ILLUSION // A TWDG FANFICTION

EP. 1 - Survival's Course/ CP. 3 - Welcome

It took a few hours until my "initiation" was finally inked on my skin, the sun was almost completely set when it was announced finished. "Okay. It'll take a few days to heal. Here." Dean said as he handed me a container of tattoo balm, "Use this a few times a day." He said as he stood up. My eyes were locked on Dean's eyes, and his were locked on mine, it stayed like this for a few seconds until we saw Audrey heading our way. When she finally entered the room, Audrey stared at me and Dean, "Dean, go check on the watchtower," She said, "I need to have a word with her." "Yes, ma'am." Dean obeyed Audrey's orders and began his trip to the watchtower. Audrey slowly paced towards the chair that she was previously in, "Listen," She started as she sat down, "don't get any ideas on becoming 'friends' or 'close' with any of my people." Her glare was steady on me, almost like she was sizing me up. "I didn't have any intentions on doing so," I answered sternly. A slight smirk spread across Audrey's face, "Good. Now, go to the church, so everyone can meet you."

I nodded to Audrey's demand and sprung back to my feet, "May I ask where the church is?" I questioned as I focused my look onto Audrey. She nodded her head and pointed to her left, "You'll see it when you look out there." She answered. My eyes slightly rolled since she could've just told me the directions, but I still made my way to where Audrey pointed and gazed through a crack of the building. Of course, it didn't take long for me to find it, so once I did, I exited the HQ building, and started walking towards the church.

After a few steps of walking down the concrete road, I felt Lee's presence, "You sure this place is safe, sweet pea?" He asked as I heard his footsteps trailing behind me. "I don't know, Lee," I answered as I continued my way to the church, "but I guess time will tell." "I thought that I told you to stay away from cities." "I know. But you know what? It's dangerous surviving on my own." "And how is it not dangerous surviving with a bunch of strangers?" I sighed and shook my head in order to make Lee disappear, just so no one would see me talking to myself.

"Mommy, look, a new girl." I could hear a little boy announce to his mother, but I shrugged it off and finally made it to the church. My mind was surprisingly racing with several thoughts and tons of anxiety, I mean, what if Lee's right? What if this place isn't safe? I guess there's only one way to find all of that out. It took roughly ten minutes to finally make it to the church all the way from the HQ building. The church was exceptionally run down, the majority of the cracks and holes were covered up by massive boards of wood or unmatching colored bricks, the church was also probably the second-highest building throughout this community. When I finally entered the building, it was beautifully decorated, meaning several vines hanged down from the roof, and lit up torches speckled throughout the walls.

Several people were sat on the pews, and others were idling by the wall. It felt almost like I was a bride walking down the aisle as I proceeded towards the pulpit, which was attended by a couple of teens, two boys, and one girl. "You're the new girl, yes?" The girl in the direct middle asked. I nodded my head to her question, "Yes, I am." I answered. "What's your name?" She asked, "Clementine." I responded. "And you wish to be a citizen here?" I, again, nodded in response to her question. "All right, repeat after me;" The girl said as she raised her left arm up, she spoke the community's oath, and I repeated it after she finished. "Welcome to 'The Silver Lining', Clementine." The girl smiled. Several people cheered and clapped, and others silently waved their hand in the air.

I eventually turned my back to the three teens who were at the pulpit and walked out of the exit, "That went better than I thought," I said to myself as I sat in the grass that was on the ground next to the church's wall, "but I still don't know if I can trust everyone-" Before I finished my sentence, a shadow hovered over me. I tilted my head up to see Audrey standing in front of me, "I forgot to show you where you'll be sleeping." She smiled. Shivers were sent through my spine as I stood back up, something about Audrey is off, but nevertheless, I still followed her to where she was going to allow me to sleep.

Audrey and I made it to a roughly built building, it was quite small compared to the HQ and church, but it was still quite big. When we went inside, the main room was decorated with several torches to keep light throughout the structure, there was a bookshelf on one side of the room that was filled with old torn up magazines; the other side, however, was completely empty, aside from a few doors. Audrey kept a huge smile on her face, "Follow me." She said as she led me to a room.

The room she led me to wasn't quite decorated, the few pieces of furniture that were kept inside of it was a bunk bed and a nightstand. "Is there anyone else that sleeps in this room?" I asked. "Yes," Audrey answered, "this is Dean's room but, he wouldn't mind sharing." I hesitated a bit but shrugged it off and dumped my backpack onto the nightstand, which was so relieving to my back. "Breakfast is at 7, don't be late." Audrey kept a smile plastered onto her face as she left the room, closing the door behind her.

I walked around the small space that the room had, pondering to myself, "Audrey is way to happy, something has to be going on," I thought, "surely she's plotting something, or is just high and will kick me out in the morning, right?" I climbed up the ladder that the bunk bed had and laid down on the top bunk, "No one is this happy to welcome just anyone into their camp." My mind raced. Just then, I saw Lee from my peripheral vision, "Everyone seem okay to you, sweet pea?" He asked. I sighed and nodded my head, "Yes, Lee. I groaned, "Lee, look, I'm trying to move on, I'm trying to survive and stay alive." Lee's smile warped into a frown. "Clem, I-" "No, Lee, no. Okay? Just let me move the fuck on." I said as I turned to lie on my stomach and placed a pillow on the back of my head.