Isaac sat back in his seat, drawing a circle into the surface of the table. Dwight sat across from him, and Simon sat at the head of the table, his knee bouncing. His hands were clasped together and resting on his stomach as he pursed his lips.
"So, the attack on Hilltop didn't go quite exactly to plan," Simon started. "But, that's no matter. Any survivors will surely be taken care of by their own people by now."
"Can we be sure of that?" Dwight asked. "I mean, we don't know. Maybe we should send someone to check."
"That would be a waste of time," Simon huffed. "We need to be focusing our energy elsewhere. Enough of the bullshit with Hilltop. It's time we move on to greener pastures. Right, Isaac?"
Isaac cocked a brow, looking between the two.
"You've been awfully quiet this whole time. What do you say?" Simon asked.
"I think you're both right," Isaac said easily. "Sparing one person to do some recon isn't going to break our backs. We should make sure they don't plan to retaliate, so we can move on."
"Or maybe… maybe we make sure they can't retaliate," Simon mused. "End them like we planned. We get the bullets—we take them out once and for all."
"We still need to be sure we won't be attacked in the meantime," Isaac sighed.
"You're right," Simon nodded. "All right, Isaac, I want you to go check the Hilltop. See how they're fairing."
"I can go," Dwight offered.
"No," Simon snapped. "I want Isaac to go. You, I want checking on the bullet factory, make sure everything is moving along smoothly."
Dwight grimaced, but nodded.
"I'll head out now," Isaac said, standing from his chair, heading for the door.
"And Isaac," Simon called as Isaac pulled the door open. "Don't get caught."
Anna sat staring at the coffee table in front of her. They were wasting time. They should have headed out hours ago. Why was she needed here?
"The relay cars are in position," Rosita announced as she and Jessie walked into the office, back from setting up the lookouts. "If the Saviors are coming back, we'll have ten, maybe fifteen minutes heads-up."
"And our ammo?" Maggie asked as Daryl walked in.
"'Bout what we thought," Dianne said, leaning against one of the chairs in front of the desk. "Not enough to fend off another attack of that size."
"Well, maybe we don't gotta worry about them no more. At least for now. Maybe going hand-to-hand's our only option," Daryl suggested, holding up his hunting knife.
"You think they're low on ammo?" Jessie asked.
"They have to be," Anna said, leaning back in her chair and gripping the armrests. She could feel Daryl and Jessie's eyes on her. "It would have taken a lot to get through that herd around Sanctuary. And they didn't have any guns with them when they attacked."
"And there's not a lot of places to find more," Emma agreed.
"Mierda," Rosita hissed. "They have our bullet maker. They can make more."
"You think the Saviors have what he'd need to make them?" Maggie asked.
"If they don't, I know where they'd find it," Rosita said.
"We've got a bullet maker, too," Anna said, looking at Jessie.
"I've got the directions, but I don't have the resources," Jessie said. "We've got a whole lot of casings, but nothing to fill them with."
"You said you know where they can find what they need to make the bullets," Daryl said, gesturing to Rosita. "Maybe we'll take it."
"That's assuming the Saviors haven't already taken it. We don't have the resources to fight them for it," Anna pointed out, both of her legs bouncing.
Maggie pursed her lips in contemplation before she began to nod.
"Daryl, Rosita, and Jessie, I want you three to go check this place out. If it hasn't been taken yet, we move in," she said.
"And if it has?" Jessie asked.
"Do what you have to do to make sure we win," Maggie said.
The three nodded and started for the door. Anna practically launched herself from her chair and followed after them, but Maggie called out for her to stop. She begrudgingly turned around.
"What's wrong? You seem antsy," Maggie asked patiently.
"Henry."
"Henry?" Maggie asked. "Kal told me Carol and Morgan already left to go find him. And they will. You don't need to worry about it."
"We need more eyes out there," Anna insisted, shaking her head. "It's already been over eight hours since he was last seen."
"I need you here, Anna. Helping me come up with our next move," Maggie implored.
Anna glanced out the window to the front gates, her stomach churning as she thought of Henry out there, lost and alone. It was such a familiar feeling. Anna pressed her lips together and looked at Maggie, standing at her full height.
"No," she said simply before turning and walking out of the office.
She ran upstairs to find Daryl in their room, grabbing his crossbow. Anna said nothing as she grabbed her stick.
"You ain't comin' with us," Daryl said. "Maggie needs you here."
"I'm not going with you," Anna assured, hanging the stick from her back.
"Then where are you goin'?" He asked, furrowing his brow.
"I'm going to look for Henry," she stated.
"Anna—"
"I can't just sit here and do nothing," Anna snapped before he could argue. "He's just a boy. I can't—" she cut herself off, feeling her chest stir painfully.
She bowed and shook her head, unsure of how to explain herself.
"Okay," Daryl said quietly.
Anna looked up, surprised to find him nodding.
"I get it. Go look for the kid. Just be careful," he urged, stepping up to her.
Anna pressed her hand against his cheek, brushing against the stubble there, as his hand found her waist. He leaned down and kissed her, his lips lingering on hers for a moment before they pulled apart.
"You be careful, too," Anna said.
Daryl nodded, and the two headed out of the house. They found Jessie and Rosita setting a duffel into the back of a car. Jessie turned and pulled Anna into a hug.
"I know you're going out there to find the kid," he muttered in her ear. "Just be careful."
Anna nodded as they pulled away.
"You, too," she said, before turning to Rosita. "Make sure these two don't do anything stupid."
Rosita smirked and gave her a nod before the three loaded up. Eduardo and Kal pulled open the gates and they drove through, disappearing down the hill.
"Hey."
Anna glanced to her right to see Tara stop beside her, still holding her injured arm. She nodded in greeting.
"Look, I'm sorry about before. What I said… what we did," Tara started. "We should have waited. Maybe… maybe things would be different."
"Maybe," Anna muttered. "You'd still want to kill Dwight if you hadn't gone AWOL, and we may have still had access to what was happening on their side."
Tara nodded.
"I really am sorry, Anna," Tara insisted.
"I'm not going to say it's okay, because it's not. But it is done, so..." Anna shrugged. "We've all fucked up one time or another for one reason or another. It's a waste of time to stay pissed off at you."
"So, wait, you're not mad anymore?" Tara asked, furrowing her brow.
"Just don't pull that kind of shit again," Anna said.
Tara nodded and started back up the path toward the medical trailer, no doubt to see Siddiq about her shoulder.
Anna shook her head, breathing deeply before starting out of the gates. She looked to the ground, spotting some tracks from the previous night that had been trampled over by walkers, but nonetheless were headed Southwest toward the trees. She headed into the woods, taking down a walker as it shambled toward her.
Walking for some time, Anna crouched periodically to check for more tracks or signs of a trail. She found a few broken branches. It was easy to see that wherever the Saviors were going, Henry would follow.
A twig broke behind Anna, and she whirled around only to stop short, her stick barely two inches away from striking Emma in the face.
"Hi," she said breathlessly, staring wide-eyed between Anna and the stick.
"What are you doing out here?" Anna asked, lowering her stick.
Emma shook her head, holding out one of the two rifles she held.
"I didn't think you should be out here alone," she said.
"Does Maggie know?" Anna asked as she accepted and checked the gun.
"Nope," Emma said, popping the P. "I came out through the back."
Anna nodded, slinging the strap of the gun over her shoulder.
"All right then, let's get going," she said, gesturing for Emma to follow.
When she didn't hear Emma behind her, she paused and looked back.
"Everything all right?" Anna asked.
"Yeah, it's just—I think we should clear the air."
Anna took a deep breath and turned to face Emma fully.
"Okay," she said.
"I believe that you're sorry, and I forgive you for what happened," Emma said. "I've never been in that situation, but I think I can understand. I may have done the same if it had been me. It was only chance that it was him. I'm just glad Trevor—"
Her voice broke, and she inhaled deeply before continuing.
"I'm just glad he wasn't one of the ones who hurt you."
Anna looked away, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment.
"I hate what I did, and I hate that it hurt you," Anna said, looking back at Emma.
Emma nodded, shifting awkwardly on her feet.
"I am going to need some time to process, but I hope that you'll bear with me," Emma said. "Friends are even harder to come by, now."
"Yeah, I can live with that," Anna said with a small smile as she looked to the ground and shook her head.
"Thank you for being honest. I know it wasn't easy."
"Come on," Anna said, gesturing for them to continue.
It had taken him the first part of the day to get within a decent walking distance of Hilltop while still avoiding any lookouts they may have put up. Isaac moved through the trees silently—years of hunting before and after the turn made it easy. Up ahead, he could see the front gates.
Approaching cautiously, he ducked behind some brush, careful not to be spotted by the sentries who were banging against the wall, luring the walkers surrounding the community away from the gates.
The gates pulled open and a car sped out, heading down the hill and disappearing. He could just barely see Daryl in the drivers' seat. Before the gates closed a single figure ran out, heading into the woods a good distance away from him. He peered through the gates, seeing people walking around the yard. He pursed his lips. They may have dwindled their numbers and resources, but it may not have been enough.
Isaac turned to spot the figure, wondering if perhaps he could find out anymore from them, when he spotted a familiar stick.
Hello Annie, he thought with a smirk.
With no one around to hear, he could take her back at gunpoint to the car he had parked in a ditch and take her back to Sanctuary for questioning. If she fought back too much, well…her death would certainly amp things up. Not that he wanted to kill her. How it played out would be up to her.
He followed her, keeping a good distance back. She paused every once and a while, investigating the area before continuing on. By the time they were a good distance from Hilltop, Isaac decided it was time to say hello.
Starting forward, he readied his gun. As he was about to step through the bushes, he spotted a head of red hair and a twig snapped. He froze and Anna whirled around, swinging her stick, pausing mere inches away from Emma's face.
He frowned.
So much for getting her alone, he thought bitterly.
"Hi," Emma said, out of breath.
"What are you doing out here?" Anna asked, lowering her stick.
Emma shook her head, holding out one of the two rifles she held.
"I didn't think you should be out here alone," she said.
"Does Maggie know?" Anna asked as she accepted and checked the gun.
"Nope," Emma said. "I came out through the back."
Hilltop has a back way out? Isaac thought. I suppose they'd be stupid not to.
Anna nodded, slinging the strap of the gun over her shoulder.
"All right then, let's get going," she said, gesturing for Emma to follow.
When Emma made no move to follow, Anna paused and looked back.
"Everything all right?" Anna asked.
"Yeah, it's just—I think we should clear the air."
Anna took a deep breath and turned to face Emma fully.
"Okay," she said.
"I believe that you're sorry, and I forgive you for what happened," Emma said. "I've never been in that situation, but I think I can understand. I may have done the same if it had been me. It was only chance that it was him. I'm just glad Trevor—"
Trevor? Isaac wondered, and then he remembered the bloody mess of what was left of the man in the woods. So, that was Annie?
Isaac felt his chest constrict and his head throb as his throat closed up. It was a feeling he hadn't quite felt in a long time. It wasn't for Trevor—he couldn't give two shits about the guy. It was something else. Something he hadn't expected to feel when it came to little Annie.
"I'm just glad he wasn't one of the ones who hurt you."
Anna looked away, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment.
"I hate what I did, and I hate that it hurt you," Anna said, looking back at Emma.
Emma nodded, shifting awkwardly on her feet.
"I am going to need some time to process, but I hope that you'll bear with me," Emma said. "Friends are even harder to come by, now."
"Yeah, I can live with that," Anna said with a small smile as she looked to the ground and shook her head.
"Thank you for being honest. I know it wasn't easy."
"Come on. Let's keep going," Anna said, gesturing for them to continue.
As the two went on, Isaac stayed where he was, waiting for them to fall out of earshot. He decided he wasn't going to get anywhere with the two. So, he turned and started back to where he'd left his car. It was better to play it safe. He knew Emma was a good shot, and Annie… well, she wasn't the same girl he'd known in the back of that car.
Anna and Emma walked together for a while, calling out Henry's name every now and then but coming up with only a few walkers here and there. Hours passed and the sun moved through the sky. Eventually, they sat down to eat some food Emma had brought with her in a backpack.
"So, are you close with Henry or something?" Emma asked.
"No," Anna shrugged. "I spoke to him once, offered my condolences for the loss of his brother. Ben was a good kid."
"So, why are you out here, then?" Emma asked. "I mean, Carol and Morgan are out here. Why are you pushing so hard to find him?"
Anna stared down at the dirt as she chewed on her food, her chest constricting painfully at the memories.
"Carol had a daughter," Anna finally said. "We lost her early on. We were pinned down by a herd and she ran off. Some walkers chased her. Rick went after her but… they were separated. She was missing for days. We searched everywhere for her, and—" Anna paused to gather herself. She hadn't expected to cry. But she supposed she'd never really dealt with it. "We found her in a barn. She'd been bitten and turned."
"I'm sorry," Emma said quietly.
"Carol never talks about her. None of us do," Anna said, shaking her head.
"What was her name?"
"Sophia. Henry missing…it feels about the same, you know?"
"That doesn't mean the outcome has to be the same," Emma said firmly. "Let's finish this up and get back to it."
The sun was getting low in the sky and the stars were beginning to peek through the atmosphere. Soon, they wouldn't be able to see a trail at all.
"We should head back," Anna sighed heavily.
"Are you sure?" Emma asked.
"I want to stay out here and keep looking but…," she shook her head. "I won't be able to see a damn thing soon."
Emma nodded, and the two turned back the way they'd come.
"We'll find him," Emma assured. "Maybe he's already back at Hilltop. Maybe Carol and Morgan have already found him."
"Maybe," Anna muttered.
"Hey," Emma called gently. "He's going to be okay."
"Yeah, we thought that about Sophia, too," Anna grimaced.
"Things are different now," Emma insisted.
They said nothing the rest of the way to Hilltop. It was dark by the time they were walking through the front gates. From the wall platform, Jerry looked down to them expectantly, only for his face to fall as Anna shook her head.
The two were starting up the path to put their supplies back when Kal began to pound his hand against the wall.
"Hey! Come here! Right here!" Kal called.
"Yo! Distract the deadies!" Jerry ordered.
Anna and Emma turned around as Jerry hastened down the ladder and ran off after Ezekiel, who was headed into the house. They looked to each other in confusion before they turned at the creaking sound of the gates opening. There, Carol and Henry strolled through.
"Ezekiel!" Henry called, running past Anna and Emma to embrace the King.
Carol continued up the path and nodded to Ezekiel before walking off.
Relief flooded Anna and she felt herself relax.
"See," Emma said. "I told you he would be okay."
Anna smiled and shook her head.
It was dark by the time Daryl, Rosita, and Jessie made it to the factory. The three ducked inside a warehouse across the street and found themselves a good view of the Saviors unloading trucks.
"Well, looks like you were right," Daryl said, peering through the binoculars.
He passed them to Rosita, who nodded and passed them to Jessie.
"Buckets of casings for Eugene to turn into hundreds of bullets," she said.
"Let's do it now," Daryl urged.
"We don't take out the machines," Rosita said, shaking her head before she looked to Jessie.
"We take out the man," Jessie nodded.
Anna sat at the campfire across from Alden with Dianne to her left and Emma to her right. Behind her, Michonne sat on a cooler and at another campfire was Carol, Ezekiel, Jerry, and Henry. Anna considered it a small miracle that Carol had found him.
"Hey, Anna," Alden called.
She looked up at him as she popped a piece of meat into her mouth.
"Do you think Rick will bring them back?" He asked, his voice unsure.
Anna chewed the meat slowly, giving herself time to think before she swallowed. When she and Emma had returned, they told her that Rick had left to find the escaped Saviors. What he planned to do when he found them, she didn't know.
"There was a time I could have definitively said yes to that question," Anna said, picking at the rest of the meat in her bowl.
"And now?" Dianne asked.
Anna opened her mouth to respond when the front gates creaked open, calling all of their attention. Rick and Morgan made their way up the path with no one following them, and when they entered the light of the fire, Anna could see the blood on them.
Henry stood and approached Morgan. As if he didn't believe Henry was real, Morgan reached out and touched his shoulder, gripped his torn armor and patted his face.
"I, um… I killed them," Morgan finally said as he pulled away. "I killed the man who killed your brother. I did. I killed him."
Henry reached up and touched Morgan on the shoulder.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"No," Morgan said, taking Henry's hand off his shoulder and shaking his head. "No. Don't ever be sorry."
Morgan walked away after that, disappearing around the blacksmiths hut as Rick continued past them toward the house. He shot a glance at Alden and then Anna but said nothing.
"Guess I have my answer," Alden said.
"I'm sorry," Anna said.
"We've depleted their resources and their numbers, but they're still up and running. It doesn't look like they're planning on attacking just yet, but they've got lookouts," Isaac said, standing in front of Simon as the man sat in Negan's usual chair in the conference room.
Simon nodded quietly, pursing his lips.
"Did you see anyone coming or going?" Simon asked.
Isaac thought of the car that left, and Anna and Emma walking through the woods, searching—for what or who, he didn't know.
"No. Not that I saw," Isaac finally said.
Simon inhaled deeply through his nose as he frowned, getting to his feet. He stepped up to Isaac, pulling up his pants before clapping Isaac on either shoulder, holding him there.
"I knew that I could count on you, Isaac," Simon said pulling away and walking around the table. "You're a good man to have around. Trustworthy, loyal—" he paused to look back at Isaac. "A true friend." He continued walking. "And that is why I want you to be my second in command. What do you say?"
Isaac raised his eyebrows in a look of surprise and gaped at Simon.
"I-I would be honored," he stammered as believably as possible.
"Great!" Simon cheered, clapping his hands. "Now, you go get some rest—we've got a big day tomorrow!"
Isaac flashed a smile and left. He headed back to his room, scrubbing a hand through his hair as he walked down the hall. He was frustrated to say the least. With Negan out of the way and Simon taking charge, it changed things. Isaac would have to be more careful. Now there was nowhere to point Simon's volatile nature.
Perhaps this was for the best. After all, he was closer to Simon than to Negan. He could work with this, Isaac assured himself as he came to the door of his little one room apartment. He just needed some time to shift his strategy.
He pushed the door open and stepped inside the darkness, shutting himself within. As he reached for the overhead light switch, there was a click and the yellow light of a lamp filled the room. Isaac immediately pulled his gun and spun around, aiming and ready to fire when his eyes landed on Negan lounging in his armchair.
"Hey there, Isaac," he said, leaning forward. "Miss me?"