Maya's Pov
I kept running in the dark woods not even knowing if I was going the right direction. No matter what, I just knew I couldn't stop running. I heard the voices. Someone is watching us. I could hear someone trying to run as fast as I was which opted for me to run even faster. Could it be Terminus ?
Had they escaped too ? Feeling the tightness in my chest, I bent over catching my breath and watching my surroundings. Branches were breaking around me and I couldn't tell the difference between the wind moving the bushes or actual people.
I heard the mumbles and hated the fact that I couldn't figure out where the voices came from. A hand covered my mouth causing me to scream, but quickly the voice caused me to relax.
" Maya, it's just me." Rick said before moving his hand away from my mouth.
" Mind warning me first." I snapped before seeing how worried he was along side Tyreese and Sasha." What's going on ?"
" Somebody was watching us." Sasha answered.
I nodded my head looking from her to Rick." I knew it. I heard the voices and footsteps. Someone was chasing me."
" If we go in there now, some of us aren't coming back."
" Bob is out there somewhere." Sasha worried scanning the area around us." Scared, alone."
" Maybe not alone. Daryl and Carol are missing, too."
" They didn't." I interrupted catching everyone's eyes." Daryl might have found the same car that took Beth. He went to chase it with Carol while I ran back here to tell you all."
" It's a good thing you did." Rick said holding my shoulder before nodding to Sasha and Tyreese." We need to head back to the church. Round of most of the group and go looking for Bob."
Everyone had nodded their heads, but I saw a different look in Sasha's eyes. I ignored it jogging with the group towards the church luckily this time not hearing the voices. With the Church in full view, Sasha had broken into a sprint causing Rick, Tyreese, and I to try to keep up. Sasha slammed the doors open causing everyone's head to turn.
" Maya !" Carl spoke hopping to his feet and pulling me to his chest.
" Relax, I'm okay."
" Excuse me for freaking out." He slightly snapped looking at me." I thought you were taken too. What happened ?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but noticed Sasha stalked over to Gabriel. Carl noticed my worry and turned seeing the same dark behavior I was.
" Stop." Sasha mumbled causing Gabriel to look up to the women confused. Under her cold gaze, I could tell he feared his life." What are you doing ? This is all connected. You show up, we're being watched, and now three of us are gone."
"I-I don't...I don't have anything to do with this." Gabriel stuttered.
The man had no time to convince us when Sasha slowly yet swiftly pulled out her knife taking steady steps towards Gabriel. Rosita was the first to try and help Gabriel, but Abraham had quickly held her back. Even Carl placed himself in front of me seeing how quickly the setting was turning.
" Sasha, put it away." Tyreese begged, but his words made no dent.
Sasha gripped the knife in her hand staring directly into his eyes." Who's out there ?"
"I-I don't have anything...to do with this."
" Where are our people ?" Sasha repeated.
" I don't have anything to-"
" Where are our people ?!" Sasha yelled having her voice boom across the church.
I could feel her anger from where I was standing and couldn't blame her. Something was going on. How was it possible for a man to just go missing ? He wasn't drunk or delusional.
Rick slowly pulled Sasha away from Gabriel getting closer to the man with a warning look."Why'd you bring us here ? You working with someone ?" Rick interrogated.
" I'm alone. I'm alone. I was always alone."
" What about the woman in the food bank, Gabriel ? What did you do to her ?" Rick further questioned before pointing his finger in Gabriel's face. You'll burn for this. That was for you. Why ?" Rick asked before gripping Gabriel in her hands." What did you do ?!"
" I lock the doors at night." Gabriel trembled looking around to each one of us. Tears filled his eyes and he began to hyperventilate under our graze." I always lock the doors at night. I always lock the doors at night. I always...They started coming, my congregation. Atlanta was bombed the night before and they were scared. They were.. they were looking for a safe place, a place where they felt safe. And it was so early. It was so early. And the doors were still locked. You see it was my choice. There were so many of them and they were trying to pry the shutters and banging on the sidings, screaming at me. And so the dead came for them. Women children. Entire families calling my name as they were torn apart, begging me for mercy."
In that moment, I realized how much I hated Gabriel. I couldn't image the faces of the scared families being ripped open our of free. I couldn't imagine the face of a young child begging for mercy.
Gabriel continued to sob." Begging me for mercy. Damning me to hell. I buried their bones. I buried it all. The Lord sent you here to finally punish me. I'm damned. I was damned before. I always lock the doors. I always lock the doors."
Gabriel slowly lowered himself to the ground sobbing like a baby over his sin. I couldn't even feel sorry for him. He was a coward. All he had to do was open the doors and kill some walkers. He could of saved many people and save children from a traumatic death. The faint sound of a whistle was heard over Gabriel's sobs.
I heard the whistle and turned seeing Glenn peeking out the small church window." Glenn ?"
" There's something..." Glenn started before turning to us." there's someone outside lying in the grass.'
Sasha was the first to dart down the aisles with Rick, Tyreese, and I hot on her tail." Oh ! Bob !" She shrieked racing over to his side.
I gasped in shock at the sight of Bob with his right leg no longer being in tact. The sound of Sasha's worried face had caused walkers to stumble over.
" Shit." I cursed.
" Get Bob inside. We'll take care of them." Glenn ordered looking to Maggie and I, but I never listened.
I grabbed the rifle in my hand tightly before bringing it to every walkers head. I turned about to help Rick with a walker when a bullet had pierced it's head already. Someone was watching us.
" Get inside !" Rick yelled shooting into the dark woods before turning to me." Go !
" Maya !" Carl yelled yanking me towards the church doors.
" Someone's out there." I gulped catching my breath and turning to Carl." Someone shot the walker before your Dad and I could."
" We're being watched ?" Carl asked.
" I was in the graveyard." Bob started regaining some strength to talk." Somebody knocked me out. I woke up outside this place. It looked like a school. It was that guy, Gareth. And five other ones. They were eating my leg right in front of me. Like it was nothing. All proud like they had it all figured out."
" Did they have Daryl and Carol ?"
" They drove off." I answered earning all eyes on me." That's why I was out there. Daryl and I went to look for Carol when he saw the same car that took Beth." I looked up meeting Maggie's eyes seeing the hope shine." He went after it."
Bob groaned loudly causing Sasha to quickly help." He's in pain. Do we have anything ?"
" I think there are pill packets in the first aid kit." Rosita answered already on her feet.
" Save 'em." Bob spatted before lowering his shirt. I couldn't help, but to gasp in shock when seeing the infected walker bite on his right shoulder." Really. It happened at the food bank."
Sasha's face was stuck in a whirlpool of shock. I could see in her eyes her world was breaking, but she wouldn't let Bob know. She wouldn't let her dying love know how much she was breaking. Sasha smiled caressing Bob's face and even some how managed a smile.
" It's okay. Bob ?"
" There's a sofa in my office." Gabriel spoke." I know it's not much, but-"
" Thank you." Sasha whispered.
Tyreese, Abraham, and Glenn quickly walked over grabbing Bob's fragile body into the room. I looked over to Rick seeing he did not hesitate for a second to hunt Terminus down.
" Do you know the place Bob was talking about ?"
" It's an elementary school. It's close."
" How close ?" I asked causing both men to turn towards me.
" It's just a 10-minute walk through the woods from here, due south of the graveyard." Gabriel answered when Judith began to cry. Carl left my side going over to his sister seeing she was hungry yet again.
I watched Carl leave the room before turning to Rick." We need to find them. Who's to say they wouldn't take another one of us and do worst. These people are crazy."
" You're right." He answered before biting his lip." But you're staying."
" What ?"
" If we leave to find Terminus, I need another strong person to stay here. That's you." Rick answered shutting me up a bit. He was right. If all our strong people left, what about the less.
" Time for a reality check." Abraham's voice boomed holding his gun up high." We all need to leave for DC right now."
" Daryl and Carol are gonna be back." I snapped.
Rick nodded his head standing right next to me." We're not going anywhere without them."
" I respect that, but there's a clear threat here to Eugene. I need to extract his ass before things get any uglier. So if y'all won't come, good luck to you. We'll go our separate ways."
" You leaving on foot ?" Rick asked.
Abraham snapped." We fixed that damn bus ourselves."
" There are a lot more of us." Rick snapped back coldly and moving more towards the man.
" You want to keep it that way ?" Abraham asked dripping his gun a bit tightly. I moved my hand a bit over towards the gun right next to my side just in case. I could see the anger build up in both men." You should come."
" Carol saved your life. We saved your life."
" Well, I am trying to save yours !" Abraham shouted." Save everyone's."
" We're not going anywhere without our people." I answered standing my ground and not caring what the ginger soldier would do. There was no way in hell I was going to DC without Daryl.
" Your people took off !"
" They're coming back !" I shouted." We're not leaving and it's final !"
Abraham laughed." You can't stop me."
" Wanna bet jackass ?"
" To what, picked-over bones ?!" Abraham yelled, but before I could even stop it, Rick had shoved Abraham causing the man to flare up with anger." Do not lay hands !"
" Hey, hey, stop !" Glenn yelled standing between both man." Now ! Do you really think that you're gonna be any safer leaving right now in the middle of the night ?"
" Yeah." Abraham answered.
I felt a arm around my side and turned seeing Carl confused at all the yelling, but trying to pull me away from it. I ignored his actions seeing Glenn trying to be the peace of mind.
" What about tomorrow? We need each other for this. We need each other to get to DC. We can get through all of it together."
" I have an idea." Tara suggested stepping forward and over to the men." If you stay just one more day and help, I'll go with you to DC no matter what. Okay ?"
Abraham thought about it for some time before looking up again." Glenn and Maggie, too."
" No." I blurted out walking next to Maggie's side.
" Good luck, then." Abraham decided walking towards the door." I'm not interested in breaking up what you have here. Rosita, grab your gear. Eugene, let's go. Eugene. Move it."
" I don't want to." Eugene protested remaining on the seat.
" Now." Abraham growled.
" You're not taking the bus." Rick sneered.
The words caused Abraham to stop and turn to Rick with a cold glare." Try to stop me."
Rick started towards Abraham, both ready to beat the other when Glenn raced over in between both men." Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait ! Hey, hey, hey ! You stay...you stay and help us, and we will go with you."
" Glenn no." I begged, but he turned over to me with his own sadness in his eyes.
" It's not your call."
I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned meeting Maggie's motherly eyes. I fought the tears looking away seeing Glenn slowly looked away from me and towards Abraham.
" You stay, help us."
Abraham nodded slowly still glaring at Rick." Half a day. Come high noon, we're taillights. I'm not waiting for the other damn shoe to drop."
" And we will leave with you." Maggie answered still holding onto my shoulder and giving it a little squeeze.
" 12 hours." Abraham nodded before dropping his gear lightly on the floor." Then we go."
It didn't take long before we sat around the church, gathering our weapons, and planning on how to win this small battle. Carl and I loaded out guns back to back knowing it was what needed to be done. I was determine to end it. I was determine that Daryl wasn't going to be coming back to bones like Abraham had said.
" They think they're in control." Rick started beginning all our attention to him." We're in here and they could be anywhere. But we know exactly where they are."
" Plan's got stones, I'll give you that." Abraham approved looking down to his hands before up to the group.
" Make our move before they do." Glenn said.
" That's right." Rick agreed." They're not counting on us thinking straight."
" Are we ?" Rosita asked before shrugging her shoulders." I'm just making sure. It's a big play."
" Remember what these people are capable of." Rick reminded before turning." Tyreese."
I turned to look over to the man seeing he wasn't himself lately. He was deep into his own thoughts staring into the small candle fire." Yeah ?"
" You up for this ?" Rick asked, but Tyreese couldn't even give an answer when Sasha came out of the room with a strong look.
" I'm going with you."
Tyreese stared up in confusion." You should stay with Bob."
" No." Sasha sternly answered with her fist curled tightly already ready for action." I want to be out there. I want to be a part of this."
Tyreese quickly followed after his sister into the room no doubt to discuss her departure. I felt a presents next to me and turned seeing it came from Carl.
" Where do you plan to go ?"
" Here." I quickly answered looking back up to him again." You're gonna need some backup if things go south."
Carl nodded his head before watching the group grab there gear. Rick, Glenn, Maggie, Michonne, Sasha, and Abraham were all heading out leaving Carl, Judith, Tyreese, Eugene, Rosita, Gabriel, Bob, and I behind. I watched Gabriel close the wooden doors before Carl pulled me to the spare room. My eyes first fell onto Bob's unconscious body seeing the small beads of sweat grow on his forehead.
" How's he doing ?" I asked, but I knew it was pretty dumb to even ask.
Tyreese dabbed away some sweat before slowly nodding his head." He's hanging in there."
Before I could even answer back, I heard the loud thud of the church doors opening. I whipped my head around seeing how everyone else heard the same thing. Carl quickly placed Judith behind us before clicking his gun ready.
" Well, I guess you know we're here." Gareth yelled causing all of us to gasp." And we know you're here. And we're armed. So there's really no point in hiding anymore. We've been watching you. We know who's here. There's Bob, unless you've put him out of his misery already."
The slight comment caused me to glare through the door." And Eugene...Rosita...Martin's good friend Tyreese...Maya...Carl...Judith. Rick and the rest walked out with a lot of your guns. Listen, we don't know where you all are, but this isn't a big place. So let's just stop this now before things get more painful than they need to be."
I finger curled around the gun in my hand waiting for Gareth to open the door so I could put a bullet between his eyes. I was tired of his games and his disgusting ways of living. I heard the floorboards creak and looked to Carl knowing we were thinking the same thing. They were checking the other room.
" Together ?" He whispered
" Together."
" Look, you're behind one of these two doors and we have more than enough firepower to take down both. Can't imagine that's what you all want." Gareth stated when the faint sound of a gun was heard." How about the priest ? Father, you help us wrap this up, we'll let you walk away from this. Just open the door and you can go. You can take the baby with you. What do you say ?"
I did hesitate to aim my gun at Gabriel. I knew this man was a coward and if he could, he would give us up. Gabriel looked at me with such scared eyes, but I couldn't care. I wanted him to fear what I would do if he gave us up. None of it mattered however when Judith began to wail loudly scared. I turned to the small girl before placing my gun on the desk and rocking her in my arms.
" Sh. Judith. It's okay." I whispered managing to relax the small girl under my touch.
I looked up to Carl seeing the fear shine at the sound of Gareth's men coming towards our door. We were now targets.
" It's your last chance right now to tell us you're coming out." Gareth warned when seconds later, two bullets were heard.
I quickly looked back up to Carl thankful to see he was fine. He frowned before Gareth said the words I always wanted to hear.
" Rick, we'll fire right into that office. So you lower your gun-"
A second gunshot was heard causing me to smile knowing Rick had shot Gareth again. Carl held the same smirk lowering his gun and sitting next to me seeing Judith's scared face.
" You okay ?"
" Yeah." I simply answered when the sound of people screaming had caught my attention.
I quickly placed Judith in the small basket before running with Carl out the door only to see our group brutally murdering Terminus. Rick brought the machete over and over again on Gareth till he was left in nothing. I couldn't even feel sorry about any of it.
Rick laid one more swing on Gareth before stopping the machete onto the floor." It could have been us." Rick simply answered before turning to see Carl and I as if nothing had happened.
It was silent the next day in the bloody church. Abraham and Glenn had taken Gareth and the others to burn, but the smell of blood still filled the air. I hated it, but not as much as I hated the next journey.
Glenn and Maggie were soon leaving to DC and Bob was still slowly dying. Both I didn't want to face, but there was no way in stopping it. Everyone had said goodbye to Bob already. Bob wished me some good luck and to survive till the end. I had thanked him for it, but it was short and simple like how long we knew each other.
It didn't take long before Sasha came sobbing out the room telling us all without words that Bob had passed. Tyreese buried Bob and Sasha was the one to make him a cross and everything. I couldn't imagine being in Sasha's shoes. Love was love no matter how long it was given. I sat on the Church steps watching Abraham hand Rick a map.
" This is our route to DC.' He instructed." We'll stick to it as long as we're able. If not, well, you got our destination. Once Eugene gets to the big brains left up there, things are gonna bounce back. This group should be there for it. You should be there for it."
" They will be." Maggie promised.
Rick slowly nodded his head before looking over to me knowing the only thing we were waiting for was Daryl and Carol." We will."
" Let's go." Abraham stated heading to the truck.
Immediately, I looked down to my feet knowing it was time to say goodbye which I didn't want to. I saw boots in front of me, but couldn't bring myself to look up into her eyes." Maya."
" Don't go." I begged looking up to Maggie and Glenn's sad looks." Please just stay."
" We have to go." Glenn whispered.
I groaned a bit and stood up still wishing this was a dream. I known these people just as long as I known Daryl. Glenn and Maggie were like parents that always cared about me. I knew I could go to them for anything, but if they were now leaving, who was I to turn to now ?
" You be good, Kiddo." Glenn stated pulling me into a hug. I almost fell into his chest wishing this wasn't our last time hugging each other.
" Can't promise." I laughed causing the couple to laugh also.
" You gonna be fine on your own ?" Glenn asked.
I nodded my head with a small smile." I always am." I admitted watching Carl walk over to my side with Judith in his arms." Plus, I'm never really alone."
" When did you grow up on me ?" Maggie questioned giving me a big hug. Soon, I watched Glenn and Maggie pile into the truck ready to leave. It broke my heart and I felt the small tears bead my eye, but I didn't let them fall. I wouldn't let Maggie and Glenn see the sadness before they even left. Even when the small your bus left, I didn't allow them to fall. Some how I knew I would see them again. That's how love worked. Love was what brought me back to Rick and Carl. Love was what brought me back to Daryl and Michonne. Love was what brought this group back each and every time.
By nightfall, the only thing heard in the church was the sound of the fire cracking in the fireplace Gabriel managed to clean and start. I wasn't sure where everyone else had gone. Carl came out of the room before sitting next to me and holding my hand.
" You okay ?"
I smiled squeezing his hand sitting back a bit." With everything going on, yes."
Carl nodded his head before we fell in a bit of silence." I can't lose you." He started." Back there when we were in Terminus and even when Gareth got his way into the church, I realize how much I can't lose you."
" I can't lose you either."
Carl nodded again before his dark blue eyes met mine." I just won't survive."
The sentence stumped me a bit and I frowned at his words not getting what the meaning was." Why ?" I whispered.
Carl couldn't even answer me when the church doors had opened with a voice that shocked me." Maya."
I quickly stood on my feet whipping my head around to see Daryl standing at the end of the alter." Daryl." I said with a smile, but it slowly dropped when seeing the scared look on his face." Where's Carol ?"
He stared at me for a couple of seconds thinking about something before turning to someone behind him almost angry.
" Come on in."