WITH YOU | TWD

NEW

The rumble of engines echoed through the air as the convoy rolled down the cracked asphalt, kicking up clouds of dust that clung to the vehicles like shadows.

William sat in the passenger seat of one of the trucks, his hand gripping the armrest tighter than he realized. For the first time since the outbreak, he saw something that resembled the old world—neat houses lined up in rows, fences that hadn't fallen to rot.

Once he first went to Hilltop he thought it was something out of this world, but seeing this place right now...Alexandria was something else than just a shelter.

A community.

His breath caught in his throat as the gates creaked open. He couldn't help but stare, his eyes wide with a mixture of disbelief and longing. The sight before him was like a mirage in the wasteland, a fragile bubble.

It was almost surreal.

For a moment, he almost forgot where he was, what side he was on. The ache in his chest deepened as he thought of Charlie and the life they could've had if things were different. Alexandria wasn't his home, but for the first time in what felt like forever, he started to think about more than only surviving. He started thinking about the past.

Negan's hard hand snapped him out of his thoughts, jolting him back to the present.

"Isn't it pretty?"

The weight of reality settled back over him like a shroud. This wasn't a peaceful visit. This wasn't a return to normal. They were here to conquer, to remind the people inside those walls who held the power. They were here to take, to remind these people of their place under Negan's rule. And as much as William wanted to cling to that fleeting sense of normalcy, he knew it was an illusion.

"You know what to do," he threw before walking away.

William stepped out of the truck, his boots hitting the ground with a dull thud. The air felt different here, cleaner somehow, as if it hadn't yet been touched by the rot and decay that plagued the world outside. He straightened up, squaring his shoulders as the other Saviors began to spill out of their vehicles, some already eying the surrounding homes with greedy interest.

He didn't have time for hesitation. Negan had given him a job to do, and if he wanted to maintain the respect he'd fought hard to earn among the Saviors, he couldn't show any sign of weakness.

"Fan out," William barked, his voice sharp and authoritative. "We need a full sweep of the area. Check every building, every room. Make sure they're not hiding anything. And don't touch anything unless I say so."

The Saviors exchanged glances, some of them smirking, others nodding in acknowledgment. They knew better than to question him—he'd earned that. With quick, efficient movements, they scattered throughout Alexandria, the tension thickening in the air as they spread out.

William's eyes briefly lingered on the others before turning back toward the street, scanning the faces of the Alexandrians who stood frozen on their porches and in the streets, their guarded expressions like shields against the intruders. His hand rested casually on the handle of his pistol, a gesture as much about comfort as it was a warning. Yet, despite his confidence, a faint unease prickled at the back of his neck.

"You come here to steal from us now, too?"

The voice was sharp, cutting through the tense air like a blade. His gaze shifted to its source, landing on a woman standing a few feet away. Arms crossed, her sharp, dark eyes locked on him, she radiated a defiance that made her seem taller than she was. Striking was the only word that came to mind—her dark hair pulled tightly back, her features sharp and commanding. She wasn't just another face in the crowd.