#once rick finds an order he likes he will eat the same thing till hes sick of it lmao

[callmeshakespurr]

Hey, if you're requests are open could you do a Rick Flag × Male Villian Reader (fluff) idk something cute where Rick Flag ends up falling in love with Male Reader, and the feeling is mutual. Idk you can fo what you want with it. ❤

Rick Flag x Male Reader

Requested: yes

Category: fluff, just a little bit of angst

Warnings: slight torture (?), i mention a knife like,, once

Note: I haven’t watched Suicide Squad in some time, so this could’ve turned out just the tiniest bit yandere, I hope you don’t mind! Also- I kinda struggled with this cause its my first time writing an actual one shot, but I hope you enjoyed it anyways (:

Tysm for requesting, hope you enjoy it <3

“Where is he?”, Amanda Waller called out as she walked down the hallway, towards the high security room you were currently kept in — Colonal Richard ‘Rick’ Flag not far behind her.

Her call grabbed the attention of the two guards, who stood in front of your cell.

“Is he in there?”, Amanda asked again, approaching the door with fast steps. One of the guards nodded and opened the thick metal door to let the director and the colonel in.

Amanda Waller had tried to get her hands on you for almost five years now, after you first made an apperiance in a club, killing two people. After that, several assassinations followed. Nobody knew who you exactly were, what you looked like, who you worked for; you were like a shadow — what people then came to call you, Shadow.

The major reason of why nobody could get a hold of you even in the slightest bit, was because you always vanished before anybody could even spot you.

After two years of not being able to catch you, the police gave up on further investigation in your cases. Amanda didn’t break so easily though. She wanted you in one of those cells she kept so many freaks in already, and she wasn’t going to give up until she had you sitting behind one of those metal doors, unable to escape her.

After all these years of going after you, she did manage to find out two major things about you. Why you always managed to escape without anyone catching a glimpse of you, and what your weakness was.

All these things led to the present situation.

You sat in a dark room, the only light source being a small lamp, dangling from the ceiling. Your ankles were tightly cuffed to the chair you were sitting on, on your wrists and neck you felt something cold and heavy, which seemed to send small electric shocks through your body every few seconds.

You weren’t sure where you exactly were, since you passed out before they got you. Hell, you didn’t even know who ‘they’ were.

You closed your eyes, trying to concentrate on your thoughts, which was not as easy as you hoped it would be. To say that you were in pain was an understatement. The electricity flowing through your body kept you from thinking straight, and send a wave of pure pain through your limbs with every shock you got.

A female voice ripped you from your trance, and you slowly opened your eyes again, head still hanging low. You knew that voice and you knew that you didn’t stand a chance anymore.

“Your powers won’t work anymore, unless i allow you to use them, so don’t even try.”, that voice belonged to none other than Amanda Waller, probably the only person on this planet you actually feared. You were never scared of what her minions could do to you, no. You were scared of what she could do to you if she ever managed to get you — which almost happened on several occasions.

You clenched your fists, trying to ignore the pain that came over you again, as you frantically tried to somehow sort your thoughts and find a way out of this, but nothing seemed to work. There was no way out of this. There was no escaping this. The feeling of helplessness washed over you, a feeling you didn’t like at all.

“You’re Y/N L/N, you’re a teleporter, thats how you managed to always vanish before the police got to the crime scene”, Amanda spoke, watching you as you sat there on the chair, staring at the ground, unable to move a single muscle. “It took me some time, but i managed to figure out how to block your powers”, she continued, taking slow steps towards you “Teleporters are extremely sensitive to electricity, some mightve even already died due to the constant pain if they were in your place.” She stopped right in front of you, looking down at your slumped figure, the only thing restraining you from falling over being the thick metallic handcuffs that kept your hands tied behind the chair.

Amanda grabbed your chin, forcing you to look up at her. Your sight was blurry and it cost you a lot of strength to even keep your eyes open, but you did manage to make out the silhouette of a rather tall person standing at the entrance of the cell, watching the whole scene, before your focus was back on the woman in front of you. “You’re actually a very pretty boy, Y/N, and very smart too, it’s a shame that you decided to end up like this.”, she said, before letting your face go. “Rick, take him to get the injection, then get his things and introduce him to the team. After that, you can take him to his provided cell.”

The man standing at the door — Rick, you assumed — made his way towards you, as Waller left the room, leaving you to the colonel.

Rick helped you out of the cuffs, that kept you strapped to the chair. Looking at you, he almost felt bad, you looked so drained and helpless. He had never exactly agreed with anything Amanda Waller did, but seeing what just a few hours under her control did with you was another level of not agreeing with something she did.

“Can you stand?”, the colonel asked and you nodded, slowly rising from the chair. Your legs wobbled beneath your weight and you instinctively grabbed onto whats next to you, which just so happened to be Ricks Arm.

After making sure you had gathered enough strength, he began to walk with you towards the door.

time skip

It’s been a little over a week now since they’ve brought you here — you think. Every day was the same. Sitting on the cold floor of your cell, staring at the camera in the corner of your ceiling, some guard bringing you food, you not eating it, some guard taking it away again and reporting everything to someone, more staring at the camera, someone bringing you food again, you not eating it again, the guard taking it away again and reporting everything, all over again, everyday.

The only slightest bit good and entertaining thing was the colonel — Rick Flag, as you learned was his name — checking up on you every now and then when he didn’t have anything better to do. You didn’t quite understand why Rick was making efforts to look after you, just for you to not answer his questions anyways, but you appreciated it. It made everything a little more bearable.

Of course, you were one of the bad guys, but that doesn’t mean you didn’t have a life outside of assassinations.

When you weren’t working for other bad guys, you loved to just sit in your apartment and read, you loved to go onto high buildings and watch over the city. You dreamed of leaving everything behind and exploring the world someday. You worked at your favourite coffee shop, hell you even had a cat. The thought of your only friend being probably already dead or suffering made you sad, but what could you do about it?

Sometimes, you wish you hadn’t picked the path you were on, but looking back at the time you chose to work for the bad guys, you didn’t really have a choice.

Your train of thoughts was interrupted, when you heard the door to your cell open. Hoping it would be Rick, you looked up, your eyes only half open from the lack of strength you had. What you did not expect was to see Amanda Waller standing in front of you, Rick Flag behind her.

“Stand up”, the woman demanded. You listened, as it was of no use to resist her orders. You slowly got up on your feet, which didn’t last long, since you almost immediately fell over, landing painfully hard on your knees. To your suprise, Rick immediately rushed to your side, helping you stand up again.

“I don’t need him on missions like this”, Waller spoke as she watched you lean onto Rick for support. “Take him to the base, the council and I will be waiting there in the meeting room for him.” With that, Waller left again.

The way to the car wasn’t long, but with you almost not being able to stand on you own, let alone walk on your own, it took a little longer, which only fueled your anxiety. The ride to the base was even worse though, since nobody talked and you had five guards sitting around you.

Finally arriving at the door of the meeting room, which was located in the base, the two guards standing in front of it immediately opened the door as soon as they saw the colonel.

The room was quiet at an instance, when you stepped a food inside, Rick following very close behind you — just in case something should happen.

Amanda Waller stood in front of a group of suit wearing men who all sat at one big round table, most likely discussing something. She gestured you to come next to her, to which you complied.

“And who is this now, Director Waller? A new addition to your group of- freaks?”, asked one of the men as he looked you up and down, probably doubting that someone like you could be much of an good asset.

“This, Gentlemen,”, she grabbed your arm and moved you a little forward, making you almost tumble “is Y/N L/N or ‘Shadow’, he was an assassin for almost five years now, working for several other bad guys. Nobody got a hold of him till now due to his teleporting ability. He has over a hundred confirmed kills and not once did anyone ever get near him. I’m using these electric cuffs”, she grabbed your arm again and lifted it up to present the metal cuff, which was secured around your arm “to block his powers, which means he cannot teleport, as long as the electric shocks are on full power. As soon as I turn down the power a little, he can use his power, it is more draining and limited to a certain radius, but it works. I have him under full control and I want him on the team.” Murmurs broke out between the people in the room, as soon as she finished.

“I’m sorry, director, but do you really think it’s a good idea to put another- another misfit on that team? They’re bad guys and will always stay bad guys, and their freaky abilities make them even more dangerous.”, one of the men in suits spoke.

“As I said, I have him under full control, gentlemen. Let me demonstrate.”, Amanda spoke, turning to you, as the people sitting at the table sat back.

Waller took out some kind of remote and tapped on something. First your body tensed due to all the stress and pain you were under at the moment, but as soon as Amanda tapped on the remote, the electric shocks suddenly weren’t as intense as they were before, and your whole body relaxed, your eyes almost watering due to the wave of relief washing over you.

Rick was more than tense while watched the whole situation, only realizing in how much pain you actually were when Waller turned down the intensity of the electric shocks emmitting from the metallic cuffs you were wearing.

Waller looked you in the eyes with a serious expression on her face. “You disobey, you die, got that?” And suddenly you remembered the injection they gave you, when they first brought you here.

Seeing you had no other choice than obeying her, you simply gave her a small nod and looked around the room, taking in every detail. You looked at the small table in front of you, spotting a sharp knife, which you figured was put there by Amanda specifically for you in this exact situation.

With fast movements, you grabbed the knife and teleported to the other side of the room, holding the knife to one of the mens throat. Everyone in the room stiffened even more, and you heard at least three guns clicking.

Looking up, your eyes met Rick’s, before you looked over to Waller, who was already fixated on you. You slowly pressed the knife more against the man’s throat, wanting to see what Waller was going to do. The next electric shock came and you almost yelled out in pain, letting the knife fall, teleporting back to Waller and falling to your knees, clutching the metal around your neck.

Rick wanted to rush to help you, but was quickly held back by Amanda, gesturing him to wait.

“As you can see, I can control his powers however i want to, and should he disobey in any way, or should his powers bolt”, she tilted your head with her finger, than pressed onto the spot on your neck where they injected you, “he dies.”

Still staring at the ground, you swallowed harshly. You’ve never wanted to go back in time and undo all the bad things that happened so badly like in this specific moment. Maybe if you’re parents hadn’t ever found about your ability, you would still be at home, with your family, not here, being tortured by some government lady who wanted to use you as a weapon.

“There’s one more thing. I don’t need him on any mission in this shape. He needs to recover, quickly, and while doing so, I want him under Rick Flags complete supervision. It might cost a little more effort, but think about of how much use he will be for us”, Amanda said, a mischievous expression crossing her face for a few seconds, that going unnoticed by you and pretty much everyone else in the room.

time skip

Three whole months had passed. You’ve been staying with Rick ever since Amanda Waller announced that he had to fully supervise you.

The time you spent with Rick made you feel as if everything wasn’t so bad after all. Occasional talking here and there, Rick cooking something for the both of you every now and then, you almost felt normal again — weren’t there the electric cuffs reminding you of what was real every few minutes.

Over the past three months, your sleep only got worse. You got used to the constant pain by now, but the electricity didn’t only affect you physically, it also messed up your thoughts like hell. Sometimes you didn’t know where up and down was anymore, everything was all over the place inside your mind.

That was also the reason, you were up right now, in the middle of the night, sitting at the big window in your bedroom, looking over the city. You hugged your knees tightly to your chest, and rested you chin on them, letting a few tears slip. You hadn’t cried in a long time, but you were just so exhausted. You were never this close to giving up than right now. Nothing seemed to ever be okay again, you couldn’t do anything but accept your fate.

Being to entangled in your own thoughts, you didn’t hear your bedroom door open.

It didn’t take Rick a long time to spot you in your place at the window. He just came home from a mission that Amanda Waller had wanted you on, but Rick insisted on giving you a little more time to deal with everything.

The tall man closed the door as quietly as he could behind him, which seemed to not be quiet enough, since you jumped slightly at the noise, quickly standing up and turning around. Rick gave you an apologetic look, before slowly walking towards you, “I’m sorry, I should’ve knocked, I just wanted to check up on you and see if you’re alright-“ “It’s fine, I’m fine”, you interrupted him, wiping your tears quickly, taking a deep breath.

Rick frowned, he had never seen you cry before. He cared too much for you and he knew it, he just couldn’t help himself. Stopping in front of you, he looked down at you, only for his eyes to meet yours. For a moment, you both got lost in each others eyes, before you ripped your gaze away, looking to the side.

“Do you want anything else from me?”, you asked shakily, getting a little nervous with his burning stare on you.

“I actually do, yes-“, he hesitated for a moment. You looked up at him with a questioning expression. “Close your eyes”, you complied, closing your eyes slightly, one hand moving to hold onto Rick’s shirt so you didn’t lose your balance. You felt him lean down slightly, till you could fell his warm breath on your cheek. You surpressed a shiver, as he carefully tilted your head.

Now, you didn’t really know what to expect; you and Rick had gotten closer but you weren’t sure, if there were actual romantic feelings, or if he just pitied you, so a kiss wasn’t exactly what you expected. But you definitely would’ve expected it more than what happened next.

A small ‘click’ echoed through the dark room, the next thing you knew was, that all the pain suddenly disappeared. Your eyes watered when you felt Rick’s fingers carefully removing the heavy metallic cuffs around your wrists and neco, pure relief washing over you. Your leaned your body onto Rick’s, unable to support your own weight for a few moments.

When you had finally gained control over your own body again, you moved back a few centimetres and looked up to Rick, who met your confused eyes. “I couldn’t bear to see you in so much pain any longer, so I triedmy best to convince her and I’d say I’m lucky that she trusts me with you.”, the colonel smiled a little, raising a hand to softly carress your cheek. Your eyes widened. He quickly removed his hand again and apologized, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

Rick took a step back, still being careful so you didn’t lose balance again, “I should go, and you should sleep, you need to be well rested and-“

You were fast to interrupt him by taking a quick step towards him, getting a little on your tiptoes, before pressing a small kiss to Rick’s lips. You carefully looked him in the eyes again, “I don’t know either, but it just felt like the right thing to do.”

It took the man a few seconds to process what just happened, but when he did, he was quick to kiss you again, his soft lips over yours, moving slowly, as you kissed back. He put his hands on your waist, while you locked yours behind his neck. You kissed for a few moments, before the both of you had to breathe again. “Thank you”, you whispered against Rick’s lips, before receiving another small peck. “Sleep with me tonight?”, he asked quietly, getting lost in your eyes again. You gave him a small nod, allowing him to pick you up and carry you to his room, both of you smiling as you fell onto the mattress.

[jamesbucksiclebarnes]

Rating: Mature

Chapter List: [1] | [2] | [3] | [4] | [5] | [6] | [7] | [8] | [9] | [10] | [11] | [12] | [13]

[AO3 Link] | [Fic Page]

Tag List: @crossbowking

SERIES SUMMARY:

"Not human. She was not human. They all knew it. Could almost feel it, but couldn't make sense of it. That was why they were afraid. Not because of what she used to be Before. But because of what she was now."

Having found herself serving as the right-hand to the Governor for too long, Synnove le Jacques does her best to make things right with the people of the Prison. Stuck beside her partner in crime, her irritatingly obnoxious and hideously problematic best friend, Merle, she does her best to fight back against the monster she has let the Governor become.

CHAPTER TITLE: To Hunt the Vanished.

I should have known.

I should have fucking known.

How could I have been so stupid? Why the hell had I left him alone? I’d been angry, sure, but that was no excuse. I knew better than to leave Merle to his own devices. Knew him well enough to have known he was up to something – something stupid. But his manipulation into forcing me to make an unbreakable promise had left me seething. I’d seen red and the vibrance of the colour had taken my attention away from that look in his eye.

When Daryl came crashing into the room, where I’d been about to tell Rick that I knew the Governor had asked for me, to tell him I would go without a fight so long as he kept Michonne safe, I’d felt my heart almost stop in my chest.

The panicked look on his face when he met my gaze made my stomach clench and my breath stutter to a halt in my throat.

“I can’t find Merle,” he said breathlessly. “Or Michonne.”

Rick and I shared a wide-eyed look before we both burst into a sprint, following behind Daryl as he led us back down to that room beneath the cellblock. One of the toolboxes had been upended and was lying on the floor. I smelt the distant scent of blood.

“Fuck,” I sighed.

“They’ve gone. He was in here,” Daryl said as he began to pace through the machinery. “Said he was looking for drugs. Said… a lot of things, actually.”

Both Rick and I looked to him.

“Like what?” Rick asked.

I glanced at Daryl. Would he tell Rick that I’d been here, that I knew?

“Said that you were gonna change your mind,” he said after only slightly too long of a pause.

Something around the corner caught my eye and I stepped toward it, past Rick, and crouched down. It was a price of fabric with a bright, if somewhat faded, pattern. Gently, I picked it up.

“It’s Michonne’s,” I stated, looking over my shoulder at the two men. “He took her.”

“Damn it!” Rick spat.

I rose to my feet, turning to face him with a snarl. “Isn’t that what you wanted?”

“Not alone, I didn’t!” Rick snapped back, taking half a step toward me. “We had a plan, damn it!”

“Right,” I snorted. “One that ended with both Michonne and I’s heads on a pike.”

Rick’s surprise was barely more than a blink before his anger overpowered it. “What would you have me do? Put all of my people’s lives on the line for the two of you?”

“They’re still on the line!” I screamed back. “Giving us over to Phil won’t make a fucking difference, Rick! He’ll still attack, and you’ll be left standing here, two men down for no fucking reason other than your own blind ignorance!”

“Then help us!” Rick yelled in return, his voice cracking slightly in the desperation. His next sentence was quieter, less aggressive but still forceful enough to echo through the room. “Give us another damn option.”  

“I’ll go,” I stated simply. “I’ll find Merle and I’ll drag his ass back here. And after that, I’ll go to the feed store. Just me. No one else.”

Rick’s upper lip shook as he turned his head to the side, glancing at Daryl with a frustrated huff. “That ain’t happening.”

“And why the hell not?” I asked, stepping toward him, close enough now that, when he turned back to look at me, I was barely an inch from his chest. “Wouldn’t it be better for me to be the only possible casualty?”

“He won’t come back,” Daryl cut in, before Rick could respond. He was looking between the two of us with thinly veiled concern, his voice barely loud enough to register in my brain over the thundering of my own heartbeat. “Not if he knows you’re going alone.”

“You let me handle that,” I stated, glancing at him but not turning fully away from my stand-down with Rick.

“No,” Daryl sighed. “I’ll go with you.”

That made me move. I turned toward him, brows pulled tightly down as Rick and I both said, “Hell no.”

“It ain’t a damn request,” Daryl spat back. “He’s my brother. I’m going.”

“And you’re mine,” Rick said, his voice almost twenty-times softer than it had been a moment ago. “It’s too dangerous.”

“I’ll bring him back here,” Daryl said, glancing across to me. “We find him, I’ll take him back, you keep going.”

I looked at him evenly for a long moment. Logically, I knew Daryl could more than handle himself, that having him along with me may actually be somewhat of a help, especially when it came to convincing Merle not to be a dickhead. But somewhere, likely in the same recesses of my mind where that stupid magical bullshit lay, I felt the cold hand of hesitation holding me back.

Rick looked just as perplexed, but once I saw him nodding out the corner of my eye, I knew my own opinion on the matter was no longer of any concern.

“Alright,” he breathed, low and indecisive. “You two stick together ‘till you find them. I need you by my side when they come.”

Daryl nodded, reaching up to clasp that crossbow strap like it was his only lifeline as he began to make his way toward the exit.

I had my two knives, held within the loops of my black jeans, but nothing else. That was fine with me. A gun would be too loud, and I doubted Daryl would let me borrow that crossbow of his. To be quite honest, I could probably take out the Governor with a damn pencil if it was all I had, so long as I could get close enough. That would be the real issue. He’d have guns on that feed store, guarded like Fort fucking Knox. I’d have to get through that before I even had a chance at him.

Merle first, though. I had to save that damn fool from himself. Again.

#

We went on foot.

It was easy to track their path if we were walking along it, so walk along it we did. Daryl remained pensively silent at the beginning, only speaking to inform me what he saw of their trail. I didn’t have the heart to tell him I could see it just as clearly. Instead, I let him lead me along without a word, down across the road and into the encircling forest. Merle’s tracks were blurred and elongated, as were Michonne’s, indicating they’d struggled for the first few paces before they settled into clear imprints. Michonne’s physical attempts to free herself ceased quicker than I would have expected, though I didn’t doubt she’d continue the psychological jibes until the Governor literally had a gun down her throat. I liked that about her.

About ten minutes in, Merle’s tracks became more and more muddled. It was as if he’d taken the most obscure route possible in order to throw both Daryl and I off his trail. At one particular point, when two sets of footsteps went off in two different directions – the fact he’d actually taken the time to walk two separate ways just to spite us will never not amuse me – Daryl came to a sudden halt.

He stared down at the contradicting tracks, the grip on his crossbow strap so tight his knuckles were almost bone white. I could see the way the muscles on his neck and shoulders had tensed, his jaw clenching and unclenching as he tried to spot the most prominent set of footprints in the mud. A few seconds passed before he let out an irritated huff.

I stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder. The touch made him jump slightly and he stepped away from the contact. I didn’t take it personally.

“We have a good idea where he’s heading, right?” I asked softly.  

Daryl nodded, though eyes remained locked on his brother’s partially faded footprint.

I looked down at it, too, a nasty feeling beginning to eat away at my stomach. Again, more tentatively this time, I reached out for his shoulder. The leather of his vest was rough against my palm, moving rapidly up and down as he lost control of his breathing.

“They went this way,” I stated, pointing to the path to the left. It was more faded, less purposeful than the other. Atop that, I could still partially smell Merle’s sweat, brushed upon the leaves of the nearby bush to my left. There was no mistaking that stink, that was for sure. “Come on.”

Daryl nodded again, though this time, when he cleared his throat, he began moving. We followed the path to the left and, sure enough, found it continued further into the forest. He’d taken more precautions this time, though. I could see it in the faded steps, the scarcely broken branches in his path. The trail was obscured, difficult enough to discern that both Daryl and I were forced to move at a somewhat slower pace just to make sure we didn’t miss anything. The walk was silent. Nary even a biter was nearby. Distant growls could be heard in the distance, sure, but they were certainly of no concern to us.

Almost fifteen minutes of complete silence had passed before Daryl spoke. “Why the hell’s he doing this?”

I took a deep breath, letting it out through my nose. I’d been thinking the same thing for quite some time.

Rick had asked Merle to help him with Michonne. He knew that obeying orders and doing what was best for the group would put him in higher favour, but he knew as well as I did that this deal was complete and utter bullshit. He believed Rick would lose his nerve. So why would he do this? Why now?

Doesn’t matter what Rick thinks. Phil only made the terms to deliver us to make things easier for himself when he finally decides to lay waste to this place.

That was what I had said mere seconds before his entire demeanour had shifted.

Deliver us.

I’d said “us”.

Merle had known Rick intended to put me back at the Governor’s mercy. He’d known because I’d told him, and he’d done the only thing he could think to do – take Michonne and hope it was enough for Rick to see sense. The stupid old bastard had done this to protect me.

And I couldn’t be angrier at him for it.

I didn’t tell Daryl all that, of course. Couldn’t stomach it. Instead, I turned partially toward him as I walked and gave him a sad smile. “He’s doing what he thinks is best,” I said softly. “For you. For me.”

It was true. Had to be, elsewise I’d never be able to verbalise it. Merle didn’t often think very far ahead but, when he did, he considered everything. Taking Michonne to the Governor, exposing to Rick the reality of the situation, and forcing me to promise to take care of his brother… He was doing this for Daryl just as much as he was doing it for me. If not more.

And if he pulled off an assassination on top of it? Returned home safe? He’d hope to be greeted as a hero and not the villain he believed himself to be.

Maybe this was just as much about who he was as it was about Daryl and I?

The thought made some deep sense of sorrow begin to hollow out the base of my stomach and I clenched my jaw tightly in order to stop the emotion from manifesting in my expression. Daryl didn’t need to see me concerned. He had that covered enough for the both of us.

“He’s being a damn idiot,” Daryl remarked, though I could hear the emotion slightly hitching his otherwise gruff voice.

“Maybe so,” I responded, ducking beneath a low hanging branch, from which a strand of coiled dark hair hung. Michonne. “But, if we’re being honest, when is he ever not?”

Daryl glanced at me over his shoulder. It was an odd look, something like humour but hindered by the panicked concern in his eyes.

“We’ll find him,” I said after catching his gaze. My hand reached out to touch the bare skin of his bicep in an attempt to reassure him. He didn’t pull away. “Then we can both take turns kicking his ass, alright? And, because I’m such a generous motherfucker, I’ll even let you go first. Sound good?”

He gave me a tight smile at that, letting out a huff through his nose that sounded almost like a chuckle before nodding once and turning back to the murky trail of footprints ahead of us.

We continued walking until we emerged on the other side of the forest’s edge, where the trees were parted to make way for asphalt. The road was unkempt and covered in fallen leaves, stretching down and turning around a bend to our left. Daryl followed Merle’s muddied footprints a few paces before they began to fade entirely, disappearing into the asphalt. The last partial print brought Daryl to a standstill as he looked down at it, brows furrowed, bottom lip shaking slightly.

I didn’t stop. The footprints were headed off to the left, down toward the bend in the road. I might not have known the roads around here as well as a native Georgian might, but it didn’t take a genius to guess this particular road led to the feed store. We knew that was where he had been heading, after all.

“Come on,” I bid him, not turning back. “We can follow this road down to the feed store. Just stay out of sight of it when we get there.”

Daryl hesitated only a second before skipping into a jog. When he reached me, he didn’t slow, continuing his brisk jog down the road. I kicked into gear, catching up to him easily.

We were barely jogging for more than a handful of minutes before I spotted her. I grabbed Daryl’s arm and brought him to a slow stop, lifting my other hand to point down the road at the figure slowly making their way toward us.

It was Michonne.

A Merle free, unbound, pissed-off Michonne.

My heart constricted in my chest at the sight of her. Daryl didn’t even glance in my direction before charged toward the woman in the distance. I followed closely behind.

When he was close enough to her, he immediately took an aggressive stance. “Hey! Where’s my brother? You kill him?”

Michonne’s slight shake of her head was enough to bring Daryl to a halt. “He let me go,” she said simply.

I blinked, my mind racing a million miles a minute. He let her go but didn’t return with her? Why? Did he intend to go after the Governor on his own? Because I wouldn’t do it? Please, God, tell me he was not that stupid.

It took Daryl a moment longer to figure out the reality of his brother’s intentions. I’d already begun to take off into a sprint, leaving both he and Michonne behind. I had to get there before he got himself fucking killed.

Why the hell – How could he be so stupid? Why would he do this without me, without even talking to me?

He had, though, hadn’t he? He’d basically plain as day asked me to assassinate the Governor myself. I’d told him no, not without permission, and his entire body language basically replied, “Well, I don’t need permission”. How had I just… let that go? Ignored it, like I believed he wouldn’t do something that stupid? He had made an entire damn career of being stupid.

Why had I left him alone? I shouldn’t have left him alone.

I ran faster than Daryl could even keep up with. My heart was pounding, faster even than the sounds of my booted feet hitting the grey asphalt of the road. Inside my mind was nothing more than a string of barely put together curses, as panicked as they were manic and nonsensical. By the time the feed store came into view, I barely registered the decision to step off the road. It was as if my body knew to be cautious before my brain did. It slowed me down only slightly. I cut through the underbrush, ducking beneath low-hanging branches mid-step as I all but glided through the forest, a ghost amongst the trees.

Before I reached the edge, where the woods gave way to the long grass of the untended field, my feet stuttered to a stop. I don’t know how long I’d been able to hear the sound, only that it had just registered in my brain.

Gurgled moaning, shuffling feet, coming from the field surrounding the feed store.

Biters.

[licenselesswriter]

From November to June CH1

November 20, 2017

Maya was nervous, she never thought that she finds herself in this situation, she always thought that she was way more street smart than this, but now, she was in the predicament of her life.

- So, short story, we're getting married - Josh says while he lifts the arm of his new fiancée.

- Oh! - Cory says excited, opening his arms to hug the young couple.

Riley joins the hug and welcomes the fiancée of her uncle to the family, on the other hand, Lucas looks at Maya waiting for a reaction.

And he finds one.

He slowly walks to her and sits next to her - It was him - he just says, not asking or judging, just telling her.

- Pretty smart for a cowboy - Maya jokes trying to hide what she was feeling in her gut.

- What are you gonna do with that? - he asks Maya.

- Probably regret having him or her for the next 8 months, and then love it for the rest of my life - she says putting a hand over her belly.

- Does anyone else know about it? - Lucas asks this time.

- Aren't you doing way too many questions today Huckleberry? - she asks back and then takes a deep breath, putting them in awkward silence for a few seconds - No - she finally answers while she looks at everyone celebrating the new addition to the family, really hoping to be her the one in that place.

- What you gonna do when it becomes more obvious to the eye? - Lucas keeps pushing his questions on Maya.

- How are you gonna explain that a pregnant woman beat the shit out of you for asking that many questions? - Maya asks back.

- If that's the price for having my questions answered about people I care about and future people I'm gonna care about, I will even get you a brass knuckle - Lucas answers completely serious, making Maya blurt in laughter dragging everyone's attention.

- Sorry, please continue with your celebration - Maya says, making most of the people in the Matthews home go back to Josh and his fiancée - I'm in the mood for chimichangas - she adds in a lower tone, only for Lucas to hear.

- Nice try - Lucas says, letting a short and dry laugh escape his mouth - Chimichangas is your constant mood - he adds getting up - Lucky for you, I'm in the mood to spend my money feeding you, let's go - he adds walking to the coat hanger to pick his jacket.

- Howdy, you're leaving? - Josh asks Lucas when he saw him pick his jacket and Maya's coat.

- Yeah - he simply answers, trying not to punch him in the face for getting Maya pregnant - Maya wants chimichangas and I want to spend my money, so win-win situation - he adds with a dry tone that let his disgust with Riley's uncle - BTW, congrats on your engagement - he says and offer his hand, the one Josh shake with a smile on his face, not knowing exactly what was on Lucas mind.

- Thanks - Josh says and then he felt a tiny hand on his lower back.

- Well, it was nice to see you, Josh, congrats to your fiancée, she's taking a good guy - Maya says and Josh hugs her tightly, making Lucas sigh deep - Ok, let's go, Huckleberry, bye Josh - Maya says and takes her coat from Lucas' hand. Once they were on the stairs of the Matthews residence Maya grabs Lucas' shirt collar - What the hell was that? - she asks him.

Lucas just gave her a smirk - Nothing - he adds with his smirk still on his face and starts to walk to his car.

Maya follows him, she wouldn't let his attitude gets her away from free chimichangas.

Lucas opens the door for Maya and she sits in silence. Lucas, of course, did the same and starts his car.

but 15 minutes later Lucas finally explode - You know what, there is something - he says without taking the eyes from the road - I think it's a bit illegal to get a 17-year-old girl pregnant when you're 20 and then in less than a month you came back to introduce your fiancée - he says and Maya just looks at him in shock.

- Excuse me? A bit too judgy? - Maya says, not in disagreeing with what he explained, but still a bit mad for the way he put it.

- I'm sorry, but I'm not only one saying that's morally wrong, but the actual law also says it - Lucas defends himself.

- I'm not gonna discuss my sex life with you Huckleberry, at least not unless I'm drunk - she says and then presses her forehead against the cold window.

- Not gonna discuss your sex life - Lucas says while he keeps driving and the red light make him stop - I'm questioning his morality backed up by the law of the United States of America - he adds and looks at her directly into her eyes - And you're dreaming if you think I'm gonna let you close to a bottle of alcohol - he continues when the light became green.

- Wow, never imagined you had that Papa Friar under that Sundance exterior - Maya jokes, but Lucas kept firm driving - You don't need to worry about me Huckleberry, I been able to handle worse than a young pregnancy - she adds, joking about her life.

Lucas just stays silent, knowing exactly how to feel but not knowing exactly how to word it.

15 minutes later, Lucas parks his car in the parking spots in Queens Boulevard and 40st and Maya's smile grow by the second, making him smile for the first time since he started his conversation with her in the Matthews residence.

- I like Papa Friar - Maya says and Lucas fails on containing his laugh - He's way more considerate that Judgy Asshole Ranger Rick - Maya adds and fastly opens the door and walk out the car, only to run to the pedestrian cross.

They both cross to the restaurant, Maya faster than Lucas.

Lucas wasn't able to see the feelings he was experimenting as other than friendship.

- Come on Huckleberry, Mama is hungry - she says hoping for him to get to the door faster.

They were sitting in no more than 7 minutes, and being conscious about the joy she was having, Lucas just let Maya go crazy in food.

In the middle of their dinner, Lucas decides to break the silence by asking the most important question - Are you gonna tell him? - he asks.

Maya just looks at him like he was stupid - You mean now or someday? - she asks back before putting half of a chimichanga in her mouth.

Lucas looks at her a bit disgusted by her ability to push food down her throat, and put his chimichanga back into his plate - Well, it's more than obvious that you already miss the chance of telling him today - he answers. He grabs his drink and takes a sip - So? - he insists with his question.

- Probably one day - Maya vaguely answers - It's more than obvious that he - she continues and put a hand over her belly - Or she, is gonna ask where is the person who donates half of his or her DNA - she says making Lucas laugh - The thing is, I can probably lie my way out of those questions and bought the curiosity with cookies - Maya adds and point at the chimichanga Lucas left on his plate - Are you gonna eat that? - she asks.

Lucas looks at her disgusted again - My God, you're disgusting - he answers, but finally agreed to her eating what he left - What about money? Kids are not cheap - he says lifting his hand and calling for the waitress, who after a few minutes walks to their table - Yes, please, one order of Mexican Churros - Lucas says pointing them in the menu, then he looks at Maya - Order something, I don't share desserts - then his attention goes back to the waitress - Also, please, a cup of coffee, black - he adds while Maya takes the menu from his hand.

- One order of Mexican Churros and a Crème Brulee - she says and left the menu on her left. The waitress smiled and look at Lucas, he only nods. When Maya was sure that the waitress wasn't close enough to hear she looks at Lucas - Well, I hope to get a job, that pays a bit more than the minimum wage, help from friends and family and my savings - she explains.

When he heard her answer, Lucas forgot for a second that he was her friend and not her father - And college? - he asks, trying to control his judgmental tone.

- Well, if what's growing inside is half smart as his Father, then a scholarship is more than obvious for the future - she answers.

Lucas just sighs again, defeated - I can't deal with you - he says and Maya softly giggles.

- Not a surprise Huckleberry - she replies and they both keep the silence till they desserts came.

Lucas looks at Maya devour the Crème Brulee - Yeah, I definitely can't deal with you - he admits with a smile on his face, making Maya smile.

They finish their food and Lucas paid for everything, just as he promised. He helps her with her coat and then put his jacket on, a bit surprised by the strange mid-November snow.

Lucas repeats the process and opens the door for Maya, who happily jumps on his car, he walks to the driver seat and gets inside the car. He starts the car and tried to connect his phone to the radio, but Maya was faster and mute any music.

- What? - he asks her, noticing how she was way too serious.

- You can't tell anybody about this, this is something I should tell, not you - she warns him.

Lucas smile and put his hand on her cheek, softly caressing it - I'm Lucas, not Farkle, not Riley, Lucas - he replies and Maya smile.

A lot more relaxed, she unmutes the radio.

The slow drum of "Slow Hands" starts to blast on the radio while Lucas starts to drive her back to her place.

- Holy shit - Maya says and laughs, taking a photo of the song on the smart sound system on Lucas car - One "Huckleberry" Direction - she adds, mocking of his music playlist - I'm never gonna let you forget this - she says while Lucas can't avoid the blushing.

When they arrive at her place, like a true gentleman, Lucas gets down and open the door for her.

- Thanks for bringing me home "Night Changes" - she jokes and Lucas just looks at the snowing sky of New York.

- I hate my life - he softly says.

Sadly, not soft enough for Maya to not hear it - Awww that desperation is "What makes you beautiful" Huckleberry - she continues, and this time, Lucas can only laugh. In the middle of his laugh, Maya gets close to him and hug him - Thanks Lucas - she says, no mask, only gratitude.

- Don't be - Lucas replies and hugs her back - I'm your friend, that's my job - he adds and Maya unconsciously smile against his chest.

Maya slowly gets away from him and walk up the stairs of her apartment, only to be stopped by Lucas - Maya - he calls her, and she stops, slowly turning back to face him.

- What - she says, waiting, expecting.

- Let me help - he adds with a sincere smile on his face.

Maya just let a soft laugh escape her mouth - Goodnight Huckleberry - she says and disappears inside the building.

[captainseaweedbrains]

Book Questions

tagged by @this-too-too-sullied-flesh (kind of! I just love talking books and couldn’t resist)

Which book has been on your shelves the longest?  Oh, hm. I have a lot of books (like, so many that have to be put into storage because my books are my children and HOW CAN I PART WITH THEM COMPLETELY??), but I would say one of the oldest books I have physically on my current book shelf is either Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets or Lemony Snicket’s The Wide Window. I got both of these copies from my mom’s school’s lost and found, so I acquired them around the same time and read both series out of order because that’s just how I roll. 

What is your current read, your last read and the book you’ll read next? My reading list is a hot mess I am currently rereading Rick Riordan’s Heroes of Olympus series and am still on the first book The Lost Hero where’s Percy I want him back now so Annabeth is happy again. I’m also reading Pride and Prejudice, War and Peace, Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo, Geekerella by Ashley Poston and This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab. I have no self-control and get bored really easily  My last read was basically the entirety of Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series because I have so many feels for my dysfunctional demigods. 

I’ll definitely be finishing up the Heroes of Olympus series and want to move on to the sequel series of that and the sequels to all of the other books on my reading list.

Which book does everyone like and you hated? Game of Thrones is a big one. The books are so dense that I couldn’t even get through the first book. Also Fifty Shades of Grey, BREAKING DAWN I will never be over my furious bitterness over that series. NEVER

Honestly, I feel more indifferent than hatred toward popular loved books. Like they just didn’t live up to the hype.

Which book do you keep telling yourself you’ll read, but you probably won’t? Mainly any classic novel? I think the classics are more on the dull side reading-wise for me. I’d be more inclined to pick up a modern adaptation of a classic than the classic itself. Also any book that is usually found on “Books You Must Read Before You Die” lists. Those tend not to be the type of thing I read.

Which books are you saving for “retirement?” Nothing? I read what I want when I want. I don’t even know what I want to read tomorrow let alone 50 years from now. 

Last page: read it first or wait till the end? It depends what’s happening in the book. There have been times where something Really Bad is happening and it’s spiking my anxiety levels so much that I can’t focus until I have some reassurance. I try to fight this, though, because I do prefer being surprised. But again, if my favorite character is on the verge of death or something, I have to know if they make it or not. A prime example was during my Twilight days don’t judge me and I immediately flipped to when Edward comes back in whatever the second book is called New Moon and read to the end. Since he was my favorite in that damn series, him just LEAVING was not okay with me and the book had just come out, so I didn’t know if there was going to be another installment. I needed Confirmation.

Acknowledgements: waste of ink and paper or interesting aside? I typically don’t read them because they’re just talking about their friends and agents and such, so I find them really boring to read. Sometimes I’ll read them if I’m not ready to officially be done with the book. Rarely does this happen, though.

Which book character would you switch places with? My initial reaction is Annabeth Chase or Hermione Granger as they both come from two of my favorite worlds, but given that I don’t want monsters or evil wizards killing me...

Emma Woodhouse from Jane Austen’s Emma. I would love to be rich and play matchmaker all day.

Do you have a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (a person, a place, a time)? The Truth About Forever still to this day is the only book I have ever read that displayed how I grieved after my father’s death and the life-changing repercussions of said death. 

Name a book you acquired in some interesting way. I acquired all of my original Harry Potter books via used book sales and school lost and founds. So they all have kids’ writing in them and one of them is missing their book jacket but I got each one for a QUARTER! Can’t beat that!

Have you ever given away a book for a special reason to a special person? I don’t let people borrow my books after repeatedly getting them back in stained or dog earred conditions, but I also don’t buy books for people either because #taste. So no. I only provide links to the library and Barnes and Noble sales.  

Which book has been with you to the most places? None of my books? I usually am reading a new book for whenever I do travel. 

I guess Outlander because I read that going to England, Ireland, and finished it on my way to Rome. That’s not fair to my other books, though, since I don’t travel all that often because of money.

Any “required reading” you hated in high school that wasn’t so bad ten years later? No, I never reread books I have a first bad impression on, especially books I read in high school which all sucked. 

What is the strangest item you’ve ever found in a book? I work in a library, so the list is a bit...endless. Though it’s probably not the strangest, I did find a refrigerator magnet once being used as a bookmark. Also a toothpick.  

Used or brand new? I love both, but the used copy has to be in good condition. 

Stephen King: Literary genius or opiate of the masses? I’ve still yet to read a Stephen King novel I would consider him a literary genius because of how large of audience his novels reach, the amount of adaptations made of his novels, and the cult followings his books have. The man is clearly doing something right to have so many dedicated fans. Plus, he’s super sassy. 

Have you ever seen a movie you liked better than the book? Yep, and I feel no guilt: Silver Linings Playbook, The Maze Runner, Little Women, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, Pride and Prejudice (le gasps! and the 2005 version at that!), Victoria, Anything by Philippa Gregory, The Help, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Princess Bride, Jurassic Park, and The Secret Garden to name a few.  

Conversely, which book should NEVER have been introduced to celluloid? Breaking Dawn 

 Fifty Shades of Grey 

Blood of Olympus 

Can we just stop making the last books in series/trilogies suck? Thanks.

Have you ever read a book that’s made you hungry, cookbooks being excluded from this question? Percy and Grover talk a lot about food. So I guess I’d go with the Percy Jackson and the Olympian series because Grover makes eating a can sound appetizing and plus I really want to try Ambrosia? 

Who is the person whose book advice you’ll always take? Very seldom do I take book advice because I am an extremely picky reader, but @looselipswontsinkships basically convinced me to read the Lunar Chronicles and that’s now one of my favorite series. So I trust her opinion and @bitchybillionaire‘s, @eleonoraditoledo, as well as two other book nerd friends because we all have similar tastes in stories. 

I’m tagging @looselipswontsinkships, @bitchybillionaire, @eleonoraditoledo, and anyone else who wants to join in on the book questions! Just tag me if you do it! :) 

[thewalkingdeadfanfictions]

Finding Their Missing Piece Chapter 4 - Trojan Horse

****Daryl’s POV****

           We get to the CDC but there’s dead bodies everywhere. We slowly start moving past them with Troy and I covering the back. “All right, everybody. Keep moving. Go on. Stay quiet. Let’s go.” Shane whispers as we approach the building so Rick says “Keep moving. Stay together. Keep moving. Come on.” leading us. “Shh.” Shane says. We get to the building and Rick rattles the door as Troy looks around. “Nothing?” Shane asks as Rick and him try to get the door open. Troy then looks at a camera while standing under it as Shane pounds on the door. “There’s nobody here.” T-Dog says causing me to think ‘No shit.’ as Rick asks “Then why are these shutters down?” “Walkers!” I yell seeing some of the bodies start to get up and everyone turns around. I shoot a soldier walker and yell “You led us into a graveyard!” walking towards Rick causing Troy to defend “He made a call.” “It was the wrong damn call!” I yell at her causing Shane tell us “Just shut up. You hear me? Shut up. Shut up!” Before adding “Rick, this is a dead end.” “Where are we gonna go?” Carol asks as Shane walks towards Rick saying “Do you hear me? No blame.” Pointing at him. “She’s right. We can’t be here, this close to the city after dark.” Lori says as Troy re-kills a walker that was getting too close. Rick looks back at the doors as Shane says “Fort Benning, Rick, still an option.” “On what? No food, no fuel. That’s 100 miles.” Andrea says so Glenn says “125. I checked the map.” “Forget Fort Benning. We need answers tonight, now.” Lori says angry. “We’ll, think of something.” Rick says trying to calm her down as Shane orders “All right, everybody back to the cars. Let’s go. Move.” But Rick stays where he was and say “The camera, it moved.” Causing Dale to tell him “You imagined it.” “It moved.” He says walking towards it and Troy follows him as I inform “The walkers are gettin’ closer!” Rick bangs on the door as Lori yells “Rick, there’s nobody here!” “I know you’re in there. I know you can hear me.” Rick says at the camera as Shane yells “Get back to the cars now!” “Please, we’re desperate. Please help us. We have women, children, no food, hardly any gas left.” Rick pleads to the camera as Lori runs over to him and tries to get him to give up and I move over to grab Troy since the last thing I need is her death being on my hands. “If you don’t let us in, you’re killing us! Please!” Rick yells as Shane grabs him and starts dragging him away saying “Come on, buddy, let’s go.” That’s when Troy points and yells at the camera “Come on!” as Rick keeps yelling “Please help us. You’re killing us! You’re killing us!” Shane pushes Rick forward and I grab Troy and start pulling her away just as the door opens.

           We stand there for a few seconds just staring at it till Troy gets out of my hold and Shane tells us “Daryl, Troy, you cover the back.” as we start to move into the building. “Hello?” Rick calls as Shane says “Close those doors. Watch for walkers.” “Hello?” Rick calls again when a gun cocks in front of us we aim our weapons in that direction and there is a guy there who asks “Anybody infected?” “One of our group was. He didn’t make it.” Rick says so the guy comes down the stairs asking “Why are you here? What do you want?” “A chance.” Rick says so as he walks forward the guy states “That’s asking an awful lot these days.” “I know.” Rick says and the guy looks at all of us and says “You all submit to a blood test. That’s the price of admission.” “We can do that.” Rick says so the guy lowers his gun and says “You got stuff to bring in, you do it now. Once this door closes, it stays closed.” Rick, Glenn, Shane, and I then run and get the bags as Troy covers us. T-Dog and Dale close the doors behind us and the guy slides a card in a key pad as the light turned green he says “Vi, seal the main entrance. Kill the power up here.” The door closes and Rick introduces himself and the guy looks at him and says “Dr. Edward Jenner.” We all pile in an elevator so I ask “Doctors always go around packing heat like that?” “There were plenty left lying around. I familiarized myself.” Jenner says looking around at the others before adding “But you look harmless enough. Except you. I’ll have to keep my eye on you.” Looking at Carl who smiles. The elevator stops and we follow Jenner down a hallway, Troy and I in the back, we always seemed to end up together even though we basically only had arguments if we talked to each other. Carol then asks “Are we underground?” “Are you claustrophobic?” Jenner asks so she answers “A little.” “Try not to think about it.” He says picking up his pace.

           As we walk into a big room Jenner says “Vi, bring up the lights in the big room.” The lights come on so he adds “Welcome to zone 5.” “Where is everybody? The other doctors, the staff?” Rick asks so Jenner stops and turns to us and says “I’m it. It’s just me here.” “What about that person you were speaking with? Vi?” Lori asks and at this Troy sighs as Jenner says “Vi, say hello to our guests. Tell them…welcome.” A computer voice then says “Hello, guests. Welcome.” “I’m all that’s left.” Jenner says looking at Rick before adding “I’m sorry.”

****Troy’s POV****

           “What’s the point? If we were infected, we’d all be running a fever.” Andrea asks when she gets her blood drawn so Jenner says “I’ve already broken every rule in the book by letting you all in here.” Before looking away adding “All done.” Andrea gets up then but she pauses so Jenner asks “Are you okay?” She nods as Jacqui informs him “She hasn’t eaten in days. None of us have.” Jenner looks shocked and says “Follow me.” He then leads us all into a kitchen area.

****Time skip****

           Everyone was laughing as we ate dinner and drank some wine. Daryl is drinking straight from a bottle himself at least Glenn and I were sharing, ‘He’s gonna get a major hangover.’ I think watching Daryl take another big drink. “You know in Italy, children have a little bit of wine with dinner.” Dale says handing Lori her now filled glass and adds “And in France.” “Well, when Carl is in Italy or France, he can have some them.” She says but Rick says “What’s it gonna hurt? Come on. Come on.” Lori gives in and Dale gives Carl some saying “There you are, young lad.” Carl takes a sip and says “Eww.” And the others laugh as Lori says “That’s my boy.” And pours the wine in her glass as Shane says “Well, just stick to soda pop there, bud.” “Not you, Glenn. Or you Troy.” Daryl say looking at Glenn and I who are sitting on the counter. “What?” Glenn asks so Daryl says “Keep drinking, little guy and gal. I want to see how red your face’s can get.” “How ‘bout I shove my fist in yer face? Then we’ll see who has a red face.” I say sending him a glare causing Glenn to say “Ohhh, burn.” Which in turn caused the group to start laughing and Rick looks at Jenner who’s just watching us silently. Rick clinks his glass standing up and says “It seems to me we haven’t thanked our host properly.” “He is more than just our host.” T-Dog says raising his glass so Dale raises his glass and says “Hear! Hear!” and Daryl says “Here’s to you, doc. Booyah!” The guys say “Booyah!” as well, as Rick says to Jenner “Thank you. Thank you, doctor.” “So when are you gonna tell us what the hell happened here, doc?” Shane asks looking at Jenner and adds “All the-the other doctors that were supposed to be figuring out what happened, where are they?” I shake my head as Rick says “We’re celebrating, Shane. Don’t need to do this now.” Sitting back down. “Whoa, wait a second. This is why we’re here, right? This was your move, supposed to find all the answers. Instead we….we found him. Found one man. Why?” Shane says pointing at Jenner who says “Well, when things got bad, a lot of people just left, went off to be with their families. And then things got worse, when the military cordon got overrun, the rest bolted.” “Every last one?” Shane asks not reading the underline point Jenner made of ‘they quit’. “No, many couldn’t face walking out the door. They…opted out. There was a rash of suicides. That was a bad time.” Jenner says. “You didn’t leave. Why?” Andrea asked. “I just kept working, hoping to do some good...” Jenner says tailing off. “Well fuck." I mutter snatching the bottle from Glenn and taking a big drink so Glenn looks at Shane and says “Dude, you are such a buzzkill, man.” We finished eating and Jenner lead us to the rooms saying “Most of the facility is powered down, including housing, so you’ll have to make do here. The couches are comfortable, but there are cots in storage if you like. There’s a rec room down the hall that you kids might enjoy. Just don’t plug in the video games, okay? Or anything that draws power. The same applies, if you shower go easy on the hot water.” Before walking away. Glenn turns and asks “Hot water?” “That’s what the man said.” T-Dog replies and they both laugh before we all basically run to a room.

           “Sweet Jesus.” I breathe out when the hot water touches my scared skin. I can faintly hear the others laughing through the vent in the ceiling causing me to chuckle as well. I scrub off what seems like a layer of grime from my skin before tackling the tangled mass that is my hair. I really didn’t take the time to take care of it while we were at the quarry and just let it be. I didn’t care what I looked like, still don’t. Even before the world went to shit I didn’t, much to Glenn’s Mother and Sisters’ dismay. After I finish I quickly get dressed in some fresh clothes and run my hands through my wet hair to finish untangling it. “I should probably cut this.” I mutter looking at a strand of my long hair that was now back to its original color, a dirty blonde instead of the dark brown it was.

           I’m digging through my bag for a pair of scissors when there’s a knock at my door. “Come in.” I say so I hear the door open but I don’t bother looking up. Suddenly I’m pushed to the ground with an obviously drunk Shane on top of me, his legs pinning my arms down at my sides. “What-“ I start to yell but he cuts me off by placing a hand over my mouth saying “Now that Merle’s gone and Rick’s back you’ll have to do.” I knee him where it hurts but it just pisses him off causing him to move his hand to cover my nose as well as other hand travels down to the hem of my pants. Involuntary fear floods me as my lungs burn for air and I struggle against him since he’s a lot stronger than the asshat back in the city. I notice he already has three scratches on his neck, probably from Lori, so I know he won’t stop until he gets what he wants or I get way. I have to resort to biting his hand so I could try and escape. “You bitch.” He growls ripping his now bleeding hand away as I scramble out from under him. I kick him over before I run out of the room and into the first room I come to.

****Daryl’s POV****

           “What’re you-” I start to yell when Troy runs into my room and slams the door behind her but she cuts me off as she whips around, rushes over, puts a hand over my mouth, and harshly whispers “I’m not here.” Before running into the bathroom. She had just shut the door when Shane barges in, quickly covers his rage, hides one of his hands, and feigns innocence as he asks “Have you seen Troy?” “Why would’ve I seen her? Ya should ask Glenn.” I spit out causing him to say “Right…” trailing off as he leaves. After a few minutes of him not coming back I say “He’s gone.” She slowly opens the door then and glances around so I ask “What’d ya do?” even though I have a pretty good idea of what happened. “Defended myself.” She growls glaring at me so I raise my hands in surrender and ask “Ya do that to his neck?” “Na that was probably Lori. I bit his hand.” She sighs out leaning against the door so I stand and say “Ya can take the couch.” “No. I’ll just go to Glenn’s room.” She says and I couldn’t stop myself from blurting out “He’ll look for ya there. Yer staying.” I didn’t like the girl but that didn’t mean I’d let her get raped and probably beat half to death by Shane. “Then I’ll take the floor.” She states going over to the opposite side of the room and sits down. “Fine.” “Fine.”

****Troy’s POV****

           I wake up on the floor and mentally swear at myself for being prideful. My joints pop as I stretch and look over at a still sleeping Daryl. I get up and quietly make my way over to him. “Thanks.” I whisper before stopping myself from reaching out to touch him causing me to mutter “What am I doing?” shaking my head of the thought. I then head out and I’m careful not to be too loud when I shut the door behind me. As luck would have it I come face to face with Glenn who’s eyes are wide. “I’ll explain later.” I tell him when he opens his mouth to say something before I go back to my room. I scoff seeing the small blood stain on the carpet as I change back into jeans. I then head to the kitchen area and sit next to Glenn who’s head is on the table. He groans when T-Dog starts putting breakfast things on the table causing him to laugh. “What’s so funny?” Carl asks as he, Lori, Dale, and Andrea come in. “Glenn has a hangover. Like your dad is sure to have when he wakes up.” Lori says as they sit down at the table. Jenner comes in and puts a bottle of aspirin on the table and says “Though you guys would need this. Take them, I’ll know if you didn’t.” before walking back out of the room. Rick then comes in saying “Morning.” I sigh as I take a bite out of the bacon. “Are you hungover? Mom said you’d be.” Carl asks as Jacqui, Carol, and Sophia come in. “Mom is right.” Rick says sitting down so Lori says “Mom has that annoying habit.” Jacqui is rubbing Glenn’s shoulders then as T-Dog says “Eggs. Powdered, but-but I do ‘em good.” Loudly causing Glenn to groan so T-Dog continues “I bet you can’t tell. Protein helps the hangover.” Putting the eggs on everyone’s plates. “Where’d all this come from?” Rick asks so Lori says “Jenner.” “Could you help me, please?” Rick asks handing her the bottle so she says “He thought we could use it. Some of us at least.” Looking at Glenn so I chuckle as Glenn says “Don’t ever ever ever let me drink again.” Just as Shane comes in saying “Hey.” “Hey.” Rick says looking at him before adding “Feel as bad as I do?” “Worse.” Shane says as T-Dog asks him “The hell happened to you? Your neck and hand?” causing me to look at Shane as he sat down. “I must have done it in my sleep.” He says causing me to chuckle as Rick says “Never seen you do that before.” “Me neither. Not like me at all.” Shane says looking at Lori who looks away so he looks at me and I glare at and mentally tell him ‘I will kill you. If you try again.’ As Jenner comes in again saying “Morning.” “Hey, doc.” Everyone greets before Dale starts to say “Doctor, I don’t mean to slam you with questions first thing-““But you will anyway.” Jenner says cutting him off as Daryl walks in. “We didn’t come here for the eggs.” Andrea says causing Jenner to look at everyone before settling on me. ‘What the fuck?’ I think as he says “Come with me.”

We follow him into the big room and he hits a button on the computer and says “Give me playback of TS-19.” “Playback of TS-19” Vi says starting to load the playback as Jenner says “Few people ever got a chance to see this. Very few.” My eyes go wide seeing it’s a similar video to the one I saw at the start of this. “Is that a brain?” Carl asks so I nod as Jenner says “An extraordinary one. Not that it matters in the end. Take us in for EIV.” Sadness laced his words so I look at him and determine he must have known the person personally. “Enhanced internal view.” Vi says as everyone is staring at the video in interest not knowing what’s happening. “What are those lights?” Shane asks so Jenner explains “It’s a person’s life-experiences, memories. It’s everything. Somewhere in all that organic wiring, all those ripples of light, is you-the thing that makes you unique. And human” looking at them. “You don’t make sense ever?” Daryl asks. “Those are synapses, electric impulses in the brain that carry all the messages. They determine everything a person says does or thinks from the moment of birth to the moment of death.” I explain looking back at the playback. “Death? That’s what this is, a vigil?” Rick asks so I nod as Jenner says, being technical, “Yes. Or rather the playback of the vigil.” “This person died? Who?” Andrea asks so Jenner says “Test Subject 19. Someone who was bitten and infected…and volunteered to have us record the process. Vi, scan forward to the first event.” “Scanning to first event.” Vi says. Seeing the virus Glenn asks “What is that?” “It invades the brain like meningitis. The adrenal glands hemorrhage, the brain goes into shutdown, then the major organs, and then death. Everything you ever were or ever will be is gone.” I explain so Jenner says “That’s right.” causing Sophia to ask “Is that what happened to Jim?” “Yes.” Carol tells her. Andrea starts crying and Lori tells Jenner “She lost somebody two days ago. Her sister.” I watch him then as he walks closer to Andrea and says “I lost somebody too. I know how devastating it is.” Looking back at the screen he adds “Scan to the second event.” “Scanning to second event.” Vi says. “The resurrection times vary wildly. We had reports of it happening in as little as three minutes. The longest we heard of was eight hours. In the case of this patient, it was two hours, one minute…seven seconds.” Seeing the red lights Lori asks “It restarts the brain?” I shake my head and say “No, just the brain stem. Basically, it gets them up and moving.” “But they’re not alive?” Rick asks. “You tell me.” Jenner tells Rick pointing to the screen, Rick shakes his head and says “It’s nothing like before. Most of that brain is dark.” “Dark, lifeless, dead. The frontal lobe, the neocortex, the human part-that doesn’t come back. The you part. Just a shell driven by mindless instinct.” I say before a bullet goes through the brain and Carol asks “God. What was that?” “He shot his patient in the head. Didn’t you?” Andrea says. “Vi, power down the main screen and the workstations.” Jenner says ignoring her question. “Powering down main screen and workstations” Vi says as Jenner goes to his workstation. “You have no idea what it is, do you?” Andrea asks. “It could be microbial, viral, parasitic, fungal.” Jenner starts when Jacqui asks “Or the wrath of God?” “There is that.” Jenner says looking at me as I shake my head thinking ‘I don’t believe in any type of God, but if there was one they could have started this.’ “Somebody must know something. Somebody somewhere” Andrea says. “There are others, right? Other facilities?” Carol asks and I sigh as Jenner says “There may be some. People like me.” “But you don’t know? How could you not know?” Rick asks being stupid. “Everything went down. Communications, directives- all of it. We’ve been in the dark for almost a month.” Jenner says. “So it’s not just here. There’s nothing left anywhere? Nothing? That’s what you’re really saying, right?” Andrea asks he doesn’t answer her so I say “At the start of this…I found thousands of reports all over the world.”  She lets out a breath as Jacqui says “Jesus.” Before Daryl says “Man, I’m gonna get shit-faced drunk again.” Leaning on one of the workstations putting his head in his hands. “Dr. Jenner, I know this has been taxing for you and I hate to ask one more question, but...that clock-it’s counting down. What happens at zero?” Dale asks looking at Jenner who says “The basement generators-they run out of fuel.” “And then?” Rick asks looking at me, as Jenner walks away. “Oh shit.” I mutter before face palming so Rick asks “Vi, what happens when the power runs out?” “When the power runs out, facility-wide decontamination will occur.” Vi says causing me to sigh heavily I go with Rick, Shane, Glenn, and T-Dog to check the basement generators.

“Decontamination-what does that mean?” Glenn asks so I say “Ya don’t want to know.” “I don’t like the way Jenner clammed up. The way he just wandered off like that.” Shane says then basically ignoring me. “What’s wrong with him? Seriously, man, is he nuts, medicated or what?” T-Dog asks as I look at the map on the wall. “In there.” I say heading towards the door. Shane turns the lights on when we walk in so Rick tells Me, Glenn, and T-Dog to check one why as Shane and him check another. All we find is empty barrels until the lights go out and Vi says “Emergency lighting on.” “What the hell is this?” Shane asks as we come running into the side they were on. “Hey, you guys kill the lights?” Glenn asks. “Nah, it just went out.” Shane says as Rick asks “Anything?” “Yeah, a lot of dead generators and more empty fuel drums than I can count.” T-Dog says this causes Shane to look at Rick and say “It can’t be down to just that one.”

****Glenn’s POV****

           “Jenner, what’s happening?” Rick asks when we run into the big room. “The system is dropping all the nonessential uses of power. It’s designed to keep the computers running to the last possible second. That started as we approached the half-hour mark. Right on schedule.” Jenner says stopping, taking a big drink of the bottle of alcohol before handing it to Daryl who snatches it. “It was the French.” Jenner then says. “What?” Andrea asks so Jenner says “They were the last ones to hold out as far as I know. While our people were bolting out the doors and committing suicide in the hallways, they stayed in the labs till the end. They thought they were close to a solution.” ‘So much for that.’ I think as Jacqui asks “What happened?” Jenner looks at her and says “The same thing that’s happening here. No power grid. Ran out of juice. The world runs on fossil fuel. I mean, how stupid is that?” “Let me tell you-“Shane starts but Rick says “To hell with it. I don’t care. Lori, grab our things. Everybody, get your stuff. We’re getting out of here now!” as Jenner starts walking to a workstation. Troy gives me a ‘I can fix this look.’ As the others start to leave when an alarm starts going off. “30 minutes to decontamination.” Vi says after everyone asks “What’s that?” I see Troy is basically glaring at Jenner now as Daryl yells “Doc, what’s going on here, damn it?” “Everybody, y’all heard Rick. Get your stuff and let’s go! Go now! Go!” Shane yells just as the door closes. “You fuck!” Troy yells at Jenner going for the key pad as I say “Did you just lock us in? He just locked us in!” “Let me go!” Troy yells as Jenner grabs her, holds down her arms, and turns to the workstation saying “We’ve hit the 30-minute window. I am recording.” “You son of a bitch.” Daryl yells running at Jenner and Troy. “Shane!” Rick yells as Daryl yells “You locked us in here!” grabbing Jenner’s chair as Shane pulls him back says “No no no no! Don’t!” T-Dog comes running yelling “Wait, no! No, don’t do it.” Helping Shane with Daryl. Rick walking towards the group says “Hey, Jenner, open that door now and let Troy go.” “There’s no point. Everything topside is locked down. The emergency exits are sealed.” Jenner says as Troy struggles against him so Dale says “Well open the damn things.” “That’s not something I control. The computers do. I told you once that front door closed, it wouldn’t open again. You heard me say that.” Jenner says so Troy yells “I can stop it! Let me go!” as everyone looks at them shocked before he adds “It’s better this way.” “What is? What happens in 28 minutes?” Rick asks Jenner doesn’t say anything so Shane says “Come on!” as Rick asks again “What happens in 28 minutes?!” Jenner stands up pushing Troy at Daryl yelling “Do you know what this place is?! We protected the public from very nasty stuff! Weaponized smallpox! Ebola stains that could wipe out half the country! Stuff you don’t want getting out! Ever!” clearly losing it. Troy rips the flash drive from around her neck and runs to one of the other computers as everyone stares at Jenner as he sits down and says “In the event of a catastrophic power failure- in a terrorist attack for example-HIT’s are deployed to prevent any organisms from getting out.” “Not good. That is really not good.” Troy mutters as numbers start scrolling rapidly on the screen in front of her after she plugged in the flash drive as Rick asks “HIT’s?” “Vi define.” Jenner says so Vi says “HIT’s are high-impulse thermobaric fuel-air explosives consist of a two-stage aerosol ignition that produces a blast wave of significantly greater power and duration than any other known explosive except nuclear. The vacuum-pressure effect ignites the oxygen at between 5000 degrees and 6000 degrees and is useful when the greatest loss of life and damage to structure is desired.” Everyone but Troy look at Jenner shocked so she states “They set the fucking air on fire.” causing Jenner to add, simply, “No pain. And end to sorrow, grief…regret……Everything.”

Daryl then throws the bottle of alcohol at the door and yells “Open the damn door!” as Shane runs at the door with a fire axe yelling “Out of my way!” and starts hitting it. “Daryl!” T-Dog yells throwing him another axe. They’re both hitting the door as Jenner looks at Troy and says “You should’ve left well enough alone. It would’ve been so much easier.” Troy scoffs as Lori asks “Easier for who?” “All of you. You know what’s out there-a short, brutal life and an agonizing death. Your-Your sister-what was her name?” Jenner says looking at Andrea who says “Amy.” “Amy. You know what this does. You’ve seen it. Is that really what you want for your wife and son?” Jenner says looking at Rick who says “I. Don’t. Want. This.” “Can’t make a dent.” Shane says so Troy says “Those doors are designed to withstand a rocket launcher, you idiot.” “Well, his head ain’t!” Daryl yells trying to swing the axe at Jenner. Rick and Dale stop him as Rick yells “Daryl! Daryl! Just back up! Just back up! You could end up hitting Troy!” Daryl drops the axe as Jenner stands up and says to Troy "You do want this. It’s the perfect end to the Trojan Horse.” then looking at Rick adds “You want this too. Last night you said you knew it was just a matter of time before everybody you loved was dead.” “Just shut the fuck up!” Troy yells as Shane asks Rick “What? You really said that? After all your big talk?” “I had to keep hope alive, didn’t I?” Rick asks so Jenner counters “There is no hope. There never was.” “There’s always hope. Maybe it won’t be you, maybe not here, but somebody somewhere.” Rick counters before Andrea asks “What part of everything is gone do you not understand?” “Listen to your friend. She gets it. This is what takes us down. This is our extinction event.” Jenner says causing Carol to cry “This isn’t right. You can’t just keep us here.” “One tiny moment, a millisecond. No pain.” Jenner says but Carol says “My daughter doesn’t deserve to die like this.” “Wouldn’t it be kinder, more compassionate to just hold your loved ones and wait for the clock to run down?” Jenner asks just as a gun cocks and Rick yells “Shane, no!” “Out of the way, Rick! Stay out of my way! Open that door or I’m gonna blow your head off. Do you hear me?!” Shane yells as the numbers scrolling on Troy’s screen start to slow. “Brother, brother, this is not the way you do this. We will never get out of here.” Rick says so Lori adds “Shane, you listen to him.” “It’s too late.” Shane says so Rick starts “He dies, we all-“as Shane yells he continues “We all die! Shane!” Daryl and I pull Troy back just as Shane starts shooting the computers. Rick takes him down but the computer Troy was doing the hack from was toast causing her to yell at Shane “Ya fucking moron I was almost done! There’s not enough time to start another hack!” as Rick asks Shane “Are you done now? Are you done?” “Yeah, I guess we all are.” Shane says.

           Rick looks at everyone and hands T-Dog the gun before saying “I think you’re lying.” “What?” Jenner asks. “You’re lying about no hope. If that were true, you’d have bolted with the rest or taken the easy way out. You didn’t. You chose the hard path. Why?” Rick says so Jenner says “It doesn’t matter.” “It does matter. It always matters. You stayed when others ran. Why?” Rick says. “Not because I wanted to. I made a promise…to her. My wife.” Jenner says pointing at the screen. “Test subject 19 was your wife?” Lori asks. “She begged me to keep going as long as I could. How could I say no?” Jenner says as Daryl starts hitting the door again with an axe then adding “She was dying. It should’ve been me on that table. I wouldn’t have mattered to anybody. She was a loss to the world. Hell, she ran this place. I just worked here. In our field, people like her, is Einstein. Me? I’m just….Edwin Jenner. She could’ve done something about this. Not me.” “Your wife didn’t have a choice. You do. That’s-that’s all we want, a choice, a chance.” Rick says so Lori pleads “Let us keep trying as long as we can.” Jenner looks at her before saying “I told you topside’s locked down. I can’t open those.” And going over to the key pad and opening the door.  “Come on!” Daryl yells as Jenner says “Troy.” “Go I’ll meet up.” She says pushing me towards the door before turning to glare at Jenner as the others yell their versions of come on.

****Troy’s POV****

           Everyone but me, Jacqui, Andrea, Dale, and Jenner ran out of the room. Jenner slowly turns to me and says “I don’t believe there’s a chance, but here.” And tosses me another flash drive. I chuckle and go over to the station with mine and grab it before saying “Goodbye Jenner.” And rushing out of the room, detouring to get my bag. I arrive at the top floor as T-Dog yells "Daryl, look out!" and starts hitting the window with a chair. It doesn't work so Shane says "Dog, get down! Get down!" before shooting the glass with a shotgun. "The glass won't break?!" Sophia asks scared and I hear Carol whisper “The grenade.” before digging in the bag looking at Rick saying "Rick, I might have something that can help." "Carol, I don’t think a nail file’s gonna do it." Shane says. She shakes her head as she pulls out the grenade and says "Your first morning at camp, when I washed your uniform I found this in your pocket." Rick goes to grab it but I do and run to the window yelling “Time to blow shit up!” as Daryl and Glenn yell "Troy no!" I ignore them and look at Rick as I pull the pin and get ready to release is so he yells "Everybody get down!" I drop it and sprint back towards the group Daryl grabs me and pulls me under him as it explodes. "Come on let’s go!" He yells pulling me up with him and start running out the now broken window.

****Daryl’s POV****

           When the door opens I yell “Come on!” to the rest of the group as Jenner says “Troy.” “Go I’ll meet up.” She says pushing Glenn towards the door before turning to glare at Jenner as the others yell their versions of come on. ‘She’s gonna get herself killed.’ I think but follow the others, minus her, Jacqui, Andrea, and Dale to the top floor. “Get them doors open!” Glenn yells running to the doors with T-Dog trying to get them open as Shane yells “Daryl!” and I throw him one of the axes and we start hitting the window as Glenn yells “It doesn’t work!”  “Come on! Come on!” I yell at the window as Carol says “Stay close, sweetheart.” Then T-Dog yells "Daryl, look out!" I get out of the way and he starts hitting the window with a chair and I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding when I saw Troy standing next to Carol. It doesn't work so Shane says "Dog, get down! Get down!" before shooting the glass with a shotgun after T-Dog moves. "The glass won't break?!" Sophia asks scared causing Carol to mutter something nods before digging in her bag looking at Rick saying "Rick, I might have something that can help." "Carol, I don’t think a nail file’s gonna do it." Shane says. She shakes her head as she pulls out a grenade and says "Your first morning at camp, when I washed your uniform I found this in your pocket." Rick goes to grab it but Troy does and runs to the window yelling “Time to blow shit up!” as I can’t stop myself from yelling "Troy no!" along with Glenn. She ignores us and looks at Rick as she pulls the pin and get ready to release is so he yells "Everybody get down!" She then drops it and sprints towards the group so I grab her and pull her under me as it explodes. "Come on let’s go!" I yell at her pulling her up with me and start running out the now broken window. Rick and Shane shoot the walkers and I chop off their heads with the axes as we run to the cars. When Troy and I get to my truck Lori yells “Dale, get down! Down!” as the R.V.’s horn honks so I quickly push her in and cover her as I close the car door and the building explodes. We’re both breathing heavy and I quickly get off her realizing the position we were in and get into the driver’s seat as she sits up. She watches Dale and Andrea get into the R.V. as I look at her thinking ‘What’s wrong with me?’  And start the truck. The caravan then starts moving back towards Fort Benning.