Chapter forty two
"I already made you a promise."
Not long after, the quiet sanctuary was punctured by panic: Bob, Daryl, and Carol had vanished. Rick, Sasha, and Tyreese immediately went out into the dark to search the perimeter, leaving the rest to guard the church. Scarlett paced the aisle, holding Judith tight against her chest while Carl watched her anxiously.
"They'll be fine," Carl reassured her, trying to anchor his mother.
The heavy front doors suddenly banged open. Sasha, Rick, and Tyreese marched back inside, their faces grim and empty-handed. Sasha didn't even stop; she charged straight up the aisle toward Father Gabriel.
"Stop. What are you doing?" Sasha demanded, her voice trembling with rage.
Gabriel looked around wildly, terrified. "What am I doing?"
"This is all connected," Sasha shouted, narrowing the distance. "You show up, we're being watched, and now three of us are gone!"
"I... I don't... I don't have anything to do with this," Gabriel stammered, backing away.Sasha suddenly whipped out her hunting knife. Gabriel jumped back with a gasp.
"Wait!" he cried out.
"Don't!" Rosita yelled, stepping forward to intervene, but Abraham firmly caught her arm and held her back.
"Sasha, put it away," Tyreese urged gently, trying to de-escalate his sister.
"Who's out there?" Sasha demanded, ignoring her brother and pointing the blade at the priest.
Gabriel held his hands up in absolute surrender. "I... I don't have anything..."
Recognizing the escalating danger, Scarlett quickly turned and handed Judith off to Carl, ensuring her kids were safe behind her before she stepped into the aisle to back up Sasha.
"..to do with this," Gabriel finished, his voice cracking.
"Where are our people?" Sasha snapped.
"I don't have anything to—"
"Where are our people!" Sasha yelled, her patience entirely gone.
"Please! I don't have anything to do with this! I—"
Rick reached out, placing a firm, grounding hand on Sasha's arm and pulling her back a step. He took her place, locking his cold gaze onto the priest.
"Why'd you bring us here?" Rick asked, his voice low and dangerous.
"Please, I—"
"Are you working with someone?" Rick pressured, stepping directly into his space.
"I'm alone! I'm alone! I was always alone," Gabriel cried, tears finally spilling over.
"Back when we were at the food bank..." Rick began, his tone dropping to a lethal whisper. "What about the woman in the food bank, Gabriel? What did you do to her?"
Gabriel gasped, his face draining of what little color it had left.
"The words carved into the outside walls," Rick continued, refers to the message 'You'll burn for this.' That was for you. Why? What are you gonna burn for, Gabriel?"
Losing his temper, Rick lunged forward and grabbed Gabriel by the jacket, shaking him. "What? What did you do? What did you do!"
Rick fiercely shoved him away, letting him go as Gabriel stumbled back against the pews, sobbing.
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Safe haven | Rick Grimes
FanfictionScarlett Avery has had a rough life between her abusive father to her abusive husband, she ends up running away to a small town outside of Georgia wanting to keep a low profile and continue her medical career with fear of him finding her and her nee...
