I sat on the ground, a map spread out in front of me, tracing nearby military bases, solar panel sites, and construction zones. Amy was beside me, focused, pointing out areas we could still check.
Then I noticed Rick approaching.
He stopped a few feet away.
"Hey, got a minute?"
Amy caught the look on Rick's face and stood up right away, brushing dirt off her jeans. She glanced at me with a faint smile.
"I'll see you later."
I gave a small nod, watching her head back towards the RV.
Rick sat across from me, his eyes on the map before shifting to mine.
"I see you've been busy."
I folded the map and set it aside. "Just checking for more supplies and better-suited vehicles. And ways to reinforce the prison."
Rick nodded.
"I talked to Hershel. If he agrees to let us stay, I want to stay at least until Lori gives birth."
I nodded back.
"If this place stays safe, I agree. But I'll keep working on the prison etherway."
He gave a tired smile.
"Thank you, I appreciate that." After a short pause, he continued. "What plans do you have for it?"
"Nothing big yet. How to reinforce the perimeter. Perhaps later, we can surround it with cargo containers or scrap metal. Dig trenches, add solar panels, and add water filters. To make it self-sufficient."
Rick was a bit stunned by the scale of the plans before quickly composing himself.
"As I said, if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask. You have already done more than enough for us."
I just nodded as Rick started to stand back up. I stopped him with one last comment.
"By the way... congratulations."
He paused, then gave a smile, somewhere between happy and sad.
"Thank you."
Before he could say more, Hershel approached us from the side.
"Rick. There's something I could use your help with."
Rick looked surprised and happy, thinking Hershel might have changed his mind.
"Of course."
Rick gave me a quick nod before following behind Hershel.
After they left, I packed up the map and stood up, heading back to the camp.
I thought we had more time before the horde came. I'll need to speed things up.
First, we need to find vehicles that can transport the farm animals. Trucks, trailers, anything with enough space.
And now there's Randall.
Now there's Randall as well. He has a big group. They should have plenty of supplies that we could use. The only problem they're armed and have over thirty men.
And the only one who could help me wipe them out is Daryl again.
When I got close to camp, I could already hear the group arguing again.
Daryl's voice cut through first.
"I say we just shoot 'em and be done with it."
Andrea and Amy both nod without hesitation.
While Jacqui wasn't so sure.
"Are we sure that's a good idea? Rick said he was gonna talk to Hershel... maybe he'll figure something out."
Jim chimed in from where he was leaning against the RV.
"Maybe we should wait. Think this through before we do anything."
Jenner didn't even look up from his notebook.
"Live samples would be better. After I'm done, you can finish them off."
T-Dog looked at him, baffled.
"I don't think that's what he meant, man."
Jenner shrugged.
"Well, I'd think leaving some intact would be the best. There are limitations on what I can do and find out with fully dead ones."
Carol cut them both off.
"That doesn't matter right now. What matters is our safety. And keeping a small herd locked in a barn that's barely standing? That doesn't sound safe to me."
I walked past them quietly and sat next to Amy. She turned toward me immediately.
"What did you and Rick talk about?"
I glanced back at her.
"Nothing important. He just wanted some advice."
She nodded once, dropping the topic and moving on immediately.
"Speaking of advice... what do you think we should do about the barn?"
The group went quiet, everyone turning toward me.
I just answered calmly.
"Kill them all, and show that they're truly dead and there's no cure or hope for them."
Silence.
Everyone stared at me. No one said a word, except Jenner.
"That could work..." he muttered, tapping his pen. "Might be the push they need to finally see the truth. Or it might just break them completely."
Amy frowned.
"That seems a bit cruel. But... if they can't get over it, they'll end up dead either way."
Daryl snorted.
"They need to wake up to reality. World's gone to shit. If someone else had found this place, they likely wouldn't be with us anymore."
No one argued.
Most just stood there, quiet, remembering what it was like before the farm. What it really meant to survive on the road.
While everyone was in their thoughts, I sensed someone looking at me from behind. Turning around, I saw Shane standing a couple feet away, just watching me, holding a duffle bag full of guns.
Shane met my gaze, stared for a second longer, then finally moved toward us.
Daryl noticed Shane approaching with the guns and asked immediately:
"What's all this?"
Shane kept walking, turning to Daryl and me.
"You with me?" he said, handing me a Glock.
I nodded and took it without hesitation.
He turned toward Daryl next.
"What about you?"
Daryl took a gun as well.
"Yeah," he said.
Shane dropped the bag in the middle, pulling out another handgun and handing it to Andrea. Then he looked at everyone else.
"Time to grow up. We could follow the rules when we thought this place was safe. Now we know it ain't."
Most of the group started taking the guns.
Amy took a simple handgun too, turning toward me with a slight smile.
"Well, I'm getting live gun practice sooner than we planned."
I smiled back at her.
"Every shot you miss, we add more laps around the farm."
Amy's smile disappeared, and she quickly reminded me of something more important.
"Don't forget our bet. You still owe me anything I want," she finished with a smirk.
We all started walking toward the Greene house and the barn.
Shane saw Carol walking with us and raised a brow.
"If you're coming, you should have a gun," he said, pulling a spare pistol from his waist.
Carol didn't respond immediately. She just pulled out a small handgun she'd had hidden.
"Don't worry. I have one."
Most of the group looked a little stunned—Carol, of all people, carrying a gun against the rules.
Spotting the gun, I immediately glanced toward Daryl, recognizing it as Thomas's gun, the one he took during our run to the prison.
In response, Daryl just shrugged and kept walking forward.
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🧪 Author's Note:
Thank you all so much for the support!
Sorry about the delays and the shorter chapter — I'm currently sick and just don't have the energy to sit at the PC for hours writing like usual.
The only upside is that if I start feeling better tomorrow or in the next few days, I might post longer chapters since I don't have to go to work. No promises, though.
Again, sorry for the delay and short chapter. Please comment if you spot any mistakes!
Hope you still enjoyed this one. Let me know what you thought of the story and the character interactions — I love reading your reactions.
Thanks again for reading 🖤