philophobia → the walking dead ³

twenty.

CHAPTER TWENTY,
the hilltop colony.

"That's us. That's the Hilltop." Jesus said to them as they looked at the walls. The group followed him up the hill.

"Stop right there." They heard a man's voice. They group instinctively raised their weapons.

"Woah!" Jesus exclaimed.

"You gone make us?" Daryl asked harshly.

"What the hell is this, Jesus?" The man asked him.

"Open the gates, Cal. Freddie's hurt." Jesus replied. "Look, sorry about these guys. They get antsy standing up there all day doing nothing."

"They give up the weapons. Then we'll open the gates." The man said.

"Why don't you come down here and get 'em?" Daryl said.

"Gentlemen!" The doctor, Harlan, stepped up. "Look, we can vouch for these people, alright? They saved us out there."

"Lower the spears." Jesus said to them in a stern tone.

"Look, I'm not taking any chances. Tell your guy Gregory to come out here." Rick said to Jesus quietly.

"No. Don't you realize what just happened? I'm letting you keep your guns. Look, we ran out of ammo months ago. I like you people. I trust you. Trust us." Jesus said to Rick. Aiden shrugged. Rick motioned with his hands.

"Open the gates, Cal." Jesus said and the gates opened. The group followed the leather clad man into the settlement. It was small but it was something.

"There was a materials yards for a power company nearby. That's how we put up the walls. A lot of people came from a FEMA camp. Trailers came with them." Jesus explained.

"How did people find out about this place?" Michonne asked.

"That's called Barrington House." Jesus motioned towards the large building. "The family that owned it gave it to the state in the '30s. The state turned it into a living history museum. Every elementary school for fifty miles used to come here for field trips. This place was running a long time before the modern world built up around it. I think people came here before they figured it'd keep running after the modern world broke down." Jesus said.

"Those windows up there let us see miles for every direction. It's perfect for security. Come on. I'll show you inside." They followed him inside. They entered the building and looked around it in awe.

"Most of the rooms have been converted into living spaces. Even the one's that weren't bedrooms." Jesus told them all.

"People live here and in the trailers?" Rick asked.

"We plan to build. There's babies being born." Jesus said.

A pair of doors to the side opened and an older man stepped out, "Jesus. You're back," he looked at the group, "with guests."

"Everyone, this is Gregory. He keeps the trains running on time around here." Jesus introduced the man to them all.

"I'm the boss." Gregory stated.