In the Very End: Book One

Chapter 31

*WARNING: Please be advised that this chapter contains mature content and strong language.*

Chapter 31
Quinn's POV

"Dad!" Carl called as he came into the kitchen. "Andrea's here!"

I tucked my gun in the back of my pants and went outside with the others. I knew she wouldn't be too happy to see me, but the feeling was mutual. She held onto a metal pole with an armless walker at the end of it. We all remained in formation, hidden behind a car, waiting for Rick's signal.

"Go," Rick ordered quietly.

Merle ran forward and hid behind the second car. "Clear."

Rick, Daryl, and I emerged from behind the cars, squinting out into the bright Georgia sun.

"Are you alone?" Rick shouted.

"Open the gate!" Andrea called back.

"Are you alone?" Rick repeated.

"Rick!" Andrea pleaded.

I tossed Daryl the keys and he opened the gate.

"Hands up, turn around!" Rick ordered as soon as she entered.

"What?" she exclaimed.

"Turn around now!" he ordered as he pushed her up against the fence.

Daryl had his bow trained on her as Rick patted her down for weapons.

"On the ground!" Rick ordered, pulling her off the fence as a walker approached. Andrea fell to her knees and he finished checking her. "I asked if you were alone."

"I am," she said in a questioning, out of breath, voice.

Rick ripped her backpack off and threw it to the side.

"Welcome back," I said as I grabbed her arm.

Rick grabbed the other. "Get up."

We brought Andrea into the prison. She looked around, looking slightly taken aback. Her and Carol hugged as the rest of the group filtered into the kitchen.

"After you saved me, we thought you were dead," Carol confessed.

"Hershel, my God," Andrea said as she noticed his missing limb.

We all stared at her. She was a stranger to us now, especially since she was sleeping with the enemy.

"I can't believe all of this," she said, looking around. "Where's Shane and Lori?"

"She had a girl," Hershel informed. "Lori didn't survive."

"Neither did T-dog," Maggie added.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered.

Daryl shifted from beside me, so I did the same. I scooched closer to him so our sides were touching. He tensed at my touch, but didn't make an attempt to move. I laid my hand on his as Andrea continued to speak.

"Oh Carl," she said. "Rick, I..." She trailed off as Rick stepped away from her. "You all live here?"

"Here in the cellblock," Glenn aquainted.

"There?" she asked as she pointed to our living space.

Glenn nodded.

"Well, can I go in?" she asked, walking towards the door.

Daryl's hand tensed under mine. I looped my fingers around his and squeezed. He let go of my hand and put his arm around me, pulling me closer.

"I won't allow that," Rick said, stepping in front of her.

"I'm not an enemy, Rick," Andrea argued.

"Really?" I asked in a daring tone.

"Really," she repeated.

"You held a gun to my head."

"You tried killing the Governor!" she exclaimed.

"We had that field and that courtyard cleared until your boyfriend took down a fence with a truck and shot us up," Rick spat.

Andrea shook her head. "He said you fired first."

"Well he's lyin'."

"He killed an inmate who survived in here," Hershel mentioned softly.

"We liked him," Daryl spoke up. "He was one of us."

"I didn't know anything about that," Andrea said honestly. "As soon as I found out, I came. I didn't even know you were in Woodbury until the shoot out."

"That was days ago," I notified.

"I told you, I came as soon as I could." She turned around as she saw our unconvinced faces. "What have you told them?"

"Nothing," Michonne answered honestly.

"I don't get it," she said. "I left Atlanta with you people and now I'm the odd man out?"

"He almost killed Quinn and Michonne, and he would've killed us," Glenn spat.

She gestured to Merle. "With his finger on the trigger. Isn't he the one who kindnapped you? Who beat you?" She sighed. "Look, I cannot excuse or explain what Phillip has done, but I am here trying to bring us together. We have to work this out."

"There's nothing to work out," Rick said quickly. "We're gonna kill him. I don't know how or when, but we will."

"We can settle this," Andrea insisted. "There is room at Woodbury for all of you."

Merle laughed. "You know better than that."

"What makes you think this man wants to negotiate?" Hershel asked. "Did he say that?"

"No," she answered.

"Then why did you come here?" Rick asked.

"Because he's gearing up for war," she said defeatedly. "The people are terrified, they see you as killers. They're training to attack."

"I'll tell you what," Daryl started. "Next time you see Phillip, you tell 'im I'm gonna take his other eye."

"We've taken too much shit for too long," I stated. "He wants a war, he's got one."

"Rick, if you don't sit down and try to work this out, I don't know what's gonna happen. He has a whole town. Look at you, you've lost so much already. You can't stand alone anymore."

"You wanna make this right?" Rick started. "Get us inside."

"No," she said quickly.

"Then we've got nothing to talk about," he said as he walked away.

"There are innocent people!" she called after him.

But it was too late, Rick had had enough.

___

The gates opened as Glenn and I brought a car in for Andrea.

"Can you spare it?" she asked as we got out.

"Yeah," Rick answered lowly.

Andrea made eye contact with us all. "Well, take care," she said as she got into the car.

"Andrea," Rick started as he handed her a gun and knife. "Be careful."

"You, too."

She started the car and drove off through the fences.

___

We all sat around a camping lamp in the common area. Beth started singing, breaking the silence. Daryl, Rick, and Hershel made small talk, but I was too focused on Beth's beautiful voice.

I had my hand looped around Daryl's bicep as I leaned my head against him. I loved him or maybe I just didn't want to be alone. I do know that being alone in this world can screw you up, but feelings with him were a lot different than any other boys I had met in my short life of freedom. He was different all around...so maybe I do love him. I don't know if I'd ever find out if he feels the same.