▎SAFE HAVEN ▎ 
»»————　act three. prison time
CHAPTER NINETEEN  ━━ the prison

They had been on the road for a while now, a long while. Lori was heavily pregnant and they had found no shelter, whatsoever.

They never had an opportunity to have a break, walkers for miles. They practically lived in the cars.

Josie pulled out the map, laying it on the car as she placed the rocks on the corners. "We got no place left to go." T-dog said as he looked down at the map.

"When this herd meets up with this one, we'll be cut off." Josie said, pointing to the marks on the map. "We'll never make it south."

"What would you say? That was about 150 head?" Daryl asked, leaning on the car as everyone circled around Josie.

"That was last week. It could be twice that by now." Glenn sighed, moving to stand beside Josie as he looked down at the map.

"This river could have delayed them." Hershel pointed down to the mark on the map. "If we move fast, we might have a shot to tear right through there."

"Yeah, but if this group joins that one, they could spill out this way." Riley pointed out, looking up at her father.

"So we're blocked." Maggie nodded her head, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Only thing to do is double back at twenty seven and swing towards Greenville." Rick then said, pointing to the map.

"Yeah, we picked through that already." T-dog pointed out. "It's like we spent the winger going in circles."

"Yeah, I know. I know." Rick nodded his head, letting out a sigh. "At Newman we'll push west. Haven't been through there yet. We can't keep going house to house. Need to find someplace to hold up for a few weeks." He said as he looked at Lori, who was sat in the car.

"All right. Is it cool if we get to the creek before we head out? Won't take long." T-dog asked as Josie picked up the map, rolling it back up. "We got to fill up on water. We can boil it later."

"Knock yourself out." Rick nodded his head as Josie placed the map in the car, closing the door behind her.

Rick and Daryl had found a prison. Their lucky finally was good. Rick cut the fence as everyone stood around, ready to attack any walkers.

Josie had her sword in her hand, looking around as she waited for Rick to open the gate. Once he had, Josie made sure Lori went through first, then everyone followed, Glenn and Daryl closing the fence back up.

The group ran forwards, ignoring the walkers on the inside fence. Josie kept her sword raised as they came to the main gate.

"It's perfect." Rick uttered as he stared at the prison. Josie narrowed her eyes, blocking the sun from her eyes. "If we can shut that gate, prevent more from filling the yard, we can pick off these walkers." Rick informed everyone, pointing to the other gate. "We'll take the field by tonight."

"So how do we shut the gate?" Hershel asked him, looking around at the walkers.

"I'll do it. You guys cover me." Glenn volunteered from beside Josie, making her turn to him.

"No. It's a suicide run." Josie shook her head, her brows furrowed.

"I'm the fastest." Glenn pointed out, trying to ease her worries.

"No, you, Josie, Maggie, Tiffany and Beth draw as many as you can over there." Rick pointed to where he wanted them to go. "Pop 'em through the fence. Daryl, go back to the other tower. Carol, Riley, you've both become a pretty good shot." Rick nodded at the two women. "Take your time. We don't have a lot of ammo to waste." He said as the pair nodded, moving to grab their stuff. "Herself, you and Carl take this tower." Rick pointed to the tower beside them. "I'll run for the gate."

Josie nodded her head as her, and everyone else went to do what they were told. Josie ran her sword against the fence, gaining the attention of the walkers as everyone else yelled.

Once the walkers made it towards Josie, she gripped her sword before stabbing it into the walkers heads. One by one, they fell to the ground.

Rick then ran in, shooting at the walkers as everyone else helped kill the walkers so Rick could get past to the other gate.

He quickly closed it, locking it up as the other walkers made their way towards him, making him run towards a door.

"Light it up!" Daryl yelled at the others as shots went off, Josie swapping her sword for her gun.

She fired at the remaining walkers until there were no more. Josie sighed, grin on her face as she turned to Glenn, who smiled back at her.

They all made their way into the field, t-dog letting out a happy yell, letting his arms up in victory.

It was night now, they had made a small fire as everyone sat around it. Josie moved the wood around with a stick.

"Hm. Just like mom used to make." Glenn said sarcastically as he looked down at the food they had made. Josie grinned, rolling her eyes as she placed the stick down.

"Lori." Josie breathed out, passing Lori her share of the food. Lori went to protest, but Josie gave her a stubborn look. "Eat."

Lori sent her a smile as she took the food from Josie, placing it on her lap as Josie smiled, turning back to the fire.

"Tomorrow we'll put all the bodies together." T-dog started. "Want to keep them away from that water. Now, if we can dig a canal under the fence, we'll have plenty of fresh water."

"First good idea you've ever had, T." Tiffany smirked from beside Beth, the blonde letting out a laugh at her joke as t-dog tilted his head.

"And the soil is good. We could plant some seed, grow some tomatoes, cucumber, soybeans." Hershel added as he looked down at the ground. He then sat up as he looked over at Rick, who was walking near the fence. "That's his third time around. If there was any part of it compromised, he'd have found it by now."

"This'll be a good place to have the baby." Beth turned to Lori, smile on her face. "Safe." She added as Lori smiled at the younger girl.

Josie smiled softly, moving to lean on Glenn, bringing her legs close to her. "Beth, sing Paddy Reilly for me." Hershel asked his daughter. "I haven't heard that, I think, since your mother was alive."

"Daddy, not that one, please." Maggie asked form beside Riley, who lowered her head.

"How about The Parting Glass?" Hershel then asked, not wanting to upset his daughters.

Beth awkwardly looked up at her father. "No one wants to hear."

"I do." Tiffany smiled at her, nodding her head.

Beth breathed out, nodding her head as she looked at Tiffany, then at everyone else. "Of all the money e'er I had...I spent it in good company." She started singing as Josie smiled, listening to her sing as she held Glenn's had that laid on her stomach. "And all the harm e'er I've ever done, alas it was none but me. And all I've done for want of wit...to memory now I can't recall. So full to me, the parting glass." She continued as the rest of the group walked towards them. "Good night and joy be with you all."

Beth looked around, a smile on her face as Maggie joined in. "Oh, all the comrades that e'er I had...were sorry for my going away." Maggie nudged Riley, who rolled her eyes before joining in. "And all the sweethearts that e'er I had. Would wish me...I had some. One more day to stay. But since it falls unto my lot that I should rise and you should not. I'll gently rise and I'll softly call, good night and joy be with you all."

Josie looked up, smile still on her face as she looked at the Greene sisters. "Beautiful." Hershel complemented his daughters.

"Better all turn in." Rick then spoke up, Josie turning her head to face him. "I'll take watch over there, got a big day tomorrow." He told them, nodding his head.

"What do you mean?" Glenn asked with a frown.

"Look, I know we're all exhausted. This was a great win. But we've got to push just a little bit more." Rick informed them as Josie bit her tongue, looking back down at hers and Glenn's conjoined hands. "Most of the walkers are dressed as guards and prisoners. Looks like this place fell pretty early. It could mean the supplies may be intact. That's have an infirmary, a commissary."

"An armoury?" Daryl then spoke up, looking down at them all as Rick nodded his head.

"That would be outside the prison itself, but not too far away." Rick told him. "Warden's offices would have info on the location. Weapons, food, medicine. This place could be a gold mine."

"We're dangerously low on ammo." Hershel pointed out as Rick turned to him. "We'd run out before we make a dent."

"That's why we have to go in there...hand to hand." Rick insisted, slowly nodding his head. "After all we've been through, we can handle it, I know it." He confidently said. "These assholes don't stand a chance." He looked down at Carl, nodding his head.

He then stood up, walking away from the group. Lori quickly followed, hand on her stomach as she walked towards Rick.

Josie's eyes followed the pair, before returning back to her hands. Everybody started to lay down, getting comfy.

Josie laid herself down beside Glenn, resting her head on his chest as he ran a hand through her hair, looking down at her with a soft smile.

As soon as they had woken up, Rick told them their plan and they were all ready. Josie had her flannel wrapped around her, her sword gripped, tightly.

"Ready?" Hershel asked them as Rick grabbed onto the gate. He quickly pushed it open as the group ran in, their weapons at the ready.

Josie lifted her sword before pushing it into one of the walkers skull, quickly pulling it out as she studied with the group.

More walkers came their way as they quickly killed them all. Josie swiped at one of the walkers, letting out a grunt as they walked towards one of the doors.

Rick opened it before turning the corner, seeing a group of walkers. He held up his hand as everyone stood against the wall, Daryl with his crossbow raised.

Some walkers turned around the corner, with gear on, making Daryl shoot at the walker, but the arrow flew back, bouncing off of the head gear.

A walker was walked through the door josie was stood next to, making her quickly push her sword through his chin and upwards.

She let out a grunt, pushing the walker to the ground and pulling her sword back. But more walkers with riot gear on made their way towards them.

Josie quickly lifted the head gear, strapping her sword upwards and pulling it out, grimacing as the blood splattered on her.

She breathed out as the body fell to the ground, looking down at it with a grin. Maggie killed the last walker, making everyone huddle back together. "Well, it looks secure." Glenn said as they looked around the prison.

"Not from the look of that courtyard over there." Daryl pointed to the courtyard, where the group of walkers all leaned on the gate. "And that's a civilian." He pointed down to the walker on the ground.

"So the interior could be overrun form walkers from outside the prison." T-dog sighed as he leaned off of a pillar.

"If there's walls down, what are we're going to do?" Josie asked, looking around the group as she bit down on her tongue. "We can't rebuild this whole place"

"We can't risk a blind spot." Rick shook his head as he nodded at the door. "We have to push in." He said before walking towards one of the gated doors.

Rick lead the way, everyone following behind as Daryl, carefully, opened the door. Rick pushed the gate door open, Josie closing the door behind her as they carefully and quietly walked down the steps.

Josie gripped her sword in her hands, looking audios with caution. Rick walked up the steps towards the office, then walking out with keys.

They walked towards the cell block, weapons raised. Josie looked into one of the cells, her face scrunching up as she looked at the dead walker on the ground.

After they had secured the cells, they had brought everyone in. Josie rolled her shoulders, carrying her stuff and lori's as she walked towards the cell block.

"What do you think?" Rick asked everyone as he walked down the steps.

"Home sweet home." T-dog uttered as he pulled one of the walkers bodies to the side.

"Cosy." Tiffany hummed, wanting a nudge from Josie.

"It's secure?" Lori questioned as she looked around.

"This cell block is." Rick nodded his head at his wife.

"What about the rest of the prison?" Hershel spoke up, placing his things down as he looked over at Rick.

"In the morning, we'll find the cafeteria and infirmary." Rick told them, walking towards them.

"We sleep in the cells?" Beth asked, a slight frown on her face as she held her bag.

"I found keys on some guards. Daryl had a set, too." Rick added, looking over at Beth.

"I soon sleeping in no cage." Daryl grumbled from the steps, scowl on his face. "I'll take the perch."

Josie turned to Glenn, smile on her face as the two walked towards a cell. "Thanks josie." Tiffany uttered, narrowing her eyes as Beth nudged her.

"Stick with me." Beth smiled as Tiffany tilted her head, nodding it.

"Yeah, good idea." Tiffany hummed as she and Beth walked towards a cell, Maggie and Riley beside them.

Josie breathed out as she placed her bag down, looking at the blood splatter on the wall. "I'm too tired to even care." Josie muttered turning to Glenn as she sat down on the bottom bunk, running a hand over her face as Glenn sat down beside her.

Glenn softly held onto her arm, looking at is as Josie looked over her shoulder, a frown decorating her face. "What are you doing?" She gently asked, a smile making its way on her face.

"Checking for scratches." He uttered, inspecting her skin as Josie smiled once again, leaning her chin on her shoulder as she looked at him.

"I'm okay, Glenn." She quietly chuckled, making him turn to her, nodding his head.

"I know." Glenn told her, leaning into Josie as he pressed a soft kiss again her forehead. Josie melted into his touch, leaning into him, also, closing her eyes.

Josie wanted to keep Lori company. Lori felt like the whole word was against her and she was thinking her baby had died.

So Josie wanted to clear Lori's mind. Josie sat in front of Lori as Lori braided her hair, like she use to when Josie was young.

"You thought of any baby names yet?" Josie asked, staying still as Lori worked at her hair. "If it's a girl, you should definitely name her Josie." Josie grinned as Lori let out a chuckle.

"Having one Josie around is enough." Lori spoke, humour in her voice as Josie scoffed, slightly shaking her head.

"You love me, Lori. Do not lie." Josie joked, the girl never leaving her face as she handed Lori the hair tie around her wrist. "I bet Carl can't wait to be a big brother. He's been telling me all about it."

"He's excited." Lori said as she finished with Josie's hair, tapping her shoulder as Josie turned around, looking up at her.

"I bet he is." Josie chuckled as she stood up, letting out a sigh as she sat down beside Lori. "I could never see me having a kid." Josie shook her head as Lori frowned.

"Why not?" Lori asked as Josie shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know." Josie chucked, shrugging her shoulders once more. "Never thought I'd be a good mom...and I don't think I could do it now." Josie said as Lori pulled her into a side hug.

She had never thought about wanting a kid since the start of the apocalypse. When she was a little girl, she'd always said she wanted a child. But now, she couldn't see herself being a mother

"I think you'd be an amazing mother, JJ." Lori said, smile on her face as Josie tilted her head.

"I'd be clueless." Josie uttered, small smile on her face. "I wouldn't know what to do.
Hell, I think Glenn would be too." Josie chuckled as Lori let out a laugh. "He wouldn't have a damn clue."

After her and Lori had their little moment, the rest of the group decided to scout the rest of the prison. Glenn helped out the bullet proof vest around Josie before they made their way out.

Josie held her flashlight in her hand and her sword in the other, looking around the dark corridors as the group sticked together.

Josie grimaced as she looked down at the decomposed walker bodies and blood as Glenn drew an arrow on the wall.

Josie turned around quickly, accidentally bumping into Glenn as she let out a yelp, Glenn placing a hand on her shoulder as she wore a sheepish look, muttering a 'sorry.'

They continued searching the dark hallways, Rick and Daryl in the lead as Glenn drew another arrow.

Rick carefully turned the corner, but nothing was there, making them continue. Josie gripped her sword in her hand, before Rick turned around. "Go back. Go back! Move!" He told them as Josie, Maggie and Glenn all ran in the opposite direction, only to be stopped by the walkers making their way towards them.

"Turn around!" Josie quickly said, spinning around as she grabbed onto Glenn's hand, pulling him with her as Maggie followed them.

"Come on, this way!" Daryl yelled as they turned the corner. The three behind were cut off by more walkers, making Josie open the door beside her, quickly getting Glenn and Maggie in.

Josie's heart was racing. They were cornered. They had nowhere to go. Glenn lead the way as they walked through the room, finding another door.

Then, a yell went off, the yell belonging to Hershel. Maggie's heart dropped as she yelled for her father, going towards the screams as Josie and Glenn followed.

They turned the corner, Josie's eyes widening as she looked down at Hershel, and the missing part of his leg that the walker had bit.

"No!" Maggie cried out as Josie held her arm, giving it a squeeze as she looked down at Hershel.

Rick and Glenn helped carry Hershel, going towards the clear path as Josie kept Maggie beside her.

Josie's mind was full of everyone's yells as she came across a locked door. She hit the lock with the end of her sword until it opened, pushing the door open as Rick and Glenn ran in with Hershel, placing him on the floor.

Daryl shut the door behind them all as Maggie crouched down to her father's side. "Hold him down." Rick said as he took off his belt.

Josie swallowed down thickly as she looked down at the scene, her hand reaching for the chain around her neck.

Rick tired his belt around the top of Hershel's knee, making sure it was tight. Maggie held her father as Rick pulled out his axe. "Only one way to keep you alive." Rick told him as Hershel let out frantic breaths.

Rick then threw his arm down, cutting through Hershel's leg as he let out a agonising scream. Josie squeezed her eyes shut as she turned around, trying to block out Hershel's screams and the sound of Rick hitting his axe girl Hershel's leg.

Hershel's yells had stopped completely, signalling that he had passed out. Josie swallowed thickly as she turned around, seeing Hershel's leg cut off, completely. "He's bleeding out." Rick said as he looked down at Hershel.

Daryl looked over his shoulder, his eyes narrowing as he looked towards Josie. "Duck." He uttered as she frowned, but quickly did so as she crouched next to Glenn, Daryl immediately standing up as he aimed his crossbow behind Josie.

Josie turned around, her eyes widening as she looked over to the prisoners behind the gated window.

"Holy shit." One of them muttered as Josie turned back around, looking at Rick.

— madeleines notes.

I LOVE JO AND LORI. They're sisters end of discussion. Literally fight me whores.

SCHOOL TODAY UGH SEND ME TO HELL PLEASE.

yk that feeling when your toots burnt? Yeah, send help guys. I have school and no vape... right. KILL MEEEEEEEE

15th April 2024
3542 words