𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟓𝟓𝟖

𝟏 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝟔 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬, 𝟏 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 

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We were brought to an armory, where we were forced to give our weapons. I put the one gun I had on the cart, then stood back and waited for everyone else to do the same. I rested my hands on my hips, watching as she wheeled the tray away. 

They showed us to two houses. Rick suggested we shared the one for the first few days, just to be safe. At first I walked around Alexandria, getting a feel for the new community. It was nice, really nice. All of the houses were pretty big. 

✦

After my interview with Deanna, I made my way to the infirmary, finally deciding to seek help for my broken nose. I walked over, opening the door as I peeked my head in. "Hello?" I yelled out, only to be greeted by a man with short blonde hair. He seemed to be panicked, but I didn't think much of it. "Oh, you're one of the new people. What's up?" He responded, walking over. "I think I broke my nose." I scratched the back of my neck as I walked over to the chair in the middle of the room and sat down. The doctor came over, standing in front of me and just looking at me before giving a nod. "Definitely broke it. I can realign it and give you some painkillers." He walked away and put on gloves. "Thanks." I said, sheepishly as I dangled my feet over the said, patiently waiting as he got ready. "Deep breath in, then out. This'll hurt." I did what he said. I felt as he pushed my nose into place, as I bit my lip trying to hold back a scream. "Alright. You're good to go, I'll get those pain killers though." He walked away, taking off his gloves then reaching into a medicine cabinet and handing me a small orange bottle. I nodded and walked over, taking on as soon as I stepped outside. 

I made my way back to the house we were sharing, right as the sun started to set. I didn't bother to knock on the door, I just went in. Everyone was gather in the living room, laying out blankets and getting ready to sleep. All of the mattresses were taken, so I grabbed a blanket and tossed it on the ground. 

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door and Deanna came in. I looked over as she talked to Rick. She said something about jobs, mentioning a few people name, including mine. I couldn't hear exactly what she said, but I figured it was about not having a job. 

I cleaned up rich peoples houses before the outbreak. I couldn't see myself cleaning up after people now, so I was genuinely curious what job she would give me. I rolled the blanket out, grabbing a pillow and placing it on the ground, before laying on the blanket. I quickly fell asleep, grateful to actually have shelter and somewhere safe to stay.

✦

I woke up in the morning, immediately going upstairs to shower. I didn't shower yesterday, so I was excited to finally be clean. I grabbed a towel from the well-stocked linen closet and went into the bathroom. I shut the door and turned the handle to the shower. I immediately felt the hot water hit my hand, one of the best things I felt in a while. 

I carefully took off my clothes, setting them in a neat pile on the sink. I stepped into the shower, closing the glass door behind me as I let the water run down my back. 

✦

I decided I'd go look for clothes, so after my shower I left the house. I was greeted by the sight of Daryl attending the his crossbow on the porch. I gave a soft smile as I made my way off of the porch, down to the sidewalk. I walked over towards the food pantry, hoping they might have linens and clothes, too. I walked inside, Olivia being the first thing I saw. "Hey. Do you haves clothes here?" She looked at me for a second, scanning over my body before speaking up. "Yeah, follow me." And led me to a small walk in closet. The shelves were full of brand new, clean clothes. "I can take anything?" I asked in shock. I hadn't seen anything like this since the start. "Yeah go ahead." She smiled and stepped back. "Okay." I scanned the shelves for my size, before pulling two shirts, a pair of pants, and a black jacket off. She handed me a large bag to carry them in. 

I walked back to the house, excited to finally be clean. I quickly changed, tossing my old clothes into the washing machine along with everyone else's clothes. Once I got back outside, I ran over to the gates where Glenn and some Alexandrian were arguing. 

He was pushing Glenn around, and I immediately knew it wasn't gonna end well for him. I watched as Deanna ran over, panicked. Then Aiden, swung at him and Glenn obviously went back at him. They started fighting and I took a step back. Daryl ran over, tackling a different guy. I took a sharp breath as I watched everyone fight and argue. Rick pulled him off, but he still looked mad. I walked over to Maggie, standing beside her as Deanne yelled at us.

She gave Rick and Michonne their jobs, and now it was only me and Daryl who remained unemployed. I walked away, unsure what to do with my free time. Here it was different. We weren't constantly traveling, searching for food, or trying to fix something. We could do whatever we wanted, and that was the difference.

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Later that night, when everyone was asleep, I decided to leave. I walked onto the porch, only to see Daryl sitting on the porch steps. I walked over, sitting next to him. Despite all my best efforts to get to know him, it was still like we just met. "Couldn't sleep?" I kept my gaze focused on the scenery in front of us. "Nah." He replied, his voice low as he fidgeted with his thumbs. I thought for a second before continuing to talk. "You like it here?" It took him a second to respond, but I could tell he was just thinking. "Mm. The girl needs a place to grow up." I took a breath, he was right but that wasn't what I asked. "But what do you think, about this whole community thing?" "It's better than being on the road." I nodded. "I don't know what to think. I don't know his this is some big illusion, to shield us from what's really happening. To shield them." He looked over at me, his features illuminated by the moon. "You ain't wrong about that. I think we just gotta trust what's goin on." He replied. I pursed my lips as I stood up, "Maybe." I went back inside, carefully shutting the door. 

✦

I woke up in the morning, my nose now feeling fine. I decided to spend the first part of the day practicing my aim. I'd only ever used a small pistol, and I decided I was ready to learn how to use different guns. I checked out a rifle and a sniper from the armory, but was stopped on my way out. Rick and Carol came up to me, right as I was about to leave. "Esmé, we need a favor." He said, standing in front of me with his arms crossed. 

"Yeah?" I asked, curious. "There's a party tonight. We want you to slip into the armory through a window, and take a few guns." I looked and him and thought for a second. I already knew why, and was surprised they asked me. "They won't be watching you. You can do it undetected." He continued on. "Sure." I answer, still carrying the two fire arms I had just checked out. "Nobody else needs to know about this. Okay?" I nodded, I could tell he was very serious about that. "Okay." 

I left through the main gate, and walked through the forest by Alexandria until I found a small clearing. I set the guns down, then tied two pieces of printer paper to a tree. I took a few steps back, trying my best to shoot the pieces of paper that were blowing around in the wind. 

I was approached by Daryl and Aaron, his crossbow aimed right at my forehead. "Woah." I said, putting the rifle down and putting my hands up. "What did I do, now?'" I joke, as he put it down. "Thought you were someone else." I walked to the tree, grabbing the pieces of paper and crumbling them up. I only hit two shots, both on the sniper. I grabbed the guns as I followed behind Daryl and Aron on their way back.

I stopped by the armory, then my house. I changed into dress I had found in the closet, conveniently my size. I put my hair up, this time into a neat ponytail. 

Once I arrived at Deanna's house, I immediately made my way to the refreshment table. I was never a big fan of parties like this, but especially not now. It all felt so fake. These people, they were safe behind a wall. Most of them hadn't seen what it's like outside, or at least after it got bad. 

They didn't know what the people were like. How if you even looked at someone the wrong way, they could kill you. They didn't know what it was like to be hungry. They didn't know what it was like not knowing when you'd get to sleep next. And I hated it. I hated the thought they got to have a perfect little fake life in here, while we all struggled outside.

"It's time." Rick spoke, his voice low. I immediately knew what he was talking about. I set my drink down as I quietly exited the house, careful not to bring attention to myself.

I was thankful I didn't have to be in that house anymore. That fake house, with those fake people, in this fake community. All of it was so fake. 

Carol had left the window unlatched, so it was easy enough to slide it up and climb in. I took a few small handheld guns from a bin. After that, I headed back to the house we shared. Where I hid the trash back full of guns in the back of the linen closet. 

✦

The next day I took a few of the small firearms, and hid them a little backpack. I met Rick, Carol and Daryl in the woods.  I emptied the back on the ground, letting the three of them take their pick when Daryl spoke up, "I've been thinking.. do we really need these? I mean things go bad we to what we do, but it's like you said." He shifted his weight, only facing Rick by now. "We don't need these for that." I took a sharp breath, was that really all for nothing? "I'm good." He announced. Rick bent over, taking two of the guns. Carol took one, then I took the small pistol that was left.

I put it back in the bag I brought, hoisting it over my shoulder and walking away from the "meeting". We all went our separate ways, but I went to the food pantry.

I hadn't cooked anything in a while, so I figured I could try making a simple dish. Maybe something like pasta. Once I got the ingredients, which was a box of bow tie noodles, and marinara sauce I turned on the stove, watching as the flames peeled above the burners.

After it was ready, I put it in a bowl, one that had been there since before we arrived.

It tasted awesome. I haven't had any real food like this in forever. But that was the difference. Everything here was so easy to get. You didn't have to work for it, they'd just hand it to you. Unlike outside these gates, you would have to kill just to eat. You'd have to spend days looking for fresh water. And you'd never see a shower, a stove, a or a real bed.

All I hoped was this didn't change us. I tried to stay aware of what went on outside, as I wasn't ready to give up the few survival skills I already had.

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NOTEPAD

• 2091 words

• idk how I feel abt this chapter ngl

• soon as Daryl and Esmé actually get close I have so many ideas.

• vote and comment plssss!! ♡