"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 are horrible.

When I finally managed to wake up, I quickly realized that Paul still wasn't in his bed. He hadn't returned home yet and, if that wasn't worrying enough, I don't know what would do it. 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, I quickly headed over to the side wall. If I went straight through the front, well, they wouldn't probably let me. They think that Paul can handle his own battles and not even myself, his twin sister, can stop him from bring himself.

I am going to find my brother, either anyone liked it or not.

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 lower back fell back on a big 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 neither.

So, I quickly readjusted myself by grabbing that damn rock and throwing it away from me in a fit of anger. I began dusting myself off and tried my best to stand up again, using the fence. 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 vehicles from coming through. This could be a disadvantage or advantage.

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

I simply saw Jesus. I wasn't dying or fading away; but, instead, i finally saw my twin brother, leading an unfamiliar group towards the front gates of the Hilltop. Yet, they hadn't even gotten that close when a loud 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 rifle, which had a scope on it, to see better from the long distance. I read Paul's face, which was calm, and didn't see any instint that he was being held against his will or anything like that. 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 as it is happening. So, I came out from behind the trees and ran out to where they could see me. With guns raised towards me, Paul rose his arms and leaped in front of me, shielding me.

"Whoa, guys, calm down," he demanded, nearly breathless. "She's with me. My sister."

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 once 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, "I'm sorry that I worried you, but I found these people out there. They're from a community like ours."

I waved away all the details that he was telling me because he was all that I cared about by the end of the day. I lowered my rifle all the way down and took a sigh of relief. I was beyond grateful that he was okay and it finally hit me. He was alive.

"I was worried about you," I confessed, slightly shaking my head and meeting his identical eyes. "I was just on my way out to find you."

"Tess?!" Kal 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 as well after I have, taking a moment to somewhat trust us. Though, I didn't need a gun to kill someone. As long as I had a knife or machete, I could still get the job done.

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

"Give up your weapons and we'll let you in," Kal suddenly called out from above and we all now turned, looking up at him at his post.

"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, raising his arms, and called out to Kal and the other guy up there, "Gentlemen, look, we vouch for these people, all right? They saved us out there."

Immediately afterwards, Paul called out, too, "Lower the spears."

The man behind my brother, 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 voice up at my own people. "Open the gates... Now!" Everyone seemed taken back by my such actions, using my voice to threaten my own group. "If my brother trusts them, then we should, too! So, open the gates. Now!"

"Who the hell do you think you are, Tess?" Kal spat back from up above, having the spear ready to strike me. "Keep on and you'll be out of here! Gregory won't stand for your attitude any longer!"

Paul snuck up behind me and whispered in my ear, "Let it go, Tess. Let me handle this. Please."

I kept my staredown with Kal, giving him the ultimate stink-eye. I am going to kick his ass later for having that spear ready to use on me and my brother. He had it coming, too, from all the shit that he's pulled on me before. His threats aren't what matter, but mine do, though.

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," Paul confessed to them, which made me completely drop my guard with them. I always trust the people that my brother does. He was sort of like my guiding light. "I trust you. Trust us."

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

So, then, Paul slightly turned around and deadpanned, "Open the gates, Kal."

As we all waited back for the gates to squeak open, like how they always 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 his hand, I pulled mine 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 seemingly trust now.

I had to say, though, he was really attractive. I silently hoped that it wasn't obviously that I had hearts in my eyes while staring and talking to him.

"I'm Tess, by the way," I introduced myself to the Asian. We made our way inside through the rusty gates. "Paul – or, um, 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, came 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."

Oh... I tried not to let my facial expression change from happiness to instant sadness. Of course he would be married. Just look at him.

I just smiled and waved back. "Well, it's nice to meet you, too, Maggie. I hope that we can all get along and maybe even become good friends."

Both Maggie and Glenn nodded, stopping once we were all the way 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 both. They had already made me feel better.