Rise from the Ashes {Ch. 2}
____________________________________
A lot of you wrote fan mail & messages to continue this story. That was just the beginning in Morgan’s POV. It’ll be shifting quite a bit and of course focusing on Bethyl! Merry Christmas Eve. Enjoy.
____________________________________
Rick was tired…way too tired. His family was broken, yes all together, but broken. Why? Because a certain spirit of life was gone. One of their own. Things hadn’t been the same since Beth Greene died.
He knew what he was doing now, torturing himself and he knew Daryl was as well but for different reasons he suspected. If only they had followed his plan to go in as quiet as possible. Yes there would’ve been bloodshed like Tyrese assumed but Beth probably would still be alive. If only he would’ve held her back. Never in his wildest imagine would little Beth Greene attack another person as she did with Dawn. He never saw that coming. But as Daryl stated, she wasn’t the girl she once was on the farm. She had changed. She was stronger.
If only he would’ve been stronger. The leader he once was, was falling apart. He felt his humanity leaving his body more and more everyday. It started with Shane and then Lori. Hershel had been the final straw. It all felt like a nightmare now…the Governor, Andrea, Bob, Dale. Now Beth. They were lucky to even retrieve Carol with minor wounds and a concussion. The doctors and cops felt sorry for them after what had happened with Dawn. So they gave them medical supplies for months. Carol was getting better everyday, but she had changed as well.
He sometimes was scared that she’d turn to killing again…but they had all lost a sense of who they were. He was anything but innocence so judging others was out of the question.
He looked around the small campfire and the faces still left with them. Carl was poking the fire with a large stick. It was hard to see the boy he once knew. The others were sleeping. Abraham was there sulking as usual and these days he was definitely bitter especially now that they had no plan or direction. Glenn was trying to cheer the group up the best he could so he suggested a supply run. Maggie and Daryl had gone along as well. He was worried about them more than the others. Maggie he could understand; it was her sister for God’s sake. First Hershel now Beth. It seemed too much.
But Daryl. Daryl. He didn’t realize that Daryl and Beth had gotten so close. Daryl was the one that had wrapped her body and left the signature vest behind. He hadn’t spoken much since the incident and Rick didn’t know if his brother would ever be the same. Since he had reunited back to Daryl, he had seemed changed in a way…less hostile and intense but rational even. Now the man was an empty shell. Who left quietly to hunt. And then would sit and stare at the trees for hours. He carried Beth’s knife in his belt and would hold it in his hands. If Rick didn’t know any better he would’ve thought that Daryl had had feelings for her. But he wasn’t going to pry.
Her funeral had been so rushed. Walkers had been coming from every direction now swamping the church. They quickly wrapped her up and Gabriel said a kick hymn and then that was that. They didn’t look back, but Daryl had sat there longer than the rest. He was worried about Daryl and Maggie. He didn’t know what to do anymore….
Dad?”
Rick looked over at his son. He couldn’t believe how much he’d grown. “Yes?”
Carl frowned, “What are we supposed to do now? What’s next for us?”
Rick looked over at Abraham, “Alexandria then? It could be the safe haven we’re searching for.”
Abraham grunted, “What safe haven? There’s no such thing anymore….”
“We cannot just give up; I refuse to let that be an option. We’ve all been through so much.”
The man across from him just narrowed his eyes at the flames.
Rick shook his head. What his family needed was a miracle. At that precise moment he heard a twig crack from the dark forest. Quickly he, Carl and Abraham jumped up.
“Should I wake up Michonne?” Carl asked quietly as he looked down over at Michonne.
Rick put a finger to his lips and shook his head no. He pulled out his knife and made his way towards the trees.
He heard the footsteps and all three men were ready to take as many walkers as they could. However the dark was not in their favor and Daryl, Maggie, and Glenn were still gone…the others sleeping.
Suddenly a figure walked out of the darkness.
Rick was about to attack when he heard a familiar voice, “Rick, Rick Grimes…”
Rick frowned, “Who is it?” When the voice faltered, Rick demanded, “Tell me!”
“It’s Morgan…” The light from the moonlight shone upon his face. It truly was Morgan. However the last time he’d seen Morgan, he’d attacked and was borderline insane.
“Morgan,” Rick looked for any others and didn’t see any. “How did you find us?”
The man shrugged, “Long story.” He looked over at Carl, “hello son. Good to see you again.”
Carl looked at his dad but nodded in acknowledgment.
“How long have you been following us?”
Morgan held up one finger, “About a month…give or take. I’ve been on the road again for a while now. Trying to find life. That’s when I saw your message, no sanctuary… And then the message in the church.”
Rick opened his mouth, but Morgan held up a hand, “I’m better now. I promise. I’m no danger to your group. I just wanted to find you again. I needed…well, some time and that’s what I got.”
Rick was anxious about letting the man join him again, but he wasn’t about to let him go on his own. Not after everything Morgan had been through.
“Alright, you can join us. But seriously…you cannot be a danger to my family. If you try to cause any harm, well, it won’t be a good thing.”
“I promise you. I’m just trying to find a civilization out there…one we can call home.”
Rick looked over at Abraham, “we’re trying.” He turned to look at the forest again, “So you say you’re alone then?”
Morgan looked quietly behind him, “Well you see, I was alone. Clearly alone after my run in with you and your lot. But when I got to the chapel, I joined another.”
“And that person is…?”
“She’s here,” Morgan said, “but I need to tell you she was gravely injured when I found her. So bad I didn’t think she’d survive a night. It’s a miracle really. She doesn’t speak much and can now walk again. But she has no idea who she is or her background. She’s not a danger though. Just a young girl.”
Rick frowned, for down reason the hairs on his arm started to rise and he got the chills. “Okay, let’s meet her. We won’t hurt her. You can trust us.”
Morgan nodded, then looked behind him, “Mary it’s okay. You can come out. It’s safe I promise.”
Slowly a small figure came out of the darkness.
A figure named Beth Greene.
