"You found it?"
"Most likely, north of highway 34, near Newnan. We are here, and it should be around...here, a few miles, beside this road here." Morgan pointed at the map, detailing to Sasuke the road and the location for the prison.
He got the info from someone unexpected, old man Gale, who had had his deceased son locked in there for a few months years ago.
The old man apologized to Morgan and told him that he was too tired of moving around and that he will just settle in here with others, but he did his best to show Morgan the area they will need to know, what to expect, and the best road ahead to avoid ex-populated areas.
"Alright, go gear up, have your family ready, I'm sorry for having you and your family going through this because of m-"
"No boy, look at me." Morgan turned and grabbed his shoulder, looking him straight in the eye.
"You did nothin' wrong, alright? I said it from the beginning, some people are just not ready and willing to live in this world. I know you did the best thing and will do so in the coming future. Now, I don't want to see a hesitant leader, alright? Straighten up, be proud, and be confident like we know you. Billy had already gone to do his thing; now you need to do yours...go make your preparations." He then patted his shoulder, gazing at the Everdeens waiting for Sasuke near the Humvee.
He didn't hesitate to join him once Sasuke stated he was leaving.
They had that in mind from the start anyway.
Hershel, Hershel was a stubborn man who refused to give Sasuke the benefit of the doubt due to his young age.
Man straight out asked him to put his sword and guns aside and listen to Rick or leave his lands.
The hours since yesterday were tense, with Rick trying to mediate, Billy straight out cussing at the group who turned their backs to Sasuke, and Sasuke... Sasuke just turned quiet and got ready to leave.
So far there were 11 people who chose to follow Sasuke immediately with no further debate.
Billy, Everdeen's sisters, he and his family aside...as they never thought of separating since the first time they grouped.
Jenner, Jim, Daryl, William and his girl Jess, A woman named Alena, Carol and her daughter Sophia, Amy, Andrea, and of course Dale, who refused to separate from them even though he was heartbroken by the separation of the group.
Those were preparing to leave even when most others tried to talk to them otherwise.
...
"Why can't you stay? He will calm down a little later, you can apologize, and it's just a sword. Sasuke...say something." Maggie grabbed him by his shoulder the moment Sasuke returned from his trip to a nearby forest after finishing with taking down the trees and cutting them for the wood.
"Apology? I did nothing wrong; I'm simply leaving to have my people stay at a safer place."
"This is the safe place!! Why are you hellbent on doing this? You are but one person; even if you are strong, are you going to risk all others over some damn pride?" She yelled, pushing him from his chest, venting her frustration.
"Maggie, enough...go back to your father if you are going to just say nonsense." Katniss closed in and took Maggie with her forcefully after giving Sasuke an encouraging nod signaling to him that they are okay with this and ready.
Maggie left, and then came Rick with Shane trailing behind him who looks unconcerned with everything else other than the barn near the farmhouse...and by extension, Lori.
"Sasuke, can't you think it over? You're going to leave just for this?"
"I made it clear from the start that this isn't the place I deem as a safe home." Sasuke sighed, trying to tell Rick that he wasn't doing this just over what Hershel did.
This was just never his goal from the start, and yesterday's incident just sped up things.
"But it is; didn't you see it? Two days and no walker...few. But it's way easier for our people. Look, Sasuke, I get it; you are angry, but this isn't the best decision to make. We got people here, a safe place, and a source of food. You can't just say no to the chance of having Morgan and others have a safe place because of something trivial like that."
"We had already talked about this, Rick. If you don't have something solid to say, just wish me luck. It's not like we are leaving the country; we will still have contact...anyway, keep yourself safe and don't let your guard down." Sasuke walked past him before remembering something.
"Oh, and, Rick, congratulations for the expected newborn; I hope it grows to be as strong as you." He waved his hand and left to have a bath at a nearby lake before leaving this place. Ignoring Shane's horrified look.
...
Ten minutes later the people gathered outside the camp circle, watching a few people near the Humvees and the truck piled with the things that are rightfully theirs.
Some watched with hesitant feelings, some afraid of the development, especially at losing many fighters, while others were just secretly happy to see that arrogant Asian boy finally getting what he deserved, getting kicked out from this haven.
Rick was talking to Morgan in hopes of making him change his mind, and Lori and Jacqui were doing the same to Carol, yet both were firm with their decision.
Carol promised she would never be the same weak woman she was once, and this was her first step; she decided to trust herself and choose what she thought was the best for her and her daughter.
To be near Sasuke and Daryl.
Daryl just leaned on his bike watching Sasuke walk by from the side, geared up in a biker suit, hands gloved and sword on hip, his face having that sharp look he only had when serious .
"Finished with your goodbyes?"
"There weren't any to start with." Daryl answered and revved the bike's engine.
Sasuke's eyes then caught the hostile glare being shot his way, surprisingly from little Carl, who clenched his fists looking at Sophia in the backseat of one of the Humvees and then at him; he looked as if he was imagining ripping Sasuke apart just like he "ripped" their group.
T-Dog and Glenn exchanged hesitant glances.
They were between a rock and a hard wall here; they wanted to be with Sasuke, who was...the best one to give security, but this farm did just as much, if not more.
Why be stubborn over weapons you won't need anyway? And a barn that can be simply guarded.
They got everything here and didn't want to leave looking for some prison that may be hell by now.
Both thought that Sasuke and others would eventually return here once their options ran out.
"Alright, everyone is here?"
"Yeah, let's go." Morgan exchanged a final hug with Rick, followed by Dale who whispered to Rick that he will try and have Sasuke change his mind.
Hershel watched from afar with his family, somehow guilty, but he hardened his resolve; this was for the better of his family and everyone...
Immature boy who try to lead was never going to do them good.
In the end Sasuke boarded his Humvee and drove away, the other two Humvees having Jenner and Morgan's family with the woman that decided to join Sasuke, the third having William alongside his girl and Jim.
While Dale drove the truck as he left the RV for Glenn. And Daryl drove his bike ahead.
====
"Why does it have to come to this..." Glenn took off his cap, seeing the caravan disappear from view.
The place started to suddenly feel empty.
Maybe due to having the two energetic little girls who used to jump around...no more.
"Everything was fine before that barn thing...why would they keep it full of them?"
"I don't know, man; I don't know anymore... let's hope they return soon...safe."
"They will be safe; Sasuke is there," T-Dog said that bitterly; that was a fact nobody ignored. Sasuke was just the best when it came to fighting walkers and getting out of hard situations.
Glenn just hung his head low in guilt.
Should he have said that part of the reason he stayed here is because of the girl he came to like? , or that he just felt close to Rick? More than he had been to Sasuke...?
Glenn put his face in his palms, sighing depressively; he wished things didn't come to this.
...
..
.
"Don't worry, you said that sword boy is strong; they will come back after failing to use that prison, which may be overrun by now." Otis tried to comfort the downcast Rick the best he could while they were on the table having their lunch.
It had been two hours since Sasuke and his group left.
"Overrun? It won't matter if it was overrun or whatever to him." Shane muttered hearing that, overrun places weren't things that Uchiha would struggle with.
"Why?" It was Beth who whispered, glancing at her silent sister.
She too felt complicated; part of her hated what Sasuke did to the person he grabbed from the barn, but she was grateful, as he is the one who finally gave her the real picture she was hesitant about discovering this whole time...
Walkers—those were no longer her mom and brother but just something using their bodies to spread.
"He won't be stopped by...them. If that prison is standing, they will be the least of his worries." Glenn spoke awkwardly, trying to refrain from saying that word. Walkers.
"What do you mean? They don't bite him?" Patricia, who was unaware of what kind of man Sasuke is, asked; that was the sole reason she imagined why someone would be unafraid of those things.
"They won't be able to get close enough to do so." T-dog, who was eating beside Carl, spoke while munching, "Sasuke...is the only one who can be tossed in amidst dozens and would still take down every single one of them. He has no fear of those things."
"Then that arrogance would be his downfall; he could have stayed here, worked with everyone...and listened to words. Anyway, let's eat; we still have things to do."
Hershel, not liking the heavy mood and the look on his daughter's face, said, tapping the table, and they continued eating in silence, each contemplating their choices.