Quinn, Hilltop
Carol was trying to delay calling Quinn, but she had to tell her the council's decision. She finally got herself to do it...
...
I was heading to the radio room, Carol was trying to reach me. I sat down and pushed the button with a pounding heart.
"I'm here, what happened, Carol?"
"I called you to let you know about the council's decision, about your banishment..." she said it too formally, I already knew the answer was no.
"They voted against me."
There was silence for a little while, then Carol said:
"Yes. They don't want to upset Negan."
"Why would he be upset?"
Carol was hesitating, then she continued.
"They said he is unpredictable. They voted to let him have a little freedom, he can leave his cell, so he can be useful, but only with a guard watching him. Michonne let him do this because he saved Judith during the winter. And Michonne said that it's enough freedom for him, for now. She still doesn't want him to feel happy."
I listened to her, my heart beating fast. He saved Judith... I knew he was a good man, I was smiling like crazy, tears stinging my eyes. And he can go outside, finally. Even if it's only for work, he will be able to go out and breathe fresh air.
"Quinn? Do you copy?" asked Carol.
"Yes..." I smiled. "I'm happy he can go outside."
"I'm sorry... Michonne said we should get back to your case later. So, I think she is not entirely against it anymore, it's just not the right time for that."
I nodded understandingly, even though Carol couldn't see me.
"Yes. I understand. How's Jesus?" I asked.
"He is fine, he and Aaron are courting each other, but still not a couple yet," she said giggling.
"I don't even ask about you and Daryl..." I sighed. No one can get together when they should?
"Nope... nothing has changed between me and Daryl."
"Not surprised. How are Henry and Lydia?"
"Daryl has a soft spot for Lydia... I think he kind of adopted her. He is adorable, he doesn't even realize he is acting like a father. As for Henry, he is crazy in love, he is just... they are so cute with Lydia."
I chuckled. Daryl as a father? I frowned my eyebrows.
"And how's Eugene?"
"He was upset for not letting you back. We all were, actually. But Michonne was right, I guess," she fell silent for a moment, then continued: "I have to go now. I can't leave everything to Daryl."
"Yeah, sure, go."
We said goodbye and signed off. I let out a huge sigh. I was still smiling to myself. Negan saved Judith... and Daryl adopting Lydia? I was happy for them. I wished Jesus would just go for Aaron, not to mention Carol and Daryl... they are all like shy little kids. Even Henry got a girlfriend immediately. They should ask him about it. I let out a sigh and as I was about to leave the radio room, I heard the cracking noise once again.
"Carol?" I asked.
"Quinn? Is that you?" I heard Eugene's voice.
"Eugene! How are you?" I asked, I was really happy to hear his voice.
"It's good to hear your voice," he said like he read my mind. "I wanted to apologize personally for the failed council meeting. Michonne had a strong point, unfortunately..."
"I get it, it's fine. I'll wait. But tell me how are you doing? Did your knee heal completely?"
"Of course, it did, I'm in perfectly fine health, thank you very much. How's your stomach?"
"It's fine, it hurts sometimes, but it's fine. I have a badass scar now."
"Don't overdo it just yet, be careful with it."
"Alright, I will," I heard some noises from Eugene's side.
"Uh... I have to go now. Rosita wants something," he said and signed off.
I smiled. I was happy to hear him even if it was just a short conversation.
...
A week later
I was going through the to-do list that Ezekiel gave me. He has been to Oceanside for a week already. I managed pretty fine. The leader's duty was basically just to check everything if it works, it's going fine, if anyone needs help with anything. Until I heard the buzz of the radio. I pressed the button and leaned closer.
"Hilltop, do you copy?" I heard Gabriel's voice.
"This is Quinn, I copy."
"Quinn, hi! It's been a long time," said Gabriel, I could hear in his voice, that he was smiling.
"Yeah."
"There's a reason I contacted you," his voice turned serious quickly. "I just spoke to Oceanside. They found a skin mask."
I gasped. They are back. They're going to start all over again. Henry is in danger.
"Quinn? Do you copy?"
"Yes, I copy. Thank you. Copy and out."
"Out."
I released the button and stared in front of me for a couple of minutes.
They are back. I got goosebumps all over my arms. Chills going down my spine. Tara... Enid... Almost Henry...
I stood up quickly and headed to the fighters, to make them alert.
...
Negan, Alexandria
Negan was enjoying the sunshine while he was tending to the tomatoes. He saw the council going to the hall while interrupting the lesson inside. Children vanished quickly. Some things never change. But then he saw Lydia come out too, bumping into Henry.
"Hey, what's wrong?" asked Henry.
"This is stupid," said Lydia through gritted teeth.
"Reading?" asked Henry.
"Yes. It's not normal," said Lydia angrily.
"You don't have to learn it if you hate it that much. It can be useful sometimes." Henry tried to calm her. He took her hand. "If you can read and write, you can leave messages to others. How do you find each other when someone is lost?"
"We don't," said Lydia aggressively. "We leave them. I mean, my mother does."
Henry couldn't answer to that.
"Can we practice now?" Lydia asked.
"Sure. Let's go get the sticks," said Henry with a slight smile. They vanished, then returned after a little while.
"Oh sorry, I will be right back. You can start," said Henry and hurried away, he forgot something. Lydia started practicing really aggressively.
"Hey, kid. Everything okay?" asked Negan.
They spoke a couple of words, but then Henry came back and took Lydia's hand, pulling her away.
"Don't talk to him," said Henry in a suppressed voice.
"He is just like me... everyone hates him and they look at us the same way."
"He is the reason my brother is dead," continued Henry. Lydia looked him in the eye.
"And I am the reason your friends are dead."
"No, it's not like that. You have nothing to do with what your mother does. But Negan... that man, he was their leader, he ordered them to kill."
Lydia shook her head.
"You think I'm a good person, but you are wrong..."
"No. I refuse to believe that," said Henry and hugged Lydia. "I trust you."
Lydia buried her face into his shoulder. They slowly backed away.
"Let's practice," he said, Lydia nodded and they started.
Negan glanced at them again. It was like watching a teen drama. He smiled to himself.
Not long after, he went back to his cell, waiting for Gabriel, to come and talk to him.
He tried to give him advice about leading, about not creating mass panic.
Gabriel didn't like what he heard, but he seemed to be considering it.
...
Quinn, Hilltop
A month later
Carol called me through the radio again. I was wondering what took her so long, she said waves of walkers attacked Alexandria and they had to clear them for days.
"Is everyone alright?" I asked.
"Yes, no one's hurt. We are just very tired... but I can't sleep anyway, I'm so worried about Henry. I'm scared they would try to take him again and finish what they started... We met Alpha by the way..."
"What? You are just saying this now?!"
"Yeah. She punished us for crossing her land, so she took more land. People here are on their edges and they're insulting Lydia for no reason. She has nothing to do with them anymore."
"I see."
"Henry stands up for her, just like me and Daryl, but... people are just people. Narrow-minded. You know... I was so scared I tried to shoot Alpha, to end this... but I just made a bigger mess..." said Carol, her voice was shaky. "She said she will come for Henry if I behave like that."
I gasped for air...
"Why did you do that?! You should stay low and do as she says!"
"Why?!"
"Because that's how we survive!"
There was a moment of silence.
"I'll try..." said Carol. "Anyway, we managed to clear the walkers."
"That's good to hear."
"I have to go, check on Henry."
"Okay."
We said goodbye and signed off. Carol sounded strange, she was really tired and worried. I headed to Ezekiel to let him know about what happened.
I found him at the study, he seemed as gloomy as ever since Carol broke up with him.
"Are you alright?" I asked him. He snapped out of it and smiled at me.
"Yes, sure. Did you want to say something?"
"Ah, yes. Alexandria was attacked by walkers, but everyone's alright. They cleared them."
Ezekiel nodded.
"Good to know."
I stood there awkwardly for a moment, then I spoke again.
"Alright, that's it. So I just gotta go..." I said and hurried outside. I had no idea how to talk to Ezekiel, he was always a mystery to me and now that he is all gloomy and sad, I had no idea how to help him, what to do. I was afraid I reminded him about Carol, so I tried to keep my distance as much as I could.
I was living with Ezekiel and Jerry's family in this big old house, so it was quite hard to avoid them. I didn't want to remind them about Carol or the Kingdom. I hurried to my room. I didn't belong there. I belonged to Alexandria.
...
Author's notes: Listen to "Runaway" by Avril Lavigne.
Both Quinn and Lydia feel like running away.
Thank You for reading! ❤
Sorry for jumping in time, hope you can keep up with me. :)