Chapter 13: Hershel down EXTENDED

Casey's POV

The sound of birds tweeting and crickets chirping filled the quiet surroundings of the forest early in the morning as I listened to the soothing sounds of the local wildlife while hanging on top of a tree branch.

This all started a couple of days ago when I was not sleeping all that good and having nightmares about everything that's happen so far in the apocalypse, I wake up like around two or threeish and I got out the fence, into the forest, climb on a tree, and just listen and just enjoy the solitude. I didn't fall asleep but it was peaceful nonetheless, and I always make my way back when the sun is about to come up.

The air was cold enough to let me see my own breath so I put my index finger and my thumb to my mouth and blew out some air like I was smoking a cigarette. I had a knack of doing that in cold climates.

After thirty minutes have passed, I let my legs swing me upside down as I held onto the branch with my arms and releasing my legs letting me drop to the ground on my feet, but I lost balance and landed on my butt instead.

"Ouch..." I chuckled at my sketchy landing as I jumped up. "Need to work on the landing."

My hands reached the back of my pants to get my pistol out, and I reached for my pocket for my silencer and equip it to my pistol.

"Alright time to get back home." I told myself.

I suddenly heard gunfire echo through the forest. It sounded like it was coming from the right I raised my pistol and moved cautiously towards the sound of the gunfire.

There were voices coming from nearby so I slowed my movement keeping my pistol ready. As I got closer I saw sight that made my mouth drop open. Two men and one woman in worn military BDU's guarding a pickup truck out on an empty road along with a few dead zombies they gunned down.

Its the freaking Military!

One of the men was a Asian man that looked like he was in his twenties, with some whiskers growing out from under his chin and up his lip. He was wearing an army boonie and carried an M4 looking around his surroundings with his weapon raised.

Gunfire attracts zombies idiot stick stick with those shovels you use.

The the other man was a white guy that looked like he was in his thirties with no jacket but a brown green shirt with his dog tags sticking out, and a army cap. He had a clean shave and a bulky body with the and was carrying a pistol and a grenade hooked up to his pants.

The last one, the woman had a Hispanic complexion with dark brown hair that was short and messy and it looked like she was wearing an army tank top. She didn't have any weapon on her at the time.

"Eye's peeled, guys." She ordered the two other men before she entered the truck and started messing around with the radio. "B-1 this is Sierra 7-4. Requesting a pickup, our ride's shit."

There was a quick inaudible response for her. "We're on the Northeast side. Be advise: shufflers may make an appearance near our position."

The inaudible voice crackled up from the radio giving her a response.

"Understood. Holding our position. Out."

She exited the vehicle and walked towards the big guy.

"Get the hostage out. See if we can get something outta him." She instructed. "I need to go take a piss."

Hostage? What hostage?

He gave her a curt nod and walked towards the back of the truck before coming back out shoving a man out of the back and onto the ground. He looked in his late sixties or early seventies with with a beard and a familiar face.

My eyes widened in terror.

No! Hershel!

They got Hershel! As much as I wanted to go in there and save him, I can't take three soldiers in a straight up fight. I need to create a diversion.

The big guy came towards Hershel punching him in the stomach causing me to let out a silent gasp.

"Lemme tell ya whats gonna happen." He started in a serious threatening voice pointing his pistol at my friend. "I'm gonna ask you somethin' and you're gonna gimme an answer that I like. If you don' say anything, or do anything I don' like, it will not end well for you, you hear me?"

Hershel said nothing and looked down at his knees looking calm and at peace, which caused the soldier to shoot him in the stomach causing him collapse to the ground letting out shallow breaths.

"Don't test me, motherfucker!" He growled.

"The fuck is wrong with you, man?!" The other soldier shouted at him for his stupidity. "Don't give us away."

Okay that's it! Fuck being cautious! I need to save him now!

I jumped from my hiding spot and rushed out from my hiding spot trying to get as close as possible without him noticing me. Hershel looked up at me with shock eyes which caught the soldiers attention, but right when he turned around and saw me I fire my gun two times in the chest killing him instantly, as he dropped to the floor.

"Briggs?" The other soldier called out from the other side. "You okay?"

I went to Hershel's side bringing a finger to my lips as I hit my body up the door of the truck, listening to his footsteps to see where he would move. When I found out he was around on the right side, I moved around the truck to get the jump on him. He came into my sites and I charged at him from behind using my entire body to bring him down to the ground.

He was grunting and struggling to be free but I put a bullet in his head ceasing all movements.

There was no sign of the woman yet so I made my way to Hershel was laying perfectly still on the floor.

"No.. No..." I whispered in horror. I rushed towards his side and rolled him over on his back putting my ear to his chest hoping to hear a heartbeat. There was one and he was still breathing, but his lower chest was covered in blood so I pulled his shirt up revealing the nasty wound and I took my shirt putting pressure the wound.

"Hang in there, Hershel! Come on, hang in there!"

I suddenly hear some leaves crackling following by an furious female voice yelling from the other side of the truck. "Who fired that shot?! Briggs! Foster! Where the hell are you?"

It was the woman! I waited for her to get really close before jumping out raising my pistol at her, which causes her to freeze up in shock.

"Come here!" I growled grabbing her and ramming her towards the truck. Her breathing was shaky and she shivered. "Is there medicine in that truck?" I asked her menacingly.

She nodded her head trying to stay calm. "What do you want?" Her voice was hostile yet with a hint of fear.

I pulled her away from the truck and forced her way towards Hershel who was unconscious and in a critical state. She looked at her fallen comrades with horror.

"What did you do to them?!" She exclaimed with disbelief and shock, like she couldn't believe one kid took out two well-trained soldiers.

"One of your friends shot this man here and I shot them both." I said blankly trying not to think about it right now. "Is there medicine?!"

She nodded. "I- I can go get them... I can help just please... don't kill me..."

"Get it! Now!" I ordered.

She did as she was told and went in the back coming back out with a first aid kit. She rushed towards Hershel's side and started using equipment to get the bullet out of Hershel, and I rushed to assist her. She gave me back my shirt which was now all bloody, but I put it back on anyways.

It took a few minutes before we got it out giving Hershel the time he needed.

"He's stable but not for long!" She told me. "He needs proper medical attention in half an hour or he's not going to make it."

The prison is about 10 minutes away on foot. He can make it!

I raised my pistol at her head in an attempt to kill her. She raised her hands up panicking

"No! No, please! Don't sho-"

She dropped dead with her eyes wide open. I feel terrible for doing that to her, but I couldn't take any chances. If I let her go back to her outpost, she would likely tell the soldiers about me and Hershel putting all of us in serious danger, which I can not allow.

"I'm sorry." I murmured sympathetically.

I heard Hershel groaning so I rushed over to him and pulled him up and put his arm around me dragging him off the road away from the truck before setting him down and dashed back to Brigg's body snatching the grenade off his pants and towards the truck opening the door, pulling the pin off the grenade I dropped near the breaks and sprinted as fast as I could away from there back to Hershel's side shielding both of us from the huge explosion the leveled the truck.

One less loose end.

I picked up Hershel with his arm around my shoulders carrying him all the way back as fast as I could into the forest and back to the prison.

"Come on old timer! You still have a few good years left in you!" I said in a joking manner to brighten the mood.

I can hear Hershel coughing. "Lot more than a few..." I heard him cracked out.

I smiled at him. "Hey there." He was starting to pass out on me so shook him a little.

"Hershel!"

He grunted struggling to keep his eyes open.

"Hey, hey tell me about the game and Dairy Queens!" I told him hoping to keep him awake.

I heard Hershel let out a weak chuckle. "Was one hell of a night..."

"Tell me about it." I said as calm as I can.

Hershel breathing was getting more shallow and quick which cause me to shake him again.

"Come on, Hershel stay with me! Let's hear about that night!"

"Some great shakes... and the winners trophy..." Was all he could manage.

I chuckled to get his attention. "That's what its all about."

"Listen... if I don't make it!"

"You're gonna make it!" I didn't come this far to let him die. "You have to! For Maggie! For Beth!"

"Tell them I love..."

Hershel's body went limp and collapse to the ground.

"Oh no!" I started panicking. "Come on! Come on, get up! Hershel?!"

Carl's POV

Everyone was still sleeping. Me? I couldn't sleep anymore, so here I am just sitting on the bench shuffling my feet at the ground thinking.

I understand why dad took away my gun, and in a way, I'm thankful. I feel more relaxed now. But that doesn't mean I can't let my guard down. The same for these people here. They just can't ignore the walkers or possibly raiders that are out there. That's going to get people killed!

I thought back to the time I killed the Governor's soldier out in the woods. Hershel warned him to drop the gun, but he didn't. He just walked slowly to me saying he was going to give it to me. So I killed him. I did what I had to do and I was berated for it!

But after awhile I understood why dad took away my gun, he just wanted me to have some normality in me be a kid again.

I think I stopped being a kid long time ago...

There was something off in the distance that caught my attention. It looked like two Walkers close together coming towards the gate, but as they got closer, I started realizing that they were not walkers. Walkers don't rush close together. That sounds like something people would do.

I got off the bench and rushed towards a the huge bucket of weapons and bolt rifle with a scope on it. I looked through the scope to see something unbelievable and scary

It was Casey carrying an unconscious Hershel on his side and there were a few walkers catching up to them.

"Oh shit..." I rushed towards the gate to get it open and took fire at a few walkers to get them off their backs.

"Open the gate!" Casey yelled. I did it without hesitation.

"Look out!" I shouted taking another shot at a walker that was getting really close to Casey. "Come on get in!"

Casey placed Hershel on the ground. "Hold them off! I'll close the gate!"

I nodded taking crackshots at any walker coming up on us growling and shuffling towards us to get some early breakfast, but Casey closed the gate leaving the walkers outside to scratch and claw and the impenetrable gate.

"Help me with him!" Casey ordered. I rushed to Hershel's other side as both of us pulled him up and moved him towards the prison.

"Is he-"

Casey interrupted me in a irritated and slightly panicked tone. "He's alive but we need to get him to Dr. S now!"

"Okay" I breathed heavily.

A few people began come outside because of the gunshots that went off. Glenn, Maggie, Daryl, and Bob rushed outside to see what was going on. It didn't take long before they realized what was wrong.

"DAD!" Maggie screamed at the top of her lungs in distress as she sprinted towards us with Glenn not to far behind.

"What happened to him?!" Glenn demanded panicking.

"Gunshot!" Casey answered. "The bullets out, but he needs to be treated NOW!"

"Here we got him!" Glenn offered with Maggie helping him sobbing violently. "Get Doctor S! Hurry!" He shouted at Daryl and Bob and they dashed back inside for help with Glenn and Maggie following behind.

Casey rushed ahead of me and I followed from behind all trying to save an old friends life...

Don't die on us... please...

There you have it... Chapter 13... I honestly never expected the chapter to go down like this. I did plan Hershel for being seriously wounded but the military thing was just out of the blue. I obviously don't know military talk so please forgive me for inaccuracy. Hope you guys like this chapter, and Walking Dead is coming back tomorrow night! I know I'm pumped! How about you guys? Thanks again guys! :D

DeltaSandman Out!