Eighteen Miles Out
The car rolled to a stop on the empty road, the engine idling as Rick stepped out. Harry shifted in his seat, slipping the bow from around his body and nocking an arrow as he left the car. “I thought we were going farther out.”
Rick turned back toward him, his expression unreadable. “We are. Eighteen miles out.”
Harry frowned, glancing at the road ahead. “Then why are we stopping?”
Rick exhaled, his tone steady but firm. “We need to talk. I’ve been waiting a week to do this.”
Harry nodded slowly, his grip on the bow tightening. “Got it. Over the arguing all week about letting this asshole in the back go, right?” He jerked his head toward Randall, who sat silently in the backseat.
Rick shook his head. “That’s not what I want to talk about.”
Harry sighed, leaning back slightly as realization dawned. “I know what’s coming,” he muttered. “You heard what really happened to Ed Peletier.”
Rick’s gaze hardened. “Yes, I did.”
Harry let out a short, bitter laugh. “No, you didn’t.”
Rick’s eyes narrowed, his tone sharp. “Yes, I did.”
Harry’s expression darkened, his voice rising slightly. “What, did Dale make it out like I murdered some poor, innocent man who never did a wrong thing in his life?”
Rick’s voice softened, but he still stared his son down “I want to hear it from you. Personally. What really happened that day.”
Harry took a deep breath, his jaw tightening as he stared out at the horizon. “A few weeks into the Quarry,” he began, his voice low, “we found Ed Peletier beating his wife and daughter. By the time we got him off Carol and Sophia…” He paused, his voice catching slightly. “Carol’s face was covered in a bruise that took up half her face. Sophia could barely walk. She couldn’t leave her tent.”
Rick’s expression remained blank, but his eyes flickered with something—anger maybe. “Shane had me come with him,” Harry continued. “He marched Ed out of camp at gunpoint. Told him he could either leave without his wife or daughter, or Shane would kill him.”
Rick’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing, letting Harry continue.
“Ed refused,” Harry said, his voice growing quieter. “Got in Shane’s face, yelling and cursing. And I…” He hesitated, his gaze dropping. “I had enough. I kicked him down a hill.”
Rick’s eyes locked onto his son, his voice demanding. “Did you know they were there?” he asked. “Before you kicked him down that hill?”
Harry held his father’s gaze for a moment, but the resolve in his eyes wavered. His fingers flexed slightly around the grip of his bow before he finally looked away, saying nothing.
The silence between them stretched for a few seconds as Rick exhaled slowly, the answer already clear.
Harry exhaled, his fingers tightening around the grip of his bow. “Yeah,” he finally admitted. “I knew they were there.”
Rick’s expression darkened, but Harry didn’t stop. “Ed was a threat to Carol and Sophia,” he said. “He wasn’t just gonna leave peacefully. He was a monster.”
Rick stayed silent, watching him carefully.
Harry shook his head. “They’re better off with him dead,” he continued. “They’re happier now he’s gone.”
Rick’s jaw tightened. “You think I wouldn’t have done it myself?”
Harry scoffed. “The looks you, Mom, and Dale have been throwing at me and Shane all week—that’s answer enough.”
Rick narrowed his eyes, but Harry pressed on. “Did Dale tell you? Did he tell Mom that he pointed a rifle at my chest before the barn incident? That he stood there, demanding to know if he had to shoot me?”
Rick scowled, shaking his head. “He didn’t.”
Harry let out a short, bitter laugh. “Figures.” His tone hardened. “Dale’s an old man, blind to the way the world is now. He acts like the dead aren’t willing to eat us alive the second they get the chance.”
Rick rubbed a hand over his beard, his gaze shifting away, processing everything.
Harry exhaled sharply, adjusting his grip on the bow. “Shane’s right,” he muttered. “You can’t be a good person all the time. Not with the way the world is now. Thinking everything’s gonna be fine, that people can just live a peaceful life—it’s naive.” He shook his head. “Those assholes at the bar should’ve proved that to you.”
Rick’s expression was unreadable as he crossed his arms. “If it was to protect you, Carl, or your mother, I’d do anything to keep you safe.”
Harry looked at him, but Rick kept going. “Now Dale’s saying that you and Shane have lost your minds, but I don’t think you’re dangerous.” His tone remained firm. “Not to the group, at least.”
Harry’s gaze flicked up to meet his father’s.
Rick inhaled slowly. “I get it,” he admitted. “And I don’t blame you for what happened.” He leaned forward, his voice quieter now. “But showing mercy to Randall—it’s not weakness.”
Harry let out a dry laugh, shaking his head. Rick held his gaze, “It takes strength,” he continued. “And I don’t want any more of this hot-headed bullshit you and Shane have been pulling lately.”
He walked off, leaving Harry standing there, bow still in hand.
Harry sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. “This all happened so fast,” he muttered. “One second, Shane’s calling me at college, telling me you got shot. Mom and I patch things up, I move back home, help with Carl…”
“Then those things are on the news—taking shotgun blasts to the chest and still moving.” He shook his head. “Then the military comes through the hospital. Kill everyone.” He exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening. “It was just luck they didn’t open fire on your room while you were in that coma.”
Rick hesitated, listening carefully.
Harry leaned back against the car, eyes distant. “And then Shane’s pulling us out of town.”
Rick’s brows furrowed slightly, his voice quieter. “I knew you moved back home,” he admitted. “Saw your stuff in your old room when I got out of the hospital.”
Harry didn’t respond, just stared off at the horizon, lost in thought.
“The old world is gone,” he muttered. “No one’s coming to help us. We’re on our own now.”
Rick nodded slowly. The weight of that truth wasn’t lost on him—it hadn’t been for a long time. “Anything else happen while I was in that coma?” he asked.
Harry exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “Professor Everett got arrested. Two days after you got shot.”
Rick frowned “Everett—the history professor?”
Harry nodded.
Rick’s brow furrowed further. “What happened?”
Harry hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “Drinking problem.”
Rick sighed, nodding as he processed it.
Rick stepped away from the car, walking toward the back as he checked Randall’s ropes. His fingers tugged at the knots, making sure they were secure. He gave a small nod of approval before pulling the hood back down over Randall’s head and shutting the trunk.
Farm
Maggie stood at the kitchen counter, chopping vegetables while Lori stirred a pot on the stove. After a moment, Maggie glanced at Lori. “Did Rick tell you what happened in town?” she asked.
Lori sighed, keeping her focus on the meal in front of her. “He said it got bad.”
Maggie let out a small breath, shaking her head. “Glenn told me he froze,” she admitted. “And now he blames me for it—says I got in his head.”
Lori frowned slightly. “He came back. That’s all that matters.”
Maggie pursed her lips, clearly conflicted. “I know,” she muttered. “But it’s like—he feels like he failed.”
Lori set the spoon down and turned to her “Men have to do things now. Things they never thought they’d have to. And what happened out there? It happened out there.”
Maggie nodded slowly.
Lori’s tone softened“Glenn’s a big boy. He made his own choices. Tell him to stop dwelling on it—he needs to step up.”
Maggie nodded again.
Road
Rick kept his eyes on the road “We need to start using our knives more,” he said “If there’s just one walker, we take it down with a blade. Save the ammo for when we really need it.”
Harry nodded, watching the landscape stretch out around them. “Makes sense.”
Rick sighed, glancing at the treeline. “We need to start thinking ahead—dried goods before winter, warm clothes, fuel. Maybe we’ll get lucky, and the cold will slow ‘em down.”
Harry tilted his head slightly, staring out at the horizon. “You remember last January? All that snow and ice?”
Rick chuckled, shaking his head at the memory. “Yeah.”
Harry let out a short laugh. “Uncle Jeff got stuck in his car for hours. Spent the whole time eating birthday cake and listening to Lord of the Rings on audiobook.”
Rick laughed at that, shaking his head.
Harry’s expression softened. “Hope he’s okay. Somewhere.”
Rick’s smile faded a little, nodding. “Me too.”
They drove in silence for a moment before Rick spoke again. “If we can find some snowmobiles, we could use them for runs.”
Harry nodded absently, his eyes catching movement in the open field beside the road. A lone walker stumbled through the dead grass.
Farm
Lori stepped into the lit room, carrying a plate of food in her hands. Beth stirred, slowly sitting up in bed as Lori placed the plate beside her.
“You should eat,” Lori said gently.
Beth glanced at the food but didn’t reach for it. Instead, her gaze drifted out the window, distant and unreadable. After a moment, Lori spoke again. “Want to take a walk? Some fresh air might help.”
Beth hesitated, then sighed. “Amy’s pregnant.”
Lori nodded, waiting.
Beth swallowed, staring at her hands. “How can she do that?” she asked softly. “How do you bring a baby into a world like this? Will it even make a difference?”
Lori sat on the edge of the bed, watching her carefully. “It will,” she said simply.
Road
Harry glanced out the window, his tone flat. “We’re more than eighteen miles out.”
Rick nodded, his eyes scanning the road ahead. “I’m looking for a place to give Randall a fighting chance.”
Harry didn’t respond, just kept his gaze on the passing scenery. The silence stretched until Rick pulled into the lot of an abandoned building.. Both men stepped out, surveying the area. “We’ll leave Randall here,” Rick said, his voice steady. “And scavenge for supplies while we’re at it.”
As they moved through the lot, a walker in a tattered cop uniform stumbled toward them. Harry didn’t hesitate, drawing his bow and nocking an arrow in one fluid motion. He released, the arrow striking the walker cleanly between the eyes. It crumpled to the ground.
Rick gave a small nod of approval. “You’re getting better with that bow,” he said. “My turn.”
Another walker emerged from the shadows, and Rick cut his hand, bleeding once the fence as the walker began licking the blood off the fence, Rick stabbing it in the head. The two exchanged a brief glance before continuing their sweep of the area.
They came across a burn pile, the charred remains of corpses stacked haphazardly. The acrid smell lingered in the air, but neither commented on it. Harry veered off toward an abandoned bus, peering inside. His eyes landed on an empty baby car seat.. He stepped back out, shaking his head slightly, and rejoined his father
Kneeling by the corpses of the walkers, Harry inspected them closely. “No bites,” he muttered.
Rick’s expression darkened slightly. “Scratches, then.”
Harry didn’t notice the way his father’s jaw tightened, the way his gaze lingered on him for a moment too long. Rick straightened “Drive the car to the parking lot.”
Farm
Lori stepped quietly into Beth’s room, balancing a plate of food in her hands. “You need to eat,” she said gently.
Beth didn’t respond. Her shoulders shook slightly, and Lori immediately stopped, setting the plate aside before kneeling beside her. “I know it’s hard,” she said softly. “I tried so many times to reach my mom on the phone, and I could only assume she was gone.”
Beth let out a shaky breath. “It’s pointless.”
Lori’s expression softened, but her tone remained firm. “You still have your father. Otis, Maggie, Jimmy, and Patricia. You need to stay strong for them.”
Beth didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on the floor. Lori sighed, squeezing her arm lightly. “I wish I could tell you it’s going to get better,” she admitted. “But I can’t. What I can say is—we can make the end better.”
Beth blinked, then slowly nodded. “Thank you.”
Lori gave her a small, reassuring smile. “I’m going to take a walk,” she said, standing.
She stepped into the living room, rubbing her temples before something caught her eye.
The knife.
It was gone.
Lori’s breath hitched, and she immediately turned back toward Beth’s room. She pushed open the door and saw it—Beth was pretending to be asleep, Lori telling her to give her the knife and she didn’t want to do this, Beth giving it to her.
Without wasting another second, she sprinted outside. “Andrea!” she called urgently. “Find Hershel and Maggie. It’s an emergency!”
Andrea saw the look on her face and didn’t hesitate. She nodded and ran off, while Lori turned, bolting back toward the house.
Rick and Harry
Rick and Harry pulled the hood off Randall, the man blinking rapidly as the sunlight hit his face. Without a word, the two turned and began walking away.
Randall’s voice broke the silence, desperate and loud. “Don’t be stupid! I owe you! I can protect what you have!”
Neither Rick nor Harry stopped as Randall’s voice grew more frantic. “Why’d you save me if you’re just gonna leave me for dead? I won’t make it on my own! That’s why I was with those guys!”
Rick paused, pulling a knife from his belt and dropping it to the ground without looking back. He resumed walking, but both he and Harry froze when Randall yelled, “I went to school with Maggie!”
They turned sharply, Rick’s eyes narrowing as he strode back toward Randall. “You went to school with Maggie?” he demanded.
Randall nodded quickly, his voice trembling. “Yeah. I don’t think she even realized I existed back then, but I knew her. I know who she is. I know who her dad is. I wouldn’t do anything to hurt her—or you.”
Rick’s expression hardened, but Harry stepped forward, his voice cold. “You’re dangerous. You know where the farm is. We can’t risk you going back to your people.”
Harry drew his bow, nocking an arrow and aiming it directly at Randall’s eye socket, intent clear.
Rick moved quickly, shoving Harry down just as the arrow released. It struck the ground an inch from Randall’s head, the man flinching and letting out a panicked yelp.
“Not now!” Rick barked, his voice sharp.
Harry scrambled to his feet, his face twisted with frustration. “When, then?” he demanded. “When he brings his group to the farm to kill us all?”
Rick’s voice rose, matching Harry’s. “When I’ve had a minute to think!”
Randall’s voice cracked as he begged, “Don’t let him kill me! Please!”
Rick turned to him, his tone icy. “Shut up.”
He straightened, his voice firm as he addressed Harry. “We’re going back.”
Harry’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You’re really gonna bring him back? To where Mom and Carl sleep? Where Amy sleeps?”
Rick’s jaw tightened. “He’ll be locked up in the barn. Unless you and Shane are planning to break it open again.”
Harry’s voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Don’t start this.”
Rick’s tone was equally sharp. “We’ll take the night.”
Harry snarled, his frustration boiling over. “Take however long you need, Dad. But when are you gonna learn? The right choice is the one that keeps us alive. Morality be damned.”
Rick’s eyes flashed with anger. “Stop acting like you know the rules now. There are no rules anymore.”
Harry’s voice was cold “I’m not risking that piece of shit escaping and bringing his group back to kill us all.”
Rick stepped closer, his voice a growl. “You will.”
Harry’s frustration erupted as he grabbed a wrench from the ground. For a split second, Rick thought he might throw it at him, but instead, Harry hurled it through a nearby window, letting out a yell of pure frustration.
Rick and Harry stood in tense silence, the air between them filled with unspoken frustration. Rick finally broke it, his voice sharp. “That was stupid.”
Before Harry could respond, Rick’s expression shifted, his eyes darting behind his son. “Shit,” he muttered.
Harry turned quickly, his breath catching as he saw walkers pouring out of the building. The two men scrambled away, their instincts kicking in as survival took precedence over everything else.
A walker lunged at Rick, its decayed hands grabbing at his arm. Harry reacted instantly, drawing his bow and releasing an arrow that struck the walker cleanly in the head. It collapsed, freeing Rick as he stumbled back.
Farm
Maggie stood in the doorway, her arms crossed as she stared at Beth. “You need to stop.”
Beth glared at her, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “What would Dad do, huh? Kill me for trying to kill myself?”
Maggie’s jaw tightened, and she stepped closer. “Stop being a brat,” she snapped. “If you die, it’s not just you. It’s me. It’s Dad. We’d both die with you.”
Beth’s expression faltered, but Maggie pressed on, her voice softening slightly. “We can’t lose each other, Beth. We can’t give up.”
Harry and Rick
Randall squirmed against the ropes binding his wrists, his eyes darting nervously as a walker stumbled toward him. Its decayed hands reached out, but Randall reacted quickly, stomping on its arm with enough force to snap the bone. He fumbled with the ropes, finally cutting through them, and grabbed a shard of metal from the ground. With a sharp thrust, he stabbed the walker in the head, muttering, “Ugly bitch,” under his breath as it collapsed.
Farm
Andrea and Lori sat in the living room, the muffled sounds of Maggie and Beth’s argument drifting through the house. Andrea glanced toward the hallway, her expression tense. “Where’s Hershel?” she asked.
Lori sighed, shaking her head. “He doesn’t want to find out. Let them work it out.”
Andrea raised an eyebrow. “That’s working it out?”
Lori’s tone was firm but calm. “When Beth stops fighting, that’s when it’s time to worry.”
The shouting from the sisters continued, their voices rising and falling in heated waves. Andrea leaned back slightly, her arms crossed. “You shouldn’t have taken the knife away,” she said, her tone pointed. “You were wrong to do it.”
Lori turned to her, her eyes narrowing. “What are you talking about?”
Andrea’s voice didn’t waver. “It wasn’t your decision to make. Beth has to choose to live. If she’s serious, she’ll find a way to live.”
Lori’s jaw tightened. “Suicide isn’t an option.”
Andrea’s gaze didn’t falter. “It is. And Beth doesn’t need to be treated like a child—or yelled at.”
Lori exhaled sharply, her frustration evident. “Let Maggie handle it.”
Harry and Rick
Rick stumbled, his foot catching on uneven ground as a walker lunged toward him. He hit the dirt hard, scrambling to find a weapon as the undead closed in. His hand landed on his revolver, and he fired off several shots, each one dropping a walker as they piled on top of him. With a grunt, he pushed their lifeless bodies off and staggered to his feet, his breath coming in sharp gasps.
Farm
Back at the farm, Maggie stood in Beth’s room, her voice sharp and cutting. “Mom would be ashamed she raised such a coward,” she said.
Beth’s eyes flashed with anger. “What about Dad?” Maggie asked
“He’s clueless. He’s had us sitting here waiting for a cure.”
Maggie shook her head. “He admitted he was wrong.”
Beth scoffed. “When? When did he ever say that? He’s just telling us what we want to hear.”
Maggie’s jaw tightened. “What about Jimmy?”
Beth’s voice dropped, bitter and defensive. “We only dated for three months.”
Maggie stepped closer, her tone pleading. “Could you do that to me? I can’t handle another funeral.”
Beth’s voice rose, her frustration spilling over. “You can’t avoid it! What are we even waiting for? We should just do it together—help each other.”
Maggie’s voice cracked as she shook her head. “No. Don’t talk like that.”
Beth yelled back, her voice trembling. “It would all be over! Or we’ll be forced to run when the farm’s overrun, and there’s no one to protect us.”
Maggie’s voice softened, but her resolve didn’t waver. “That’s not true.”
Beth’s eyes narrowed. “You mean Glenn? I heard he couldn’t save his family. None of them could. There’s a whole world of those things out there.”
Her voice broke as she continued. “I don’t want to be gutted by those things. I want to go peacefully—in my bed.”
Harry and Rick
Meanwhile, Harry braced himself against the door, his muscles straining as walkers pushed against it. He gritted his teeth, cutting his hand and smearing the blood on the door. The walkers licked at the blood, their movements slowing just enough for Harry to stab them in the head, one by one.
Farm
Andrea knocked on the door and stepped into the bedroom, finding Maggie and Beth sitting in tense silence. “You can’t sit on top of her,” Andrea said, her tone firm but calm.
Maggie shook her head. “I can’t leave her alone.”
Andrea’s voice softened. “You’ll have to. You’re exhausted. Get some air—I’ll sit with her.”
Maggie hesitated, then nodded. “Thank you,” she said quietly before leaving the room.
Andrea sat down in a chair, her gaze steady as she looked at Beth. Beth stared back, her voice sharp. “Are you going to say something?”
Andrea shook her head. “Pain doesn’t go away,” she said simply. “You just make room for it.”
Beth said nothing, her expression unreadable.
Harry and Rick
Rick pointed his revolver at Randall, who had freed himself. “Where were you going?” Rick demanded.
Randall’s voice was defensive, almost mocking. “What do you think I was gonna do? Leave the other guy—he’s practically dead already with all those things on him.”
Rick’s jaw tightened. “Shut up,” he snapped, his mind racing as he thought of a plan. He grabbed Randall and dragged him towards the car.
Harry spotted them from the bus, his eyes narrowing as he cursed under his breath, thinking he was being left for dead.
Rick shoved Randall into the car. “Drive,” he ordered.
Inside, Harry continued stabbing walkers, his movements quick and precise. The car drove through the fence, Rick firing at the walkers as he yelled, “Go for the back door!”
Harry burst through the bus’s rear exit, sprinting toward the car and jumping in just as it sped off.
A little way down the road, Rick and Harry tied Randall up again, gagging him and shutting him in the trunk. Rick pulled the hood over Randall’s head. Neither spoke for a moment before Rick turned to Harry.
“You need to control your temper,” Rick said, his voice firm. “You almost got us both killed.”
Harry nodded reluctantly.
Rick sighed. “I’ll probably have to kill Randall. But I need to think about it.”
He paused, his tone softening. “We both know it’s not easy. Killing someone—even if they deserve it.”
Rick’s gaze locked onto Harry’s. “You need to trust my decisions from now on.”
Harry nodded again.
The two climbed back into the car, neither saying anything as they drove back to the farm.