About an hour after the helicopter left.
On the forest dirt road leading to Woodbury, Glenn gripped the steering wheel and stared at the town's outline growing closer ahead, unease weighing on his chest.
Maggie was even more restless in the passenger seat, her fingers unconsciously picking at the edge of the door. Andrea sat in the back, just as tense.
Tyreese and Sasha drove another vehicle behind them, ready for anything, whether it was rescue, a fight, or... cleaning up the aftermath.
But when they passed through the open wooden gate and drove into Woodbury, none of the chaos, gunfire, or resistance they had imagined appeared.
The streets were almost too clean. The houses were intact. Even the laundry hanging outside still swayed gently in the breeze.
Residents had gathered in twos and threes in front of houses or around the edges of the square. Most of them were pale, their eyes hollow or red from crying as they whispered among themselves.
When they saw the prison vehicles enter, they all looked up. There was no hostility in their eyes, only deeper confusion and faint fear.
The wooden platform still stood in the center of the square, but no one was on it. Only a few patches of blood remained on the ground, not yet cleaned away.
Glenn stopped the car. He, Maggie, and Andrea exchanged looks.
"What... happened here?"
Tyreese got out, still holding his hammer warily as he scanned the area.
"It's too quiet."
Sasha shut her door and raised her gun, watching their surroundings. "No snipers. No ambush. The residents look... terrified."
Just then, Rowan walked over from the other side of the square, followed by several resident representatives wearing equally complicated expressions.
Rowan came straight toward Andrea and the others, then stopped a few steps away.
"You're from the prison, right? The commander from Rock Fortress and her people already returned to the prison by helicopter."
"They went back?" Tyreese froze, quickly looking around. "So... everything here has been handled? What about that Governor?"
Rowan avoided mentioning the Governor's fate directly.
"The Governor is... no longer a threat. Before Rock Fortress left, they made arrangements for whether we would stay or go."
She stepped aside and gestured for the resident representatives to come forward.
One gray-haired old man took a step forward and pleaded, "To everyone from the prison... about what happened before, many of us were kept in the dark. We're... we're sorry.
"The commander from Rock Fortress said this place is no longer safe. She advised us to relocate to the prison for now and accept your management and protection."
He spoke with difficulty. Not long ago, they had still been enemies.
Andrea, Maggie, and the others exchanged glances.
This situation was completely beyond what they had expected.
Not only had Calista dealt with the Governor and his main armed force with overwhelming speed, she had even arranged a plan for the residents afterward. She had done it so efficiently that she and her team had already left by helicopter.
"Before she left," Rowan added, "she asked you to maintain basic order here, keep watch over the residents, and prevent riots or trouble from any of the Governor's loyalists.
"I've already counted the Woodbury residents willing to relocate and the important supplies they can bring. Later, you'll escort those who want to leave to the prison."
The task was clear.
Glenn quickly processed the information, gaining an even deeper sense of Calista's decisiveness and efficiency.
"Understood." Glenn nodded and began assigning tasks. "Tyreese, Sasha, take a few people and check the town perimeter and the entry points.
"Make sure no one slipped away, and keep walkers from getting close. Maggie, Andrea, you two come with me and these people..."
He looked toward the resident representatives.
"We'll get a clear picture of the situation. As long as everyone cooperates, you'll be fine."
The prison group quickly got to work.
Their arrival and orderly approach helped calm Woodbury's frightened residents to some extent.
Many people began registering, some passively, some willingly, then packed whatever simple bags they could carry.
In the gaps between tasks, Andrea found herself thinking again about that young woman, beautiful enough that she hardly looked like a leader, and about the same age as Amy.
Calista... She was always one step ahead and always looking farther than everyone else.
Was she rushing back to the prison now because of Rick?
By the time the Black Hawk landed on the prison sports field that evening, the sunset had painted the horizon red and gold.
The roar of the rotors drew the prison's attention.
Calista was the first to step off the helicopter. Even after several busy days, she still looked full of energy.
Lily came over to meet her. "Calista, Rick woke up about an hour ago. He's conscious again, but still very weak. Hershel and Carol are looking after him."
Calista's eyes shifted slightly.
"I'll go see him."
The infirmary was softly lit.
Rick was propped up against raised pillows. His face was still pale and his lips were cracked, but his eyes were open.
Hershel sat on a small stool beside the bed while Carol adjusted the IV drip.
At the sound of footsteps, Rick turned his head with some effort.
When he saw Calista walk in, emotion crossed his face.
Calista came to the bedside and smiled faintly at him.
"Looks like you got a leave pass from Death, Sheriff."
Rick pulled at the corner of his mouth, trying to smile, but it tugged at his wound and made him grimace.
"L-Looks that way. Thanks... Calista."
He had to pause for breath after every few words.
"We're allies," Calista said calmly, pulling over a chair and sitting down. "Besides, the prison needs you right now."
Rick closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, his gaze had become more urgent.
"What's happening outside? I heard... Woodbury?"
"It's handled." Calista pinched the bridge of her nose and explained briefly. "The Governor who attacked you is dead. His main armed force has been dismantled.
"Glenn and the others are taking over the Woodbury community. They'll escort any residents willing to come over to the prison later. Woodbury isn't suitable for defense."
Those few sentences carried an enormous amount of information.
Rick's mouth opened slightly, and his breathing quickened as he tried to process the shocking news.
He had not expected the world outside to change so drastically while he was unconscious.
The man who had nearly killed him, the one responsible for Lizzie and Old Tom's deaths, had been dealt with just like that?
"You... did it?" Rick asked.
"The Rock Fortress squad," Calista said. She did not take all the credit, but she was not modest about it either. "Operation Decapitation. It kept both sides from losing more people."
She paused and looked at Rick.
"The question now is whether the prison is ready to take in at least several dozen new residents.
"Most of them are ordinary people who were lied to, but some may still feel resentment or fear. Managing them, housing them, integrating them. All of that is harder than fighting a battle."
Rick fell silent. The sudden weight of responsibility made him feel dizzy and heavy.
God, things had actually been easier while he was unconscious.
But he knew Calista was right.
The prison's population would nearly double. Resources, space, people's hearts. Every one of them would be a challenge.
"We need time," he finally said with difficulty. "But the prison will handle it."
As a leader, Rick had no room to retreat.
"Good." Calista stood. "Your job now is to stay alive and recover as fast as you can. Glenn and the others will handle the rest. Lily will continue overseeing your treatment."
She reached the door, then stopped and looked back at Rick.
"Welcome back, Rick. This mess still needs you to run it."