𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍, rick grimes (ON HOLD)

THIRTY-THREE

      THE NEXT MORNING, THE GROUP CLEARING OUT THE PRISON WERE Rick, Josie, Glenn, Maggie, Daryl, and T-Dog. Hershel had opened the gate for them and they made their way in, forming a circle so they could rotate and protect each other constantly.

      T-Dog had spotted a guard's shield lying on the ground, so he broke rank despite Rick shouting at him not to. Afterwards, they continued moving until Rick suddenly pressed his back against the wall, holding up his hand for them to stop.

      He looked around the corner, spotting a gate that was open and the walkers that filled the courtyard. But then, two walker guards stumbled around the corner and then another two appeared right in front of them.

      Daryl shot his crossbow, but the arrow bounced off of the helmet. Josie sighed at their luck, putting her bow over her shoulder as she unsheathed her machete and went forward.

      Rick protested, but the brunette ignored him as she went for the closest walker to her. She grabbed the helmet and tilted it back, driving the machete through its chin and up to its brain.

      Maggie then did the same and as the walker's body dropped to the ground, she looked at Glenn, T-Dog, and Josie before smiling. "See that?"

      Rick tore off a gas mask worn by another, but the walker's face ended up being torn off too. Josie groaned in disgust as Rick shoved his blade into the eye of the walker.

      "Stop," Rick called out to Glenn, who was making his way to the others.

      "Well, it looks secure," Glenn replied.

      "Not from the look of that courtyard over there," Daryl said before he pointed at a walker he killed. "And that's a civilian."

      "So the interior could be overrun by walkers outside the prison?" T-Dog asked.

      "Well, if there's walls down, what are we gonna do?" Josie asked. "We can't rebuild this whole place."

      "We can't risk a blind spot," Rick agreed. "We have to push in."

      They all headed into the prison and Josie aimed her bow as Daryl opened the door. The group made their way in and it was dark, but the light coming from the windows helped them see a little bit better.

      Rick found a set of keys on a dead guard in the watchtower above them and the keys unlocked a door, leading into a cell block. Daryl and Rick headed up to the second floor, killing two walkers that were trapped in a cell.

      Once they did that, they pushed the bodies over to edge so T-Dog could take them outside. When the block was finally secure, they allowed the others to come in.

      "What do you think?" Rick asked the others as he walked down the stairs.

      "Home sweet home," Glenn replied.

      "For the time being," Rick added.

      "It's secure?" Lori asked.

      "This cell block is," Josie answered.

      "What about the rest of the prison?" Hershel asked.

      "In the morning, we'll find the cafeteria and infirmary," Rick explained.

      "We sleep in the cells?" Beth asked.

      "Found keys on some guards," Rick replied. "Daryl has a set too."

      "I ain't sleeping in no cage," Daryl said. "I'll take the perch."

      Josie turned to her daughter. "Come on."

      Parker and Josie made their way up to the second floor, entering a cell and placing their stuff down as the brunette laid down on the bottom bunk and sighed in relief. It wasn't the most comfortable thing, but it was definitely better than sleeping on the ground.

      "It's better than the ground," Parker said from the top bunk.

      "You got that right," Josie replied, placing her arms above her head.

      As everyone got ready for bed, Josie tucked Parker into bed and read her a bedtime story. Once she was asleep, the brunette climbed down the ladder and looked out into the cell block.

      She saw Rick sitting against the wall on the bottom floor, the brunette sighed, but she didn't go down. She smiled softly, knowing that Rick was the one who got them this far and was very appreciative and proud of him.

      Josie turned and laid down on the bottom bunk, wanting to get a little bit of sleep. Unbeknownst to her, Rick was actually looking at her before she disappeared into her cell.

      The following morning, Josie was woken up by Glenn. She groaned and hid her face into her pillow, trying her best to ignore him.

      "Come on, Jo," Glenn grabbed her hand to pull her up into a sitting position. "We gotta clear out the other cell blocks."

      "But I was sleeping so well," Josie whined as she stood up.

      "I know," Glenn replied. "Come on."

      Glenn left and Josie quickly got into a new pair of clothes before she looked at the top bunk, seeing that Parker was still asleep.

      Josie smiled and reached up, shaking her awake. "Wake up, sweetie."

      Parker groaned. "I'm up, I'm up."

      The brunette made her way down to the bottom floor, yawning and rubbing her eyes as she joined the others, seeing all the ammo, guns, and vests from the guards.

      "Flash bangs, CS Triple-Chasers," Rick said. "Not sure how they'd work on walkers, but we'll take 'em."

      Josie made a disgusted expression as she held up a helmet that oozed walker goo. "That's gross."

      "I ain't wearing this shit," Daryl agreed.

      "We could boil 'em," T-Dog suggested as he held up a glove that had fluid dripping down from it.

      "There ain't no firewood in the whole forest, no," Daryl replied. "Besides, we got this far without 'em."

      "Hershel?" Carol called from the doorway, ushering him over.

      "Everything alright?" Rick asked.

      "Yeah, nothing to worry about," Carol replied.

      They all began to gear up and Josie had grabbed a bulletproof vest and put in on. She struggled to tighten the straps, so Rick walked up to her.

      "You need some help?"

      "Yes, please," Josie replied.

      The brunette moved her braided hair out of the way as Rick walked behind her and tightened the straps before patting her back.

      "Is that good?" Rick asked.

      "Yeah," Josie nodded with a small smile. "Thank you."

      "No problem," Rick replied.

      The group made their way into the cell block, seeing everyone looking at them.

      Carl, who was trying on one of the helmets, grinned at Beth before Rick took it away from him. "You won't need that. Need you to stay put."

      "You're kidding," Carl replied.

      "We don't know what's in there," Rick said. "If something goes wrong, you could be the last man standing. I need you to handle things here."

      "Sure," Carl replied.

      Rick nodded and handed the keys to him before he turned to the rest of the group. "Great, let's go."