Chapter 162-The ones who live
Alpha's P.O.V
Alpha sat on a log sharpening her knife, but saw movement in at the corner of her vision. "Your head seems to be fucking with you, Alpha," Alpha looks in front of her and sees the 'Founder' Paul 'Jesus' Rovia above in front of her. "I would like to say it's remorse for what you have done, but we both know you don't feel remorse. You're a monster and the monster, they always die." Jesus says calmly as he circles her.
Alpha gritted her teeth, staring ahead, ignoring this fool that was dead.
"They never live and after they die, the heroes, they get their happy ending. The thing is, you died the day you came to the Kingdom, your grave was dug the day you cut off my head." Jesus says as he sits down beside her and she just stares at him with hate burning in her gaze. "You might not die tonight, you might live, but you won't win, you can't and in the back of your head, you know that, your people know that, the only person who might not know it is Beta, and he's a nutcase so that makes sense." Jesus says as he stands back up. "When you die, when they kill you, you'll be forgotten. Lydia will have a life, a good one. But just like the things that you lead, you're dead." Jesus says and then disappears, and Alpha just stares at where he once was.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl and Rick stood in Maggie's office, looking out the back area, both grimacing. "Not a lot of people will be able to get out from the back entrance." Rick said grimely.
"They'll probably take some walls down, regardless, a lot of us aren't stepping out of Hilltop." Daryl said back.
Rick shook his head at the cynicism but stopped as the door opens and Carl, Carol, and Shane walk in. Shane giving both a wave, Carol beaming and Carl just nodding curtly, Daryl figuring he was still annoyed being stuck downstairs.
"She made us come in here." Shane says as Carol leaves and comes back a few minutes later with a big plate of food with a warm smile.
"None of you have eaten today and we're all fighting tonight, I'm making you eat." Carol says firmly, Daryl hiding a smirk at the stern familiar motherly tone.
"You ever get tired of taking care of us?" Daryl asks.
"Always." Carol chuckled as Daryl begins to eat, Carl taking a plate and sitting down...looking round, Shane doing the same, his own face falling.
"We're all that's left."
"I remember the fish we ate." Carl quietly said. "The ones that Amy and Andrea caught, and Dale talking about his watch."
"Then the walkers showed up." Shane says then smirked slightly, lost in memories. "We were one hell of a group back then."
"That group we had back in the beginning, we could anything." Daryl says. "T-dog, Glenn, Hershel, Lori, Dale, Merle, Andrea. They all died so we could be here."
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for T-dog." Carol wiped her eyes.
"None of us would be." Rick leaned forward, hands on the table. "He saved all of us when he saved you. We've honored them, all of them. Dale, Jim, Amy, Lori, Andrea, Morales, Sophia. Glenn, Merle, Jacqui, T-dog, Hershel, Otis, Patricia, and Jimmy. We've honored them; we proved Dale wrong, we're not broken. We've proved that and we'll prove it again tonight, we'll fight together, we'll bleed for each other, we'll kill for each other, we'll die for each other. We've kept our humanity."
"Doesn't feel like sometimes." Shane muttered, Carol also looking away.
"We've struggled. But we build something that will last, long after we're gone, the New World, it's gonna last, even when we're not alive to keep it going." Carol says
Daryl smirked at Carl "That means you kid."
"Yeah sure no pressure." Carl gave a light snort at that.
"Hopefully we aren't dead for a long time." Shane says as he grabs his glass of water. "To the ones we've lost."
"The ones we've lost." The others chorused in return, clinking glasses.
Carl's P.O.V
After an hour upstairs, Carl loaded his gun as he saw his Father hugging Judith and Andrea, the two girls kissing his face while Michonne watched with a chuckle, the same being said for the Dixon twins, Ofelia hugging Alicia and Merle hugging Daryl. He then turned as Maggie walked up behind him, Enid setting Robert down behind her in the set up crib in the corner. "I can feel your annoyance from outside." Maggie says with a smirk making Carl look at her, his jaw tight.
"I should be out there, fighting. Not guarding children." Carl protested.
"You're not guarding children, Carl. You're guarding the next generation. Those kids are the most important thing in this place, they have to get out, cause they'll lead after you, and we need them. The people fighting tonight, we're prepared to die to protect the rest of you, the people who will lead after we're gone. You, Lydia, Arya, those kids. You're more important than all of us," Maggie comforted, a hand on her shoulder.
"We still need you guys." Carl pointed out, putting his own hand on her's, clearly telling her and as many as they could to come back.
"You'll have us, hopefully," Maggie says. Carl nods as he saw his father staring at the two nearby, a hand on Andrea's shoulder, and smiled. Carl stares... then smiles at Maggie then at his father, nodding...
But behind his father he saw something that made his blood run cold.
Frowning, Rick looked behind him and Carl saw his father tense up as well.
Negan was sitting in a chair next to a nearby bed. A bed that had Hershel lying on it...Carl heard Daryl take a breath while Maggie tensed.
For a long moment, Negan said nothing then he quietly started.
"I think...you and I have a bit of unfinished business Hershel,"
Hershel just glared at him without a word.
"...Look...those freaks are coming soon. We don't know what's gonna happen. But I'll tell you what...if we all make it through this...if this place is still standing...help your Moms, help them rebuild all of this. And...if you're still angry in a few years. Come and find me...and I promise you...you and I will settle this."
Negan stood up then... then suddenly turned to the rest, causing Carl to almost jump as he said.
"Ok I'll be out back, let me know when the Black Friday crowd's coming."
And without another word he turned and walked out of the room. Maggie watches as Hershel stares after him and down, arms around his knees. "That could have been worse." Daryl muttered. "He could have shot him."
"I was about to shoot him." Maggie bluntly admitted. "It's almost time, let's get to work."
Alpha's P.O.V
Alpha puts her mask over her as she stood, breathing in and out to silence these damn-
"You don't deserve to wear that." At that voice, Alpha loses her own for a moment, as she turns around and looks at the older woman with long flowing blond hair, a brown vest over her form.
"Hera..." Alpha whispered. Her Mentor. The one who brought her and Lydia into the Whisperers...the one whose face she wore.
"You turned my people into monsters."
"They were already monsters, they just had a weak leader." Alpha barked aggressively.
"So many have died because you, we didn't hurt people, we just lived in peace and tranquility in nature. But you have killed so many. So many have died because of your bullshit, you've lost your daughter because of it."
"My daughter is weak, she will die with her new family and the brothers, that is my will as Alpha."
"You should have never been Alpha. I should have killed you the moment I met you and took care of Lydia. If I did, she would have been better off without her psychopath mother!" Hera shouts.
"But you wouldn't have been able to." Alpha sneered "And you're dead now. Cause you were weak; you will always be weak. My people are strong."
"If that was true, none of them would have betrayed you and you would have already destroyed the New World, but you never will, because you are the weakest of all of them. You're pathetic Dee." Hera growls and Alpha growls hearing her former name, a name she cast aside. "You were weak before you started to call yourself Alpha always bullying others and finding pleasure in tormenting them. But you're still Dee, that weak bitch and I hope they make your death hurt and you burn in hell." Hera paused then tilted her head, now looking almost pitiful "I'll see you soon Dee. Goodbye."
Alpha stared at where she once was, vanishing in the blink of an eye and then walked away. She walked up to where Beta stood and nodded.
"It is time to destroy them." Alpha paused, then looked up "Are you with me Beta?"
Beta immediately bowed his head to her "Till the end my Alpha."
"Good." For the moment, at her ever loyal Second's loyalty, she felt herself assured of her victory.
Judith's P.O.V
"OK and what do we do if we see them getting through the door?"
Ofelia sighed, "Go through the window and follow the others."
Merle protested "Come on, this whole thing is dumb we should be out there!"
Judith looked annoyed, saying again for what she felt like was the dozenth time "Guys, this is important. Our parents are going to be out there fighting the Skin people, and we need to show that they don't have to worry about us."
Gracie looked down, herself very unsure as she didn't want to lose her other father "Judy what if-"
Looking over, AJ put a hand on her arm, both having lost parents or parent figures to Alpha "We have to have faith in them, and you heard Uncle Daryl. They live through us. Clementine said my real parents were brave and your Dad was brave, so we need to be brave too."
Judith nodded happily, then at Andrea and Coco, who were holding Robert and Rose respectively "You guys have the babies? Ofelia, Merle, you two have JJ and Mo?"
The Twins nodded, Merle a bit more reluctant "Why do you get the gun?"
"Cause I'm the best shot!" Judith huffed and then at the quiet Hershel, whose home would be the one under attack "Hershel?"
Looking up, Hershel gave Judith an apologetic look "Sorry Judy just...stuff on my mind."
Andrea looked over, worried "Is it about that stuff with Uncle Negan? What did he mean?"
"Andrea not now, we can worry about that later." Judith assured her little sister gently, then turned to Hershel "When the attack comes we follow Grandpa Earl and Carl outside if they get in. I know it's your home Hershel, but please don't be reckless."
After a moment's pause, Hershel nodded "O-ok."
Judith smiled back at him then clapped her hands "OK, now we wait, go get some rest guys and remember what Dad always says?"
"...We're the ones who live." Andrea said happily.
"Exactly sis!" Judith nodding and turning as the children left to get some sleep then paused.
Aunt Beth was against the door, rubbing her eyes.
"Aunt Beth, are you ok?" Judith came up, rubbing her leg.
"Sorry just... God when did you get so big?" Beth removed her hand, eyes watery and kneeling to her level.
Judith chuckled "Had some good people to follow."
The blond smiled and put a hand on her head "I hope so...you're smart, you're strong, you're so brave. I know you'll help keep them safe."
"You guys don't have to worry about us. We got each other's backs." Judith nodded firmly...then looked over at Hershel, who was quietly watching Coco lay Rose on her lap, bouncing the giggling girl on her knee.
"Worried?"
Beth looked back at Judith "Sorry?"
"About Hershel? Don't worry he'll come around if he's half as nice as Uncle Glenn was."
Beth stared at her for a long moment "I..." She paused again, then said quietly "You know."
"That Uncle Negan was a big jerk a long time ago?" Judith shrugged "I listened, and I only really put it together when Hershel never met him before a month or so ago. But like I said, Hershel will be fine. I'll watch him." She then leaned in and kissed her aunt's cheek "Now go and be a hero with everyone else."
"...Yes Ma'am." Beth kissed her on the forehead as well and stood to join the others.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick walked up to Carl, who kissed Enid, his wife nodding at him and leaving the basement after a final goodbye to Robert. "You ready?" Carl asks his father who shakes his head.
"Nope, but I'm going to do it." Rick shook his head, but then looked at his Son's eye with a stern look, brokering no arguments. "No matter what you see, Carl. You do not stop, you get them out."
"If you die, I won't leave you to join her." Carl quietly said
"I won't, I'll end it before I let that happen." Rick says. "Don't stop, Carl. For anything, get your sisters, your nephews and nieces, you get all of the kids out."
"I will." Carl gulped as he hugs his father. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Rick said back, hugging tight. "You've made me so proud, Carl. You are the best thing that ever happened to me, regardless of what happens tonight, don't ever forget that."
"I won't." Carl says and Rick nods as he turns to walk back to Barrington house. "Dad." Carl says making Rick look at him. "We're the ones who live."
"We're the ones who live."
Negan's P.O.V
Negan had his hands in his pockets, the sun rapidly setting as he stared down...
Two crosses in front of him. A place he for over a decade avoided like the plague...talking to that boy inside? Awoke a lot in him.
What could he say? He closed his eyes and started "I'm sorry for what I did to you."
"Well, you should be, but better late than never." He heard the woman's voice behind him.
Staring at the crosses, he snorted "Checking in on me?"
"Well, someone had to interrupt your little pity party. You meant what you said in there?"
Negan argued "Oh come on, I said in a few years not like immediately and we don't know if we're winning."
"Eh fair enough." He heard silent footsteps and said softly "...Listen to me, forget the pity, the guilt, the regret. Right now, they need a fucking warrior that can kick the teeth of that bitch in. And you need to survive...you have girls to take care of."
Silently, Negan hung his head, so she decided to continue happily "Lydia is a sweetheart, and Kate can keep you in line and oh my Rose is adorable..."
"I'm sorry."
"The fuck are you sorry for? Don't be. Right now, don't be sorry, be you...and for gods sakes can you just look at me?"
Slowly...he turned.
In a small cloak with long blond hair, a warm smile he hadn't seen in years...he muttered "Great going crazy."
She snorted and rubbed his jaw "We're all a bit crazy but that doesn't define us...stay alive Negan..." Then her eyes went tender "I miss you."
"...I miss you too Lucille."
Then with a blink, she was gone...as he turned to the crosses again, then took a breath and said determinedly "Right, time to kick that cunt's ass."
Eugene's P.O.V
Eugene stopped the truck outside the trainyard as the the moon started to rise. "Keep your weapons down." Eugene says as he climbs out of the truck. The others nod as they follow Eugene who, starts to walk through the train yard.
"I don't see anybody." Jerry says.
"We are a couple of days early. They might not even be here, yet." Althea offered.
Princess though was in discussion, asking Elijah "So wait these fucks dress up in other people's skin? Damn man, talk about setting Halloween cosplay to far. Don't want to see these pendejos trick or treating."
"We do no not introduce her to Negan. Ever. I'm serious." Frankie said to Jerry and Eugene.
Princess looked to Eugene "And you! All this way for a booty call. Damn you are one horny dude."
Stopping, Eugene sputtered and started to speak but as they get to the middle of the trainyard, bright lights suddenly come on around them, and within moments they were surrounded by shouts and yells and commands.
"Drop your weapons!" A man shouts as they are quickly surrounded by armed soldiers wearing while armor. "Drop them now!" He shouts as they aim their rifles at them.
"Holy shit!" Clinton looked at the armor in bewilderment, many hands starting to be raised dropping weapons among the various screams of "Drop your weapons!" And "Hands in the air!"
"We were told to meet you here, we come in peace!" Eugene shouted as he holds his hands up. They guards stay silent as they aim their guns at him, but then heard a loud whistle. The guards move away as one of them comes forward, but Eugene saw this one was wearing black armor. The soldier stops in front of them and removes their helmet.
And Eugene saw a ghost standing there, staring wide eyed in disbelief.
"...Regina?" Eugene questions as he stares at her.
Regina stares at him and then looks around. "Well, this is awkward."
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl put his vest on and grabbed his crossbow. He walked outside where Rick was waiting for him. "A pretty good night to die, huh?" Daryl morbidly joked.
"Not too bad." Rick says with a smirk, then reached forward to clap a hand on his shoulder. "I love you, brother."
"Love you, too," Daryl says. Rick nods as they walk down the steps. The two leaders walk side by side as they walk down the path towards the gate. Daryl grabs a flail off the table as Rick grabs a machete. They get to the gate where Gabriel and Aaron were waiting and push it open. They walk towards the others who move to the side as the leaders of the Alliance stop in front of everybody and Aaron and Gabriel stop behind them. They were silent as they started to hear the groans.
"We're the ones who live." Rick says quietly making Daryl look at him.
"We're the ones who live!" Daryl shouted to the rest of Hilltop as they cheered as the groans grow louder.
Behind them, they heard Gabriel quietly stated "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on it was Death, and Hell followed with him."
Thanks for reading. Next chapter is the battle of Hilltop, and I am very excited to write that chapter, got some pretty amazing scenes coming from that. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.