Chapter 42 Woodbury Part 2

The next day, Michonne splits up with Andrea. She walks around trying to confirm her suspicions about this group. She walks past the front gate and over toward where the military vehicles were parked. Looking closely, she was able to see bullet holes in the armor of the trucks. Feeling them, they still have some residue around the holes.

Climbing onto one of the trucks, Michonne observes the turret that rests on the back of the vehicle. She thought, 'How could a group of walkers take out a group of trained soldiers, who have a fucking .50 caliber turret on the back of one of their vehicles.'

She turns the turret some and produce a squeaking sound, but it seems to be fully operational. It was an old-fashioned turret; it didn't have a trigger. Instead, you had to pull back on a lever repeatedly in order to fire.

Crouching down, Michone can see some blood running down the exterior of the cab. Michonne touches the blood and can feel that it is still fresh, this blood left the body recently. She thought, 'There's something they aren't telling us.'

Michonne then hops down and observes the rest of the vehicles, finding some bullet holes on each of them. She is caught off guard when the Governor says from behind her, "Pretty amazing. We find more ammo and we can cut down a whole pack of biters."

Michonne turns to look at him with an unamused expression.

The Governor continues, "I hear you and Andrea are leaving today. That's a shame. We could use a soldier like you out there with us."

Michonne says, "You seem like you're holding your own. Even the national guard was overrun."

The Governor says, "No amount of training can prepare you for the world today. It's completely different from fighting man to man."

Michonne says, "You'd think one soldier would drive away-- especially against something so slow."

The Governor says, "Those men were heroes. Not the kind to leave anyone behind. If only we had gotten there sooner... and you were with us."

Michone says, "Lots of bullet holes. You think biters figured out how to use weapons, if so were screwed. Don't you think?"

The Governor ignores her remark and says, "They must have encountered bandits weeks ago. It's ugly out there, but then... you know that better than anyone." Michone thought, 'Bullshit, that blood is still fresh.'

Michonne says, "You know, it's too bad what happened to Wells."

The Governor nods and says somberly, "It is. Dr. Stevens couldn't revive him. Merle put a bullet in his brain."

Michonne questions, "No funeral?"

The Governor responds, "We cremated him, quietly. These people have been through so much. I figured, thank God, at least no one knew him."

Michonne then steps closer to him, looking in his eyes and says sarcastically, "Thank God." Then she walks away slowly, the Governor watching her back intently.

Michonne then walked back to their room and waited for Andrea to come back. An hour later Andrea enters and sat on the bed. Michonne said, "If we leave now, we'll have a few hours on the road before dusk."

Andrea asks, "Where are we heading?"

Michonne says, "I'm thinking the coast. We have water completely on one side, maybe we find a boat. Best thing we can do is find an island."

Andrea asks, "And, if the coast isn't safe?"

Michonne says curtly, "We keep moving."

Andrea says, "And what if the coast is safe? What do we do then? Just grow old together, live off the sea and build a garden, by ourselves?"

Michonne says, "I'd rather take my chance out there than stay here."

Andrea says, "Because your gut tells you there's something off about this place-- about the Governor?"

Michonne responds, "It's kept us alive this long."

Andrea says, "That's true".

Andrea and Michonne then discuss for a while longer. Before they decided that they were going to leave soon. Andrea then walked out of the room and walked around outside. She would talk to people and get to know them. Andrea asked a man, "Is the Governor a good man?"

The man responded, "Let's just say I wasn't in the best state of mind when the Governor found me. But he still took me in, made me one of his own, saved my life, really. So, yeah. He's a good man."

Andrea then continued to look around, eventually she spotted the Governor standing on the top of a broken-down bus. He was swinging a gold club and hitting Golf balls into the distance. Andrea climbed up the ladder, to the top of the bus.

Andrea said, "So this is where you are Governor. Don't you have something more important to do?"

The Governor responds charmingly, "Everyone has to relax at some point or another."

Andrea says, "True, but does the leader get to rest. Shouldn't a leader be working tirelessly to improve his base and the quality of life of the people?"

The Governor says, "Don't want me to get burned out, do you? That won't help anybody."

Andrea says defeatedly, "Well, I guess you're right. Anyway, were leaving soon."

The Governor said, "Well, that a shame. I hate to see you go."

The Governor then leads Andrea to his house, where he offers her a drink, he says, "This place isn't for everybody."

Andrea responds sincerely, "Thank you... for everything."

The Governor then asks, "Where you planning to go."

Andrea answers, "The coast. Michonne thinks it will be safer there."

The Governor asks, "Well, what do you think about it?" Andrea stays quiet so he says, "Well, her vigilance has kept both of you alive." The Governor then pops the cork of a bottle of liquor and starts to pour it into Andrea's cup.

Andrea says, "Oh-- I haven't had hard liquor in a while. My tolerance is probably close to nil. That one glass already has me feeling buzzed."

The Governor says, "Lucky you-- Are you looking for something out there?"

Andrea says, "I'm sorry?"

The governor says, "You got any family out there? You looking for them?"

Andrea responds sadly but then hopeful, "Yeah, my sister. We got separated a long time ago, but I'm sure she is alive."

The Governor says, "Your quite confident. If you don't mind me asking, why is that?"

Andrea says, "My sister's boyfriend. He's a real badass. Kills walkers, oh I mean biters, like its nothing. He once killed a hundred walkers on his own. I think he used to be an elite soldier or something, he was never too clear on his backstory. All I know is he woke up in the hospital a week after the outbreak and traveled to Atlanta with the now leader of that group. Oh, here I am droning on and on."

The Governor says, "No, your quite alright. You got me interested. Anyway, I'm sorry to hear you got separated from your sister. You have any other family?"

Andrea says sadly, "No, I lost my parents in the beginning."

The Governor says sadly, "You know, I lost my wife-- car accident. 18 months before all of this. Just my daughter and me."

Andrea then says while toasting, "To better days." Then they drink, Andrea closing her eyes as she savors the flavor, the Governor stares at her with a somewhat creepy look.

Releasing a sigh, Andrea says, "This is good. Truth is, I'm scared that I might never find my sister. For the longest time, all that mattered was survival. So much so... I don't know what matters now."

The Governor says, "Pay off the car, work 50 hour a week, get married, buy a house-- That was survival for many not long ago."

Andrea says, "A lot's changed."

The Governor says, "The scenery has. The landscape. But the way we think..."

Andrea says, "I better go. But I appreciate the drink."

The Governor responds, "Sure." Andrea then stands up walking a little wobbly as she walks to the door.

The Governor says, "My men will see you out, and he'll have your weapons waiting for you. Remember, if it gets tough out there, you're always welcome here."

Andrea says, "That's very kind. Thank you, Governor."

The Governor corrects, "Philip."

Andrea says, "I thought you told me you never gave anyone your name?"

The Governor says, "Someone recently told me never to say never, so..." Then the Governor chuckles.

Andrea says, "Well... take care."

The Governor then opens the door for her as he says, "Goodbye."

Andrea then leaves his house, walking back to their room to meet up with Michonne. Walking inside of their room Andrea begins to talk to Michonne.

Andrea gives Michonne a look, that practically shouts that she wants to stay.

Michonne seeing this, says, "I thought we had an agreement."

Andre says, "We can always leave tomorrow or the following day."

Michonne questions, "The following day?"

Andrea answers, "We don't want to walk into any trouble that we can't get out of."

Michonne says, "Tell me about it."

Andrea says sassily, "Michonne, it is just a day or two."

Michonne respond curtly, "I heard you the first time." Michonne then walks out of the room, Andrea sighing to herself, as she watches Michonne leave.

A day later, Andrea was at a party that was planned by the Governor. She was standing, while looking around. She could see kids running around and playing, there was even a doggo plating with them. Milton came over to her and handed her some lemonade.

Andrea said, "Thank you. Cold drinks?"

Milton responds, "Been running the freezers all day. Not the most practical use of the generators to my mind."

Andrea says, "It's kind of amazing."

Milton says with a sigh, "The Governor thinks it's worth it."

Andrea says as she toasts Milton, "Well, to a great party. Now, if you would just drop me a hint about tonight."

Milton hums before saying, "Mere words cannot adequately describe the festivities ahead."

Andrea hums in response.

Michonne was looking around with a scowl, with her hands on her hips. Looking at the people enjoying their party, something still felt off, about this place. Michonne watches as Andrea integrates herself into this group of partying fools with a frown. Then she walks off bumping into someone, who was holding a beer.

Meanwhile the Governor was alone in his house, incense was being burned, and classical music was playing quietly. The Governor was sitting in a chair, on the floor in front of him was a girl, the Governor was brushing the girl's hair. As he brushes the girl's hair, the brush gets caught in a snag. The brush pulls out many strands of hair, as it rips off a piece of the girl's scalp with it.

The girl grabs his wrist and tries to pull his arm to her mouth, trying to bite him. The young girl was actually a walker. The Governor says, as he stands up releasing his hand from the walker's grip, "Penny. Penny, no." He then grabs her arms bringing them behind her back before tying them using the girl's sleeves.

The governor then says, "It's nap time now. Nap time." As he puts a white cloth bag over the walker's head. He then turned the walker around to face him with the bag still on its head saying, "Penny. Hey, hey, hey. Come on. Come on. Take it easy."

He then hugs the walker saying, "Hey, hey. Come on. It's all right. Hey, I'm here. Daddy still loves you. You know that right? Hey. All right. All right. Come on. Yeah. Hey, Penny." Looking out the window the blind was open, and he could see Michonne looking up at him as he looks at her.

Michonne could see the short person with a bag on its head, but Michonne couldn't tell that it was actually a walker. The Governor then closes the blinds and puts the walker inside a closet before locking the door. He then walks out of the house and goes towards the party, he walks up to a podium and says, "Hey. First time we gathered, there was nine of us holed up in an apartment with spam and saltine crackers. Well, look at us now. We've built a place we can call home. May be held together with duct tape and string, but it works. It's ours. I'll take it. So today, we celebrate how far we've come. We remember those we've lost. We raise a glass... to us."

While the Governor was making his speech, Michonne snuck into his house, walking through the room to a glass display case. She opens it and retrieves her katana. Holding it gently, she then puts it over her shoulder, fixing her hair and positioning the strap between her tits. She looks at a shelf and saw a picture of the Governor, a beautiful woman, and a pretty girl. She then flips open a book on the table and can see that it is a journal of some kind. She looks through the Journal and saw a list of names, the name Penny was underlined. Under the name was countless slashes, filling the rest of the page, the next page and the page after that were all filled with these markings.

Suddenly Michonne can hear a thump coming from behind her, it is coming from behind a door. She tries to break the door open quietly using a knife but as she is doing so she hears some people coming up the stairs. Abandoning the door, she runs quietly across the room and hides behind a wall.

And just in time as well because the Governor, Milton, and another man come walking into the room. Milton says, "I love the party, but we are using a lot of resources. For instance, the generators."

The Governor says, "I thought you love a party."

The other man says, "Come on Milty, lighten up, for Christ's sake. Let your hair down man, have some fun for once."

Milton says, "I like fun."

The Governor says, "Then it's no problem."

Milton says, "If I might. You know, I've been working on an experiment all week. It's been a challenge getting the level of power I need. And with everything going on tonight--"

The Governor interrupts Milton asking, "What are you asking?"

Milton says, "Postpone tonight."

The other man says, "No way."

The Governor says, "Hang on. Let's hear him out. How long do you need?"

Milton answers, "I don't need long."

The Governor asks, "How long?"

Milton says, "Ten days."

The Governor scoffs before saying, "No."

Milton says, "Six."

The Governor says, "No."

Milton says, "How about--"

The Governor interrupts, "How about you enjoy yourself tonight and then begin the experiment in the morning, huh?"

Milton says while intimidated, "Uhh, yeah. That could work."

Then they all leave, taking with them some more alcohol. Michonne then climbs out a window, and scales down the building. Walking through a doorway that had tons of vines growing around it, Michonne walks down some steps. She looks to her right and can see a cage filled with gore, flies were buzzing inside.

Hearing noise, she turns towards it and saw another cage, but this one had walkers inside of it. There were about 7 walkers inside the cage, Michonne smirks, before breaking the cages lock with a piece of scrap metal she found on the floor. Walking away as the walkers come walking out, Michonne pulls her katana out of its sheath.

Standing in front of them waiting for them to approach, as a walker nears her, she swings her katana, cutting both of the walkers arms off, then she slices its head in half with a final swing. Another walker came from her right side, using the butt of her sword, she bashes it in the face, she then stabs through a walker's head, that came from her left. Then she turns around and striking down from overhead, she divides the walker's head in half.

Turning around she slices a walker's torso in half diagonally, leaving it on the ground as she stabs another walker through the stomach before pushing it to the ground, then she stomps on the walker's head with her boot. The last walker comes walking over to her and she spins around before decapitating it with a slash. Then she exhales a breath, while swinging her sword, removing the blood that was on it.

She then starts to leave, but someone opens a door, with a creak. A woman comes through the door, holding a bucket of gore, but she drops it as she saw Michonne standing there over the bodies of walkers. The woman runs off and gets a man, who takes Michonne to the Governor's house.

Michonne now sitting in a chair, watches as the Governor comes in the room holding her sword.

The Governor questions, "You get off on that? Poking around other people's things? Hmm?" He then sets down Michonne katana and sits down across from her.

The Governor says, "We got nothing to hide here."

Michonne remarks, "People who have nothing to hide usually don't feel the need to say so."

The Governor says, "That's fair. We all have our secrets, huh?"

Michonne stares at him before saying, "Like Penny?"

The Governor asks, "You know about Penny? Then you know I loved her."

Michonne say, "I bet you say that about all the girls."

The Governor says, "You got the wrong idea about me. I'm just a guy trying to do right by the people I care about. Now, you want to leave, Andrea wants to stay. So, you want me to take choice out of the equation. You want me to kick you out. Actually, I was about to give your sword back. 'Cause you fit in. We've enjoyed having you."

The Governor then walks around the table and stands next to her, holding her sword. The Governor says, "Now, this is a real problem for me. People follow the rules. Whether they like them or not it's true, they believe it's what keep them alive. You've turned that upside down. You've broken the rules. And if I don't do anything, I invite anarchy. How about this? I keep a lid on your little outburst, and you join the research team. You obviously have skills and you're not afraid of biters. My men will take care of you--"

The Governor is interrupted when Michonne pulls her sword out of its sheath and rests it upon the Governor's throat. She holds her sword against the Governor's throat for a few seconds before she backs away. She then walks out of the room, sheathing her sword, slamming the door open with a bang in the process.