-Immune 13-
Prisoners of the Dead
Following the
time jump, we find the group has found sanctuary in an abandoned prison. The
winter was a hard one and it shown on their tired faces. Vanessa left to find
Lizzy and Andrea got separated in the woods. No one knows where Vanessa has
been those lost months but the memory of it will prove to be difficult for her
to process. We find the group around the camp fire in the newly taken prison yard
when a shadowy figure walks to them.
“Hold it right there!” Rick yelled
pointing his revolver. Daryl was at his side with the bow and Glen with T-Dog
stood at the ready as if rehearsed. “Get your hands up!” The hood shaded the
person’s face and Rick wasn’t taking any chances. “Sorry, but we don’t take to
strangers coming into our camp unannounced.”
“And what about friends?” I spoke
and could see recognition on his face. I took off my hood and smiled even
though Rick didn’t smile back.
“Vanessa?” Glen asked, he soon ran
to give me a warm hug. I laughed.
“Holy shit! Vanessa!” T-Dog followed
him. The rest of the group was on their feet and moving towards me while Rick
hung back. “What happened? Where have you been?”
“I’m so happy I found you all.
You’re pretty hard to track.”
“Especially when you don’t want to
be found.” Rick said with coldness to his voice. We all stopped and stared at
him. “I’m going to walk the perimeter.” And with that he left. What the hell? I thought. Not a hello or even
a drop dead. I could tell by the group’s reaction that this was nothing new to
them. It must have been a hard winter.
“Anyway, I’m glad you all made it
off the farm only….” I looked around the camp and saw a few faces that were no
longer there. I didn’t want to know the details and they didn’t seem to want to
divulge them. This was the way of the world now. Familiar faces now and then no
longer there.
“Lizzy?” Glen did ask as we sat down
by the camp fire.
“No. I didn’t find sign of her. I
had reopened my wounds trying to catch up to her. I ended up passing out
somewhere in the woods. Hours later when I came to, she was long gone and I was
just lucky a horde of walkers didn’t find me as a late night snack.” I think
back on that day over and over again. Was there anything else I could have done
differently? I would have gone back to the farm but didn’t quite make it there;
I didn’t want to relive that memory so much.
“It’s been a hard winter, for us
all.” Lori, whose belly was very full, told me how they lost two at the farm,
how Andrea fell and how they met back on the highway. She also spoke about Rick
killing Shane just before the horde attacked the farm. I didn’t say but I wasn’t
surprised. Shane killed Randall and could have used this opportunity to try to
kill Rick. It must have been hard to have to kill your best friend.
But she also spoke about the
infection being in everyone. That’s how Randall died, everyone is infected and
when they die, they don’t stay dead. I did say that was surprising.
“Whoa. There’s not much I can say to
that.” I spoke. To lighten the mood, I brought out my bag to pass up some
supplies I was lucky enough to come across. “Well I don’t have marshmallows but
I have some things that could help.”
“We don’t need your charity.” Rick
walked back into camp at that moment. He had a strained look on his face.
“It’s not charity. Its supplies for
the group, I’m only trying to help.” I had a hard edge to my voice; I was
getting a bit defensive now.
“Well, we don’t need your help
Vanessa. We made it just fine without you.” He stood just beyond the circle of
light from the fire; close enough for me to see the anger in his eyes. Was he
angry at me? I was just about to stand to confront him when Hershel halted me
with a weary hand on my arm.
“Alright, that’s enough. We’ve got
to get some rest, big day tomorrow.” Hershel tried to diffuse the situation.
“What’s tomorrow?” I asked.
“We’re taking the prison.” Glen spoke.
The statement hung in the air. This prison was huge, when the world went to
hell, I’m sure it was full of overcrowded inmates and underpaid guards who
would have fled to be with their families the first chance they got. How was a
small group going to take on all of that? I was going to ask as much when the
group bedding down silenced me. There was no campfire talk, witty banter, or
humorless jokes; everyone went to sleep as if commanded at the same time save
for the sentry.
Rick walked towards the perimeter to
take first watch without having to say it. I wanted to take this opportunity to
find out what he has against me so I got up to follow. Hershel’s eyes followed
me as I left the comfort of the firelight.
“Rick? Can I talk to you?” I asked
tentatively.
“Get some rest, there’s nothing to
say.” He didn’t turn to face me but at least he stopped walking.
“I think there is. Just what the
hell is your problem? Why are you treating me like this?” I wasn’t going to
give up so easy.
“You wanna know? Fine.” He turned to
me, his eyes full of fury. “You abandoned us. Just when we needed you the most,
you left. How are we supposed to depend on you when you run off at the first
sign of a fight and then on top of that, you didn’t come back?” Rick all but
spat the words at me.
“What?” I was exasperated. “Is that
what you think? I didn’t abandon you; I left to grab Lizzy who ran off into the
woods.”
“And then you just left.” He tried
to put words in my mouth.
“No, I passed out. When I came to
she was gone and I would have gone back to the farm except…” I stopped. I
couldn’t get the words out.
“Except what, Vanessa? You thought
you’d be better off on your own?” I stayed silent not meeting his eyes. Not
getting the answer he wanted Rick continued. “Listen, our so called group is
different now. There is no discussions no committees; you do what I tell you to
do. It’s how we managed so far and it’s working. If you can do that, then you
can stay. If not, then I suggest you keep moving on.”
Rick was serious. His eyes were
changed. He was more confident than before but also more frightened although
he’s trying hard to hide it. He walked away and I didn’t go after him. From his
perspective I did abandon them. I left them to fight a horde on their own and
they survived without me. I felt less like a part of the group and more of an
outsider.
I walked back to the campfire where
everyone was pretending to sleep. We were not far enough away that they
couldn’t hear our conversation. There were no words of comfort; perhaps they
felt the same way. I didn’t get much sleep that night partly due to the tension
as well as the nightmares.
The next day the group rose early.
Rick gathered everyone together for a meeting. He talked about the size of the
prison and that we planned to take it one cell block at a time. The plan was
plausible.
“Daryl, T-Dog, Glen, Maggie, and I
will go in formation. We’ll clear out the inner yard.” Rick commanded.
“Where do you want me?” I asked,
machete at the ready.
“You hang back and get any that get
past us.” With that, the group was off. I was relegated to basic babysitting
duty watching the others instead of being on offense. That had to mean
something. What the hell?
Rick and the others made their way
into the inner yard and closed the gate behind them. Using a circle formation,
they effectively cleared out the inner court yard but not without issues.
Apparently, there were walkers in riot gear coming after them. Maggie seemed to
figure out how to dispatch them quickly.
I walked back and forth on the other
side of the chain gate much like a caged animal. I wanted to get in there and
fight; to prove to them that I did have their back. I felt the need to show
them that I can be a part of the group again but that I wasn’t getting the
opportunity. I didn’t get the chance this time as the group made their way into
the prison shutting the door behind them.
“This is bullshit. I should be in
there.” I said more to myself than anyone else.
“But you’re not. You need to be out
here like my dad said.” Carl spoke and looked at me. Gone was that unsure kid
from the farm and a young man who has seen too much in his short life stood
before me.
“No, you’re right. I want to be a
part of the group; I just wish Rick would give me another chance.” I didn’t
know how sympathetic my words would be as they mirrored another’s thoughts in
the group. I looked at Lori with compassion. I could feel the tension between
her and Rick and fear the love they once shared was all but gone. It looks like
Lori and I were in the same position of being ostracized by Rick.
It wasn’t long before the group came
back out to signal all was clear for us to enter. Carrying what little supplies
we had, we made our way inside. The cell block was cold and gray and littered
with signs of carnage. I could see the exhaustion on everyone’s faces as cells
were chosen like rooms in a hotel. Daryl opted to sleep on the above walkway;
he had the right idea. I couldn’t face being inside a cell again. But I didn’t
know how much my fear would control me as I began to sweat and my heart raced
at the mere prospect of being behind bars.
“Vanessa, are you alright?” Hershel
asked softly.
“Yeah, yes I just…I just….um I’m not
really tired. I think I’ll just sit out here for a while.” I left the cell
block and sat at a table in the adjoining room. I sat still and tried to quite
my breathing and slow my racing heart. I have to get a handle on this. I tried
so hard to forget what happened, but the memories came flooding back.
Time came when Rick wanted to take a
group out to clear a path to the cafeteria or try to find the armory. I grabbed
my machete in anticipation as the group got ready.
“Carl, I need you here. If something
happens you may be the last man standing.” Rick spoke.
“Okay.”
“Vanessa, you too. I need you to
stay.”
“Wait, Rick I should be there with
you. I can help and watch your back.” I protested.
“Can you?” There was nothing I could
say to change his mind. They left and I sat on the cold stone floor when Lori
came over.
“He doesn’t mean it. He’s not a
cruel man, he just…he’s just very anxious. He wants us all to be safe.” Lori
looked tired like someone after a long battle.
“What happened between you two? I
can tell you’re both…strained.”
“I wasn’t there for him when he
needed me. When he told me he had to kill Shane I…I…I didn’t make the situation
better.” Her voice caught in her throat. “I just wish I could take it all back
but I can’t. Now Rick hates me and Carl…well…Carl hates me too.”
“They don’t hate you Lori. So much has
happened for everyone, we’re just all trying to process it…” My words were
broken by the sound of Rick yelling to clear the way. The group returned with
Hershel on a makeshift gurney and missing one leg. Carol worked feverishly to
stanch the blood flow all I could do was hang back. I saw Daryl standing with
his crossbow at the ready in the adjoining room when a group of men walked
slowly inside. They spoke about being in the mess hall the last 10 months,
since the outbreak started.
“Calm down boys.” I walked in and
said when voices became raised. “There’s no need for this.”
“You wanna try your luck on the
road? Be my guest.” Daryl told them.
“Put the gun down.” Rick strolled in
and commanded. Rick told them how there were no more hospitals, no police, no
government. How millions have died and the only way to survive is to fight. It
looked hard for some of the prisoners to take in.
After a while Rick decided that the
prisoners were not going to join our group but we would help them clear out a
cell block in exchange for food. Rick, Daryl, and T-Dog went off to accomplish
this while I had to wait again.
“How is he?” I asked Carol.
“He’s lost a lot of blood but the
flow is beginning to slow down. Other than that…I don’t really know.”
I sat at the table tapping my
fingers. They should have been back by now. I couldn’t wait any longer, I had
to go. “I’m going to find them.”
“Dad said you should stay here.”
Carl told me.
“He’s been saying that a lot, this
time, I’m not listening.” And I left down the dark corridor to find Rick and
the others. They have been gone too long. It wasn’t long before I could hear a
struggle and I walked in just in time to see Rick bury his machete in
‘pony-tail’s’ head. Another prisoner, I couldn’t remember his name, tried to swing
on him but Rick knocked the shovel out of his hand. He took flight and Rick
took off after him.
“Rick no!” I went to chase them
both. Something must have happened but does it justify the deaths of these men?
I wasn’t sure but my gut was telling me to stop Rick not so much for the
prisoner but for himself.
I found Rick standing by a door with
pleading coming from the other side. Rick looked at me with a haunting
expression. “They attacked us.”
“Rick, let him in, please. You can’t
let someone die like that.” He didn’t move. I went to open the door and he
shoved me hard against the wall, my vision blurred for a second.
“No.” Rick turned and locked the
door with the set of keys he had and went to walk away.
“You son of a bitch.” I told him. He
didn’t even turn around when he said “Yes, yes I am.”
The remaining prisoners Oscar and
Axel were ushered to the newly cleared cell block after having been pardoned by
Rick who was close to killing them both. This was the first time since I’ve
known him that Rick actually scared me. He’s showing a more Shane mentality
when it comes to other survivors and I’m not sure if that will be good for the
group. This was also the first time I actually thought about leaving. I didn’t
tell Daryl or T-Dog of Rick slamming me into a wall, for now I’ll just keep
that between us but this place was feeling more and more like a prison and less
like a sanctuary.
To be Continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment