Within

twenty

The Sanctuary was quieter than usual, a tense calm hanging in the air after the grim news from the outpost. People moved about with purpose, whispering among themselves about the slaughter that had taken place. Ariana could feel the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on her as she made her way through the dimly lit corridors. She needed to talk to someone, someone she could trust with the secret that had been gnawing at her since the moment Negan announced that Rick and his group were responsible.

Sherry was the only person she could think of. Tough, sharp, and a bit of a loner, Sherry had always been someone who kept her cards close to her chest. If anyone could handle the truth without panicking or running straight to Negan, it would be her.

Ariana found Sherry in one of the storage rooms, going through inventory. The sound of clinking glass and the rustling of cardboard filled the space, but Sherry looked up as soon as Ariana entered. She immediately noticed the strained look on Ariana's face.

"Hey, you okay?" Sherry asked, her voice tinged with concern as she set down the clipboard she was holding.

Ariana hesitated, glancing around to make sure they were alone before speaking. "I need to talk to you. It's important."

Sherry's expression shifted to one of seriousness, and she motioned for Ariana to sit on a nearby crate. "What's going on?"

Ariana sat down, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to find the right words. "It's about the group that attacked the outpost. The people who killed all those men..."

Sherry nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "What about them?"

Ariana took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest. "I know them. I used to be with them... Rick, Daryl, Michonne. They were my people."

Sherry's eyes widened, shock momentarily breaking through her usual guarded demeanor. "You're serious?"

Ariana nodded, her voice trembling. "Yes. Before I ended up here, I was part of their group. But then things got chaotic, and they told me not to go on a run alone and I did and then some Saviours found me and kidnapped me and I've been here ever since. I didn't know what happened to them, and now... now I'm terrified."

Sherry was silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of Ariana's confession. Finally, she let out a slow breath, leaning back against the wall. "Damn, that's... that's a lot to take in. And you've been keeping this to yourself the whole time?"

Ariana nodded again, tears welling up in her eyes. "I didn't know what else to do. I was scared, and I thought if Negan found out, he'd kill me. But now, with what happened at the outpost... I'm even more afraid. They don't know I'm here, and if they find out... or if Negan finds out..."

Sherry's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing in thought. "Negan doesn't know. That's good. But you're right, if he finds out, it won't be pretty. He's pissed, and he's looking for blood."

Ariana shuddered, wiping away the tears that had started to fall. "I don't know what to do, Sherry. I'm stuck between two worlds, and I'm afraid of what's going to happen next."

Sherry moved closer, placing a hand on Ariana's shoulder in a rare show of comfort.

"Listen, you've got to keep your head down, especially now. Don't let anyone else know about this. You've survived this long, and you've got to keep surviving. But if Rick's group is coming after Negan, things are going to get a hell of a lot more dangerous. For everyone."

Ariana's breath hitched as she tried to hold back a sob. "I just don't want anyone else to die because of me. I've already lost so much... I don't think I can take losing more."

Sherry's grip on her shoulder tightened slightly, her voice firm. "You're tougher than you think, Ariana. You've made it this far, and you can keep going. Just stay smart, stay quiet, and don't do anything that'll get you noticed. We'll figure something out, but for now, you need to be careful."

Ariana nodded, feeling a small measure of relief at having shared her secret, but the fear still lingered in the pit of her stomach. "Thank you, Sherry. I didn't know who else to turn to."

Sherry gave her a tight, almost sad smile. "You're not alone, okay? We'll get through this. Just be ready for whatever comes next."