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2 weeks had passed since the incident at the mall and I had since become very trusted among the group, Owain was sending me out in charge of my own groups and no one really questioned it now, they all respected me. After the explosion at the mall, I had earned their respect

I had had many successful runs and a lot of people volunteered for them. I had even been gifted my own room, partly because the men were getting a little rowdy having a woman sleeping in the same quarters as them but also because I had proven to be very valuable, or so Owain kept telling me.

It was afternoon right now and I had only just awoken after being on fence walking duty all night and so I was heading to grab some food after my rumbling stomach informed me it was time. The factory was bustling with people all heading around doing their jobs, the group had brought in some new people and so I was pleased that Owain had authorized me to carry a hand weapon at all times with me now being a higher member of the group.

Hank was still in charge, though, we barely saw him, all his orders went through Owain. Zac had taken a step back after another perimeter walk went wrong and he lost the majority of his team, he had become sad and depressed almost - He held a lot of guilt. I had watched him change in the space of a few weeks, though I still considered him my friend.

The food today was the same as usual, some vegetable rice, whatever the hunt had delivered us - Sometimes chicken, today snake. I couldn't grumble, it was nice to have some decent food. I chewed through the tough snake, sat on the table alone as the factory continued to busy itself around me. "Kelly, get in here" A stern voice called over to me.

Quickly, I whipped my head around to see Owain stood at the bottom of the metal stairs waiting for me with a serious look on his face. I stood immediately and jogged over, the gun in is holster on my thigh bouncing up and down.

"What's wrong?" I asked with furrowed brows.

He said nothing as I followed him up the stairs, "In here" He pulled me into a small office, opposite Hank's.

My face was growing more and more serious as his tone dropped and a dark shadow grew on his face. It concerned me more that he had just come back from a run, "What happened, Owain?"

"On the run, we ran into some people - lots of them, more than us. Shot Phil," He began.

I raised both brows and he carried on, "Hank wants them dead, an eye for an eye and a tooth for  tooth, but first we need to know where they came from, they're in the meat freezer. I want you there" He spoke and his voice was low and saddened.

I nodded, "Of course"

We waited a few seconds before he led me towards the large, thick metal door of the meat freezer. "We've separated them into two, less in one" He explained before one of the men stood in front of the door opened it with a nod.

Owain stepped through the threshold first before I joined, the door shutting behind us with a loud thud. There was a click as a light sparked and I saw the group Owain had kidnapped.

Owain pulled forward a chair, sitting like a superior on it as he glared down at them. My eyes widened as I stared at the group in front of me, looking down at all the familiar faces as they looked up at me with confusion swirling in their eyes.

"You killed one of ours," Owain began, he voice deep and dark as I avoided eye contact with the group that all sat, tied up on the floor. "So here's how it's going to work" He continued as Rick stared at the man sat before him. "We're going to kill every single member of your group, even if we have to hunt them down"

My heart started beating quicker and quicker as the words trailed out of his mouth. I dared a glance at Daryl who was gazing at me and I noticed that he still had his wedding band wrapped around his finger, unlike me.

No one replied to Owain's threats and so he pulled out his gun and held it to Carl's head. I leaped forward and grabbed Owain's shoulder, "Come on, they're not going to talk to you pointing a gun at their head" I reasoned, my voice now calm as I looked at his face.

Owain slowly nodded and put his gun away, I pulled him to the side of the freezer, next to the wall, "Take a step back, you're close to this, let me" I whispered.

He hesitated for a second before nodding, "I'll be outside, you need me, you shout" He ordered, his voice serious again. I looked around at the ground before nodding and agreeing him.

The door slammed again leaving me alone with the group. "What the Hell are you doing?" Rick spat as soon as we were all alone together.

"What the Hell am I doing? What the Hell are you doing trying to fight against these guys?" I growled.

Rick shook his head, "Where are they keeping the rest of us?" He asked in a hurry.

I sighed, "Next door,"

He began shuffling, trying his best to squirm out of the restraints, "Rick, don't, let me handle this"

"What? You and them best friends?" Glenn asked with slight disgust in his voice.

I shook my head, "They found me after the prison, I had no choice..Just--Just let me handle this, okay? If they find out I know you, they'll kill us all. Trust me" I said before banging on the door, letting them know I was ready to leave.

I took one last glance at Daryl who was looking at me with sad eyes before the door was slammed shut and I was once again torn from him.