Dead love in my hands (Troy Otto story/ Fear the walking dead/ ftwd)

You knew my name, but you had no clue what are you gonna go through, baby...

He got behind the wheel in silence. I sat down next to him. And they also drove in silence.

"Maybe we'll find a new place," I broke the silence after an unknown amount of time, "maybe we don't need to go to the ranch?"

"Della, there is everything necessary for life. My father built it for me! And I surrendered to these Indians like the last weakling!"

"And how do you plan to return there?"

"I'll kill Walker."

"Troy... I think it's a bad idea."

"This is the only option."

***

A whole day has passed. It was getting close to midnight. Recently we left behind El-Bazar. All the same landscapes looked completely new. I didn't believe we'd come back. The closer I got to the ranch, the more my chest hurt. I'll have to lie to everyone about Clara.... I really killed her... No, I couldn't. Could not...

"We're about to arrive," Troy interrupted my introspection. "Hey, Dell, how are you?"

"It's okay," I forced myself to smile.

"Because of your sister?"

"And because of her, too..."

"Forget it, it's not your fault."

"But what to tell everyone? Leave them the hope that she will return? To say that she died...? to confess?"

"No! No confessions! Let's say she's looking for Michael. And period."

I nodded silently. So far, this option was the most suitable. I didn't see any others.

A couple of hours later we were at the ranch. The gates, as always, were guarded by the military.

"You should go there first, " said Troy, looking through the binoculars, "tell everyone that you were left without me and decided to come back."

"Are you crazy?! I'm not going there alone."

"Della, listen, you're our chance. Scout everything out and tell me how things are going there."

I decided there was no point in arguing. I got behind the wheel and started the car. Troy was no longer in sight. He hid somewhere behind the rocks. I started to worry.

When I got closer, I was surprised by the presence of the same people at the gate in the guard. Almost all the servicemen who were there were people from the Troya detachment, survivors of Ophelia's departure, and several other men whom I did not know.

Three meters from the gate, I stopped the car and had not even started to get out yet, but I saw through the windshield how a weapon was pointed in my direction.

Opening the door, I crawled out, immediately raising my hands.

"Don't shoot, I'm not infected!"

"Who are you?!"

"Don't you recognize me? I left here a few months ago... With Troy."

"Who's Troy? This is the first I've heard of him! And I don't know you either!" A young guy answered me, he looked like he had just turned 20.

"I also see you for the first time, although I've been on the ranch for quite a long time."

"Call Jake!" Our barely started conversation was interrupted by Arthur Green. I knew him. He was from Troy's squad.

"Arthur! Thank God! What's going on here?"

"Open the gate!" Arthur looked sternly at the guy who was talking to me.