The End Of My World

Chapter 36

Chapter 36
(Artemis, this is also a recap)

As I stepped through the gates of Alexandria, the first thing that hit me was how tall the walls were. Steel, solid, and imposing—they felt like they belonged to a different world, one where safety was more than just a fleeting illusion. My fingers brushed the hilt of my dagger, an instinctive move, even though the walls should've made me feel safe. The streets beneath my boots were clean, too clean, almost like they were mocking the dirt and blood I was so used to. The houses lined up neatly on either side, big and sturdy, with lawns that were actually trimmed. I couldn't help but stare at them. It felt like walking through a dream, or maybe a memory of what life used to be like. But dreams were dangerous, and memories could hurt.

We were shown around and given homes but when Deanna started to take us one by one, things  got heated in the homes. Each one that went out for an interview never came back to the house. I watched as the same man came up to the house we were all gathered in and yelled out the next name.

"Glenn"

Then moments later, "Daryl" until it was my turn. I follow the man up the street and around the corner to the house Deanna was living in. I walk up the classic porch and up to the door before having it held open for me.

I stepped into the house, I walked around till I found what I assumed to be her office. I walked into her office, my eyes darting around the room. Bookshelves, neat furniture, a camera in the corner—everything screamed control. Deanna sat behind a desk, smiling like she was trying to be my best friend. Yeah, right. She gestured to a chair across from her. "Please, have a seat. I'm Deanna Monroe." I stared at the chair for a second before plopping down in it, leaning back with my arms crossed. Might as well get this over with. "Artemis," I said flatly.

She nodded, picking up a notebook and pen like she was about to interview me for a job. "Thank you for being here. I like to get to know everyone who comes into Alexandria. This helps us understand where you've been and where you're going." I couldn't help but smirk. "Yeah, sounds cozy." Her smile didn't falter. She was good at this, I'd give her that. "What did you do before? For a living, I mean." I tilted my head, trying to decide how much to share. "I had a life, like everyone else. Doesn't really matter now, does it?" She started writing something down, probably some note about me being difficult. "It might. We all bring something to the table here. What do you think you can contribute to this community?" I let out a short, humorless laugh. "Contribute? I've got a good aim, and I'm quick on my feet. I'm good with knives and can hold my own in a fight. I'm not here to bake cookies or plant flowers, if that's what you're asking." Deanna just looked at me, like she was trying to see past the attitude. "No, I'm asking what you think you can offer. What skills you have, what you've done to survive." I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes. "I've done what I had to. We all have. But don't think for a second that I'm just gonna fall in line because you've got nice houses and walls." She met my gaze, calm and steady. "I don't expect you to. We all have our guard up—it's natural. But we've built something here, something worth protecting. And I think you could be a part of that, if you want to be." I studied her, trying to figure out if she was for real. She didn't blink, didn't look away. "We'll see. But don't take it personally if I don't trust you." She smiled slightly, like she was expecting that answer. "I wouldn't expect anything less. Trust is earned, not given." The room went quiet, the kind of quiet that's more about what's not being said.

Deanna closed her notebook, like she was done with the official part of our chat, but I could feel her eyes still on me. "You know," she said, "I've seen people like you before. People who've had to fight to stay alive, who've had to keep everyone else at arm's length. I think you'll find that we're not so different." I stood up, done with this chit-chat. "Maybe. But I've been wrong before." I turned and walked out, my footsteps echoing in the room. I could feel her watching me, probably wondering if she could break through the walls I'd built around myself. Good luck with that. I wasn't about to let my guard down just because someone offered me a safe place to sleep.

After I walked out of that miserable house and found the rest of the group waiting at the bottom of the stairs. Rick was staring at these carts that were all lined up, little trays set out on top of them. The people standing behind the trays were trying their best to act cool, it was not working so well.

Footsteps behind me draw close and soon deanna is beside me.

"You will put your weapons into these trays" she announces. I can see Daryl's nostrils flare as his arms fold. Oh Boy.....

"There ain't no way i'm given up ma weapon" he shouts

"This is our policy, you can have them back if you go out into the world beyond the gate. But you WILL return them once you come back" she says. I glance at Daryl, his hair is ruff and his figure is as toned as ever but the anger is making his demeanor more animalistic. I shake my head at him hoping he would stop.

"Hand them over" a guy with a goatee and black shaggy hair says. Rick places his weapons into the bin. Glenn is the next one, placing his machete into the tray. Then it was Maggie, then Bob, Michonne was after him and if looks could kill, Michonne would have all of them dead in one single look. Next was Adbraham and Rosita, Sasha and Eugene, then Carl, when they reached Daryl he huffed and growled at the man as he placed his knives and crossbow on the cart. Then Carol, who might I add has been carrying an assault rifle this entire time. Where she got it from, I don't know.

"I was just holding that, its kinda heavy, try to be careful sweetheart" she says with a loving grandmother tone. What was she playing at? Carol is up to something and I must know. Who stole my badass Carol?

Then it was me, there was barely enough room on the cart for my things, all my daggers, my guns, and my bow all went into that silly little tray. Once we had put our stuff in the man started to haul our weapons away. I just stared dead panned at the leader of Alexandria.

"Now, you may rest in the homes provided for you" she starts, "If you need anything please let someone know" before she can finish I turn and walk away. She thinks she is some big time famous person, someone who deserves respect but I can see straight through her, she's a weakling. No matter though, she is about to get a rude awakening.