What's Next

Chapter Twenty 🦋

Val's POV:

"I'll check out the cars." Michonne stated.

"There aren't any cars." Rick replied, completely convinced.

"Rick are you hearing yourself right now?" I questioned angrily.

"You are being completely unreasonable! We need to check his story out. Whether there are cars or not, don't you think it's smart to make sure."

"You are throwing away a perfect opportunity on your own accord. You are putting everyone's lives at stake cause you refuse to do the one thing that might help us. Do you think of anyone else but yourself?"

"I am the one making these decisions. What I say goes Valentina!"

"We'll see if you will be saying that when I end up like Lori!" I scolded. I regretted that last bit instantly, I'm just so annoyed and angry at Rick's recklessness. "She's right Rick, we need to check out these cars." Michonne stated once again, coming to my defence.

"There aren't any cars." Rick growled.

"There's only one way to find out."

"We don't need to find out." Rick argued back.

"We do."

"You know what you know and you're sure if it, but I'm not."

"Me neither." Maggie added.

"Your way is dangerous, mine isn't."

"Passing up someplace we can live? Where Judith can live? where your sister can raise your niece or nephew? That's pretty dangerous."

"We need to find out what this is. We can handle ourselves. So that's what we're gonna do."

"Then I will too. I'll go" Glenn said, adding to the conversation. Everyone had thought this through but Rick. At least more clearly. "Abraham."

"Yeah. I'll walk with them." Abraham replied.

"Rosita?"

"Okay."

"If there's trouble, you got enough firepower?"

"We got what we got." Glenn stated.

I watched them all get ready, noticing Daryl grab Aaron, pulling him elsewhere. "The walkies are out of juice. If you're not back in 60 minutes, we'll come."

"Which might be just what they want."

"If we're all in here, we're a target."

"I've got the area covered," Daryl stated, picking back up his crossbow. I walk briskly up to him, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. "Be careful." I muttered, with a small smile. He nodded his head before continuing on outside, along with everyone else. Those who were on perimeter watch and the ones who were leaving to find these supposed vehicles Aaron stated he had.

"Alright groups of two, find somewhere safe within eyeshot." Rick instructed.

**

Rick and I stayed back. I stayed for obvious reasons. Neither Rick nor Daryl want me out there right now, so it was best that I stayed without needing to put up a fight. Rick kept a watchful eye out the barn doors, as well as on Aaron. "When the world was still the world, I worked for an NGO. Our mission was to deliver medicine and food to the Niger River Delta."

"Bad people pointing guns in my face every other week."

"You're not bad people. You're not going to kill us. And we are definitely not going to kill you." I looked between my brother and Aaron with a sad look on my face. We're not bad people, but sure as hell feels like it sometimes that we actually are. I rubbed my belly, second guessing if this really is the life that my baby deserves to grow up in. I can't tell anymore. With Daryl still being somewhat stand offish with me, maybe I was better off facing this alone. 'No, I don't want that' I mentally scolded myself for even thinking like that. I knew there was more to it with Daryl than what he was letting on. I just hope that it wasn't going to be something that will pull us apart for good.

I drowned out what else was said, truly being stuck in my own thoughts. I worried that maybe this baby will end up like my first. Emersyn. My sweet baby girl I had when I was 16, didn't even get a second. Dead before she was born. I worry that if it was to happen again, in this new world. This baby will instead turn. Turn into one of the monsters that roam our earth, out to kill us. It was one thing to be afraid of being a parent, but with my history. It was a whole other story.

**

I snapped out of it when I heard Judith begin to cry. The poor thing was hungry. I knew the feeling all to well. Rick took her from my arms, only to hold her as he tried to crush acorns. "Rick, just let me hold her while you do that." I begged, getting up to get her. He ignored me. Something that's' become normal for him to do. "Shhh..." he hushed, as poor Judith continued to cry.

"You did see the jar of applesauce in my bag, right?" Aaron questioned, as he also sat tied up, having to watch my brother. "Rick?" I sighed. I just wanted to help him. Help my niece. "This isn't a trick." Aaron continued on even though Rick continued to ignore us both. "This isn't about trying to make you like me. It's self-preservation."

"Because if roamers hear her and come this way, I know I'll be the first to go." Rick finally gave in. I watched him, get a spoonful and for a second I thought he was actually going to do the right thing. Until he walked over to Aaron with it. "You think I'm trying to poison your baby daughter?" Aaron questioned, offended.

"I'm tied up and you've already expressed a willingness to stab me in the head. How would cruelly killing your daughter in front of you in any way help the situation?"

"Maybe she doesn't die. Maybe she gets sick. Maybe you're the only one that can help her, and I just lose."

"I am the only one that can help her because I have applesauce and we all win."

"Rick, She's going to be okay! She needs to eat, just let me eat it for Christ Sake!" I exclaimed, growing more frustrated by the second with his paranoia. Rick ignored me, still pushing the spoon towards Aaron, "I hate applesauce" I hear him mutter to Rick, as he steered back from the spoon full of applesauce. "My mom, used to make me eat foods I didn't like to make me more manly. Salmon patties, applesauce, and onions" Aaron explained.

"She was a very confused woman who tried her damnedest. I just bring the jar to show that we have apple trees nearby." Aaron continued to fight. "Like you said you'll be the first to go." Rick stated, pushing the spoon back at Aaron, who reluctantly took the mouthful Rick had been trying to force. Aaron scrunched his up with disgust, I noticed Rick soon taste it for himself, then getting up going straight back in the direction of the jar.

He readjusted his grip on Judith, well tried to until I stepped in and finally took her back from his arms so he could get somewhat organised. "The community is big enough. We can find a place for you to live where she cries, no one, nothing can hear it outside the walls."

"You got 43 minutes." Was all Rick huffed.

**