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.
"I know-"
She was interrupted by the door opening, revealing a man handsome for his age. "Well, what do we have here, boys?"
"We found her in the woods running from walkers, sir," Martinez informed.
Brady cleared his throat. "She's my sister. Sadie."
"Well, welcome! Come on in and we'll have a little chat." He opened the door wider for her to enter. She cast a glance over her shoulder at her brother as the men had to wait outside. Once inside, the Governor pulled a chair out for her at his kitchen table. Sitting, she watched him as he went to sit across from her. He sat smiling with his fingers interlaced on the table.
"I know Brady here had been looking all over for you. I'm sure you're very glad to have found him."
"Yes, sir."
"Oh, please. You don't have to call me sir or anything. We're all family here. So where ya from?"
"I was staying with a group at a farm not too far from here. We got overrun."
"Farm, huh? Seems to be a lot of that lately."
She looked at him confused.
"Oh, never mind that." He pushed up from his seat and poured a cup of what looked like tea. Handing it to her, he said, "Well, you're welcome to stay. I'm sure you'll be wanting to since you just found your brother. But just know, everyone pulls their weight around here. Everyone helps out and we all get along just fine. I'll have Brady show you to your room. You should get some rest before the big party. You don't wanna miss it."
She got up and he guided her to the door. Opening it for her, he added, "If you ever need anything, feel free to come talk to me."
"Thank you," she said gratefully, before stepping out to rejoin the others.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Rick?"
Daryl leaned down staring into Rick's glazed over eyes. Waving his hand in front of his face, he waited for a response, but none came. "Rick? You with me? Rick!" Standing up, Daryl looked down at their broken leader and he couldn't help but think, if only Skye were here.
"Let me see the baby," Hershel called to Carl.
"What're we gonna feed it?" Daryl watched the crying baby's face, worried. "We got anything a baby can eat?"
"The good news is she looks healthy." Looking to Daryl Hershel continued, "But she needs formula, and soon or she won't survive."
"Nope. No way. Not her. We ain't losin' anybody else. I'm goin' for a run."
"I'll back you up," Maggie stepped up. She knew Daryl wasn't showing it, but he was hurting over the loss of Skye and she didn't want him getting himself killed.
"Me, too," Glenn nodded.
"Okay, well think of where we're goin'. Beth?" Daryl motioned Beth off to the side of the group and she followed.
"Kid just lost his mom. His dad ain't doin' so hot."
She nodded in understanding. "I'll look out for him."
Before Daryl could turn away she added, "But, Daryl..."
"Yeah?"
"I'm sure Skye..."
"Not now. I have to go get that formula."
She watched him sadly as he walked back over to Maggie and Glenn. "You two go get the fence. If those things pile up we got ourselves a problem. Glenn, Maggie! Vamanos!"
Before anyone even had the chance to stop him, Rick stood up, grabbed an ax from off the concrete and took off for the door to the prison.
"Rick!" Maggie called, but it fell on deaf ears.
"Come on!" Daryl yelled. "We're gonna lose the light!"
Maggie and Glenn caught up to Daryl and the three jogged for the SUV.
"There's a Piggly Wiggly right off of 85," Glenn stated.
"No, the baby section's been cleared. Lori asked me to keep an eye out. Haven't had much luck."
Swinging his crossbow off his back, Daryl asked, "Isn't there a place that hasn't been completely looted?"
"You know, uh, we saw signs for a shopping center just north of here."
Maggie sat her weapons on the back seat, shaking her head. "No, there's too much debri on the road. The car will never get through there."
"I can take one of ya."
Glenn and Maggie looked to where Daryl readied his bike.
"I'll go."
Glenn walked over to stand in front of her. "No, Maggie. After everything you have been through. I'll go."
"I'm not the only one going who has been through a lot lately," she gestured towards Daryl, who swung his poncho over his head. "I wanna go. For Lori, I have to and Skye would want someone making sure he didn't do something stupid to get himself killed."
Glenn just stared back at her, thinking it over. "Okay," he gave in. He grabbed her weapons from the car and turned back to her, placing a hand at her face. "I love you. Be safe."
Sitting on his bike, ready to go, Daryl looked back to see if Maggie was coming. Instead, he saw her and Glenn kissing each other goodbye. He chewed on his bottom lip, thinking back to the last thing he told Skye. One less thing that'll get me killed... Angry with himself, he got the bike running, felt the deep rumbling of the engine and Maggie climb onto the back. With a twist of the throttle, they were off.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
"Alright! Hey! Well, the first time we gathered, it was nine of us holed up in an apartment with Spam and saltine crackers. Well, look at us now." The Governor stood holding a glass of iced tea in his hand, looking out over the residents of his little community. "We built a place we can call home. Maybe held together with duct tape and string, but it works. It's ours. I'll take it." He smiled out at the crowd, chuckling slightly. "So today, we celebrate how far we've come. We remember those we've lost... and we raise a glass to us!!!"
Everyone let out a cheer. Everyone, except Skye, who stood with her brother among the townspeople. She hadn't been able to sleep. She did, however, take a nice warm shower and get a change of clothes. Some woman had come and taken her old ones and brought her a fresh set. So now she stood in a dark jean vest, with skinny blue jeans, and a new leather jacket.
"How you doin', Sadie?"
"Fine, I guess."
"Well, do you like it here or what?"
"I just got here, Brady."
"Man, what happened to you?"
"What?" She looked at him shocked.
"You're nothing like your old self. Nothin' at all. Now you seem so... cold."
"It's this world, Brady. What did you expect? Me to be happy all the time and cheerful about-" She sighed. "I lost my parents, sister, and I had thought I lost my brother, too. I was all alone. It was either harden up or die."
He nodded in understanding. "Well, I'm here. And we're somewhere you can sit back and relax. Take a breath and enjoy yourself. Oh, and here." He pulled two guns from his holsters at his sides.
Her eyes found the familiar pistols that she had thought she had lost.
"Try keeping better track of these things, okay? I gave them to you so you could protect yourself."
"Where did you find these?" she asked, turning them over in her hands.
"A girl. She had them in the bag we searched. Must've found them while on the road. She had been out there with another woman for eight months, barely survivin'. Said she came from a farm that got overrun."
"Andrea..." Skye said under her breath.
"You know her?"
"She was in our group." Skye's scanned the crowd for the familiar blonde woman.
"She's around here somewhere. I'm sure you'll run into her sometime."
"Brady!" The Governor called to her brother from his door.
"I have to go, but you can go sit with Martinez if you want. He's over on the wall keepin' watch. Will you be alright?"
She laughed, "I spent months on the run from walkers, I think I'll manage."
He smiled and headed off towards where the Governor waited. Heading over to the wall, she looked to where Martinez sat with a rifle resting on his shoulder.
"Hey, sweetheart!" A voice rasped out to her, stopping her in her track. It was Merle. Turning towards him, she saw him waltzing over to her.
"I think we have something we need to finish discussin'."
Placing her hands on her hips, she waited.
"How'd you know my name?"
"I know your brother." She watched as his eyes widened.
"Daryl? You know him?"
"I guess you could say that. I was in their group. Joined them right after you got left."
"Heard 'bout that, huh?"
"Yeah. They went back you know. Tried to find you, but you had already left."
"Talk about some bad timing."
She wasn't sure if she agreed with that statement. From what she had heard, it seemed like a good thing they were too late.
"Can you tell me where he is?"
"I'm sorry. I got turned around in the woods. Couldn't get back if I wanted to."
Merle looked disappointed. "Shame. I'm sure my brother is missin' a sweet thing like you."
"I doubt it."
"Aw come on. Don't tell me you two weren't bumpin' uglies."
She wrinkled her nose at her crassness. "No. we weren't."
"I find that hard to believe. Fine girl like you... I'm sure Darleena would be all over that."
"It wasn't like that."
"Sure it wasn't."
He was starting to make her mad and she clenched her hand into a fist at her side.
"Now tell me where he is so I can get you back to him."
"I told you. I don't know and he wouldn't care."
"Aww ou two have a fight."
When she didn't say anything, he knew he was right.
"He get tired of you not putting out?"
"It's none of your business."
"Merle!" Skye looked up to where Martinez stood looking down at the two of them. "Leave her alone!" Looking over to Skye he said, "Come on up here, Sadie. You can sit with me."
Casting one last annoyed look at Merle, Skye joined Martinez on the wall.
"Merle giving you problems?" he asked, looking over at her.
"Just pushing about his brother."
"You were with that group? Same as Andrea?"
"Yeah." She looked out over the wasteland before them where two walkers were making their way towards the wall.
Martinez took one out with a single shot from his rifle. Smiling, he cast a glance over at her. "You wanna shot?"
She smiled slightly back at him and replied, "Sure, why not?"
Bringing the rifle up to her shoulder, she took a deep breath, looking down the sights. With the squeeze of the trigger, she took the other walker down with a headshot.
Martinez nodded. "Not bad. I'm impressed." He flashed her a warm smile, making her bite her lip. She couldn't deny the man was cute, welcomed her to the group with open arms, and hell, even saved her life.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Swing sets and a jungle gym could be seen over the fence as Daryl's bike slowed to a stop.
"Should be close. Keep an eye out."
Pushing past the fence gate, Daryl led the way through the yard in the search for their destination.
Creeping behind him, Maggie whispered, "Daryl? You wanna talk?"
"Not really. Gotta be quiet. Don't wanna be attractin' any lard sacks."
Deciding to give in for now, Maggie kept on moving, knowing she would just have to bring it up again later. Climbing through an already broken window, she found herself standing in the heart of a daycare center. Painted handprints lined the walls along with pictures of various zoo animals. Back in the right hand corner sat two white cribs, but she knew there was no way they could get one back to the prison on Daryl's bike. She hurried over to a sink at the far wall and jerked the cabinet open, revealing a jackpot inside. There were numerous diapers and bottles. She stuffed what she could into her backpack.
From behind her Daryl crawled through the window, taking in the new surroundings. His eyes found the wall of handprints and as he scanned the names written on them one stood out. 'Sofia'. He let out a groan as he stepped out into the hallway, Maggie close behind. Flipping on his flashlight, he scanned the area for any signs of nearby walkers. While he went one way, Maggie went the other to cover more ground. Stepping into the next nursery room he began to hear a knocking sound. He slowly backed out of the room and stalked towards where the sound was coming from. It was coming from behind a double-dutch door down where Maggie stood at the other end of the hallway. The top half was open. Looking inside he didn't see anything suspicious, but as they walked into the kitchen they could tell it was coming from inside the pantry.
Maggie's hand trembled as she reached for the knob, Daryl at the ready behind her. Jerking the door open, an opossum hissed back at them right before an arrow pierced its side.
"Hello, dinner," Daryl commented with his flashlight hanging in his mouth.
"I'm not putting that in my bag." Maggie turned and began going through the cupboards. "Yes!"
"Find some?"
"A few." Maggie was relieved. She had been so afraid they wouldn't find the formula for the baby. Turning back around and slinging her now full backpack onto her shoulder, she eyed Daryl.
"Daryl?"
"What?" He stood, rummaging through the pantry.
"We have to talk," she said adamantly.
"About what?"
"I think you know what."
Looking back over his shoulder, his blue eyes met hers. The truth was he did know. He just wasn't fond of talking about it.
"She was my best friend, Daryl. I know you miss her, too."
Eyes falling to the floor he didn't say anything, just listened.
"Truth is, we don't even know if she-"
"If she what? Died?"
Maggie nodded.
"We may never know for sure."
"Well, what do you think? Do you think there's a chance she made it?"
He stared back at her for a minute before answering in a low voice, "No. I don't think she did. I feel like if she had, she would be back at the prison by now. She always found her way to us before, right?"
Maggie knew he had a point, but she didn't want to believe it. Skye couldn't be dead.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Skye was still sitting on the wall with Martinez, laughing and sharing war stories.
"Hey, brownie. Listen here, bro." Merle was at the ground looking up to Martinez. As he leaned down to hear what the redneck had to say, Skye returned her attention to the debri out in front of the town. They had taken down four more walkers since before, taking turns shooting them down.
"Skye?"
Skye jumped at the mention of her nickname and looked down to see Andrea, hands on her hips, staring at her questioningly.
"Andrea."
"What're you doing here?"
"I got chased off. Martinez saved me."
"And the group?"
"I don't know. We were held up somewhere. I don't know who all got taken down by that horde. One I know for sure was T-Dog." Skye let her eyes fall.
"T-Dog?" Andrea asked, almost in shock. "Who else since the farm?"
"No one since, but we lost Patricia, Jimmy, Shane and we thought we had lost you."
"Shane?" Andrea sounded like someone had just stabbed her in the heart.
"He attacked Rick. Tried to kill him. Rick killed him first. Carl had to put him down."
"Wait... carl had to put him down?"
"He turned."
"How? Rick killed him, he didn't get bit."
"It doesn't matter. Jenner told Rick we are all infected. No matter how we die, we turn."
Andrea's eyes glassed over before she turned on Merle.
"The Governor said we were free to come and go whenever we liked."
Andrea ended up going back over to her friend and argued with her for awhile before Merle opened the door. They continued to argue.
"Skye, huh?" Martinez drew her attention.
"Yeah," she laughed. "It's my nickname. My brother was the last person to call me by my real name before I lost him. Hadn't heard it until you found me in the woods."
"I like, Skye. It's cute," he winked, making her blush ever so slightly. "You're going to see the show tonight, right?"
"I guess so."
"Good," he smirked.
It seemed Andrea had decided to stay, but the same couldn't be said for her friend, who now walked off into the madness of the world surrounding this town. Skye watched her as she disappeared down the road ahead.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
A baby's cries could be heard even before Daryl and Maggie walked into cellblock C.
"Beth," Maggie called, walking over to dump the contents of her backpack onto the table.
Setting his crossbow and poncho down, Daryl walked over to where Carl sat holding his baby sister. "Pass her to me." Gently he took the little girl from her brother's arms, patting her bottom and shushing her softly.
Glenn, Oscar, and Axel entered the room just as Beth was handing Daryl a bottle. She stood by watching as he attempted to feed the little one.
"Come on, come on," Daryl said in his softest voice. Finally, she took the bottle and fed from the safety of Daryl's arms. He smiled proudly around the room at everyone and hope filled their hearts as they watched this tough guy care for the tiny baby. He was a natural.
"She got a name yet?" he asked Carl.
"Not yet. I was thinkin' maybe Sophia."
Daryl looked sadly at the boy.
"There's Carol, too. And Andrea, Amy, Jacqui, Patricia, Skye..."
Daryl's heart sank at the mention of her name.
"Or Lori," Carl shook his head nervously, turning away. "I don't know."
Daryl looked back down at the baby's face. "Yeah. You like that? Huh? Lil' Ass Kicker?"
Everyone in the room smiled and Daryl smiled back at them. "Right?" They all laughed. "That's a good name, right?"
"Yeah," Carl laughed along with the rest of the group.
"Lil' Ass Kicker. You like that, huh? You like that, sweetheart?"
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brady led Skye down the town's roads which were lit up by dimmed lights all around. Music could be heard blaring in the distance and she couldn't help but wonder how many walkers would be knocking at their doors. The people all around them walked on towards the event, talking excitedly amongst one another. When they reached their destination, Brady led Skye up to a seat in the bleachers with a great view of whatever it was they would be watching. Stadium lights clicked on all around them, shining down onto what looked like an arena surrounded by chained walkers.
"What is this, Brady?"
"It's the grand finale of the party!" he looked around, clearly excited.
She just sat back and watched as a man in a cut off hoodie bounced out onto the arena, tape around his hands. Merle followed right after him and everyone began chanting his name. As the other man's hoodie flapped around his torso, Skye caught glimpses of the man's built figure. But when he took his hoodie off it wasn't his cut torso that had her surprised. It was Martinez. He bounced around the arena with Merle, both taunting the walkers surrounding them.
Merle pointed a finger at Martinez. "I'm gona kick his ass one handed." The crowd cheered, while Martinez just laughed, waving him off. "Ah, hell with that. No handed!" The auduence went even crazier.
As the men faced each other to get started, Merle landed a roundhouse kick to Martinez's face.
"Come on! Get up! Get up!"
Martinez jumps to his feet and landed a few blows to Merle's face before Merle kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying, landing on his back in front of a walker. Martinez scrambled backwards to get away while Merle hollered to the crowd, "He's got nothin'!"
As Merle was yelling, Martinez jumped into the air and brought his elbow down hard to the back of Merle's neck and got him in a chokehold.
Skye leaned towards Brady. "This is horrific."
"Isn't it great!?!"
Skye shot her brother a disgusted look.Martinez executed a backflip, kicking Merle square in the face. The men around the arena let the walkers have some extra slack and the two men pressed up back to back trying to avoid the walkers.
"That's it, pretty boy. Let's dance!"
While the two men wrestled around with one another, Skye got up from her seat and left.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Crickets chirped in the distance as the morning dew filled the air. The sunrise lit up the field, casting shadows off of the wooden crosses that marked the four graves at the far end of the field. The dew from the grass wet the bottom of Daryl's pant legs as he trudged across the field towards the graves. Stopping in front of the first, he twisted a Cherokee Rose in his fingers before laying it on the freshly shoveled dirt. Standing back upright, he moved to the next. Leaning down, he pulled something from his pocket. Staring down at it for a few minutes, he then hung the chain on the cross. Chewing his cheek, he got up and headed back up to the prison, the sun shining off the stargazer lily pendant hanging from the cross.