Chapter 1
The air was wet and cool. Aaron watched the group from his shelter. They barricaded themselves in a barn the entire night. It rained heavily. He knew the names of most of the people in the group. Rick, the leader. Carl, the son. Daryl, the hunter, Michonne, the slayer. Carol, the clever one. Maggie and Glen, the lovers. Gabriel, the preacher. There were several others, but those were the names he had learned so far. Aaron liked the group. It was the biggest group he had ever seen.
They were a hungry group. Thirsty. They were survivors. He predicted they had been on the run for a very long time and had come a long way. This became evident when they chose to ignore the water he had left for them to find. They were low on supplies, starving and thirsty, almost to their ends. But they deserved better. That's why Aaron was spying on the group. He and his partner were selected to recruit people to invite to their community.
Aaron gripped his rifle as he saw the doors to the barn slowly open. Daryl was the first to exit with his crossbow armed and aimed to fire at anything that would move. But the walkers were taken out during the storm. Aaron watched the barn the entire night, waiting to see how the group would deal with the walkers. Honestly, it was a miracle that Mother Nature defended the group. That had to count for something.
The rest of the people, filed out of the barn with their weapons ready. Always on their toes. Aaron dared not move. He knew he would probably be shot down if he attempted to contact the group now.
Rick huddled the group together. Aaron watched and listened to what he was saying. His beard animated his mouth when he spoke, making syllables easier to identify. Aaron had learned to read lips, which made him a great spy. He watched as Rick gave orders for his group to disband and search for supplies. They would have an advantage after the storm. Most walkers would be incapacitated and easier to deal with.
Aaron saw Maggie break off the group with another girl. He decided he would make his first approach with them.
ooo
Daryl wandered off in search of water, food, ammunition, anything he could scavenge really. His search the day before had been unsuccessful and emotional. He had just lost Beth and had not had a chance to grieve since their escape. He was always hard on himself when he left his emotions take over but today was a new day. He searched around with a clean slate.
Unintentionally, he followed after Maggie and Sasha. They headed through the trees to scout the area. Daryl took in a deep breath, feeling his sticky hair cling to his face due to the moisture in the air. A chill ran through his body as the breeze blew across him. Being wet and cold did not help but something held him on edge.
He remembered the water that had been left in the middle of the road the day before. They had walked through a village and saw five water jugs with a note on them that said From a friend. He immediately felt the presence of another being watching them and he still hadn't shaken that feeling. What friend? Who was watching them?
He lost sight of Maggie and Sasha as he continued with his thoughts, but knew they weren't too far off. He didn't like the way he felt. He was usually on his toes, but the water caught him off-guard and reminded him that they weren't the only people still around.
He heard some rustling on the ground, not too far away from him. He armed his crossbow and aimed it in the distance. He crouched, looking down the sight. He couldn't see what had made the sound. It was too quiet for a human to make and he saw no walkers. He hoped it was a rabbit or some sort of bird. He could shoot it, kill it, and cook it for dinner. But he saw nothing. He slowed his breathing and smelled the air. Something seemed off.
He listened as hard as he could. In the distance, he heard Sasha and Maggie's voices talking to a third person. He didn't recognize the third person.
Daryl crept closer to them. Once he had a visual, he saw Maggie and Sasha had their guns aimed at a man. Daryl aimed his crossbow but lowered it after getting a better view of the stranger. He was short, slender. He had no beard. His hair was cut and nice curls lay atop his head. His clothes were clean and his pack was light. He came from somewhere. What was he doing out here? Was this the man that had been following us? Was he their friend?
He watched from a distance as Sasha and Maggie tied the stranger's hands behind his back and led him back to the rest of the group to meet Rick. Daryl let out a breath. He did not feel threatened by him. He felt a brief moment of relief as he turned and walked back to join the group.
ooo
Aaron knew the moment he approached the women that he would be disarmed, so he approached with his rifle unloaded. As he suspected, they aimed their guns at him. He put his rifle slowly on the ground and raised his hands in defense.
"I'm a friend," he finally said. His voice surprised him as he had not used it for several days. His throat was dry.
"Friend? You mean you left the water for us?" Maggie asked.
Aaron nodded. The two women exchanged glances, guns still aimed at Aaron.
"Aren't you going to take me to meet Rick?" Aaron asked.
That got the women suspicious. They looked again at each other.
"How do you know Rick?" Maggie asked.
"Just as I know you, Maggie," Aaron said. "I have been observing your group for a couple days now."
"Why?" Sasha asked.
Aaron smiled, "I think it's better if I explain that to Rick."
"Cuff him," Maggie said to Sasha.
Sasha cuffed Aaron's hands behind his back. Maggie pick up the rifle he put down on the ground and they led him away from the site to go see Rick.
ooo
Daryl reached Rick and the rest of the group before Maggie and Sasha. He watched them cuff the man and head out before he left his spot. It wasn't long before Maggie and Sasha returned with the stranger.
Maggie and Sasha led the stranger toward the group with their guns lowered. Rick let out a scowl. They should keep their guard up. They should know better. Rick pointed his magnum at the stranger as they approached.
"Who are you?" Rick asked.
"Hello Rick, Daryl, Glen, Michonne, Carl, Carol, Gabriel," Aaron said nodding to each of them as he said their names.
"Fuck," Daryl said under his breath.
"Ain't that nice, you know our names, but I asked you who you are," Rick said, brow furrowing in frustration.
"My apologies, my name is Aaron, and I have been watching your group for several days."
"He's the one who left the water for us," Maggie said.
"The friend?" Rick questioned.
The group was now on edge and cursing themselves, realizing that they had been watched and they were too tired to notice.
"Yes, and I am a friend," Aaron began. "Listen, I'm from a community not too far from here called Alexandria. Me and my partner, we are sent out to recruit people to live with us and join our group. We have houses for all of you, running water, electricity, even gas stoves."
"There's two of you?" Rick said interrupting Aaron.
"Yes, but I am the one watching your group. My partner traveled north to search for more travelers like yourselves. We were supposed to meet up the day after tomorrow."
"And what makes me think you're telling the truth? Why should I believe a word you've said?" Rick asked.
"You'll just have to trust me," Aaron said, eyes pleading that Rick could see the truth.
"Trust you?" Rick said, lowering his gun. Daryl glanced at Rick wondering what the hell he was doing. He couldn't possibly believe this lying sack of shit. But Daryl knew Rick all too well.
Rick holstered his gun, putting up the act. Aaron breathed a sigh of relief. Then Rick clenched his hand into a fist and punched him in the face, knocking him out. Aaron felt the full strength of Rick and passed out, falling over. Maggie and Sasha struggled to keep him off the ground.
"Tie him up. We'll question him more, later," Rick said.
The group returned to the barn they had taken shelter in during the storm. They tied Aaron to one of the center posts and waited for him to wake.