Both Columbus's actions and his words at this moment were extremely considerate.
However, this decision seemed to go against his survival guide, so why would he do it?
Columbus looked around and, seeing the varied and mostly surprised looks on everyone's faces, explained sheepishly,
"Anyway, my initial destination was Ohio, and since the two states are adjacent, maybe I can make another trip up there on the way."
As Columbus spoke, Shawn watched his eyes.
Columbus blinked, his eyes looking up and to the right.
Although Shawn was not a professional specializing in psychology, he had learned a lot of common sense on internet platforms.
For example, looking up and to the right indicates that he is fabricating a lie, constructing an imagined scene.
The left brain controls logic and language, while the right brain is responsible for visual and spatial processing.
But looking at Columbus's eyes, Shawn did not think he had any ulterior motives.
If anything, it was probably just that Columbus wanted to help him.
Noticing Columbus's intention, Shawn suddenly recalled that during the recent firefight with the second wave of survivors, Columbus had hidden at the very back of the team, barely firing any shots throughout.
'So that's how it is.'
Shawn understood, basically comprehending Columbus's inner thoughts.
Without rejecting Columbus's kindness, Shawn immediately made the decision: "Then you go."
Columbus was originally a shut-in, and before meeting Tallahassee, he had always been alone.
He found supplies by himself and faced Walkers alone.
Coupled with that survival guide, Shawn was not worried that anything would happen to him; he was even better at taking care of himself than everyone imagined.
Unless everyone in the world died, Columbus would be the next; otherwise, he would definitely live better than anyone else.
To be safe, Shawn gave Columbus two rifles, five magazines, and two barrels of gasoline in the back of the car.
After distributing some of the food piled in the fire truck, he felt relieved watching Columbus drive towards 'Kentucky.'
"Are you worried about him?"
As soon as Shawn turned around, he met Tallahassee's gaze, which was looking into the distance.
Shawn's words made him snort disdainfully: "Who would worry about that little bitch?"
Well, his mouth was tougher than a duck's.
Shaking his head, Shawn exchanged seats with Merle and drove the fire truck in the opposite direction from Columbus.
...
North Carolina.
This seemed to be a wetland park.
In the open space behind a medium-to-large resort-style white house, stood hundreds of round, tall wooden pillars.
Each one stood firmly like a sculpture rising from the earth.
Looking at them, they were densely packed, with human bodies tied and suspended from the pillars, their hands bound high and pulled upwards, their feet suspended at least 1.5 meters from the ground.
They had no fatal injuries on their heads, nor were they struggling wildly; they merely hung their heads low.
But clearly, they were all still alive and had not yet transformed into Walkers.
And on a wooden platform in the very center of the wetland and countless wooden pillars, a person was standing at this moment.
He wore a pair of black long boots and a pair of rubber overalls.
Beneath them, a silken black gown was vaguely visible, and a red and yellow shoulder strap hung from his shoulder, extending down to his calf.
The cross originally embroidered on both ends of that shoulder strap had been erased.
A red sticker indicating 'Flammable Material' from a chemical hazard label was crudely sewn onto it.
Just at the first glance of this man, one would naturally feel he was somewhat incongruous.
From his attire to the temperament in his gestures... everything felt abnormal and out of place.
At this moment, he stood proudly in the midst of countless wooden pillars, holding a black-bound book in one hand and extending the other, speaking loudly.
Several people approached from a distance, not waiting, but simply reciting, "Other people are demons," interrupting the man's speech.
"Elijah, this ritual has encountered some trouble."
The few people knelt on the ground, and Elijah turned his head.
He couldn't get angry at these people who weren't even afraid of death; he just closed the book with a'snap,' stood sideways, and looked askance.
"Do you remember what I said? We are all brothers, no matter who, everyone is just someone who has committed sins and is attempting to cleanse them."
"Of course, brother."
The newcomer had clearly always believed, and when Elijah's words fell, he slowly rose.
But as he tried to stand upright, Elijah pressed down on his shoulder, forcing him back down.
"Then you should also remember."
"Among all brothers, only I have completed atonement, constantly cleansing myself of sin, which is why I can stand upright."
"Of course, brother."
The man knelt again, not minding that his clothes were stained with the wetland's mud.
He was like a soulless shell, freely accepting Elijah's control over him.
Elijah looked at the kneeling man, placed his hand on the black neck ring above his Adam's apple, and finally seemed satisfied.
"What happened?"
"Please tell me, brother."
Elijah grinned at the man, instinctively wiping his palm back and forth on his rubber overalls, and asked.
The scene zoomed out, revealing the man kneeling before Elijah moving his palms twice, explaining something.
Then Elijah said something else, and the man instantly became somewhat agitated.
He took a bottle out of his pocket and poured its contents over his head.
Soon, a cluster of flames blossomed in this dark wetland.
The people tied to the wooden pillars weakly raised their heads and opened their eyes slightly, seemingly witnessing everything that was happening at that moment.
...
Virginia, border.
Shawn and his group had just passed the 'Virginia' roadside sign, officially entering Virginia.
It wasn't until they arrived here that Merle finally relaxed his tense nerves a little.
"Finally, we've completely shaken off those lunatics."
"Don't worry, once we finish this trip and meet up with Columbus, we can go home."
Daryl leaned close to Merle, comforting him in a low voice.
"I always hear you guys talking about the Prison. What kind of place is the Prison, anyway?"
Tallahassee took off his cowboy hat, rubbed his head, and interjected.
"The Prison, ah--"
Merle sighed with emotion, his brows furrowed, and he twisted his head, seemingly pondering.
Hearing the commotion, Shawn, who was driving, also pricked up his ears, wanting to hear what Merle's idea of the Prison was.
..."There, you can lock people in cells, and you can also do whatever you want in front of everyone, separated by a thin gauze."
At this point, Merle spoke triumphantly.
"A while ago, we even cut off the heads of a group of survivors and took all the food and supplies from their Camp... Ouch!"
Merle hadn't finished speaking when Daryl hit him.
Daryl felt Shawn's murderous gaze, then coldly hit Merle again, making him cover his head and dodge.
"If you can't speak properly, you can shut up, Merle."
Shawn, in the front seat, scolded him angrily.
A perfectly principled and ethical survivor Camp, which even took in people from the Mine.
In Merle's mouth, it became something akin to a group of raiders.
-------------------------------
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