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                MANY WOULD DESCRIBE SADIE FINCH as a good person. A kind person who despite her popularity, was friends with anyone. That's why even with her distaste for Abraham Ford, she's kept her mouth shut, for the most part.

                That's why everytime Rosita even looks at her wrong she clenches her jaw and turns away, not her problem. You know?

                  But Eugene? Sadie wants to bash her head into a wall everytime he opens his mouth. Not because of the almost arrogant way he talks, no, but because he feels like bullshit.

Finch-Walsh curse comes with perks. One of them being able to clock people's bullshit easily. It's quick to work when you dealt with your mom and dad's lies. Sadie just wish it worked with The Governor. She wishes she didn't have to experience him and Merle during the end of the world for it to turn on again.

                    The group have found themselves walking along old train tracks covered in damp leaves. Glenn and Sadie walk ahead of everyone, desperately trying to drown out Eugene.

            "He's been silent for like five minutes. We're due for a babble session from him," Sadie whispers but she honestly does not give a shit if the man hears her. Glenn laughs a bit, looking over his shoulder at the others. A groan slips out from between his lips, shoulders dropping. "What?" Sadie questions his demeanor.

            "I made eye contact with him. I think he's gonna start up again," Glenn sighs. Sadie audibly groans, running a hand through her blonde hair. It's like she can feel where the brown has begun to grow in and where the blonde still remains. It scares her. But, she's hoping she just never runs into a mirror. At least then she'll never have to see what remains of her mother and father within her.

                "I'm well aware it sounds bananas," Eugene starts up and there is a collective sigh amongst the group, "But looking at the fossil record, knowing what I know about this infection, you cannot say for certain it isn't what killed off the dinosaurs. Now, do I believe...."

              "I'm gonna lose my mind," Sadie mumbles, trying to block out Eugene. Her and Glenn walk even faster now, letting the man's incessant voice fade away. Sadie rubs at her forehead and scoffs. "Koa would either really like him or hate him," Glenn comments with a fond smile for the girl he's come to love as a little sister. Sadie matches his smile, "She'd probably tell him to shut the fuck up at some point. Nellie—"

              "Oh, Nellie would hate him," Glenn scrunches his nose up at the thought. The two laugh in agreement, continuing to walk along.

THERE HAS TO BE an off button without killing Eugene and Sadie prays for it. She's not religious but if she has to be for him to shut up, she will find a church and pray every Sunday for it.

                    Perks of being a kid in the apocalypse though—no one lets you go on watch. Normally, Sadie would argue, knowing she's more than capable of being on watch but she was drained. Between the walking and Eugene's Southern accent knocking against her skull—Sadie knocked out last night and slept for however long they let her.

               Yet, even with all those hours—Eugene has yet to not annoy her since she fluttered her eyes open to him ranting about the damn dinosaurs again. And she so wishes she could think about anything except how annoying Eugene is but everytime he speaks, Sadie braces herself for the next most nauseating ten minutes.

           More train tracks guide them on their journey. Sadie and Glenn still stand shoulder to shoulder, exchanging looks of annoyance every so often.

              "Been rubbing me wrong, is all. I'm an even Steven type gentleman. You help me find the supplies and we'll share the battery and whatever juice we scare up, minimal as it may be. Deal?" Eugene says to Tara. The poor girl has been enduring most, if not all of Eugene's rant and unnecessary words. Sadie rubs at her temples, eyes down at the ground. She waits for Tara's 'yeah' that never sounds like she cares but it never comes.

          Instead, Tara is suddenly dashing towards something in front of them. Sadie watches her feet move faster and she finally snaps her head up when Glenn nudges her. Sadie's gaze follows Glenn's hopeful one. A map stands before them, another one marked Terminus.

                  It's what's painted in blood that nearly sends Sadie to her knees in hope.

                  'GLENN GO TO TERMINUS –MAGGIE, SASHA, BOB'

                  Maggie. Sasha. Bob. Maggie is alive. So are Sasha and Bob. That means her sister must have survived, right?

Her head spins, overwhelmed with emotions at the idea of the rest of their family being alive. Tears spring to her eyes. Fingers dig into the dirty fabric of her uncle's hoodie wrapped around her waist.

         Within a second, Glenn is sprinting down the train tracks. And without another second of thinking, Sadie is running after him. A smile of ambition to find her family. They leave the other four behind, not caring if they follow, just caring that they find their people.

        THEY HAVE NO CLUE how long they've been running. Terminus hasn't come into view but the confidence they'll find it still remains in Sadie's chest.

               Her legs ache but not more than her heart since that day at the prison.

               "Hold up!" Abraham shouts, "We're stoppin' here. Tired is slow," He orders, "Slow is dead." Glenn looks up at the sun, "It's barely noon."

                 "I don't given a monkey's left nut. None of us besides the kid have had more than a couple hours of sleep since we went all Casey Jones. This place looks safe," He gestures to the old tower marked by graffiti. Sadie huffs, arms crossed, "That's our people at this place. We need to get to them!" Abraham sighs, nodding, "I get it. You have to find her," He looks between the teen amd Glenn, "Well, Rosita and me, we have a mission too. It's keeping that man alive, getting him to Washington and saving the whole damn world. So we're going in that tower and we're going in now," He asserts.

         Anger rises in Sadie's body. Their mission is not their problem. Getting to her siblings and family are. If Maggie is there, someone else has to be as well. They just have to be. And if it's Beth—Koa has to be there. "Your mission means jack shit to me," Sadie curses, stepping forward slightly, "We need to find his wife, my sisters and brother—the rest of our family—"

         "I understand that, Blondie, but if we all get out of this alive and to our damn objectives—we all win!" Abraham retorts back. Whether it be fatigue, hunger or this man purely just annoying Sadie, she needs this guy to shut the hell up. Fists clenched, Sadie moves to step forward, "Cut the—"

                       Snarls ring from a walker quiet her angry words. Their eyes follow the sound, seeing a walker on top of the tower and stumbling towards them. "Oh, crap," Eugene whines. "Hey, hey, hey, watch out!" Glenn yells, running when he realizes the walker isn't smart enough to not fall off the ledge. But chaos ensues. Abraham shouts a warning as well, pushing Tara into the ground as he protects fucking Eugene.

                      Sadie stands back, eyes wide and hands at her sides. She groans as Tara falls, bowing her head with a sigh and walking over to the girl. Right as she gets to her, the walker falls, slamming into the ground harshly. It's head explodes, blood spilling from it's head. Sadie gags in disgust, staring at the mush that was once a head. Tara hisses in agony below her, holding her knee.

                   "You okay?" Sadie asks. Rosita rushes over now, "Yeah, you alright?"

                    "I'm fine," Tara groans out, still holding her knee. Sadie crouches down, glaring towards Abraham, "Did you hit it on the track?" She points to the train track. "Don't know. Somethin' hit it," Tara replies, face screwed together. "We got to stay here. Who's gonna help me carry her up?" Rosita asks, concern now in her tone. Sadie helps Tara up as Glenn dusts her off. He grabs hold of her forearm, "You okay? Wanna stop or keep going?"

                    "No, keep going. I'm good. I swear," Tara smiles towards both Glenn and Sadie. "Look, if she can keep going, we can all keep going," Glenn says, "Or you guys stay here. Sadie's right. You don't need us. We don't need you. It's okay."

                      "Wow, you're an ass," Rosita says without missing a beat. Sadie reels her head back at the insult towards Glenn. "She will do whatever you say because she thinks she owes you. Man up. Stay here for a few hours. We have a kid with us. Tara's injured," Rosita speaks. Sadie blinks a few times, looking at Glenn. The man shakes his head, sighing before turning to speak to Abraham, "You just care about keeping Eugene safe, right? It's the only reason you wanna stop? We go until sundown, I give Eugene my riot gear right here, right now. Everyone wins," Glenn offers up the deal.

                   To Sadie, this sounds fair. Maybe she's bias.

                         "Except her," Rosita gestures to Tara. "You're not her mama," Abraham sneers back, "If she says she can walk, she can walk." A ping of guilt hits Sadie in the chest as she glances over at Tara, seeing her face still screwed in pain. But, even though Sadie has been in Tara's shoes, a part of her still feels like she's the reason Hershel is dead and she's separated from her loved ones.

                     If Tara being in slight pain still gets them to Maggie, then so be it.

                    Glenn takes off his riot gear, handing it to Eugene before walking over to Sadie, "You alright with all of this?" He gently questions. Sadie sends him a small smile and nod, "Maggie will lead us to everyone. I know it. I trust you, Glenn." The Rhee man sends her a proper smile for the first time in forever. He rubs her shoulder affectionately and the group begin to walk down the tracks again.

                     AN ORANGE HUE HAS settled over them. The sun is almost set and Eugene looks dumber than ever in the riot gear.

                     Sadie keeps up with Glenn in front of everyone, gaze looking back to Tara every so often.

                      "You think Koa is with Maggie?" Sadie asks with a small gulp. Glenn clenches his jaw, knowing he can't just instill fake hope in her, but he can't see her crumble. "I'm not sure. I wish my gut told me definitely but—she's not dead. I know that. She's resilient. And stubborn. She won't let herself go that easily," He replies. Glenn analyzes Sadie reactions. Her brows furrow for a moment and then a deep breath, "Yeah."

                           Silence falls between them. A wave of appreciate flows over her. "Glenn," She calls out and he hums, "I've never gotten to thank you for it but, uh—thank you for being Koa's like, sibling when I couldn't," She clears her dry throat, "Truthfully, I wasn't the best one right before all this—shit but, I'm happy she has you to be like an older brother."

                    Her brown orbs stay on the ground, hoping she doesn't sound crazy or sappy for no reason. Glenn's heart swells. He smiles fondly, "I had sisters before this. Have—sisters. I don't know where they are. Or what they're doing but, I'm happy I met you and your sister." Sadie smiles brightly at the sentiment, turning to look in front of them.

                        The entrance to a towel stands 30 feet in front of them. A dark tunnel that makes Sadie's skin crawl. As they get closer, orange words are painted onto the cement of the tunnel. Glenn runs towards it, Sadie going with as well. Once she's able to read the words, Sadie fills with relief.

                   'GLENN, GO TO TERMINUS—MAGGIE, BOB, SASHA'

                      Glenn wipes his hand against the paint, some coming off with his finger. It's still wet. They're close by.

                             "We're gaining on them," Glenn tells them. "That paint is still wet," Sadie announces. "Well, we sure as Shinola can't go up and over," Abraham points out the obvious, earning a glare from Sadie. Growls of walkers bounce off the walls of the tunnel. Chills spread out on Sadie's arms. She stands between the light and darkness, knowing what's in there but wondering how many.

                           "How about around?" Abraham suggests. "No. That'll take a day, maybe more. If Maggie went through, we're going through," Glenn tells him. Sadie grips the strap of her bag. "Shut up a second," Abraham says, walking to them, "You hear that?" Snarls echo once more, "That there is a long, dark tunnel full of reanimated corpses. I don't have full on certainty that I can get Eugene through there alive. My recommendation would be take the day, make the detour and play it safe, but I know you two won't do that. So, this where we part ways."

There's no anger in his tone, just a knowing one. A pleasant one. An almost content one.

          "I'm sorry. You guys are on your own," Abraham says, bending down with the olive green backpack he owns. Tara stumbles closer, "No you're not," She smiles softly. Sadie and Glenn return the gesture as Abraham hands them each a can of food and bottle of water. Sadie begins to reach for it, eager to get this going because all she's focused on is seeing her people again.

                  "No, no, no," Glenn waves his hand, "Those are yours. You guys will need them for your trip."

                "You will too," Abraham retorts. Glenn stays still though, not reaching for the provisions. Tara and Sadie each grab a can and Sadie grabs the third, knowing Glenn won't. He raises a brow but the teen shrugs, shoving the food into her bag.

          They exchange items, including a giant flashlight. "Sorry, I...hit you in the face," Glenn mutters. There's an awkward tension as eyes fall to Sadie. She looks around, narrowing her eyes. Oh, they want her to apologize as well? Or expect one?    

               "Don't choke people, man. Eye for an eye," Sadie remarks, tapping her own eye bag. Abraham sighs with a small chuckle, "It's alright. I'm not sorry either. I like to fight." Sadie watches him walk away, anticipation rocking her nerves. Rosita grins, "Good luck," She speaks as she hugs Glenn and Tara. Sadie stands between the two. The older woman plants a dramatic frown on her face and then a bright smile, "You're badass."

              Sadie's lips press into a thin line. Rosita moves her arms open, hugging the blonde. It takes a moment for Sadie to comprehend it. Even after she pushed her onto her ass and choked out her boyfriend. Sadie expected this woman to want her dead, but, no. A heartfelt reminder that genuine kindness still exists in the world.

           Eugene has yet to bid his farewells and Sadie hopes it stays that way. Her feet move to walk forward when the annoying man speaks up, "You three are good people. Even if the young female, with her diminutive stature, appeared to harbor homicidal inclinations towards my person for the entirety of the duration."

               Sadie rolls her head to the side, "Oh, my God. You are unbearable," She scoffs at him. Eugene looks away, embarrassed this child has done nothing but insult him. He gulps for a moment, glancing between Tara and the dirt.

           "I have to say, you are seriously hot, Tara."

          Sadie lets out a silent gag, stepping behind Glenn to stifle her laugh. Glenn wisp his head back, trying to get out of this space of second hand embarrassment.

            "Yeah, I like girls," Tara responds swiftly.

            That stifled laugh no longer is muffled as Sadie lets out a string of giggles at Eugene's expense. Eugene stands with a deers caught in headlights look

                            "Yeah, I'm well aware of that." He lies. "Sure, yeah," Sadie giggles, exchanging an amused glance with Glenn. "Say you get into trouble in there. You turn around. We're doubling back to the first road we crossed. Maybe you'll find us before we find the right ride," Abraham offers.

                         "Thanks," Glenn tells him. The snarls of walkers still bounce off the cement walls, hand gripping her bag tightly again. "Hey," Glenn says to Tara, "I know what you're going through." But, Tara doesn't speak. She takes one step into the tunnel, followed by Sadie and Glenn. The teen wonders which part Glenn is referring to as the other three walk away.

                New group? Death? Being the reason for a death?

                   "After all this started, after I realized I'd never see my family, or my friends again, I was numb. All day long—just numb," Glenn sighs as the darkness begins to engulf them, "I'm just saying, I get it." Carefully, they shuffle down the dark tunnel. Sadie keeps herself between the two.

                          "When Brian told us he wanted to take over the prison, I knew it sounded bad," Tara says. Sadie furrows her brows, "Brian? You mean...Phillip?" The flashlight shows Tara's confused face, "He lied about his name too?" Sadie clicks her tongue, "Seems like it. He was Phillip. Not Brian." Her tongue feels poisoned as his name lingers in her mouth, bonking off her head like a ping pong ball until it settles.

                         She fears it'll be like that for the rest of her life. Everything that reminds her of him and what came with him will bounce like a ping pong ball for minutes or hours before it settles, staying in the back of her mind until it's inevidently remembered. 

                      "When I found my girlfriend, she was dead. My niece. My sister—was surrounded and pounced on. I saw it happen. But, still it wasn't as bad as seeing what he did to Maggie's father," Tara stops walking. So does Sadie and Glenn. That ping pong ball is bouncing again. The cold metal of Michonne's blade is against her skin and then before she knows it, Hershel's warm blood is swiped across her face.

                          Sadie sniffles, glancing up to see Tara's eyes ringed with red. "Because that's when I knew. The second the sword—," Tara gulps, refusing to meet Sadie's broken gaze, "I wanted to scream no but it just happened. Brian said we might have to kill people. I was the first to jump in," She admits with pure guilt, "I was just hanging onto the might."

                        Sadie clenches her fists, resisting the tears falling. Glenn stands silently as Tara walks further. Sadie wipes a small tear before continuing to walk, nodding for Glenn to follow.

                      

                         A PILE OF DEBRIS and rocks rests before the trio. A crushed walker's upper torso wiggles beneath the mountain, still snarling and starving.

                       "Unfortunate," Sadie mutters to cover up her disgust. Glenn shines the light, exposing another walking that reaches it's grimy fingers out for them. Panic rises when they realize just how many walkers they'd have to get through. Sadie steps back, tears of frustration trying not to spill. "The blood is still wet. This had to have happened today," Tara tries to keep the moral up.

                         Sadie's hands fall, the sleeves of her uncle's hoodie falling over her knuckles. Glenn is determined, so is she but if anyone asks, she isn't scared. Not when her family might be close. He shines the light into a hole above them, "Hold this," He hands a weapon to Tara. Sadie steps closer, watching nervously as Glenn gets closer and closer to the desperate walkers. He stabs the head in of a walker, Tara matching his actions and making sure Sadie is safe to get through.

                            They climb the pile of debris and Sadie nearly falls down in fear at the sight. A whole horde of walkers stumble towards them but Glenn hasn't moved. No, he's analyzing each and every face of the creatures, and now Sadie is too. No Koa, no Nellie or Carl or Rick. Her grip loosens but her heart still aches.

                      "Guys, what are you doing?" Tara hisses. "She's not one of them," Glenn refers to Maggie. "They're none of them," Sadie sighs in relief as the words fall from her mouth. "And there's no bodies on the ground. They made it through," Glenn adds, "She made it through. We have to get rid of them."

                         Sadie's throat falls dry. There's over twenty walkers around them, maybe more they cannot see. "How the hell do we do that?" She frantically asks. "We don't have enough ammo," Tara reminds him. "Then we push through," Glenn retorts.

                        Sadie wants to do thai. She wants to find them but it feels near impossible. "Tara is hurt, Glenn. It's a risk. A big risk," Sadie's chest heaves, "For all of us. Not just her."

                        "What if it was Koa? Or Carl? You'd want to do this," Glenn asserts. Sadie stands quiet for a second, "I want to find Maggie. Don't doubt that but—we can't find them all if we're walker BBQ," She whispers through gritted teeth. "We bait them over with the light. They'll think it's us," Glenn says, hopping down and placing the light down. Before she can contest, Sadie is moved over to the other corner, away from the light as the walkers gather around it.

                   Glenn brings his hand around to his back and Sadie grabs onto the sleeve of his jacket we they move as silent as a mouse. They reach the other side, her eyes never leaving the horde of hungry walkers.

                          "Ah!" Tara yelps in pain behind them. Immediately, the two spin around and see Tara's foot stuck in the pile of debris. "Tara, what? What is it?" Glenn coos. Sadie keeps her eyes on the walkers, a comforting hand falling to Tara's shoulder as some sort of support as fear over takes the teen. When the groaning starts up, Sadie whips her head around.

                          "Your foot is stuck under a rock?!" Sadie tries not to completely frak out. "I can't—," Tara groans louder as she attempts to move her foot. Sadier looks over her shoulder a few times but huffing, moving to help with the rock but after a minute or so of it not budging, Sadie's mind swirls with panic.

                           The walkers have noticed the diversion. Sadie's hands are slick with sweat. Their panting rings in her ears. "Go. Go," Tara urges them. Sadie's heart drops, "Tara, stop. Stop it," She chokes on tears for a moment. "No, find Maggie. Find your sister," Tara insists, giving up on her chance of a new life. Sadie steps back, lip quivering because truly, what are they to do?

                       But she can't leave Tara here. She cannot let someone else die because of her.

                          "No, no," Glenn shakes his head, "No!" Sadie moves shakily to help with the rock again but all she earns is scratch marks against her skin. "You can't—you can't save me. Even if you got this off of me, I can't run. And if you help me, they'll get all of us," Tara tries to antagonize them to give up on her. Sadie strains herself, ignoring the pain in her hands. "There's got to be a different way," Glenn says determined.

                         "Glenn, they're coming," Tara tells them. Sadie looks over her shoulder, gasping when she sees the walkers inching closer.

                       "Tara, we're getting you—"

                     "Sadie, stop. Stop. They're getting closer. Stop," Tara forces a smile, pretending she's not imaging her brutal death. But these two will get out, they'll see their family she feels like she helped ruin.

                           "I'm not leaving you!" Glenn shouts. "Get out of here!" Tara yells back as loud as she can in their faces. Snarls are basically right next to Sadie as she huffs, staring at Tara's stuck foot. Glenn looks back, pushing Sadie in front of Tara, "No."

                     As a shot is fired off, lighting up the ty elk with a flash of light, Sadie flinches, covering her ears. The tunnel lights up with each shot, which is just enough ammo to get them somewhat through the crowd. "Come on! Come on!" Glenn yells, begging the walkers to give him a reason. Sadie's breath quickens, trying to pull Tara from the grasp of the rock still.

                             Bright lights reflect onto them and the walkers. The sound of an engine revving makes Sadie jump in front of Tara. "Get down!" The voice belonging to Abraham yells. Before she can even process it, Glenn drags Sadie to safety as rapid gun fire rings out. The walkers fall to the ground around them, the gunfire coming to a halt.

                          Sadie dares to peak out from under Glenn's hold, a hand still resting on Tara. Sadie wipes her eyes, expecting to only see Rosita, Abraham and Eugene. Who she sees makes her fall to her knees.

                          Sasha. Bob—Maggie.

                         A teary smile fils her face as Maggie engulfs Glenn in a hug, sobs wracking the both of them. The couple bask in their reunion, kissing and smiling. Sadie stands up, a silent check over Tara before her eyes land on Sasha and Bob. Sadie sends the woman a wave which Sasha returns with a grand grin, walking towards the teen. Once the couple separates, Maggie's happiness lands on Sadie.

                  She helps the shaky girl up, wrapping her arms around her. Sadie hugs back, happy tears falling now. "Koa?" Sadie lets out. Maggie pulls away, brushing hair from Sadie's face, "I was hoping she was with you and that Koa brought Beth along," Maggie giggles. The last time she saw Sadie, she was nearly a victim along with Hershel. And as Sadie remembers the last time she saw Maggie, survivor's guilt sinks her chest.

                          "Maggie, I'm sorry about—"

                        "Don't," Maggie softly says, bringing the teen into another well needed hug.

———-