"I saved a lot of people... Back home when everything first went down."

"Why? What was in it for you?"

"Nothing. I just... I just wanted to save people, that's all."

———

Early mornings were horrible. Not only for myself, but for Izzy, too, who didn't like to do much of anything. She looked forward to getting her daily killing of the biters. She's learning slowly, but surly. I will make sure that she survives this whole ordeal.

When I awoke, I quickly discovered that Paul wasn't in the bed across from mine in our little trailer. He hadn't returned home yet and, if that wasn't worrying, I don't know what will do the trick. In my gut, I felt like something was wrong and something was going to happen. I don't know when, but soon. Very soon.

   Once I had my boots laced and my bag of supplies packed up, too, I quickly headed over to the side wall. If I went straight through the front, well, they wouldn't let me. They think that Paul can handle his own battles and not even myself, his twin sister, can stop him from himself.

   Izzy was my only hope, who was currently distracting those by the main gate from doing their daily patrol of securing the perimeter. She knew what her mission was and she wasn't going to down without succeeding, either.

   Once I noticed that she had then wrapped around her little finger, distracting them with the odd color of the fruit, I nodded towards her with a smile – even though, she couldn't see it. Good girl, I thought towards her.

   I lifted myself up on the top of the fence and heaved, throwing myself temporarily on the top before landing rather harshly onto the ground on the other side. My left knee had hit a rock and I winced, but didn't dare make a sound. I didn't want them to come find me, nor did I want any of the biters after me, either.

   So, I readjusted myself by dusting myself off and standing up again. I heard something bellow off within the woods, but it soon faded away. Just another biter, making its way through.

   Just as I reared the corner of the fence, I could hear something squeaking. Sounded like a truck or something that had got stuck in the mud. My heart fell as I realized... Saviors!

   I tried to remain calm, using the anti-anxiety breathing methods that Paul had taught me to use. The rain had passed through last night, causing a rough mud mold to keep the tires intact. Izzy was probably freaking out in there, seeing how every time they come by, she's on the verge of having a heart attack.

   I peeked out once again to see what I could, with the help of the trees camouflaging my presence, thankfully. However, I didn't see the Saviors nor did I see my new so-called friend, Dwight, or my oldest one, Negan. I didn't see any of the armored and very dangerous men.

   I simply saw Jesus. I wasn't dying or fading away. I saw my twin brother, leading an unfamiliar group into the walls of the Hilltop. Yet, they hadn't even gotten inside when a rough ruckus began between my crew and this new one.

   They had descended from a small white RV with about six or so people from the new group and even some of my own that were returning from their own little mission as well. That's counting Dr. Carson, too, who was our current doctor here at the Hilltop.

   I raised my gun, which had a scope on it, to see better from the long distance. I read Jesus's face, which was calmness. He was okay as this group didn't look like they were holding him hostage or forcing their way inside, either.

   Something was up and I wanted to be apart of it up front when it happens. So, I came out from behind the trees and ran out to where they could see me. With guns raised towards me, Jesus rose his arms from them shooting me.

   "Whoa, guys, calm down," Jesus demanded, jumping in front of me. "She's with me."

   I still had my own gun raised, pointed directly at the man who wore a sleeveless vest. He was smug, confident, and ready to unload his gun on me.

   "What the hell, Paul?" I whispered in his ear, gritting my teeth. "Where were you? Who are these people?"

   Making sure one and for all that any of this new group wasn't going to shoot me, he trustfully turned his back on them and lowered his arms. He smiled at me and said, "Well, yeah, I missed you, too."

   "I was worried about you," I told him, sighing. "I was just on my way out to find you, actually."

   "Tess?!" Cal called out to me from the top of the fence. "When did you leave?"

   I was about to answer until I saw the new group finally lowering their weapons, taking a moment to completely trust us. I had my lowered as well, but I wasn't the sniper-type of girl. I preferred machetes, myself, to be honest.

   I held my breath as I nodded towards the man, who wore the vest. "Who are them? Your new friends?"

   "Give up your weapons and we'll let you in," Cal suddenly called out from above and we all turned towards him.

   "Why don't you come down here and get them?" the man with the vest spat back towards him, raising his gun once again.

   Dr. Carson stepped up and called out to them: "Gentlemen, look, we vouch for these people, all right? They saved us out there."

   Immediately afterwards, Jesus called out, too: "Lower the spears."

   The man behind Jesus, seemingly being the leader in all this, stepped up and warned: "Look, I'm not taking any chances. Tell your guy, Gregory, to come out here."

   I heard the chatter of guns getting ready, so I took it upon myself and spun around, raising my gun at my own group. "Open the gates now!" Everyone seemed taken back by my such actions, using a gun to threatened my own group. "If my brother trusts them, then we should, too! So, now, like I was saying... Open the gates now!"

   "What the hell is this, Tess?" Cal said from up above, having the spear ready towards me. "You don't use weapons to threaten us! And, if we decide to tell Gregory, then your ass is out of here!"

   Jesus snuck up behind me and whispered in my ear, "Put the gun down, Tess. Let me handle this. Please."

   I kept my aim and kept it very steady, ready to unload on Cal's ass. He had it coming, too, from all the shit that he's pulled on me before. His threats isn't what matters, but mine do, though.

   Alas, I lowered my weapon and sighed, turning towards the rest of the new group. Behind Dr. Carson was an Asian man with a blue shirt on, who simply nodded my way in a quiet thanks. I returned it to him as well.

   While I analyzed the rest of the group, I could heard Jesus informing all of them about how we ran out of ammo months ago and how the new group can keep their guns. Hopefully meaning that I can as well, too.

   "I like you people," Jesus said to them, which made me completely drop my guard with them. I always trust the people that my brother does. "I trust you. Trust us."

   The man that Jesus was currently talking to, who I figured was the leader of his little group, took all this new information in. It took him a good moment to think about it, looking to his group for some kind of mental approval or something like so. Alas, the leader raised his hand and signaled for the rest of his group to lower their weapons and, most likely, trust us.

   So, then, Jesus slightly turned around and demanded: "Open the gates, Cal."

   As we all waited back for the gates to squeak open, they did in their normal fashion of being old and used. I turned just in time to see the Asian come face to face with me. He extended his hand towards me and I accepted it. "Thanks for trusting us," he stated, which warmed my heart.

   With one last shake of the hand, I pulled back and said: "Any time. Just don't give me or my brother a reason not to."

   He nodded and began to walk as I decided to walk right on next to him. I wanted to make conversation because I hadn't seen any new people in such a long time, especially those whom we can trust now.

   "I'm Tess, by the way," I introduced myself to the Asian. We made our way inside through the rusty gates. "Paul, or Jesus, is my twin brother. I don't know if you could tell or not, to be honest."

   The Asian smiled and nodded his head, taking a moment to glance over at me. "Yeah, I could tell that you two were related in some way or another," he chuckled, which made this all more easier and smoother. "I'm Glenn, by he way. Glenn Rhee."

   This time, I grinned up at him and felt in my gut that I could trust him. They were going to help us in some way or another. This was what was always supposed to happen. We were going to be okay now.

   A woman, somewhere close to my age, stood up next to him with shoulder-length brunette hair. She smiled over him and waved. "Hey, there. I'm Maggie," she introduced, as we quickly shook hands in front of Glenn, but still continued to walk. "I'm Glenn's wife."

   My heart... "Awe, that's so cute," I gushed, placing a hand over my heart. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Maggie. I hope that we can all get along eventually and maybe even become good friends."

   Both Maggie and Glenn nodded, stopping once we were all inside the gates of the Hilltop. "I think that we will," she agreed, eyeing Glenn. He added, "Yeah, this is the start of something good."

   To be completely honest, I couldn't agree more with them two. They already made me feel welcomed.

• Sorry that it's taken 20+ years to update, but I have had my reasons, I assure you. I have other works and all that good stuff. And, to be completely honest with you, it's kind of HARD to write everything word by word. I have to pull on the episode and put on the English subtitles. So, everything is to be EXACT 👌🏻 So, anyways... As soon as I get back home, I will have another chapter up! And, guys... What was that little convo up there about? WHO was she talking to? Or, by any chance, was she thinking back to something in a flashback? And, btw, look at these edits that I made of D and Tess (one above and one down below)... 🙃 •