• Do you guys remember Izzy? She's a character that I made up at the start of this fan-fiction. She's the little girl that Tess took care of after her mother died. It was her final request that Tess take care of her after she passes. Anyways, she's portrayed by McKenzie Foy (or however you spell her name) and, so, for the 20th chap, I was thinking of making it all about her. So, here it is... Enjoy! •

Tess was gone.

She's been gone so long that I barley remember her face. If it wasn't for the picture that I keep beside my bed of me and her together, then I wouldn't even recognize her when I see her again.

Paul wasn't helping, either. It's not his fault, but he just doesn't know how to comfort me during my time of mourning for somebody that isn't even dead yet. She is his twin sister and they shared the womb together for nine months, after all. Yet, I've known her over three years now. She's taken care of me like I'm her own child.

However, just as I got the news last night from Paul that Negan had taken her, I knew that it was only a matter of time before she's killed by him. He can't keep her mouth shut for the life of her. Her mouth will get her killed. I already know it.

So, as everybody is distracted today with getting prepared for the Saviors tomorrow, I was all packed up and ready to leave this place for good. I wasn't about to tell Paul, either. Nobody knows, not even Maggie or Sasha.

They came here last week with two bodies that had clearly been beaten to death by Negan with the help of Lucille. They both belonged to the new ladies, apparently. Glenn Rhee belonged to Maggie while Abraham Ford belonged to Sasha. I felt so bad for them and their losses.

I was told by Maggie that Tess and Glenn were very close. They thought of each other as best friends. This was sad, even for me. Tess had went over there and made new friends, completely forgetting about the rest of us.

Now that I think about it, she was never too close to anybody here, even though she was sort of a leader over here. People looked up to her and that includes me. Yet, she never let anybody get too close. Only Paul and myself were that close.

So, here I was going through the side of the Hilltop to escape. I couldn't go through the front, where they would obviously see me. I had my whole life packed into a little backpack on my back. All my clothes, weapons, photographs, etc. Everything was right there for me.

Through the side that Tess showed me to go through and, then, I was finally out. I took out my gun and held it close to my chest, ready to strike whatever may come out at me. I haven't killed an actual living person yet, just Walkers.

Damn, there goes Tess again. She started calling them that, thanks to the Alexandria people, and here I am doing the same thing. Hell, even Paul is doing it, too. I heard Maggie and Sasha call them that, too.

Tess has warned me time and time before that I may have to kill somebody. "With the Saviors always coming in here and taking all that we have, you better be prepared," she once told me, which brought me to question her on what she meant. "Be prepared to kill them, if they ever try anything on you."

Negan doesn't recruit rapists, though, so I don't think we have to worry about that. Yet, I knew what she was talking about. She was talking about everything else, too.

I snuck through the woods surrounding the Hilltop, so that I won't get caught in the middle of the empty field. Everybody was safe on the inside, doing their own work, while I know that Cal will be out looking for anything that might look suspicious.

I couldn't risk getting caught, though. If I'm caught, I know that I'll be dragged back inside and put under twenty-four-seven watch. Escaping is like suicide, apparently. What bull...

Where am I even headed? I've considered going to the Kingdom, where I know that I'll be welcomed with open arms and where other kids were at, too. Yet, I didn't want to play as a princess. So, I'll go where I know that will also welcome me with open arms — the only other place that both Tess and Paul trust with all their hearts.

I'm headed to my new home in Alexandria.

According to this map — that I may or may not have stolen from Paul, I will be there in no time at all. Even on foot, I'll make it there before dark. It would help to have a car, though. Yet, I don't know how to properly drive yet. Tess tried teaching me earlier this year, but I nearly wrecked in a whole herd of Walkers. Let's just say that... She won't let me get behind the wheel of a car with her ever again. I don't blame her one bit, either.

Soon, I had hit the old dusty road, even though I should be out of sight. Yet, there was nowhere to hide. Not yet, anyways. I would get there eventually and I can't wait until I'm there, too!

———

I could see their walls in the distance while my legs couldn't take it much longer. I had already chug all of my water on the way here, so I needed a refill and quick. Their main gates were right there, closed and defendable.

I began to come closer as I could clearly see somebody up at the top, guarding the place. Reminded me of Cal, to be honest. Nevertheless, they rose their rifle down at me and was ready to shoot me on sight. They weren't afraid and I kind of admire that, to be honest.

I raised my arms in surrender as I walked closer to see that it was a black man, who was bald and styling a black outfit — but in this heat, though?

"Don't shoot," I warned the man, placing my gun in front of my feet. "My name is Izzy Hudson. Tess Rovia is my guardian mother and Jesus would be like an uncle to me. I'm from the Hilltop."

"Why are you here?" the man simply asked, slowly lowering his weapon.

"I wanted to speak to the leader. Isn't his name Rick?" I squeaked out, but kept my cool. "I wanted to move here from the Hilltop. Is that at all possible to do?"

With his weapon completely down, he questioned: "Are you all alone?" I nodded and told him that I was. Then, when the coast was clear, he called down to somebody to go get Rick. To me, he ordered: "Collect your gun, but don't plan on using it on anybody."

I nodded and scooped up my gun, placing it back on my belt. The gates suddenly began to open as a few people were standing there, as if, they had been waiting on me the whole time.

"Come inside," the man demanded and I quickly put a pep in my step.

Once inside their walls, the gate closed behind me with the help of some guy with a mullet. I found myself in the center of a circle surrounding me, it seems like.

"Who are you?" A black woman with long dreads asked, crossing her arms over her chest. So, I told her what I had told the man and she nodded afterwards.

To her left was a boy, right around my age, I believe. He had shoulder-length dark brown hair that was straight for the most part. He was actually really cute and I found myself trying not to blush, yet I had to hide my face from him.

"I'm Michonne," the black woman introduced herself as I noticed her katana sword on her back. "This is Carl Grimes, Rick's son."

"Nice to meet you both," I smiled and wanted to shake hands. Yet, they didn't seem like they wanted to do that. So, I quickly resigned. "Is Rick on his way?"

Just as Michonne nodded, I spotted somebody making their way quickly towards us. It was a man, who was sporting a grayish hairdo and beard. This man had been through a lot, that was obvious.

He burst through Carl and Michonne, standing right in the middle of them. He faced me as best as possible since I'm shorter than him. "You're from the Hilltop?" he first asked, his voice very deep.

I nodded and replied: "I am. My name is Izzy Hudson. Tess Rovia is my guardian mother and Jesus would be like an uncle to me."

He nodded, briefly using his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead. "Why are you here?"

"Actually, I know this sounds crazy, but I was hoping that I-I could move here," I stuttered out, but I was hoping that he wouldn't hold it against me. I watched his reaction change little by little, so did Carl and Michonne's, too. "Now, look... I'm a real good help. I swear it. They won't let me prove it at the Hilltop, but I can prove it here. I could take watch or, uh... Wash clothes? I don't know, but I could totally help you guys here!"

Rick looked at Carl and Michonne, waiting for their reaction. They just shrugged and nodded. Nothing too much. Finally, Rick scratched his forehead and asked: "How many Walkers have you killed?"

That was an odd question to ask since I couldn't give him a realistic answer. So, I simply shrugged and breathed out: "I-I don't know, to be perfectly honest with you. A lot, I guess. I mean... More than a hundred, I guess."

"How many people have you killed?"

Wow, okay, I thought to myself about his sudden question. This is sounding more and more like a job interview, but apocalypse-addition. So, I shrugged and simply replied: "None. Nobody."

He scratched the back of his neck and questioned: "Why?"

What the hell? I wanted to ask, but I kept my trap shut. Maybe Tess had rubbed off on me, after all. Nevertheless, I gulped and stammered out: "Um, I guess it's because I never had a reason to kill anybody. That was Tess' job — to protect me from everybody."

With that said, Rick nodded and so did the other two. He took a deep breath and quizzed: "Does Jesus know that you're here?"

Damn, I thought to myself. I was about to lie to his face, but then, he shrugged and stated: "You know what? It doesn't even matter. Um... Izzy, right?" I nodded slowly. "You can stay here, as long as you contribute. We'll get you a job to do and we'll see if you can do it. For now, Carl will show you where you can stay."

I nodded and wasn't going to reply, but I found myself reaching out towards Rick. I practically spun him around and hugged him as tight as I could. "Thank you, Rick."

He patted my back and said back: "No problem, kid."

Then, he left with Michonne, leaving just Carl and I there all alone. Though, before he could speak to me, I felt a tap on my shoulder and spun around to see the Mullet Man there. "Hi, there," he spoke in a low and grungy voice. "My name is Eugene Porter. Your name is Izzy?" I nodded and he extended his hand to mine, which I gladly accepted. "Nice to meet you, Izzy. I hope that you find your stay here very pleasure, despite the circumstances."

I nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Eugene."

"No problem, Izzy," he grinned and finally let go of my hand. "If you need anything, I can help you out, too." Again, I thanked him before he decided to walk away and disappear.

"I'm Father Gabriel Stokes," the bald man on watch introduced from still standing up there. I had to look up just to see him again. "You can normally find me here or at the church. If you ever need some guidance, I will help you."

"Thank you, Father Gabriel," I smiled and greatly appreciated. I honestly admired a man that still believes in these times.

Finally, I turned back towards Carl and smiled, raising my shoulders. "So, um, back to you," I coughed out, basically. "Where is it I'll be staying?"

"Follow me," he simply said before spinning around on his heel, signaling for me to follow. So, I began to do as I was told to do. I kept quiet, most of all. I couldn't figure Carl out. Not yet, anyways.

"So, um," I began to whisper out. I wanted to know some things first. "Where did Tess stay when she was here?"

Suddenly, Carl stopped right in front of a mailbox and pointed to the house that it belonged to. "That's her house with Daryl," he told me, answering my question. I was shocked and suspicious, too.

"Daryl? Who's Daryl?"

He lowered his head and breathed out: "He was taken, too, by Negan with her. Those two... They're best friends. One can't be without the other." Damn, I wanted to comment, but I'll allow him to continue. "That's why she was taken, too, with Daryl. She did it to defend me, mostly. She couldn't live without him and, so, she won't now."

"And what about Glenn?" I suddenly found myself asking.

Carl suddenly spun his head towards me, his blue eyes right on me. He almost broke his name with the mention of Glenn. Was it a forbidden name to mention now? "W-What do you mean?"

I shrugged and innocently replied: "Um, I-I don't know. Maggie told me that Tess and him were very close. Best friends, in fact."

This made Carl lower his head again and almost shut down altogether. "Tess would've died for him, I think. She loved Glenn. He really seemed to adore her, too," he began to say, which only made me feel more and more of a stranger to Tess. "Negan even had to move her away from him because she wouldn't stop defending Glenn."

Again, I felt myself becoming a stranger to Tess, but it is what it is. I couldn't blame her since I'm not her actual daughter or anything. She had to leave me behind to protect us both.

Carl shook his head, which almost made his hat fly right off, as he coughed out: "Um... Since both Daryl and Tess aren't here now, I don't think you want to be all alone in that house, right?" I shook my head because I didn't come all the way here to be all alone. I could've stayed at the Hilltop and would have that. "Alright. Well, you can stay with us instead."

"Whoa. Wait a minute," I squeaked out before another word. "Who is us?"

He shrugged and replied: "Uh, that would be me, my dad, Michonne, and my baby sister, Judith."

My heart shifted and became brand new. "Wait, did you just say you had a baby sister?" He nodded and I nearly melted. "I love babies! Can I see her?!"

She smiled and almost chuckled. "Sure, you can. I'm sure that she's going to love you, too."

Then, now walking beside Carl, we ran over to his house, where I would find my very own family, too. I can already see why Tess loves it here. There's families here that welcome you in with open arms, no matter what.

• Hope that you enjoyed! 🤗 All the love .xx •