"I'm just another monster too."

~Carl Grimes

Glenn had barely stepped foot back in Alexandria before he was embraced by a person he thought had been long dead.

"Tara?" He looked at his friend in wonder.

"Glenn!" Her eyes were misty with tears as she stared into his dark brown ones, hugging him again. He slowly hugged her again, feeling.... feeling all sorts of emotions. Joy, grief, shock, and confusion.

"Where have you been?"

"I've been on the longest supply run ever. But it doesn't matter. What matters is how you're doing after all of this," she responded.

"I've never felt more exhausted and hopeless," he looked down at his feet.

"You look like it. You need to get some rest," she threw her arm around him, leading him to his house.

"No, there are several things I have to do. Right now, Rick's gone and I'm one of the leaders," he started off towards the church. "Tell everyone they need to meet in the church for a town meeting," he ordered.

Tara watched him stalk off, noticing a dramatic shift in her friend's personality. She frowned, deciding she didn't have much of a choice than to follow his orders.

~

"I have gathered you all here to update you on what's been happening outside of these walls," Glenn explained to the dozens of people anxiously watching him. "Rick is off trying to find a potential ally in Morgan. The leader of Hilltop has died and Sasha has most likely taken over in his place." This earned the gapes of many people in the pews. "That leader pulled a gun out on me and threatened to turn Sasha and me over to the Saviors. I wrestled the gun out of his hand, but I had no choice than to defend myself," he quickly added.

People shifted uncomfortably in their seats, unsure of how to take this news.

"How will the Saviors react to this?" Spencer folded his arms over his chest.

"The Saviors are the type of the group who don't care who's in charge as long as their demands are met and the leader bows down to them," Glenn responded. "Of course, Sasha will only act as if she is loyal to them. The more allies we get, the better chance we have to wage a winning war on Negan."

Rosita gripped Tara's hand when Glenn said this, urging her to speak up. "Tara, you need to tell him."

"No. I can't. It won't do you all any good," she answered worriedly.

Rosita rolled her eyes, "If there's a price, I'll pay it. But this is too important to ignore." Tara remained silent, shaking her head.

"Glenn," Rosita stood up. "There is another community Tara found." Everyone turned their heads towards Rosita; Glenn perking up at this news.

"Really? Where is it, Tara?"

Tara opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. "She said it's by the ocean," Rosita answered for her.

"Then we have to find it. They could help us," Glenn said hopefully.

"No. They won't help. They all fought Negan and lost. He brutally attacked their community and they will do whatever it takes to stay hidden," Tara finally answered.

"Tara, if Rick can't come to an agreement with The Kingdom we will not be able to fight Negan. We need more people!" Rosita glared at her friend. "How do you not understand this?" Tara looked up at her friend in shock and sadness.

"If I go back, they'll kill me... They'll kill you all," Tara mumbled.

"We'll have to take that risk. Even if it's the smallest chance of gaining an ally," Glenn went up to Tara. "Just show me where this place is and I'll go."

"This community is made up of women. They hate men; they kill any man who finds them," she explained desperately.

"Then I'll go," Rosita said resoundingly.

"I want to see Negan suffer more than anyone here." Glenn looked at Rosita deeply, but addressed the whole group. "Every action that will get us towards accomplishing that I have to be part of. This is my battle."

"Are you both crazy?!" Carl rushed towards the pair, unable to keep his anger down any longer. "My dad is gone and you want to leave? Again?" He gazed up at Glenn defiantly. "He might have left you in charge, Glenn. But I am, too."

"Carl, you and Michonne can take care of them," He looked around at the concerned faces. "I know there will be too many people gone... but there might be more if we don't do anything," Glenn tried appealing to Carl's emotions.

"You seem to think you're the only one who can make decisions," Carl scoffed. "Michonne, what do you think?" He looked to the woman.

"I-I think Glenn and Rosita should at least try," she rose up. To her, being a leader meant stepping up when Rick was gone. He couldn't do this alone, he needed all of his people.

Carl looked at her in disbelief and disappointment, but accepted her verdict grudgingly.

"Then it's settled. We'll leave tomorrow," He smiled wanly at Rosita. "Tara," He had never seen her look so broken and it panged him to know he was partially the cause. "You know what to do."

~

Rick and Aaron were currently in a strange predicament. They had been traveling in search of The Kingdom when several people dressed in armor surrounded their car. They had spears pointed at them, blocking their chance of driving off. Rick didn't think they were part of The Saviors; they never wore stuff like this. That, and the fact they looked too clean to be Negan's men.

"We are looking for The Kingdom. We are from Alexandria," Aaron lowered his window to answer their question of who they were and what they were doing.

"Why do you want to find it?" A tall, skinny man asked.

"We came looking for a friend who is there," Rick replied, careful not to give too much information.

"Who's your friend?" A woman next to the man was now the one to interrogate them.

"Morgan," was all Rick said. The people lowered their spears at this.

"How do you know he's there?" This did not stop their questions.

"A woman named Carol came from there, she was part of our group, and she told us he was there," Rick struggled to keep his voice from shaking.

The people paused at this. Finally, the first man said, "We know a Morgan."

~

It was hard to tell who was more surprised: Rick and Aaron at the sight of The Kingdom or Morgan at the sight of his friends.

"Rick?" Morgan rushed to greet them, realizing it had been so long since he last saw the pair. But he noticed something about them; in their eyes. They looked weary, devoid of any life or hope. They also looked like they would break down at any moment.

"Morgan..." Rick's grief came out as tears as he saw his oblivious friend. Aaron lowered his head sadly at what he knew was about to come.

"I'm guessing Carol told you about this," Morgan gestured around him.

Rick nodded glumly. "She did."

"Rick, what's wrong? What's happened?" Morgan was becoming frightened over this change in his friends.

"Daryl...Maggie...Carol... They're dead," Rick cried.

"What? How?!" Morgan was not sure he heard this right.

"I'll just tell it from the beginning. Glenn and Michonne went looking for Daryl after he left looking for Carol. Then, Maggie got sick and needed to see a doctor at Hilltop. The Saviors trapped us... we fell right into their plan... we were all taken to see Negan... and... and he... bashed Daryl's head in," Rick could no longer speak.

"Maggie was too ill and without any medical care, she died. And so did her baby. Negan took his bat to make sure..." Aaron continued. "We carried their bodies back to Alexandria and Carol met up with us there. She felt guilty over what happened. It didn't help Negan came to Alexandria and stole our belongings. She killed herself, she couldn't live in a world controlled by Negan."

Morgan gripped on tightly to his staff, feeling like he would vomit. "You all work for Negan too?" He knew the answer already; it seemed as if everyone worked for this devil now.

"Are you saying this place does too?" Rick looked at Morgan helplessly. Morgan nodded stiffly.

"Is this a good thing or bad thing?" Aaron directed his question at Rick.

"We'll only know for sure once we talk to King Ezekiel. Morgan, will you take us to him? Carol said that he could help us."

"Help you do what exactly?" Morgan felt his emotions bubbling to the surface.

"Help us kill Negan."

~

Morgan led the pair to the auditorium, but stopped as he reached for the door handle. "King Ezekiel is an eccentric man. With an eccentric pet," He warned.

Rick and Aaron exchanged glances at this, wondering what was behind that door. They didn't have to wait long before their question was answered with a thundering roar.

"Shiva!! Soothe your soul, it is only friend Morgan and guests!" King Ezekiel petted his tiger.

Rick and Aaron marched towards the stage hesitantly, stopping themselves from running in the other direction.

"King Ezekiel, these men are from Alexandria. This is Rick, the leader from my community, and Aaron," Morgan followed behind the pair.

"Welcome to The Kingdom! I trust Carol has returned unharmed to Alexandria?" Ezekiel leaned forward on his throne.

Rick and Aaron remained silent, leaving Morgan to answer: "Carol... has taken her life."

"How can this be?! She seemed in good spirits when she left here!" Ezekiel exclaimed.

"She felt she was responsible for some of the deaths that happened," Rick finally said. "She wasn't. I am." Morgan gazed at his friend with great sorrow.

"This is very hard to take in. I greatly enjoyed Carol's company. I considered her a friend," Ezekiel sighed. "What deaths, if I may inquire?"

"Two of my people were killed by Negan," Rick stated. "We were all lined up and forced to watch him beat them with a bat. He laughed and mocked them and us as he did this."

"That is terrible. I cannot even fathom that, much less the depravity behind it," Ezekiel raised his voice. "There are no words to describe the evilness in that man. We have heard the stories of what he done to other groups."

"So you are not loyal to him?" Rick asked curiously.

"We work for him, but we have used subtle tactics to be rid of him. The hogs we provide him have been fed walker meat," Ezekiel said darkly.

Rick looked to Aaron with a glimmer of hope, thinking he found out that this would be a good thing.

"We are currently trying to gather allies. All of our guns were taken, our morale has been broken, but you could help us. We have a potential ally in another colony. Of course, we'll need more," Rick looked to Ezekiel anxiously.

"As much as I detest Negan and his men, I feel as if The Kingdom's participation in this would prove futile," Ezekiel answered. "There will not be enough knights and weapons to wage a war."

"With our numbers, yours, and possibly Hilltop's we can wage a war, and win," Rick's voice raised in hysteria. "You have a tiger!! That would get any man, even Negan, to piss his pants!"

"Her name is Shiva," Shiva looked at her master when he said this. "She is a terrifying creature, I agree, but this discussion is over. The safety of my people is at the utmost importance and the chance of defeat is too great of a risk. I am sorry, Rick. The stakes are just too high," Ezekiel frowned. "You can stay for tonight, but tomorrow you must return to your community. I know it seems hopeless right now, but you will eventually learn to just accept this. For the sake of your people."

Rick couldn't believe this. He had high expectations for this meeting and it all went awry. He looked at Ezekiel in pity, seeing also Shiva glare at him. He quickly left with Aaron, Morgan choosing to stay behind. He too expected a different outcome.

"The greatest slave in a kingdom is usually the king of it," Morgan looked disappointedly at Ezekiel before exiting.

Morgan couldn't explain his thoughts right now. Yes, he firmly held onto the belief of all life is precious. But just recently he had broken that rule. He had saved Carol, only for her to die. He remembered he had told Rick to talk to Negan instead of attacking them. Would that have been a better option? Maybe, maybe not. People might still be alive, but they would probably still have to work for him. He knew his friends well enough they wouldn't take that lying down. They would revolt- it seemed as if a war was inevitable with Negan.

Morgan exhaled, thinking how Negan did not consider life to be precious. Morgan did not consider his group to be innocent in this, but what Negan did was sickening. It was one thing to kill the people who killed yours, but to find thrill in beating someone... A pregnant woman of all people.

He knew if there was to be a war he could not hold onto this ideology anymore. He would have to toss it aside, something he wasn't sure he could do again.

~

Glenn and Michonne had made sure to come up with excuses as to why so many people had left if Negan arrived. He had made sure everything was set in case he made an unexpected visit. Rosita and he had also made sure to pack warm, winter clothes for their journey to Oceanside as the community was named.

When Glenn drove, Rosita would sleep. But when Rosita drove, Glenn would stay wide awake and talk. They had tried to figure out a plan on they would approach this community without Glenn ending up dead.

"I'll enter it first. Then I'll tell them I have a man with me, but I'll assure them you're okay," Rosita said, keeping her eyes on the road.

"How will you assure them?" Glenn looked at her.

"...I was thinking about telling them about Negan and what he took from you.."

"Oh," He didn't appreciate his grief being used as a tool, but if it must be...

The trip took several days. They had to sleep inside the car to keep warm, even huddling close together for heat. Nothing happened between them, Glenn made sure of that. Rosita knew this was not the time for pointless romance or whatever. They had a mission and deep down Rosita knew Glenn would never stop grieving over Maggie.

Their first obstacle came in the bridge Tara had told them about. There was a horde of walkers roaming around there. Glenn and Rosita ran across the cars parked there to avoid them, seeing they did not have guns to kill them.

Once they were over that, Glenn waited as Rosita walked over. She looked up at the trees, taking in the architecture and ingenuity of these women. They had built a treehouse, which was an amazing feat.

The women were in their normal routines when Rosita approached them. Before they could ambush her, she got down on her knees and put up her hands.

"I only come to talk. I do not wish to harm you all," Rosita calmly said. The women came down from their houses with weapons in hand.

"How did you find us?" Netanya came up to her, a gun pointed at Rosita.

"Tara told us about you."

Beatrice and Lauren swore, causing Netanya to glare at them. "I thought I told you all to kill her!"

"We're sorry, Netanya. But we couldn't... we were weak..." Lauren lowered her head in shame.

"Then I'll make sure that mistake doesn't happen again," Netanya aimed her gun at Rosita.

"Grandma, no!" Cindy pulled Netanya's arm back, causing her to fire a shot into the air. The women shrieked in surprise; Rosita jumped.

"Rosita!!" Glenn came running over to the crowd, thinking something awful had happened.

The women all turned to see this man, a being they hadn't seen in so long, coming towards them. Rosita could sense the alarm in the women and she rose to her feet. "Don't hurt him! He's with me! He is suffering as much as you are! His pregnant wife was killed by Negan!"

Glenn stopped in his tracks and he and the women just stared at each other. Thinking this would be a good time to say something, he said: "I loved her...I still do... Negan took my entire world away from me. He took away me being a husband, a father, and gave me emptiness in return."

The women continued watching him, waiting for him to continue.

"I understand your hate towards men. We have ruined this world. You are justified in not trusting us. But Negan does not even consider me one; he considers me less than a man. He sees me as subhuman just like you all," He reasoned. "That is why we have to work together to defeat him."

"Put down your weapons," Netanya motioned to her women. "I am deeply sorry for the pain you are going through. And you are absolutely right about how Negan sees us. But we will never challenge him again. We will remain here and you coming here has proven foolish. For all I know, The Saviors could have followed you here."

"Please. We're desperate. We'll take any sort of help," Rosita pleaded. "He can't get away with this!"

Netanya thought about this for a moment. "We'll give you two guns."

Rosita nodded, gratefully. "Thank you. That will help a lot. He took away all of our guns." Glenn went towards Rosita and stood next to her, looking at her somberly.

Netanya ordered Cindy to go to the armory and bring back two guns.

"I'm sorry we couldn't come to an agreement," Glenn stated as Cindy handed them the guns.

"I am, too. Now you must leave. And be sure to never send anyone else here again. I mean it. My patience has grown thin with your group," Netanya warned.

"Yes, ma'am. Thanks, again," Glenn answered. "If you ever need anything, we live in the Alexandria safe zone."

"I know where that is," Netanya answered. "And I'm sure we won't, but I appreciate the offer."

Glenn and Rosita left in silence, the latter satisfied that they at least got some weapons.

Glenn, on the other hand, was not.

"We can leave tomorrow. It's going to be dark soon," Glenn opened the car door and drove away from the bridge, parking at a safe distance.

"Yeah, okay," Rosita climbed into the back and started eating. She passed some food to Glenn and he ate his dinner in deep thought.

"It could have gone worse. It is disappointing, but these women aren't kidding around. They would have killed us if we stuck around," Rosita sighed.

"Yeah," Glenn said absentmindedly.

Night fell, Rosita was already sound asleep when Glenn snuck out of the car. He made sure not to disturb her, walking to the trunk and pulling up the carpet. It revealed a hidden backpack that had a wired, metal bat attached to it. He unzipped the backpack and pulled out a cigarette pack and lighter. He carefully shut the trunk and went off towards the bridge.

He practiced his swings, hitting each walker on that damn bridge as he crossed. He needed to be in the right state of mind for what he was about to do.

When he arrived at the community, he didn't hesitate in taking out a bottle of lighter fluid from his backpack and quickly began pouring it around the trees. He felt a pull within him to stop this each time he squeezed the fluid out; a pull to just leave and never look back. This wasn't who he was, he would never do this.

But that was the Glenn who still had Maggie. Who still saw beauty and goodness in the world.

This Glenn only saw horror, anguish, and rage and that was what pushed him to finish this.

He flicked open his lighter and lit a cigarette with it. He had never smoked, but it looked like this Glenn was now a smoker as well. He put it in his mouth, tasting the smoke and nicotine.

He stuck his lighter in his pocket, enjoying the peace the outdoors brought.

"I didn't even get to see the beach," he realized, tossing his cigarette to the forest ground.

He walked away just as the flames spread and the screams began.