Chapter 7: Returnees and Lost Weapons
Anxiety weighed heavily on the camp. Everyone wondered about the fate of the group heading to Atlanta, contemplating worst-case scenarios. Jayden, however, remained calm. He knew the outcome. This calmness made him a beacon of confidence among the anxious campers. He didn't sit idle while he waited. He set simple but effective traps around the camp; tin cans tied to tight ropes would act as an early warning system. Even these small precautions were enough to earn Dale's appreciative gaze.
Finally, the next afternoon, the sound of a vehicle's engine was heard in the distance. Everyone turned hopefully in the direction of the sound. It wasn't Glenn's red sports car coming down the dusty road. It was a large pickup truck with a loud engine. Glenn's car followed behind.
When the vehicles pulled up at the campsite, the contents both surprised and delighted the campers. Glenn, Andrea, T-Dog, and Morales had returned safe and sound. But they weren't alone. With them was a determined-looking man in a sheriff's uniform, along with a few others who looked nervous.
Jayden opened his mental "character files" as he surveyed the new arrivals. Rick Grimes. The leader. The survivor. Next to him was T-Dog, his arm bandaged, and Daryl Dixon, whom he saw for the first time, clutching his crossbow and giving off a dangerous aura.
But the biggest shock came when Rick saw his family. Lori froze at the sight of Rick. "Rick?" she whispered in disbelief. Carl hesitated for a moment before shouting, "Dad!" and rushed to Rick.
In that moment, time seemed to stand still. The pure joy of a father reuniting with his son and wife, whom he'd thought dead, transformed the entire atmosphere of the camp. Jayden turned his gaze to Shane as he watched this emotional moment. The expression on Shane's face was a mixture of emotions: shock, denial, anger, and, deep down, the despair of a man realizing he'd lost everything. Jayden knew that the seeds of the greatest conflict to come had been sown in that moment. This wasn't just a reunion, it was a rupture.
As everyone met and mingled, Rick quickly established himself as the group's new leader. He recounted the events of Atlanta, those desperate moments in the tank, and how they had escaped. Then he came to the most important point.
"Before we set off," Rick said, a note of regret in his voice. "I dropped a bag of guns I took from the sheriff's department. They were left among the walkers. Those guns are crucial to our survival. We have to go back and get them."
This idea sparked a debate at the camp. Shane argued that it was an unnecessary risk, while Rick insisted that being defenseless was a greater risk. Daryl joined in.
"My brother's up there too! He's on the roof, handcuffed! I can't leave him there!" he snarled, referring to Merle.
Jayden listened silently to this argument. He knew better than anyone how important those guns were. They were vital not only for the general defense but also for the imminent attack on the camp that night. Without those weapons, their losses would be far greater.
Rick glanced at those determined to leave. "Glenn, you know the way. Daryl, you're coming for your brother. T-Dog, you need to rest too."
Jayden stepped forward. "I'll come too," he said.
Everyone turned to him. Rick eyed the quiet but capable young man. "I heard you'd be more useful here."
"I have experience in the city," Jayden said simply. But his real purpose was different. He was torn between whether to go or not. If he went, he could help the group retrieve the weapons. But if he stayed... he could prepare for that night. Amy's face flashed through his mind. The fateful moment was approaching.
Shane seconded Jayden's point. "No, Rick. Jayden, you're right, he should stay here. The camp needs a protector. Those who leave are taking enough risks; we can't send our best with them."
This time, Jayden didn't object. Shane's logic matched his own hidden agenda. "Shane's right. I'll stay here and secure the camp. You go get those guns. We'll need them."
The decision was made. Rick, Glenn, and Daryl, taking T-Dog with them, would head for Atlanta at dawn the next morning. Jayden would stay behind. But he wouldn't just protect the camp. He would prepare for the inevitable, that bloody night. And this time, he would do everything in his power to save a life.