I do not own the Walking Dead.
Previously:
She saw the car, she saw the people, she saw the Governor staring straight at her, gun trained on her head.
In that first moment, her instincts told her to run, to scream for help, but her body froze.
Had she moved the first second, the girl could have probably gotten away unscathed, had she, of course, survived the rest of the fight. But no, it took her that whole moment to run and scream for Carl.
Faye just didn't move fast enough to stop the bullet hitting her, any desperate screams dying in her throat as her body fell to the ground.
Michonne couldn't be sure how strong her ties were to this group.
Rick wanted her gone, certainly, but that seemed to have been put on the backbench. She'd seen him outside the fences, wandering around, doing God knows what. It was odd.
As for the rest of them, the adults of the prison didn't act warmly to her, that was for sure. But they weren't exactly cold, either. Glenn saw her as useful, the woman knew that much at least. The man had trusted her to get him back into Woodbury, a partner in crime, if you will.
As for the children, Michonne hadn't seen much of them.
The two seemed determined to grow up, to join in any plans the group made, dangerous as they may be.
Baby Judith was treasured by all of them, the woman had barely seen anything of the child. Judith gave them hope, a glimmer of it amongst the hell outside the prison.
The boy, Carl, was Rick's son. He looked to be the most determined of the two children, but the girl was certainly a force to be reckoned with when she had a temper. Well, as much of a force as a young girl could be.
Yes, this group was very protective of it's children, wanted to make them happy.
Faye had obviously been distraught on the day they returned without Daryl. The adults had all made an effort with the girl, Michonne herself would have probably told the girl to buck up, had she the chance.
But, now? All she got was a guilty feeling.
When Faye screamed, shouting for her friend, it caught everyone's attention, including Michonne's. Then there was the gunshot, then the girl collapsed to the ground.
The Governor, who else could it be?
Pressing her back against the truck, the woman could hear the faint shouts of the young Grime's boy, but he seemed to be restrained by Hershel's daughter.
Why the girl? She was innocent in all this, it would have been smarter to take out an adult. He couldn't have known Faye was armed-
Then something clicked in Michonne's head.
The girl's death was her fault.
She killed Penny, he killed Faye.
The woman didn't have much time to think this over, to feel responsible, as she was too busy defending the prison from the attack. When the van full of walkers broke in and Glenn returned, only then did she deal with the problem.
Michonne couldn't leave the body of the girl lying there to be devoured, Carl would be unhappy and it simply didn't feel right.
Slicing walkers as she went, the woman could see Glenn as he helped Hershel into the car. He gave her a confused look before Hershel must have said something to him, realisation flashing across his face. He quickly nodded to her and they both continued on, Glenn getting the old man into the car before driving over to her.
After decapitating a walker's head, Michonne found the body.
The moving body.
Had she not been shot in the head? Bending down to have a closer look, the bullet wound was on the right side of her head. It was a long graze, she'd get a scar if she survived. From the way her face was turned, blood was flowing onto her face. The girl could still be dead, Michonne reminded herself.
Glenn's car pulled up behind them. He stepped out the car and began to shoot any incoming walkers, Hershel seemingly doing so out the window.
"Is she dead?" The man asked.
Faye wasn't reaching out towards her, her hand was on her neck, slowly reaching up to the head wound. Cautiously, she reached out, waving a hand in front of the girl's eyes.
"Well?" Glenn said hurriedly.
Faye groaned, the woman snapping her hand back.
The words were faint, but were heard as if they were shouted. "Am I dead?"
There was no more hesitation in Michonne's movements as she scooped the weak girl into her arms, speaking to the man as she did so. "She's alive. Open the door!"
Hershel shuffled over to help fit both girls into the car, Faye seemingly fallen back into unconsciousness. The doors were slammed shut as Glenn got in the front and drove back up to the front gate.
"Let me see her." Hershel said as both adults manoeuvred Faye so the old man could get a better look. Lifting the girls dark hair, damp with blood, he frowned. "We're going to have to cut some of this off, I can't get a good look. There may be some fragments left from the bullet, I'll have to remove them with what little medical supplies we have. Right now, we need to stop the bleeding."
Fingers pressing against the wound carefully, Michonne holding her up, Hershel tried to wake the girl. "Faye, sweetheart, are you with me?" He lightly patted her cheek, to which he received a moan and an incoherent annoyed-sounding grumble. It seemed to be enough for him. "That's it, stay awake for me. You can't sleep just yet, dear."
The man kept talking to her softly before the two adults registered the car stopping, the woman picking Faye back up into her arms.
As soon as she left the car, there was a bombardment of questions.
Carl was the first, running up with a look of distress. "Faye!" He cried. "Is she alive? Is she gonna be okay?"
Michonne began walking to the cell block, Hershel hobbling beside her hurriedly, and let the man answer his questions. "She's alive, slipping in and out of consciousness. I have to remove any fragments of the bullet and stitch up the wound. Her body is going through trauma, she may still go into shock. If she's lucky, Faye will get out of this with just a scar."
Beth was next. "Why would he do that? She's just a little girl."
The woman replied. "It's because of that that he shot her."
"What do you mean?" Maggie said, cautiously.
"The Governor's daughter was a walker. He was keeping her locked up in a cupboard, like an animal. I put it out of it's misery." Michonne explained, someone opening the door to the cell block for her. Hershel guided her to as cell to lay Faye in. "So he shot her. Some kind of sick eye for an eye."
There was an awkward silence as Faye was set down on the bed, Michonne avoiding looking at them.
They could think what they want-
"Now isn't the time to discuss whose fault it is." Hershel motioned for his daughter. "Beth, go get the medical supplies. I'll need a hand."
Slipping in and out of consciousness was unpleasant, especially with a pounding headache.
But, hey, the pain meant she was alive.
Faye vaguely remembered someone - possibly Carol, Beth, or maybe even Maggie - waking her to take some painkillers, but the girl had pretty much gone straight back to sleep afterwards.
There were a few other times she could recall. Carl had been there, she remembered moving about with Hershel and Michonne, and Faye could have sworn she saw Daryl.
He looked guilty, too. Damn right - he should be if he came crawling back!
(Who was she kidding, Daryl Dixon doesn't come crawling back! He strides in as if he never left.)
It was the next morning that Faye woke up properly. Blinking against the patchy light that was in the cell - which wasn't her own, she noted - Faye noticed a figure standing by the door, as if guarding it. There were voices in the background which seemed to be getting a little heated.
"That truck through the fence thing? Shootin' ya girl? That's just him ringing the doorbell."
This voice was new. And taunting. And talking about her.
"We might have some thick walls t' hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shoot. He could just starve us out if he wanted to."
There was a pause before people protested, Hershel's voice stopping them.
"I said we should leave. Now Axel's dead and Faye's been shot. We can't just sit here!"
Yet another pause before a shout from the old man. "Get back here!"
Faye wasn't sure who the old man was talking to, but the tone of voice startled her. Hershel wasn't supposed to be angry! He was the nice one who always set you straight if you were being a bit dumb - Faye knew this from numerous occasions - but never yelled. "You're slipping, Rick. We've all seen it, we all understand why. But now is not the time! You once said this wasn't a democracy?"
Aha! Faye knew what that was this time! Well, she hadn't asked anyone, but the way everybody did what Rick said gave her an idea. Rick was the leader, so he made the rules. At least, that was Faye's impression.
The old man continued. "Now you have to own up to that. I put my families life in your hands! So, get your head clear. And do something."
Woah, he told Rick!
Deciding to ignore what was happening, Faye took in her surroundings. This wasn't her cell, she knew that much. This was on the bottom floor, with whatever medical supplies they must have had left in the corner of the room. Under her head was an extra pillow which the group must have hoped would help with the pain.
It didn't. The side of her head throbbed with pain.
Ignoring the fact it was a bad idea, the girl reached up to feel where Hershel must have stitched up the wound. Lightly brushing her fingers over it, Faye only found fabric. Of course they would bandage it, the old man would have known she would try to touch it. Damn, all she wanted to do was she how long the wound was!
Sighing, Faye stretched her arms out, stiff from being in the same position for so long.
Then, she glanced up. The girl blinked before giving a small smile, raising her hand with a little wave. "Hello." She said simply.
Carl grinned. "You're awake!"
"Sure would seem like it, yeah." She smirked.
The boy walked in and sat by the bed. Assisting her to sit up a little more, the boy handed her a drink. When she finished it, Carl spoke again. "I'm glad you're okay."
She'd hardly call herself okay, but considering she'd survived a bullet to the head, she guessed she was. "I am too. I thought I was a goner."
There was a pause before Carl continued. "I was scared, I thought you were dead. I knew you shouldn't have gone in the field by yourself, we knew they were coming."
Faye gave what she hoped was a reassuring smile, voice remaining quiet. "I'm alive, aren't I?"
"You got shot in the head, Faye!"
Wait. Hold on a minute.
She had survived a bullet to the head.
She had survived a bullet to the head! That, like, totally, Faye was undefeatable!
Carl frowned. "What's with that look?"
Faye grinned triumphantly. "I'm the girl who lived!"
"You took that from Harry Potter." The boy shook his head.
Doing a little shrug, Faye raised her eyebrows. "So?"
"That name's already taken! Besides, you have Birdy. You don't get to pick your own nickname-"
"-it just happens." Faye finished. "Carol's said that a million times."
A few figures appeared at the doorway. "That's 'cause it's true, Birdy."
Carol smiled. "How are you feeling?"
How was she feeling? Drained was probably a good word to use. Then there was the obvious feeling. "My head hurts."
Hershel came in next. "I'm not surprised. It's good to see you awake, dear, you gave us quite the scare."
Looking around at all the people, Faye felt a little overwhelmed by how little space there was in the cell. Before she went to sleep the night before, the girl had wedged the door open, just so she knew she'd be able to get out without a problem. Watching without turning her head too much, she began to feel a little dizzy.
Apparently, Hershel picked up on this. "Why don't we give Faye a little space? Get some more rest, you need to get your strength back."
Faye didn't complain. The group members filtered out her room, the girl shuffling down to rest her head on the pillow. Carl was the last to leave, seemingly reluctant.
"Just call if you need m- anything, right?"
Faye decided to ignore the slip up. "Right."
Author's Notes:
Faye's alive! (Although, that was kind of obvious, the story would be ruined without her...) Next chapter will be getting back into the swing of things, Faye won't quite be so bedridden.
Thank you for all the kind reviews last chapter! They all make me smile!
Chapter 22 next week, but I need some time for homework as I'm a bit behind.
Please review, I love to hear your thoughts and advice.
Thanks.
Cobalt Flame.