Your feet ran quickly between the shots and the noise, making your minds think quickly. You walked long distances, always guided by their guns. They didn't want to kill you. They had something in mind for you, something you could never have imagined at the time. Sam looked at you like a scared animal and clearly showed how worried he was about the whole situation. He probably gave up, but the reality was that you were all scared. You knew very well that you weren't safe, but that allowed you to catch your breath as you all crossed a corridor. Without talking to each other, too excited to formulate any thought. When you opened a door, you were facing a certain picture. A whole room was covered with candles and writings on walls and floors. Yoh looked around in shock and a strange feeling permeated you. Terminus was a dark, evil place. Those who joined didn't survive but were robbed and killed. A pressure in your stomach threw your thoughts on the others in the group. You were hoping they could get away. You couldn't end that way, you couldn't survive that long to die now like animals. You wouldn't have accepted it by the hands of others. Something must have happened to this community. They had trusted the wrong people and probably paid for the consequences. That was the point that made them free themselves before they were threatened and before they could get hurt. They were no longer normal humans, they had become beasts ready to hunt all the time. They trapped the survivors, the needy who, in the face of food, could never refuse the hospitality and friendliness of the place, unconsciously signing their own death warrant.

"These people... I don't think they want to kill us.", Michonne said.

"No, they were aiming for our feet.", the sheriff confirmed.

"We have to find a way to get to the fences.", you suggested.

"They'll shoot us as soon as we show up!", Sam said, walking forward and backward.

Rick ran to a door, but it was closed from the outside. You looked at each other and crossed a door marked with a red A. You certainly couldn't stay there forever. As soon as you were outside, the usual ritual sounded. Shots and bullets, and your bodies followed the burdens. As soon as you saw the fence, Daryl and you threw yourselves headfirst in that direction, but other armed men emerged from the vegetation outside. Sam immediately raised his hands up as a sign of defeat.

"Lay your weapons on the ground!", Gareth ordered from a roof and Sam obeyed immediately.

"Your leader goes to the left! To the wagon, go!"

The letter A, as at the door, could also be seen on the wagon. You couldn't understand what they wanted to do. Why didn't they kill you all right away? Rick didn't seem very happy with the proposal, but Gareth convinced him that Carl would follow him if he had fulfilled the order he had received. No one would have died if you had gone one by one to that damn wagon. Strung in a row in front of the door, you noticed some plastic boxes and plates. They took care of the prisoners, feeding them.

"Open the door and go in.", Gareth continued.

Rick moved slowly to be close enough to Carl. He didn't want to let him out of his sight, he was afraid they wouldn't let him go with you because he had noticed all this interest in the boy. But Gareth just wanted to have fun, play with you. And now you entered this narrow, dark room. The floor of wooden planks reflected your uncertain steps. The door was closed immediately behind you, so that the darkness could surround you. You could hardly see anything, only a few faint rays of light entered the wagon. A noise from behind made you all jump. There were other people. Other people who are condemned to your own destiny. You stood motionless and heard one of the other victims slowly approaching.

"Rick?", came an uncertain voice.

The others also moved and positioned themselves in the light so that you could see them. You did the same and as soon as it was possible to see them better, you were astonished. Glenn and Maggie were right in front of you, accompanied by four other people. A tall, muscular man with red hair and a beard, a woman in shorts with side tails, another man with a Vokuhila, and a second woman you knew from the prison with the name Sasha. Shortly thereafter, a third person came forward, the young woman with the ponytail that Rick had addressed in the prison.

"You're alive...", the sheriff said in disbelief: "You're here."

You didn't greet each other with hugs and congratulations, although you were glad that part of the group was alive and well. You were still shocked and angry about the incident, as was Glenn and the others. You just looked at each other as if you were scared and as if it was an illusion.

"They are our friends.", Glenn explained.

"They saved us.", a woman added.

You looked at each one individually. It seemed like they were already close together and you liked that.

"Now our friends, too.", said the archer.

It was pleasant to hear those words from Daryl's mouth. A smile escaped you and the red-haired man noticed it.

"But I think that won't last long.", he said stressed. Then he started walking away, but Rick stopped him with words.

"No.", he explained: "They'll feel very stupid when they find out."

Nevertheless, he approached the door and tried to see through the cracks. You remained silent, curious to hear the rest. Rick might have a plan.

"What are they going to find out?", the man asked.

The sheriff turned angrily to his face, the blood boiling in his veins. He was ready to take revenge.

"That they fucked with the wrong people."

After the first hour of planning the remaining actions, you organized weapons. Since you were completely disarmed, you had to reinvent this resource. You used everything that was available. Shoelaces, belts, zippers and pieces of wood from the wagon itself. If those bastards opened the wagon, you would have tried everything. Now there was a frustrating silence. Although Rick was sure of your victory, not everyone was in the same mood. Many were discouraged in the soul. You yourself had doubts. It wouldn't have been this easy this time. Courage wasn't enough and the wait was irritating. You had no idea when they would consider you if someone had decided to open the wagon. You just had to wait to forget about this endless time. You tried to get a sharp piece off a board that you could grab lightly and hammer into a neck. You saw Sam sitting in a corner, now he had given up hope... You wiped your forehead, leaned your back against the metal wall and heard Glenn whisper something, who then sat down next to you.

"Are you alright?", he asked.

"It's not bad.", you replied, looking at your bloody hands: "Why did you ask me?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I wanted to see what you would answer.", he said with a smile.

You missed Glenn. He was the first person you talked to about your past. The first of the group you entrusted yourself. He had a nice, quiet character, he always managed to convey serenity, even now, despite the shit in which you were immersed.

"How is Maggie?", you asked, thinking about Hershel.

"We haven't talked about it yet, you know... She and I were practically at the gates of Terminus, she was with Sasha while I was with the rest, and over all these days I didn't give up. I was consoling myself with a picture of her, but just as hope left me, I found a message along the rails: 'Glenn, go to Terminus.' So these circumstances aren't exactly easy to talk about."

"I can imagine...", you answered.

Maggie hadn't yet had the opportunity to talk to Glenn about her father, about the shock she had suffered. You were sure that she would have avoided the subject anyway, even if they had had time together. It wouldn't have been easy for them to talk about it as if nothing had happened, although the time was up, not enough had passed.

"Glenn, I don't know how much comfort I can give you with that-...", you whispered: "...-But I buried Hershel."

Glenn stared at you for a while and you slowly saw a smile. Although it was dark, you would swear you saw a light in his eyes. He hugged you suddenly and surprised you. He was thankful. When fortune eased, he broke off awkwardly and felt ashamed of the spontaneous action.

"Thank you.", he whispered.

Hershel had been almost like a father to this boy, in fact he had been a father to all. A wise man, benevolent, always ready to advise and help anyone, even you. You released Glenn with his eyes and he returned to his love, which he had wrapped around his arms. They were a wonderful couple. Her love was pure... You decided then to take a break and reached Sam, who was completely isolated.

"We will all die...", he said before you could say anything.

"Probably, but it's worth a try, don't you think?"

He looked at you uncertainly and you didn't know what to say. You knew he was thinking like you, but at that moment he was broken. He also felt more scared and you understood that well.

"Sam, when we get out of here... You can stay with us..."

"Did you ask the others?", he mumbled.

"Not yet, but I'm sure that-..."

"As I imagined.", he interrupted you.

"Listen, Sam, we're a family, we..."

You paused suddenly when you realized that you had just said WE. You were petrified. Your subconscious already thought of being part of this family, assuming that the past no longer had relevance. Maybe it was plausible, but you couldn't be sure. You just dreamed that someday you would be seriously involved...

"I'm sorry.", Sam distracted you: "I didn't want to be annoying, only... All this scares me."

"Do not worry, I understand you."

He looked down sadly, as if thinking of something.
"Damn.", he said: "Why the hell did I come here? This man with the eyepatch was right!"

As soon as you heard the words, you felt your blood freeze. The Governor? No, this couldn't be. He was dead. He couldn't live, he had lost too much blood. The wound in his stomach... You shook your head in disbelief and let the fear and anger overwhelm you. Sam instinctively headed for the wall, making sure not to make a noise. He didn't try to free himself from your stranglehold, just looked at you frightened and sought help behind you, hoping someone would see it. You turned and saw Rick talking to Daryl. The archer got up and reached you with big steps.

"What the hell 's goin' on 'ere?", he hissed and didn't want to attract the attention of others. You stepped back. You didn't want the new members to think you're crazy.

"No idea!", Sam shouted: "I talked about a man with a eyepatch and she attacked me!"

As soon as this sentence was over, it was Daryl who threw him to the wall.

"What's your problem?", Sam asked in fear.

The sound of contact between the boy's back and the wagon alerted the entire group, who immediately turned to face you. Rick wanted to warn the archer, but you interrupted him.

"He talked about a man, a man with an eyepatch!", you called so everyone could hear it. The new members looked at Rick and didn't know what you were talking about. The sheriff seemed to fade. Michonne sat down so that she could see you completely.

"That's not possible! I killed him..."

Maggie stood with her head down, covering her ears with her hands. Glenn stayed close to her, stroking her back as she begged you to ask the question.

"Describe him!", Daryl shouted. Sam understood that you were not joking and so he spoke.

"Okay... He's... He's tall, has brown hair... His healthy eye is blue... And when I met him, he had a beard..."

Your hands were shaking. It could be anyone, it did not have to be Philip. But there were too many coincidences. Apart from the beard, it seemed to be a good description.

"He was nice, he saved me!", he said stuttering: "What can I say, what do you want to hear?"

Daryl made no sign of loosening his grip, and everyone seemed to have returned to that memory as if reliving that nightmare.

"The name.", you said: "What is his name?"

Sam tried to recognize your intentions because he couldn't understand your reaction. Obviously, he began to suspect that there was no very pleasant connection.

"Why is that so important?", he asked.

Daryl tightened his grip and threatened him: "Y/N asked a question, what's his name?"

"Brian, his name was Brian!", he exclaimed in fear.

The archer released him and hated him with his eyes. A sense of shame overruled you all and made you feel like idiots. You panicked in vain. That meant the Governor's spirit had never left you. Each one of you still had a bitter memory. Nobody had digested this matter. Brian...

"Now you don't care anymore?", Sam asked Daryl. Nobody answered him. Rick crouched down and returned to work. And also the others.

"What a fool!", he added.

"Shut the fuck up!", said the archer: "I'm surprised I don't feel the urge to kill ya'."

Sam was about to explode and react badly, but you stopped him. "Enough. Stop it. Please, Sam, don't reduce yourself to his level."

"To my level?", Daryl repeated angry and Sam looked at you before he laughed: "I'll let you quarrel, lovebirds.", he said, now leaving.
Then he sat down and let himself fall.

Daryl and you again found yourselves shoulder to shoulder, resting on a wall as well. It reminded you of the garage, Joe's group. Now you were faced with another danger...

"We'll make it, don't we?", you asked, watching the others build weapons. Daryl nodded, adding nothing more. Not that you expected it. He wasn't good at comforting people, and you understood that at your expense. But you had gotten used to it by now. Then, as if the brain had linked a thought, he whispered to you.

"We're still there. I mean, we're survivors, we've always done it somehow. Don't know why we're so fucked up or why strangers want to rip our damn asses off, but in the end we keep gettin' out of bullshit like this. Don't know how long this shit will take, but for now we're still here."

You couldn't believe what your ears heard: We are still here...