Deadland

Chapter 100- Did Nick Actually Deserve it?

(TW!! Mentions of an eating disorder, suicide, s/a, abuse, and drug usage!!)

It's been a little over a year since the fall of the Saviors and everything is different now. 

All of our communities are now fixed. They have windmills, solar panels, working water pumps. We're all doing really well, the communities at least. 

Alyssa is way better than she was a year ago. Though her Bolemia hasn't gone away, it's getting better. I don't know why she does it, I don't know why she started. I just know the root of it all is Carl's death. 

I'm doing better, well, as good as I can be. I managed to last this long without a suicide attempt though, there have been a few relapses in my drug usage. My stab wound is fully healed though there's a gnarly scar- as well as my eye. 

The bottom half of my left eye is still technically blind but I like to say blurry. There's one line starting about an inch before my eyebrow and stopping just at my nose and a red line inside of my eye, right where it's blurry. Thanks, Nick. 

Daryl and I are still not together and we both agreed we never will be though, we're still really close. 

Damien and Cato are close but Alyssa says they're not "close enough". 

Everybody kind of split off. Some went to the Kingdom, some went to the Hilltop, and some even went to the Sanctuary. Alyssa, Inejra, and I are still at Alexandria while Damien and Cato went to the Hilltop. 

Honestly, I'm surprised Maggie let Cato stay there. But, he likes her and I think she sees that. 

We're in the city, going on a run for supplies. Horses are our means of transportation now as we've collected every ounce of gas there is for miles. Some of us hate it but, to no one's surprise, Alyssa loves it. 

She named her horse "Willow" because it's brown "like the bark of a Willow" she says. And, of course, I allowed her to name mine. His name is "Rodeo", she didn't have a reason for it. She said it fit his personality- because he's a total nutjob. 

Standing at the steps of the museum, Rick cracks open the door and whistles inside, drawing attention from a Walker. Michonne swiftly chops the head clean off with her sword and turns to us, whispering, "We're good for now. Sweep protocol when we get in." 

Rick opens the door fully enough for all of us to silently enter. Once we're inside, I quickly scan the big open room. 

There are cobwebs on every corner and a thick layer of brown dust on every surface, making Damien cough as he walks inside. 

A big wooden, horseshoe shaped desk sits in the middle of the room with papers scattered all around the surface. A few abandoned computers sit between two white pillars on the corners of the desk.

Chairs are flipped over on the ground as if there was a fight, and papers are strewn about the white tile floor.

Continuing on, there's a big circle room with four hallways connecting to it. 

There's blood smeared on the floor and walls and clothes and tents are thrown around. 

Wings of unseen birds flutter above us, flying to nowhere as we all admire the oil paintings on each of the dust-covered walls. 

"Y'all got your lists," Rick says quietly. "Circle back here when you're done. Be safe." 

Everyone immediately scatters, walking down different hallways and going to different rooms. 

I pass by a grand, marble staircase. Broken pillars and dead Walkers litter the ground though, not taking away from the beauty.

Maggie sighs with a smile, "This is gonna work."