𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍, rick grimes (ON HOLD)

EIGHTY

      RICK AND JOSIE QUICKLY GOT DRESSED, LEAVING THEIR BEDROOM to see Jesus sitting on the stairs, both Parker and Carl had guns to his head. Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, Abraham, and Michonne all stood on the stairs, their guns pointed at him.

      The group waited till morning to talk to him and as soon as the sun rose, they sat Jesus at the table. They all surrounded him as Daryl paced quietly behind him.

      "So how'd you get out?" Rick asked.

      "One guard can't cover two exits," Jesus replied. "Or third floor windows. Knots untie and locks get picked. Entropy comes from order, right?"

      "Right," Daryl answered gruffly.

      "I checked out your arsenal," Jesus said. "I haven't seen anything like that in a long time. You're well-equipped, but your provisions are low. Very low for the amount of people you have. Fifty-four?"

      "More than that," Josie replied.

      "Well, I appreciate the cookie," Jesus said. "My compliments to the chef."

      "Yeah, she ain't here," Daryl glared at him.

      Jesus looked at Daryl. "Look, I know we got off to a bad start, but we're on the same side. The living side. You and Rick had every reason to leave me out there, but you didn't. I'm from a place that's a lot like this one. Part of my job is searching for other settlements to trade with. I took your truck because my community needs things and the two of you looked like trouble, but I was wrong. You're good people and this is a good place. I think our communities may be in a position to help each other."

      "Do you have food?" Glenn asked.

      "We've started to raise cattle," Jesus replied with a nod. "We scavenge, we grow. Everything from tomatoes to sorghum."

      "Tell us why we should believe you," Rick said.

      "I'll show you," Jesus offered. "We take a car, I can take you back home in a day and you all can see for yourselves who we are and what we have to offer."

      "Wait, you're looking for more settlements?" Maggie asked. "You mean you're already trading with other groups?"

      Jesus smiled and chuckled, leaning back in his seat. "Your world's about to get a whole lot bigger."

      With his explanation, everyone seemed pretty much convinced. They all left the house and went to the RV, packing all the supplies they would need. The group piled in and Josie sat in the passenger's seat as they made their way to Jesus' community. After a while, the RV came to a stop and they came across a car wreck.

      "Yo, Rick, what's going on?" Daryl asked.

      "We got a crash ahead," Rick replied. "Looks like it just happened."

      Jesus came to the front and his eyes widened. "It's one of ours."

      Jesus rushed out of the RV, being followed by the others. They all moved toward the wreck, Josie brought out her bow and placed an arrow in it.

      Rick brought out his gun and pointed it at Jesus. "If this is a trick, it won't end well for you."

      "My people are in trouble," Jesus explained. "They don't... we don't have a lot of fighters. I know how it looks, but I'll play it out."

      "Nah, I got tracks right here," Daryl said, pointing at the ground.

      The tracks led them to a house and Rick knocked on the door, but nobody answered. Rick turned and glanced at Josie, both of them sharing a look.