CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE
“And eye for an eye”
For the longest time we were just fighting to survive. Trying to get back what was lost because you would do anything to protect your family. Overall, that’s what family is for. To fight for one another when no one else will and now. Right now, each member of the group is fighting for something different. Someone different, but they all hope for the same outcome. Something better, bigger, and worth fighting for like a new beginning. But fighting for something always comes with a cost weather it’s a compromise, surrender or even death. Something is always bound to happen. There’s always a cost…
Jane looks down at her fingers and watches as she twirls it in her fingers reminiscing on when Glenn proposed to her on the front porch of the house they lived in with the group before being able to get their own. She slips the ring into her back pocket and remembers why she is still here. It’s because of her daughter and because the love of her life wouldn’t want her to die when there is still so much to see. So much to discover.
Jane hears footsteps come up behind her and she turns around, seeing Negan with his hands in his pockets as he lets out a stressful sigh while his mind scrambles to find the right words to say. “I don’t know how to thank you for almost taking bullets for me” Negan starts off as he looks down at the rifle Jane has in her hands, gripping it tightly as she stares at him, “You didn’t have to do what you did because– well, we all know why. So, thank you. But why did you do it?’ Negan asks and Jane clears her throat, trying to find the answer to his question.
“I didn’t really do it for you. I think I did it because it’s what I wish I did before you bashed my husband’s head in. I wish I kneeled in front of that bat for Glenn. I did it because, for the life of me, I can’t watch what happened to Glenn, Abraham, and my sister… happen to you. It’s not fair because it’s more than what you given me– and them–, but it was the right choice at the time” Jane explains and Negan looks down at his boots, knowing there’s nothing he can say or do that will change how Jane feels about him and the decision she has made to save his life. She may regret it in the future, but it’s too late now.
Jane pushes past Negan and walks towards Rosita, who is getting answers from someone who knows where the take the kids if they didn’t bring them to Alexandria. “When I was a solider kids that didn’t have parents ended up at the city’s children home” the ex-guard, Tyler, informs. “But do you know where it is?” Rosita asks and Jane watches as the young man in front of her swallows nervously then shakes his head.
“Find out” Jane orders as Rosita curses under her breath and marches towards the bus, ordering people around aggressively.
“She’s a little on edge” Silas informs as he comes up behind Jane, to which she turns around and embraces him in a hug. “We all are” Jane adds before she pulls away from the hug. “Roslyn’s going to be okay, she’s strong” Silas states and Jane scoffs as she shakes her head, “I know she is, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want her found” Jane argues before letting out an apologetic sigh for her snappy tone towards Silas. She lost her husband already and she didn’t want to lose apart of him. That part being Roslyn.
“Jane, I hate to ask but, what will you do if you don’t find her?” Silas asks and Janes jaw tightens as she looks ahead, repeatedly tapping on the sides of the rifle in her hold, “I’m going to figure out where she is then kill everyone who still stands behind Pamela… including Ivy.”
Jane marches over to the bus and sees Maggie packing up items. She sees her lift a large box and proceeds to help her out. “Thank you” Maggie says, her voice sounding slightly strained as she pushes the box further onto the bus.
“When are we taking out Pamela?” Maggie asks, “When we find out where my daughter is” Jane answers honestly and Maggie sighs, making Jane turn to her in confusion at the sudden sigh of disapproval.
“I’m just saying, if I have the chance, I’m taking the shot” Maggie says, to which Jane scoffs in disbelief and slight betrayal. “I respect it, but you found your son, Maggie. It all worked out for you. Some of us didn’t get the luxury of reuniting with our kids, but fine take the shot, but don’t think I’ll be nice after” Jane rants as Maggie looks to her friend– best friend– in complete shock at her obvious threat before she turns on her heel and struts away, ready to save the only person who matters.
“Trouble in paradise?” Negan asks as he turns the corner, coming from the side of the bus to face Maggie. “How long were you there?”. “Long enough to hear you two disagree. She needs to die, Maggie” Negan confesses, on Maggie’s side. Maggie looks around and makes sure no one else is listening. “You think I don’t know that? I do, but Jane has to find her daughter. End of discussion” Maggie retorts before she shuts the back doors of the bus and secures it, making sure its locked and has no chance of opening.
“Together we can kill her. It’s either her… or all of us” Negan says before he walks off, having Maggie look back at him, contemplating on two decisions. Make sure Jane finds her daughter or… end the war.
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Jane sits on the train as it rides on the tracks, taking the group to their destination. “Once were in, the group is gonna move the prisoners into hiding and, hopefully, get Mercer on our side. And as they work on taking out Pamela, we go for Coco and Roslyn” Rosita announces and Jane shakes her head after hearing the plan to take out Pamela.
“If Roslyn is not at the children’s home, I need Pamela to tell me where the hell she is and if she’s really in Nebraska” Jane voices, feeling Magna’s hand grip hers comfortingly.
“Babe,” Magna calls out, making Jane turn her head in Magna’s direction. “You know were going to get her back, right?” Magna says and Jane clears her throat at the sound of we. She knows Magna cares about Roslyn, and she knows Magna means well but…
“We won’t be doing anything. I’m going with Rosita and Silas by myself” Jane confesses, making Magna stammer over her words.
“What? I want to find Roslyn to, Jane” Magna pleads and Jane nods her head understandingly. “I know, but to many people means more accidents are bound to happen. Besides, there is no telling if she’s there or not. Nebraska sounds nice, right?” Jane taunts herself, mimicking the words the warden told her before she shot bullets into him one by one, overkilling him.Â
Silas looks over at Rosita and sees her staring down at the map, repeating the plan over and over in her head. From start to finish. Beginning to end. “You will find her” Silas says as he slides his hand into her, intertwining them before sending her a reassuring smile. “You’ve been listening to Gabriel. You have to much faith–“. “In you, I do.” Silas interrupts before Rosita raises her head and locks eyes with him, her lips curving into a loving smile.
“I’m glad you’re here” Rosita states, “You wouldn’t be able to get rid of me anyway.”
“Haven’t talked to my mom in a while. I’ve tried but I get nothing back” Judith confesses and Jane turns her head in her direction. “Could be a lot of reasons for that” Carol reassures with Jane nodding her head in agreement. “Your mom is a tough woman. She can handle herself, I know it” Jane says, reaching over and resting a hand on Judiths shoulder as she smiles down at her lovingly.
“She would be really proud of you. Your dad, too” Daryl voices as Judith looks over at him, “Carl, too?” she asks and Jane smiles, scoffing with an obvious tone. “Of course, he would. Even all the other people that loved you” Jane says, Judith tilting her head slightly, “Like who?” she wonders and Daryl places his arm around her, allowing her to place her head on his shoulder. “I tell you what. When this is over, I’ll tell you all the stories about everyone that ever loved you” Daryl admits, Judith smiling at his words.
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Ivy arrives in Pamela’s office, having to get through a crowd of angry people and troopers to do so. When she enters the office, Pamela has just finished her talk on the radio and switches her gaze from the walkie-talkie to Ivy, her expression bland and confused, but Ivy doesn’t question it. “If you’re wondering what happened to the little girl, she’s gone” Pamela says and Ivy tenses up. She knows she asked Pamela to get rid of Roslyn, but now that it’s happened, she knows Jane will be out for blood.
“Where?” Ivy asks and Pamela sighs as she grabs a few papers from her desk drawer and sets them on top, presenting them to Ivy. Ivy furrows her eyebrows and lifts the papers up, reading. “The CRM?” Ivy asks, to which Pamela nods her head. “They have a large community like this. I’ve worked with the leader a few times for supplies and generators to make this place like the old world” Pamela explains before she stands to her feet as Ivy continues reading.
“They’re more like a military and police force. Currently, they are working on a cure to make the world the way it used to be” Pamela states. “Have they found one?” Ivy asks, to which Pamela shakes her head and walks towards the window in her office and peaks through the curtains at the crowd of people on the streets of the commonwealth.
“What’s this thing about subjects A & B?” Ivy wonders before she reads on and finds out that subject A people are people who are qualified as test subjects and able to be sacrificed and put in a lab to find a cure while subject B people are people who can be a valuable asset to the CRM, aka The Civic Republic Military, as a guard or something important.
Ivy then folds the paper up and keeps it in her pocket as her heart beats out of her chest. What kind of subject is Roslyn?
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Jane and the rest of the group arrive at the place they are supposed to meet Mercer. They were able to get in contact with him and speak with him privately so they can conduct a plan to get inside the commonwealth without being seen. They sit in the bushes behind the building, waiting like sitting ducks, to which Negan informs them since they’ve been waiting for a while and time is something they can’t waste at the moment.
“We have to do something, now” Jane voices softly, turning to look at Daryl and Carol, who sigh unknowingly. “Like what?” Daryl asks before Princess defends Mercer and states that he won’t leave them stranded. “Then he best hurry up because we’re running out of time” Daryl says as Jane counts how many guards are currently on patrol and counts 4.
“There’s 4 guards, one entrance and exit. We kill the guards, one of them is bound to have a key, and continue the plan” Jane suggests, but Rosita shakes her head, even though she fully agrees she has to think about time in this situation. “These 4 guards are guarding this place for a reason. They find out they’re missing; the clock is ticking on us” Rosita explains, politely shutting down Janes ideas before Judith sees 2 of the guards making their way towards the bushes before they are called to another sector of the commonwealth to guard, immediately walking away and not bothering to check the bushes.
The group is now in the clear and is able to get the padlock of the door off of the door before opening it and swarming in the tunnels one by one with weapons in their hands.
They come up on a latter that leads into the courthouse of the commonwealth and each member, one by one, climbs up and enters the empty lobby of the building, looking around for any suspicious activity but its surprisingly quiet, which sends chills up Janes spine. “It’s too quiet” Jane says to herself as she and the rest of the group continue to spread out in the lobby, their footsteps slightly echoing through the hall.
Janes gaze goes to both the exits and sees that they have been padlocked from the inside. “It’s a trap” Jane says softly before she looks out to the people that have scattered through the lobby. “It’s a trap! GET DOWN–” Janes voice is cut off by multiple shots ringing out and shooting some of the aimless citizens that tagged along on the mission.
Jane pushes Magna around a corner and soon joins her before shooting aimlessly at the balcony towards any machine-gun she sees.
The rapid gun fire continues as screams ring out through the hall as well. Jane hides back in cover, her breathing heavy as she sees bullets slam into the wall right next to her and Magna’s only form of cover. “Shit” Jane sighs as she drops down and gets another angle before shooting up at the balconies, able to hit someone in the leg and cause them to fall to the ground around his people.
“There has to be a way out of here!” Jane shouts as she looks towards the back door and sees that its padlocked, like it has been since she and the group have entered the building. They can’t go back the way they came because everyone else that remains possibly won’t make it back or even make it a step towards the door because of how much gunfire is going on.
Jane peaks out from cover again and sees Ivy and Pamela on the balcony, looking down at the chaos before them. Janes eyes remains on Ivy as she watches her push past Pamela and rush down the stairs. She isn’t hit by any stray bullets because they weren’t meant for her. She’s on the enemies’ side and now when shit has hit the fan, she wants to run. Not on Janes watch.
Jane rushes out of her cover, not giving Magna enough time to react and lunges towards Ivy as shots are being fired her way. Once she gets close enough, Janes body pushes up against Ivy’s knocking her behind a wooden wall with small glass windows. “Ah!” Ivy calls out as she crawls from under Janes body and stands to her feet. “Jane…” Ivy says, her voice trembling. “You have 2 seconds to tell me where my daughter is” Jane demands and Ivy swallows a large lump in her throat.
“Jane, you took away the person I cared about most. I grew up with Ashton and now he’s gone. I had to do the same to you and make it even” Ivy explains and Jane tosses her rifle to the side, ready to fight Ivy with her bare hands as gun fire continues to go on around them. “You did this to make me feel how you feel?” Jane questions even though she already knows the answer.
“How many times do I have to tell you that I didn’t kill Ashton! It was Leah! She pulled the trigger, and she got what she deserved. I didn’t tell Ashton to come on that supply run with me. I wish I could’ve made him stay; I do. But you need to stop blaming me. My people had to eat. I had to give them a reason to keep fighting” Jane explains, taking small steps towards Ivy, seeing the fear in her eyes.
“I believe you, but– he followed you and every time I see you, I see what Ashton could’ve been” Ivy says before her eyes fall on the rifle that Jane tossed a little bit ago and lunges for it. Jane places her foot on top of Ivy’s hand and kicks the rifle away before grabbing her by her hair and lifting her up. “Ugh!” Ivy shouts aloud before Jane punches her across the face, sends a knee to her abdomen and slams her nose right on the tip of her knee bone, making it hurt even more. Ivy holds her nose painfully as she looks up at Jane, whose stare is filled with no remorse.
“Tell me where I can find my daughter, so I don’t have to blow your fucking brains out, Ivy” Jane demands, “I used to be you. Sad because I lost the people, I loved most in this fucked up world. My family. I stare into my sister and husbands’ killer every day, but I manage to keep going because it won’t make me happy. Killing me will only take away some of that pain for a short amount of time. You will go every day hating yourself because you will realize what you did was wrong” Jane rants and Ivy shakes her, “Good thing I have Pamela to do it for me.”
Jane chuckles humorlessly, staring into Ivy’s eyes and sees a hint of acceptance in it like she knows she won’t be around to hate herself or hate Jane. Like she already knows her fate because it’s what she’s wanted all along. To be with Ashton and her sister Willow. To be with people who made her happy for as long as they were here. Ivy only did all of this to give someone… anyone a reason to kill her because she couldn’t find it in her to do it herself.
“You do what you have to do, Jane. It won’t bring Roslyn back… she’s long gone” Ivy says and Jane releases her hold from Ivy’s hair and takes a step back. “She’s at the children center. If Coco is there, Roslyn has to be there” Jane says, more like she’s trying to convince herself. “You can go, but you’ll be disappointed. I told you I wanted you to feel how I feel… why would I have Pamela take her somewhere she can easily be found?” Ivy questions, giving the Jane the conformation, she needed, but not the one she wanted.
“Where is she?” Jane asks, the question sounding as if it’s her last straw since her words choke up in her throat, almost making it impossible to hear. Ivy doesn’t answer. instead, she pulls out a blade from her knife holster and reveals it to Jane, who shakes her head. “I’m not giving you what you want” Jane says and Ivy smiles as a tear slides down her cheek unwillingly.
“Then I won’t give you what you want” Ivy says, stating that Jane has to kill her in order to find her daughter.
“What about Silas?” Jane asks and Ivy stands to her feet, shaking her head with an accepting smile on her face, “Silas stopped caring about me a long time ago. He’ll get over” Ivy says as a bullet is shot through one of the small windows near them, indicating the war is getting tougher and Jane should quicken the process.
“Just do it!” Ivy shouts, swinging the knife near Jane, which she quickly dodges before Ivy backs Jane up against a wall, using all her strength to drive the knife into Janes chest so it gives Jane a reason to fight back. “I’m sorry” Jane whispers before she twists Ivy’s hand, which twirls the knife in her direction before Jane pushes it towards Ivy and right into the side of her throat. Jane let’s out a stressful sigh as she holds Ivy from the back of her neck and lays her gently on the ground before watching Ivy’s hand reach down in her back pocket.
Jane takes that as a sign and grabs the papers sticking out of her pocket. “Thank y-you. I-I hope you find h-her” Ivy gurgles out before her eyes widen and her chest rises high before slowly going back down, revealing her last breath. Jane tries to fight the tears, but as she holds the papers that will help her find Roslyn and kneels next to Ivy whom she just killed, she can’t help but feel a little bit bad about the situation and lets a tear slip.
Suddenly, Silas turns the corner, showing up right after the decision has been made, and ducks behind the wall before he notices Ivy’s dead body on the ground. “Ivy?” Silas questions as Rosita joins them, her hand resting on Sila’s chest as she catches her breath and looks down at the dead of Ivy. “No, no. Ivy?” Silas continues to question as he reaches over and places his hand on her head, pushing the flyways out of her face.
“She wanted me too. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry” Jane says before she covers her mouth to hide her sobs as she turns to look away. Rosita leans towards Silas, placing a kiss on the top of his head as he mourns the loss of a little girl he practically helped raise. Ivy was a traitor, but she was still Silas’s friend, and he knew what would happen if Ivy didn’t choose the right side so, he didn’t hate Jane for what she did. It was bound to happen sooner or later. He places his hands over her eyes and closes her eyelids so she can finally be at rest.
“Did you make sure she won’t come back?” Rosita asks and Jane sniffles in her tears as she shakes her head. “No, but I’ll do i–“. “Let me” Silas pleads as he slowly removes the blade from Ivy’s throat and kisses the top of her forehead as he slides the knife through the side of her head, killing her for good.
“I’m sorry, but we have to go” Rosita says as she sees Pamela pick up a gun from the balcony. “We can head under the stairs and go from there” Rosita adds as Silas wipes off the blade and stands to his feet, sadly looking down at Ivy as Jane places the papers she was given in her pocket. The three of the waits for Rosita’s cue and make a run for the stairs, Jane shooting towards the balcony before she, Rosita and Silas make it safely under the stairs.
Jane peaks her head out and sees Pamela pointing her gun in her direction, but when she turns around Maggie is also near her. “Maggie, mov–” Jane is cut off by a single shot ringing out and Judith making a run towards Maggie, knocking her out of the way and into Janes arms. Suddenly, Judith has fallen to the ground with a gunshot wound to the shoulder. Jane holds Maggie in her arms as they all look down at a downed Judith.
“No! Judith!” Daryl screams, not wasting anytime as he rushes to her side. Maggie and Jane lock eyes before looking over at Pamela, who drops her gun, now in shock at what she’s done. “Take the bitch out” Jane says as her and Maggie raise their guns and instantly fire in Pamela’s direction, along with the rest of the group like Negan, Gabriel, Carol and more.
“We gotta go!” Daryl cries out through the unlimited gunfire the group is sending Pamela’s way as Daryl checks for a pulse and raises Judith up in bridal style. “You did this!” Pamela screams out, the group not caring what she has to say.
The group watches Pamela run in fear, but they don’t have time for her right now. They have to get Judith out of the building safely so they can get her help. The chain was broken off of the door and the group one by one, while also maintaining cover and shooting when they need to, exit out the door as Daryl holds an unconscious Judith while the group sticks with him, protecting them both as they head out into alleyways, trying to find a way out.
As the group tries to make it towards the clinic, a bus of commonwealth troopers arrives and place barriers at the end of each road, blocking the group in. “This way!” Ezekiel calls out and the group follows him to the right, only to be met with another truck of troopers also barricading the streets, locking the group inside a small area on both sides of the alley. “No, they are blocking us in” Jane warns, looking around in terror as the group tries to fall back, only to realize the troopers don’t care about the group. It’s more than that.
Suddenly, the sound of shots firing grabs the groups attention and they look over and see a small group of troopers leading a large herd towards them. “They’re pinning us in” Ezekiel states as he looks around frantically before Jane and Negan both look towards truck that is being used as a barricade and see a walking climbing over it. “What the fuck?” Jane and Negan say in unison before them, and the group find another alley way that they need to cut the rest of the walkers from or at the very least get Daryl and Judith through first.
Jane shoots ahead, clearing a certain part of the alley so Daryl and Judith are able to get through first, causing the rest of the group to be crowded by a group of walkers. Jane shoots her gun, killing a walker in front of her before using the blade at the end of her gun to kill multiple over and over again. Silas slams his blade into a walker’s head before pulling Rosita back, so she didn’t get attacked by a lone walker she didn’t see.
Jane groans as she pushes a group of walkers away from her and tries to catch her breath. “Ugh!” Jane groans as she slams the butt of her gun on a walker’s head at the same time, she stomps on one on the ground. Jane can feel herself being smothered and adrenaline seeping through her veins. But it only made her more exhausted and made the fight not worth it anymore. She felt the air start to leave her lungs as she pushed another set of walkers away. Her heart thumping could be heard by anyone, even the walkers if they listened close enough.
She was growing weak until her body couldn’t handle it anymore. Janes eyes closed and her knees fell beneath her, causing her body to go limp. The gun dropping next to her rattled loudly, drawing more attention to herself before everyone noticed her lying on the concrete passed out.
“Jane!”
words: 4558
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