Spider Monkey

Chapter Seventeen - Uncle Merle

"We're not leaving." Rick said.

"We can't stay here." Spoke Carol.

"What if there's another sniper? A wood pallet won't stop one of those rounds." Added Maggie.

"We can't even go outside?" Beth frowned.

Rick shook his head, "Not in the daylight."

"Rick says we're not running, we're not running." Hershel informed.

Merle, locked from inside a cell, scoffed, "No, better to live like rats."

"You got a better idea?"

"Yeah, we should have slid out of here last night and lived to fight another day. But we lost that window, didn't we? I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now."

"We ain't scared of that prick."

"Y'all should be. That truck through the fence thing, that's just 'im ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shit, he could just starve us out if he wanted to."

Glenn was angry, "Let's put him in the other cell block."

Daryl shook his head, "No. He's got a point."

"This is all you. You started this." Glenn snapped at Merle.

Beth spoke out, "What difference whose fault it is? What do we do?"

"I say we should leave." Carol said, "Axel's dead. We can't just sit here."

As everyone went to cool off and think of a plan, Hedley went towards the cell Merle was in.

 Merle saw him and grinned, "Well, well. If it ain't my nephew."

Hedley tilted his head in confusion.

"Nephew?" Carol questioned, walking up as she heard the phrase.

"Darylina acts like his daddy so that makes me Uncle Merle!"

"Hey!" Daryl called, coming over, tugging Hedley's backpack, narrowing his eyes at Merle, "Ya didn't say anythin' to him, did ya?"

"Just saying hello to ma nephew, lil' brother."

Hedley looked at the Dixon brothers in deeper confusion than ever.

Carol smiled at Daryl, nudging him, "Awe, congratulations, Daddy Daryl."

"Stop." The archer scoffed, looking back at Hedley, "Go play with Carl or somethin'."

Hedley frowned, crossing his arms.

"For once, can ya just do as ya told?"

"Nah, let 'im stay, lil' brother." Merle encouraged, leaning against the bars, "I wanna get to know the little spaz."

Daryl gave his brother a serious look, "Do. Not. Call. Him. That."

Merle surrendered, then saw Hedley looking at his stump, "Like this, kid? I cut off my own hand with a rusty saw 'cause Sheriff locked me on a roof."

Instead of fear, Hedley's expression filled with awe, bouncing up and down.

"That's right, lil Dixon. Ya Uncle's a badass."

"Ya Uncle's a dickhead." Daryl muttered, earning a small slap from Carol.

"Wanna hear some stories about ya dad? I've got some good embarrassing ones about 'im." Merle ignored him, kneeling down at Hedley's height.