Rock and a Hard Place 12- The Wall Fourteen-

The Wall Fourteen

            “This isn’t right, Rick! You can’t do this! This is not you, man.” Glenn yelled, his voice echoing in the underground facility.

            “Don’t you see, Glenn? This research will help us all. To be able to save those who have already been turned? How can we not act on that? The vaccine didn’t work, all it did was accelerate the change. But this…this is different.” Rick pointed his gun at Glenn, preventing him from reaching her. Maggie lay strapped to an exam table, her baby crying in the adjacent crib.

            “I won’t let you do this. You can’t have my daughter!” Glenn screamed as he rushed towards Rick. The two wrestled for the gun and fell to the floor.

            “Glenn, don’t make me kill you!” Rick roared as he kneed Glenn in the ribs.

            “Please stop! Please…my baby! My baby!” Maggie cried helpless to stop them from killing each other. She couldn’t understand how their group got to this point. They were so close until founding this city. A disagreement in how to run it caused this fracture that Maggie feared would never heal. Now, after weeks of being experimented on Maggie could feel the change start. Her body was dying but all she cared about was her family.

            Her eyes began to blur and it became difficult to breath. The sounds of her baby’s cries and her husband’s struggle pierced her failing brain. “Glenn, save them. Please…save them.”

            Rick was knocked unconscious no longer able to keep up with the younger man. Glenn pointed the gun at his head. How could he do this to them? They were a family, how could he? Maggie’s voice stopped him. She was turning and he would have to end her. The facility around them was on fire, the Dead Heads accomplished their mission of stopping the experiments but for how long.

            Even if Rick died someone like Betty “the Bitch” Patterson will just take his place. Rick can still be reasoned with, Glenn thought he wasn’t too far gone. He dragged Rick’s unconscious body outside the room, leaving him in the hall for his people to find. Glenn could hear their boots on the staircase. He turned back to the inferno and his dead wife. Maggie clawed at him as he walked closer; the love of his life looking at him with dead eyes. In the crib, their baby girl Beth cried for her mother.  

            “Glenn!” Carl yelled as he ran from the hole made in the floor that lead to the sewer system. “We need to go! Now!” Carl grabbed Beth and wrapped her in a blanket. The smoke began to choke him.

            “You go, keep her safe…please. They’ll be looking for her.” The fire raged behind him.

            “No, no. Don’t do this. She’ll need you, come with me.” Carl pleaded.

            “No, she’ll have you to protect her. Go Carl. I want to be with my wife.” Glenn’s eyes never left her face as he spoke and Carl knew he couldn’t convince him. He started back for the opening in the floor. He had to get Beth out of here before they realized she was still alive.

            Glenn smoothed back Maggie’s hair. He lowered his face to meet hers, she tried to bite him. “Maggie, I love you so much. Our daughters will be safe, we’ll watch over them together. I love you.” He kissed her cold forehead and squeezed the trigger, blowing her brains out the side of her head. Glen cried as he lifted the gun to his temple. The fire lapped at his heels but he couldn’t feel it; he was numb. Her face was the last thing he saw, he squeezed her hand and felt the ring there as he pulled the trigger and everything went black.

            Carl woke up on the sofa in the safe house. The dream lingering in his mind as he rose to meet the day. It took their group two exhausting days to cross the lower quadrants of New Charleston to get here in one piece. Much of the food and water stock piles were gone, ransacked by looters. The weapons cache didn’t fare much better; only a few guns and ammo were left, stored in secret compartments in the bathroom.

            Carl watched Marla as she slept on the loveseat unsure if he should tell her what really happened to her parents or her sister; a sister she has never known of for both their safety. Marla didn’t even know her mom was pregnant again. Beth is about two years old now and living in secret outside the Walls of New Charleston.

            “Carl, when should we get underway?” Daryl asked him wide awake since taking the early morning watch. Carl checked his watch, it’s just about 4AM; the sun had yet to peek over the horizon.

            “Give them another 30 minutes, then we set off.” The group was fatigued and it wouldn’t do any good to start the long trek to the inner wall exhausted. Hank and his daughter both lay on the floor on a mattress. Trinity sprawled across an armchair. Daryl nodded and went back to his post. Carl fought off sleeping again and instead went upstairs to an empty room with a wooded desk and chair. He pulled out his journal; well-worn leather and many creases with yellowing pages and a leather strap to close it. He smiled as if getting a visit from an old friend.

            He started journaling when their original group was still on the road as a way to get his thoughts out and reflect on what this new life is about. Now in his late thirties he found that journaling is also a great way to document Dead Head strategies and maneuvers. Carl wrote about what happened at the outer wall, Trinity’s confession, and the status of Safe House 11.

            Before returning the journal to its place in his inner pocket, Carl flipped to an earlier entry involving Maggie and Glen’s deaths then Marla walked in. Carl quickly closed the journal.

            “Couldn’t sleep?” Marla asked. She pulled her hoodie tighter against the chill of the early morning air.

            “I’m normally up at this time. You?” Carl asked.

            “Nightmare. I just…can’t believe this is really happening. I thought that life of running and hiding was finally over.” Marla sat on the twin cot against the far wall.

            “That life would never be over, Marla, not as long as there are walkers. You can’t let your guard down, ever. That’s what people in New Charleston are guilty of. Forgetting the world they live in.”

            “Or just wanting to relive the world they lost. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a normal life Carl. Growing up and only having to worry about grades and boys and clothes.” Marla fantasied.

            “But you didn’t live that life. You have no memories of that kind of life.” Carl scolded her and immediately regretted it when he saw that fanciful look fade from her eyes. Marla wanted that life, one she would never have. It just doesn’t exist anymore.

            “Why do you think I read so much? I’m not stupid Carl, I know that world is gone but do you always have to remind people how messed up this world really is?” Her voice cracked with emotion.

            “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…” Now was the perfect time to tell Marla the truth and in knowing what he knows perhaps she’ll understand. “Marla, I need to tell you about something. A secret that I’ve been keeping for a while now, even from you only for your safety.”

            Marla leaned in, Carl has always been an introverted leader. Cool under pressure, decisive but aloof almost to the point of being perceived as emotionless. He doesn’t impart secrets to just anyone, only those in his inner circle.

            “It’s about Beth.”

            “My aunt? What secret do you have about her?” Marla was confused.

            “No not your aunt. Your sister. Two years ago, your mom gave birth to a baby girl they named Beth, shortly after that your parents died. I took Beth outside the wall to live and be safe. She’s the key.” Carl was vague but could see Marla was trying to let everything sink in.

            “Where is she? Who has her?” Marla stood up.

            “She’s with Michonne.”

To continue….

Rock and a Hard Place 12- The Wall Thirteen

The Wall Thirteen

            Council Head Grimes paced back and forth in his office. Reports have been coming in from the outer districts of a possible breach and walkers inside the city. Rick already ordered the NCD out to take care of the problem but hasn’t heard anything back.

            “Hudson, any word?” Rick as desperately.

            “No, sir. I’m sure the situation is not as serious as the reports are making it out to be. The people are just scared. They haven’t had to deal with walkers for decades because of your heroism in establishing this city.” Troy heaped on the compliments.

            “Hudson, I’d prefer that you get your head out my ass and find out where my daughter is. One walker inside the wall is serious. The people are looking to us for help.” Rick stared out his massive window at the peaceful garden beyond; with the sun shining and pedestrians walking calmly in the streets, you would never think there was a crisis.

            “Of course they are. The NCD are doing all they can to contain the situation. The Dead Heads are pretty bold to try this. Perhaps we should expand our efforts to find their leader and take the head of the snake, so to speak.” Troy suggested hiding a smirk.

            “We’ll worry about that after we clear any remaining walkers. And find my daughter goddamn it!” Rick was losing his patience; his blue eyes lit with anger.

            “Of course, sir.” Troy backed out and left the office closing the doors behind him. He learned long ago when Grimes reached his breaking point, better not push him any further. Troy heard stories of what he was like before the city was established and it was enough to make his skin crawl. He spotted Councilman Betty Patterson standing in an alcove of the main hall.

            “Betty, how are you?” Troy plastered a practiced smile on his face.

            “Troy, walk with me.” Betty spoke in the soft tones that make men weak. Her long chocolate brown hair smelled of lavender when she pass by him, Troy inhaled deeply. “I heard there are walkers in Columbus Square, is that accurate?” She asked with feigned concern.

            “Reports are conflicting but,” Troy was interrupted.

            “Cut the shit Troy, you’ve been a bad boy haven’t you?” A knowing smile spread across her red lips.

            “If all goes well we can clear out the poor from the outer ring and topple the Grimes dynasty all the while blaming the Dead Heads for the suffering and the untimely death of our benevolent leader.” Troy spoke in low tones.

            “Does he know you’ve closed the gates to both walls?” Betty asked.

            “He knows nothing. He’s so absorbed in his own problems that he doesn’t see much else.” Troy assured.

            “What about the project? Has Subject J accomplished the mission?” Betty glanced around making sure no one was close enough to hear. Because they were in plain sight, the casual onlooker would think that two council members were simply conducting small talk.

            “J has come into contact with the Dead Heads but lost the target after a fight.” Troy informed.

            “A fight?” Betty turned to face him, cool gray eyes meeting deep black. “Idiot! We need her alive, you moron!” Betty raised her voice unintentionally, her words echoed in the wide hall.

            “I understand. I will informed Major James to send more NCD to,” Troy was interrupted again.

            “No! You’ll see to this yourself, Troy. This project is very important to me and I’ll not see it destroyed by the Dead Heads or your incompetence.” Her rose lips twisted into a snarl as she forced her words past clenched teeth.

            “Me? I can’t go out there! I’ve lived in Charleston my whole life even before the Wall. I haven’t gone outside the inner gates in years…” Troy pleaded.

            “Shit man grow some balls. Listen Troy, if you’re going to play in my sandbox, you’d best be prepared to get dirty. Now you’re going, I’ll notify Major James to expect you in an hour. You find that girl and bring her back to me now or I’ll make you sorry you were ever born.” Betty’s sing song voice was dripping with venom.

            Across the city a small group slowly make their way into the maze that is the outer Wall. Hank took up point holding his borrowed pistol firmly in front of him.

            “Take this next left.” Carl spoke softly directed behind Hank. The group moved swiftly keeping noise down to a minimum. Hank came to a stop just outside a closed door marked ‘Armory’.

            “There is usually four guards on duty, two forward by the door, one in the weapon’s cage and one positioned on the second level landing. Our goal is to take the two front guards and the one on the landing, if we don’t get him he can take us out from above. Last is the guard in the weapons’ cage but we’ll burn that bridge when we come to it. Ready?” Carl laid out the plan quickly and everyone knew their role.

            Jen and Trinity will hang back with Marla until the all clear was given. Daryl stepped up to the door, arrow already loaded.

            “I’ll take the bird’s nest.” The three men nodded acknowledgement and Carl reached for the door. He knew once he opened it a firestorm will erupt. Taking steadying breaths Carl twisted the knob and threw the door open with a loud thud, staying low to the ground he raised his weapon to cover Daryl as he ran further into the interior.

            No bullets met them, no alarms sounded, no men yelled for back up. Hank, Carl, Daryl and Jason stood in an empty armory with four dead guards; all shot in the head execution style. Their hands and feet bound behind them, their eyes blindfolded.

            Along the far wall was a message written in black paint. Scrawled on the wall was, ‘There is no life behind the Wall, Dead Heads.’ The weapon’s cage was bare, the wall racks looted; some clips and bullets littered the floor as if someone emptied the cache in a hurry.

            “What the hell?” Daryl exclaimed as he read the message. “They did this. They did this to make it look like it was us!” He kicked an empty clip against the wall in anger.

            “Gone, everything…taken.” Jason spoke solemnly.

            “My God, I can’t believe they would do this. That they would go so far…killing their own guards?” Marla spoke in disbelief. Even when Carl explained to her that the New Charleston government was responsible for the walker bomb days ago and that they have been leading a campaign of scare tactics to blame the Dead Heads she still couldn’t believe him.

            “So you all didn’t do this. The government did? But why, what’s their purpose of scaring people like this?” Hank asked as he walked around looking for any weapon they might have missed.

            “Because people who are scared are easy to control. They just want to be safe, you tell them what you need to do to keep them safe and the people will fall in line.” Carl explained unsure how his father could do this. He’s seen his father do terrible things to keep him and Judith safe but this wasn’t making sense. There is another reason for this but Carl didn’t want to say until he knew for certain. He had to get to the inner wall, he had to see for himself.

            “We did this.” A small voice spoke from the doorway. Hank’s daughter Jen was there but she too looked to her left and the speaker.

            “We did this. Me and Jiff and Kay and Connor. We were hired to do this, it’s why I didn’t say anything earlier.” Trinity walked out of the shadows and into the glare of all in the room. Carl reached her in few steps grabbing her shirt at the collar.

            “Who? Who told you to do this? Who was it!?” He yelled, his spittle hitting her face.

            “I don’t know his name, I swear. We got our orders from a Major something. He got his orders from a councilman I think. Honestly that’s all I know. Kay did most of the negotiating.” Trinity gripped his wrist trying to wriggle her way loose.

            “Carl!” Marla roared at him to let her go. Carl put Trinity back on her feet.

            “And what did you get out of it? What was the deal, girl?” Daryl spoke as he circled her, pacing back and forth. When Trinity didn’t answer Daryl stepped in front of her, loaded and arrow, and place the tip to her forehead in one fluid movement. “You better say something.” He warned.

            “Daryl, wait.” Marla tried to deescalate the situation. “Maybe she really doesn’t know, okay. Killing her solves nothing.”

            “Daryl, stand down.” Carl said calmly. Daryl didn’t hesitate, at Carl’s command he lowered the bow and returned the arrow to the quiver on his back. “We need to keep moving. We’re going to one of our safe houses, there’s food and water and some weapons. But there’s a whole army of walkers between us and it.”

            “Then what?” Hank asked.

            “Then we go to the inner Wall. There’s someone I need to visit.” Carl’s tone is steady and methodic.

To continue…