We're The Ones Who Live | The Walking Dead (2)

Part 19 - Lines We Cross

Today was training day, and groups from both Hilltop and Alexandria had travelled to Oceanside in order to prepare for a fight they all knew was coming. The fight with Alpha and her horde. Daryl had been the only one to actually see it, but everyone could hear the underlying worry in his usually stern and grumbled voice when he described it to them. If Daryl was worried, they knew it was bad.

The Whisperers had not been seen or heard from all through winter or since then. Lydia seemed to think that during the cold months, her mother and the Whisperers would have migrated in order to save themselves from the cold. But that didn't mean they were gone for good. 

During the trip from Kingdom to Hilltop in the winter storm, the travellers were forced to go through Alpha's territory to spend the night in the factory that was once Negan's Sanctuary. The fact that they never received any kind of punishment for the trespass was unnerving, and they were sure it was only a matter of time before the Whisperers returned to deliver that punishment. That is if they were even still around.

As the sun beamed down upon the beach, the waves crashed onto the shore. The sounds of the water brought with them a breeze that sent a chill through the air and sent a shiver through her body as she just stared out at the horizon. Her eyes were squinted as the sun hit her face, and she tilted her head to look down at her feet, watching the way foam and seaweed washed up in front of her.

CJ' pale red hair moved with the breeze, and she tucked the thin pieces that had escaped her side braid behind her ears. She blocked out the noises around her as she focused on the way the sand at her feet soaked up the sea water and darkened in colour once the small wave back down and flowed back again. Her arms hung by her sides, and she wiggled her fingers to try and warm up her hands as the sea winds stiffened her bones.

In the months that had passed since the night of the barn, CJ had actually been trying to get better and move forwards. There were still nightmares and flashes of images from that night, and sleep-wise, she was still struggling. But day-to-day, she thought she was doing okay. However, it was moments like this one where she was left alone with her own thoughts that she got lost in the memories. 

The sound of multiple footsteps behind her broke her out of her wandering thoughts, and she blinked a few times and shook her head to bring her focus back on the task at hand. She turned away from the sea and marched over to the rest of her people as they walked in formation toward the boat wreck full of walkers. 

CJ went around to walk alongside the crowd to the right, only being there to observe. Across the group to the right, Daryl was walking along with them, also only being there to keep an eye on things. 

The first row of people, led by Aaron, all carried large metal shields with spikes to create a wall. Ezekiel and Jerry opened the door to the boat, letting out three walkers before slamming the door shut again. The bodies were bloated and barely looked human. The skin was hanging off, and bits of seaweed were stuck to their shoulders and heads. 

"And halt!" Aaron yelled. "Drop!"

At the command, everyone crouched down apart from the two rows at the back, who all prepared their weapons to fire.

"Archers!"

The two back rows fired their bows and slingshots, the combined effort managing to kill the three walkers instantly.

"Retrieve!"

Aaron sidestepped to let Cyndie and Rachel through the shields, and the two women ran to collect the arrows from the walker bodies.

"Right! And march!"

The group started moving forwards again. The walkers inside the boat were now growling and clawing at the doorway, their fingers and hands reaching through the gaps and holes in the rotten walls. Ezekiel and Jerry opened the door again, this time letting four walkers out before sealing the rest inside again.