A Survivor's Diary of the Apocalypse (TWD/Daryl Dixon)

S5Pt10 - Interviews

We arrived at the gates of Alexandria, and Aaron wasn't lying. The walls were thick, tall, and made of steel. The gate was also tall and there was a person standing watch on a platform right next to it.
We heard people talking and kids laughing inside. I started checking my ammo in my pistol and checked my bag. I was feeling anxious and Daryl could tell. He stood closer next to me and rubbed my lower back.
"I got you." Daryl whispered in my ear.
I sighed and nodded my head. A man then opened the gate and stared at us. As soon as Aaron saw him, he ran over to him. They kissed and embraced each other. The guy then looked at us, and Aaron introduced us. They brought us in and we surveyed our surroundings.
It really was a community. Walls surrounded all the houses for a few blocks, and there was even a pond in the middle where ducks were. A couple kids were playing in the large empty streets and some adults watched us as we arrived. We followed Aaron and the other guy to a large house at the beginning of the street, where we were met by another guy.
"We will need interviews from you guys for Deanna, our leader." He said. "But first, we will need to confiscate your guns."
We all stared at him and didn't move.
"You will be able to have your guns checked out of the supply room when you leave the walls. When in here, you have nothing but your knives." He finished.
A woman brought out a cart and stared at her.
"Come on." The man urged. "They will still be yours."
We looked at each other and no one wanted to move, so I did first. I walked up to the cart and took my rifle off my back. I unholstered my two pistols from my belt and all my ammo. I kept my hunting knife on my belt and backed away. Everyone followed my lead and soon we didn't have our guns anymore. Michonne was allowed to keep her sword and Daryl kept his crossbow.
"Thank you." She said.
The lady then wheeled away the cart with our guns and we saw her take them to another house.
"Now, if you guys could line up and wait, interviews should start in a few minutes." He said.
We waited outside the house, and an older guy called us in one by one. Each interview took a different amount of time, and I could only guess what they were going to ask us. Daryl's name was finally called and he looked at me. He grabbed my hand and squeezed it before he walked onto the porch and followed the older man into the house.
It felt like forever, but in only 10 minutes, Daryl walked back outside. Then the older man called my name.
"Kelley." He said.
I looked at Daryl and he nodded. He grabbed my hand and kissed my forehead, and then let go. I walked up the porch steps and the guy held the door open for me. I walked into the living room and was met by a woman.
"Please, sit down." She offered.
She pointed at a couch that was in front of her chair and a camera.
"Why is there a camera?" I asked cautiously.
"We're about transparency here." She said.
I nodded and sat down, and looked around the living room. The couch was comfortable, and the house looked like a real house. There was no rotting wood, or dirt, or anything broken. It seemed like everything in here was untouched by death from the outside world.
She pulled out a notebook, I heard the camera beep, and that signaled the start of the interview.
"Hello. I'm Deanna Monroe." She said.
"Kelley Dixon." I said and smiled kindly.
"So you're married to Daryl Dixon?" She asked.
"Yes." I stated.
"He's really protective over you, from what I heard from him and the others." Deanna said. "Now I can see for myself why."
She pointed at my stomach and I held it.
"When are you due?" She asked.
"Honestly, I don't know. I'm hoping soon." I said.
Deanna just smiled at me and wrote something down in her notebook.
"How long have you guys been out there?" She asked. "Were you together before or..?"
"No, not at all. In the beginning, they were a small group outside of Atlanta and they took me in. I didn't know anyone of them." I said honestly.
"Where were you guys before here?" She asked.
"We were in Atlanta, then we went to the CDC." I said.
"You've been to the CDC?" She asked surprised.
"Yes." I said and paused. "There's no cure. We're all infected with the virus."
She nodded and wrote that down too.
"After the CDC, we stayed at a farm for awhile, but that didn't last. We were on the road for months until we found a prison and lived there for over a year, but that place didn't last either." I said and took a deep breath. "After that we were split up, but we all found each other again. Then we've been on the road every since."
I wiped my tears that were falling down my cheek and sniffled. It was hard looking back and remembering everything we went through. Deanna was writing some stuff down and giving me time to pull myself together.
"What is this place?" I asked.
"A planned community, with its own solar grid, cisterns, eco-based sewage filtration." She said.
"Have you been here the whole time?" I asked.
She nodded her head and I looked shocked.
"We need people who have been out there, people who survived." She said. "You. Your people."
"They're not MY people." I said. "They're my family."
Deanna nodded her head. "Of course they are." She said. "My apologies."
I nodded my head at her and readjusted myself on the couch, leaning my back against some pillows.
"Aaron said I can trust you people." Deanna said.
"He doesn't know shit about us." I said, my tone changing. "We've killed people, fought through wars with them. Hell, I had to kill my own father to keep us safe."
Deanna just stared at me and I kept talking.
"They deserved to die. They threatened me, my family, cut off one of our council member's head with a sword." I said. "People out there," I said and leaned forwards. "will do anything. Torture, rape, kill. People are not safe. They are a threat worse than the walkers." I finished ranting.
"Are you saying we shouldn't take you guys in?" She asked.
I scoffed and leaned back. "You need us." I said. "You said it yourself."
She wrote some things down and cleared her throat. "Just a few more questions, and I think we'll be done here."
I nodded and she sat up straighter.
"I was a congresswoman. Ohio, 15th district." She said. "You?"
I froze at the question. I never been asked that before and didn't even think about it anymore.
"I was going to school to become a lawyer." I said.
"Oh, interesting. What kind?" She asked.
"Criminal law. I wanted to be a prosecutor." I explained.
"Any reason why?" She asked.
I paused and held my breath. I looked at my hands and realized I was squeezing my bad hand which was causing me pain. I let go of my hand and breathed out.
"My father was a bad man..." I explained. "I wanted to be the person who'd put him away. I wanted to do that good for other people."
"How was he a bad man?" She asked. "If you don't mind explaining."
I shook my head and looked at her. "He's was just a bad person, okay." I said rudely.
She nodded her head and flipped a page in her notebook.
"What are your opinions of everyone else in your group?" She asked.
"I trust every single one of them. They'd sacrifice their life for me, and I'd do the same for them." I said. "That's what family does."
She nodded and wrote a few more things down then looked at me.
"Okay, last question." She said. "What job would you prefer here and why?"
"I work best with Daryl. We were on the council together at the prison. He keeps me sane and I keep him levelheaded." I explained. "Honestly, I prefer to be out there, but if you need me for anything, I'm your go to girl." I said.
"Why do you prefer outside the walls rather than in here?" She questioned.
"I get that it's dangerous out there, but that's what makes me strong. Having to stay alert and aware of your surroundings, knowing that you could get hurt any second, that's what makes me... well me." I said. "I haven't known anything else but out there."
"But what about when you have your baby?" She asked. "What then?"
"I already survived this long." I said. "Plus I raised Judith since the day she was born like she was my own. My baby will just give me another reason to stay alive."
Deanna wrote down some final notes then closed her book. She smiled at me and I smiled back.
"Thank you." She said.
"No, thank you." I said. "We need this."
Deanna turned off the camera and stood up. I stood up too and shook her hand.
"I will consider your words Kelley." She said. "If you will go wait with the rest of your group until interviews are over, Aaron will show you your houses soon."
I nodded and walked down the hallway. Before I opened the front door, I turned around and looked at Deanna.
"What are the homes like?" I asked.
She just smiled at me. "There's electricity. Plumbing. Large living space. Privacy." She said. "A home..."
"Home." I repeated in disbelief.
This is all Daryl and I wanted. A home for ourselves, and for our baby. We just wanted to make a life for our family where we would be safe.
Maybe this was it.