𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐎𝐎𝐑𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐓

𝟑𝐱𝟏𝟑

WHEN Daryl, Rick, and Hershel were getting ready to leave, I wanted to come along. Glenn could just as easily hold down the fort and if he couldn't, Maggie could. If they were bringing Hershel, he was gonna need someone to back him. Ever since he got bit by a walker and Rick had to amputate his leg, I had been more protective of him. So while Daryl was going to be Rick's back up, I was gonna be Hershel's. Andrea had set up a meeting between her boyfriend and Rick to talk over their issues. I had personally believed it wasn't going to work, but Andrea is persistent. The terms were they could both bring backup just in case and they would meet each other there, no one should be there before anyone else. So that's where we were now.

I rode on the back of Daryl's motorcycle with him, while Hershel and Rick drove in the car behind us. Rick then got out of the car and held up a hand to Hershel and I before he and Daryl had walked in the place. I got in the passengers seat of the car and stood on watch with Hershel. Hershel and I checked ourselves over making sure that we had all of our weapons on us. Hershel had two handguns strapped around his good leg along with his rifle beside him. I had my sword of course, a few daggers here and there, and I had a handgun. Can never be too careful especially not with the Governor. I looked at Hershel and nodded before he did the same thing. He picked up his rifle and held it in his hands as he looked out one window while I looked out the other.

"Hershel." I said. He then looked at me, somewhat skeptically since I had called him Hershel instead of Papa Greene.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't do more to protect you when we were looking for Maggie and Glenn in the tunnels. I'm the reason-." I started apologetically before he cut me off.

"No. Ara, this was not your fault. I don't want you to ever think that you were responsible for this. Do you understand?"

"Yes." I nodded.

When we saw Daryl coming back over with no Rick, Hershel started the car and drove by him.

"He's already in there. Sat down with Rick." Daryl informed us. Leave it to the Governor to not hold up his hand. I shook my head at that.

"I don't see any cars." Hershel said.

"It don't feel right. Keep it running." Daryl told us uneasily as he kept looking around before we heard a car coming.

"Heads up." Daryl warned us while tapping the hood of the car. Daryl then held up his crossbow at the approaching car as I got out of the car and held up my gun. Hershel got out of the car also. Two guys came out of the car, one nerdy looking white guy and a slightly buff looking Hispanic guy. Andrea then came out of the car after them looking at us.

"What the hell? Why's your boy already in there?" Daryl questioned Andrea while we both still held up our weapons.

"He's here?" Andrea questioned surprisingly.

"Yup." Daryl answered while Andrea looked at the Hispanic guy questioningly. He just smirked her way before she sighed and walked over to the door. She slid it open before walking in. The rest of us stood around expectantly. The nerdy white guy was writing notes or something on the hood of the car. Daryl made eye contact with Hershel and I as we looked back at him.

"Maybe I should go inside." Hershel suggested to us. I shook my head at that while the white guy spoke up.

"The Governor thought it best if he and Rick spoke privately." He interrupted.

"Who the hell are you?" Daryl questioned.

"Milton Mamet."

"Great. He brought his butler." Daryl scoffed. While I smiled and shook my head.

"I'm his advisor." Milton corrected.

"What kind of advice?" Daryl questioned.

"Planning. Biters. Uh, you know, I'm sorry. I don't feel like I need to explain myself to the henchmen." Milton answered.

"You better watch your mouth, sunshine." Daryl warned.

"Look, if you and I are gonna be out here pointing guns at each other all day, do me a favor, shut your mouth." The Hispanic guy said with grim smile on his face.

"How about you shut yours?" I questioned walking up to him.

"We don't need this. If all goes south in there, we'll be at each other's throats soon enough." Hershel stated. I backed away from the guy and back over to Daryl and Hershel. This was gonna go wrong, I just knew it. I didn't even like his people, much less the Governor himself, I mean what kind of entitled pompous ass calls himself the Governor? It was ridiculous.

Andrea then walked out and looked at all of us. We looked at her expectantly but she just sat down and sighed, waiting with the rest of us. The Hispanic guy then walked up to the slide in door that was left open and closed it, giving Rick and the Governor their privacy. Daryl continued his pacing while Hershel and I stood still watching him worriedly. He was anxious and I know he didn't like that feeling. Usually he'd bite his nails to prevent passing but I knew he couldn't help it.

Then Milton started walking over toward our side and started talking.

"There's no reason not to use this time we have together to explore the issues ourselves."

"Boss said to sit tight and shut up." The Hispanic guy sassed.

"Don't you mean the Governor?" Daryl questioned adding emphasis on the word Governor.

"It's a good thing they're sitting down, especially after what happened. They're gonna work it out. Nobody wants another battle." Milton continued.

"I wouldn't exactly call it a battle." Daryl said.

"I would call it a battle and I did. I recorded it." Milton retorted.

"For what?" Daryl questioned.

"Somebody's got to keep a record of what we've gone through. It'll be a part of our history."

"That makes sense." Hershel stated.

"I've got dozens of interviews-." Milton started while walking up to Hershel until we all heard walkers snarling.

We all hurriedly jogged over to deal with the walker problem. We all stood by to see just to walkers. Daryl looked at the Hispanic guy and told him after you.

"No way. You first." The Hispanic guy said.

"Oh my god!" I exclaimed agitatedly before throwing my daggers at the two walkers. The testosterone is through the roof. For the next few walkers that headed our way the Hispanic guy really wanted to make this a competition and Daryl fed into it. Andrea and I looked at each other and rolled our eyes. I waited for the Hispanic guy and Daryl when I was done with my section. Daryl found some cigarettes that hadn't been used on one of the dead walkers. Daryl put one in his mouth before offering the other guy one.

"Nah, I prefer menthols." The guy declined. His loss I knew I wanted one. I hadn't smoked one since before the world went to shit. I asked Daryl for one to which he obliged. He then called the Hispanic guy a douchebag. Daryl pulled out his lighter lighting up mine first and then his own.

"You army or something?" Daryl asked the guy with the cigarette in his mouth.

"Nah, I just-just hate these things."

"Yeah."

"After what they did to my wife, kids."

"Sucks."

"Yeah dude." I agreed as I blew out some smoke.

"Thanks." He said to us as he looked at the ground.

"This is a joke, right? They ain't gonna work anything out. Sure, they'll do their little dance and tomorrow, next day...they'll give the word." The guy continued looking at us.

"I know." Daryl told him.

"Hey." The guy said gesturing to Daryl's pocket, asking for a cigarette. Daryl obliged and gave him one before lighting it up.

"Though you preferred menthols playboy?" I joked. He looked at me and chuckled at my joke.

╚══ ≪ °❈° ≫ ══╝

After our smoke break, we walked back. This talk was taking forever and we had all just been standing around waiting. Then we all heard feet approaching so we were on high alert and we saw it was the Governor once he slid open the door. Rick came out shortly after and made brief eye contact with Daryl and I. Everyone was getting in their cars while Daryl got on his motorcycle and I followed him. Andrea was standing around and looked at Hershel before she got in the truck with the Governor. I held Daryl tightly as we drove one way and the Governor drove the opposite. I wanted to know whatever the hell it was they talked about.

As we were approaching the prison Carol and Carl opened the gate for us. Daryl turned the engine off and got off the motorcycle while I followed. The others started coming over to greet us as Rick and Hershel got out of the car next.

"Let's get inside." Rick ordered as we all followed him in the prison to hear from him what the deal was with the Governor, if we even had one. As we all stood in a circle awaiting for the news, Rick grabbed a rifle himself before standing in front of us.

"So, I met this Governor. Sat with him for quite a while." Rick started.

"Just the two of you?" Merle interrupted.

"Yeah." Rick answered while giving a slight nod.

"Should have gone when we had the chance, bro."  Merle sighed before he walked over to the back.

"He wants the prison. He wants us gone. Dead. He wants us dead for what we did to Woodbury. We're going to war." Rick told all of us before he walked out of the cell block. We all stood around looking at each other before going our separate ways. We all tried to hide that we were scared at the prospect of war, considering there was a small amount of us but a big amount of them. I knew we would get through it together just like we did everything else. We had to, because if we didn't, then we'd all be dead.

You smell that folks..that is the smell of war COOKING!! These last three chapters are going to be something folks, we'll be getting some smut, we'll be laughing at jokes, watching friendships blossom into more than friendships, and we'll be crying (maybe) at the deaths and crazy stuff that will take place. I know that episode 12 was skipped but that is because the episode had nothing to do with everyone else, it was literally just coral, ranger Rick, and Michonne sooooo...yeah. So grab your snacks, your tissues, your drinks, your vibrators, and get ready for the last three chapters of this book. I love you guys 3000, make sure to vote and comment, I will see you later.
-brayla❤️❤️