Long after I've stopped singing, we're still walking.
Suddenly, Rick holds up a hand. We look around, seeing nothing but trees and railroad tracks all around us.
"We're close. We'll reach it by sundown," Daryl says.
"We shouldn't go in the front door," Rick decides. "We don't know what these people are like. We'll go through the woods."
None of us argue, trusting his judgement. We leave the tracks and head into the trees, weaving among the trunks easily. No conversations happen, every one of us anxious for what lays ahead.
We get to a fence covered in vines and other shrubbery. Looking through the chain link fence, we see a large building with TERMINUS written in big letters in eight of the windows.
"Scout around for watch people. Then, we'll go over and we'll be in," Rick says.
Carl and Michonne split off one way, and Daryl and I go off another. Rick stays by the fence.
We scout, finding no people of any kind on watch inside the fence. I look through the trees at Carl and Michonne, who look like they're having a heart to heart. Michonne hugs him, and he returns it. I smile lightly, looking back at Daryl as he scans the surrounding area.
When we loop back, Rick is burying his bag of guns.
"Just in case," he says, finishing.
He climbs the fence, jumping down into Terminus' property. We follow, and pull out our weapons. We creep inside, and see light coming from a door down the long stone hallway. We walk into the room.
A woman sits at a table, headphones on, speaking into a mic. "There are maps along the way to aid you in your journey. Sanctuary for all, community for all. Those who arrive survive. Terminus."
Other people work at desks, putting together the Terminus signs we saw along the way.
"Hello," Rick says. No one answers. "Hello!" he repeats, louder.
Everyone looks up and stares at us. We must look quite strange, the five of us.
"Well, Albert must be on perimeter watch," a man says, putting down a marker he's holding. "You here to rob us?"
"No. We wanted to see you before you saw us," Rick explains.
"Makes sense," the man says. "Well, usually we do this where the tracks meet." He moves towards us, and gestures with both arms in the air. "Welcome to Terminus! I'm Gareth. Looks like you've been on the road for some bit."
He's handsome, I will admit. He has brown hair, and light stubble lining his chin. He has the same poise and confidence to him as the Governor once did, the same charm. I'm not sure I trust him.
"We have," Rick says. "I'm Rick, that's Carl, Daryl, Hope, and Michonne."
Gareth waves, and we don't say anything.
"You're nervous! I get it, we were all the same way. We came here for sanctuary. Is that what you're here for?"
"Yes."
"Good. You found it." Gareth pauses, looking behind him. "Alex! Guys, this is Alex, he's in charge of welcoming newcomers. We could just ignore it, but the welcome wagon is a whole lot nicer. He'll ask you a few questions and...yeah. But, first, we'll need to see everybody's weapons. If you could just lay them in front of you."
Rick looks at all of us before taking his own gun out of its holster. "Alright."
"I'm sure you understand."
YOU ARE READING
Daryl's Angel (Book One in the Apocalypse Angel Trilogy)
Fanfiction"Why're you bein' so nice to me?" "I would want the same if I were you." Hope Starling was alone when the dead started rising. She had always been alone, with parents that had disowned her and no friends to help her. Inside the department store in...
