EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
[ chapter three—anything for them ]

Lee ran through the cabin, stopping at the door. "They're back." He finally spoke, Nadia stood up, looking to the window for their trucks to enter the gates.

"They walked back," Lee said hurriedly, rushing back out the door. Nadia's face softened as she picked up her canister from the table, racing after the younger boy.

Madison fell to her knees not far from the gate, "Jesus Mom!" Nick exclaimed, helping her to the ground.

Adaline glanced at her brother and mother on the ground, his eyes wandering over her wounds. "Addy!" Nick exclaimed, her eyes set back on him. "Are you okay?"

Lee fell beside his mother, pushing his brother to the side. "Are you good?" He asked, glancing at Adaline. "What the hell happened?" Nadia asked, handing Adaline a canister of water, she took down with ease.

Adaline glanced at the boy who stood a few feet away from her, when their eyes met she couldn't help but notice how no one including his blood had gone to him.

Troy averted his eyes as Jeremiah spoke. "What the hell happened?" Jeremiah exclaimed, having no care in the world for his son's health or well-being.

"We should talk in private," Troy answered, clenching his jaw to hide the fact his feet were causing him immense pain. "Talk private? Did I hear you right?" Mike's father questioned.

"Coop, Mike, inside. Let's debrief." Jeremiah continued, ignoring Vernon.

Vernon scoffed. "Like hell, Jeremiah." Lee chuckled under his breath, hiding behind Alicia as he did. "We all got a right to hear what went down."

"You're out of line, Vernon." Jeremiah snapped back. "We got a right to know what happened, we need to know how to defend ourselves, we need to know.."

Mike spoke up, fear coated his voice. "They're Indians." The people of the ranch gasped. "They slaughtered them." He continued, his father helping him to his feet.

"Alright." Troy stepped toward, his friend. "We made it home, huh? It's nothing we can't handle."

"They're dead." Mike continued.

Troy grabbed the boy's arm, leaning toward him "Mike, lock your shit down. Lock it down."

Lee leaned toward his sister, "Ten bucks says Mike isn't gonna lock it down." He betted, his mother hitting his arm gently to get his attention.

Mike looked up at Troy, "They're dead." Troy sighed, jerking his jaw to the side. "And we're gonna die too if we don't leave."

Shut up.

Troy glanced at Adaline and back at the dirt, cursing under his breath. "If we stay, we..."

"Mike shut the hell up."

"...if we stay, we die!"

Nick and Alicia helped their mother to her feet, throwing her arm over her younger brother's shoulder. Nadia tried to fuss over Adaline, which she was quick to brush her off.

Nadia and Lee followed after the others from their family, their eyes wandered back to Adaline as she continued at a slower pace behind them.

Adaline held a half-full canister in her hands, slowing her pace as she caught up with Troy. She offered the water to him as they approached the gate back into the ranch. "Thought you might be thirsty." She shrugged, glancing up at him.

Troy opened the canister, tilting his head back as he emptied what was left inside, "Thanks." He mumbled, shifting his gaze ahead.

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Adaline leaned back on Jeremiah's couch exhaling a deep breath, "No, no, no, we go after them now, we hit 'em back." Troy argued, lowering his head as his father spoke.

"So, you can stroll into another ambush, cornel customer?" Jeremiah hissed. "There was no way to know." Troy defended, his eyes stuck on the floor.

"No way to know." Jeremiah scoffed, "No, did you scout the campsite first, hike the perimeter, or did you suffer a distraction, already tasting the blood?"

Troy lowered his head, looking down at his hands. "Wasn't Troy's fault," Madison spoke up.

"Oh, you an expert." Troy lifted his gaze, glancing over at Adaline who was looking between her mother and Jeremiah. "We were cautious."

"Ah, well let's extend the caution now." Jeremiah looked over at his son, "We're not attacking."

Adaline looked over at Troy who looked away as she did, "We're right to hold off, walkers not going away." Jake spoke. "He's weak, that chicken shit will try something he tried with Phil."

"If he's weak, he'll negotiate," Jake spoke.

"Negotiate? There's nothing to negotiate, it's our land or their land. I mean we either stole it or we didn't." Adaline sat up straight, "Stolen? Is this their land?" Troy looked over at the girl, concern within his eyes.

"Every acre you treat is owned and is bought and leased, and stolen in-between," Jeremiah spoke up.

"And what about the Ranch?" Madison asked. "It was sold to my four bears. And what the hell does it matter now?" He hissed. "It matters if he doesn't stop, it matters if your people think they're on the wrong side."

Jeremiah's voice rose as he leaned over the desk, "Hey, this is my business to manage. Don't mistake yourself or your place." Adaline shook her head, meeting Troy's gaze. "Dad, she's just trying to understand," Jake explained.

"Walkers a tribal lawyer sued us since.. forever." Adaline shifted in her seat knowing she wouldn't like what was to come. "I handled it last couple of years."

"And we beat him every time." Jeremiah defended, receiving nothing but an eye roll from Adaline. "And what if he comes back to the door now?" Madison inquired, "He won't. You've never seen the Black Hat Reservation."

Madison looked to her eldest confused, "It's a truck stop, motel, and market." Jeremiah explained, "Rocks and asphalt, liquor, and oxy, drunken, diabetic welfare cheats."

Adaline's eyes widened, "Jesus." She breathed out, shaking her head as she stood. "I feel your liberal judgment." Adaline turned to face the man, grinning. "It's palpable. But that's not racism."

The blonde girl tilted her head, "isn't it?"

"No. It's truth." Adaline scoffed, gazing out the window, for the first time since she'd gotten there she realized the ranch was full of white people, no one of color but Luciana. "And I'm talking about before the apocalypse. Doubt it's improved much since."

"You say what you want, but the man I saw yesterday was a threat," Madison argued, seated on the coffee table in the middle of the room, "he had command."

"Yeah?" Jeremiah tilted his head, "You got a little crush?" Adaline sighed through stifled laughter.

Jake spoke, shifting the conversation. "We gotta tell people something." Adaline leaned down caressing her foot.

Jeremiah waved his eldest off, "You talk to them. It's good they start hearing more from you anyway, Jake." Adaline turned from the window, her eyes on Troy as he lowered his head. "What do you want me to say?" Jake asked, his father raised his hands.

"Just say we got weapons and walls and wherewithal." Adaline turned back to the window, looking down at the so-called walls, she could step over. "Say all civilizations are born of violence."

The blonde girl's eyes widened, hoping Jake wouldn't take his father's advice. "You people give me a headache," Adaline chuckled, watching as the older man put on his hat and headed for the door.

"Troy should come with me." Jake continued, watching as Jeremiah opened the door, closing it behind him despite Jake continuing to speak. "He was there, Da--" Adaline sunk into her seat as the door slammed behind Jeremiah.

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Lee glanced across the cabin at his sister as she read, anxiously wanting to speak but failing to speak up. Adaline had caught his short glances at her yet chose to wait for him to speak his mind as she knew he wanted to.

Nadia had left the sibling to sit in their silence as she to wanted to poke and pry into her friend after the state she had returned "home" in.

Madison and Nick had gone to walk the premier, Adaline figured they wanted to plot their overrun of the ranch without protest from the girl. Alicia had disappeared pretty quickly after Adaline declined her help to wrap her feet, she appreciated the gesture but for her own sanity it was better she do it herself.

"They killed travis." Lee finally spoke, clenching his jaw shut as soon as his words left his lips. Adaline's breath hitched with the venom she felt in her brothers words. "We can't just—"

Adaline nodded, setting her book down beside her. "I know." Her voice almost a whisper, as she tried to keep her composure.

"We didn't even bury him." Lee continued, his voice breaking. "After- everything. He deserved atleast that." Adaline had began to tear up, though she was quick to wipe the tears from her checks. "And they took that from us."

"This isn't our war." Adaline mumbled, through her tears.
Lee shrugged slightly, "but it should be."

Adaline's brows furrowed, as she stared ahead him wondering where the boy who would threaten to curse Alicia's bloodline for harming a bug. "If we kill him, someone who loves him will come for us, and the cycle continues." She began to explain, clenching her jaw as her feet hit the cold wooden floors of their cabin. "Travis wouldn't want that, you know he wouldn't." Lee began to muffle his sobs as they began to fill the silence within the room.

Adaline rushed to her brother's side and pulled him into her arms. Lee buried his head into his sisters shoulder, soaking her shirt with his tears.

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Hours later... People filled their trucks, fearing the worst of what was yet to come. Adaline sat outside the gate, trying to ignore the chaos that brewed inside the walls.

"The world breaks everyone and afterward many are strong in the broken places." She recited, leaning back against the tree. A farewell to arms, Adaline had picked it up on her way out of the Otto house.

"I watched Madison throw up beneath that tree!" Cooper snickered, from the gate. Adaline groaned standing up from the tree. "Thank you for that."

"I thought she threw up under that one..." Jimmy snickered, chuckling alongside Cooper. "What do you do out there anyway?" Jimmy asked as he leaned against the fence.

Adaline shook her head, shoving her book into her bag and throwing it over her shoulder. "You know..." she mumbled, picking up her bowl that was once full of fruit. "Stuff."

The militiamen's words were cut off by the approaching motor home. Jimmy headed for the gate to open it, confusion smeared across Adaline's face.

"They're leaving?" She queried, walking toward Cooper at the smaller gate. "Jeremiah gave them the okay this morning." Cooper retorted, opening the gate for the girl.

"Keep that gate closed, Jimmy!" Troy exclaimed. Cooper sighed, pulling the gate closed after Adaline. "Your father gave the okay." Jimmy shrugged, stopping before the gate.

"I don't give a damn!" Troy exclaimed, three figures running up behind him. "You open that gate and I shoot you in the head." Adaline raised her eyebrows, glancing between Jimmy and Coop, neither surprised by Otto's words.

Troy glanced back at the incoming storm counting down the minutes he had before Madison and Jake made it to the gate. Troy tapped two fingers against the window, and Vernon stared straight ahead. "Open the door." He demanded.

"I'm not doing this, Troy." Vernon refused. "Open the door, Vernon." Troy glanced back at his brother who marched toward him.

"Mike?" Troy exclaimed, walking around to the passenger's side. "Mike, get your ass out here now." His voice cracked as he began to speak again. "Come on, get your ass out here."

Adaline made her way to her mother. "People died for us, Mike. Our people, and you're gonna run, huh?!" He exclaimed, pounding his hand on the window. "It's not what a man does, Mike."

Jake walked around the motor home, "Troy. Troy!" He exclaimed. "Troy, stand down. Dad said they could leave."

"Yeah, he said they could leave. But not with ranch property." He's hurt and digging for something, anything that would keep his friend, his brother with him.

"What property? This is theirs?" Jake questioned, pointing at the motor home. "They gassed up, didn't they? Gas is ranch property. And I guarantee you that they took plenty of shit from the pantry."

Jake pressed his hand to Troy's chest as he went for the driver's door. "And I want to see an inventory, Vernon!" He shouted, pounding his fist against the driver's window. "I want it inspected!"

"This is not what Dad wants." Jake continued pulling his brother away from the vehicle. "Why should I give a damn what Dad wants?" Troy spoke, engulfed in rage. "He never gave a damn about me—"

Jake grabbed his brother's shirt pulling him from the window and pressing him against the side of the motor home.

Gretchen peered fearfully out the window, her mother clinging to her daughter.

"You're not protecting the ranch," Jake mumbled.

Troy shoved the boy back, "The hell do you know about it?" Adaline pressed her lips together, feeling the storm brewing. "You haven't a clue what this ranch is about. I mean, she's been here a week, and she gets it." He spoke, pointing to Madison.

"You gonna fight for what's yours or you gonna surrender it, huh?" Troy asked his brother, standing up straight.

"That's not your call, is it?" Jake muttered, Troy, inching closer to him. "You gonna fight or you gonna surrender?"

"You're not in charge, are you?"

Troy smirked, clenching his jaw. Adaline watched Troy's fist follow through to Jake's jaw. Knocking him into the motor home.

Jeremiah lunged forward, throwing his fist into his younger son's face. "What the hell is wrong with you, huh?" He asked, inching forward, continuously hitting his son.

Adaline sprung between Jeremiah and his son as Jake picked himself up. "Leave it." She hissed, wedging her small body between the two. "Who do you think you are!" Jeremiah exclaimed. "Telling me what to do?"

Troy pressed his hand to the cut beneath his eye, and the blood that poured out of it. Jake pulled his father away from Adaline, giving Jimmy the okay.

Madison pulled her daughter away from the moving vehicle, screaming in her ear. But she couldn't get her eyes off him, watching Troy as he made his way through the crowd.

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Adaline lay on her brother's bunk staring at the springs of her bed. Heavy footsteps hurried across the deck to the door. "What the hell was that?" Troy exclaimed, slamming the door after he'd endured they were alone.

"What?" The girl asked confused, springing up from the bed. "You didn't have to do that."

Adaline stood up, pointing to the blood that dripped down his cheek. "I have fights with my siblings but they've never ended in my father hitting me."

Troy shook his head, tightening his fists as he turned away from her. "Well not everyone had a dad like yours." Adaline lowered her gaze as she disappeared into the next room filling a bowl with warm water. "Sit. I'll stitch it back up." She ordered, taking his silence as cooperation.

Adaline stepped out of the room with the bowl, setting it down on the side table, dunking a cloth into the water, and squeezing the water back out.

She sat before the boy, their knees just touching as she sat. The girl dabbed the cloth against the wound. "I don't get it." He mumbled, attempting to not move too much.

"What?"

"Why he'd leave." He answered. Adaline gazed up at the boy, squeezing water from the cloth. "There's nothing out there."

The girl shrugged, "They wanted to see for themselves." She muttered, standing up from the table to grab her bag. "Mike, he's.. he's been my friend since I was a kid. He stayed in school when I got— I got pulled. But he never quit on me. Never." His voice croaked as he spoke. "Even when others did."

Adaline set her suture kit down, lifting Troy's head to see the wound better. "He didn't quit on you. He stood by his family."

Troy lowered his head, "he wouldn't look at me." He spoke. "He just..." Troy sniffled, putting his armor back up. "Hard to know how to react to something like that." He shrugged, Adaline sat back down and continued on his eye. "You keep moving."

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Lee pulled Adaline through the crowd, excusing themselves as they made it to the front. Watching their mother open up the tray of the truck.

Vernon and his family lay on the back, shot down.

"I'm sorry." Madison began, making her mark. "They were good people. They didn't deserve this end. Our family, we— we weren't prepared like you. We were strangers but you took us in."

Adaline watched her older brother closely as he stood beside them, eyeing a particular tall brunette in the crowd.

"We've come to love it here. I wish... my husband had lived to see it. But he was killed. Travis was killed." She paused, glancing at the same brunette. "He was killed by the same people who killed Phil and our people at the outpost." And again, Nick looks back at Troy.

Madison glanced back at Jeremiah who had nothing to say. "The same people..." She paused for a moment,  "Walker's people... have now killed our friends— Vernon, Kathy, Mike, Gretchen." And again, Nick's eyes dart straight at Troy and Lee's met Adaline.

"I've seen firsthand how Walker treats his victims. I saw it at the outpost, and I just now saw it again. You built this place together. Because of that, you've been safe, you've been sheltered. You haven't been out in the world. We have. I'm telling you, there's nothing out there. If you leave you'll die. Walker's people aren't strong enough to force us off this land."

Adaline grinned, shaking her head at her mother. She had them all under her spell in under five minutes.

"They're trying to scare us. That's how they want us to go, a family of two at a time, out there alone where nobody can see, where our militia can't protect us. We cannot let ourselves be fractured. There are more of us. We're better armed. If we stay here together, we live." The crowd mummers grew louder, agreeing with Madison's speech.

People brought their stockpiles back to the pantry, apologizing to Otto for their doubts. "That was impressive as all hell," Adaline muttered as her mother approached. "You manipulated them all in under ten minutes." She shrugged.

"It was necessary."

"How do you tell a lie that big and sleep at night?" Nick asked the eldest siblings in cahoots for once. "How do you do that?"

"What I said was true. None of these folks will die, not tonight, not tomorrow, maybe not for a long time." And there it was again the thing that Adaline had feared. "As long as you're pulling the strings right?"

Madison turned to her daughter. "I'll pull all the damn strings I have to as long as you, your siblings and Nadia are safe. I'll sleep like a baby."

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Troy inhaled a deep breath as Adaline approached him at the gate, "I didn't go out there to do that, I swear." Adaline's face fell, "I was coming to check on you, I didn't know." She mumbled, meeting Troy's gaze.

Troy clenched his jaw tight as he turned back to the gate. "Then why did you go out there?" Adaline asked, standing beside him at the gate. "He owed me. He had to look me directly in the eye."

Adaline shut her eyes exhaling a deep breath as he continued, "He had to say it to my face, say it like Veron said it to my father." He paused for a moment, almost being able to turn and face the blonde. "He owed me that."

"He didn't want to do that?" She asked, looking at him as she spoke, Troy shook his head his gaze stuck on the road ahead. "He said some things, and..."

Adaline clenched her jaw, "... I did some things. Then it went bad." Troy shifted his gaze to Adaline, just for a moment then back at the road. "Not what you wanted to hear, is it?"

The blonde shrugged, "Not exactly..." Her voice trailed off as her eyes met the road. "Just don't let it happen again." Troy shifted his gaze to her. "Are you... okay?" She asked, turning to face him.

Troy nodded turning back to the fence. "Gotta be."

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Adaline sat between her brothers picking at her piece of toast. Madison sat down beside Nadia, opposite her children. "Alicia didn't come home last night."

She spoke up. "She's a big girl now," Nick spoke with food in his mouth earning a nudge from his younger brother nudging Adaline as he did so.

"I don't think she's in the camp." Madison spoke looking around the camp, "She's probably with the golden boy." Nadia chuckled throwing one of the berries on her plate into her mouth. "Strange not to see either of them. With all the shit that went down."

Adaline shrugged, "I'm sure she's fine."

"Will you go to Jake's?" The sibling's mother asked, "definitely not." Nadia declined. "No," Nick spoke pulling his spoon from his mouth. "Leave her be, Mom." He continued.

"Morning." Jeremiah spoke the siblings all looking over Nick's shoulder at the man, "You.. uh, seen your daughter?" He asked, "No." Madison answered, the siblings going back to their food.

"Jake's awol with some gear and he's not in his quarters. I know your daughter and him are, uh.. courting." Adaline and Nadia looked over at each other holding back their laughter.

Nick and Lee chuckled silently. "Could they just sneak past the guards?" Madison asked. Lee let out a shaky breath, "Oh my god." He muttered putting his head in his hands.

"There's a lot of acreage out there, and Jake does know every inch of it, so it could be," Jeremiah answered. "Well, where should we start looking?" Lee asked, placing his hands on the table around his bowl. "We don't," Jeremiah answered.

"What?" Nadia and Madison spoke at once, "I can't speak another search party, and I'm not sending these good folks out there after all that's happened. Indians on a warpath." Adaline sighed, "Point us in the right direction, the three of us will go."

"You three won't make it a mile out there."

"So what? We just sit around thumb up our asses, like you?" Adaline slapped her hand over her mouth, Nadia's jaw dropped and Lee shook his head.

"You feeling strong son, you wanna arm up, man up? Troys taking on recruits. He'll fix it up so it's not like we're uh, sending the sheep out to slaughter. Maybe the three of you could join."

Nick glanced over at his siblings, "We're in." Lee glanced over at his mother, "Nick, come on." She sighed. Adaline stood up grabbing her tray, Lee placing his bowl on top of her plate. "Lee?"

"What the hell else are we gonna do." Madison shook her head at her children.

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Lee sighed nudging his sister as they approached Troy's recruiting setup. "What are we doing here?" Adaline shrugged, "honestly? No idea."

Adaline watched the recruits while her brothers spoke to Troy, "Adaline." Lee nodded his head to his sister. "Madison says she was okay with this?" Troy asked the girl as she approached the table of weapons.

Lee sighed, "We're all over sixteen, Troy." Lee hissed, Troy glanced at the younger boy scoffing under his breath as he turned to Nick. "Why are you joining the militia?"

Nick shrugged, "I don't know." He shrugged, "Maybe, uh. I feel bad about what I've done. Have you ever felt that way about anything? You know, you do something, then people die. And then things get worse."

Adaline walked over to the other side of the table, picking up a bow and arrow set. "Maybe you should leave before worse things happen." Troy shrugged, Adaline's eyes darted back at the man as he spoke.

"Yeah. I got Travis killed, now my mom has to bear that loss, and my sisters missing, I need an occupation." Troy picked up two riffles, "Don't be too hard on yourself." He spoke handing one of the guns to Lee.

"Also, I want to protect us from those who killed the Trimbols." Adaline's face softened watching Troy's as he looked back and forth between the siblings. "What I saw was savage." He mumbled.

"Let's.. uh, let's not spook the recruits, here." He handed Nick the gun watching as he walked over to the recruits Lee, and Adaline following after.

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Adaline followed after her mother and brothers to the gate as Jake had been spotted along the driveway.

Adaline slapped her brother's arm as she realized Alicia wasn't there instead Ofelia walked alongside Jake. "Ow, Adaline!" Nick exclaimed, "Is that. Ofelia?" The siblings all looked over at the girl as she got closer to them. "Where the hell is my sister?"

"I made a deal with Walker," Jake spoke, the siblings looking at the boy confused. "You did what!" Adaline exclaimed. "It's part of the custom. Alicia's their hostage. I'm the hostage on this side."

Adaline pressed her hands to her head, "Oh my fucking god. Are you all this delusional?" She exhaled a long breath. "What kind of barbaric bullshit is that? What custom?" Madison hissed, Nick, holding his arm out in front of his mother.

"Alicia offered to stay to avoid more bloodshed." Adaline scoffed, shaking her head as she stumbled away from the scene. "The sooner I talk to my father, the sooner we get her back."

"And if not? How much time is sooner?" Nick asked. "Just travel back and forth, plus a day to talk. And we will get her back. Walker gave me his word."

"Walker is a killer." Madison hissed, "I promise you I would not have left her there if I didn't think she was going to be safe."

Lee nodded his head, "We will kill you if anything happens to our sister. That's our promise." Lee assured. "I care about her too, Lee." Lee scoffed turning around, Adaline following after her youngest brother.

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Adaline stepped into the pantry, almost bumping into Troy as she got to the bottom of the steps. "Easy, there..." His voice trailed off, his hand spread out against her torso. "What-- what are you doing?"

Troy tilted his head down to her, his body blocking the inside of the pantry from her. "I just want to talk to her." Troy's eyes fell back on the woman she referred to.

Shaking his head he turned back to her. "No, Adaline go home." Adaline screwed her face up, going to step past him anyway. "Adaline." He warned, pushing her back toward the exit.

Adaline's eyes remained on the room past him. "She was my friend." She began, bringing her hand up to his on her chest. "I can talk to her." She pulled his hand away, her fingers wrapped around his. "Plus, you'll be right here the whole time."

Troy tightened his jaw, stepping to the side and allowing her to pass. "Thank you." Adaline let go of his fingers as she passed.

Adaline stopped as she met Ofelia's cold gaze. "Adaline." She finally spoke after a long fsilence. She could hear her heart beating, it was so close almost like it was inside her head.

Ofelia felt different compared to the last time they'd seen each other. Whether the woman that came to Adaline's mind was truly Ofelia or not, she couldn't tell.

This Ofelia was stronger and colder.

"Ofelia." She finally spoke, smiling at the girl. "Hey, Addy." Adaline glanced behind her and back at the women before she wrapped her arms around her. "How are you?" Ofelia asked, wrapping her arms around the blonde girl.

Adaline nodded, stepping back. "Im good." She spoke, glancing at the seats oposite one another. "You?" She asked shifting past the girl to one of the seats.

"Been better." Ofelia mumbled, shifting her gaze between Adaline and Troy as she sat opposite the girl, having her back to Troy.

Adaline nodded, leaning forward on her knees hiding herself from Troy. "How'd you get here?"

Ofelia felt uneasy after seeing the way Alicia had responded to seeing her. "Its a... long story." Adaline nodded, sitting back.

"Im sure it is." The blonde mumbled, looking down at her hands. "Qaletaqa found me." Ofelia began to explain, meeting the blondes gaze. "He took me in. They're good people."

Adaline nodded, "There's good people on both sides." Ofelia nodded, "I believe that, theres just too much bad blood between our people." Ofelias voice trailed off, averting her gaze back at Troy.

"Walkers word, its good?" Adaline asked, drawing the dark-haired woman to face her. "It is, Walkers a good man."

Ofelia turned back to the blonde, leaning forwards to ensure the Otto couldnt hear her words. "I wouldnt stay here if i were you."

Adaline sighed, biting the inside of her cheek. "Why?" She mumbled, her gaze darting back to the doors as someone stepped inside, drawing Troy outside.

"I fear for you and your family being here--" Adaline exhaled a sharp breath. "If i recall, it was your people who shot us down. Your people killed Travis."

Ofelia pressed her eyes shut, lifting her gaze to meet Adalines. "You were on it." Adaline stood, "Yeah, Lee and Alicia, too."

Ofelia stood with Adaline as she passed her, "Im sorry about that. Im sorry for Travis." The blonde girl nodded, continuing toward the doors as Ofelia returned to her seat.

⭑ ⭑ ⭑

Adaline pulled an arrow back letting it soar through the last arrow she had shot. "You should use a rifle if you gonna be in the militia," Troy spoke up from behind her, the girl pulling another arrow back.

"I don't think I wanna be." She shrugged letting it soar, beside the last. Adaline walked over to the archery target, pulling the arrows from it. "You should still learn, Walkers people have guns too."

"Got it." She mumbled throwing the arrow in half aside. "We're friends aren't we?" Adaline inhaled a deep breath. "Fine." A smile tugged at Troy's face, he turned around picking up one of the rifles.

"Here." He mumbled, holding the gun out to the girl. Adaline took hold of the gun walking over to the target. The girl held the gun against her shoulder, Troy pressed his lips together, "Here." He spoke softly adjusting the gun against the girl's shoulder.

Adaline sighed, "I would never hurt you." He whispered against her ear, "Mhm, let's just get this over with."

Troy scoffed lightly, "Press the trigger don't pull, exhale as you fire and hold it like I showed you." Adaline nodded her head. Troy pulled her hair back keeping it out of her face as it blew in the wind.

Adaline emptied the clip handing it back to the boy, "This doesn't mean I want a rifle strapped to me." She muttered as he took the gun from her hands.

"Yeah, yeah. I get it." Adaline walked back over to her arrow bag and bow. "I'd keep those on you, Your mother wants me and some of my guys to go after your sister." Adaline turned back to the man with knitted brows.

"What" She exhaled, setting the bow down beside her. Troy shifted his gaze to the camp for a split second, "She's worried about her daughter." Troy mumbled.

Adaline shifted to face the taller boy. "Im worried about Alicia, too-- You were on board with Jake's parley this morning--" Her gaze softened, tightening back up again as she tightened her jaw.

"My mother." Troy met her gaze, grasping her wrist as she turned away from him. "Adaline--" Her eyes narrowed up at him as he took her wrist, releasing her hand as he met the lasers being directed at him from her eyes.

Adaline tilted her head, stepping closer to him as she knew he'd get nervous and tell her what she needed. "What does she want in return?"

Troy's eyes wandered down at the girl, shaking his head. "You're not that stupid, Troy. This is a dumb play and you know it.." Her brows almost met as her eyes narrowed up at him.

"Mike." She spoke, his gaze adverting. "She threatens to tell everyone?" Troy shook his head, meeting her gaze again. "Your sisters in danger-- you don't care?" He stammered.

"Of course, I care."

Troy looked down at her with creased brows, ceasing them as he shook his head. "Then come with us, get her back. See to it we do this safely." Adaline shook her head. "Of all the things you've done, this has got to be the dumbest."

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word count — 5516

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ₊˚ପ⊹ *:･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ