Captive | The Walking Dead |

101

To Rick's credit, things did seem to get better after that day, and Isabella hated that. She worked so hard to gain their trust back, and all it took was his words for them to accept her.

She bit her tongue and knew some things weren't arguing about so she decided to try and enjoy the new enviroment.

Rick was less distant with her, he tried to make small talk with her more but it was still awkward and they never got far in their conversations. She was slowly getting her respect for Rick again though she knew it would be some time before she could bring herself to forgive him.

She wanted to keep hating him for what he did but she knew he made the right choice, the right thing for the community.

On the topic of the community, they'd begun to slowly build a bridge from the supplies they'd gotten on that run; they still had a long way to go as they'd just started but hopefully in some months they'd be close to finishing the bridge.

Today was an easy one, there'd be no run so she did her best to help around the community, whether it was checking on their gardens or working on their limited stock of vehicles.

It wasn't much work but she enjoyed it, it made her think of how things had been before, before the fall and back when they were at the prison.

Bear laid on the ground feet from her and she was glad to have his company. He was always with the kids, meaning less time with her.

Yet he recently started sticking close to her and it made her smile, knowing she had one thing back in life.

She was so lost in repairing some of the damaged undercarriage of the car that she didn't notice the footsteps approaching her, and she felt a light kick to her foot.

She paused her work and pushed the roller she was on out from under the car and looked up to the face of Michonne.

"We need to talk," was all Michonne said.

"I'm kind of busy," Isabella said before going to roll herself under the car.

Michonne placed her foot so it blocked the wheels, stopping Isabella from hiding. "It's important."

She ducked her head under the car and closed her eyes while simultaneously sucking in a deep breath.

"Don't say anything stupid," she whispered to herself before exhaling and opened her eyes.

She pushed herself up and got to her feet, and wiped her hands. "What's so important Michonne?"

"Negan. What are you trying to do to him?"

Isabella scoffed. "Everytime I think we're past this." Anger radiated off her body, and she grabbed her water bottle, taking a swig. A part of her pretended it helped cool her anger.

"I saw you yesterday, you stood outside his cell Isabella. You were there for minutes, you don't do that if you've 'moved on'."

"So you're keeping tabs on me now? What next, do I need permission to leave the my house?"

"We're trying to build something here, and if you do anything, it'll ruin everything."

"For me or for you?"

"For all of us. You need to let go of the past, move on. We have to be the bigger person here."

"Maybe I haven't fully let go, and you can't blame me for that. But I'm doing my best, don't you get that? It's not like I enjoy the fact that he's alive down there, but I'm not going to do anything. I was outside his cells because I was thinking how far I've come, that's why. I know you have this superiority complex but you're not better than us Michonne."