The Third Dixon [The walking dead OC x OC]

Chapter nine

Jesus led them through one of the quieter hallways on the second floor, away from the bustle of the courtyard below. Someone had pointed them toward a room with a basin and a few buckets of heated water, but nobody seemed in much of a hurry to wash up. They had come here for one reason, and Gregory had already made it clear he intended to make them work for it.

Maggie walked beside Measi, arms folded loosely across her chest as she glanced back toward Gregory's office.

"So," she asked under her breath, "what do you think about that Gregory guy?"

Measi didn't even hesitate.

"I think he's a misogynistic, sexist asshole."

Nathan snorted behind her while Michonne tried, unsuccessfully, to hide a smile.

Maggie nodded immediately.

"Completely agree with you there."

Jesus sighed as he pushed open another door.

"I know Gregory isn't... easy."

"That's one way of putting it," Daryl muttered.

Jesus ignored the comment. ''We want to generate trade. Gregory does too. But ammunition isn't something we urgently need."

Rick frowned. "How's that?"

"The walls hold," Jesus explained. "We just brought in more medicine, and our crops are doing well. Gregory wants the best deal possible."

"Yeah," Measi replied, leaning one shoulder against the wall, "well, we want things too."

Nathan nodded.

"We need food."

Rick looked between Jesus and the others.

"We came all this way. We're gonna get it."

Jesus offered a reassuring smile.

"I'll talk to him. We'll work this out." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Circumstances change. We're doing well now, and you will be too. I'll make him understand that." His eyes settled on Rick. "Can you give me a few days?"

Michonne answered before Rick could.

"We can."

Rick gave a reluctant nod.

"Yeah."

Jesus let out a quiet laugh, clearly relieved that nobody had stormed back toward Gregory's office.

"Thank—"

The door burst open.

A young man stumbled into the hallway, breathless and covered in dirt.

"Jesus!"

Every conversation stopped.

Gregory appeared almost immediately, irritation already written across his face.

"What's wrong?"

The messenger struggled to catch his breath.

"They're back."

Without another word, everyone followed him downstairs.

The courtyard had transformed from peaceful to tense in a matter of seconds.

Several frightened residents stood gathered near the gate while a small group of exhausted survivors had just returned. Their clothes were torn, faces streaked with dried blood and dust.

Gregory hurried toward them. "Nathan!"

Nathan instinctively looked up before realizing the man wasn't talking to him, but to a man who held the same name. He frowned slightly and glanced toward Measi, who had noticed the same thing.