Chapter 165-Finding each other
Michonne's P.O.V
Michonne and Alpha stared at each other as Alpha removed her knife, hovering over the passed out Beta's body. With luck she could get rid of them both. "You are with Rick Grimes correct?"
"He's my husband." Michonne says as she stares icily at the woman.
"Then I will be happy to kill you and for him to see you walk with us." Alpha says before she charges the katana wielding woman. Michonne swings his sword at Alpha who ducks under her swing and swings her knife at Michonne. She turns away from the blade and Alpha punches her in the face making Michonne stumble backwards. She dodges another swing from Alpha and swings her katana to the side barley missing Alpha's throat.
Alpha grabbed her machete and met the katana, the two struggling...Michonne gasping as the fatigue from the battle and hours running settled in.
She then swings it down and Alpha ducks, stabbing her knife into Michonne's hand making her drop the katana as Alpha hits her in the face knocking her to the ground. Alpha grabs the Katana off the ground and looks at Michonne. "Maybe not. You have a lovely face, maybe I'll take it and show it to him." Alpha says as she prepares to swing the katana. A gunshot goes off and a bullet goes through Alpha's hand. Alpha screamed, turned around and looked at Judith who stood on the tree line with her gun raised.
"You." Alpha stared at the little girl who came to her camp.
Judith barked "I told you I wasn't scared-"
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Suddenly a monstrous roar came as if a beast had awoken, and Beta shot up...Michonne gasping in horror as half of his face was burnt far worse than Dwight and pieces of his coat seemed fused to his skin from burns, Judith falling down as if pinned under the Beta's gaze. Regrabbing her katana, Michonne swung it at Beta, who blocked it with his knives, kicking Alpha down. But Beta backhanded her into the ground, Judith gasping in horror.
"DO NOT HARM THE ALPHA!" Beta screamed as Alpha grabbed his arm, the distraction needed as he obediently followed, helping her to safety into the trees.
"Mom!" Judith shouts as she runs up to Michonne, helping her mother up.
"Judith, go!" Michonne stood shakily, grabbing her katana, wanting to pursue them.
"I'm not leaving." Judith says as she looks around.
"You should be with the other kids, what are you doing out here?" Michonne barked as she scans the trees for Alpha.
"Uncle Negan is hurt, I was heading to the hospital to get supplies for him when I heard you two." Judith answered her mother.
"Are Carl, Andrea, and Robert okay?" Michonne asks.
"Yes, but Grandpa Earl's dead" Judith tells Michonne who looks at her grimley.
"Alright, we're going to go to the hospital, see if anybody else is there and get supplies for Negan and then you are going to show me where they are." Michonne tells Judith who nods as they start to walk.
"...Am I in trouble?" Judith asks cautiously.
"Yes." Michonne bluntly answered.
Eugene's P.O.V
Eugene, and Princess sat across from Mercer and Regina, Regina taking a notebook out as she nodded at Mercer who started. "Alright, let's start from the beginning, who attacked you?"
"A group of vicious nomads who call themselves The Whisperers. They make face masks with walker's faces, and can herd massive hordes of Walkers. They first attacked a community called Oceanside, they killed everybody but one. Four of us went out, as scouts leading to one of them being killed, another started working with the Whisperers and the other two were on the run. Another group went out to get them, that group was led by one of the leaders."
"Daryl?" Regina asks and Eugene nods. "Who else?"
"Rick, he's able to walk again." Eugene tells Regina whose eyebrows were raised but nodded. "They saved our people, but we lost one. His name was Troy Otto, he was Laura's husband and the father of her child. They took a hostage and Alpha came for her. Alpha is their leader, Alpha got the hostage Lydia back, also her daughter. Judith, Arya, and Clementine went after her and we got the girls back, but Beta killed Dwight." He said this last part to Regina, whose eyes bulged at another long familiar name being dead.
"After that there was fair and Alpha took a patrol group. She killed ten of us, put their heads on spikes, Laura, Arat, Nick, Jesus, Tammy, Gage, Georgie, Lily, Gage, D.J. Then winter came and five months later, she returned back, destroyed the Sanctuary, killed Reilly, destroyed the Campgrounds and killed Elijah. She has a herd, a couple thousand if not more after we killed half of it. We need help."
Mercer stays silent for a moment before he leans back in his chair. "Rick and Daryl, they lead you?" Mercer asks Eugene who nods. "How long?"
"Rick led us for a while then he couldn't do it, so Daryl took over and he has led the alliance for the last decade." Eugene answers. "Please, help us."
"Maybe we can, but I need to know more, so keep talking." Mercer said without changing expression.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl walked around the house and stopped by an open window. "You find something?" Carl asks as he comes up beside him.
"She went towards the hospital, probably worried after Earl and Negan being injured." Daryl turned to him with a glare. "How the hell did she get out without any of you knowing? Arya and Lydia were supposed to be watching her."
"I don't know." Carl says. "We need to get them moving."
"We'll need to carry Negan." Daryl looked over to the rest who were waiting. "We'll use one of those beds. Kenneth, Morgan, you and me will carry him." Daryl tells Carl who nods. "You doing, okay?"
"I had to kill him Daryl." Carl says his voice breaking. "Just like my Mom. Why do I keep having to kill the people I love?"
"I wish I could tell you that Earl was the last one but we both know that's a lie, cause he won't be. What I do know is that he loved you and he was glad that he wasn't alone during his final moments, he was happy it was you who was there for him."
"Did you see my Dad?" Carl asks Daryl who shakes his head.
"He's probably at the hospital already, waiting for us. You know your Dad can handle himself." Daryl tells him.
"Alicia's probably there too." Carl said as well. "So let's get there."
Daryl nods as they walk back towards the house, saying "Okay, Rosita, Strand, you two are on point. Eyes open and stay sharp."
Strand gave him a smile and cocked his rifle "Yes sir."
Shane's P.O.V
Shane, Madison, Charlie, Rachel, Kate, Ezekiel, Sherry, Nabila, John, Deacon, and Boozer walked through the woods, as through the trees they saw the towering image of the abandoned hospital chosen as the fall back position in case Hilltop fell. "We're close." Shane informed.
"Hopefully the others are there." Madison says. "The kids, Maggie, Carl, Earl, Lydia, and Arya."
Kate bit her lip "Hope so."
"Hey they'll be fine" Shane says as they hear a branch break. At once, they all raise their guns as Alicia, Rick, and Carol ran out of the woods, Rick holding his hands up in peace
"Mom!" Alicia says with a grin as she goes up to her mother and hugs her.
"You made it man!" Shane says as he walks up to Rick and hugs him and Carol goes up to Ezekiel and kisses him. Alicia lets Madison go and hugs Charlie and Rachel as well.
"Henry?" Carol asks, looking around to find her son.
"He got out, he was with Sarah, Rikki, Ady, Leah and Aaron." Ezekiel says. "The herd cut us off."
Carol nods. "Have any of you seen Daryl?" Alicia then asks.
"No," Shane answers. "You guys are the first people we ran into. We're hoping they're at the hospital."
"Let's get there." Rick says as they start to walk through the woods again. "Siddiq's gone," Rick tells Shane who nods. They get out of the woods and see the hospital as they head through, seeing the fighters start to gather from around the woods area.
"Dad!" Judith shouts as she runs up to Rick and hugs him as Michonne comes behind her and kisses him, hugging them both. Alden's group comes out as Deacon goes up to Sarah and hugs her and Boozer kisses Leah as Carol and Ezekiel hug Henry, and John kisses June as well.
"What are you doing here? Where is Carl and Andrea?" Rick asks Judith immediately.
"They're at a cabin, Negan got really hurt fighting Beta. I came here for supplies and I ran into Mom." Judith tells her.
"Who's all here?" Shane asks Beth.
"About a hundred so far, besides Carl, Lydia, Arya, the kids, Negan, Maggie, Kenneth, Morgan, Rosita, Daryl, and Strand." Beth answers.
"What about Earl?" Rick asks.
"He's dead." Judith says, making Rick look at her. "He got bit while we were leaving Hilltop. Carl shot him."
Rick's face fell in grief at that, bowing his head but looking up "Wait, you said Negan's hurt?"
"How bad?" Kate came up with worry.
Judith looked at Kate and the rest "Really bad, Carl said some ribs are broken, his heads bloody and a bunch of bruises all over him."
"Do you know where they are?" Rick asks Judith who nods. "Alright, Shane, Madison, John, Deacon, Aaron, Sherry, Carol. You're with me. Rest of you, hang tight and start looking for anyone else who made it out."
"I'm coming, Rick." Alicia says.
"Alicia—"
"My kids are there, I am not staying here and Daryl might be there." Alicia says sharply.
"You need to be safe." Carol says.
"What's going on?" Madison looked between them. "Is she hurt?"
"I'm pregnant." Alicia tells her mother who looks at her shocked. "But I can still fight."
"No, you'll stay here, if I take you out there and you get hurt, Daryl will kill me. You are staying here, Alicia." Rick orders.
"He's right, you're staying." Madison sternly tells her daughter who sighs.
"Fine," Alicia says. "Just bring them back."
"We will." Rick says as Kate comes up to them.
"I'm coming, I need to see the girls and Negan."
"I figured" Rick says as he looks at Beth. "You, Tara, and Javier are in charge."
Beth nodded as they left, Javier already giving orders to search the woods for any more fighters and Hilltop survivors.
Alpha's P.O.V
Alpha walked through the woods holding her hand as Beta staggered ahead, his eyes frantic and ensuring her safety. "Damn, Dee. You got shot by a kid." Alpha freezes as she feels her body tense and her stomach drop. She turns around and looks at her husband, the man she killed. "You almost got shot by our daughter, not looking too good for you hmm."
"My daughter, you were too weak to raise her." Alpha growls as she stares at the man, who silently stares at her, then takes a step towards her and she takes a step back.
"I still haunt you, Dee all the while." Frank says. "I should have killed you, I wish I had, Lydia would have been much better off if I had killed you."
"She would be dead, cause you wouldn't have been able to take care of her."
"I would have done whatever I needed to." Frank barked back. "To keep her safe, but you aren't trying to keep her safe, you're trying to kill her and everybody she loves."
"She is as weak as they are and as weak as you were."
"No, they're stronger than both of us, Dee. Cause they've made something that will last, you've gone back to primal ways, you're an animal. They'll give a life, and when that life ends, I will see my daughter again, while you burn in hell, cause your days are numbered. You're about to die, Dee. You know this, or I wouldn't be here cause I'm not real. You're scared, and that fear is real because your life is about to end." Frank says as he stops in front of her. "You should be glad, you didn't think they could take care of our daughter. You were wrong. They can and they will long after you are gone." Frank says before he disappears leaving Alpha staring into the woods, with only the mutterings of her Second to keep her company.
Sherry's P.O.V.
Heading through, her heart clenched and pleaded that Mo was alright, Judith telling her Mo was unharmed but she still worried for her daughter. The Last bit of Nick she had left as they followed Rick.
Around her, he heard Aaron talking to Deacon, the latter reassuring him that Gracie was alive while ahead of her, Rick was talking with Kate.
Overhearing Kate saying "Really? Judith said that's why?"
Rick nodded "Apparently Hershel went into Barrington to get the pictures, but...he ran into Beta, who ran into Negan and a fight broke out. We have to get him back there Asap, Judith said he looked like hell."
"Yeah I figured. God at least Rose and Lydia are fine."
"They'll be ok." The word's came out before Sherry could stop herself, causing Kate and Rick to look at her surprised...then Kate huffed, looking ahead "What, your not saying shit like he fucking deserves it, cause if your saying some self righ-"
"No. I'm not." Sherry quietly answered "I'm never going to like him, but he did a good thing."
"...Thanks." Kate breathed out from her nose as they proceeded in silence for a minute, then heard footsteps and branches breaking up ahead.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl, Kenneth, Carl, and Morgan carried a mattress with Negan on it while Rosita and Strand were in front, Maggie carrying Hershel. "You need to go on a damn diet." Daryl complained.
Negan chuckles and then laughs "Fuck you man, not like I'm skinny like your redneck ass!"
Lydia quietly said "Negan, please, save your strength."
"You're telling him not to talk? That'll never happen." Daryl shook his head.
They stopped and they hear footsteps. "Set him down." Daryl says as they set Negan down and remove their weapons. Rick is the first one to emerge from the woods, with a look of relief seeing them there matched by Daryl.
"Daddy!" Andrea shouts as she runs up to Rick and hugs him. Daryl lowers his weapons and Rick let's Andrea go and looks at Carl.
"I'm sorry," Rick says and Carl nods as he hugs his father. Kate goes up to Lydia and grabs Rose, bringing both girls into a hug. Kissing Rose's before she bends down beside Negan.
"You look like shit," Kate says with a small worried smile.
"You still look beautiful." Negan says as Kate takes his hand.
"You're going to be okay," Kate says and Negan just nodded once, lulling his head back.
"Alicia, Charlie, and Rachel are safe." Rick tells Daryl who nods with a sigh. "Let's get him back, June is there, she should be able to help."
Carl gave a small smile "Can you help? He's heavy as hell."
"Oh Fuck you too!"
Alicia's P.O.V
Alicia sat by the window as Beth watched the woods and the surrounding areas. "Pregnant, huh?" Beth smirked at Alicia who nods.
"Believe me, it wasn't planned, we talked about having more kids at some point but not right now, not during all of this." Alicia sighed, already imagining his reaction, as Beth nods as she sees movement and Rick and Daryl exiting the woods.
"They're here."
Alicia stands up and runs towards the door with the others behind her. She pushes the door open as they enter the courtyard. Alicia runs up to Daryl and hugs him as he wraps his arms around his wife and then kisses her.
"You okay?" Daryl asks her.
"Yeah." Alicia says as she holds him. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Daryl says as Alicia lets Daryl go and Merle and Ofelia run up to their mother and hug her as well. Daryl smiles as he hugs Rachel and Charlie.
"Let's get him inside." June says as she looks at the laying down Negan with worry.
Alicia lets the kids go as Maggie then hugs her sister in relief. "Let's get everybody inside." Rick says. "We won't want to stay out here too long."
The others nod as they start to go inside, Aaron picking up Gracie and follows. "Go with them, let me talk to your Dad for a second," Alicia tells the kids who nod as they follow Rick leaving Daryl and Alicia outside.
"What's wrong?" Daryl looked at her in worry.
Alicia took a breath to brace herself, then said "I need to tell you something. I'm pregnant."
Daryl stays silent for a moment, then says softly. "How long?"
"I found out the day Rick got back from the cave attack." Alicia tells her.
"You still fought?" Daryl growls, rubbing his hair. "What the hell were you thinking?!"
"I don't know. I was scared, and I didn't want to hide and just stay away while everyone else fought. It was stupid, I know that, but I didn't know what to do." Alicia says. "I'm sorry."
Daryl sighs as he hugs her assuringly. "We'll figure it out."
Alicia nods as she wraps her arms around his neck, a brief calm before the storm.
Eugene's P.O.V
"That is everything." Eugene gritted his teeth after talking with Mercer and Regina for over two hours, next to him Princess hanging on every word in awe. "That is everything you need to know now make a decision! We need to save my people before Alpha slaughters them!"
Princess reached down to touch his hand in comfort as he studied the two across from him...Regina was biting her lip and Mercer still sat without expression...then he spoke in a steady tone that seemed edged with sympathy.
"I want to help you, Eugene. But I can't risk bringing these things to the Commonwealth, my first priority is them. Unless the Governor disagrees. I don't know what else we can do."
Eugene was about to argue more but then, the door opens as himself, Princess, Mercer, and Regina looked to the door. They see a slim man, skinny but with a pale face and smooth skin come inside...the first thing Eugene noticed was the suit he had on and the smirk as he came up "Mercer really? Come on... they need help and the Commonwealth helps people. So sorry Mr. Porter. I assure you he's a good man, but General Mercer here is just... protective."
"Uh thank you sir? Who are you?" Eugene looked up, brow furrowed at this new arrival.
With a salesman smile, he held a hand out "Oh Director Lance Hornsby, pleasure to meet you."
Thanks for reading. Lance is in this story and I am so excited. Next chapter Eugene and Lance talk, the group prepares for the final fight with Alpha as Alpha does the same. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.