Broken

On Our Way

(A.N. Itallics is sign launguage. If Elaine, Kelly, and the rest of Kelly's group are talking while they're with Connie and other people are around, then they are probably simcoming, talking while signing, and vice versa. Sorry if that's too much I hope you all get it.)

I'm in the wagon beside Yumiko, we all sit in silence. Worry kicks in about Mika and Julia. I can't stop my hands from shaking, Yumiko catches my worry from her spot beside me.

She's been turned halfway around so she can watch out for Magna and the others. I'm guessing that she's the leader of the group. "You okay?" she asks quietly.

"Uh, yeah it's just been a while since I've been away from Julia," I say. "I haven't been away from my family for a while either," she says as she glances to the rest of the people in the wagon.

It draws a laugh from my throat, "They'll be okay," she says. "Thanks Yumiko," I mutter.

"You're welcome," she says. I turn to look at the group too, She still has my knives, Magna signs bitterly. I shake my head,

"Is their story gonna check out?" DJ asks. 

"Yeah it's where Judith and I found them. Just a few miles past the route D river bend," I say.

DJ nods, "What do I always say about having options? Huh?" Magna asks. 

Yumiko rolls her eyes. "Us not being defenseless out in the open because you gave them a reason not to trust us. I chose that option," Luke says. "I didn't know he was so snarky," I whisper to Yumiko, "He can be," she says with a smile. 

"Oh wait-," Luke starts, "Guys. Chill," Kelly says, "We can roll with this a little while longer." DJ turns to look at her, she shakes her head and starts signing. I sigh, "NO! No, it's not cool. I want my damn knives!" Magna yells. 

"Look I'm sorry about Magna," Yumiko says, "She can be a bit hotheaded." 

"That's one word for it," Michonne says, "Look, she's been on edge since we lost Bernie," Yumiko argues, "We all have." 

"Was he with you long?" Siddiq asks, Yumiko smiles as she looks down at her hands, "Long enough," she says. 

"He loved getting under Magna's skin," the woman pauses, "He, um. He used to wear this absolutely horrid shirt. It was like looking into creation itself, in paisley," she says. 

I laugh, "Oh it was horrendous," she says as she looks at me.

"Magna hated it, she said that just looking at it would give her a migraine. So, Bernie wore it everyday, for a week." 

"Honestly I think she came around on the shirt, just like she came around on him," Yumiko says. "Like family," Michonne says, she looks at me. I smile at her and she looks away from me, I sigh.

"So this place, Hilltop. Is it safe?" Yumiko asks, "It is," Michonne says, "But it's been a while since I've been there." 

"Then how do you know that it's safe?" Yumiko asks, she has every right to be suspicious. "Look I promised my daughter that I'd get you there, and I will. So you're just gonna have to trust me," Michonne says. 

Yumiko looks at me, I grab her arm gently, "It is safe," I say, "How do you know, "I've been there recently," I whisper to her, "You broke the rules," she says. "It's my specialty," I say with a smirk.

We ride for about an hour before Yumiko tells DJ where to turn to get to the field where their rig is, was. "Sickos tore the damn place up," Luke mutters. 

The field is big and surrounded by forest, in the middle of the grassy area is a tipped over shipping box, it has tarps and a rainbow umbrella. Things are strewn everywhere, chairs, boxes, trunks.