face. Her face was thoughtful for a moment and I continued to study my sister's face as she contemplated her thoughts. When the resounding gunshot went off, followed by the thud of dead weight hitting the floor, I saw the Jessica I once knew in the expression of the woman before me. When she met my eyes, there was a long moment of silence as we merely just regarded each other. She mouthed 'I'm sorry' and I merely nodded once in return, holding out my hand to take the gun back from her. I was mildly surprised that she didn't hesitate before giving it back.
I took one glance at the body of the dead girl, before turning to walk away. Though Jessica stopped me.
"Ruby, wait." She breathed. "We can't leave each other like this. Please, tell me that you forgive me for what I've done to you!"
"Mother told us not to lie, Jessica, so I can't do that." I muttered, bitterly. Jessica bite her lip, her expression threatening to break into tears again and pity over-whelmed me again. At this, I sighed. "Look, Jessica. You can't take away the betrayal, what you've done has cut far too deep to fix with a mere apology." A sob lingered between us and I shook my head once. "But you're still my sister and I guess even after everything that counts for something." Jessica's face lit up slightly.
"Will you take me with you?" She asked, hopefully. I didn't hesitate in shaking my head.
"No." I told her. "Those people I'm with, they are my family now. I care about them, trust them, would die for each and every one of them. Which is more than what I can say for you. I won't put them in danger by bringing you back to them."
"Ruby, what can I do to show you that I'm sorry for what I've done?!" Jessica pleaded. "I'll leave Philip, I'll tell you all his weaknesses, I'll help you kill him. But please, don't leave me here with him! I won't ever betray you again, Ruby! You're the only person I care for in this world anymore and I'd do anything to show you that!"
My reply was cut off by the sound of the door to the apartment opening. Both Jessica and I froze at the sound and I watched as the fear transpired onto Jessica's features. Footsteps began to come closer and suddenly a figure appeared in the doorway, illuminated by the blue glow of the fish tanks.
The Governor eyed Jessica and I for a moment before his eyes wandered to the body on the floor. An emotion of complete devastation struck his face and I tensed as he took a step forward, his eyes never moving from the body on the floor. I backed up when he carried on forward, crouching before Penny's body and brushing the hair from her dead dead face. Another figure appeared in the doorway; Martinez, and the man visibly fell fearful at the sight of the dead girl.
The silence drew out in the room and I realised that I had found myself in a terrible predicament now. Martinez blocked the exit so I couldn't make a run for it, and I realised that the Governor would be out for blood to avenge his daughter. But surely Jessica, who apparently wanted to redeem herself and prove herself as a sister, would take the blame and perhaps save me? Perhaps we could get through this as sisters?
"Who did this?" The Governor asked, his voice dangerously quiet and shaky. Slowly he got to his feet and turned to face Jessica and I, his face strangely blank. Though I could see the anger behind his gaze, his fists were clenched to highlight his rage too. It was an observation that sent a shiver down my spine and I swallowed hard, feeling the fear myself. Neither of us spoke for a moment.
"She did."
The sound of the third betrayal surprisingly didn't phase me. My reply to Jessica's statement was a tired scoff. I might as well face my death now it was imminent. I eyed my sister with a look of pure distaste as she shone her innocent, flirtatious eyes on the Governor. She meant nothing to me now. The third betrayal was the last knock on the head - Jessica meant nothing to me anymore. She was no longer family, my real family was fighting on the streets for me. My real family wouldn't sell me out like this, they wouldn't betray me like this.
The Governor eyed me thoughtfully and I glanced at him before letting out a sigh of exhaustion.
"If you're going to kill me, I'd prefer if you didn't prolong it like this." I muttered. The Governor's eyes still implored mine for a few more moment before turning to Martinez. He nodded one cut nod and I heard the resounding noise of a gun cocking. This was it-
Bang.
I stared in shock as the bullet pierced Jessica's head, sending a thin spray of blood over the Governor. Her body remained standing for a brief second before she - my little sister - fell limp to the floor. Dead. It felt as if everything had stood still for a moment and though I had concluded that Jessica meant nothing to me, I couldn't prepare myself for the shock of her lifeless body on the floor before me. Jessica was dead.I stuttered to breath. My sister was dead.
"You know, Ruby," The Governor began, slowly. "I've always hated liars." I met his gaze, seeing that he had seen through my sister's lies and felt sick for a moment. He eyed me strangely, a sad look in his eyes, before glancing at Martinez again briefly, sending him another cut nod. A hard object struck the back of my head and I felt myself fall to the floor beside the body of my sister. The last thing I saw before drifting into the unconscious world again were the glazed eyes of Jessica staring back at me, burning an etch in my memories, and concluding the realisation that my sister was dead.
"Where'd you get that, Ruby?" My five year old sister asked me as I bounded towards her with a newly baked cupcake. I grinned at her before urging her to follow me under the slide in our backyard, of course she followed obediently.
"Mom just made some." I told her, holding it out for Jessica to examine. Our mother was an incredible baker and loved to decorate her work in so many amazing ways, her imagination ran wild where cakes and confectionary were concerned. "There for Uncle Stephen's birthday." We both stared in awe at the cake for a moment. Simple pink icing, though lavishly decorated with glitter, flowers and a detailed (hopefully edible) butterfly in the middle.
"It's a bit girly for Uncle Stephen!" Jessica giggled, smiling at me with a toothless smile. I nodded in agreement before holding it out to Jessica. She stared at it wide eyes.
"Go on, have it!" I urged. She shook her head. "I could only manage to get one 'cos Mom was coming! You can have the first bite! You're the youngest after all." Jessica didn't hesitate any longer before taking the cake from me and taking the biggest mouthful she could in the small mouth she had. She chewed it with a smile and nodded frantically. Though when I tried to take it back, to try it myself, she scampered away from under the slide. Taking the cake with her. "Hey!" I cried with a frown before chasing after her.
By the time I had chased Jessica around the course of the yard and caught up with her, she had eaten the entire cake. I frowned at my sister as she scrunched up the cake wrapper and threw it towards me to catch.
"We were supposed to share!" I told her, frowning. Jessica only grinned.
"Girls, what are you arguing about?" Mom's startling tones called as she approached us. I tensed, feeling the weight of the cake wrapper in my hand, and eyed our mother with terror as she set eyes on the wrapper in my hand. "Ruby, is that from my cakes?" She asked, plucking the wrapped from my grasp. "Have you been eating my cakes without asking?" I gulped in fear and tried to think of an excuse.
"It was me, Mommy!" Jessica said suddenly and I turned to my sister with surprise. "I ate the cake." Our mother turned to Jessica with a disapproving expression and proceeded to tell her off for her misbehaviour. Though Jessica didn't seem to care though, she bowed her head and took our mother's telling off and when she told us both to come inside, Jessica reached forward and placed her little hand in mine. She smiled up at me with that silly toothless grin and I remembered grinning back.
"Next time, you're gonna let me have some of the cake!" I whispered to her so Mother couldn't hear. She grinned again.
"Pinkie promise." I also remembered how glad I was that Jessica was my sister.
When I woke up the next time, I found myself in a similar room - if not the same - as I was being held in before. The only difference was the lack of table, but I didn't find myself observing this room for long as the door opened and Martinez waltzed in, the same air of cockiness as before.
"Sleep well, sweetheart?" Martinez drawled, smirking at me though I couldn't help but notice it wasn't as strong as before. My head throbbed from where he had struck me though the rest of my pain had numbed a little. Thankfully.
"You gonna interrogate me again?" I asked, shifting in the chair I was sat in. It was then that I realised I wasn't actually bound to the chair, merely had my hands tied behind my back. Martinez shook his head.
"Afraid not, darling." He told me. "I've come to escort you actually." Escort me? Martinez reached forward and hauled me to my feet. "C'mon, wouldn't want you to miss tonight's entertainment." The smirk he sent my way sickened me and I dreaded to think what 'tonight's entertainment' entailed.
I was led down the corridors that had kept Michonne and I prisoners for however long, though I noted that we were taking a different route than the one Merle took us down. My thoughts itched around the thoughts of the others. Had everyone got out? Had anyone been killed? I hated to think of the confirmation of the latter and urged myself to believe that I was the only one left in Woodbury and that everyone else had made it out, safe and sound. Perhaps the Dixon brothers were reuniting right this second, and I felt briefly saddened that I may have missed their reunion. Though I realised that I would be glad then that they hadn't reunited under the terms of Woodbury. That would be awful.
Martinez continued his shoving until suddenly we came out into an almost arena looking scene. The entire town had arranged themselves around a dirt pit, some on elevated stands that all overlooked the centre. The chatter between everyone was so loud and I was startled by the sight of so many living people. No one took notice of me though as Martinez urged me forward, though I continued to observe the townsfolk from a distance and remained confused on what was actually happening.
I saw the Governor across the arena, gathered with some of his men. As I scanned my eyes around the place, I noticed quite a lot of men with weapons surrounding the townsfolk and gathered that they must have been the Governor's goons. My eyes continued to sweep across the faces, as I waited for what was going to happen - was this going to be some town meeting or something? - though my eyes suddenly stopped on an obscenely familiar face. One that shouldn't be there.
Merle stared back at me with wide, horrified eyes. A gaze much the same as the one when he and Michonne left me in a herd of walkers. Why the hell was he here? Why hadn't he left with the others? I couldn't help the feeling of devastation that Merle hadn't made it out, but also a glimpse of hope. He stood near the Governor and his men and I realised that perhaps his cover as one of the goons was still up. With Merle on the inside, I held faith again that we'd both get out of this. We could make it out of this alive.
I attempted a subtle smile in Merle's direction, which was returned with a brief raise of the eyebrow. I trusted that Merle was still with me. We'd get out of this together. Just then, the Governor stepped into the centre of the arena and the townsfolk fell silent as their leader stepped up to his 'podium'. I eyed the man carefully, feeling fearful as to what was going to happen next.
"What can I say?" The Governor began, his tones seemingly calm. "Hasn't been a night like this since the wall was completed." I shivered at his tone, how he was able to capture the townsfolk's attention. Control them. "And I thought we were past that. Past the days when we were all sat, huddled, scared in front of the TV, during the early days of the outbreak." A pause, I shuddered as his eyes scanned the crowd, meeting mine for a brief moment. "The fear we all felt then, we felt it again tonight." There was a murmur of agreement and I eyed the crowd, wondering how they could willing follow the man before them - though they didn't know what I knew. "I failed you, I promised to keep you safe. Hell, look at me." He gestured to his body and clothes which looked tussled and bloodied - though not his own blood, rather his walker daughter. "You know, I- I should tell you we'll be okay that we're safe. Tomorrow we bury our dead and endure, but I won't. I can't." Another pause - He was all for the dramatics. "Because I'm afraid. That's right. I'm afraid of the terrorists who will want what we have-"
"There isn't any terrorists-" I tried to say though Martinez held his gun firmer into my back, hushing the rest of my sentence.
"You keep quiet, girl. You're gonna want to see what happens next." He hissed close to my ear.
"-Because one of these terrorist is our own," What? The Governor paused and took a sweep amongst the shocked crowd and I frowned in confusion. What was he talking about? My heart dropped though when the Governor set his gaze on one man and pointed harshly in his direction. "Merle." No! Other goons then had their weapons on Merle, who looked equally as shocked as I was for a brief moment before his face fell hard. The men stripped him of his weapons - even the blade on the end of his arm - and Merle was jutted forward towards the Governor. "The man I counted on, Merle. The man I counted on, let them in." The Governor's face turned into a glare as the townsfolk began to shout. "You lied. You betrayed us all." Merle's face stared darkly back at him and I felt panic build within me.
How did the Governor find out? Hadn't Merle kept his cover? Fear went through me as I considered what was going to happen next. What was the Governor going to do with Merle now? Now that he had been branded a traitor?Two men suddenly approached the arena, shoving in front of them a restrained, hooded person. The restrained person struggled against them though the two men kept shoving them forward, almost making them stumble a few times over their blind feet. Staring at their approach, I felt another sense of dread course through me. What the hell was going on?
"This is one of the terrorists." The Governor announced and I suddenly felt sick to the stomach. Oh God no! The Governor reached forward to take the restrained person and pull them close to him, making sure Merle could see them clearly. Then he took hold of the hood and revealed their identity to everyone. "Merle's own brother!"
Daryl.
He stumbled a little with disorientation, glancing around him before setting eyes on his brother. Merle stared back with a look of confusion, mixed with something else I couldn't place, and Daryl stared back with a look that could only be described as fear. I felt sick, feeling my legs ready to buckle beneath me. Daryl can't be here! He can't!Just then, his eyes scanned the crowd before connecting with mine and it only made things worse. So many emotions returned my gaze and I could only stare back in complete horror and dread. This wasn't happening! Daryl shouldn't be here!
But he was. Daryl was here. In Woodbury.
This didn't look good.
(Author's Note): Sorry for the slightly delayed update, this one took a while to get going. Hopefully it's come out alright! Thanks to all those who reviewed the last chapter, I appreciate it very much!
And the first episode - Oh it was awesome! So glad that it's back on again, I really have missed it in it's hiatus! Though please no spoilers for the second episode, us Brits have to wait until Friday :) Thank you!
So yeah, I've rounded it to the mid-season finale, which was an idea I was hesitant about. I didn't want to just rewrite the final scene with Ruby added in it, but hopefully it didn't come out too bad? I'm not sure what happens from here, to be honest. I'm not sure if I want to follow the show's lead and have Rick etc save them straight away or perhaps prolong it longer. I have some ideas, but you'll have to bear with me. I think the next update will take a little longer to get put up as I want to get my ideas together, but hopefully you guys will stick with me! :)
Thanks again, please tell me what you think of the latest installment! I'll update when I've got my ideas together!