We're The Ones Who Live | The Walking Dead (2)

Part 12 - Can't Live With It

CJ felt like Alpha was looking through her when she caught her eye. 

It was an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach that she hadn't felt in a long time. Anger, fear, confusion, it all blended together in a mix of rage. This was the woman that had abused Lydia, manipulated her into thinking that the way she lived life was right. Alpha stood there, staring up at the group over the wall, her people lined up behind her.

Kelly came running up to the perch frantically trying to see over the wall. "Connie is out there."

"Where?" Yumiko asked quickly.

"Cornfield," Kelly replied, her voice shaking with panic.

Kelly looked through the binoculars, scanning the cornfield until she spotted Connie's black hair through the tall grass. The woman was trying to peek out to see what was going on, whilst doing her best to stay hidden. 

"Our community is more than capable of defending itself!" Tara shouted.

"I show you my face because we mean you no harm," Alpha replied, her southern accent sounding far to calm to be believable. "I just want my daughter. I know you have her."

"You should turn around," Daryl warned her. "Leave now and no one gets hurt."

"Wrong answer," Alpha tilted her head. 

She raised her hand, and more of her people appeared from around the cornfield, making their way over to her. They all wore skin masks as they spread out over the ploughed dirt, covering the entire area.

"Lydia told us what her mom does to her," CJ whispered to the group around her. "We can't send her back to that."

"But what if she had Alden and Luke?" Tara asked. "Pissing her off might get them killed."

"Did you kill our friends?" Magna asked Alpha loudly.

"No," Alpha called back. "Which one of you leads these people?"

"The hell does it matter?" Daryl snapped.

"Then I'll just address all of you," Alpha shrugged her shoulders. "Your people crossed into our land. There will be no conflict. Your people killed our people. There will be no conflict. I'm done talkin'! Bring me my daughter, or there will be conflict!"

In an instant, CJ made her way down the ladder, the others watching her in confusion.

"What's she doing?" Yumiko whispered.

"I don't know," Tara replied. "Daryl?"

"No one touches the girl," Daryl mumbled, following CJ.

CJ jumped off the ladder where Enid and Henry had been stood listening to what was happening. 

"Do they have Alden and Luke?" Enid asked.

"Not sure," CJ replied, waiting for Daryl to hop down. 

"What's gonna happen?"

"You wait here," Daryl demanded the boy. "We're gonna talk."

CJ nodded to the gate guard. "Open it."

The couple walked down the path, seeing Alpha mumble something to one of her people before approaching the gate and waiting for the two to reach her. 

CJ was walking a bit faster than Daryl, and she reached Alpha a few moments before him. "You're not getting her," she muttered.

"Yes... I am." Alpha whispered. She tilted her head, something of a smile playing on her lips. It felt like she was staring into CJ's soul, barely blinking as she never broke eye contact.