THEY WALKED THROUGH THE TREES UNTIL THEY REACHED A CHAIN-LINK FENCE.

Metal spikes poked out from the fence, keeping walkers from piling on the fences... if only they were that inventive at the prison.

They peeked through the foliage past the fence, at the large building that sat past some gardens and water holes.

'TERMINUS' was written on the boarded up windows.

But they didn't see any people. No movement. Did Terminus fall a long time ago, and they were only seeing what was left behind?

"We all spread out, watch for a while, see what we see, and get ready." Rick ordered, glancing back at everyone, "We all stay close."

Everyone began separating, staying in groups of two. Daryl and Harley began walking towards the right while Rick turned to his son,

"You want to stick with me?"

He shook his head, "It's all right." He told Rick before going with Michonne,

"Guess that leaves just you and me." Nora gave him a small smile,

They stayed where they were, Michonne and Carl went in the opposite direction of Daryl and Harley.

"How do we know this place is safe?" Nora asked, staring beyond the fences,

He stared at her for a moment, "How did you know the prison was safe?"

She turned to face him, "I didn't. I was just tired of running."

Rick nodded before moving to a tree and began to dig. Nora kept an eye out, watching for any movement.

Harley and Daryl took post a few hundred yards away. She sat down on a log, and glanced over at Daryl who was already looking back at her, "What?" The redhead signed,

"I never came back." He stated,

She furrowed her brows, "What do you mean?"

"That morning... I told you I'd be back." Daryl replied,

Harley gave him a gently smile, "You did come back." She stood and approached him, "We're together, right now. We're alive."  She kissed him gently, before brushing her thumb over his black eye, "You came back." She mumbled, hoping he could understand her, "Just don't leave me again."

Daryl kissed her with more pressure, "Never."

The couple walked back over to where they left Rick and Nora, to find the man burying a duffel bag full of weapons, "Just in case." Rick told them,

They all met back up and hopped the fence, weapons in hand. Daryl led them towards the nearest door and entered a building. Nora could hear a woman's voice, echoing off the brick walls,

They followed the voice, coming to a large, open room. It was filled with worktables, people making maps like the ones they saw on the train tracks.

And across from them was an older woman, the one who was speaking into a microphone.

"Those who arrive survive. Terminus, sanctuary for all."

Rick walked up to her, "Hello." He turned and looked at the others, "Hello."

A man sighed, "Well, I bet Albert is on perimeter watch." He set downhill paintbrush and walked towards them, "You here to rob us?"

"No." Rick approached him, putting his gun into his holster, "We wanted to see you before you saw us."

"Makes sense. Usually we do this where the tracks meet." The man cleared his throat and raised his arms in greeting, "Welcome to Terminus. I'm Gareth. Looks like you've been on the road for a good bit."

Nora went to sign for Harley before noticing the redhead wasn't even looking at her, only focused on the man in front of them.

Rick nodded, "We have. Rick. That's Carl, Nora, Daryl, Harley, Michonne."

Gareth gave them a small wave, "You're nervous. I get it. We were all the same way. We came here for sanctuary. That what you're here for?"

"Yes."

"Good. You found it. Hey, Alex." Another man began making his way towards them, "This isn't as pretty as the front. We got nothing to hide, but welcome wagon is a whole lot nicer. Alex will take you, ask you a few questions." The man waved, "Uh, but first, we need to see everyone's weapons. If you could just lay them down in front of you."

Everyone looked to Rick, waiting for his call. Whether they lay down their weapons or not, it was up to him.

But if they're weaponless and something goes down, they would be screwed.

Rick gave everyone a nod before reaching for his gun, "All right." He kneeled down and put the gun on the concrete and the others followed suit.

"I'm sure you understand."

Harley laid down her gun, but kept her switchblade in her bra. She would rather be safe than sorry.

"Yes, I do."

Alex and Gareth began to pat them down. Alex went to Daryl first, glancing at the wounds on the hunter's face, "I'd hate to see the other guy."

"You would." Rick responded for him,

"They deserve it?" Alex asked as he moved onto Carl,

"Yes."

Once they were done patting the six of them down, Harley grateful they didn't find the knife she hid, Gareth stepped back and continued his speech,

"Just so you know, we aren't those kind of people, but we aren't stupid either. And you shouldn't be stupid enough to try anything stupid. As long as everyone's clear on that, we shouldn't have any problems. Just solutions. Okay."

Alex handed Michonne her sword, signalling they were allowed their weapons back. Nora stuffed her handgun into her waistband before sharing a look with Rick.

Because who in their right mind would let strangers have their weapons back?

They followed Alex outside into the sunlight. Nora's eyes were drawn to the flowers that were planted, their bright colours standing out from the faded bricks.

"So how long's this place been here?" Daryl asked the member,

"Since almost the start. When all the camps got overrun, people started finding this place. I think it was instinct, you know? Follow a path. Some folks were heading to the coast, others out west or up north, but they all wound up here." Alex explained as he led them over to a woman, who was grilling some meat,

"Hi." She smiled at them, "Heard you came in the back door. Smart. You'll fit right in here."

"Hey, Mary, would you fix each of these new folks a plate for me?" Alex asked while they all looked around,

The people sitting at tables with hot drinks, to them it was a sanctuary.

But as Harley looked closer, she began to have doubt.

That orange backpack looks exactly like Carl's.

"Why do you do it? Why do you let people in?" Michonne questioned,

"The more people become a part of us, we get stronger." He handed Carl a plate of meat, "That's why we put up the signs, invite people in. It's how we survive."

A blonde woman in the corner wore a very familiar poncho. The same poncho Harley had worn dozens of times. She reached over slowly and tapped Daryl on the lower back softly. He followed her gaze before giving her a soft nod. 

Rick stepped forward, slapping the plate out of Alex's hand before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a unique pocket watch, "Where the hell did you get this watch?" He growled into Alex's ear, putting him into a chokehold and placing the barrel of his gun to his head,

They all followed suit, raising their own weapons. Daryl and Harley stood with their backs pressed against each other, protecting each other from all sides. Nora made sure to stay close to Carl, making him easy to grab incase anything went down.

The people in the courtyard all stood, facing them. A few had their own guns, aiming them at the newcomers.

"You want answers? You want anything else? You get 'em when you put down the gun." Alex choked out,

"I see your man on the roof with a sniper rifle. How good's his aim?" Rick asked, "Where'd you get the watch?" Alex remained silent, "Where'd you get the watch?!"

"Don't do anything!" Alex ordered the sniper, "I have this! You just put it down. You put it down!" The sniper lowered his gun, "You want to listen to me. There's a lot of us."

"Where did you get the watch?" Rick repeated,

"I got it off of a dead one. I didn't think he'd need it." Alex answered,

"What about the riot gear? The poncho?" Rick questioned, 

Gareth appeared, "Got the riot gear off a dead cop. Found the poncho on a clothesline." He explained,

"Gareth, we can wait."

"Shut up, Alex." Gareth shushed him,

"You talk to me." Rick demanded,

"What's there left to say?" Gareth shrugged, "You don't trust us anymore."

"Gareth." Alex begged, "Gareth, please."

He raised his hand to silence his group member, "Shut up. It's okay." He told Alex, keeping his eyes on Rick, "Rick, what do you want?"

"Where are our people?"

"You didn't answer the question." Gareth closed his palm to create a fist, and gunfire went off. 

Rick spun Alex around in time for bullets to reach them. Alex became a shield, bullets piercing his body and Rick let him collapse to the concrete.

Daryl pulled on Harley, following after Rick as they tried to run towards a smaller walkway. Bullets littered the ground in front of them, pushing them back.

They were leading them somewhere, and they had no choice but to follow.

Harley covered her ears and the gunfire resonated louder. Rick led them into a large, empty room, but stopped as a garage door came down, cutting them off.

The group ran towards another door that had a large 'A' painted in white above it. It brought them to an open area with broken down cars and wooden boxes. As Nora ran by, she noticed the insane amount of bullet holes that covered the surface.

Harley didn't let go of Daryl's hand as they ran through the compound. She couldn't tell where the exit was, it was like a maze.

Daryl opened another door and they were brought into a darkened room filled with candles. The group panted as they looked around.

'NEVER AGAIN. NEVER TRUST. WE FIRST, ALWAYS' was painted on the walls.

"What the hell is this place?" Daryl asked out loud,

"These people, I don't think they're trying to kill us." Michonne stated,

"No, they were aiming at our feet." Rick agreed before pointing at a door on the opposite side of the room, "There."

Before they could push it open the rest of the way, it was slammed shut. Daryl began to run over to another door that had another 'A' next to it.

Once outside again, bullets littered at their feet. Nora pushed Carl back, trying to protect him the best she could.

Then, they saw the fences. 

Freedom.

Just before they could reach them, the people of Terminus revealed themselves on the other side of the chainlink, guns in hand.

They were surrounded.

With no way out.

"Drop your weapons!" Gareth demanded from on the roof, "Now!"

They all dropped their guns and knives to the ground in surrender,

"Ringleader, go to your left. The train car, go." Nora looked over to see the solo red train car with an 'A' painted onto it, "You do what we say, the boy goes with you. Anything else, he dies and you end up in there anyway."

Rick gave Nora and Carl a nod before walking over to the entrance to the train car, "Now the archer." 

Harley swallowed nervously as she watched everything happen. Daryl squeezed her hand before letting go, walking after Rick.

She didn't understand, Gareth was too far away for her to lip read. She began to panic and Nora looked over at her before signing, 'They're sending us over one by one."

"Now the samurai." Gareth ordered, "Then the brunette."

Nora followed after Michonne,  "Stand at the door, ringleader, archer, samurai, brunette in that order. Now the deaf girl."

Nora signed for Harley to walk over, and she gave Carl a worried look before leaving him alone.

"My son." Rick called out as the five of them stood in a line outside the door to the train car.

"Go, kid." Gareth called out,

Carl began to slowly walk over as Gareth ordered him to go inside the train car, 

"I'll go in with him." Rick stated,

"Don't make us kill him now." Gareth responded, 

They began to file in, and Harley reached her hand out for Carl. He reached the back of their line and gripped her hand tightly as they walked up the steps.

The door closed behind them, leaving them in darkness.

How were they gonna get out of this?

Carl let go of Harley's hand and hugged his father. The redhead gulped nervously, she was now deaf and blind.

But once their eyes adjusted to the darkness, their hearts grew lighter.

"Rick?"

On the other side of the train car was a bunch of familiar faces. And new ones.

"You're here." He realised, "You're here."

Nora lunged forward and wrapped her arms around Maggie first before Glenn. Their reunion was short and sweet, with Maggie and Glenn explaining how the other new people saved them.

They were at an advantage. It was pure coincidence they were put into the same train car as their group, despite being apart for weeks.

But now they had numbers. Now... they can come up with a plan.

"They're gonna feel pretty stupid when they find out." Rick stated, trying to look out the crack between the door,

"Find out what?" The redheaded man asked their leader, 

"They're fucking with the wrong people."