Condemned. Sequel to 'Don't Look Back'

Chapter 15

Rayne's pov

Everything was calm. Everything was quiet. We were all quietly doing our own thing, most of us were cleaning our weapon.

"Hey, guys. This is Aaron." Maggie stepped into the barn followed by Sasha and some man. I took my pistol off of the safety, just in case something happens. Rick and a few others jumped up, Daryl stomping out to see if there are others with Aaron.

"We took his weapons and his gear." Maggie said, but Daryl wasn't having it, and roughly did a pat down on Aaron.

I stood next to Carl, and I felt the presence of Kaylee behind me. Judith started crying, so I took her from Rick's arms.

"It's nice to meet you." Aaron advanced, but everyone pulled their weapon on him. Fear flashed in his eyes, but he quickly covered it. Maggie gave Rick his weapon, who in turn gave Aaron a confused look.

"There something you need?" Rick asked and Aaron shook his head,

"He has a camp, nearby. He wants us to audition."

"I wouldn't say audition, I wish there was a better word, audition makes it sound like we're some dance group. That's only on friday nights." Aaron poorly attempted humor. I shifted Judith to my other hip and cocked an eyebrow, not trusting Aaron in the slightest.

"It's, it's not a camp, it's a community. I think you all would make lovely additions, but, it's not my call." I don't like this, not one bit. A community? Last time I went to a community, my arms were burned and I ate people.

Sasha handed his pack over and Rick started going through it.

"In the front pocket, there are pictures in an envelope. I apologize in advance for the picture quality, we just found an old camera and-"

"Nobody gives a shit." Daryl interrupted Aaron and he silently nodded in response.

Rick started going through the pictures, and Aaron explained their fifteen foot walls that surrounded the community. He threw us a pitch about how nothing gets in those walls without their say, and how we would all make good additions.

Rick stood up and made his way over to Aaron, and decked him. Aaron fell backwards and people rushed over. I looked to Kaylee to make sure she was ok, and she just stared at the scene.

"Dump his pack, let's see what this guy really is." Rick ordered Carl and he nodded, and unzipped every pocket of Aaron's backpack.

"Everyone else, we need eyes in all directions, they're coming for us. Might not know when or how, but they are." I turned to Kaylee and asked,

"Would you mind to take Judith while I help watch?"

"Yeah, I'll take her." I handed Judith over and positioned myself in an advantage point where I could easily see out.

Through the crack in the wall, I saw a path where trees were knocked down from last night, possibly a tornado narrowly missed us. Rick was barking orders left and right.

"Anyone see anything?" He demanded.

"Just a lot of places to hide." Glenn replied and Rick came over to Carl.

"What'd you find?"

"Never seen a gun like this before." I turned to look what they were talking about and saw an orange and black gun. I looked to Carl who gave me a small nod, and I returned to looking outside.

"Eight, thirty-two, four hundred and forty four, zero. No matter what I say, you're not gonna trust me." Aaron said, and I could see he started to sweat, whether it be from nerves or the heat, I'd never know. I kept my gaze locked outside, while I listened in on the conversation.

"It's kind of hard to trust someone after they smile after getting punched in the face." Rick said, tilting his head.

"How about a guy that leaves bottles of water for you in the road?" I turned around, my hand resting on the wood of the wall. I looked over Aaron, noticing how clean he looked, and how calm he was. I drowned out most of the conversation, but one thing caught my attention.

"You're not back in sixty minutes, we'll come." Rick said, handing a pistol to Glenn.

"What's going on?" I asked Carl.

"Some of us are going to see if Aaron is legit." I nodded and watched almost everyone leave with Aaron.

"Groups of two find a place within eyesight." Rick ordered and I left my post and walked next to Carl. On our way out we nodded to Rick and he returned the gesture.

Carl and I found a place hidden by trees and drew our pistols, making sure to stay as quiet as possible.

Not even minutes after we hid, Judith started crying from inside. I tensed up, and wanted to make sure she was ok, but Carl grabbed my arm.

"She's fine."

"But we don't know-"

"She's fine." Carl reassured me and I readjusted myself and sighed. I bounced on the balls of my feet, not liking how this was all playing out.

The group came back with a bunch of canned food and water bottles. I helped unload the finds into the barn and stood beside Carl.

"This," Rick pointed to the supplies, "Is ours, whether we go to your camp or not."

"There's more than enough." Aaron replied, tied to a post.

"Wait, why wouldn't we go?" Carl stepped forward and I crossed my arms and looked at Rick. To me it was clear that Aaron meant no harm.

"If he wanted to hurt us, which he doesn't." Michonne answered.

"We need this, so we're going. All of us." Michonne justified and I nodded my head in agreement. We all nodded in total agreement. It was decided.

"Where are we going?" Rick asked Aaron.

Aaron explained the way to Rick, and I turned to my friends who were both smiling. Kaylee looked beyond excited and Dean didn't look away from her. I knew this would happen. I smirked at Carl, who had also picked up on it. Carl came over to me and put an arm around my waist, and kissed the side of my head.

"We leave at night. Eat, get some rest if you can." Rick said and walked outside, followed by Michonne.

The group dispersed and we all went our separate ways. I went over to Carl and I's spot and sat down on the ground.

"Aren't you excited?" Carl asked, sliding down next to me.

"I don't know how I feel about it. It just seems like whenever we're promised safety, it always goes wrong. The farm, the prison, Terminus." I said, recalling our so called safe havens.

"I have a feeling this will be different." Carl said, and I turned to him.

"Well, I hope you're right." I said and rested my head on his shoulder, he took my hand in his and I drifted to sleep.

Night rolled around quicker than I expected. We all loaded up in the R.V, minus Glenn, Rick, Aaron and Michonne.

"I'll take her." I told Kaylee, motioning to Judith.

"Hey there." I said in a light voice, Judith had just woken up, and she's the happiest after sleeping. I sat next to Carl who smiled up at us.

"Isn't she just the happiest?" I asked as Judith giggled.

Suddenly we slammed on the breaks, and I lurched forward, but kept Judith safe. I heard the growl of walkers and handed Judith over to Carl. Ripping open the blinds, I saw a good sized herd we were driving through.

"Oh my gosh." I said, sitting back down.

"What is it?"

"A herd."