Tour Guide ➣ Carl Grimes

29. Taunts and Reminders

Hannah woke with a start as the RV lurched forward, almost pulling her from her place next to Maggie. They had been driving for at least an hour and a half, for most of which Hannah was asleep.

"Bitch nuts," she heard Abraham let out as he stopped the vehicle.

Immediately Rick came to the front of the van, blocking Hannah's view of the windshield. All she could see over the heads of the tall men in front of her were some stray cars blocking the road.

"What?" Rick asked, concerned.

"Enemy close," Abraham responded simply.

Hannah pulled herself to sit fully upright, careful not to disturb the woman beside her. Now she could see what the men had stopped for. And it was more than just some abandoned cars.

Everyone made their way to the front of the van, all warily watching the line of Saviors in front of them, waiting for instruction on how to proceed. Hannah watched the way Carl, who was leaning on the wall across from her, gripped his gun. She knew what his decision would be.

"Are we doing this?" Abraham finally asked. Rick gave him a decisive 'no' before having the group exit the RV, guns in hand, hands to the sky.

As they each made their way down the stairs of the van, single file like children on a school bus, Carl quickly stepped in front of Hannah. He said nothing, barely taking in her presence, and Hannah assumed he wanted first view of the enemy. However, as they all filled into the road, standing in front of the RV, Hannah noticed how he continued to shield her. His back was straight and broad, and Hannah couldn't help but watch the flex of his arms through his flannel when a Savior began speaking.

"He's someone who was with a whole lotta someones who didn't listen," a man Hannah didn't recognize spoke. She hadn't seen the person laying limp on the ground until she had stepped out of the van. But now as both groups stood parallel to one another, Hannah could only focus on the way his chest rose and fell ever so slightly, and how his eyes searched the faces of all of her people. It was like he was waiting for them to do something, but Hannah didn't know what.

"We can make a deal," Rick called over to the Savior, his voice unwavering even as he held his hands in the air.

"That's right, we can," the Savior tilted his head, a mean smirk on his lips, "Give us all you're stuff. We'll probably have to kill one of you, that's just how it goes, but then we can start moving forward with business. All you gotta do is listen."

"Yeah," Rick drew out his words, and Hannah could see his own tilted smile forming as he lowered his hands, "That deal ain't gonna work for us. Fact is, I was just gonna ask for all of your stuff. Only, I'm thinking I don't have to kill any of you," Rick paused, "Any more, that is."

Hannah could feel as the rest of her group tightened the grip on their weapons, awaiting the Savior's response. And yet none came. Both groups stared back at each other with an unwavering confidence that lilted in the air. It was the kind of confidence she had seen on Carl's face so many times. It was the 'I'm going to beat you' confidence.

It almost scared Hannah how good it felt.

Finally the lead Savior spoke again, "Sorry, my deal is the only deal. We don't really negotiate."

At that Rick simply raised his hand, signaling to the rest of the group to round up and get back into the RV.

"Then me and my people are leaving," he said as they all slowly made their way inside, sure to never turn their backs on the group in front of them.

"Okay, friend," the Savior said, "Plenty a ways to get to where you're going."

Hannah didn't like the way the man spoke, as if he knew more than they ever would. She ignored the thought as she climbed up the stairs, Carl following behind her.