Separated

                                    

                                          
TREES FLEW BY AS THE JEEP SWERVED swerved in and out of them, dashing through the forest. Skye looked down at her mud covered jeans, the knees ripped, and blood visible through the various holes. Her body ached from her run in the woods and all she wanted to do is sleep.

                          
	"Where've ya been, Sadie?"
                          
	Her eyes darted to her brother's. It had been so long since anyone had called her by her real name and it was going to take some getting used to.
                          
	"I was with a group. Got chased off by walkers."
                          
	"Which way was your group?" 
                          
	"At this point, I have no idea. I ran for so long and no matter how hard I tried to stay straight, I got turned around at some point."
                          
	"Maybe it was a good thing," he smiled. "Brought you back to me, didn't it?"
                          
	"Yeah, but Brady... These were good people. They treated me like family. We took care of each other."
                          
	"Sounds like you got lucky."
                          
	She nodded. 
                          
	"Well, I got lucky, too."
                          
	"It's not just you two?"
                          
	"Not even close. I won't ruin the surprise, but the Martinez here found me. Took me to the Governor, who took me in as one of them."
                          
	"Governor?"
                          
	"Yeah, that's what we call him. Don't know his real name."
                          
	She raised her eyebrows. "I see."
                          
	"Don't worry. You'll meet him soon enough. And hey, one he meets you and gives me the go ahead, I may just have a surprise for you."
                          
	Her curiosity peaked, but she knew she would just have to wait as their vehicle pulled up to a wall of some sorts. The doors opened and she realized it was a barrier to keep out the dead. The car came to a halt just inside the gate and Martinez jumped out and opened her door for her. He stepped out and she heard him say, "Welcome to Woodbury, Sadie."
                          
She couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was a whole town. There had to be at least fifty people here that she could see. There were gardens, homes, beverage stations... it was a community. It looked like they were even throwing a festival. Festive decorations were strewn about the town, people walked about enjoying drinks and each others company. 
                          
"You came on a great day," Martinez stated. "We're having a town party." He smiled at her before walking ahead to meet up with a man, who had some sort of mechanism for a right hand. She walked behind them alongside Brady and she could hear Martinez say to the man, "Found some cigarettes on a walker."
                          
"Now don't get cocky, boy," the man rasped out. She couldn't help but think he kind of reminded her of Daryl. They shared the same blue eyes and had a bit of redneck in them. 
                          
"Ready to meet the Governor?" Brady nudged her arm. 
                          
She just nodded. 
                          
"You'll like him. Nice guy."
                          
The men led her into a building and they now stood waiting outside the Governor's door. Classical music could be heard playing inside. Skye stood on one side of the hall with Brady while Martinez and the other man stood at the other, staring her down. 
                          
"Man, boys. You lucked out today," the man laughed. "Where'd you find this little thing?"
                          
"This is my sister, Merle. So watch what you say."
                          
"Merle?" she asked, taken off guard. "As in Merle Dixon?"
                          
"Heard of me, have you?" Merle looked intrigued.