Merry Christmas everyone! This is a special chapter. Why? Because there will be lots of action, drama, little romance and horror. There will be some lines from the first Terminator movie. We'll see who lives and who dies in this chapter. Read, Review and Enjoy. And Merry Christmas to all. P.S. I will finish this chapter ASAP. Virus happened so please be patience. Thank you.
Chapter 8: Vatos
The campsite
We see everybody minding there own business when Amy and Andrea walked in carrying fishes that they caught while fishing at the lake.
"Oh, baby. Will you look at that? Hey, check it out." Morales said as Andrea handed him one chain of fishes.
"Ladies. Because of you my children will eat tonight. Thank you." Morales said as he held both chains.
"Thank Dale. His canoe and gear." Andrea said.
"Mom, look. Look at all the fish." Carl said.
"Thank you." Lori said.
"Whoa." Carl said.
"Yeah, whoa. Where did you two learn to do that?" Lori asked.
"Our dad." Amy said.
"Can you teach me how to do that?" Carl asked.
"Sure. I'll teach you all about nail knots and stuff. If that's okay." Amy said.
"You won't catch me arguing." Lori said.
Then Dale showed up.
"Hey Dale. When was the last time you oiled those line reels? They are a disgrace." Andrea said.
"I, uh, I don't want to alarm anyone, but we may have a bit of a problem." Dale said as he turned around to point to where he wanted them to see. They see Jim up the hills digging. They want to know why so they went to where Jim is digging at. They got there and see Jim still digging.
"Hey, Jim?" Shane said but Jim ignores him and kept digging.
"Jim, why don't you hold up, alright? Just give me a second here, please." Shane said as Jim stopped digging.
"What do you want?" Jim asked.
"We're all just a little concerned, that's all." Shane said.
"Dale says you've been out here for hours." Morales said.
"So?" Jim asked.
"So why are you digging? Are you heading to China, Jim?" Shane asked.
"What does it matter? I'm not hurting anyone." Jim said as he starts digging again.
'Yeah, except maybe yourself. It's a- It's a hundred degrees today. You can't keep this up." Dale said.
"Sure I can- watch me." Jim said.
"Jim, they're not gonna say it so I will. You're scaring people." Lori said as Jim stopped again.
"You're scaring my son and Carol's daughter." Lori also said as Carl and Sophia stand next to Carol.
"They got nothing to be scared of. I mean, what the hell, people? I'm out here by myself. Why don't you all just go and leave me the hell alone?" Jim asked as he continues digging.
"We think you need to take a break, okay? Why don't you go and get yourself in the shade? Some food maybe. I'll tell you what maybe in a little bit I'll come out here and help you myself. Jim, just tell me what this is about. Why don't you just go ahead and give me that shovel?" Shane asked as Jim stopped again.
"Or what?" Jim asked.
"There is no "or what". I'm asking you. I'm coming to you and I'm asking you, please. I don't want to have to take it from you." Shane said.
"And if I don't, then what? Then you're gonna have Daryl beat my face in like Ed Peletier, aren't you? Y'all seen his face, huh? What's left of it. See, now that's what happens when someone crosses him." Jim said.
"That was different, Jim." Daryl said.
"You weren't there. Ed was out of control. He was hurting his wife." Amy said.
"That is their marriage! Not his! And you (pointing to Shane) are not judge and jury! Who voted you king boss, huh?" Jim said.
"Jim, I'm not here to argue with you, all right? Just give me the shovel." Shane said as he is about to take the shovel away.
"No no no." Jim said.
"Just give me the...Jim!" Jim shoved Shane back and swings the shovel at Shane only for it to be dodged. Shane tackles Jim to the ground.
"Okay, shh, shh." Shane said.
"You got no right!" Jim shouted.
"Stop. Shh." Shane said.
"You got no right!" Jim shouted again.
"Jim, just stop it. Hey hey hey hey." Shane said.
"Don't!" Jim said.
"Jim. Jim, nobody's gonna hurt you. You hear me? Shh. Jim, nobody is gonna hurt you, okay?" Shane said as he handcuffs Jim's hands.
"That's a lie. That's the biggest lie there is. I told that to my wife and my two boys. I said it 100 times. It didn't matter. They came out of nowhere. There were dozens of 'em. Just pulled 'em right out of my hands. you know, the only reason I got away was 'cause the dead were too busy eating my family." Jim said.
Meanwhile in Atlanta
Rick, Glenn, T-Dog and Merle make it back to Atlanta with no problems. They are now inside the building they were in last time they were in Atlanta. Now they need to figure out how are they going to get the bag of guns. Glenn plans to get the bag himself but the others have there own opinions.
"You're not doing this alone." Rick said.
"Even I think it's a bad idea, and I don't even like you much." Merle said.
"It's a good idea, okay, if you just hear me out." Glenn said.
Glenn had drawn a map on the floor with a black marker.
"If we go out there in a group, we're slow, drawing attention. If I'm alone, I can move fast." Glenn explained. "Look. That's the tank, five blocks from where we are now." He said, putting a large black binder clip in place on the map. "That's the bag of guns." He put a smaller ball of crumpled up paper next to it. "Here's the alley I dragged you into when we first met." He told Rick, pointing to it. "That's where Merle and I will go."
"Why me?" Merle asked.
"Your crossbow is quieter than his gun." Glenn said.
Merle smiled a little.
"While Merle waits here in the alley," Glenn continued, placing part of a circuit board on the map. "I run up the street and grab the bag." Glenn said.
"But you've got us elsewhere?" Rick asked.
"You and T-Dog, right. You'll be in this alley here." Glenn said while grabbing a pink eraser and setting it in place.
"Two blocks away? Why?" Rick asked again.
"I may not be able to come back the same way. Walkers might cut me off. If that happens, I won't go back to Merle. I'll go forward instead, all the way around to that alley where you guys are." Glenn explained. "Whichever direction I go, I got you in both places to cover me. Afterwards, we'll all meet back here." Glenn said.
"Hey, kid, what'd you do before all this?" Merle asked.
"Delivered pizzas. Why?" Glenn said and asked.
Rick gave a little nod of his head before glancing up at Merle, who sort of shrugged and nodded as well. So they went along with the plan. Merle and Glenn quickly and quietly descended the yellow ladder on the side of the building while Rick and T-Dog hurried on their way to their own position two blocks away as stealthily as possible.
"You got some balls for a Chinaman." Merle told Glenn as he pumps the crossbow with an arrow ready and the Asian boy removed his outer plaid shirt, balled it up and tossed it aside.
"I'm Korean." Glenn corrected him, suppressing the urge to roll his eyes at the redneck, before sneaking closer to the fence's already open gate.
"Whatever." Merle responded carelessly, ready to take aim and fire the moment a walker appeared. Glenn poked his head out, checking both directions to make sure the coast was clear before running onto the street and heading for the tank. As Glenn went to get the bag, Merle was squatting in between the two dumpsters with his back to one of them, still facing the fence Glenn had gone through. He heard the quiet sound of a paper being stepped on several feet behind him and quickly spun around with his crossbow at the ready. He looked down the sights at a young Hispanic man.
"Whoa, don't shoot me! What do you want?" The boy said.
"I was gonna asked the same thing. And why are you here?" Merle said, not lowering the crossbow.
"Ayudame!" The kid yelled loudly out towards the street behind Merle.
"Shut up! You're gonna bring the biters down on us. Answer me." Merle said.
Back out on the street, Glenn reached the bag of guns that was several feet in front of the tank. He was making his way back towards the sand bags, but quickly groaned and turned around to grab Rick's Sheriff hat. As he bent over to grab it, a Walker spotted him and started moving towards him. He picked up the hat and turned around, darting quickly around the sand bags and around the corner that would lead down the street to Merle's alley.
"Answer me." Merle said to the kid in front of him.
"Ayudame!" He yelled again. "Ayudame!"
Rick and T-Dog heard the screams from their position and started running towards the back entrance of Merle's alley, knowing the fence was at the front.
"Ayudame!" The kid yelled again. Merle brought the crossbow back and swung the stock of it across the boy's face, sending him flying backwards on the ground. He started to scream again but the sound was muffled by Merle putting his hand fimly on the kids mouth.
"Shut up. Shut up." Merle kept repeating as the kid kept moving and trying to yell. Just then, two older Hispanic men entered the alley through the fence opening behind Merle. They rushed him from behind, the bigger of the two kicking at Merle's back causing him to shout out in pain and drop the crossbow. The force of the kick caused him to roll a couple feet away from the boy. The other Hispanic man ran over to him with a baseball bat and started beating him as the other man came up and kicked him over and over again. Merle kept grunting and shouting in pain with every hit from the bat and kicks to the ribs.
Glenn ran into the alley from the gate to see the beating Merle was being given and stopped in his tracks. He was starting to back away to return to the street when the man with the baseball bat spotted him.
"That's it. That's the bag, vato. Take it! Take it!" The Hispanic man with the bat yelled to the bigger man who turned and lunged at Glenn. Glenn turned around and tried running for the fence but he was too late. The man grabbed Glenn by the back of his shirt causing him to turn around and have a fist to the face, sending him to the ground. He dropped the bag and Rick's hat. The man with the baseball bat had come up and was now hitting him in the back with the bat to keep him on the ground as the bigger guy grabbed the bag. They were too distracted by Glenn and the guns in front of them to see Merle scooting his way over to the crossbow behind them. He brought himself up on a knee and held himself up with one of his hands as he held the crossbow towards the men. He sent the arrow flying and hit the man with the bag right in his ass, causing him to yell out in pain and drop the bag. He reached behind him to remove the arrow and tossed it to the ground as the other man turn around. Merle pumps another arrow and took aim again as he kneeled up, but the man with the baseball bat had hauled Glenn up and was holding him in front of him as a shield. The man that was already impaled wasn't even concerned with the bag full of guns anymore. They pushed the open more as a car pulled up in front of it.
"Get off me! Get off me!" Glenn was yelling as he was being dragged out into the street with the 2 men. The car was drawing in even more Walkers than all the noise already had. "Merle! Merle! Merle!"Glenn was yelling as they got closer to the car. Merle got to his feet so he would have a better shot but it was too late. The 3 had got inside as the car was surrounded by Walkers and then drove off.
"Come back here, you sumbitches!" Merle yelled as he grabbed onto the fence with his free hand. The young man Merle had smacked in the face with the crossbow was getting to his feet, still a little wobbly. Merle ran at the boy and pushed him, causing him to stumble backwards. Merle was getting ready to come at him again as Rick put himself between the two. He put his free hand up towards Merle, he had his Python in the other.
"Whoa whoa whoa! Stop it!" Rick yelled as he put his forearm across Merle's chest, his hand gripping his shoulder as he pushed him away from the boy. Rick continued pushing Merle backwards because the man kept coming at him.
"I'm gonna kick your nuts up in your throat!" Merle yelled and pointed at the boy as he tried to push back against Rick. T-Dog put his hand against the boy's chest and pushed him against the wall of the alley.
"Let me go!" He yelled, pushing against T-Dog's muscular arm.
"Chill out!" T-Dog yelled at him and pushed him back against the wall harder.
"They took Glenn. That little bastard and his little bastard homie friends!" Merle shouted as he still tried to get around Rick, who kept his grip on Merle's shoulder, taking a fist full of his shirt just to keep a hold of him. Rick looked back behind him towards T-Dog and the boy. "I'm gonna stomp your ass!" Merle yelled and pointed at the kid over Rick's shoulder. Rick tried to back into him again as he pushed forward.
"Guys! Guys! We're cut off!" T-Dog yelled and with his free hand, pointed to the fence behind the other 2. Rick turned back around to look behind Merle to see the Walkers piled against the fence. He turned back to T-Dog pointed his gun down the alley.
"Get back to the lab. Go!" Rick said.
T-Dog grabbed the boy by the arm and they started running down the alley back towards the computer lab. Rick released his hold on Merle and hoistered his revolver as he turned around to grab the bag of guns.
"Come on. Damn, let's go." Merle said as he looked to Rick. Rick stopped and turned around to pick up his hat before they turned and ran down the alley to catch up with T-Dog and the boy.
Back at camp
After taking care of the situation with Jim, everyone went about there business and what not. We see Michael sitting down on a chair with his Sheriff's bag which contains his two guns and ammo. He asked Andrea earlier before she went fishing with her sister if she wants to help him load his Beretta magazine clips. She said she would like to help him loading his magazine clips. And right on cue she is walking to the spot where Michael is sitting and took a seat next to him.
"You're just in time to help me load these magazine clips, Andrea. I appreciate you helping me." Michael said.
"No problem. Besides I want have a conversation with you and get to know you better." Andrea said with a smile.
"So do I." Michael said to her as handed her four magazine clips while he has three clips. Then put a box of bullet rounds for handguns on the ground in between him and Andrea. They started loading the clips and started a conversation.
"So you know I was a cop. What about you, Andrea? What did you do before the world went to hell?" Michael asked.
"I was a Civil Rights Lawyer." Andrea said.
"You was a Lawyer and I was a cop. We both were someone that deals with the law. What are the odds of that?" Michael said as he chuckle as well as Andrea.
"Well I know that Rick and Shane are not your blood brothers, but do you a blood family?" Andrea asked as she saw Michael frown after she asked that question.
Michael sigh. "I had a loving family. Mother, father, two blood brothers and a little sister. They meant a lot to me. But somebody murder them." Michael said in a sad tone voice. Andrea is feeling real bad about asking him about his family. Finding out his whole family was killed in cold blood. Michael continued talking about what happen to them.
"I was riding on my motorcycle doing patrol when I got a radio call about a murder at the Negron residence. So once I got to my house, Rick, Shane and other cops were already there. I got off my bike and ran towards my house and when I got inside, it was horror. I saw them stretcher my(He paused for a minute) my nine year old little sister. After everything was set and done, I stayed at Rick's family place for a while. Then came the funeral. Then I found out the person who killed them is a terrorist wanted for dead. As soon as we found him, I gunned him down but not killing him. I was about to put a bullet in his head but Rick stopped me and told me my family would be disappointed with me by sinking to that guys level and killing him in cold blood. So I spared him and put my gun away. As we were about to arrest him, I a light reflect on Rick's face which tells me the guy pulled out a gun. So I pulled out my Berretta and shot him dead. He would have killed Rick if I didn't killed him first. On that day, I vow to fight for justice no matter what. From then on, I've always made the right decisions and always stayed positive." Michael said.
"I'm sorry about your family. Mostly your little sister. I'm sorry I asked." Andrea said.
"It's okay. You didn't know and I don't blame you." Michael said with a smile. Andrea responed with a smile too. They continued loading the clips. Michael finished loading the clips he's loading while Andrea has one more to load. Michael then pulled out his SPAS 12 shotgun and eight shotgun shells.
"That's an interesting gun you have, Mikey." Andrea said.
"Thanks Andrea. It's a Franchi SPAS 12 shotgun." Michael said.
"SPAS?" Andrea asked.
"Back then it stood for (Special Purpose Assault Shotgun) but now it stands for "Sporting Purpose Automatic Shotgun"." Michael said.
"S P A S. SPAS. Oh now I get it. It is a very intresting gun." Andrea said.
"It is. It is made in Italy, it's dual mode which means it can go pump-action or semi-automatic by pressing a button under the foregrip and sliding the foregrip slightly forwards or backwards until it clicks into position. I'll tell you more details about this gun some other time, but I'll tell you one thing about this gun is how I got this gun is real intresting. You want to hear how I got this gun, Andrea?" Michael said then asked.
"Sure." Andrea said.
"Hey Shane!" Michael called out to as Shane walks towards to where Michael and Andrea are at.
"What is it Mikey?" Shane asked.
"Do you still remember the day I got my SPAS 12?" Michael asked.
"Hell yeah. I still remember the way you got it that day. Why you ask?" Shane said then asked.
"I asked Andrea here if she wants to know how I got the SPAS 12 and she said "sure". So do you want to help me reenact the parts on how I got the shotgun with me?" Michael asked.
"Sure, no problem." Shane said.
"Great! Okay Andrea. Let me ask you this. Have you ever seen the Terminator movies?" Michael asked her.
"Yeah all of them." Andrea said.
"Well I got the SPAS 12 from gun shop. I told you about the terrorist that killed my family, right?" Andrea nodded. "Well his boss, the one who paid him to kill my family was disguising himself as a gun shop clerk. Selling guns that were dangerous illegality and or banned in certain states. I was assign to kill him because he is wanted for dead and received the death penalty no matter how its done, they wanted him dead. So I took him out Terminator style. Heres what happen:
(Flashback)
We see Michael walking to a gun shop wearing the Terminator clothes he wore during the gun shop scene. He went inside the shop to purchase some guns.
(inside the shop)
"The 12-gauge auto-loader." Michael said as the clerk grabs the SPAS 12 and laids it on the counter while he inspects an Armalite AR-18 assault rifle.
"That's Italian. You can go pump or auto." The clerk said.
"The .45 long slide, with laser sighting." Michael said.
"These are brand new; we just got them in. That's a good gun. Just touch the trigger, the beam comes on and you put the red dot where you want the bullet to go. You can't miss." The clerk said as Michael tested out the gun's laser and pulled the trigger a couple of times.
"Anything else?" The clerk asked.
"Phased plasma rifle in the 40-watt range." Michael said.
"Hey, just what you see, pal!" The clerk said.
Michael looks around "The Uzi nine millimeter." He said as the clerk grabs the Uzi.
"You know your weapons, buddy. Any one of these is ideal for home defense." The clerk said as Michael inspects the SPAS 12 shotgun.
"So uh, which will it be?" The clerk asked.
"All." Michael said.
"I may close early today. There's a 15-day wait on the handguns but the rifles you can take right now." The clerk as he reached for some papers while Michael opens a box of shotgun shells, takes one and loads it into the shotgun and the clerk see him loading it.
"You can't do that." The clerk said.
Michael points the shotgun to him. "Wrong!" He said before he shoots the clerk
(End of flashback)
"And that is how I got the SPAS 12 shotgun. Thanks for helping, Shane." Michael said.
"No problem little bro. Anytime. See you two later." Shane said as went about his business leaving the two by themselfs as they wave bye to Shane.
"That was an intresting story." Andrea said.
"Told you. This shotgun is special." Michael said.
"Well all the clips are loaded and ready." Andrea said.
"I really appreciate you helping me loading my clips and it's really nice talking to you, too." Michael said.
"Me too. Now I know you're a good person with a good heart, caring and doing whats right." Andrea said.
"Thanks." Michael said.
"Well I'm about to get the fishes ready to eat tonight. You'll be eating with us tonight?" Andrea asked.
"Sorry Andrea but I'm on watch tonight. But how about next time?" Michael asked.
"Oh. Okay. See you." Andrea said as she was about to get food ready.
"Andrea wait!" Michael shouted.
"What?" Andrea asked.
"Now or never." Michael thought.
"I really like you. A lot. And I was wondering if you want to eat dinner together sometimes. Just you and me." Michael said as Andrea is now shocked about what Michael is saying to her. She knew where this is going.
"Mikey, are you asking me out on a date?" Andrea asked him.
Michael started blushing.
"Well?" Andrea asked.
Michael sighed.
"Yes. I'm asking you out on a dinner date." Michael said knowing he couldn't hide it anymore.
Andrea thought about his offer for a minute.
"Well Mikey, you got yourself a date." Andrea said.
"Ok then. I'll let you know where and when we can have our date." Michael said.
"Great! I'll see you later tonight then." Andrea said as she then shocked Michael by giving him a kiss on the cheek. "See ya." Andrea said as she go and gets food ready for tonight.
Michael stands there feeling his cheek that Andrea kissed on realising the woman he loves kissed him on the cheek. He then went about his business and prays that Rick and the others get back soon.
Meanwhile back in Atlanta
"Those men you were with, we need to know where they went." Rick said to the boy. They were back at the lab.
"I ain't telling you nothing." The kid said, as he wiped a bit of blood off the corner of his mouth with his thumb.
"Jesus, man. What the hell happened back there?" T-Dog said looking at Merle. Merle's eyes were locked on the kid.
"I told you, this little turd and his douche bag friends came out of nowhere and jumped me." Merle said, still pacing back and forth of the desk. Walking in a line behind Rick, then to T-Dog's side. Over and over.
"You're the one who jumped me, puto." The boy said.
"What did called me you little prick?!" Merle asked angrily.
"Merle calm down." Rick said.
"Merle? What kinda hick name is that? I wouldn't name my dog Merle." The kid said looking at Merle.
"Is that an insulting, you little bitch?!" Merle shouted as he was about to attack the kid when Rick held him back.
"Damn it, Merle. Back off." Rick said pushing Merle back in front of the desk.
"Okay. Alright. You want to play with me? We'll play. Wanna see what to the last guy that pissed me the fuck off?" Merle said as he went through Glenn's backpack and pulled out a blue bandanna. He unwrapped it and threw down a human hand he found onto the kid lap. The kid looked down and saw what had just landed on his legs and pushed it away, getting up from the chair with a scream. He fell backwards in a hurry and pushed himself as far away from the hand as he could , which was only a few feet, before his back hit the metal cabinets behind him. Merle quickly went over to the kid and grabbed him by the front of his tank top on either side, pulling him up a bit.
"Start with the feet this time." Merle said as he got closer to the kid's face. Rick was walking over to the 2. He came up behind Merle and grabbed his shirt as he yanked him up off the kid. He pushed Merle back behind him and put his arm out, silently telling him to stay put. Rick looked back to the kid who was eyeing Merle now with fear in his eyes. The sheriff knelt down next to him.
"The men you were with took our friend. All we want to do is talk to them, see if we can work something out." Rick said to the kid. He wasn't as cocky as he was before and nodded his head. They spent the next few minutes talking about where their hideout was and how to get there.
Rick had the kid leading them as the went through the streets. They came to the back of a brick building awhile later. Rick looked around the wall they were hiding behind towards the building. He didn't see anyone outside but that didn't mean no one was looking.
"You sure you're up for this?" Rick said, looking up to T-Dog who was standing across from him holding a Browning Automatic Rifle Safari at the other side of the broken window they were looking through.
T-Dog nodded at him. "Yeah."
"Okay." Rick said as he loaded the shotgun he was holding onto. T-Dog picked up the bag of guns and took it with him as he walked away from the others.
"One wrong move, you get an arrow in the ass. Just so you know." Merle said, looking down at the kid they made sit on the ground in front of them.
"G's gonna take that arrow out of my ass and shove it up yours. Just so you know." The kid said, quickly looking to Merle who was leaning against the wall to the boy's left. Rick looked at the kid.
"G?" He asked the boy.
"Guillermo. He the man here."
"Okay then." Rick said as he cocked the Mossberg 500 shotgun. "Let's go see Guillermo." He looked up to Merle and stood up slightly from his kneeling position. The kid rose to stand up and follow, with a kick in the butt from Merle. Rick made his way through the broken bars that once were over the window to the courtyard they were walking into. Rick climbed through and onto wooden pallets they had under the window before hopping down them to the floor. The kid came through after him, followed by Merle. Rick motioned for the boy to walk in front of him as Merle hopped down from the pallets and followed Rick. They both had their weapons raised as the boy led them through the yard and to the large, wooden double doors at the back of the brick building. As they came to a stop several feet away from the door, they heard locks being undone seconds before the creak of a door. Rick and Merle had the shotgun and crossbow on the man that walked into the yard. There were several other men surrounding the door's entrance but they didn't walk out just yet.
"You okay, little man." The Hispanic man, who they assumed was Guillermo, asked the kid.
"They're gonna cut off my feet, carnal." The boy said.
Guillermo looked to Rick, who had on his Sheriff's get up. "Cops do that?" He asked.
"Not him. This redneck puto here." He said as he turned and pointed behind him to his right at Merle before turning back to Guillermo. "He cut off some dude's hand, man. He showed it to me." The kid whined.
"Shut up." Merle said. Two men made their way out of the building, and Merle recognized them as the two that beat him earlier.
"Hey, that's that vato right there, homes. He shot me in the ass with an arrow, man. What's up, homes, huh?" The bigger man Merle had shot said as he came out of the building with his snub nose Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver aimed at Merle.
Guillermo put his hand on the man's arm to lower his gun. "Chill, ese, chill. Chill." He looked back to Rick. "This true? He wants Miguelito's feet? That's pretty sick, man."
"We were hoping more for a calm discussion." Rick said.
"That hillbilly jumps Felipe's little cousin, beats on him, threatens to cut off his feet, Felipe gets an arrow in the ass and you want a calm discussion? You fascinate me." Guillermo said.
"Heat of the moment. Mistakes were made on both sides." Rick said.
Guillermo looks at Merle."Who's that dude to you anyway? You don't look related."
"He's one of our group, more or less. Maybe you have a few like him." Rick answered him, motioning with his head to the men behind Guillermo, still inside the building.
"Sorry, we're fresh out of white boys. But I got Asian. Interested?"
"I have one of yours, you have one of mine. Sounds like an even trade." Rick said.
"Don't sound even to me." Guillermo said.
"G." Miguelito, the boy, said. "Come on, man." He said, a pathetic, pleading smile on his face.
"My people got attacked. Where's the compensation for their pain and suffering? More to the point, where's my bag of guns?
"Guns?" Rick said.
"The bag Miguel saw in the street. The bag Felipe and Jorge were going back to get. That bag of guns."
"You're mistaken."
"I don't think so."
"About it being yours. It's my bag of guns."
"The bag was in the street. Anybody could come around and say it was theirs. I'm supposed to take your word?...What's to stop my people from unloading on you right here and now and I take what's mine?" Guillermo said as the two men beside him raised their guns at Rick and Merle again.
"You could do that." Rick said. He looked to his left to the roof of a building that had a view of the courtyard, causing Guillermo to look in the same direction. On top was T-Dog, staring at Guillermo through the scope of the Browning Automatic Rifle Safari he had. "Or not."
Guillermo smirked at Rick. "Oye!" He yelled, leaning his head up slightly. On cue, there was movement on the roof of the brick building they were all in front of. As they looked up, they could see 2 men leading a struggling and blindfolded Glenn to the edge of the roof. As they got right to the edge, one of the men pulled the bag off of Glenn's head. Glenn started whimpering and breathing fast behind the duct tape that was over his mouth as he realized where he was. He took a few quick steps backward, but the 2 men held him in place.
"I see two options...You come back with Miguel and my bag of guns, everybody walks. Or you come back locked and loaded, we'll see which side spills more blood." Guillermo said.
Guillermo looks up to where T-Dog was again with a smirk and shot his eyebrows up once, as he backed his way into the building, the 2 men outside with him doing the same. Rick and Merle didn't dropped their weapons, even as the doors were closing. Once they were shut and they heard a lock they made their way back over to the window.
The group made their way into a nearby mechanic shop and were in a small office. Rick set the bag of guns on the desk and unzipped it fully.
"Them guns're worth more than gold. Gold won't protect your family or put food on the table. You willin to give that up for that kid?" Merle said, standing in front of the desk Rick was behind, who was checking SIG-Sauer P226 handgun to see if it was loaded. Rick didn't say anything. He just continued pulling out guns.
"If I knew we'd get Glenn back, I might agree." T-Dog said, with his back against the wall on the side of the desk. He looked up at Rick who was in front of him. "But you think that vato across the way is just gonna hand him over?"
"You callin G a liar?" Miguel said. They had him sitting on the ground again next to T-Dog, a small chair between the 2 of them.
"Are you part of this?" Merle raised his voice as he stepped closer to the boy. He slapped Miguel upside the head. "You wanna hold onto your teeth?" He said leaning towards him, bracing himself against the wall with one hand before standing up straight again and backing away. T-Dog looked at the two for a second before turning back to Rick.
"Question is, do you trust that man's word?" T-Dog asked.
"No, question is what you're willin to bet on it?" Merle said, coming to stop in front of the desk again. He leaned his back against the wall in front of the window. "Could be more than them guns. Could be your life. Glenn worth that to you? Huh Officer Friendly?"
Rick checked to make sure his Python was loaded before he put it back in it's holster as he looked at Merle. "What life I have I owe to him. I was nobody to Glenn, just some idiot stuck in a tank. He could have walked away, but he didn't. Neither will I."
"So you're gonna hand the guns over?" Merle said as he pushed himself off the wall again.
"I didn't say that." Rick said, he looked at Merle and then T-Dog. "There's nothing keeping you 2 here. You should get out, head back to camp." He said as he went back to the bag.
"And tell your family what?" T-Dog said as he closed his eyes and ran a hand over his head before looking to the sheriff. Rick looked at him and Merle. There was a pause as the men looked at each other Merle, with a brief nod to Rick, leaned forward and grabbed a Mossberg shotgun. T-Dog got up from his seat and did the same.
"Come on, this is nuts." Miguel said as he stood up. He was quickly stopped when Merle turned around and pointed at him, causing him to sink back down to the floor. He sat back down and held his head in his hands before looking back up to the group. "Just do like G says."
No one listened to him, they continued taking the guns out of the bag and making sure they were all loaded. They each grabbed what guns they could carry and loaded the rest back in the bag before they put a rag around Miguel's mouth and tied his hands together behind his back.
They made their way into the yard once again, with Miguel leading them. Only this time he was bound and gagged and Merle had the barrel of the Remington 870 Wingmaster Slug shotgun he was holding at the center of the kid's back, pushing him forward. T-Dog were on his left and Rick was on his right, the bag of gun's over his shoulder. They were stopped in front of the door again before they heard the locks being undone and the door opening. Merle pushed Miguel inside when they were opened all the way, then the group followed in after him. Merle, T-Dog and Rick all had a shotgun in their hands. Merle also had a handgun tucked into the back of his pants and one in the front. They walked to the middle of the room and were surrounded by men on all sides as Guillermo walked up to greet them.
"I see my guns...but they're not all in the bag." He said as they met in the middle of the room.
"That's because they're not yours. I thought I mentioned that." Rick said as he pointed his shotgun at him.
"Let's just shoot these fools right now, ese. All right? Unload on their asses, ese." Felipe said who was at Guillermo's side.
"I don't think you fully appreciate the gravity of the situation." Guillermo said.
"No, I'm pretty clear." Rick said, looking away for a moment as he lowered his gun and reached to his side to pull out his pocket knife. He flicked it open and stepped towards Miguel and cut the bind that held his hands together behind him. Once it was cut, he put a hand on the kid's back and pushed him forward towards Guillermo. "You have your man. I want mine." Rick said, as he put his pocket knife away.
"I'm gonna chop up your boy." Guillermo said, stepping closer to Rick. "I'm gonna feed him to my dogs. They're the evilest, nastiest man-eating bitches you ever saw. I picked em up from Satan at a yard sale...I told you how it has to be. Are you woefully deaf?"
"No, my hearings fine. You said come locked and loaded." Rick said, the group cocked their shotguns and aimed at different men in the room as Rick aimed right at Guillermo's head. "Okay then, we're here." All of Guillermo's men raised their guns at the group and the room was filled with the clicking of hammers being pulled down and shotguns being cocked.
A few tense seconds passed, none of them lowering their weapons, when the sound of an old woman's voice met them.
"Felipe! Felipe!" The old Hispanic woman said, coming into the room.
"Abuela, go back with the others, now." Felipe said.
"Get that old lady out of the line of fire!" Merle said.
"Abuela, listen to your m'hijo, okay? This is not the place for you right now." Guillermo said, glancing behind him at the old lady in a nightgown and sweater with finger-waves and pin-curls in her hair.
"Mr. Gilbert is having trouble breathing." The old woman said, who came to stop in front of Felipe and looked up at him. "He needs his asthma stuff. Carlito didn't find it. He needs his medicine."
Guillermo looked back at Rick, his big bad plan obviously falling apart right in front of them. He turned to Felipe. "Felipe, go take care of it, okay? And take your grandmother with you." He quickly said to the man.
Felipe started speaking in Spanish to the older woman as he tried to lead her away, but she was fixated on the group of Men everyone was looking at.
"Who are those men?" She asked as she pushed Felipe's hand down. She made her way around Guillermo and walked up to Rick. Felipe was still speaking in Spanish trying to lead her away.
"Don't you take him." She said, coming up to Rick.
"Ma'am?" Rick said as he looked down at her.
"Felipe's a good boy. He have his trouble but he pull himself together. We need him here."
Rick looked around the room for a second before turning back to the old lady. "Ma'am, I'm not here to arrest your grandson."
"Then what do you want him for?"
"He's...helpin us find a missing person. Fella named Glenn."
"The Asian boy? He's with Mr. Gilbert. Come. Come, I show you. He needs his medicine." The old lady said, grabbing Rick's hand and leading him past Guillermo.
Guillermo sighed as Rick walked past him. He looked around at his men. "Let em pass." He said as he looked at the ground. All of his men lowered their weapons and backed off as the group followed Rick. The old lady led him through the building that looked like a garage and back outside. They passed through a small courtyard and went up a small fleet of concrete stairs before she led them around the side of another building. They went up to the front doors and walked inside to what looked like some sort of hospital. Each room they passed they could see older people inside, with hospital equipment.
"Abuela, por favor. Take me to him." Felipe said, coming up to Rick's side. She let go of Rick's hand and continued down the hallway with Felipe behind her. Rick stood in the doorway of one of the rooms for another second, looking at a girl helping an elderly woman drink a cup of water. They had all lowered their weapons by now. Rick removed his hat from his head as they followed Felipe and his grandmother down the hall. After passing several more rooms with people inside they came into a large open room. The cafeteria. A bunch of people were surrounding an old man who must've been Mr. Gilbert.
"All right. All right." Felipe said to the old man as they got closer. "Nice and easy. Just breathe. Just breathe. Just let it out. Just breathe." Felipe brought the inhaler to the old man's mouth. Rick looked to Glenn who was standing around with the people looking at Mr. Gilbert.
"What the hell is this?" Rick asked Glenn.
"An asthma attack." Glenn said, not knowing Rick was referring more to the building they were in rather than what was happening to the old man. "Couldn't get his breath all of a sudden."
"I thought you were bein eaten by dogs, man." T-Dog said, looking at the young Asian man.
Glenn looked behind him towards a leopard print dog bed with pink interior. Inside were three small Chihuahuas. The one in the middle just looked and barked at them.
Rick turned around and looked at him. "Could I have a word with you?" He said as he leaned in towards the man. "You're the dumbest son of a bitch I ever met. We walked in there ready to kill every last one of you." They walked away from the crowd of people.
"Well, I'm glad it didn't go down that way." Guillermo said, looking up at Rick.
"If it had, that blood would be on my hands."
"Mine too. We'd have fought back. Wouldn't be the first time we've had to. Protect the food, the medicine, what's left of it. These people, the old ones, the staff took off, just left em here to die." Guillermo said. Rick stopped and looked around at all the people in the room. "Me and Felipe were the only ones who stayed."
"What are you, doctors?" Rick asked.
"Felipe's a nurse, a special care provider. Me, I'm the custodian."
Rick looked at the man for a minute. Guillermo told his group to follow him into a room so they could talk more privately.
They all walked into the room as Guillermo sat down on the arm of a couch. Rick took the bag of guns off his shoulder and set it on the couch next to it.
"What about the rest of your crew?" Rick asked.
"The vatos trickle in to check on their parents, their grandparents. They see how things are and most decide to stay. It's a good thing too. We need the muscle. The people we've encountered since things fell apart, the worst kind. Plunderers, the kind that take by force."
"That's not who we are." Rick said.
"How was I to know? My people got attacked and you show up with Miguel hostage...Appearances."
"Guess the world changed." T-Dog said.
"No. It's the same as it ever was. The weak get taken. So we do what we can here. The vatos work on those cars, talk about getting the old people out of the city. But most can't even get to the bathroom by themselves, so that's just a dream. Still, it keeps the crew busy, and that's worth something. So we barred all the windows, welded all the doors shut except for one entrance. The vatos, they go out, scavenge what they can to keep us going. We watch the perimeter night and day and we wait. The people here, they all look to me now. I don't even know why." Guillermo said, shrugging his shoulders at the cop.
"Because they can." Rick said to him. Rick was a good judge of character when it came to people, and he could tell this man had a good heart. He was only trying to keep his people safe, just like he was. He handed the Mossberg shotgun he still had in his hands to Guillermo. He took it from him as Rick leaned over to the bag of guns and started pulling more out.
Moments later
The sun was setting as the 4 of them that originally left the tracks that afternoon were finally walking back over to the hole in the fence. The had the guns, or at least some of them.
"Admit it, you only came back to Atlanta for the hat." Glenn said to Rick as they all were walking under the tall bridge that led to the hole in the fence.
"Don't tell anybody." Rick said.
"You've given away half our guns and ammo." Merle said.
"Not nearly half." Rick said to him.
"For what? Buncha old farts who're gonna die off momentarily anyhow? Seriously, how long you think they got?"
"How long do any of us?" Rick said as they made their way around the bus that would give them a view of the fence their van was parked behind.
"Let's just get back to camp." Merle said.
They get inside the van and drive off back to camp.
Back at camp
Michael is about to go on watch when Andrea approached him.
"Hi Mikey." Andrea said.
"Hi Andrea. What's up?" Michael asked.
"You don't have wrapping paper, color tissue, anything?" She said.
"No. Why?" Michael asked.
"It's Amy's birthday tomorrow. I've been marking days on the calendar just to make sure." Andrea said as she pulled out the necklace she had got her younger sister the day before on the groups trip into Atlanta.
Michael picks up the necklace to inspect it. It was on a simple gold chain and hanging from it was a golden mermaid.
"You don't give a gift unwrapped." Andrea said to him, shrugging.
"I have something you can use. I'll be right back." Michael said as he handed the necklace back to Andrea.
Michael go's to his truck and looks in the glove compartment and pulls out a small box that is the size of a hand. He closes his truck door and went back towards Andrea.
"Here. You can put it in this box and give it her." Michael said handing the box to Andrea.
"It's perfect. Thanks Mikey. You're a life savior. Thank you." Andrea said as she then kissed Michael again. This time on both cheeks. She was about go to the campfire site when Michael stopped her and shocked her by kissing her on the cheek.
"Anything for you. See ya." Michael said as he heads to the RV to go on watch tonight. Leaving Andrea shocked. She blush with a smile.
We see Sophia putting down a bowl of water for a man who doesn't deserve to be her father Ed. Ed has been in his tent recovering from the beating he got from Daryl.
"Why don't you come outside with everybody?" Carol asked.
"Hell with them people. Wouldn't piss on them if their heads were on fire." Ed said.
Sophia was about to leave but her father stopped her.
"Hey! Why don't you stay here? Keep your daddy company." Ed said.
"Ed, she wants to join in." Carol said.
"I would listen to your wife, Ed. Unless you want an arrow in your ass." Said Daryl who is standing outside the tent with his crossbow.
"Come on." Carol said as she lead Sophia out and Daryl followed them.
"Fine. Hell with the both of you. Ain't no need to be bothering me no more the rest of the night." Ed said.
Daryl walked up to an Atlanta survivor.
"Hey. Do a favor. Keep an eye on Ed over there. He'll try to hurt his family or worse." Daryl said as the guy nodded.
Daryl continue walking towards the main site of camp.
Rick and his group were running on the gravel and dirt road that led up to the quarry area that the camp was in. Why? Because the van they droved in ran out of fuel. So walk or run there way back to camp. It was still almost 2 miles before they would get there. The sun was even lower in the sky by now, only giving off the last bit of light it could before it would disappear over the horizon. The 4 of them were running back to camp, all panting from the long run they'd already done out of the city to get to where they were now. It would be about 20 more minutes before they would reach camp.
Michael is sitting in a chair on top of the RV on watch while eating fish that Andrea cooked for him. He has shotgun with him just incase any Walkers comes around. While everyone sat around the fire enjoying the fish and beer. The sun had been down for a little while now.
"Pass the fish, please." Sophia said.
Carol grabbed the pan of fish that Daryl handed to her and held it to Sophia. "Here you go."
"Man oh man, that's good." Shane said as he let out a breath and laughed. "I miss this." Everyone was passing the pans of fish around, making sure everyone got some. Dale had some spices in his RV that the women had used, so it was delicious.
"I've got to ask you, man. It's been driving me crazy." Morales said to Dale with a smile from across the fire.
Dale smiled back at him as he rested the side of his face against his closed hand. "What?"
"That watch." Morales said, pointing to Dale's wrist. Dale took his hand away from his face to glance at the wrist watch he had on his arm.
"What's wrong with my watch?" Dale asked with a smile as he messed with it.
"I see you every day, the same time, winding that thing like a village priest saying mass." Morales said, making Andrea nod her head, she'd noticed it too several times.
"I've wondered this myself." Jacqui said with a smile as she scooped up another bite of fish from her plate.
"I'm missing the point." Dale said, holding his hands out to his sides.
"Unless I've misread the signs, the world seems to have come to an end. At least hit a speed bump for a good long while." Jacqui said.
"But there's you every day winding that stupid watch." Morales said.
"Time. It's important to keep track, isn't it? The days at least. Don't you think, Andrea? Back me up here." Dale said, looking at her. Andrea just chuckled and sipped her beer.
"I like, I like what, um, a father said to son when he gave him a watch that had been handed down through generations." Dale said. Everyone was sitting around the fire, eating and listening to the old man. "He said, 'I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire, which will fit your individual needs no better than it did mine or my father's before me. I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you may forget it for a moment now and then and not spend all of your breath trying to conquer it.'" He finished with another smile. Everyone was smiling and nodding towards him. All for Shane and Lori, they gave each other a quick look. Both were still worried that the group that went to Atlanta still weren't back. They had been gone since this afternoon.
"You are so weird." Amy said from her spot between Dale and Andrea, causing everyone to laugh.
"It's not me. It's Faulkner. William Faulkner. Maybe my bad paraphrasing." He said to the young blond.
After a few more seconds, Amy set her cup of water down and stood up.
"Where are you going?" Andrea said looking up to her little sister.
"I have to pee. Jeez, you try to be discreet around here." Amy said, looking at her sister, who was 12 years her senior before walking away towards the RV. Bringing another round of laughs.
Amy walks towards the RV where she sees Michael on top.
"Hey Amy. What's up?" Michael said.
"Hey Mikey. I have to pee." Amy said.
"Oh! Okay. Just asking that's all." Michael said as Amy went inside the RV.
Michael hears groaning and checks the front of the RV and sees a lone Walker. He climbs down the ladder. Drops his shotgun on the ground and waits for the Walker to come into killing range.
Amy swung the door to the RV back open only a few seconds after she had gone in.
"We're out of toilet paper?" She said towards the group. No one heard her over their talking around the fire.
"Amy, look out!" Michael shouted to her as she looks at him.
The Walker came out from behind the open door and grabbed Amy's arm that she had on the door's handle. It's about to rip a chunk of skin out of her arm when suddenly Michael throws his dagger at the Walker. The blade pierced through its skull, hitting the brain and killing it. Amy sees the dead Walker that almost bit her. She let out a scream. Hearing her cries of fear, Andrea was the first to turn around. She saw the dead Walker with Michael's dagger still in it's head on the ground. Amy moves back to the door of the RV. Michael looks around and saw more Walkers.
"Walkers!" Michael shouted to everyone.
Everyone at the camp dropped their plates and started screaming as they got up from their seats.
"Mom!" Carl yelled as he ran over to his mother.
"Carl!" Lori yelled as she got up and grabbed the boy. More Walkers were coming towards them now. They were coming out of nowhere and everywhere at the same time.
"Lori, get him down!" Shane yelled from a few feet behind Lori and Carl as he cocked his Mossberg 590 shotgun. Lori, with her arm around Carl's shoulders pushed them both down as Shane aimed in front of them and fired his gun, sending the Walker closest to them to the ground. He took 4 more shots sending more to the ground, but they were still coming.
Rick and his group were closer to the camp by now. They decided to take a shortcut through the trees when they heard the gun shots and people screaming.
"Oh my God." Rick said as he glanced towards the top of the hill where the camp was. The 4 of them picked up their pace.
"Go! Go!" T-Dog yelled.
Jim swung his bat at the Walker in front of him, sending it flying backwards. Dale had his Remington 700 with a scope and Varmint Laminated Stock rifle to his shoulder and was trying to fend off the Walkers that approached the fire pits that most of the people were still around. Carol picked up Sophia and got behind Dale. Daryl stayed close to them while killing Walkers with his Horton Scout HD 125 Crossbow and hunting knife. Over by the group of tents two Walkers are ripping into one of the other group members.
Behind Shane, Carl was yelling and crying, watching everything happen in front of him.
"I'm right here." Lori said to him. "Shane, what do we do? Shane?" Lori said, panicked. Her hand on the back of Shane's shoulder. Another gun shot.
"Follow me!" Shane shouted.
Michael went to check on Amy.
"Amy, you okay? You're not bitten are you?" Michael asked as Amy looks at her arm and sees no bites.
"No. I'm okay." Amy said.
"Good. Get inside the RV and stay inside until it's safe to come out. Get inside now!" Michael said.
Amy went inside the RV and closes the door.
Michael went to get his shotgun when out of nowhere a Walker attack him. Michael fell backwards on the ground with the Walker above him as it was trying to bite him. Michael kept trying to push the Walker off.
"Get off me!" Michael shouted.
"Mikey no!" Andrea screamed, running towards him. Jim, who was nearby, saw that she didn't have a weapon and ran in between them, pushing Andrea away. He brought the bat back and swung at the Walker above Michael. He swung as hard as he could and it fell backwards to the ground dead. Jim turned away and made his way over to the fire pit where more Walkers were starting to gather. Andrea made her way over to Michael.
"Mikey are you okay?" Andrea asked.
"Yeah. I'm okay." Michael said.
"Where's Amy?" Andrea asked.
"She's inside the RV. She's okay. Just stay close to me and watch my back." Michael said as he picks up his Franchi SPAS-12 shotgun and kills 8 Walkers he see. He and Andrea move back towards the RV. Michael reloads his shotgun. Ready to kill more Walkers.
"Come on. Come on, stay close." Shane said as he reached behind him for Lori's arm and started leading them away.
"Carol!" Lori yelled and reached behind her for the woman and her daughter.
"Stay close!" Shane said as he walked with the women and Carl, eyes darting around for any Undead that were coming towards them.
A shrill cry broke out as another woman from the group was taken down by two more Walkers. Morales was by the treeline swinging another bat and bashing the skulls in of any zombies that came his way as he walked back to the fire pit to his family.
The happy fish fry turned into a disaster in only a couple minutes. They were Walkers everywhere, people running and screaming and fallen group members having the flesh ripped from their bones.
"Come on, y'all! Work your way up here!" Shane yelled back to the group around the fire.
"Right in front of you. Shane!" Lori screamed as more Walkers began to make their way towards them. Shane took them out with his shotgun as they came to stop in front of the RV. They turned around to face the camp.
"Get to the RV! Go!" Morales yelled, corralling his wife and two children in front of him.
"Everyone get over here!" Michael shouted!
"Come on, y'all! This way!" Daryl shouted as he fires another bolt killing another Walker while staying close to the others.
"Shane! Shane!" Lori yelled as more Walkers showed up all around them.
"Stay with me." He said to her. "Stay behind me. Morales, work up here!" Shane yelled as he pushed Lori behind him and they backed up towards the RV more. Morales took out a few more Walkers with his bat as they surrounded him.
"Get behind me! Come on!" Lori yelled to Carl and pushed him behind her.
"Let's go!" Shane yelled.
Another scream broke through camp and Carl sobbed again. "Stay with me." Lori said to him.
"Come on, make your way to the Winnebago!" Rick heard Shane yell as the group came up the hill out of the tree line into camp. As soon as they rounded the corner around the shower area the group had set up, they saw the tents. They saw the devastation the Walkers had brought with them. Rick took aim at one of the Walkers standing outside the Peletier's tent and sent it to the ground with a shotgun round to the head.
Rick, T-Dog, Glenn and Merle coming out from around the tents and into camp more, weapons aimed. Rick and the others started unloading their guns around all the Walkers in camp. People's screams were drowned out by all the gunfire. Two more Walkers shot in the head. Rick shoots another Walker with his Colt Python killing it. Merle turned his attention to the Walker on the ground in front of him and jammed the stock of the Remington 870 Wingmaster shotgun into its head over and over again until it stopped making any sound.
"Baby! Carl!" Rick yelled towards the RV at them as Merle was out of rounds by now and didn't have time to reload so he brought the shotgun back up again and swung the stock of the gun into the face of another Walker.
"Baby!"
"Dad!" Carl sobbed and ran to his father.
"Carl!" Rick yelled and sank to his knees as his son wrapped his arms around his shoulders. He picked him up and walked over to Lori. The camp had quieted down by now, every live Walker with a round in its skull or it's head beat in. There were no more screams or moaning, just crying and everyone breathing heavy as what was left of the group made their way to the RV. Everyone looked around their camp seeing all the bodies on the floor. The door of the RV opens and Amy steps out. Andrea sees her sister is okay and embraces her.
"Is it over?" Amy asked as looks at Michael.
"Yes Amy. Its over right now." Michael said as he picks up his dagger that was in the head of the Walker he killed saving Amy's life. He takes out a rag and wipes the blood off his dagger blade and puts his dagger back inside it's holster.
It was quiet for a moment until Jim said something.
"I remember my dream now, why I dug the holes." Jim said, looking around at people in front of him.
What a night it turned out to be.
And that ends this chapter! Two more chapters to finish season 1 next. Hope you enjoy this chapter as I enjoyed writing it. Sorry about the long wait. Don't worry. More of everything you want to see will come. Read and Review as always. Fav and or Follow me or my story. This is GalenStarkillerMarek2. I'll be back ASAP. Thank you and May the Force be with you!
