*
Gabe and Bruce plunge into the torture chamber of a living room and all at once they see the evidence of Michonne’s handiwork—the bloody tools, the duffel bag, the severed arm, the tissues and blood smudges fanned out across the wooden platform like hellish demonic wings sprouting from the body. They take another few steps toward the remains.
Their minds swimming with panic, they try to stay calm and talk to each other.
Gazing down at the body, Gabe says, “What about the black chick?”
Bruce gapes. “Fuck her. She’s probably outside the safe zone by now—she ain’t got a chance.”
“Jesus,” Gabe mutters, looking at what’s left of his boss, the remains eviscerated, scorched, scourged, and contorted, one eye dangling by strings of tissue on the side of the man’s face. The body twitches. “Is he—Is he dead?”
Bruce takes a shallow breath and goes over to kneel by the Governor.
A faint sound whistles from the man’s nostrils.
Bruce can’t even find a place to feel for a pulse, the body is so mangled. He carefully peels the tape from the man’s lips.
Then Bruce leans down and brings his ear close to the man’s bloody mouth.
Signs of a faint breath reach Bruce’s ear but he can’t tell if it’s a death throe—
—or if the man is clinging to a twilight world on the cusp of death.
*
Under a canopy of twinkling stars, Austin touches Lilly’s face as though caressing the beads of a holy rosary. “I promise you, Lilly, everything is definitely going to take care of itself.” He kisses her. “Everything’s gonna be great.” He kisses her again. “You’ll see.”
She smiles. God help her, she believes him … she believes in the Governor … she believes in Woodbury. Everything is going to be okay.
Her smile lingering on her lips, she puts her head on Austin’s shoulder and listens to the eternal night continue to churn and drone its ancient cycle of destruction and regeneration.
Thank you, God.
Thank you.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Robert Kirkman is best known for his work on The Walking Dead and Invincible for Image Comics, as well as Ultimate X-Men and Marvel Zombies for Marvel Comics. He is one of the five partners of Image Comics and is an executive producer and writer on The Walking Dead television show.
Jay Bonansinga is a New York Times bestselling novelist whose works include Perfect Victim, Shattered, Twisted, and Frozen. His debut novel, The Black Mariah, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker Award.