million dollar man | twd

ᴛᴏᴏ sᴀꜰᴇ

[ too safe ]
꧁꧂

When the group set off for the community that evening, they divided into two cars. Rick rode with Michonne, Glenn, and Aaron, while the rest of the group traveled in the RV.

The journey began smoothly, but it quickly became clear why Aaron had been hesitant about the route they'd taken. The road was obstructed by a massive herd of walkers, and they lost sight of the car ahead.

After a brief discussion about their next move, they spotted a flare rising into the sky not far off. While the group debated the possibility of it being a trap, the prevailing thought was that it could be their missing members signaling for help.

Following the flare's trail led them to a single figure—Eric, Aaron's boyfriend. He was injured with a broken ankle, and Maggie immediately took charge of tending to him. The sight of Eric brought a wave of relief to the group, and soon, the rest of their party arrived, their faces lighting up with joy at the reunion.

Rick remained cautious, his wariness about the new members still evident. Despite the reassurances and the truthfulness of Aaron's previous information, he couldn't fully dismiss his reservations.

With the group now reunited, they decided to follow Aaron's advice and rest for the night. They agreed to take the route he had recommended in the morning.

As dawn broke and they continued their journey, the silhouette of Washington, D.C., emerged in the distance. When they finally reached the closed gates of Aaron and Eric's community, the lack of visible guards immediately struck them as odd. Nonetheless, they kept their skepticism in check, eagerly awaiting to see what awaited them beyond the gates.

─── · 。ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Despite the promising pictures, Alexandria wasn't exactly what Vanessa had envisioned. Standing at the gates, everything seemed eerily pristine and overly polished. The grass was perfectly manicured, the houses looked almost too perfect, and the whole place had a surreal, almost cinematic quality. Without the towering walls enclosing it, she'd think she'd stepped into a time machine and traveled back to a bygone era.

The group was scheduled to be interviewed individually by Deanna, the community's leader. Rick was first, leaving the others to wait with a growing sense of impatience and unease. Vanessa felt a constant itch to reach for the gun she had reluctantly surrendered, but at least she still had her machete.

Rick's interview was brief, followed by Michonne's. Finally, it was Vanessa's turn. Deanna's house was immaculate, a stark contrast to the grime and chaos Vanessa had grown accustomed to. The clean, orderly environment made her feel like an intruder. Covered in sweat, dirt, and blood from their journey, she felt acutely out of place in this pristine setting.

"So, Vanessa," Deanna began, her tone gentle but probing. "Tell me about your life before all this. What did you do?"

Vanessa shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She glanced around the room, avoiding eye contact with Deanna. "I worked in a few different places," she said vaguely. "Nothing too exciting."