Lone Wolf

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"Hey. Everyone. This is Aaron. We met him outside. He's by himself. We took his weapons, and we took his gear." Maggie told us.

I picked up Judith, aiming my pistol at him, while Alexander and Magnus stood in front of me. Isabelle and Athena flanked both side of me, with Carl next to his dad.

"Hi." He said.

Judith started crying and I calmed her down, with help from Athena.

"It's nice to meet you." Aaron told us, going for a handshake, but the others stopped him.

"You said he had a weapon. There something you need? " Rick asked as he checked his gun.

"He has a camp nearby. He wants us to audition for membership." Sasha said.

I looked at her then at him like he was crazy.

"I wish there was another word. Audition makes it sound like we're some kind of a dance troupe. That's only on Friday nights. And it's not a camp. It's a community. I think you all would make valuable additions. But it's not my call. My job is to convince you all to follow me back home. I know. If I were you, I wouldn't go either. Not until I knew exactly what I was getting into. Sasha, can you hand Rick my pack?" He asked her.

I saw Sasha give him the pack. I handed Judith to Athena and her and Isabelle stayed at the far end. Carl covered them, while I moved closer.

"Front pocket there's an envelope. There's no way I could convince you to come with me just by talking about our community. That's why I brought those. I apologize in advance for the picture quality. We just found an old camera store last-" Aaron was saying before Daryl interrupted him.

"Nobody gives a shit." He said.

"You're absolutely 100% right. That's the first picture I wanted to show you because nothing I say about our community will matter unless you know you'll be safe. If you join us, you will be. Each panel in that wall is a 15 foot high, 12 foot wide slab of solid steel framed by cold-rolled steel beams and square tubing. Nothing alive or dead gets through that without our say so." He said as we looked at the pictures he had.

I listened in on his heartbeat as he continued talking. He wasn't lying. His heart never elevated. I opened my eyes and saw Rick knock him out.

"Alexander, Magnus, jump the trees and stand guard. Keep lookout and make sure no one else is nearby," I told them. They left and I turned to Rick.

"He spoke the truth." I told him.

"We can't know for sure. Dump his pack, I want to know what else he has. Everybody else, I need eyes in every direction. They're coming for us. We might not know how or when, but they are." Rick ordered.

I saw everyone grab an area within the barn, while Daryl tied the guy.

"I can check his memories." I said.

"Do it." He told me.

"Daryl hold him up." I said.

I moved Infront of him, taking my claws out and entered his mind.

"What do you see?" Rick asked me.

"He's telling the truth. He has a community, filled with people. There's a leader, Deanna." I told him.

"Is anyone with him?" He asked.

I searched deeper. I could see a guy with him. I looked for him more.

"His boyfriend. They mean no harm to us." I said.

"Alright. Let him go." Rick told me.

I slowly eased myself out of his mind. I opened my eyes and released my claws as Daryl dropped him.