Chapter 5-Hope
Rick's P.O.V
Rick sat in the chopper as it rose into the air. "He'll never give up," The soldier says.
"We have orders," The other soldier growls. The other soldier was about to speak when somebody started firing at the chopper. Bullets hit the routers.
"We're going down," The pilot shouts as the chopper hits the ground.
Rick opens his eyes and looks around. The side of his head was bleeding. Rick quickly got his bearings, grabbed one of their guns, and shot the two soldiers in the chest. He shot the pilot and the co-pilot and climbed out of the chopper. He looked around the woods. He grabbed a knife and a bag and quickly ran into the woods. He ran and ran until he stopped by a tree. He breathed heavily and looked around. He sees a walker and pulls the knife out as the walker is stabbed in the head. Rick raises his gun at a blond woman. "I'm trying to help you," She says. "They'll be here soon."
"Who?"
"People worse than them, come on," She says as she motions for him to follow her. Rick sighs but follows the woman as she leads him to a small cabin. She shuts the door and looks at Rick. "Your name?"
"Rick Grimes," Rick says. The woman stares at him but says nothing. "Yours?"
"Madison Clark."
Daryl's P.O.V
The group stares at the smoke as it rises in the sky. "What do you think?" John says.
"We heard the shots. We should check it out," Daryl says.
"We'll finish here, and then we'll go. We need these supplies," Alica says.
"Alright, let's get it done quick," Daryl says as the radio goes off.
"Daryl, you see that?" Morgan asks.
"Yeah," Daryl says as he grabs the radio. "We're going to go check it out after we're done here. We'll see if there is anybody there."
"Alright," Morgan says. "Radio if you need any help."
"We will," Daryl says.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick sat in the cabin and stared at the woman who kept glancing at him. "Is there a reason you keep looking at me?" Rick asks.
"Yeah, I know who you are," Madison says.
"Have we met?"
"No, I lived in California before the fall. No, you know my boyfriend. You almost killed him."
"Who's your boyfriend?" He asks.
"Shane, Shane Walsh," Madison says. Rick's eyes widen.
"He lived?" Rick questions, his voice is low. A bit of surprise in there.
"You don't sound too surprised," Madison says.
"I didn't know if I killed him," Rick says. "When my son showed up, I forgot about him, I figured that the herd got him, but I always wondered if he got out if he was walking around as a walker. I told my people he was dead, to bring them closure, to bring my son and wife closure, but I've always wondered," Rick says as he slowly lays his hand on his gun. "Is that why you're keeping me here, so Shane can have his revenge."
"No, of course not. He doesn't want revenge. He wants to apologize. He knows he made a mistake. Before our home fell, he was talking about coming to find you. Then our home fell, and I lost him, my son, my daughter."
"Dead?" Rick asks.
"No, at least not when they got out. I locked myself in the stadium," Madison says as she shows him part of his back, which has burn scars. "I've been looking for them ever since."
"I've been trying to find my family too, but they're in Virginia."
"Help me look for Shane and my family, and I swear to you, I will get you back there," Madison offers. "We need people now."
Rick chuckles. "I once told one of my best friends that. Two weeks, then I go home."
"Alright," Madison says. "We'll stay here for a little bit longer and then go back to the site, get what supplies we can, and look. They're in Texas, I know it."
"How?" Rick asks.
"I just do."
Rosita's P.O.V
Rosita stood away from Carol, Jerry, and Laura as they talked. "Rosita," Gabriel says over the radio. Rosita grabs her radio.
"Make it quick, Gabriel. We're about to move on the group," Rosita says.
"Laura is with you, right?" Gabriel asks.
"Yeah," Rosita says as she looks at the blond former savior. "Why?"
"I need you to convince her to help get Michonne out of the council. We'll put Carl in charge of Alexandria," Gabrel tells her. "Abraham is going to talk with Carl. This is how we get Maggie and Hilltop back."
"Alright, I'll work on it," Rosita says. "But regardless of what she says. Tell Abraham I'm with him."
"Got it."
The group moves out with Carol and Jerry in front and Rosita and Laura in the back. "Who radioed you?" Laura asks.
"Gabriel," Rosita says. "They want to put Carl in charge, take Michonne off the council."
"She's our leader," Laura says after a moment.
"She shouldn't be," Rosita says. "She hasn't grieved, Rick. She needs to. Rick would have wanted Carl in charge, he knew his son was the future, and maybe she won't have to grieve him. Maybe Daryl will find him. But we need Hilltop. We need the food they trade with us."
"Michonne saved me. She had every reason to kill us, but she didn't. I owe her my life."
"You owe Carl, your life," Rosita growls. "He's the one who convinced Rick to let you all live. He's the reason that Negan is alive. If you're worried about Michonne trying to kill you or Negan, that won't happen. Carl will stop her. Help us save the world that Rick was building if we leave Michonnn in charge. She'll destroy it. I'm not asking you to betray her. I'm asking you to help her cause she needs to step back."
"Alright, I'll help."
"We're here," Carol says as she motions for them to bend down. They watch the group of five saviors as they sit around a fire. "We do this quickly," They nod as they withdraw their guns and fire at the saviors.
Abraham's P.O.V
Abraham sat by the pound, staring at the water as Carl walked up to him. "I remember the night we fought that herd," Abraham says. "When Daryl lit that herd on pond on fire, and we all fought together. We were one, fought together. We didn't care if we died. We just wanted to save this place. It hasn't been like that in a long time. I remember the night the saviors blew this place to hell. You led us, risking your life. I knew then that if Rick was ever to die, I'd follow you," Abraham says. "Rick's gone. It's time we follow you."
"Who else have you talked with about this?" Carl asks.
"Gabriel. He is having Rosita talk with Laura, and he talked with Aaron. He agreed. Rosita will convince Laura, but none of this works without you. You know what your Dad would want. You can make a deal with Maggie. I know you can."
"Alright," Carl says after a moment. "But if we do this, we do it my way, all of it, Enid will follow me. But getting Michonne off the council, working with Maggie, we do it my way, the only way I do this."
"You got it."
Carl's P.O.V
Carl walked into his house and looked at Michonne. "I'm calling a council meeting," Carl says. "When Laura gets back."
"About?" Michonne asks.
"You," Carl answers.
"Me?" Michonne asks.
"We'll talk about what's happening next with Maggie and your role."
"I made a decision. It was final," Michonne growls.
"It's not," Carl says. "I need you to trust me, Michonne."
"Then don't do this, Carl."
"I'm doing what Dad would want, what's best for you," Carl tells her softly. "What's best for the world he was building."
"Maggie is the reason we lost him," Michonne says as Carl turns around, but he stops.
"Yeah, she is," Carl says before he leaves.
Michonne's P.O.V
Michonne walked into the church and looked at the council as they sat. "Let's get on with this," Michonne says.
"You made a decision," Aaron says. "To stop trade between Hilltop and Alexandria without talking with the rest of the council," He tells her.
"We can not trade with them with Maggie in charge."
"You did it because you're angry with her, we all understand why but you did not do what is best for Alexandria. You did what was best for you," Abraham says. "Michonne, if the council agrees, you will be removed from the council until decided otherwise. In your place, Carl will take over as head of the council and leader of Alexandria. If you agree with this, raise your hand," Abraham says as he raises his hand. Gabriel and Aaron follow. Enid next, after a moment, Laura raises her hand slowly, and finally, Carl does. Michonne glares at them before she storms out of the church.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick and Madison walked through the woods in silence. Both of them are holding their guns. They see the smoke and hear voices. They quickly hide behind trees.
Rick looks out, and his eyes widen as he sees Daryl looking at the bodies. He smiles as Madison sees her kids. The two of them move out from behind the tree, and as Rick opens his mouth. Someone grab them from behind. They struggle, and the last thing both of them see are the people they love before their worlds go black.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl stares at the bodies and looks around. His eyes stop on the symbol on the side of the chopper. "Daryl, what is it?" Alicia asks.
"This chopper. That symbol, it's the one Gabriel described," Daryl says. "If Rick's alive, these assholes took him," Daryl says as he grabs the bodies and pulls them out of the chopper. He starts to go through them.
"You might not find anything. We need to get out of here before the walkers show up," John says.
"I gotta look, alright," Daryl says as he goes to the last soldier. He pulls out a piece of paper. Some of it was covered in blood.
"What is it?" Alicia asks.
"A mission assignment," Daryl says as he reads it. He stops on the last part. "Refuel in Texas and then transfer the prisoner, Rick Grimes, to the next base," Daryl stares at the bottom of the note and looks around. "Rick!" He shouts. "Rick!" Daryl shouts again.
"Daryl," Alicia growls. "We gotta keep going."
"They had him," Daryl growls. "I gotta find him."
"If he made it through this, he is gone. He is not here. We're going to find him, but walkers are coming."
Daryl growls but nods as they quickly leave.
Thanks for reading. The hunt is on, and Daryl is looking for Rick. Rick has made a new ally but also some new enemies. Next chapter, Daryl continues his search. Rick meets the woman in charge. Carl figures out how to make a deal with Maggie, and the fear group deal with old and new enemies. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.
