He stood there smiling sinisterly. It felt like forever before something even happened. I heard something scrape against the floor as it slid, the object hitting my foot. I shakily bent down to grab it, my fingertips meeting the cool metal of a gun. My dad growled, lunging for me once he noticed what I was doing. I pointed the barrel towards him and shot it as fast as I could. The bullet sunk into his leg. He crumpled to the ground, hollering out in pain and cradling his wound. My ears rang as the shot bounced off the walls of the small enclosed room.

"Run," Merle hollered over my dad's pained screams. I took off, bolting through the winding hallways as fast as I could while I frantically searched for an exit. I stumbled over my feet, my wounded leg burning with pain. I could feel the warmness of blood beginning to trickle down my leg; my slash had started to split back open. The sticky red darkened my jeans. I heard glass shatter from far behind me. I glanced back reflexively as my heart leaped, my body wanting to move even faster. Empty halls stretched on for what seemed like miles behind me. I turned my focus to what was ahead and threw my weight against the door that appeared in front of me sooner than I thought. I fell through it, breaking free into the outside world. I squeezed my eyes shut at the sudden daylight piercing my vision, my brain swirling around as I slammed down onto the pavement.

I scrambled to my feet and leaned against the building to catch my breath, the warmth of the bricks embracing me. My fingers wrapped around the handle of Merle's gun so hard that my knuckles turned white. Once I regained my strength, I ran out into the street. The innocent bystanders quickly noticed me and veered off into various directions to get out of my way. I made a break towards the barricade while heavy footsteps started to trail behind me, clambering to get to me. Loud cracks ripped through the air, my body flinching with each one. I spun around, slightly slowing, to see Merle holding up a gun he had stolen off of one the dead men's bodies who had been chasing me.

"Go!" He waved his silver stump at me, motioning for me to run as fast as I could over the barricade. "Go, Aften!"

"C'mon," I cried out, wanting for him to come with me.

"Red—"

"You're coming with," I demanded, moving closer to him. He was barely able to catch his breath.

"I can't," he huffed. "Only one of us can make it outta here in time and I ain't gonna let it be me." My lip began to quiver, my hands trembling. I shook my head in disbelief. "I'm too slow; I'll weigh ya down. You can't have dead weight out there when you're runnin' for yer life." I continued to shake my head. I couldn't believe this. He can't be letting me go by myself. I couldn't do that.

"I don't wanna leave without you. I can't," I whispered, tears beginning to stream down my face. My heart felt like it was on the brink of shattering. "You don't belong here. You belong back with your brother. If you stay here, you're gonna die." I took in a shaky breath at the thought of him getting murdered. "You can't die!"

"I have to stay—"

"But you've taken better care of me in a few weeks than my own father ever has my whole life," I cried. "I can't lose you. I need you with me." He stared at me solemnly, taking in everything I just said. I suddenly threw my arms around him, holding him as close to me as I could. I sobbed into his chest. I didn't wanna let go. He eased into the hug, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tight while he rubbed my back comfortingly. I couldn't leave him. I couldn't leave him behind knowing he was eventually going to suffer through more pain than he's already endured. I couldn't process the fact that he could die and I would never find out; he'd vanish into thin air and I'd never see him again or even get closure. I shakily pulled away from his grasp, sniffling. He gazed down at me, his eyes full of sadness.

"I'll see you on the other side, Red," he promised me, his voice low and laced with sorrow. His departing words filled me with the smallest flicker of hope. I sadly nodded in return, another tear cascading down my cheek. Through tear-filled eyes, I turned on my heel while keeping my focus on Merle. Once I turned my head away, I could feel myself start to tremble again. I couldn't do this. I couldn't do this, but I had to. I had to get out of here, it's what Merle wants. I climbed up the ladder onto the barricade where I found out that I encountered Daryl for the first time. I thought about how laid-back Merle was, how carefree he seemed. It made a tear splash onto my shirt and mesh into the soft green fabric. Martinez, who was thankfully the watchman, gave me a departing nod. It was almost like he new this was gonna happen all along.

I stared down on the bodies littered outside the barricade that had melted underneath the hot Georgia sun. I was about to live in this, but I'd rather live in that than what I was about to leave behind. I climbed down the other side of the barricade. My feet touched the hard, hot concrete and tears flooded my eyes once again. I bit my lip to hold them back. I couldn't cry right now, I had to run. I took off down the road, passing the endless clumps of dead biters. I was leaving Woodbury in the dust for good, leaving my old life and old memories in the twisted, dilapidated 'home' behind me.