A War On Her World | TWD: D. Dixon

Ch. 43

I walked through the forest for hours on end until my body had all but collapsed. Only then would I settle down for the night wherever I was. In a way, things had gotten easier with my new arm, but, in the end, none of it truly meant anything.

Staring blankly up at the sky, I watched as the stars twinkled silently from where I lay. The night was cold, I could feel it through my clothes, but the metal on my arm was much colder. And even though the sensation stung my skin, it was the only thing that seemed to keep my mind away from the constant ache in the rest of my body. It wasn't always physical, sometimes I didn't feel any pain at all. Sometimes it was all I felt.

Most of the time, I didn't notice the discomfort. Most of the time, I tried not to think about anything, not even the walker that growled violently as it reached for me. The thudding sounds of it swiping at nothing did little to capture my attention.

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It was not an easy feat, not by a long stretch, but when Maggie was reunited with her husband after more than a week of nothing to go off of, she could have cried in relief then and there. It was in that moment she knew she had made the right choice every step of the way if it meant seeing Glenn again. The couple embraced one another with a desperation that only people who truly loved each other could.

Benjamin had been too frightened at the time to fully appreciate the miracle that was them being reunited. The sounds of the gunshots echoing throughout the tunnel had been far too much for him to handle. He had latched himself onto Sasha, quaking in fear as Glenn and Maggie took each other in.

He did, eventually, see the look of adoration on their faces and it only served to solidify the idea that his mother would be at Terminus. He didn't really know what Terminus was, but he knew his mama would be there.

"Hi. I'm Mary," a kind woman introduced herself as the group entered the community of Terminus. They had lowered their weapons as the sign had asked them to do and they were welcomed as the signs had promised. "Looks like you've been on the road awhile."

"We have," Maggie replied in pure disbelief at how real the promises had been.

They followed the signs, hoping for a place to stay, for safety and security. They followed them in the hope they would be reunited with their loved ones, but, at the same time, they hadn't realised how low their hopes really were. Only as they were overcome by a feeling of pleasant surprise did any of them realise they were expecting disappointment.

"Let's get you settled and we'll make you a plate. Welcome to Terminus."

Mary introduced the group to some of the other members of the community, including a man named Alex. He seemed a bit stand-off-ish when he was first in front of the prison members, but he answered any questions they had without hesitation. He came across as truthful.

Benjamin followed along in the arms of Glenn, his legs a little too short to be walking around a new area when they were unsure how long it would take. The little boy hugged himself closely to the older man, frightened by the new situation. The place looked nice on the outside, but no one came up to greet them like they would have at the prison, and that made him nervous.

Alex took the group around, telling them a little about the place that would hopefully be their new home. He showed them where the bathrooms were and the courtyard where most of the members gathered to socialize. Their fences weren't as tall or steady, but, from the looks of things, their system worked well for them. Their food was abundant and everyone looked well-dressed. It was nice being able to imagine, to hope for, a future in the community.