Surviving All Out War (BOOK FIVE IN THE SURVIVING THE WALKING DEAD SERIES)

Trust Issues

     After changing into some dry clothes, Daryl led me outside where we watched everyone running around doing their jobs. I began to wonder what job Maggie would give me. "Why don't ya walk around for a bit?" Daryl suggested. "I need to go talk to Rick for a minute."

     "Ya sure ya don't want me to come with?" I asked.

     "Nah, I won't be long. I just need to talk to 'em." I gently nodded and walked off and began to mingle.

     "Hey, Jerry." I smiled. Jerry turned around and faced me.

     "Hey." Jerry smiled. "You okay?"

     "Yeah. Just tryin' to make myself useful."

     "You should be resting." I didn't respond. "I'm not mad at you, if that's what you're wondering."

     "You're not?"

     "Nope. Like I said, you never gave me a reason to hate you." Jerry smiled and gave me a hug, enveloping me in his arms as he lifted me off the ground.

     "Jerry." An angry voice spoke up. Jerry released me and we turned towards the voice, making instant eye contact with Ezekiel. "What are you doing?"

     "Just stopping to talk for a minute."

     "There is much work to do, there is no time for frivolous colloquy."

     "Yes, sir." Jerry nodded. "I'll see you around, Michaela." I gently waved at Jerry as he walked off and turned back to Ezekiel.

     "Why are you here?"

     "They let me in." I answered.

     "And they are just as vacuous as you are. Coming here? Enemy territory."

     "It isn't enemy territory, these are my people... always have been."

     "The Saviors are your people, always have been, always will be."

      "Ezekiel, can we please talk man to woman, not King to peasant?" Ezekiel didn't respond. "I am sorry about Shiva. To be honest, when I heard about what happened to 'er, it actually upset me... but Negan-" I sighed. "-he got  in my head, practically brainwashed me into thinkin' that no one cared about me but him and the Saviors, that you guys were the enemy. He was wrong. I'm sorry for the way I behaved, it was uncalled for, but I'm no longer with Negan."

     "How do we know if you're telling the truth?" Ezekiel asked. "How do we know that you are not just some informant for Negan?"

     "I'm here, aren't I?"

     "So are they." Ezekiel pointed at the cage full of prisoners. "You being here means nothing."

     "What about Rick's trust in me? Daryl, Maggie, Jerry, they all trust me. You can learn to trust me, too."

     "You have done nothing to prove your loyalty to us."

     "Seriously? I distracted Negan long enough for the others to hide in the tunnels. I stayed with Carl while he shot himself because he didn't want to turn. I divorced Negan, what other proof do you need?"

     "I'll trust you when Negan is dead." Ezekiel scoffed and walked away. I let out a sigh and continued making my rounds around the colony. Most people were nice, but Carol kept a close eye on me as I made my way over to the cage.

     "How are ya holdin' up, Alden?"

     "Fine, for now. Maggie told us she's gonna have to cut our rations for a while."