Quinn, Alexandria

In the afternoon, a whisperer arrived, who claimed she knew Aaron. So Gabriel, Rosita, and Jesus dealt with the situation, I stayed with the kids. Judith went outside, but I could see her from the window.

Rosita came to me late afternoon.

"What happened?" I asked her.

"We're going under a lockdown," she said. "Daryl's group might be in trouble. Gabriel goes out with some people to check on them. I'm going to guard the gates with Jesus."

I nodded. I was still angry with Daryl and Carol, but it stuck in my head that they might be in trouble.

"Alright. I'm staying here, babysitting," I had to ask: "What happened to their group? What did the whisperer say?"

"She says they're stuck in a cave. I don't believe her."

I nodded. Rosita bid farewell and left. I exhaled sharply.

Carol and Daryl might be in danger… I was so mad at them, but I didn't want them to get injured or worse… I felt my stomach shrank.

I felt so many things at the same time, but I had to suppress all of them, bury them deep inside, I had to focus. I had to protect these kids, no matter what it takes. I had a bad feeling.

Judith came back, I glanced at her.

"Did you check on the new prisoner?" I asked her. I knew Judith, I knew she was curious and had a thing for prisoners…

"Yes," she said, blushing. I caught her. "Her name is Mary."

"Judith… You know you shouldn't…" I said gently scolding her.

"Alright, I'm here now. I didn't talk much with her," she said rolling her eyes, then joined RJ in the living room. They played together, they were adorable. Henry sat next to me.

"You know…" he said, looking at me. "I'm still sorry for not visiting you at the infirmary when you were injured. I feel guilty. I was just… concerned about Lydia.

"You already said that, and I told you I understand. You don't have to apologize. I get it," I tried to smile slightly, despite everything that was going on inside of me.

"How's your stomach? Did it completely heal?" Henry tried to distract both of us from our problems.

"Yeah. I have a scar, but it makes me feel like I'm badass," I said chuckling. Henry smiled.

"I have a scar too, on my thigh."

I nodded.

"Well, I guess it just comes with this world nowadays."

We fell silent, I could see how troubled Henry still was.

"Why did Lydia run away? What happened exactly?" I asked him.

"She… she asked mom that she wanted to help against the whisperers. Mom took her and used her. She didn't tell her what was going on. So, Lydia got mad and ran away. We haven't heard of her since then."

2I'm sorry. She survived in the forest for so long, though, and I don't think the whisperers would hurt her."

"You're probably right… but it still makes me mad that I don't know where she is."

"HELP!" we heard someone yelling outside. We leaped to the window, it was the whisperer, Mary. Judith hurried to the door and opened it before I could stop her. The whisperer ran upstairs and we closed the door behind her.

"It's Beta!" said Mary, panting. "He wants to take me to Alpha, to be killed. He is coming!"

We heard his huge steps on the stairs outside.

"Upstairs! Quick!" I said. Henry grabbed his stick and we hurried to the guest room upstairs. We closed the door. Judith pulled her pistol out and stood by the door. I pushed RJ behind me. We were listening by the door in complete silence. I felt my heart pounding crazily. I have to protect them, even if it costs my own life.

When we heard Beta's steps in front of the door, Judith shot and the door opened. We ran outside. I grabbed RJ with one hand and Henry with the other. Mary behind us. Judith led the way downstairs. Beta grabbed Mary and she fell. I turned around just when Rosita ran upstairs.

"TAKE RJ!" I yelled at Judith, she took her brother downstairs. I jumped on Beta the way Jesus taught me. Run, step on his thigh, jump on his neck. I stabbed him in the shoulder. I was aiming for his neck, but he got me. He grabbed my wrist and threw me against the wall. He was like a giant, a thousand times stronger than me. I gathered myself quickly, while Henry was hitting Beta with his stick, then Rosita attacked Beta too. It was three against one and yet, we couldn't beat him. He was a monster. He cut Rosita's arm and pushed her to the ground. Just as Beta was about to win against us, Mary yelled at him.

She held a knife at her own throat, threatening to kill herself and make Alpha disappointed. Beta grabbed Mary and they headed outside. I pulled Rosita up.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

"Yeah," she panted with a painful face, then she hurried after Beta. I grabbed Henry's arm.

"You are staying with me."

"They probably need help!" he said.

"No! Rosita will find Jesus and Eugene outside, they will help her, we are staying here!"

I grabbed his wrist and headed downstairs to look for the kids.

"Judith!" I called her. She came out of her secret hiding spot with RJ. "It was a nice shot," I praised her, she smiled. "Unfortunately, he was wearing armor under his clothes."

Judith frowned.

I got them all. They didn't even have a scratch. I let out a sigh that I didn't realize I was holding.

"We need to lock all the doors," I told them and we did so. Then we headed back to the living room.

We sat down and waited for someone to come and tell us, it was safe again. I was panting, but then my breathing started to become regular again.

Thoughts were swirling inside my head like crazy. We were attacked, I survived, I fought pretty decently and all the kids are safe. Henry must have read my mind, he tapped my shoulder.

"We're alright," he said. I smiled at him.

"Yeah, because Judith saved us all," I said smiling at the little girl now. She was so proud of herself. I let out a huge sigh. Images of the fight flashed inside my head. Beta was invincible. That's when I remembered that Daryl fought with him, one against one. I almost felt sorry for Daryl, but then I remembered how he lied to me. I became grumpy.

Judith pulled out a blanket and covered her little brother.

…

We fell asleep in the living room, RJ and Judith on the couch, Henry in the armchair and I was sitting on the floor.

We woke up to the banging on the front door. I had a tiny heart attack, I jumped to my feet and opened the door. I let out a sigh when I saw Jesus.

"Quinn! Are you all alright?" he asked.

"Yes, we are. Beta took Mary."

"Gabriel brought her back," he said.

"Oh, okay."

"There's something else."

"What?"

"Aaron returned, alone."

"What?!" I asked, my eyes widened. Aaron was with Daryl and Carol at the cave.

"He is at the infirmary now, he has just a few scratches. He said they got trapped in a cave with Alpha's horde and when they escaped, a stick of dynamite went off and… Magna and Connie are stuck in the cave. The rest of them got separated."

My heart was pounding in my ears. "What if I lost Carol and Daryl? WHAT IF I LOST THEM…?!"

I got my shit together and looked Jesus in the eye. I gulped down my worries.

"Was it Carol? Was it because she was reckless?"

Jesus nodded silently. I exhaled furiously.

"I should have gone with them to stop her. It wasn't enough that I talked to them. I should have gone with them!"

"Don't blame yourself, Quinn. They should've known better. And we needed you here to take care of the kids."

"I'm so gonna kill them when they come back…" I said, tears stinging my eyes.

"They will come back," said Jesus and put his hand on my shoulder.

Henry appeared behind me, he probably heard me yelling.

"What happened? Where's mom?" he asked.

"She hasn't returned yet. Just Aaron. He said they got separated," I answered.

When I saw Henry's scared expression I added quickly.

"It doesn't mean something happened to her, maybe she went to Hilltop if it was closer. Don't worry, buddy," I said and tapped his shoulder. Henry nodded, visibly confronted, and headed back to the living room. I turned back to Jesus.

"Is Aaron okay?" I asked.

"Yes. He is going to Hilltop tomorrow to the doctor. They are gathering those who got injured."

I nodded.

"Jude?" I called her, she came to the door. "Do you wanna go to Hilltop?"

"Sure!" she said excitedly. She grabbed every opportunity to travel. "I'll bring RJ too!"

"Will you look after them, please?" I asked Jesus.

"Sure, I will. Gracie is coming too, they will have someone to play with."

"Alright. I'll stay here with Henry."

"Okay, we set out tomorrow morning," he said, smiled at me, and left.

I put the kids back to sleep, then I went out to the kitchen to drink some water. Henry followed me.

"Do you think mom got out of the cave?" he asked quietly.

"Jesus said only Magna and Connie stuck down there. Your mom and Daryl must be out."

He nodded.

"I hope she is alright…" he said quietly. I hugged him and stroked his back.

"Are you taller than me?" I backed away and looked at him curiously, I tried to distract him from worrying.

"Yeah, it seems so," he giggled.

"That's so strange. I remember when you were just a little boy and now you are almost a man."

"I am a man," he said offended but still smiling.

"Of course, you are," I smiled back at him.

I double-checked the front door and the windows, then we headed upstairs to go to sleep. I fell asleep almost immediately because of exhaustion, I fought so hard against Beta. The kids were fine, I kept them safe.

…

Author's notes: Listen to "Rise" by Katy Perry.

Thank You for reading! ❤