Chapter Forty-Three // {jordan's pov}

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"Day Two, still alive, Rick," I mumbled to myself as I stretched. I still couldn't believe he thought I couldn't survive by myself. I stood up and brushed the dirt off of me from sleeping on the ground. I needed more supplies, so I was going to try find a store or a town to scavenge in. I could feel the headache forming from however much alcohol I had last night. I had made sure to put the cigarettes and vodka in my backpack.

I picked up my backpack from near the shed door and slung it over my back. I holstered my desert eagle and Rick's knife. I picked up my bow and loaded an arrow into it, so I could be ready for anything.

I pushed open the shed door with my right shoulder. The bright light blinded me as I walked out. The small shed was odd. It was just in the middle of a small clearing. 

My eyes scanned the area in front of me, once again, not only looking for walkers. I sighed deeply as I realised there was nothing. Going by the sun, I decided to head North, towards Washington DC. As much as I didn't believe in Eugene, if the world happened to magically become 'normal,' I didn't want to stray too far from it.

As I walked, the leaves below me crunched from my combat boots. It was weirdly quiet or maybe it was normal, but I just never noticed. I've had human company with me for most of the apocalypse but now, I'm alone. I had to get used to that again.

Ahead of me, I could see a road. Roads usually meant civilisation, which means it could lead to a town. As I neared it, I opened my backpack and pulled out a small packet of cashews. They were salted too! I smiled as I popped one into my mouth. I had missed these.

I stepped foot onto the road and checked both ways. Last time I stood in the middle of one, I got run over. It was clear. The road ran from east to west, Washington was North of me. Going west would do nothing but take me further from where I needed to go. At times like this, I wish I had sunglasses to block the direct sunlight since I was now heading straight for it. 

I walked at a fairly decent pace. I wanted to find some supplies, I didn't know what season we were in, it could be summer, going by the heat but it was never particularly cold in Georgia, I didn't know all that much about Virginia though.

I raised my hand up to block the sun as I squinted to see better up the road. A car and a RV. I frowned, they looked fairly clean.

I picked up the pace to a jog. I was about 50m away before dashing for the trees on the side of the road for better coverage. I wanted to see them before they saw me. 

Two men were talking beside the car. They were fully clean. Not a speck of dirt on either of them. It interested me, I wanted to know how they were so clean.

I had nothing to lose anymore so, I stepped out of trees and into the open.

"Hello," I spoke. They whipped around facing me, one held a gun up to my head. The one without a gun looked me up and down, probably noticing my uniform. 

"You're a cop?" the man asked me, with a blank expression.

I nodded, "was a cop. I'm from Atlanta, Georgia," I corrected and informed.

"I'm Aaron and this is Eric," he greeted with a smile, Eric lowered and holstered his gun.

"Jordan Taylor," I smiled back.

"How are y'all so clean?" I questioned, glancing at their clothing. Aaron sideways glanced at Eric, almost as if they were having a conversation with their eyes.

"We have a community."

I frowned in confusion, "what do you mean, 'a community?'"

"We had an architect build walls around this section of a town, called Alexandria. There's lots of people there. It's a community, almost like the way the world used to be. Everyone has their job. You'd fit in well, being a police officer," Aaron informed, finishing with a smile. 

I furrowed my eyebrows. The whole reason I got in an argument with Rick was over the 'old world.'

"I don't know, I-"

"Jordan, we are the recruiters for the community. We wouldn't be telling you this if we thought you'd be bad for the community. We have photos," Eric said, he pulled out some photographs from Aaron's backpack and handed them to me.

I looked through them all, a small smile made it's way onto my face.

"It looks nice," I commented, handing the photos back to Eric. I shuffled on my feet awkwardly.

"Will you be willing to come with us? If not, you can leave now, we'll never see each other again but, I can assure you that you'll regret doing that!" Aaron asked. I could tell he was sincere. This wasn't a trap.

"Okay, let's go."

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I was once again, leaning my head against the window in the passenger seat. I missed Rick more than I let on. I missed the sense of safety that I got when near him. I was trying my best to adjust... but it wasn't working out that well.

The car came to a halt in front of a gate. Big slabs which made up the walls blocked my view from the inside.

The gate was suddenly pulled open by a man, allowing us to go straight though. I looked down to my clammy hands that were sitting in my lap. I subconsciously bit the inside of my lip, causing it to lightly bleed. Aaron got out of the car, making me follow suit.

The man who opened the gate hadn't seen me yet since I was standing behind Aaron who was taller than me, then again, everyone was. 

"Back so soon?" the man questioned. Eric nodded.

"She came to us, we'll go back out tomorrow though," Eric answered without much explanation. I guessed that was my cue to step out from behind Aaron, but he moved for me. I took on a more 'tougher' stance. My posture suddenly becoming rigid.

"Atlanta PD, you're a long way from home," the man observed. I smirked. I figured that I had to make a good impression and make sure they know my boundaries. I wasn't going to let them control me.

"I figured that going to Washington DC, would be smart," I informed with a fake smile. It's all an act.

I took the time to glance around while Aaron, Eric and the man talked. It was truly a community. An actual 'old world' community. I saw kids running around along the roads, laughing and having fun. I gulped. I never had that childhood. Neither would Judith. I shuddered thinking of how I abandoned her.

I returned my gaze back on the man.

"Weapons need to be confiscated and taken to the armory," the man informed.

I scoffed, "pretty sure this is supposed to be like the old world and therefore I'm a police officer." I felt stupid saying all of this but, they're pretty stupid by just letting people in.

"Doesn't work like that," the man frowned angrily at me since I didn't comply easily.

"No, Nicholas, it's fine, she came up to us without drawing, we never saw her," Aaron interjected. I smiled innocently at the man who I now knew as Nicholas. He was still frowning at me.

"We're going to see Deanna," Eric informed Nicholas and myself before taking off. I followed him without a word. We walked up to a large-ish house. I gulped as Aaron knocked on the door. A horrible feeling was in my gut.

The door opened revealing a short woman, the same size as me. I almost started laughing. How the fuck did this woman survive for so long?

She looked me up and down with a judgemental look before beckoning us inside. She shut the door behind me.

"Aaron, who's this and why are you back so soon?" the woman who I figured was Deanna questioned.

"Jordan, meet Deanna, Deanna meet Jordan. She approached Eric and I just a little while out. We were busy planning on where to start looking for people when she said hello. She never drew on us plus, she's a cop. She's a good person," Aaron informed Deanna, who looked surprised. I was surprised too, he hardly knew me. Aaron and Eric were definitely people to trust here.

"Come, Jordan. Everyone who comes here must be interviewed," she spoke as she led me to another room. A camera was set up on a tripod facing a chair. I awkwardly perched on the end of the chair as she sat down across from me.

"Do you mind being videoed?" she asked while standing behind the camera. I knew that I had no choice either way. I gave her a small shake of the head. She smiled slightly and pressed what I'm guessing was the record button. A little red light appeared. I was actually being recorded.

Deanna walked around the couch and took a seat in front of me. I wish I did acting class...

"Where did you live before all of this happened?" she asked with a very serious voice.

"Far away from here, that's for sure. Atlanta, Georgia," I replied. My heart sunk with those words, I missed it. I straightened up, pushing those thoughts away.

"I'm guessing you were an officer," Deanna says while looking at my badge. I bit my lip awkwardly.

"Indeed, I was."

"For how long?"

"As soon as I could get a job, I became one. It was my dream," I answered, avoiding eye contact. I glanced back up to her, noticing a look of pity. 

I hardened my facial expression instantly wiping her look of pity off of her face.

"Have you ever had a group before?" she asked, looking slightly more interested in what I have to say. I bit my tongue.

"No, I've always been alone," I lied fluently. She smiled.

"You'll fit right in here, Jordan," Deanna said with a smile. I smiled back.

"I hope so," I replied feeling like a hypocrite. 

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I was following Aaron to my 'house.' I was shocked when Deanna said I'll have a house to myself.

Aaron stopped in front of a fairly large house. It was a traditional American styled house. I did love it. The white colour of the house stood out to me, it was the first time I had seen a pure white house that didn't have a speck of dirt or blood on it. It was truly beautiful.

"Eric and I are right next door if you need us. Jessie will come over later and hand you some essentials like clothing, you'll both get along really well. Also, Deanna may pop 'round later too," Aaron informed. I grinned up at him.

"Thank you Aaron, I really appreciate it," I thank him. He gives me a nod and heads off in the other direction.

I stare up at the house in awe. Time to explore it...

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