In anticipation of the series returning, I've come back to the story. I can't wait to see what is to come – more Daryl please, thank you. Please let me know what you think if you can.
Walking the Wasteland to the Lighthouse
"Omega team, ETA 12 minutes."
"Copy that, we'll be ready to open the door at dawn."
Essie gripped Daryl's shoulders as she felt the heat rise. The more familiar they became with each other, the better the sex. She felt him shift underneath her and gripped even harder as he sat up. He wrapped his arms around her, as they kept moving together. She gasped and threw out her arm, knocking over the storm lamp. Now only the strobed lightning lit the room; Essie thrown into relief, biting her bottom lip; Daryl closing his eyes and baring his teeth. The black sky broke apart and they shook together.
Essie flipped her hair out of her eyes and fumbled for a cigarette as Daryl switched the lamp back on. She passed him the lit cigarette and sat on the floor with her back resting on the sofa, he joined her.
"Do you know what I want right now?" she asked and Daryl raised his eyebrows and she smiled.
"Stop! What I want is a soft pretzel. Really salty and still warm."
Daryl didn't say anything but continued to stare at her.
"What? Just because it's been the end of the world for a while now, it doesn't mean I don't still miss things from before. I bet there are things that you miss?"
He stayed silent but kept staring at her until she smiled.
"Okay tough guy, you keep your thoughts to yourself." She stretched luxuriously and pulled her t-shirt over her head.
"Storm's not stopping." she observed as the rain battered the windows.
"Ain't gonna for a while." Daryl answered as he lay back and closed his eyes.
"We see you Omega team. Keep silent running. Dawn approaching."
They saw the three flashes and returned to watching the gates.
Essie couldn't sleep. The wind hadn't died down and her mind kept going back to the trap and shadow of the Wolves that had been growing longer for months. Carefully, not disturbing Daryl, she got dressed and walked out into the silent street. It was still dark but the shadows had the faded grey tinge that acknowledged the dawn not far away.
She got to Deanna's house and saw a light burning in the window but could not go in, they needed to be left in peace even if it was just for a moment.
Michonne was on the porch, watching the street and gave a low whistle when she saw Essie who ran over.
"Couldn't sleep?" Michonne asked as Essie lit a cigarette, cupping the small flame against the wind.
"No, this wind leaves me unsettled."
"Yeah I get that. There's somethin' else though." said Michonne, staring into the pre-dawn. Worried at this change in tone from one of the toughest women she had ever met, Essie watched her carefully.
"Somethin's not right…and don't ask me to explain it because I can't, not yet." Michonne finally turned to look at Essie.
"You think something's coming?" she asked.
"Don't you?" Michonne sounded angry.
"Yeah I do." Essie answered, "but I'm not used to other people thinking the same thing."
Both women turned as the door behind them opened and Carol walked out.
"What's wrong?" she asked quickly.
"We're not sure." Michonne said quietly.
"We're ready to open the gates. Omega team will go first. Alpha team stand by, wait for Delilah's signal."
Before Essie could add anything, a knocking on the gate split the quiet. The women froze.
"Is anybody out on a run?" Carol whispered and Michonne shook her head.
"Wake everyone."
It took 7 minutes for the key players to assemble by the gate; in that time, whoever it was out there had knocked 3 more times.
"Sasha, what's out there?" Rick asked over the walkie-talkie.
"Group of 5 people, too dark to see if they're armed." she replied.
"Tell her to keep an eye on the tree line." Essie added in.
"I heard." Sasha said before Rick could talk.
"We're going to open the gate; Daryl, Abraham, Michonne and Glen, you target the gate; Essie, Rosita, Tara and Aaron, you target behind and the tree line. Maggie and Deanna keep them talking."
Carol stood next to Essie, without a weapon, but the tension was rising off her like steam.
With their guns trained on the gate, Aidan pulled open the gate as the sun rose over the horizon.
"Hi."
"Hello. My name is Deanna. How can I help you?"
"We've travelled a long way. We're looking for somewhere safe to stay."
"How many of you are there?" Maggie asked.
"Five of us, just what you see here…there were more but they didn't make it."
"Are you armed?" Rick asked but the figure, outlined against the sun, ignored him.
"Please, we don't mean you any harm. We've been out here since our camp was destroyed. We need help."
"Are you armed?!" repeated Rick and the speaker acknowledged him for the first time.
"We've got a pistol with four rounds left, a couple of knives, a machete and a tyre iron."
"You survived out there with no ammunition?" asked Deanna, incredulously.
"We kept moving…and we didn't all make it. Please help us, even if it's only for a night."
Rick turned to look at the others. Most had let their aim fall slightly when the group outside had appeared unthreatening but Daryl, Essie and Michonne still had their guns in a steady aim.
"You will relinquish your weapons before you come in. You will searched and you will be escorted everywhere you go whilst you are inside these walls." Deanna said. The figure nodded and turned to the others who began to take out their weapons.
Essie watched as the leader stepped through the gate and passed their weapons to Rosita and Aaron. The leader pulled down their hood to reveal a woman of about 35, tall, fit, with dark hair. Her face was handsome and held a quiet authority. She didn't smile but looked over the assembled group, some of who were still aiming their guns at her, and she didn't flinch. The other people with her pulled their hoods down and they were also all women. With wide, clear eyes, the leader assessed the Alexandrians. Essie stared at her and their eyes met.
Deanna led the new group away, followed by Maggie, Aaron and Rick. The others went back into the house.
"So what do you think?" asked Michonne.
"Is Sasha still on watch?" Essie asked quickly and didn't relax when Michonne nodded.
"You suspect something?" Carol asked.
"Yes." said Essie definitely, "So do you." and Carol nodded. Rosita and Glen raised their eyebrows in question so Essie continued.
"She said they'd been out there since their camp was destroyed but none of them looked like they'd been out there more than a day. She said they'd lost people but she showed no sadness. The other women in her group looked to her for orders and only moved when she told them to. She didn't question it when we took their weapons because she knows they don't need them. She isn't telling us the truth."
"We've just invited trouble in." said Carol.
"Wait until Rick has talked with them." Glen said.
"Yeah, I mean, they could be just like us, you know?" added Tara. Daryl looked at Essie and Carol who staring at each other in silent communication.
After Deanna had interviewed the woman who called herself Ruth and the others, she left them talking to Maggie and Aaron and walked into the hall with Rick.
"She could be useful to us. She seems smart and capable, she kept her group alive out there." Deanna watched as Rick ran his hands through his hair, "but you don't seem convinced?"
"I'm not. Some things in her story don't add up and…"
Rick didn't get to finish, as there was a crash from the other room. He ran through to see Maggie unconscious on the floor and Ann's arm around Aaron's neck with his gun trained on Rick. The other women were in a formation behind her, silent and watching.
"Move outside slowly or I will kill him." she said in a strong voice.
"What the hell…" said Deanna but Rick pushed her behind him.
"Throw your gun into the corner." Ann ordered, still calm.
"Listen, we can work this out." Rick said.
"Sshhh." said Ann, putting her finger to her lip, "and just do what I say. Now."
"Ann…please…" said Deanna.
"It's not Ann, it's Delilah. Please, move outside." she said.
Rick threw his gun into the corner and one of the women picked it up and aimed it at Rick and Deanna. Still with her arm around Aaron's neck, she followed Rick and Deanna outside. She raised the gun and fired 2 shots into the air.
"That's the signal. Omega team move into position, we go in on my mark."
"What the hell was that?" Glen rushed to the window and the others followed except for Carol, Essie and Daryl.
Essie checked her gun's magazine and slid it back into place, Carol span her revolver's barrel.
"Ready?" asked Carol and they nodded.