"I've done things," Charlie said, looking up into his eyes full of disappointment. "Things that I am not proud of. But everything I've done, I've done to survive...And I did. I survived."
"And are you happy?" Daryl asked, using all his power to stop...
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"You can hear it. Some of you saw it. They got back here, half of them. Still enough to surround us 20 deep," said Rick and a wave of whispers spread through the Alexandria. "I know you're scared! You haven't seen anything like this! But we're safe...for now. Walls gonna hold together. Can you?" he looked around. "The others, they're gonna be back. Daryl, Abraham, Sasha. They have vehicles. They're gonna lead them away, just like the others! And Glenn and Nickolas are gonna walk back through the front gate after. They know what they're doing. And we...We keep noise to a minimum," Grimes command. "Pull our blinds at night. Even better, keep the lights out. We'll try to make this place as quiet as a graveyard, see if they move on."
"This place is a graveyard." Charlie looked Rick straight in the eye. "We're sitting ducks. You talk about Glenn and Nicholas walking back through that gate like it's a given. But you don't know. You don't know if they're even alive."
"Charlie," Rick's gaze hardened, a mixture of disappointment and determination settling into his features. He looked at her with furrowed brows, his blue eyes reflecting a pained understanding. The hurt in his eyes was almost touchable. "Let's not do this here."
"Rick's plan stopped the whole herd from coming here!" Aaron said. "We've got half of them away."
"How many people died to do this?" she asked.
"I was out there recruiting with Daryl," Aaron said, changing the subject. "Because we did what I wanted...We wound up in a trap set by those people. And I lost my pack. They must have followed our track. They attacked us because of me."
Charlie's mouth opened and closed, the words failing her. Her mind raced, replaying the chaos of the Wolves' attack, the screams, the blood. The enormity of the loss. She looked at Aaron with compassion, though, knowing that everyone can make a mistake.
"There'll be more to talk about," Rick said.
As the meeting finished, the residents of Alexandria moved through the streets. The gravity of their losses weighed heavily on their shoulders. Charlie walked aimlessly, her mind a whirlwind of emotions, until she found herself standing before one of the walls.
It was a simple steel structure. On it, names were written in black paint, a growing list of those who had fallen during those past days. Charlie stepped closer, her eyes scanning names of people she knew or those she couldn't place to a face.
Only one name made her heart clench.
Glen.
Charlie felt a lump rise in her throat as she watched the scene unfold. She had known these people, shared meals and laughter with them. And now, they were nothing more than names on a wall.
Rick approached quietly, but Charlie didn't want to talk to him. She decided to walk away and continue her wandering alone. He respected her decision and didn't follow her. As she walked aimlessly, her mind swirled with thoughts. She was lost in them when she heard raised voices nearby.
