Discernment

Chapter 23

The sun shined through the curtains in the morning as I sat up in my bed, then continued to I uncovered the blanket from my legs, and got up. As I walked down the stairs, I saw Jess sitting on the couch. "Jess, have you been outside yet?" I ask her. "Yeah, Eddy was looking for you. He wants to talk to you about something, I just forget what it is." She replies, looking up from her book. "Thanks Jess." I reply with a nod, then resumed to grabbing some bread and eating it as I walked back up the stairs to get dressed.

I went into the den and looked over the calender, I cross out another day and it turns out it's the first of the month now. Things have changed over the past few months. We build a strong wall around the entire city, and even restarted time. By restarted time, I mean that we started counting the days again. We were counting the days back in the old community with Elliot and the others. We guessed that it was the middle of February when we first started counting again, now it's April. We've most likely have taken in over thirty more survivors, all who help out the community equally. Food, water, ammo, none of that has been running low, for we've only been using archery and melee weapons for the undead, and ammunition has been used on any live people who are causing a threat to the group.

As for the original group, they've played big parts in these times. Fay and Anna have now a handful of people helping with medical needs and whatnot in different locations throughout the community. Fay, Jess, and I have stuck with Stop A, now known as District A along with the other Stops as Districts, and is where the rest of the community's important people meet if needed. Eddy has been in District B, working with the metal shop. His importance is needed quite recently, for we have passed a law that a weapon is needed in every home now, and he's the one who makes the weapons. Over at District C, Washington keeps track of supplies and is where one of the bigger hospitals are held with Anna as the main doctor. District D, with Devan and Erin, is the training center. There's firearm training, melee, and where the school is held. Lastly, Ryan is at District E, where most newcomers are taken to go through small tests, and is where we deal with the punishments and whatnot.

After I had gotten dressed and had eaten, I walked to the Stop A, located a couple blocks from where Jess and I were staying. I said my greetings to numerous people walking around the streets as I arrived the Stop. I continued down the stairs and hopped on the train, it was quite crowded, leaving some to stand. I was lucky enough to grab a seat, though I saw a woman and a child standing and let them sit where I was leaving grins on their face. When I arrived at Stop B, I climbed out of the train and made my way to Eddy's shop. I knocked on the door frame as I walked in. "Oh, Thomas, nice seeing you. I take it Jess sent you?" He greets. "Ah, yes she did. Said you needed to see me?" I reply. "Indeed I did. I was thinking about a project to start on, though I'd need to have your blessings to go through with it." He says. "What might this project be, Eddy?" I question.

"Well, since we have yet to even touch that scrap yard, and we have this workshop with enough weapons for the next twenty homes already made, I was considering the fact that I could start molding armored plates for everyone to wear. Just on their shoulders, arms, and shins at the least. When you had told me about that plan to have those prisoners cut up mattresses to wear on their forearms for protection, it gave me this idea weeks ago, and it has finally occurred that we could go through with this now. So, what do you think?" He says. I think about it for a few moments, and nod. "Yes, though we shall only make these available for those who are out on supply runs, and the ones who are out on recruiting missions, since they are the only ones who really have to deal with any biters." I say, accepting the agreement. "Wonderful, I'll just send some men to deliver the scrap metal from the scrap yard then. Thanks for the talk, Thomas." He replies. I smile softly and head out of the building.

As I was walking along the street, I heard people yelling at each other and I tilt my head as I walked over there. "This is our home! You do not come in and treat my wife and kid like that!" A man yells to an older couple. "Your wife's a fucking slut! And that little prick of a son? He's been annoying the living shit out of everyone, he doesn't deserve all that he has!" The man says insulting him and his family. I see the boy in the back trying to hold back his anger. "Hey, what's going on over here?" I strictly greet the two families. "This guy doesn't know how to keep a family in order!" The older man yells. "Both families, I need you to come with me to District E, to talk to Ryan and I." I tell them. "Why the fuck should I? He's the one that's sabotaging my family, screaming at me and insulting us?" The father says. "You two might change this little argument, into a huge violent act. Which I can't have. Therefore, you all need to come with, right now. And if you don't, I'll just call in some strength to force you. Do I make myself clear?" I say to them sternly as I looked over the two. "Yeah, what-the-fuck-ever, let's just get this over with." The older man says as he's amazed of my power, almost as if he didn't know who I was in this community.

I turned around to see Quinton and Devan standing there, walking toward the subway Stop. "Quinton! Devan! Come over here!" I call out to them. They turn and smile. "Yeah Thomas? What is it?" Quinton asks. "These two families are fighting, and I need to take them to District E. I need you two to watch over them if they try to run or something. Got it?" I ask them. "Sure, we can do that." Devan says. We then resume to the train stop. As we waited there for the train, I talk to Devan for a little bit. "So, how's it with you and Erin?" I ask him. "Eh, her and I didn't really work out. We both agreed to break up so it's okay." He says with a sigh. "Hey, if you both agreed to it, there's nothing to worry about it. It'll be alright." I say, comforting him even though he does't even need it.

After that small conversation, someone, a fimiliar voice, starts talking to me on the walking talkie. I didn't hear them at first, but then I picked it up from my back pocket and replied back as I got on the train to head to Stop E, "I'm sorry, that wasn't clear. May you repeat yourself?" I reply back. "Thomas, it's me, Washington, I think we need to talk about something. You think you can come to District  D?" He requests. "Yeah, not a problem. I'm already at the subway headed to District E." I reply. I then turn to Devan again. "Devan, make sure these two families get there without a problem, and keep them in holding. I need to talk with Washington, and I'll meet Ryan about these two later." I tell him as the train stopped at Stop D. "Alright, I won't let you down." He replies, as I walked off the train with about seven other people, then followed them up the stairs. Washington's home, or 'office', as he likes to call it, was around the block. About fifteen minutes later, I arrived there. I knock on the door a few times and open the door. "It's Thomas, don't shoot! I'm coming in." I say with a chuckle. "I'm in the othe room, come on in." Washington calls out.

 I walk in the room and he looks up from a map on his desk. "I'm just going to get straight to why I want to talk to you. I think we should expand our community." Washington says. It almost comes as a shocker to me, but I sit down on a chair in the room. "Explain what for, Washington?" I question. "Well, with our community growing nearly every day, we're soon going to run out of room for people, leaving us to have to expand. I say we could start that soon?" He goes into detail. "Maybe, though we should wait in on that. We already have that wall to protect us for now, and there's room for at least twenty more people. So, don't worry about that just yet. Anything else you wanna talk about?" I reply to him. He sighs as I said that. "Yeah, there is.." He states.

"Okay, what is it?" I ask. "What if the Zealots come back?" He asks. "We've been over this before, Washington, we're prepared for their return. They will not be a problem to us. We have the guns and we have the numbers. Don't worry about them." I calm him. "That's not what I was talking about, I mean, I know we can handle them. But the thing is, I kinda want them to be back.. Not them... I just want to see my boy, Thomas. One last time. If I saw him, then I'll know it's over, and there wouldn't be a coming back from it. Maybe I'm crazy, I don't know." Washington says, tearing up. "Hey, don't say that. You're definitely not crazy, Washington. He's your son- your flesh and blood. Of course you want to see him, and I'm sure you will again one day." I say, putting my hand on his shoulder.

Him and I sat there, talking about other stuff for our community, but then something odd happened. Washington's walkie talkie went off, and soon after mine did. "Washington, you gotta come to the gate, some fucking assholes left something here." Noah tells him from the District D gate. As mine went off shortly after, Kiki tells me the same thing. "What is it, Kiki? What did they leave?" I question her. "It's.. A bunch of severed limbs and heads on several posts, and skin stretched around it with 'DIE, HEATHENS' carved into it.. I think the Zealots left this. But I never saw Joel. Two guys got out of vans and stuck it into the ground, fastly, then drove away. What should we do?" She rushed her words out. "Take it out of the ground and burn it.. I think this is a message or a threat of some sort.. I'll hold a meeting tomorrow." I sigh and look to Washington, as he gives me a worried look.