Malaya was still shaking hours after the argument with her mother. The girl soon found that pacing in and out of her cell was a way to blow off some kind of steam harmlessly

Malaya had always been a relaxed girl. It took a lot of bullshit to rile her up. Arguing with her family, especially her mother, was one of the situations that left her with the urge to scream

Once again, the Blake was biting at her nails, breaking them down to near nothingness. Malaya almost regretted it, as before the world went to shit, she was determined to have pretty hands like many others in her town

Between her frustration and guilt that still clung to her, Malaya Blake was oblivious to the figure stood at her cell door, eyeing her curiously. Carl had called out her name twice but had received no response — The Grimes boy leant forward and gently patted his new friend on the shoulder, catching Malaya off-guard and causing her to stumble back with her fist raised defensively

"You gonna punch me?" Carl snickered, eyeing her fist humorously. It was the kind of tease that would usually have Malaya jumping down his throat with a snarky comment. However, this wasn't the usual, carefree Malaya. Carl's face relaxed, a worried expression taking over his joyful one in a split second, "You feeling okay?"

Malaya shook her head, trying to dismiss the issue. While she trusted Carl to some degree, one of her biggest problems was with his father, and Malaya had learnt that Carl was by his father's side no matter what, "Yeah, it's just-" she paused to sit down on her cot, inviting the boy to sit as well, "It's just my mother. She's infuriating!"

Carl was cleary confused, his brows furrowing, "What do you mean? You seemed so happy to see her!" He was right. Malaya was happy to see her mother. But at that moment, it was more relief that her psychotic uncle hadnt harmed her in any way — It did, however, seem like The Governor had Leanne under some kind of control, and Malaya wasnt pleased

"I was. Of course I was! She's my mom!" Malaya answered Carl's question, but it left her asking herself even more

"Then what is it? Did you have a fight?" Malaya rolled her eyes at the boy's nosiness, but decided to let it out nonetheless — The minute you talk about it, it starts to get better

"She's just-, She doesnt trust you guys. Honestly, I think its super hypocritical because obviously, she doesnt know you guys. I know you guys! I trust you! But she's trying to make all the decisions for me without my input!" Carl didn't react to the rant, but was listening. When Malaya stopped to take a breath, he decided to offer his support — If more questions counted as support

"What, does she want you to leave?" Malaya hummed, eyes glued to her hand as she picked at the skin around her nail. Carl shook his head definitively, "You can't! It's not safe out there!"

"I know that. I tried to reason with her, but I dont think she's going to change her mind," The Blake girl finally looked up at the boy, not noticing that his eyes were already fixated on her, "You know I wanna stay, right? I don't wanna leave. But I can't lose my mother again Carl."

Carl understood that. He understood everything Malaya was saying. Back in the day, when it all begun, if Rick was to reject the group and go his own way, Carl would've followed him without a question. Then, there was his mother. The Grimes boy knew what it meant to lose your mother, and he'd never want Malaya to go through what he did

"I think you should go." Malaya was taken aback by Carl's response, expecting him to say the exact opposite

"You want me to go?"

"What? No! Of course not!" Carl fired back immediately, not wanting Malaya to get the wrong idea. He loved having another kid around, someone who he could talk to, and he'd never admit it out loud, but the Blake girl was a great asset to the team, "I lost my mom, Malaya. And I miss her. I miss her so much. I'd do anything to be with her again."

"Yeah, I get that but-"

Carl cut her off, "No, you dont get it! Your mother's still here Malaya. I know that you guys dont have the greatest relationship, or you believe you wont miss her when shes gone. But you will, okay? You'll regret all the wasted time," Malaya's face fell as she watched tears cloud Carl's eyes

"I'll miss you, Carl," she spoke after a moment of silence, letting Carl catch his breath and calm his nerves, "If I end up leaving that is."

He hummed in response, taking her hand in his as she began to pick at her skin again, "I'll miss you too."

Malaya had given herself a few hours to ponder her decision. She believed it to be set in stone, but after speaking with Carl, she'd began to rethink it

She'd come to the conclusion to stick with her mother — That is, if it meant she wouldn't have to return to Woodbury. Malaya would do anything to stay away from that hellhole, even if the Blake's had to live off the land for a month or two

Anywhere was better than Woodbury

She was on her way to her mother's cell with a tray of food in hand, ready to give Leanne her terms and conditions for leaving the prison. What she didnt expect to find was Michonne, leaning against her mother's cell, "There's something you need to see," was all the woman said, pushing off the bars and gesturing Malaya to follow

The Blake girl was quick to follow, sliding the tray of food into her mother's cell before rushing after Michonne, "What is it? Are we under attack?" Michonne was unresponsive to questions, which just led Malaya to ask more

Finally, they arrived outside the walls. Malaya froze in the doorway, throat dry, "Andrea?" the blonde woman spun around quickly, finger pointed at the girl

"You? Why are you here?" Andrea hissed, stepping closer to the girl. However, with one step, Michonne had slid between them, shielding Malaya from Andrea's eyes

"I could ask you the same thing! Are you supposed to be shacking up with my uncle?" Malaya scoffed, peering over Michonne's shoulder. Andrea rolled her eyes

"Is your mother here, as well? You know, he's going mad looking for you! He thinks Rick and his group kidnapped you!" Andrea claimed, but Malaya could already smell bullshit

"And I suppose that's why he keeps attacking, huh?" Andrea nodded — It may not of been the truth, but maybe it would make the right thing happen, "Sure, I'll believe that when pigs fly. Philip is a psycho, okay? He doesnt want to do the right thing. The sooner you see that, the more chance that you survive Andrea."

"But you know what he's going to do," the blonde woman spoke matter-of-factly, moving past Michonne to face Malaya, "That's why you're doing everything to stay hidden, right? Nothing will stop him
when he finds out you're here. And Rick? You think he'll let you stay? He was hostile to me, and I saved his ass a long time ago!"

With every word spoken, Andrea leant further and further down until she was eye level with Malaya. The Blake girl was speechless — Everything Andrea was saying was true

"What do you want, Andrea?" Malaya asked, stepping back. She wasn't usually one to give up without a fight, but she had more to lose than anyone

"I wasn't lying to Rick. I want peace. Between us and them. But you and your mother being here just complicates things!"

"So what? You want them to leave?" Michonne inquired, brows furrowed at Andrea's rant

"Come on Michonne. We both know it's for the best."

"She's a kid, Andrea! They won't just kick her out!" Michonne fought, shielding Malaya once again — Unbeknownst to her, Michonne had become very protective of the girl

"Well," Andrea turned and walked towards to the door back inside, "We'll see what Rick has to say about the matter. Who do you think he's gonna believe?"

When Malaya was confident Andrea was out of earshot, she quickly spun to Michonne, almost trembling with fear, "Shit, Michonne! What am I gonna do?"

For what seemed like the first time, Michonne didn't have an answer — That scared Malaya shitless

There wasnt many things that made Katrine Wilson disagree with Rick Grimes. He was their leader, somewhat of a saviour, and Kat owed him her life

In exchange for his protection, Kat backed him up no matter what. Almost every point the cop made was valid, and Kat was ready to honour his word to the end of the world

But as she watched the exchange in the courtyard, eyes burning into the back of his head, she fought to keep her mouth shut in fear of biting back at the man

The whole group had been tense since Andrea's return, all aware of her betrayal in relation to the Governor and Woodbury. In all honesty, Kat never liked nor trusted Andrea, and just wanted her out of her life — Andrea being around meant Philip Blake would be around, and that just spelled trouble

Then again, that mentality was hypocritical, especially for Kat. She took the Governor's niece in, gave her a home, and continued to keep her secret despite the danger that was approaching

"We dont want to have to do this," Rick told Andrea, the blonde woman standing in front of the car loaned to her. She was leaving, deciding where her loyalties lay, "You can stay. You can be one of us again."

Andrea looked around her old group, seemingly contemplating her decision. Kat knew better though. Andrea was leaving, "In exchange for leaving Woodbury? I dont think so," the Wilson girl couldn't understand Andrea's logic. Their team, Rick especially, had fought for her life, kept her alive for months on end. Now, she turned her back on them for a warm bed with the enemy

"It's him or us Andrea!" Kat finally spoke up from beside Michonne, earning herself a pointed look from Rick

"Him. I'm sorry," Kat didn't miss the way her eyes lingered on Carol. If anyone in the group knew how to scheme, it was Carol, and the knowing look on her face gave Kat some hope

Andrea lowered herself into the front seat of the car, closing the door behind her. Rick stepped forward, handing her a gun. But before he could move away, the blonde woman reached out to him

Rick lowered his head closer to Andrea, nodding to himself as she spoke directly into his ear. When he rose again, his lips were curled into a snarl and his eyes dark,  leering at Kat and Michonne from across the courtyard

Michonne's heart dropped, leaning over to Kat, "He knows."

"What? Knows what?" Kat said, searching Michonne's expression for any clue of what she meant. Despite the woman holding her signature blank look, it clicked for Kat — Andrea knew Malaya's secret, and now so did Rick

As Andrea pulled out from the prison, and hopefully out of their lives, Kat slid back inside the walls, moving as hastily as her still healing injury would allow her to. She made a quick stop in the makeshift armory, two guns and Malaya's switchblade tucked under her left arm, before continuing down the rows and rows of cells

She found Malaya exactly where she thought she would be — Sat against the wall opposite her mother's cell, head in her hands, "Hey, get up."

Malaya lifted her head, rubbing at her red eyes as she practically jumped to her feet. The girl was suprised to see Kat, believing her to still be against her whole agenda. But when she caught sight of the guns in hand, her joy quickly wore off, "What's up? What's with the guns?" Kat looked between the mother and daughter, ignoring the sharp pain in her side thanks to the quick movements, "Kat! What's wrong?"

"They know! Rick knows!" Kat spoke quickly, dropping the guns into Malaya's open arms, digging the keys from her pocket and quickly unlocking Leanne's cell door, "Andrea snitched. They know who you are!"

"Oh fuck! What-What do we do?" Malaya rambled, voice trembling as she tucked the smaller gun into her jeans and slid Beatrix into the pocket of her jacket

"You run. You get as far away as you can. Rick isn't in the merciful mood, and I'm guessing returning to Woodbury isnt a valid option," Malaya shuddered at the thought, missing the way her mother scoffed at it. Kat reloaded the second gun, passing it to Leanne, "You know how to use this?" the mother nodded, but Malaya knew she was lying

"Why are you helping us? You think we're traitors as well!" Malaya asked as the Blakes followed Kat through the still empty prison, heading for the back exit

"You might be a traitor, you might not be. At the end of the day, you're still a kid," Kat paused as she pushed against the door with all her weight, it eventually giving in and swinging open, "And i'm not sentencing a kid to her death."

Malaya understood that. Kat was brave and noble and human, something rare in the new world. The girl debated going in for a hug, but she thought it to be inappropriate. Instead she squeezed the woman's arm, "Thank you. For saving my ass twice."

"Good luck out there!" The Wilson woman called as Malaya and her mother successfully climbed under the fence and began to run across the field, dodging all the walkers they could

Kat turned back, shutting and securing the door once more. As she slid back into the main area of the prison, she was met by Rick emerging from the shadows, heated expression on his face, "Care to explain?"

"They wont bother us again," was Kat's answer