The Betrayal Code ⚔ TWD

IV

“Alexandra wasn't just trying to survive, they were living.”

She was a puddle, nothing more and nothing less.
That's what her father always compared her to: a little dirty spot on the ground that no one wanted to step in.
“Hannah, are you ready?” Maggie’s sweet accent called with her breakfast in both hands. Why was she being so nice to her?
Some part of her liked the caring mood she got but after Carl showed up last night, she realized she should probably focus on this mission more instead of befriending someone who Hannah would eventually betray.
“Almost. There isn't many outfits here I would normally enjoy,” she shouted through the door while scouring around the closet with horrible fashioned clothes.
“My friend, Carol, tried cleaning your clothes, but only your leather jacket made it out alive.” the brunette woman smiled and pulled off Hannah’s jacket that was tied around her waist and handed it to the girl.
“Oh thank god,” Hannah joyfully grabbed her jacket and threw it on. “Thanks.” she said shyly, looking away. The jacket meant a lot to her, it belonged to Mailee and it was the only thing she had of hers. The jacket was black and had a patches of random things on the back. Her favorite patch was a navy blue anchor with a chain wrapped along it.
She looked up to Maggie and took her breakfast from the woman's hands with a small smile lighting up her face which made Maggie grin even more. It was obvious that the pretty woman was trying to become her friend - which was bad since Hannah couldn't afford having friends in this situation, although another messed up part of her did want someone to care - even a little - about her. So her plan on not being friendly was being washed down the drain slowly.
-
Denise helped her around Alexandra - her ankle still fucking hurt - introducing her to a couple of people.
Glenn was Maggie’s husband, he was oddly cool towards her and obviously surprised by her “mind-blowing eyes”.
“Weren't you that girl who passed out on the street?” he joked.
“Nah, that was some other weird, brown-haired sixteen year old.”

Then she met Daryl.
“Who’s this?” he murmured through the cigarette in his mouth, glancing at her before he went back to work on his motorcycle. He didn't look too friendly but she sure as hell loved the way he talked. “Name's Hannah.” the girl mimicked his voice.

Carol was okay, but from the look in her light blue eyes, Hannah could tell she didn't like outsiders too much.
“Thanks for cleaning my jacket.”
“Anytime.” she falsely smiled. The baby in her arms - Judith - cooed and giggled at Hannah. The girl couldn't help but giggle back. It was nice to see babies and normal houses again.
She sighed remembering her small town home, being babysitted by Mailee and playing soccer with the next door neighbors before the outbreak.
Hannah saw Carl walking around the lake with a brunette girl around her age and a dark woman with dreads, she looked kinda cool. Denise told her the girl’s name was Enid and the lady with the samurai was Michonne. Hannah never would've thought they'd allow someone to walk around with a sword, but Hannah also would've never imagined she would like this place and it's people and definitely not smiling like a lunatic. She hadn't been this happy since the beginning of the outbreak.

Glenn began approaching Denise and Hannah right after the sun set, unraveling a rectangular object from his bag and handed it to Hannah. “I uncovered this on a run a while ago and hadn't really found a use for it, until now.” Hannah looked down at the leather sketchbook, overwhelmed by the kindness. She shone her eyes up to him, trying to conceal tears and he softly smiled and gently put his hand upon her shoulder. “You make Maggie happy, which makes me happy. You've been out there surviving for who knows how long, you deserve this.”
This damn place.

After that little confrontation, Glenn showed her the lake and now she leaned against a small willow tree and began drawing with the pencil he also gave her.
This group was so different from groups she went to during her other missions. Alexandra wasn't just trying to survive, they were living. She didn't even know what she was doing with her pencil, too lost in thought to really care. She was reliving the day over and over and over again, never disliking a second of it. She should just finish this mission; she should just give this up and leave these people alone; she needed to start, yet she needed to stop. Hannah was so concentrated on her inner battle she didn't notice the boy slip next to her or hear his breath catch in his throat when he saw her magnificent drawing.
“Damn, did you actually do that?” he asked. She snapped back into reality immediately and rubbed her eyes. “Do what?” she murmured scooting away from him - he was too close for her liking.
“That portrait.” he pointed to the sketch she just finished drawing.
It was a very realistic portrait of someone Hannah missed very much; it matched every inch of her face, had shaded dark hair and eyes like hers.
“Yeah I did.” She whispered as she ran her finger across the page and frowned.
“She looks familiar...who is she?” he asked, looking into her eyes.
“My lost sister, Mailee.” Hannah got curious when he remarked that he seemed to have seen her before.
“Lost?”
“Mailee disappeared a little after the world started going to hell. She might be dead or she might not. I've been looking her ever since she left.” Hannah almost let a tear fall from her eye onto the sketch. Carl didn't know how to comfort her properly so he just moved on from the topic, “Remember last night when I told you I would find out who you really are?” Hannah nodded angrily, sad mood gone. “Yeah what about that?” Carl winced slightly at her remark and stayed silent for a moment. Then he rose his face up to glare at her with his one eye confidently. “You may fooling everyone else, but I'm not gonna buy the charming act you're playing.” She snorted at him once more and turned away, “I told you, I'm not hiding anything so fuck off.” Carl snickered leaned closer. “Told you, Hannah, I will figure you out.”
“Holy cow, fine I'm a wanted criminal that just popped in here to exterminate all’a y’all.” she sarcastically spat in his face.
“That's not what I meant.”
“Then what the hell do you mean?”
He looked deeply into her eyes and placed his hand on hers, which Hannah ripped away immediately. His touch, however, left a electric shock run through Hannah’s veins; her heart pounded faster. She accidentally found herself glancing at his soft lips and coming up with ways they would feel against hers-  what the actual hell?!
“I meant that I would like to know how you survived alone out there for however long you did in your condition. It seems fake. How are you so normal? Why aren't you crazy?”
“I wasn't out there for years if that's what you think. Maybe a month or so.” little lie.
He looked undecided.
“How's your ankle?”
“It's fine.” big lie
“Then let me take you outside the wall tomorrow and you could tell me how you managed out there.”
“That's stupid, but okay.”
He flashed a grin that went away as fast as it came. Why was she agreeing to this?
He got up and also helped Hannah up, even though she could do it herself on her ankle. “I'll meet you tomorrow afternoon by the wall over there.” he pointed towards two trees leaning against each other. We're sneaking out? This kid is full of surprises, ain't he?
Before she could say anything else he mysteriously left Hannah and her confusing thoughts.
“Weird kid.” she muttered.
-
The whole day to seemed liked a mere dream. She hoped to be waking up soon in her bed back in the sanctuary to her Dad waking her up and planning for another mission. She never woke up; this wasn't a dream. The people she met today, all real. The kindness of Glenn and friendship Maggie was giving her: real. Carl’s one vibrant blue eye and his rough voice was all too real.

“Hannah.” the static hum called. The sound came from her backpack, in the corner of her room. She approached it, her heart beating fast.
“Hannah, oh you better be there.”
she zipped it open and reached for the walkie-talkie.
“Yes?” she called softly into it.
“I was starting to get scared you died or something,” casual sarcasm followed by a little chuckle. “Listen up. My men and I are fucking bored and so we came early and decided to wait for you not far from Alexandra. Say you have begun the mission.”
Hannah knew she had to lie from getting her ass kicked.
“I have begun, but I had a few... setbacks.”
“You better do this right Hannah, you don't want your group fucking starving, while you lay on your ass in there, do you??
Wincing she spoke again, “No, sir.”
“Great, finish the mission tomorrow afternoon and finally release the fucking betrayal code,” dead silence pasted over them over a few moments.
“Yes, Negan.” Hannah choked out.

A/N
this hella sucks whoops 💀