Ashes of the Apocalypse

Rick expected Shane to take advantage of the moment—to press his advantage, to escalate. But instead, Shane just let out a deep sigh and stood up, rubbing his face as if suddenly drained of all his fight.

Before either could say another word, a voice cut through the tension.

"Dad?"

Rick and Shane turned sharply to see Carl approaching, his small frame silhouetted against the fading light.

"Go back to the house, Carl!" Rick ordered, his voice edged with panic.

Shane forced a grin. "He’s right, little man. Nothing to worry about."

Carl didn’t seem convinced. He raised his gun, his eyes locked onto Shane. Shane's smirk vanished, his expression shifting into alarm. "Whoa, hold on, Carl," Shane said quickly. "It was just a little fight, nothing to worry about!"

Carl didn’t hesitate.

The gunshot rang out, making both men instinctively duck as Shane tucked and rolled to the side. When Rick and Shane turned, they saw what Carl had really fired at—a walker that had been creeping up behind them, unnoticed.

"You can’t be fighting," Carl said "It could’ve gotten you both if I hadn’t shown up."

Shane let out a breath and knelt by the walker’s body, shaking his head with something almost like admiration. "Nice shot, little man," he said. "Right in the forehead. You might give everyone a run for their money in marksmanship."

Rick stared at his son, processing the gravity of the moment. But before he could say anything, a deep, guttural growling filled the air.

All three turned.

The woods were shifting—the movement unmistakable. Dozens of walkers were pouring toward them, drawn by the sound of Carl’s gunshot, their lifeless eyes fixed on fresh prey.

Rick didn’t hesitate. "RUN! GET TO THE FARMHOUSE!" he roared.

Inside the farmhouse, Daryl, Glenn, and Harry rushed in with Ben, Carol immediately pulling the boy aside to check on him, her hands trembling as she searched his face for any injuries.

Daryl turned to the others. “Rick or Shane back yet?”

A round of head shakes confirmed the worst.

Glenn exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “We found Randall in the woods. He was strangling Ben.”

Carol’s eyes widened as she clutched the boy tighter.

“Daryl and I killed him,” Harry added, voice tight. “But… he came back. As a walker.”

Ben’s expression twisted in confusion. “But he wasn’t bit. How—how did that happen?”

No one had an answer.

But before they could dwell on it, a deep, guttural groaning echoed outside. The sound was unmistakable—and terrifying.

The group hurried to the porch, their breath catching in their throats as they looked out over the fields.

Hundreds of walkers were pouring out of the woods.

Glenn’s voice came out barely above a whisper. “Holy shit.”

Daryl shook his head, his grip tightening on his crossbow. “A herd that size will tear this house down.”

Meanwhile, back in the field, Rick, Shane, and Carl sprinted for the barn, the undead closing in behind them. They crashed through the entrance, slamming the doors shut and jamming them in place, the force of the walkers pounding against the wood nearly knocking them over.

On the farmhouse porch, Lori’s panic was evident as she scanned the faces around her. “Carl’s gone.”

“He must have gone after Rick and Shane,” Lori continued, her voice shaking. “I’m not leaving the farm without him.”

Inside the barn, Shane pointed upward, signaling toward the second floor. Rick gave a sharp nod, and together, the two men lifted Carl, pushing him up to safety before climbing up themselves. The pounding of walkers against the barn doors grew louder, rattling the structure with terrifying force.

On the farmhouse porch, guns were being handed out, urgency gripping the group as they prepared for the inevitable. Daryl tightened his grip on his crossbow, shaking his head. "No use fighting a herd that size."

Hershel, however, remained steadfast. He racked his shotgun, his expression firm.  "I’m not leaving my farm. I’ll die here if I have to."

Inside the barn, Rick and Shane moved quickly, splashing gasoline across the floor, their faces set with determination. "Carl, on my mark," Rick instructed.

Shane took aim and fired, shattering the latch on the barn door.

The doors swung open.

Walkers flooded in.

"Now!" Rick shouted.

Carl dropped the lit match.

Flames erupted instantly, engulfing the barn in a massive inferno. Outside, heads turned as the fire became impossible to ignore.

"The barn’s burning!" someone yelled.

Gunfire exploded through the night as the group outside did their best to thin the herd. Harry swapped out his bow for his pistol, firing shot after shot alongside Amy, their movements quick and desperate.

Inside the house, Lori was frantic. "I can’t find Carl!" she cried, panic tightening her voice.

Outside, Otis was stationed in the RV, firing relentlessly at approaching walkers, trying to clear a path for Rick, Shane, and Carl. He managed to create an opening, allowing them to sprint from the burning barn—but the cost was high.

Walkers swarmed the RV.

Otis’s gunfire turned into screams.

Rick, Shane, and Carl caught sight of him, but there was nothing they could do.

Otis disappeared into the sea of the undead, his final screams echoing into the night.

Rick grabbed Carl’s arm, pulling him forward as they ran.

At the farmhouse, Harry shouted over the chaos. "Goddamn it, there’s too many of them!" His voice was raw with frustration. No matter how many they took down, more just kept coming.

"We have to go!" Mark yelled. "The farm is lost! Get back to the house—get everyone. We’re leaving!"

On the porch, Lori and Carol desperately tried to convince Hershel to flee. "Please!" Carol pleaded. "We have to go!"

Hershel didn’t flinch. He fired another round into the herd, ignoring them completely.

Jimmy grabbed Beth’s hand, pulling her toward the vehicles. But Patricia wasn’t so lucky. A walker lunged at her, sinking its teeth into her neck.

She barely had time to scream before more walkers piled onto her.

Jimmy turned, dragging a horrified Beth away.

T-Dog and Andrea rushed to get Lori, Carol, Jimmy, Beth, and Sophia into the car. The snarls of approaching walkers grew louder, and panic took hold. Donna, cut off from the others, spun wildly before making a split-second decision—she ran toward the woods, her screams echoing as walkers followed close behind.

Kenny wasted no time, shoving Katjaa, Ben, Billy, Duck, Clementine, Carley, and Doug into the RV. Just as he climbed into the driver’s seat, a walker lunged at Allen, sinking its teeth into his leg. He barely had time to cry out before more of the herd swarmed him, dragging him down.

Ben and Billy screamed, trying to reach their father, but Carley and Doug held them back

Ben clutched Billy’s sleeve in the RV, tears streaming down Billy’s face as Kenny drove them away. "Dad!" he screamed.

Doug held him, swallowing hard as the herd consumed what was left of Allen.

Ben, sobbing, slammed the RV door shut just as Kenny peeled off, speeding away from the farm, the headlights cutting through the night.

Back at the house, Shane raised his gun, firing a shot that took down a walker that had nearly reached Hershel while he reloaded. Rick turned sharply. “Where are Lori and Harry?”

Hershel barely looked at him. “Harry went with the others to try and drive the herd off the farm. Haven’t seen Lori or the others in a while.”

Rick clenched his jaw. "We have to find them."

Carl stepped forward, his voice cracking. “I can’t leave Mom or Harry!”

Shane crouched in front of Carl, gripping the boy’s shoulders. “Look at me,” he said firmly. “Both of them are smart. If they were still here, they would’ve left by now. We have to go. We’ll find them.”

Carl hesitated, his eyes darting toward the burning barn and the fields littered with the dead. Then he nodded.

Rick swallowed hard, then motioned to the last car. “Let’s go.”

The three men, plus Carl, sprinted for the vehicle, climbing inside and speeding off just as the flames spread further across the farmhouse.

In the car, Rick kept one hand on the steering wheel while his other rested reassuringly on Carl’s shoulder. The boy stared blankly out the window, his small frame rigid with tension. “We’re gonna find them,” Rick murmured, his voice low but firm.

Carl didn’t respond, but his grip tightened around the gun in his lap.

Shane and Hershel, silent in the backseat, watched as the farm was completely overrun, the fire licking across the fields. The reanimated bodies of Patricia and Otis stirred among the burning wreckage, their lifeless forms joining the horde. What remained of Allen dragged itself forward, its nearly consumed body inching dangerously close to the flames.

Meanwhile, in Maggie and Glenn’s car, Maggie’s fingers gripped the seat so tightly her knuckles turned white. “Did you see if anyone else made it off?” she asked, her voice raw with worry.

Glenn shook his head, eyes scanning the road behind them. “I couldn’t see anything.”

Maggie wiped at her tear-streaked face. “Beth’s probably with Lori.”

“We can’t go back to the farm,” Glenn reminded her. “It’s gone.”

Maggie swallowed hard. “Then where?”

Glenn didn’t hesitate. “We go back to the highway. Where we lost Travis. That’s where everyone will go.”

Maggie sniffed, nodding weakly. Glenn glanced at her. “Let me drive.”

She hesitated, then pulled over, switching seats with him. As soon as she sat down, the weight of everything hit her, and she broke down. Glenn reached over, gripping her hand. “I’m sure everyone made it,” he assured her. “And… I love you. I should’ve said it a long time ago.”

Maggie looked at him, eyes wide. Despite the devastation, she gave him a watery smile.

At the highway, Rick pulled the car to a stop. He, Shane, Hershel, and Carl stepped out, scanning the empty stretch of road.

Carl turned to Rick, frustration bubbling over. “No one’s here! You told me Mom and Harry would be here!”

Rick hushed him immediately. “Quiet.”

Carl swallowed hard, nodding before saying, “We need to find them.”

Rick started to kneel in front of him, ready to offer more reassurance, but Carl took off suddenly.

Rick exhaled sharply, indicating for Shane to follow. Shane gave a quick nod before jogging after Carl.

Hershel watched them before turning to Rick. “It’s not safe here,” he warned. “You need to get him to safety. I’ll wait here for everyone.”

Rick frowned. “Where is safe, Hershel? We’re not leaving.”

Hershel sighed heavily. “We don’t even know if anyone else made it.”

Rick set his jaw. “Have faith.”

Hershel let out a hollow chuckle. “When God said he’d resurrect the dead, I thought he meant something different.”

Meanwhile, T-Dog gripped the steering wheel tightly as Lori pleaded with him. “We need to go back.”

“I’m not going back to the farm,” T-Dog growled. “The herd is still there.”

“Not the farm!” Lori snapped. “Back to where we lost Travis. Everyone will be there.”

T-Dog clenched his teeth in frustration, but one look at Beth and Jimmy’s scared faces made him sigh. “You’re crazy,” he muttered.

Hershel crossed his arms, glancing around the empty stretch of highway. “We can’t stay here much longer,” he said, his voice heavy with exhaustion.

Carl shook his head fiercely. “I don’t want to leave without Mom or Harry.”

Rick sighed, rubbing his face as Shane nodded in agreement. Hershel looked between them all. “You need to keep Carl alive,” he reminded Rick.

Rick closed his eyes for a moment before turning to his son. “We have to go,” he said firmly.

Just as he spoke, the distant hum of a motorcycle filled the air. Rick straightened, eyes narrowing as the bike pulled up—Daryl. Right behind him came the RV, then T-Dog, Glenn, and Amy’s car, with Mark and Harry standing on the back.

Carl didn’t hesitate. He bolted forward, throwing himself into his mother’s and brother’s arms. Rick followed, pulling both of them into a desperate hug, relief washing over him.

Hershel turned, embracing his daughters tightly, his grip firm around a surprised Jimmy.

Rick looked around at everyone as they caught their breath. “Where’d you all end up?” he asked.

Daryl shrugged, jerking his thumb toward Glenn. “Saw him driving and figured the driver had to be Asian.”

Laughter rippled through the group, cutting through the tension—if only for a moment.

Then it stopped.

Ben and Billy sat huddled together, shaking as Carley and Doug whispered soft reassurances. Their quiet sobs filled the space between them.

Kenny cleared his throat, his voice low. “The herd got Allen. Donna ran into the woods.”

Jimmy let out a heavy breath. “Patricia didn’t make it either,” he said softly.

Beth’s face crumpled, tears spilling down her cheeks.

Rick’s expression hardened. “Otis was in the RV when it got overrun.”

Daryl shifted, scanning the darkened woods. “I’ll go back. Try to find Donna.”

Rick shook his head. “No way to find her now.”

Before anyone could respond, the sharp thunk of an arrow rang out. The group turned just in time to see Harry lowering his bow, a walker slumping to the ground just feet away from them, an arrow buried in its skull.

Rick straightened, voice firm. “We need to leave.”

T-Dog glanced around. “Head east?”

Daryl frowned. “Not sure that’s our best bet.”

There was no time to argue. One by one, everyone climbed back into their vehicles, the engines roaring to life as they pulled onto the road, leaving the wreckage of the cars behind them.

Meanwhile, deep in the woods, Donna stumbled, her breath ragged as walkers closed in. She tripped, scrambling backward, her hands clawing at the dirt.

Just as the undead reached for her, two figures appeared from the shadows.

Steel flashed.

Walkers fell.

One wielded a katana.

The other clutched an ice pick.

Donna looked up, breath hitching.

The caravan finally came to a stop. Rick stepped out of his car, stretching his tense muscles as he surveyed the exhausted group.

“We’re running out of fumes,” he announced.

Glenn nodded, rubbing his face. “We all can’t fit in the RV. We’ll need to make a run for gas in the morning.”

Rick sighed. “Alright. We’ll start a fire for the night.”

Daryl slung his crossbow over his shoulder. “I’ll go with Harry, get some firewood.” Then he glanced at the group. “How’s everyone doing on ammo?”

Harry checked his gear. “Ten arrows left. Couple of magazines for my pistol.”

One by one, the others called out their remaining ammunition, grim expressions settling across their faces. They were running low, and they all knew it.

Hershel took a step forward, his presence commanding even in the dim light. “Everyone listen to Rick.”

Rick nodded, shifting his stance. “We start a perimeter, keep watch. And after that—we find shelter. A place we can fortify, build a life together.”

Maggie wrapped her arms around herself, her voice quiet “How long do you think a place like that would be safe? We thought the farm was safe.”

Rick’s jaw tightened. “We won’t make that mistake again.”

After a pause, he pointed toward the distance. “We’ll make camp by the waterfall.”

Before anyone moved, Harry stepped closer to his father, voice lower now. “Dad… we killed Randall.” A beat. “But he came back as a walker.”

Shane stiffened. “How is that possible?”

Rick was silent for a long moment before finally speaking. “We’re all infected.”

The words hit like a hammer, shock rippling through the group.

Rick swallowed hard. “Jenner told me. At the CDC. Whatever caused the walkers—we all have it.”

Carol’s voice trembled with anger. “And you didn’t think to tell us?”

Rick exhaled sharply. “You all saw how crazy Jenner was.”

Glenn shook his head. “Still. You should have told us.”

Rick’s voice was quieter now, but firm. “I thought it was best for everyone.”

Silence settled over them.

Then, Rick gestured toward Shane. “Come with me.”

The two men walked off without another word, while Daryl and Harry grabbed their gear and headed into the woods to gather firewood.

Once far enough from the group, Rick turned to Shane “You tried to kill me.”

Shane sighed, shaking his head. “I was hoping you’d drop that.”

Shane locked eyes with Rick “And you tried to kill me too.”

Rick narrowed his eyes. “But if you really were trying to kill me, why was your gun empty?”

Shane didn’t answer.

Rick pressed harder. “Did you want me to kill you?”

Silence.

Then, finally, Shane hissed under his breath. “Yeah. I wanted you to kill me.”

Rick’s eyes darkened. “Why? Why would you make me do that? You’re like my brother Shane, Carl and Harry love you like an Uncle, Lori sees you as a brother.”

Shane clenched his jaw. “Because you’re not hardened enough to survive in this world.”

Rick scoffed, shaking his head. “I’ve killed to protect this group.”

“Not as well as you think you have,” Shane snapped. “You couldn’t bring yourself to kill Randall when Carl showed up. You hesitated.”

Shane stepped closer now, voice sharp. “If you want to keep everyone alive, you need to be harder.”

Rick’s gaze didn’t waver. “I’ve shown you I can protect this group.”

Shane exhaled sharply.

Rick leaned in. “If you’re gonna stay, you work with me—not against me.”

Shane was silent for a long moment. Then, finally, he nodded.

Rick gave him a brief nod in return. The tension still hung between them, but for now—it was settled.

The fire crackled, casting long shadows over the weary faces of the survivors. No one spoke. 

Carol broke the silence. She turned to Daryl, her voice low. “Take us with you—me, Sophia, and Ben. We’re not safe with Rick. Not after he kept something like that from everyone.”

Daryl exhaled, shaking his head. “No. We wouldn’t last long with just the four of us on the road.”

Across the camp, Maggie sat stiffly, arms wrapped around herself as she looked at her father. “We should go,” she murmured. “Find somewhere else.”

Hershel’s expression hardened. “Don’t be a fool,” he said sternly. “There’s no food. No fuel. No ammo.”

The conversation stalled as a sudden noise startled the group. Carol tensed. “We need to leave.”

Rick turned to her, his voice firm. “We can’t leave. We can’t stumble around in the dark.”

Carol snapped, “I’m not waiting for another herd to come through and kill us all.”

Rick’s patience frayed. “No one is leaving.”

Carol stepped forward. “Then do something.”

Rick inhaled sharply, running a hand over his face before speaking. “I’m keeping this group alive. I didn’t ask to lead this group. If you want to leave, go ahead. If you think you’re better off without me, prove it. Send a postcard when you find a safe place.” His voice darkened. “See how far you get.”

His gaze swept over the stunned faces before he delivered the final blow. “This isn’t a democracy anymore.”

Silence followed as Rick turned and walked away.

Harry took the moment to step toward Carol. “Can we talk?” he asked softly.

She nodded, and the two walked a short distance from the group.

Harry hesitated before speaking. “Back at the quarry—”

Carol interrupted, her expression unreadable. “I knew. That either you or Shane killed Ed.”

Harry blinked, stunned by her matter-of-fact tone.

Carol stared at the fire, eyes distant. “The day you two marched him from camp, I knew I wouldn’t see him again. And you know what?” She exhaled, shaking her head. “I wasn’t going to waste tears on him. Not anymore. He stopped being the man I loved a long time ago.”

She placed a hand on Harry’s shoulder, giving him a small, reassuring squeeze. Without another word, the two returned to camp.

Off to the side, Andrea and Shane knelt beside Billy and Ben. Andrea’s voice was gentle. “We’ll look after you until we find Donna.” She paused. “Would you like that?”

Both boys nodded, wrapping their arms around them in tight hugs.

Harry let out a long breath as he settled onto the ground near the fire, exhaustion pressing down on him all at once. Amy moved beside him, quiet as she leaned her head against his shoulder. He didn’t hesitate—just wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

Across the flickering firelight, Carl lay curled up beside Lori, his small form rising and falling with deep, even breaths. For a moment, Harry just watched him, taking comfort in the rare, peaceful sight.

No one spoke.

The only sounds were the crackling of the fire and the faint rustling of the wind through the trees.

Harry closed his eyes, listening to the sounds of the woods. His grip remained around Amy as sleep slowly pulled him under.