Kate made a face as she followed Andrea and the Governor into some building. A building that almost looked like a lab even with the record player that was somewhere in there playing some sort of song and as she went farther inside she came to a stop beside Andrea as she looked at the bed in the room, seeing an old man laying in the bed with Milton right at his side.
Walking past the two women, Phillip walked to the bed where Mr. Coleman lay and when he made it to the bed he bent down to the old man's level, "Hey, Mr.Coleman," he greeted the old man watching as he turned to look at him. "This is Andrea and Kate," he spoke as he turned to face the two women who had finally followed him closer to the bed.
"Milton will bring you two up to speed," Phillip told them as he stood up and he looked over to Andrea. "I'll see you for dinner," he told her as he gave her a smile before bending back down to Mr. Coleman, "Thank you for this," he told the old man. "You're doing us a great service.
Once he had said that Phillip stood back up again and then turned to leave, leaving both women with Milton.
"So what exactly are you..." Kate started to ask but got interrupted by Milton.
"Could you cue up the first song on the record?" Milton asked as he looked up at Kate.
Kate nodded her head, "Sure," she muttered out, turning her back to Milton and heading towards the record player which she had finally spotted.
"On my mark," Milton told Kate as she made it to the record player.
Staying silent Kate got the record player ready, listening as Milton used some sort of instrument to simulate what sounded like a bell or something. Once he was done she turned to look at him and she saw him nod at her and after he had she started the record player again before heading back to the bed.
"My name is Milton Mamet," Milton spoke as he looked down at Mr. Coleman. "Please raise your right hand off the bed if you recognize any of the following statements to be true," he told the man before starting the list. "Your name is Michael Coleman," he spoke seeing the man raise his hand weakly. "You were married to Betty Coleman," he continued as he pulled out a picture of the man's wife and again the man raised his hand. "Your children were Michael Junior and Emily," he said as he pulled out a picture of Emily and once again the man raised his hand. "Very good," Milton nodded down at the man before the man got his attention and whispered something to him.
Raising her eyebrow curiously Andrea looked at Milton, "What did he say?"
"He asked if I could keep it playing while we wait," Milton answered as he locked eyes with Andrea before looking at the record player. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taylor who still sat in the chair did his best to try anything to just move his arm enough to get it off, get it off and up and at least right now it was easier to try with the table moved and Merle gone out of the room.
Coming back into the room where Taylor was held, Merle held out a chain that held a walker on it, "All righty, I want you to imagine how I felt fighting my way off that roof," he told Taylor as he walked farther into the room. "One hand, losing blood, walkers chomping down at me every chance," he muttered out before locking eyes with Taylor. "Last chance. Where's your group?" he asked as he now held the walker within reach of Taylor.
"All right, suit yourself," Merle warned him as he began to let the walker go, pulling it a bit closer to the door so that he could get out before it was free. "You're a pretty big snack for this fella. I hope a twinkie will be enough to satisfy him though," he muttered making a dig on Taylor possibly being gay.
"Go! Run, boy," Merle yelled out as he let the walker go, before leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
Taylor who watched Merle leave the room felt his heartbeat once again getting faster as the walker came towards him and just as it about reached him he raised up his legs, kicking it which sent it flying and his chair going backwards until he was laying on the floor.
It was while he was laying on the floor that it seemed pure luck had struck him and he was able to maneuver the chair to it's side and somehow he was able to stand, watching as the walker too stood up and started coming towards him.
Spotting a cart in the room Taylor walked towards it though it was unsteady and when he reached it, he moved into it, sending it falling down on top of the walker though of course it was his luck that the walker wasn't fully covered and he knew it would be standing up soon.
But with what little time he had he started again to work on getting his arms free which consisted of him moving into the wall repeatedly, somehow moving an empty box spring that was in the room. A box spring that became a gate sort of barrier between him and the walker which was now up and reaching through the springs trying to get at him and the more it tried the more Taylor was determined to get free of his bindings.
Though eventually all the struggle did was make the situation worse and he nudged the box spring over watching as the walker got stuck in it slightly which gave him time to walk away but before he got too far the walker was coming at him again and Taylor kicked out the table watching as it feel but missed the oncoming walker and he half wanted to scream but he didn't.
Instead he used his anger and once again began ramming the chair he was stuck too against the wall over and over, the wood at the bottom starting to break off of it as he did so and it was around the fourth time that he felt the whole chair back go which was probably just in time because as the walker advanced on him he was able to put up his duct tape clad arm and avoid a bite.
Though he still had to fight the walker off and he did that with his free hand, hitting it long enough to get it to move away some so that he could reach for a piece of wood and once he had the wood, he rammed it through the walkers skull, watching as the walker fell down to the floor in front of him and it was only then that he screamed, he screamed as loud as he could not really caring anymore. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"After Mr.Coleman passes, we'll restrain him, hell reanimate, I'll ask the questions again. Record his responses. I need one of you two to end the subject's reanimated state," Milton spoke as he stood from the table he had been sitting at and he turned to look at Andrea and Kate who both muttered an alright.
"I've been trying to determine whether trace memory and human consciousness exist after the subject has transformed," Milton explained to the two women. "But I had no baseline to work off of til now," he said as he looked down at the dying man. "Prostate cancer. We didn't have the resources to treat him, so he volunteered to be the test subject. He's been very cooperative, he's a remarkable man," he spoke before sitting down in a chair by the bed.
"You're close?" Andrea asked as she sat down in a chair opposite Milton watching as Kate did the same.
Milton shrugged at Andrea's question, "We spent a lot of time together. The song, the singing bowl, the questions. We've done that a few dozen times. Theses are cues that will hopefully linger in his unconscious mind even after he's died."
"There is no unconscious mind, Milton," Kate said rather harshly as she remembered what Doctor Jenner had showed them at the CDC and even more fresh was the memory of holding Lennon as he turned in her arms. He had been a baby who had been born dead with no unconscious mind to go back to. "When they turn they become monsters. That's all. Whoever they once were is gone."
"We'll see," Milton stated ignoring Kate's words.
Kate shook her head at Milton's ignorance of what she had said. "You haven't seen this before, have you? The transformation."
"No," Milton answered as he shook his head at Kate's question.
"No one in your family was.." Andrea started to ask but was interrupted.
"I'm an only child, my parents died when I was young," Milton said as he stood from his seat.
Watching as Milton stood up Kate raised an eyebrow, "Weren't you with anyone when everything went down?"
"I telecommuted to work. I never really...." Milton started but stopped not sure if he needed to say much else. It was after he said that, that he heard Mr. Coleman let out a tiny breath and as he looked down he knew the man had died but he leaned forward just to make sure and once he had he nodded at Andrea who was the closest to the man on his other side so that Andrea could help him restrain the man's arms and feet. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"So they know Andrea and Kate?" Phillip asked as he stood outside the building where Merle was holding the people he had taken hostage. "But they don't know they are here, but they do know your brother."
"He does," Merle confirmed knowing Taylor at least knew all of that. "But I don't know about her. I've never seen her before."
Nodding Phillip looked away from Merle briefly, "Their people may come for 'em."
"Maybe," Merle spoke knowing it was a possibility. "Andrea, Kate, and the man in there all say they went back for me."
"So what? He won't break, say where his people are?" Phillip asked as he looked back at Merle.
"He's a tough son of a bitch. Picked that walker apart in minutes," Martinez added in from where he was leaning against a vehicle.
"Maybe a winter in the sticks put some hair on his balls," Merle explained knowing he had been shocked by that because that wasn't the Taylor he remembered.
"We'll need him for leverage if his people come," Martinez again spoke as he moved from where he stood, going closer to the Governor. "What'd you try to kill him for."
Merle shrugged nonchalantly, "He pissed me off."
"What's the girl say?" Phillip asked wondering if she had cracked yet.
"I was just about to go talk to her next," Merle said knowing he had wanted to try breaking Taylor first.
"I'll take care of it," Phillip told him as he turned and walked off, going to go question the girl Merle had taken. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maggie who was still in the chair she had been put in, her hands taped behind her back, sat up a bit straighter as she heard the door open and as a man who she hadn't seen before walked in, she kept her eyes on him as he remained silent as he walked towards the table.
She remained silent even as he took out a knife the closer he got to her, which scared her but Maggie didn't want him to see her fear, a fear that stayed even as he went behind her and cut the tape, freeing her hands from the ties that had bound them.
"May I?" Phillip asked as he walked back around the table, to the free chair that was across from the woman, a chair he had pulled out and intended to sit down in.
When the woman didn't say anything he waited until she finished taking the tape off her wrist before sitting down, "Thank you," he told her a bit sarcastically watching as she folded her arms over her chest. "We'll take you back to your people, explain this was all just a misunderstanding. You tell us where they are and we''ll drive you there."
"I want to talk to Taylor," Maggie spoke not giving up any information to the man in front of her.
"I can't allow that," Phillip said as he shook his head. "Your people are dangerous. Handcuffed my man to a roof, forced him to amputate his own hand."
Maggie kept her eyes trained on the man, "I don't know anything about that," she said knowing she only knew bits and pieces, not the full story.
"You just tell us where they are and we'll bring them here," Phillip said still trying to work her over to his way. "You'll be safe, I promise," he smiled though he was given only silence. "No? Fine, let's try something else," he told her as she looked away from him.
"Stand up, please," Phillip asked though really it was more like a command and when she didn't do it the first time he got a bit angry, moving forward in his seat. "Stand up," he said this time much more firm.
Heaving a sigh Maggie gave it a few seconds of thought before finally standing up.
"Take off your shirt," Phillip told her as he now looked up at her.
Maggie locked eyes with the man before speaking, "No," she said rather defiantly.
"Take off your shirt or I'll bring Taylor's hand in here," Phillip threatened before leaning back into the chair, watching the woman curiously.
At the man's threat Maggie didn't even hesitate before taking her shirt off and throwing it angrily to the floor.
After the woman's shirt was off, Phillip shrugged his shoulders as he looked at her expectantly, "Go on," he said letting her know he wanted her to take her bra off as well.
Swallowing a bit harder, Maggie did her best to fight off the emotions inside of her as she unclasped her bra and let it go to the floor as well before quickly covering herself up so this man couldn't see more than he already had.
Once the woman had taken off her bra, Phillip stood up slowly, deliberately taking his time as he undid his holster and laid it down on the table before walking over to her and standing beside her, liking how she was trying to keep herself in control though he could sense some fear.
Letting his hand go to her hair, he ran his fingers lightly through the end of it, hearing her whimper some before he forcefully pushed her down against the table, hovering over her, "So you gonna talk?" he asked her again.
"You can do whatever you're gonna do and go to hell," Maggie told the man again trying not to show how much he was making her scared.
At her answer Phillip let go of her hair but he he kept his hands on her for a bit before slowly moving away. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After driving awhile Rick pulled the car over at the insistence of the injured woman in the back seat.
"They have patrols," Michonne spoke as everyone started getting out of the car. "We're better off on foot."
"How far?" Rick asked her as he looked up at the sky. "Night's coming."
Lucy who put her gun in it's holster then secured her knife looked over at Rick, "It's a mile, maybe two," she answered him before quickly making sure everything was secure as they began to walk through the woods.
Walking to the redhead as Daryl and Rick began to have some conversation, Zac looked over at her, "So what are your motives for really doing this?"
Lucy looked up at the guy briefly, "Motives?" she asked feeling confused.
"Besides helping us," Zac spoke as he shrugged. "I mean she was shot at so I'm guessing you both have enemies or something about this town and that's why you're so eager to get back to it and help us."
Lucy went silent at the man's words, "I don't know what her motives are entirely but I...my girlfriend is back there," she revealed before sighing. "I..I should have never left without her," she said as she shook her head knowing this time she wanted to go back there and find Kate, talk some sense into the woman and get her to leave.
Zac nodded his head half understanding but before he could say anything he heard the sound of walkers close by and he hunched to the ground with everyone else.
"Get in formation," Rick told the people with him before standing up slowly. "No gunfire," he said before going and taking down a walker as more just kept coming.
"Oscar," Zac spoke after he too took down a walker and he saw some heading out near Oscar.
"There's too many of them," Daryl said as he backed closer to Rick after taking down a few walkers though it seemed more kept coming.
Rick heard Daryl and before answering he took down another walker, "This way," he said as he moved, leading the group down a path through the woods, hoping none of them got taken out by walkers in the process.
"Through there, come on," Rick stated as he saw what appeared to be a cabin a few inches away and as they entered the cabin he ordered his people to keep it down after the door was shut.
"Oh the smell, wow," Daryl muttered as he moved to look around the cabin.
Zac who walked beside Daryl as the group began to look around the cabin made a face, "What the hell is that?" he asked as they got closer to what appeared to be a dead animal on the floor.
"It's got to be a fox or what's left of one," Daryl told Zac as Rick's flashlight hit the dead animal. "I guess Lassie went home."
It was after those words were spoken that the whole group heard banging on the door and they turned towards it seeing walkers now lined up against the glass, wanting to get inside.
Rick who turned away from the scene at the door got Daryl's attention and they both slowly walked to the bed where it looked like something was covered up. Pulling the blanket back he moved away quickly as a man popped up, confronting his group.
"Who the hell are you?" the man asked as he looked at the group of people in his cabin holding weapons on him.
"We don't mean any harm," Rick spoke as he walked a bit closer to the man though he seemed clearly frantic.
"Get outta my house!" the man yelled wanting these people gone.
Rick held up his free hand as well as he did his best to calm the man because his outburst wasn't making the walker situation any better, "Okay, okay, okay. We will but we can't right now," he spoke hearing the man yell out the word now.
"Shut him up!" Lucy spat out rather harshly as she looked at Rick.
"Get out right now!" the man insisted as the group still refused to leave.
"There are walkers outside," Rick told the man not sure how he didn't see the predicament they were in. The walkers were literally banging all on the front of the house.
"I'll call the cops!"
Rick rolled his eyes a bit at that, "I am a cop. Now I need you to lower the gun," he spoke making eye contact with the man. "Don't do anything rash. Everything's fine," he reassured him or well tried to. "Let's just..let's just take this nice and slow, okay?" he asked seeing the man look away from him. "Look at me. Hey, hey," he said trying to get the man's attention again.
"Show me your badge?" the man asked as he lifted his shotgun higher, cocking it so it was ready to use.
"All right," Rick nodded making like he was going to reach into his pocket. "It's in my pocket," he told him seeing the unease in the man's face. "It's in my pocket," he spoke again. "Now I'm just gonna reach down nice and slow," he said before moving his hand some more and as he did he hit the shot gun knocking it away from him and as he did it fired, hitting a hole in the wall but luckily missing Zac and Daryl who had dodged out of the way in time.
After he had done that Rick reached out and wrapped his arms around the man who was telling him to let go and threatening to kill them. "Shut up," he told the man but the man kept on causing a commotion and when the man bit him Rick moved back as the man got free.
Raising her gun in case she needed to use it Lucy raised an eyebrow as the man ran for the door though luckily before he got there Michonne stuck her sword through the man, killing him.
Daryl who was bent over looking out one of the windows watched as the walkers started breaking some of the wood, "Remember the Alamo?" he asked as he turned to look at the others.
"Help me with the door," Rick spoke as he walked towards the door motioning for Daryl and Zac to help him.
"You gotta be kidding," Oscar said as he shook his head not believing what was being suggested.
Rick looked up at Oscar briefly as he bent down to pick up the dead man. "He's dead," he told Oscar before looking away. "Check the back."
Going to the back door Oscar looked out of the window, "It's clear," he reported as he turned to watch Zac and Rick lifting up the man's dead body as Daryl and the woman with the sword stood at the door after it was open and Zac and Rick threw the man's body out to the walker's for them to eat on and distract them so the group could make their escape.
Lucy made a face once the man's body was thrown out but after the front door was shut again she turned on her heels and ran for the back door, thankful for the distraction no matter how it had came about. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kate who was leaning against a bookcase looked over at the bed when she heard breathing coming from it and as she did she saw that Mr. Coleman had reanimated, though clearly Milton nor Andrea had noticed yet.
"It's happening," Kate spoke up as she went to the record player while Milton got the singing bowl and it was only after Milton had done the singing bowl that she started the record.
"My name is Milton Mamet. Please raise your right hand off the bed if you recognize any of the following statements to be true," Milton told the restrained man on the bed who was now trying to lunge towards him. "Your name is Michael Coleman," he said not getting a response from the man. "You were married to Betty Coleman," he tried again pulling out a picture of the wife but still not getting a response. "Your children were Michael Junior and Emily," he tried again and this time he swore he saw the man's fingers move.
"Did you see that?" Milton asked as he looked at Andrea and Kate who stood on the opposite side of the bed. "He responded."
Andrea shook her head, "The fingers move. That could be anything."
"No, he can't raise his hand, it's the angle," Milton told her as he stood up. "I want to try again without the restraints.
"No," Kate said sternly at that.
"We may have tethered his consciousness," Milton argued as he looked at Kate. "We have to try."
Kate shook her head keeping her stance, "No," she said sternly again.
"I know what happens if the subject comes for us," Milton told Kate as they locked eyes. "That's what you and Andrea are here for."
"As soon as we pull the restraints, he'll lunge," Andrea warned Milton seeing where Kate was coming from.
Getting aggravated with the women Milton sat on the bed and began to undo Mr. Coleman's restraints. "My name is Milton Mamet. Please raise your right hand.." he started as the old man grabbed for his shirt but before he could take a bite out of him like he was trying to do Kate put a knife through his skull and Milton sat there feeling a bit numb at the fact that he had been wrong.
"I think I'd like to record my findings while they're still fresh," Milton finally spoke as he stood from the bed and turned to walk to his desk.
Looking away sadly, Kate went to turn off the record player feeling a bit sorry for Milton. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Taylor who now stood pacing back and forth in the room he was being held in turned to look at the door when it was opened and he got himself ready to attack as Merle and some dude he hadn't seen before came into the room and he lowered his weapon as both men just stood there before another man came into the room, pulling Maggie along with him and Taylor swallowed hard when he saw Maggie.
Maggie was topless but covering herself with her hands and he couldn't help the places his mind went. The thoughts of what that man could have done to her and he raised his weapon lunging forward again.
"Drop it," Martinez told the man as he lunged for the Governor.
Standing there Taylor just looked at Maggie before dropping his weapon to the ground hopelessly.
"We're through with games," Phillip spoke feeling tired of them not giving up any information. "Now one of you is going to give up your camp," he said as he lifted his gun and began to wave it slightly. Though when neither spoke at first he held his gun out higher and advanced towards Taylor as he let go of the woman's arm.
"The prison," Maggie spoke out breaking down mainly because of the sight of a bloody and beaten Taylor who now had a gun held at him.
"The one near Nunez?" Merle asked as he held his arm out to prevent the woman from going towards Taylor.
"That place is overrun," Martinez added in knowing it had seemed that way.
Maggie did her best to speak as her voice faltered some, "We took it."
"How many are you?" Phillip asked as he kept his gun trained on Taylor.
"Fourteen," Maggie answered as she swallowed around a lump. "We have fourteen now."
"Fourteen people cleared that whole prison of biters?" Phillip asked as he lowered his gun. "Huh?"
Lowering his gun Phillip turned to leave the room but when he got to the woman he turned to look at Taylor before running his hand down the woman's cheek doing his best to fake comfort her, knowing he could still rattle some bones that way.
Maggie who was now visibly upset kept her eyes trained on Taylor as the man pulled her into him, hugging her to him but the moment he let go and pushed her towards Taylor, Maggie enveloped Taylor into a hug breaking down crying even harder as the men all left the room. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Fourteen people," Phillip spoke as he paced back and forth in the main room of his apartment, now surrounded by Merle, Martinez, and Milton.
Milton crossed his arms and shook his head, "That's deep in the red zone. There's no way only fourteen.."
"So she's lying?" Phillip asked as he turned to look at Milton. "Cause if she's lying that means a pretty sizable force has moved into our backyard. But if she's not, this group with your brother at it's core has done something you told me couldn't be done," he said as he looked at Merle. "They did it. Your brother might be out there right now, searching for them. Blood is blood, right? Makes me wonder where your loyalties lie."
Looking at the Governor, Merle didn't even blink as he nodded his head, "Here," he muttered out though he wasn't sure it was true.
Phillip nodded believing Merle, "You two get a small group and scout this prison," he spoke as looked between Merle and Martinez. "I want to know exactly what we're dealing with.
"Yeah, you got it," Martinez nodded as he turned to leave. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kate sighed to herself as she walked back to her room, looking out at the gate which was heavily guarded and she couldn't help but wish that she was on the other side of that gate, off somewhere with Lucy wherever she was right now.
"Shouldn't have been so stupid," Kate muttered to herself as she looked up at the night sky before heading inside the building where her room was. "Should have left when I had the chance," she spoke as she felt a few tears going down her cheek.
She hated to admit it but today with Mr. Coleman and Milton had opened up fresh wounds of losing Lennon again because she had saw the way Milton reacted to his friend lunging for him and it had been the same way she had probably looked when her own baby had done it to her. It was shock and disappointment as well as sadness..even if they had experienced the emotions for very different reasons they had still been the same.
And this time with her wound fresh Kate didn't have Lucy, she was utterly and completely alone. "And it's all my fault," she whispered to herself as she made it to her room and went inside. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lucy stopped behind Zac as they hid behind some cars mere feet away from the Woodbury gate that night. A gate which looked to be heavily guarded but she had no doubt they could get through it, they would get through it. They'd save Rick's people and she'd get her girlfriend.
Looking over at the redhead briefly as she stopped behind him, Zac turned and gave her a wary smile before turning back to the gate feeling a mixture of adrenaline and a bit of fear but both seemed to be what was fueling him, had fueled him this whole time ever since the world had gone to shit.