Chapter Seven

Skeletons

Anna glanced down at her bag, the feeling of anger radiating through her body at the thought of a man like him peeking through her private belongings. The only things that she had with her, the only things to her name, and he had the audacity to take a peek and be nosey. In a world where things meant nothing anymore, any little thing that should have been private and kept hidden was on full show. The mask that people gave in hope that individuals couldn't see the cracks that were appearing meant everything. To have that protection, portraying someone that was prepared for this world, to welcome it hand in hand and to think of the positives of the world being as it was. No one was prepared for a world like this one, and anyone who was or claimed to be was lying. Underneath they were scared. And people - survivors - like Philip was putting a front on, like a performer; underneath the façade and behind closed doors, they were still human.

She opened her bag, felt the coolness of the glass that contained the important blood samples, and turned to Philip. He had moved closer to her without her realising, and she felt a wave of anguish wash over her. He had a way of making her feel uncomfortable and awkward. She couldn't put her finger on why. It wasn't just the way he held himself, she was able to handle that, but it was something hidden, and she knew he was giving her hints just by the way he was looking at her but like a fish too full from bait, she couldn't grasp onto the hints he was dangling in front of her face.

There was something about him, with which she was going to find out.

"I'm testing myself for diabetes," Anna said.

His face features didn't move, as if he was thinking about what she was saying and trying to find truth in her words. She hoped that he would believe it. It wasn't true, but it was the only explanation as to why she had blood samples in her bag.

"Why?" Philip asked.

"My station in Washington will expect the tests once I get there. Six months worth of blood samples, and if there is no difference, then I'll be able to find by family," Anna began. "I'm unable to test them myself, just in case I taint them thus making them unreliable."

He stared at her, his eyes narrowing at her, before giving a slight nod. He moved over towards her, getting into her personal space and dropped his voice. "I was in the army once. It's a tough job. What do you specialise in?"

"Biomedical science," Anna stated, staring ahead.

"Ah… brainy work," he whispered, before moving away. "Well it was lovely having you here. It's a shame you don't want to stick around, I'm sure we would have worked well together."

"Yes… it's truly unfortunate."

"You'll be able to retrieve your weapons once you leave here," Philip said, opening the door. "And we'll give you a vehicle, with enough fuel in it to make it to Washington."

"Thanks," Anna said. "I appreciate your hospitality."

With one last glance in her direction, he left the room, closing the door behind him. Anna breathed out, not realising that she was holding her breath as he left the room. She quickly rummaged through her back, finding six identical looking vials full of blood. She breathed a sigh of relief. They were in a box, all placed in separate spaces. She thought back to what Philip had said, 'able to retrieve your weapons… vehicle with enough fuel…'.

She wanted to believe him. She truly did. But he unnerved her. What was it that made her uneasy?

She took her jacket out of her bag and pulled it on. She pressed her hand upon the pocket with her name on it, then slipped her arms through the arms of the her backpack and hauled it on. She made for the door, surprised that it opened as soon as she got close to it. Philip stood there, with that smile on his face and motioned for her to follow him. The man who was watching the door grinned at her but she offered him no inclination of a smile, or anything vaguely resembled a smile. She didn't trust anyone.

Philip could not be trusted. She thought back to when she first came across him; that unfortunate moment when she was looking at the gas metre and hadn't noticed his presence behind her. She thought back to the conversation they had; the moment the man - Patrick - had slipped out of the woods behind her with a gun aimed at her head; the test he had given her, and the one she had given him; then another man appearing behind her, the one without the hand; then the dull ache as Merle pistol-whipped her; the moment Philip had told her the nickname his group called him…

That was it. The Governor. He had already given her the answer, but her mind had been lost of all memories of the day. Did he think she wouldn't remember? Did he think he was getting away with it? Had he expected her to remember it, or expected that her head wound was a lot more serious than what it was? Had he expected her to wake up, despite leaving the medical examination until a few hours later?

She stared at the back of his head, and glared. She knew she couldn't do anything until she was safely out of where she was, and away from him. They walked down the stairs of the building they were in, and as he opened the door to the outside world, she was taken aback by the scent in the air.

The smell of death.

He turned around and stared at her, trying to find a hint of an expression but Anna, as hard as it was, remained expressionless and unreadable.

"Why don't you take a walk around," Philip said. "Take a look around."

Anna gave a small nod, as her feet carried her out into the middle of the road. She glanced sideways, noticing how the street was cut off from the real outside world as large barriers blocked off the roads. It reminded her of a small town in a movie she watched once, but for the life of her, she was unable to remember the name of it. It was a nice place, but there was something that made her feel unsettled. And with the smell of death in the air, it was a place she couldn't wait to leave.

She stared at the people around her; families walking together with the children talking energetically about something they had read in a book; old couples standing hand in hand as they looked at the flowers planted in window boxes of a pharmacy; young people standing around talking. She narrowed her eyes at looked at the corners of the small town, and caught the gaze of a woman who, like herself, was watching the people around her. She had long black braided hair, was of an African-American descent, and had a slim build. She wore a brown leather vest over a tank top, with leggings and tall black boots. A piece of material was in her hair, keeping her braids from falling into her face. And as Anna narrowed her gaze at her, she realised that some sort of weapon was attached to her back with a strap. A sword, or large blade of some sort.

The woman kept her gaze on her for just a moment longer than what Anna was comfortable with. She never backed down her stare, and watched as the woman took a hesitant step forward before walking towards her. Before she was able to come up to her, a blonde woman appeared out of nowhere and began talking to her. The woman's eyes occasionally glanced towards Anna, as if seeing she was still there.

Anna turned her attention towards Philip who was stopped also by a man with glasses. Anna narrowed her gaze at him and trying to read his lips, but she was too far away.

"You're new."

Anna turned around and found the woman standing next to her, her eyes bearing into her. She nodded.

"Not for long," Anna stated.

The woman scoffed. "No one leaves."

She was about to ask the woman what she meant but was cut off by the woman herself.

"You don't trust him," the woman analysed, to which Anna shook her head. "Me neither."

"Why don't you leave then?" Anna asked.

"I'm trying."

Philip came over then, his eyes on the vehicle being driven out of the small parking lot next to the large barriers. Anna turned to her left, not seeing the woman any more. He came towards her with a fixed smile on his face.

"Vehicle is ready. Your weapons will be given to you once you leave."

Anna nodded, and Philip began to walk away. She watched him walk towards the vehicle.

"There's something about him, isn't there?" The woman said behind her, causing her to jump in fright.

"You hit the nail on the head."

"Smell that in the air?" She asked, to which Anna nodded. "People in here seem to be immune to the smell of burning bodies."

A whistle could be heard in the distance, and the two women watched as Philip motioned for Anna to retrieve the vehicle.

"Be careful," she whispered.

Anna nodded, watching as Philip spoke again with a short man with glasses. "You too."

It reminded her of a film, The Truman Show. It looked as if it was all placed there, to make her believe that it was a perfect world, when in fact it was a total lie. Secrets and lies were hidden in the cracks.

"What's your name?" Anna asked. "I'm Anna."

"Michonne," the woman answered. Anna nodded in appreciation.

"Well, I hope you get out of here."

Michonne smirked, "You too."

Anna furrowed her brow but knew what the woman meant. She bid farewell and made her way towards the vehicle. A man was in the drivers seat, and drove towards the gates. The barriers were opened and he drove out slowly. She followed after Philip who was carrying her weapons and a bag full of her ammunition. The man got out of the car and left the door open, and Philip turned to her and handed her back her weapons. She took them, and half expected him to turn his gun on her and shoot her dead but when he didn't, she breathed a sigh of relief.

He took a step back, towards the gates. He waved at her, with that smug smile on his face, as she got into the vehicle. She pressed her foot down and soon she was driving away from the small town. She glanced in the rear view window and saw that the name of the town was painted on the metal barrier.

Woodbury.

She looked ahead and drove as fast as she could away from the town.

The Governor watched her drive away in the vehicle given to her. He turned to Merle and lowered his voice just for the bald man to hear. "Go after her and kill her. She knows too much."