Chapter 99

It was a long day, and the moment Herschel pressed her down on the hospital bed, Lina felt her whole body go limp.

I'm so tired.

His eyelids were almost too heavy to lift, but with his eyes closed, his mind was exceptionally clear. He could hear Herschel's calm voice calling out to Dennis, "...gauze, needle and thread..."

“Remember to use cosmetic sutures on me…” Lina said.

“We don’t offer such excellent service,” Dennis whispered in Lina’s ear. “I’ll give you some anesthetic, but we don’t have much left, so it might not last long…”

"No, no need, just sew it on. I have other things to do," Lina said.

"Wow, are you... are you sure?" Dennis stammered, startled.

“Listen to her,” Hershel gave Denise a meaningful look. Before Denise could react, a syringe was shoved into her hand. If she wasn’t mistaken, the small bottle should contain anesthetic.

Denise understood Herschel's plan. "Okay, okay..." She pretended to be nonchalant and injected the medicine near Lina's wound.

After a while, Lina's breathing calmed down, and she fell asleep.

“Let’s get started.” Hershel put on his gloves and picked up the needle and thread.

“You’ve always been like this…” Dennis glanced at the sleeping Lina, then hesitated.

“Believe me, don’t try to change the mind of a stubborn teenage girl. If I had that kind of energy, I probably would have killed all the walkers in the outside world by now, especially Lina,” Hershel joked while stitching up her wound. “I don’t have the ability to persuade her.”

Lena was still unconscious, unaware of how many stories she had missed. Besides Daryl, Sasha, Abraham, and Rick, who were still trying to lure away the walkers and activate the temporary backup plan to lure them away a second time; Michonne, Glenn, and Moore, who were rushing back with a group of wounded and various eccentric teammates; and most recently, the children in Lena's house not far away.

Not long after the people from W entered, Ines ran out. It was too chaotic outside, and Karl couldn't find Ines. He could only temporarily refrain from opening a full lockdown and try to accept as many people fleeing for their lives as possible.

Let's see if Ines comes back.

Ines didn't return, but even more children wanted to go home and find their parents. Karl frantically tried to calm them down until Sophia, unable to bear it any longer, drew back the curtains. They witnessed the horrific scene outside and cowered in silence.

Just when everyone had finally quieted down, Ron started making a fuss again. Sam had skipped school today, and he must be at home. Ron wanted to go back to find his mother and brother.

He was bolder than the other children; no matter how Karl tried to stop him, he simply pushed past Karl and ran away.

There was a room full of people behind him. As Carl watched Ron's departing figure, he could only pray for him silently in his heart.

No sooner had they closed the door than there was another knock. Carl and Sophia exchanged a glance. Dwayne led the children upstairs and then came back down. Ron was back with his father, Pete, who had been shot in the abdomen.

"Do something!" Ron said in a panic.

“He shouldn’t be out there.” Carl and Sophia pointed their guns at Pete warily.

“This is my father!” Ron glared angrily at Carl and the others. “Are you just going to watch him die?”

Carl hesitated for a moment, then put down his gun. Sophia hesitated as well, but Carl had already stepped forward to check Pete's wound, so she had to put her gun away.

“Here are some clean clothes,” Dwayne said, bringing some clothes down from upstairs. “The medicine is all in the infirmary; Lena only has a few anti-inflammatory pills.” He brought them all down. “Oh, and there’s a bottle of iodine; it should still be usable?”

“I need a needle and thread,” Pete said weakly.

"This, is it okay if I use a sewing needle?" Dwayne quickly found a needle and thread in the drawer, and Peter nodded.

“The bullet isn’t lodged in my body,” Pete groaned, lying flat on the sofa. “Ron, I need you to put your hand in and make sure there are no bullet fragments inside.”

"What?" Ron exclaimed in horror. "No, Dad, I..."

"Shut up! Do you want to watch me die?" Pete roared.

“I’ll do it,” Carl frowned, washed his hands, reached out and touched the surface, and removed a small fragment. “There shouldn’t be any more.”

Carl took the needle and thread and began to sew. Pete groaned, "Do you have any wine? It hurts too much."

“No, Lina doesn’t like drinking,” Dwayne said.

Lena Lee, Pete's eyes were filled with resentment. It was all because of her and that Rick, that bitch and bastard. He was determined to find a chance to kill them. They were the ones who had brought him to this state.

And then there was the white-haired woman; Pete's eyes swept over Sofia with a sinister glint.

Sofia glanced at Pete with displeasure. His eyes were filled with malice. She didn't think this man, who should have been locked up, would do anything good after escaping. He had almost killed Reggie.

After stitching up his wound, Pete took the two anti-inflammatory pills. He began to look at the children in the room. The noise outside the door gradually subsided. If this continued, he would only be waiting to die.

The gun was leaning against the sofa not far away, but Rick the little bastard was standing in front of him, and he might not be able to snatch the gun easily.

“Ron!” Pete shouted, “Where are your mother and brother?”

“I…I don’t know,” Ron said somewhat flusteredly, “I was just about to go back and check…”

"Go out and get yourself killed?" Karl asked, frowning.

“Isn’t I standing right here perfectly fine?” Ron glared at Carl.

“You were just lucky,” Carl said, picking up a piece of clothing from the side and wiping the bloodstains from his hands. “The commotion outside has subsided.” Carl looked out the window, lost in thought.

[Knock knock knock—] The door was knocked again. Everyone looked at the door warily. Pete glanced at Karl, covered his wound, quickly sat up, and took the gun into his hand.

Carl glanced at Pete with annoyance, pursing his lips uneasily.

Pete stood up, gun in hand. "Go see who it is," he said, pointing the gun at the door.

He probably wouldn't lay a hand on them, would he? Karl walked somewhat uneasily to the door.

“Dwayne, it’s me.” It was Morgan’s voice from outside the door.

Carl opened the door, and Morgan froze as soon as he walked in. Pete held Dwayne at gunpoint. "I think you have something to do with this guy?" Pete raised an eyebrow and smiled maliciously.

"Dad?! What are you doing?" Ron stood to the side, puzzled and panicked. "Dad!"

“Shut up, you idiot,” Pete snapped, his eyes fixed on Morgan in the doorway. “You, come in and close the door.”

Morgan gripped the stick tightly. "You don't have to do this. You can leave now. I won't stop you, and I won't hurt you."

"Leave?" Pete sneered. "Of course I'll leave, but how I leave is my business."

“You little bastard,” Pete said, turning his gun on Carl, “go tie him up, quick.”

Carl narrowed his eyes unhappily. It was all because he had been too careless! Carl pursed his lips, went to the side, picked up a rope, and tied Morgan up. They had no choice.

“You don’t have to do that. You don’t have to hurt anyone. If you want, I can protect you as you leave,” Morgan said.

“…Tsk,” Pete glanced at Morgan strangely, “You don’t seem to be the same kind of person as this bastard’s father.”

“…You don’t have to talk like that,” Morgan frowned. “Why can’t we have a proper talk?”

“I saw you that night,” Pete said, looking at Morgan. “It’s all Rick’s fault. He seduced my wife, my wife!”

“You’re talking nonsense, my dad didn’t!” Carl said angrily.

“Don’t interrupt, you little bastard.” Pete pointed his gun at Karl.

“Dad, don’t do this,” Ron said helplessly. “Shall we go back to Mom and Sam?”

“Oh no,” Pete said frantically, sliding his gun across the people in front of him. “It’s quiet outside now. They’ll start searching room by room soon. They won’t let me go.”

"What?" Ron asked, puzzled. "I'll plead with Deanna, and Carl, he'll also ask his father to let you go." Ron looked at Carl, who just continued to frown and purse his lips, offering no response.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” Pete said. “I didn’t. It’s all your fault. You forced me into this.” He was clearly upset. Footsteps came from the doorway, and everyone tensed up. Pete nervously swallowed.

“Karl? Sophia? Dwayne?” It was Andrea at the door.

"Don't come in!" Sofia shouted.

Pete glared at her angrily, but Sophia glared back defiantly. The doorway was quiet for a moment, then disappeared.

Perhaps they've gone to find reinforcements. Pete bit his lip anxiously; he couldn't just sit here and wait to die! No, no, no, he couldn't act rashly; he was still injured…

Large drops of sweat slid down his forehead. Pete was in a complete panic. He took the hostage home and then left Alexandria. Yes, that's it.

Pete grabbed Dwayne, who was closest to him, and said, “Come on,” gesturing for Ron to open the door and head out.

“Dad, please don’t do this,” Ron said, looking at Pete with a hint of despair.

“Don’t make me say it a second time, Ron,” Pete said, looking at Ron with a frenzy. Dwayne, whom he was holding, struggled wildly.

"Don't move!" Pete shouted angrily, looking down. Dwayne was terrified; the gun was pointed at his head, so cold and so frightening.

"No! Don't hurt him, please," Morgan said anxiously.

Pete glanced at Carl. “You,” he thought for a moment, “Ron, go tie him up and then take him with you.”

Ron looked at Carl and Pete helplessly, then lowered his head in remorse, picked up a rope and tied it around Carl's neck. "I promise, I won't let my dad do anything to you."

Karl simply frowned, glanced at Sophia out of the corner of his eye, and shook his head slightly.

Sofia gritted her teeth in anger, but could only helplessly watch them walk towards the door.

As soon as the door opened, Ron turned around in a panic, "Dad..."

Pete frowned, pointed the gun at Dwayne, and the two walked to the door. Past Carl and Ron, he saw the people at the door: Andrea, Carol, Rosita, and Aaron.

He can't escape.

Pete's eyes were fixed on Karl's head with a frenzied look, and he quickly raised his gun.

"No!!!"