Chapter 25: Expectations
Hearing Old Dale's cautious inquiry, Shawn's expression remained unchanged, but he was delighted inside.
'I was just waiting for you to ask that.'
As for where to go next, Shawn had actually already decided long ago.
The Prison!
The time spent in the prison was almost the best of times. But unfortunately, a survivor camp leader named 'The Governor' destroyed it all.
War always destroys everything…
'But with me here, none of that will happen.'
'With the 7 Days to Die system, I can clear the prison in a short amount of time and turn the entire place into a fortress!'
'I will lead Rick, Shane, Daryl, Merle… to build the most powerful survivor camp on this land!'
Shawn's smile didn't falter, but the words that came out of his mouth were much simpler and more relaxed than the thoughts in his mind. "I already have a general idea, but whether we can implement it or not will require everyone's united support."
An idea?
Hearing that Shawn had another idea, everyone present pricked up their ears to listen, including Hershel's family.
The surroundings instantly fell silent, with only the crisp crackle of firewood in the bonfire. Under everyone's watchful gaze, Shawn slowly began to speak.
"In the United States right now, the order of civilization has begun to collapse. Everything we once worked for has turned to nothing. It's as if everything has been turned upside down."
"People are no longer friendly but have become brutal. Trust collapsed overnight, and everyone fears for their own safety. Walkers eat people! And people eat people!"
"Everything that was once logical has been inverted, becoming more and more illogical. So why don't we try a different way of thinking?"
"Find a place that, before the apocalypse, could trap dangerous people inside, and after the apocalypse, can trap dangerous walkers outside."
Shawn guided their thoughts step by step. He raised a finger and pointed to the surrounding plains. "Let me ask you, would you feel safer on an open plain like this with no cover, or in a place with walls of concrete, where you never have to worry about whether walkers will get in?"
"But how could a place like that possibly exist now?" Lori couldn't help but blurt out. She touched her abdomen, her heart yearning for the place Shawn described.
"Are we going to build it with the Farm as the center? But with just the few of us, I'm afraid we don't have the ability to build such a camp." The light that had just appeared in Old Dale's eyes dimmed, and he said with some dejection.
His words made the others disheartened as well, and they sullenly turned their attention back to the food in their bowls. Shawn's suggestion was excellent, but for them, it wasn't feasible. Building a fortress from scratch was no easy task even before the apocalypse, let alone in the current environment.
But after hearing Shawn's description, Rick and Shane beside him suddenly felt as if they had realized something. There was a strange sense of familiarity, but they couldn't quite break through that thin layer of paper separating them from the idea. The two of them felt a little lost.
"What if a place like that already exists, just waiting for us to occupy and transform it?" Shawn didn't let them pause, pressing on and once again capturing everyone's attention.
He wanted them to feel a deep, heartfelt desire for the Prison! To give birth to an expectation for the future!
"It has tall fences capable of holding back walkers, concrete buildings that can shelter at least a thousand people, land that can be cultivated for farming… and it might even have enough food and weapons for us to survive for a long time."
Shawn was like a demon tempting mortals, constantly throwing out conditions that stirred the human heart, hitting them right where they were most vulnerable.
The eyes of everyone, from both the Quarry Camp and the Farm, grew brighter and brighter, their hearts filled with an unstoppable longing and expectation.
Hershel glanced at the Farm that had been his home for most of his life. It was filled with many wonderful memories, but if it were possible, he would not hesitate to take his daughters and employees to live in the place Shawn described.
What more could he ask for in this apocalypse? Nothing more than the safety and well-being of himself and his family. That was all.
Andrea tightly gripped her sister Amy's hand. The two sisters looked at each other, and both could see the desire and anticipation in the other's eyes.
Shane unconsciously looked at Lori and Carl. He pursed his lips and said nothing, but his two fists were clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"C'mon, man, can you stop making us guess riddles?" T-Dog spoke with his unique rhythmic cadence, sounding almost like he was rapping. He looked anxious. Shawn's words were like a kitten pawing at his heart with its little claws, scratching just as the itch faded, over and over again.
Rick watched Shawn quietly, his fingers interlaced and resting on his knees, covering his lower jaw. He didn't even notice his body beginning to lean forward slightly in a posture of intent listening.
Shawn's smile faded. His gaze swept over each person's face before he finally uttered the word.
"Prison."
A… prison??
Everyone's eyebrows shot up at the word, but then their expressions relaxed, their eyes growing brighter and brighter. Concrete buildings for shelter, fences to keep walkers out, and a large stockpile of food for energy and sustenance… wasn't that exactly what Shawn had just described?!
But before they could begin to dream, Shawn's voice continued. "The whole world has fallen, and the prison is no exception."
"As long as we can take out the prisoners and guards who have turned into walkers inside, the Prison can be transformed from a walker's paradise into our own camp for rest and recovery."
"The children will have a safe environment to grow up in, the elderly will no longer have to live in constant fear, the women can have their own hobbies and lives, and the men will no longer have to fight walkers just for a little food or medicine!"
At this point, Shawn's pace suddenly slowed, as if he had let out a sigh of relief.
"As long as we stick together tightly, we can definitely survive better in this apocalypse! Every single one of us…"
Shawn slowly trailed off, leaving everyone with a feeling that it was not yet over. It was as if, at this very moment, they were already inside the Prison, but when they came back to their senses, they were still just at the Farm, surrounded by an empty, pitch-black expanse.
Shane looked at Rick. Rick gave an imperceptible nod, signaling his approval. This was indeed the sanctuary of their dreams. For both the present and the future, the Prison was absolutely the most suitable choice for their camp.
Compared to the exposed Farm, the Prison was like a steel fortress, firmly keeping walkers and malice out. With just their bare hands and teeth, walkers could gnaw for ten years and still not break through its defenses.
This group of survivors, who had been wandering for a week, suddenly felt that the emptiness in their hearts was gone. The fatigue and weariness on their bodies vanished in an instant. Something called 'new life' and 'hope' was gradually reviving in their hearts.
******
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