"We got new people." Lake was waiting outside for the rest of the group.

"What?"

"Look. It's a long story. Walkers attacked, Rose is dead, but they helped us keep them off. We'd all be dead were it not for them." Amanda added.

"So they won't try to kill me if I step through that door?" Asked Dalvin, with a sarcastic tone.

"See for yourself." Lee entered the house, hand on pistol, just in case. The two men were sitting by the corner of the room. Their weapons were next to the door, which meant they were unarmed.

"I'm gonna take a wild guess that you're the leader here?" Asked Coach, as he got up from his seat to greet him and the rest.

"We all do our part here. I was told of your.. Problem? You're looking for your group?"

"Yeah. Your buddy Carter mentioned a group that took one of yours. Ours could be where they're at too." Emile added. He wanted to get straight to the point.

"They have heavy security all around the area. They mentioned a negotiation. That seems like the best way without getting any of us killed." Claire commented.

"Well damn. They got guns so do we, but we ain't risking it if there's a chance. What are they negotiating anyway?" Asked Coach.

"My guess would be weapons or supplies. Or both. Did he mention anything of that? I have a idea." asked Mika.

"No."

"We can accept the negotiation. One of us goes in, figures out how they work, and comes back out with the stuff they want. Simple."

"I hate to piss on your fire, but how do you know they won't shoot you on sight or while you're in there?" Asked Emile.

She sighed.

"I don't. It's a risk we gotta take if we're doing this. I don't see any other option."

"She's right. We're just wasting time, and the more time goes by, our chance goes out the window." added Mike.

"We're going back out there. Bring the map, in case they think we're something else. I need you all to focus on the plan. No killing or attacking anyone until we know what exactly we're dealing with, got it?"

"Loud and clear."

"Let's roll." Dalvin packed up the groups supplies and things as they ventured towards the building where they had set up before.

"That's some big ass factory. There must be hundreds of them." exclaimed Coach, as he saw the area through the binoculars.

"Only keep pistols and knifes close. Rifles stay hidden in here. Let's go." Dalvin led the way as the group followed suit. The inmediate area around the factory was clear of walkers and surprisingly organized. Cars were parked on the side. Lee observed that as they approached the main gate.

"Stop there! State your business." said a man, from the top of the gate, where several of them were positioned.

Coach grabbed the map and threw it at them, with accuracy as it landed next to them.

"Oh... I see... You'll be greeted inside."

"Are they gonna hurt us?" Asked Clem. She was scared, but she didn't feel as frightened with the group, but when they were facing another threat other then walkers, it was different.

"I'm going to pat you all down, making sure you don't bring anything dangerous." a girl said. It was the same one that was present when they took Kenny. Lee remembered her name, Cristy.

"All your weapons into this basket. No need for them in here."

"And why do you get to keep them?" Asked Emile, with a annoyed tone.

"We control this area. Our rules."

The factory, was the main base for The Wanderers. All the heavy machinery had been stripped and the main area had been changed into a courtyard for food, weapons and recreation. Lee noticed the snipers on the roof of the buildings.

Cristy led them down a path behind the factory in a large open area, where the man who had made the deal with Lee was sitting.

"Glad you could make it. I was starting to think you wouldn't take up on my deal."

"Where is he." demanded Lee. He knew they had to play it safe, for everyone's sake.

"Your buddy? He's fine. He will be glad to see you all once we discuss the details of our deal, I'm sure." He motioned for Lee to sit in the chair opposite to him.

"I'll let you make the first offer. Go ahead." Lanius told him, while he observed the group behind him.

"We just want our man back. We can offer supplies, if that's what works."

He chuckled.

"Will that bring back my men? The men you killed?"

"He's not the only one you have. You have more people being held prisoner. That's not right."

"Correct. Other things have happened in the last few weeks. People die, people kill, just like they did in the Old World. Nothing changes. Here's my counter offer." Lee could see Coach build up with rage. He had a feeling that his group members were being held here too.

"Your friends life, lies in my hands. Just like the lives of the others. My counter offer is that your group stays here, while you all pay off the debt."

"We don't owe you anything at all!" exclaimed Claire.

"I really don't want to get into details about it. But it's a fair deal, believe me. I'll have Cristy give you your guns back, because I know you're all mentally capable of understanding the current situation. You all work for me, until further notice."

"We just got neck deep into this shit.." Amanda whispered towards Dalvin, who hadn't said a single word the whole time. That usually meant he was thinking of something. He thought they'd be dead by now, but Lanius apparently wants them to work for them.

Dalvin believed Lee made a huge mistake bringing the whole group with them. He didn't have to look around to know that they were aiming at them from all directions. They were trapped, with no way out.

"Cristy will assign you your place where you will reside until you pay what is owed. No one does anything funny, everyone lives." Lanius grabbed the pistol from the table and loaded it with a magazine, and put it in his holster.

"What about our man? If you're gonna keep us as slaves, we deserve to know if he's alive or not!" exclaimed Kate. The fact that he wanted to keep them for his personal use made her blood boil.

"You'll see him. Soon enough. He's quite the fighter, I'll give you that. But he's no match for ours. Off. Now." Several gunmen along with Cristy escorted the group inside the factory. It had been transformed into what appeared like a hub, with several areas serving as living quarters.

"Good thing I didn't call that man out. He would have killed us all." Whispered Coach towards Lee.

"You did us a favor. Keep your cool. We'll get out of this." he replied.

"What is this place?" Asked Cass. Despite the current situation, she couldn't help but be curious about her surroundings.

"This place was a sugar mill. We have turned it into a community for us. But for those who wrong us, like you people did, it can be a hell." replied Cristy. The rifle hanging from her back seemed to intimidate her.

"Do you have our people? That's all we want to know. Whatever problem you have with these people, it doesn't have to involve us." added Emile.

"You want to shut up with that?!" whispered Mika.

"What?"

"If they notice that we aren't in a group, that we don't know each other, it'll be even harder to get out. Just follow along, for everyone's sake."

They arrived at what appeared to be several different rooms, all separated.

"Remember, keep them apart. Keeping them together is a risk." One of the guards told Cristy, who was in charge of the group until further notice.

"Got it." She rounded up the group and made them go into different rooms against their will. The rooms each had several beds and lights, and barred windows leading towards the outside.

"Is this why you wanted me to keep quiet? So they could lock us here?" Asked Emile. He began to examine the room, looking for a way to get out, which was impossible.

"Look on the bright side of things. We're still alive, aren't we? We need them to calm down, they're trippy with us." Mikaela replied. She took a seat on the edge on one of the beds and took a deep breath. She looked towards her hip and noticed her pistol holster had the gun, but with no ammo.

"Figures.."

"I'm not accusing or anything, but what did yall exactly do to piss these people off?" Asked Coach. His hands leaned against the door, which barely budged.

"It's a long story. To wrap it up, we just defended ourselves, that's it. Guess they don't take lightly to that."

"They're more civilized, in my opinion. Their leader mentioned it several times. Still, them kidnapping people just isn't right, even in this fucked up world." Amanda commented. One of her arms had a large cut, which one of the guards helped with by giving her bandages for it. She didn't feel safe, but she didn't feel in total danger.

In one of the other rooms, Cal, Cass and Clem resided. All the rooms were similar, so there wasn't much they could do but wait.

Lee, Dalvin, and Lake were in the other room. They believed that they were separated so that they couldn't plot a escape, or just a plan.

"We made a bad call bringing everyone down here. We should have brought along a few." Dalvin said, while holding his face with his hands, either in fear, or disappointment.

Several guards entered the room, holding what appeared to be a hostage. Her pink sweater made her stand out from the others, and her brunette ponytail seemed to make her stand out.

"Do you know these people?" one of the guards asked her.

"Even if I did, you'll just lock me up again. Doesn't really matter."

"I'll take that as a no." the guard pulled her out of the room and began to walk her towards the cells. Coach was looking through a hole in the door when he saw her walking along the hallway with the guard.

"What the-" Coach rubbed his eyes several times, to make sure he wasn't seeing things.

"Zoey! I'm here!" he exclaimed.

"You wanna keep it down?" said Mika. She wanted to play it smart by not getting on their bad side.

"They have my friend, which means they have the others too. Bastards." he growled, as he slouched himself on the bed.

"Zoey?" Asked Lee.

"Yeah. Pretty smart one, right there. But there wasn't anything I could do to stop them from taking her."

"I can see them killing the walkers that line up on the fence from the outside." said Emile, as he observed the courtyard from the small window.

Lanius, the leader of the group rounded up the rest in the large courtyard the next day. Clem could see several walkers by the fences, trying to make their way inside, but it was too reinforced for them.

"Your debt starts to get payed off today. Grab a weapon, and start to kill those walkers. We can't have them on that fence for too long." he pulled out a spear from a shed and used it to kill some of them as a demonstration.

Cristy was sitting on the guard tower above them, observing them.

Killing the walkers was easy. But they jus tkept coming in small numbers. It's not easy to work when there's people with guns all around you and they're not friendly.

Lee noticed Zoey next to him, killing walkers with a screwdriver. She was very quick, but was disgusted by them.

"You found Coach and Emile. Thank you." she said, without taking her eyes off the walkers.

"They found us. These people took one of ours, and we were just trying to find him. I made a mistake bringing all my people."

"The way I see it, it's good. Having all your people to defend each other is what keeps you alive. Surviving comes with its risks. After my parents died, I learned that." tears began to flow out of her eyes.

"I'm sorry. Did they..?" Lee asked her.

"My mom. She was a nurse in Savannah. People just kept coming in sick, with bites, scratches, you name it. One day she wasn't feeling good, and layed down on her bed. Dad, he was a police officer and took the day off to care for her."

"That's a noble thing to do."

"It's because of them I'm here. She suddenly got up, and bit my dad. Whatever it was, that wasn't my mom. He killed her, but he couldn't save himself. That was when I had no choice but to leave. My friends? Stayed back in college. No idea what happened to them." She seemed to trust Lee, enough to tell her the story about her parents. But they weren't totally safe, not until they were free.

"Keep quiet and keep working! No time for chat!" exclaimed one of the guards who was watching the perimeters.

"Fuck you!" Exclaimed Cal on the other side, as he struggled with the guards. One of them yelled out for "The Prisioner," as he smacked him across the face with the butt of the rifle, drawing blood.

Clem looked back towards the mill and saw that they were bringing out Kenny. His hat was missing, and he'd been severely beaten, with several bruises on his body on face.

"You want this to happen to you? If you don't, shut the fuck up!" Cal glared at him, as he layed on the ground.

Kenny reached out for the rifle and a struggle ensued with the guard, as several shots went out in the air, nearly hitting Cass in the process.

Ken, stop it!" Lee went over and tried to pull him off, but to no avail as he was elbowed in the nose by him.

Dalvin pulled Lee away from the pile as other guards came in and started to beat him once again. Lanius came out to see the incident.

He pulled Kenny to his knees and smacked him across the face with a lead pipe, causing him to groan in pain. He grabbed him by the collar and pulled him towards the fence, pushing his face against the walkers.

"This is fucked up..." Coach said to himself.

"He's gonna kill him. We have to do something!" Kate tried to help, but was pulled back by Carter, who motioned towards the gunmen aiming.

"I won't kill you. But I'll let you feel this!" Lanius grabbed one of Kenny's hands and pushed it through the fence, as walkers began to devour his fingers. He yelled in pain, as the group watched in horror.

He pulled him back in, with several of his fingers severely mangled and bloody.

"If I were to leave you the Way you are, you'd turn in a matter of minutes. But I won't let that happen."

Clem looked towards the guard tower and saw Cristy nodding her head sideways in disappointment. She had a feeling that she wasn't on terms with what was happening.

Lanius pulled out a dagger and cut off most of his fingers, to avoid the spread of the infection. He struggled a bit, but moments later he passed out.

"Take him to the sick bay. I want this man up and running as soon as possible." Lanius ordered several guards, as they grabbed him and went back in the mill. He wiped the dagger on his jacket and put it back.

"That wasn't necessary. You had him under control-" Bonnie believed that if she, or they, were able to reason with them, they'd be able to leave.

"That man suffers from PTSD, among other disorders. A result of this.. World. He's a dangerous man, too dangerous for any group or community."

"How can you possibly know that? Are you some sort of doctor?" Zoey demanded.

"Not me. But we have our medical staff. He had a lengthy talk with him, told almost everything he's been through. Everything and everyone he lost. I only did this so he can snap out of whatever he's in, he needs to come back to reality, even though it's harsh. 30 minute break, off you go." Lanius smiled as he walked back into the mill, escorted by guards. Smiling after cutting off a man's fingers isn't something normal, but that's how it was.

Lee knew what had to be done. His words hit him like a rock, but he didn't want to believe it. Kenny was always a strong man, but certain events eventually broke him. He couldn't imagine how he'd feel if he ever lost Clementine.

Cristy hopped off the ladder once she reached the bottom, and made her way towards the group.

"Lanius wants to make sure you guys don't cause any trouble. I'm to supervise any activities you do."

"You know this isn't right. Let us go, and we won't ever cross paths again. Believe me. I speak for all of us." Amanda told her. Those words seemed to impact her, since she stopped in her tracks.

"Look. I can't do anything. I'm not in a place to help any of you. Best thing you can do is follow the rules, nobody gets hurt."

Clem looked at her. She knew that she wasn't always with Lanius, for some reason. Maybe that's why she seems to be more friendly to them then the others.

Cristy holstered her rifle and took a deep breath.

"I'll see what I can do. It's a big risk I'm doing for all of you. And what do I get in return?"

"You'll be free of this tyranny. A nightmare will be over." Lake told her.

Cristy nodded as she walked off towards a area where only gunmen were allowed. Did they just make a ally within the enemy? She seemed nice enough, but in the end, you never know.

"We should keep the walkers down. I don't want to imagine a horde at this wall." Mikaela grabbed a rebar and began to take them down. Their corpses accumulated at the bottom, and the stench was unbearable.

"I don't think it was a good idea what Amanda did." Mike told Lee.

"What?"

"She basically tried to bribe her into helping us escape. Who's to say that psycho doesn't come back and kill us? That's a dangerous thing she did right there."

"I trust her. And you should too, for everyone's Sake. This girl... Cristy? I know how to read people, and I know she's not like them. There's something else going on." he replied, as he kicked his foot into the dirt. After some time kicking around, his foot met with a bullet, a used one, with some very faint blood stains on it.

"I'm glad your safe. Did they hurt you?" Coach asked Zoey, as her, him and Emile were reunited back into their old group. There were still others missing.

"Nah. They were talking about a group that got theirs killed for a few days. Guess this is that group. I talked to their leader, Lee. He's a good guy, they're a big group, they have the strength, weapons,"

"What're you trying to say?"

"I know we shouldn't trust anyone. But these are good people, they have kids. If we stick with them, we have better chances of living." Zoey told them.

"Let's get out of this mess first. Then we'll see what happens." Emile told her. He saw Bonnie in the distance, looking towards the woods. He always saw her with her rifle, and not having it with her made her look a bit odd.

"Back in Savannah. Crawford, remember?" Mika told Lee.

"Yeah. They got overrun eventually. What about them?"

"Each community does what it can to survive. But others, go past the limit. This one, thrives on blood, even if they refuse to accept it."

Lee sighed.

"I'm not trying to pressure you or make you nervous, but we're in for a real bloodfest. Soon."