"Remember us. Remember. That we lived."
***
I was excited to finally be attending the fair that everyone had worked so hard and long for. It was a symbol of coming together and making each other stronger.
A kingdom lookout opened the gate for us, and I could already hear the commotion and excitement. Magna's group waited excitedly for Connie, and Carol and Ezekiel looked relieved to see Henry.
I hopped out of the carriage and hung back, my face lighting up at the reunions. Everyone was excited to see Michonne and Judith, especially Carol, who had a significant role in caring for the little girl.
Carol enveloped me in a hug, and I smiled, giving Ezekiel a happy look as well.
"You guys seem to be doing alright," I laughed, and Carol nodded.
"Do you remember us?" Carol then turned to Judith, who looked up at her.
"I've been drawing pictures of you since I was little. You're Carol, and you're the King.
Your hair got really long," Judith laughed, and we joined in.
"It did."
"The plan was to bring Henry.
Just Henry," Tara growled, studying the nervous face of Lydia and the exasperated one of Ben. They must be tired of this.
"Gather up all the leaders. We have a lot to talk about," Michonne ordered, and it was time for a long-awaited meeting.
***
"I know I haven't always seen eye-to-eye with everyone in this room. But I never stopped caring about any of you. I was just trying to protect my family and do right by my people. Alexandria's future is here. Together with you. And we lost sight of that for a while. But I'm here now. We're here now," Michonne finished as I studied the faces of everyone in the theatre.
I sat in the front row between Ben and Henry, followed by Lydia and Judith, sat in my lap. I looked at the leaders thoughtfully, Michonne, Ezekiel and Carol, Tara and Rachel—who was once just a little girl that didn't leave Cyndie's side—from Oceanside and Daryl day off to the side.
"I've taken an informal vote with the other council members at the fair, and we all agree. Alexandria is willing to grant asylum to Lydia and Ben. They're one of us now.
We hope the rest of you can join us in doing the same," Gabriel spoke up, and I smiled, looking to Ben, who was already squeezing my hand.
"Thank you. We'll do whatever we can to earn our keep and pay you back," Ben nodded, and Lydia added a thank you as well.
"If her mother retaliates, it's gonna be against Hilltop, not Alexandria. I have to do right by my people. I thought we were on the same page," Tara said worriedly, and I assumed that they now knew Ben wasn't the main threat right now. It was Lydia that they were worried about since she was Alpha's daughter.
"We were. And, look, when she came to my gates, I asked her to run away. And when she didn't, I was angry," Michonne said, and I looked at her. That must've been what she said to them when we were in Alexandria. I was surprised Ben hadn't told me.
"Then you know why I'm not okay with this," Tara added.
"I do. I also know why Rick didn't trust me when I showed up at the gates of the prison. And how people didn't trust you after seeing you on the other side of the Governor's firing line," Michonne said, and I looked down. That was so long ago.
"I was gonna kill you on sight when you washed up on our shore," Rachel added.
"Okay, okay. Fair," Tara nodded.
"Lydia didn't choose where she came from, but she chose where she wanted to be. Just like everybody in this room," Michonne said, and Lydia couldn't help but smile. I caught her eye and gave her a reassuring look.
"I left some of my best fighters at Hilltop, but if Daryl's right about these skin job numbers, it's not enough people," Tara spoke, and I played with Judith's hair, needing to do something with my hands.
"We should take a group to Hilltop to protect 'em, just in case," Daryl finally spoke, and Carol seemed keen.
"It's a good idea. I'll take some from the Kingdom."
"Oceanside can spare some fighters," Rachel added.
"Alexandria can, too," Gabriel said confidently.
"So we head out in the morning?" Rachel asked.
"No, they can take advantage if we wait. We should go today," Carol decided.
"Agreed. But sending more people is only a short-term solution," Gabriel said disappointedly.
"In order to face this threat, the four communities have to present a united front, which is why I'm proposing a mutual protection pact. An attack against one community is an attack against all of us," Michonne explained.
"Together, we can make these people think twice before moving against the Hilltop," Gabriel affirmed, and I was happy to agree.
"The leadership of the Kingdom is very amenable to this idea," The King added after looking to Carol.
"Oceanside's down," Rachel chimed in, nodding.
"Okay. So, how do we seal it? Spit and shake, blood oath? What?" Tara joked, and Ezekiel turned around to get something.
"I have just the thing," he announced.
"What? How did you—" Michonne came closer to a large sheet of paper Ezekiel lay on the table. It was somewhat of a written agreement.
"Well, he's magic. Obviously," Tara shrugged, making Judith giggle.
"I may have taken a few things with me when I left. I did what I thought was right.
I'm sorry for the way it went down," Tara spoke to Michonne.
"Me too. And thank you. You were right," Michonne grinned, shaking Tara's hand.
"You were, too."
"I knew this day would come.
Never doubted it for a moment," Ezekiel smiled proudly and was the first to sign, then handing it off to Carol, who passed it to Rachel, then Tara and finally Michonne, who handed it off to Gabriel.
"It should be the head of the council," she nodded, and Gabriel's signature was the final one.
It was official.
***
Ben and I walked out of the theatre together, greeted by the warm sun and laughter. It was something I had missed.
"It's crazy, huh? We live in these walls. They're still holding up," I teased, crossing my arms, and he smiled a little. He was so adamant that everything would come crashing down when I first met him, but now he seemed to be enjoying the feeling of normalcy.
"You were right," he laughed, and we passed Judith nailing the target on the dunk tank, sending Eugene into the water. I laughed and looked at Ben, who was focused on Tammy, bouncing the little baby in her arms.
I also noticed Henry speaking to a young woman with flaming red hair, and I recognized her as Frankie, who lived at the saviours compound.
"Something on your mind?" I asked curiously.
"I'm going out with the group, I think. I want to help," he nodded, and I was thinking the same thing. After enjoying the fair for a little bit, I was also thinking of helping out.
"I was thinking the same," I said, and Enid came over to me, holding a candy apple in one hand and Alden's hand in the other with a smile on her face.
"Hey. This is Ben. I don't know if you've formally met," I smiled at the couple, and they greeted Ben.
"This is Enid and Alden," I finished introducing, and Ben shook their hands.
"Good to meet you," Ben said, his eyes crinkling from his smile.
"You too," Enid nodded and pulled me aside to leave the boys to converse.
"How are you and—" we both started and laughed.
"You first," she said, and I nodded, taking a bite of her candy apple she offered me.
"How are you and Alden?" I asked, dishing out gossip like teenaged girls. It was okay, though, because it felt normal.
"Good, good. Nothing new. Are you and Ben a thing? I'm only asking because—" she trailed off, noticing the look of worry on my face.
"I don't know. It's the first guy my age I've known since Carl, and it feels wrong to do anything," I sighed, playing with my necklace.
"Carl wouldn't want you to think like this. I remember you told me that Carl wanted you to find someone new, to connect with. And the ring was a symbol that, sure, Carl loved you, but it's okay to like someone else," she nodded, placing a hand on my shoulder. I nodded and hugged her gratefully.
"Thank you,"
Enid and Alden left to help with something, so Ben and I walked around some more.
"You mentioned a girlfriend?" I asked cautiously and waited for his reaction, which just stayed the same.
"I did. Her name was Charlotte. She wasn't meant for this world, and in the end, it took her. That was a while ago now, so; I know how you felt. About Carl," he trailed off, and I nodded.
We traded stories about Carl and Charlotte, but it wasn't sad or painful; it connected us more. We found out more about each other, and I felt closer to him, even if we had only talked for less than an hour.
It was time to hit the road again, and I stood at the gate, ready to part ways with the kingdom for now.
Lydia and Henry stood together, and after I hugged Judith, I made my way over to them.
"You guys stay safe, alright?" I nodded, and Henry looked at me for a moment before pulling me into a hug. He stood a few inches taller than me, and I smiled into the hug.
"I'll see you soon," I said to him as Lydia and Ben pulled away from their hug.
"Alright," Henry nodded, and I waved to Lydia, then making my way over to Enid.
"You're so popular," she joked, and I pulled her into a hug, laughing.
"Yeah, yeah. You stay safe, and I'll see you later, okay?" I pulled away and looked at her.
"I will. Love you, Sky," she smiled.
"Love you, Enid," I grinned at my best friend and gave one final look before climbing into the carriage behind Carol.
I looked at the kingdom and its residents one more time before the gates closed behind us.
***
While riding along the leaf-covered pathway, we came across three men, known as the highwaymen. I didn't know much about them, but they kept our roads clear, and we gave them supplies and access to Ezekiel's movie showings.
The man who I suspected to be the leader—his name was Ozzy—showed us to some wreckage. Ozzy was accompanied by his second in command named Alek and a former saviour named DJ.
"We were clearing the roads.
Spotted tracks leading here," Ozzy explained as I studied the wreckage. There was an overturned cart with boxes strewn across the forest floor. Manga reached down and picked up a wood chip with the H for hilltop carved into it.
"It's from Hilltop," she stated, and I looked around for anything else useful.
"Dead didn't do this. People did," Ozzy pointed out.
"The skins? You know about them?" Michonne questioned, looking at Ozzy, who ate a peanut from the fallen jar.
"We got the download. Strange times, strange ways to cope. Anyway. Yeah. That'd be my guess. If anyone else was out here, my patrols would've seen em. Something else...They put up a fight," Ozzy noted, and I looked at the others, not sure what to do next. Of course, Alpha and her skin freaks would do this.
"Hey. Drug 'em out this way," Daryl pointed, studying marks on the ground.
"Let's go," I said quickly. I wasn't even sure who this happened to, but they were still our people.
"We can't all just go rushing in there," Daryl said to me, shaking his head.
"They could still be alive," Dianne said hopefully, and I adjusted my bow on my back, looking at Ben, who stayed silent.
"But if those skin freaks followed them from Hilltop, the whole community is in danger right now," Marco added, and I bit my lip. I didn't want anyone else to die.
"So we split up," Michonne said.
"Michonne, Sky, Ben and I can go with Daryl. We'll track 'em. The rest of you, go on to Hilltop," Carol volunteered, and I nodded purposefully, Ben mirroring my action.
"We'll keep up our patrols around the Kingdom. Just in case. 'Course, this means you owe us a couple of movies when this is done," Ozzy said to Carol, and I cracked a smile.
"I'm sure I can work that out," Carol nodded, and the group going to hilltop went their ways, Yumiko coming along with us.
We followed the tracks—more like Daryl did. I just followed him—in mostly silence. I was getting more anxious by the minute; especially now it was dark.
"I don't know if there's a happy ending here," Carol admitted, and I couldn't help but agree. We were still following drag marks, which wasn't a good thing.
"The trail goes off in three different ways. Don't make sense," Daryl pointed out. We all heard reigns snapping from close by, and Ben immediately grabbed my wrist, almost like an instinct, and I let out a breath.
"Come on. Head back. Let's go," Daryl ordered once we flashed the light on the growing amount of walkers coming closer to us.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
They're from Hilltop," Yumiko pointed out, taking a walker out with an arrow.
"Watch their hands. They could be skins," Michonne said and were becoming surrounded but walkers now. I readied myself, holding my knife tightly and kicking out the knee of a walker, sending my knife into its soft head.
"Back to the road. Come on," Daryl yelled, and we turned to come back the way we arrived, which was now overrun by walkers.
"Shit," I muttered, still holding my knife tight.
"This way," Michonne turned, and we followed again. We were surrounded from every direction, so we had to fight our way out of this one. I grunted as I took out a walker, the rest of us doing the same, Ben joining in as well until there was a pile of bodies at our feet.
I panted, my chest heaving until a skin walked out, followed by dozens more until we were surrounded again. We were screwed. I backed up until Ben, and I stood back to back, looking at the skins who now sported knives and even a gun.
"Drop them. I won't ask twice," a man spoke from the shadows. He emerged, and he was the tallest person I had seen. I followed Daryl's silent directions to drop my knife.
"You just had to give me the girl. No one else had to die. Now that deal...is done," the man said, and I looked at him.
"That's Beta," Ben spoke, barely even a whisper.
We were taken to a small clearing in the woods where we were unarmed and tied up, all of us standing back to back. My heart pounded, and Daryl gave me a curt nod, trying to comfort me.
"You ain't getting her back," Daryl was the first to speak as Alpha stood in front of us, knife in hand.
"You think this is about my daughter? I ran into some trouble on the road. It was unavoidable. Do you like my new camp? My people like to keep moving, keep roaming," Alpha sniffed.
"We've granted Lydia asylum.
Any attempt to take her by force will result in retaliation," Michonne said calmly.
"What's your name?" Alpha asked curiously.
"Michonne."
"Does she speak for you?" Alpha looked at Daryl, and I tried to keep my chin up, not wanting to show fear.
"We speak for each other," Daryl spat.
"My daughter isn't a concern anymore. Neither is Ben. He wasn't really much help to us anyway. And Lydia—She was weak. She never lived up to expectations," Alpha looked around at us.
"Was? What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Daryl queried, and I wondered the same thing. I placed a hand on top of Ben's, knowing this would worry him.
"To be clear, your group is in no position to threaten me.
That is a habit that needs to be broken," Alpha told us, holding a gun up to us.
"Come with me. Just you," Alpha spoke quietly to Daryl, and I looked at him wide-eyed.
"Be safe."
***
We were kept there until morning. Daryl ran over to us, seemingly undamaged. He pulled Carol and me into a tight hug. I sighed in relief and was ready to keep going with the others now.
After walking through the woods for a while, we walked up a hill and heard muffled shouting. It was Siddiq, bloody and bound to a tree.
"Siddiq!" Michonne cried out as we all rushed to his side, setting him free.
"What happened?" I asked quickly, my heart sinking fast. He silently pointed over the hill, and there were ten stakes in the ground. Michonne helped him, and I walked up the hill with weak knees. Ben held onto my arm, and I felt that my heart was in my throat. I don't understand.
Once we got closer, I could see what was on the end of the stakes—severed heads.
I gasped, looking from left to right.
Ozzy.
Alek.
DJ.
They were walker heads, still chomping and trying to bite. I gripped Ben tighter, and he shook his head, looking mortified.
Frankie was next, her red hair being a giveaway. I felt my knees grow weaker each time my eyes moved.
Tammy Rose, her bandana still on her head.
"No," I muttered out as Ben held me close.
Rodney and Addy. The innocent teenagers.
I fell to the ground. It was Enid. I felt my heart rip into shreds as the wet grass soaked my jeans.
"No!" I screamed out, my tears pouring down my face. They killed Enid. It felt like my whole world was crashing down around me again—my best friend.
Tara, the leader of hilltop. I sobbed now, covering my mouth.
Last was Henry.
I cried as Daryl tried to cover ku8$&8Carol's view of her son.
They were all dead. Ben held me as I lay on the ground, feeling like I was going to be sick.
They were dead.
***
That next morning I could barely find the strength to climb out of bed. My best friend was murdered heinously. Poor Henry was killed. Tara was killed. The skins took ten people away from us and displayed their heads like it was a joke. A sick fucking joke.
Ben wanted to keep me company that night, so he slept on the floor beside the bed I stayed in.
Our people deserved to know what happened, and Siddiq stood on the stage of what was supposed to be a perfect day.
"I was there. I was taken with the others. And I saw I was supposed to die with them. I was ready to. Then, Alpha whispered in my ear, "Tell them." Something hit me, and everything went black," I looked at Alden, who was heartbroken, and I looked at Lydia, who felt guilty.
I felt broken, standing with Ben's hand in mine.
"And when I woke up, I was alone. What happened was evil. It was evil. And I think she left me alive to tell you that story. To scare you and to drive us all apart again. But I want to tell you a different story," Siddiq nodded tearfully, and I couldn't help but cry as well.
"See, before the end, Ozzy, Alek, and DJ found us, and they gave us an opening. And everyone fought back. They fought like hell. And what they did—Was more than brave 'Cause they defended each other. And they sacrificed for each other And some of them they didn't even know each other, but they still fought like they did. Like they were family. 'Til the very end," I nodded. That was who they were.
"And in the end, they—their time was cut short, but ours keeps going. So we have to keep going for them and for all of us. We need to honour them. We need to honour them, and we need to remember these friends, our family, died as heroes. That's the story that I want to tell you. That's the story that I want us all to remember."
I had to keep going. For the people I love. The people I loved.
A/N: so I am mentally unstable over this. I was a mess and still am. Those poor ten people were killed, and I am heartbroken.
Oh, and sorry, this chapter is late. I was a wreck tbh. Anyway, I hope this chapter was okay, and I hope you enjoyed it.
Thanks for all the reads, comments and votes, and I'll have the final chapter/episode of the season up soon.
-Ellen Rose🦋