The cold wind whistling as it carried snow down to Earth. Clementine was visibly shaking, either from the cold, or from how close she was to a gun. Lilly, Hector, Edith, and the girls stood with their guns raised, all unsure how to respond to such a broad request.

"Lilly! Help Kenny! She shot him!" Clementine yelled as Mercy restrained her.

Lilly turned to Jessica and Kelsey, "Go get help! We can handle this."

The two young girls nodded before sprinting off.

"So, what do you say, Lil? You want to go see the world with me?" Mercy asked once more.

Hector to her right, Edith to her left, neither one speaking up for this decision.

"Drop your gun, let her go, and we'll drop ours." Lilly said.

"That doesn't sound like a credible answer to me! What's to ensure my safety?" Mercy asked.

"I'll swap as your hostage!" Lilly offered.

Mercy laughed, "That does make sense but, I don't think I need this hostage anyway." Suddenly she dropped her gun into the snow and freed Clementine whom ran as soon as she was freed.

"What?" Edith whispered in disbelief.

Mercy stood confidently, "Are you going to keep your promise? Or are you going to kill me?"

No-one spoke. Hector began to slowly approach her, his gun still aimed at her. She frowned.

"The folks at Wellington really don't have much honesty, do they? Why do you actually refuse entry to people?" Mercy questioned as she reached for something in her bulletproof vest.

"Stop! I want your hands up! Don't make us kill you!" Hector threatened.

"Be careful what you wish for, lap-dog!" Mercy used her left hand to open her bullet-proof vest, revealing several grenades, taped to the inside of the vest and all tied to a series of strings, tied to a key-ring. "A friend showed me this trick; he was a fun guy. I wonder where he is now..."

Mercy began slowly walking towards the group. Each slow step, causing more and more stress to build up. Running wouldn't give them enough time to get clear but, she was only after Lilly.

Lilly turned to a shivering Clementine, "Clem, get out of here, now!" She demanded.

"But-"

"Now!" She urged, slightly shoving the girl before turning back to the mad woman.

Her eyes were more animal than human, a light blue at this point. Pupils fully dilated as she grinned sisterly. Lilly looked to Edith, then Hector; she dropped her gun and approached Mercy, limping from her leg wound.

"Wait, what are you doing? Lilly?" Edith asked, grabbing her arm only to be pushed away.

"Just get out of here and tell everyone to stand down." Lilly said.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Hector asked.

"Just do, what I say." Lilly said, complete seriousness in her voice.

Edith and Hector looked to each other then back to Lilly.

"Come on, Edith." Hector said, grabbing her arm and running away and towards the city with her.

Mercy neared Lilly, keeping one hand on the key ring; ensuring there were no nasty surprises for her. She offered her left hand to Lilly.

Lilly swallowed her pride and took Mercy's hand.

Mercy let out a small chuckle, delighted as they walked together, and towards their uncertain destination beyond the wall.

Minutes later, they stood before the large metallic exit. Civilian onlookers watched as their leader was forced out of her own home, potentially out to die. No-one smiled but, Mercy.

The gates slowly swung open, screeching as metal scratched on metal-gears. Mercy turned to the gathered crowd. All staring with scorn.

"Do none of you find this ironic? The woman who forced so many to leave is now leaving herself!" She taunted before turning back to the gate and walking through the wall and outside.

Lilly stayed silent, embarrassed and afraid.

Many hours later...

Lilly and Mercy sat on opposite sides of the fire Lilly was forced to build at gun-point. Trees and darkness all around them, beyond where the orange light of the fire couldn't reach. The snow-covered ground making for an uncomfortable experience. As if Lilly could actually be comfortable in the presence of a woman such as her. She thought back to all the lives lost throughout this whole ordeal. She thought back to all the danger Clementine had been in, having only been in her care for a short time. She wondered what had become of Kenny as well; is he okay? Is he on an operating table? Did he turn? She'll never know if she can't find a way to get away from this woman.

"What happens now? Are you going to kill me?" Lilly asked, glaring at her.

Mercy smiled, "Do you want me to kill you? Loosen up, will you?" She said with a wink as she waved her magnum above her head.

"What is wrong with you?" Lilly questioned, shaking her head with disgust.

"Whatever do you mean? There's nothing wrong with me. At least in comparison to what you've done." Mercy told her.

"And what have I done? Deny people access because of a food shortage?" Lilly defended.

"Call it what you want, Lilith." Mercy said, yawning. "But don't think waiting until I'm asleep will do you much good either; if that's your next move. I haven't slept in weeks."

"So, what do you want with me then?"

"Oh, quit your bitching already. Did anyone ever tell you how much of a bitch you are? Why not crack a story or two instead?"

Lilly shook her head before giving out a short laugh.

"What?" Mercy asked, intrigued at this new change in attitude.

"No, it's funny um, there was this guy we met when this all first happened. His name was Lee. We were all freaking out over walkers or something. So he just turns to me and says, 'well, you don't have to be a bitch about it!'" Lilly told her, imitating Lee to the best of her ability.

Mercy laughed, "Come on, now. You don't have to disqualify yourself for my sake."

The was a long silence after that.

"Can I ask you an honest question?" Lilly asked, in a more serious manner.

"I'm all ears, sunshine."

"Why did you do all the things that you did? To all of those people?" Lilly asked.

"Why do any of us do the things we do? Because we do."

"That's not an answer."

Mercy scoffed, "You actually expect an answer that'll satisfy you after all that's happened? Don't hold your breath."

Lilly shrugged and turned away from her.

"Wanna hear a story, Lil?"

"No."

Mercy picked up a small stick and tossed it over the fire, hitting Lilly's shoulder. "Ha. Too bad. Here goes; bout four years ago, me and my boy friend were on a road trip to Washington. We got lost and it got really dark somewhere. There were no signs to help point us in the right direction, just trees."

Lilly laid on her side and supported her head with her arm as she listened to Mercy's story.

"Then for some reason, we both began feeling very sick. Stomach ache. 'Damn it, Mary. You and you piss poor cooking!' My man was an asshole but, that's beside the point. We pulled over and got out, I thought we were both going to hurl but, instead we noticed a woman standing in the road."

"A woman?"

"Yeah, a woman. Anyway, Dan decided to greet her. Turns out she was a creepy mute and wouldn't answer him. Then before long, we see a large black SUV come rushing towards her from the north. Dan freaked out and called to her as he ran towards her. When he touched her arm..."

Mercy got quiet.

"What happened then?" Lilly asked.

"Then she turned, her face was pale white and wrinkly. Her eyes large and black. Her teeth yellow and crooked. Her hair messy and dark. She just screamed and vanished just before the SUV came smashing into my poor, poor Danny... Just messing with you; we puked and got back into the car."

Lilly rolled her eyes.

"Any questions?" Mercy asked as she jabbed her 44. into the snow before stretching her arms to the sky.

In the blink of an eye, Lilly sprang up, hopped over the small fire, and tackled Mercy. They pair struggled for several seconds before Mercy scratched her cheek tossed her off of her before getting back to her feet.

"Ha! Smart, waiting for me to drop my gun first!"

Lilly got to her feet as well, wiping blood from her fresh wound before limping towards towards her once again.

Author's Note: Forgive this shitty chapter. Lots of events in next week's chapter. Anyone else notice the similarity between This chapter's beginning and my other story's newest chapter? Completely unintentional to do that but, it happened somehow.