Hello fellow fanfiction writers and readers, here is another chapter of this story that I hope you guys will enjoy. As usual I own nothing except new characters and ideas, I make no money from writing, and all rights go to the rightful owners. Thanks for reading, please leave a review!

The wheel was cold despite the warmth in the cab of the truck. I drove just heading in a direction that I knew was away from the river and Negan. It was me, my hands shaking uncontrolled, we shouldn't have survived the waters with the intensity, but someone up there really likes us. A harsh storm was upon us, but it was light out now, which means he will send more and more to look for us, he will travel farther as time went on. But for now, getting Duane and myself far from him was my only goal, Hilltop, Alexandria even the Farm is a no go, those would be being watched my heart just hoped Daryl was never found.

More than once we had to stop and find gas, as we got further away gas and food became a little easier to find with many small towns interweaving together. Duane was a gas siphoning expert. I would watch out and collect what food there was to be found. Kentucky was far but still, we needed more and more land between us. So, when a large sign reading Montana was seen, I figured we traveled far enough, for now, we would have to travel back to Virginia and help them out, fear drove me to drive this far.

I turned to Duane. "I think we drove far enough, that town looks good enough to bunker down in, looks to be sectioned off though." my words stopped when the truck was surrounded by a group of ten maybe, all armed.

"We might be in some trouble, Cami." Duane whispered with his hands held high in the air.

The tallest guy I've ever seen yanked the door open, his pale blue eyes roaming over us before he lowered his rifle. "They ain't armed, it's a kid and a young lady." his voice called back as one by one they lowered their guns, but the big guy just held his hand out a gesture my brothers used to help me from the truck when I was younger. We are outnumbered so with my heart racing I placed my hand into his, he just helped me from the cab of the truck and then Duane.

His smile was easy going, he wore faded jeans, a flannel with cowboy boots. "The names Matt, how you folks come up this way?" he seemed like a country boy deep down, he was polite and had not tried to kill us. Even his tone seemed easy, it flowed with his worried emotions.

I spoke. "We are running from a very bad person. Seems that when the world ended so did a lot of peoples' humanity. We are from Virginia."

This had them, the fact we were running from something. "Think we need to have a talk."

"Cameron James, this is my friend, Duane." my hand outheld he shook it with a smile before we are allowed to walk with them, they chatted among themselves as we walked through the gates, it was kinda like the Farm. Woman and children roamed but not many, men and cattle. Matt was signaling another man of massive stature, but he was at least sixty, his skin like worn leather.

Matt touched my shoulder. "Pa, we found these two un-armed other than a hunting knife. Seems they're running from someone."

"Names Jud, come have a seat. Matt get everyone together, we going to have little story time, have the kids do some reading."

I was not thrilled to be sitting with Duane as we sat at what seems like the head of this meeting, woman and I sit around. "We make decisions as a community, yeah, in the end I can go against, but we are family after all. Now Miss. James can you tell us what you are running from?"

With a deep shaky breath, I began. "I am from Alabama, before the outbreak I was a Professor. My older brothers, all six of them sent me away with friends from the Military when everything went to hell, that was how I ended up in Virginia. I was one of the heads of Alexandria, a very protected community, well peace was not meant to last. We ran into a group called the Saviors, they have others small settlements working for them, they take half if not more of everything you have. They kill to get you right on board, we lost over four, my boyfriend was taken to join them because he was the best hunter, tracker, he was a bulldog. It turned out Negan couldn't break him and was going to kill him no matter what, so he proposed an exchange me for him, I took it but knew they were still going to try and kill Daryl. I was held as Negan's 'Wife' for months, the abuse was more than I could bear, myself, Duane, along with his other wifes all escaped. In the end, I was the girl he was tearing states apart for, he found us, and we jumped off a cliff into raging white waters to escape. With luck we lived and found a truck, after that I drove and drove putting distance between us." the old man looked like daddy when Tucker almost killed me in the river, Matt was looking at every female in turn, they understood my small story how it was, I was still messed up the marks clear as day.

"We only ask for a week at most, we have to go back and help Hilltop, the Kingdom, and Alexandria as they take on the Saviors. I was scared and just drove." a girl just stood up, she was older too.

"You both need some clean clothes and some supper, Jud, I am taking them into the bog house. I am saying they can stay, I told you there were people like this roaming out there. The lowest of kinds come lurking when the bad happens, I will take my chances with the dead." she spat out and all bowed to her desire as she just shooed us into the house with Jud and Matt.

A warm meal and a shower made me feel much better as Jud and the old woman talked while holding hands when I walked from the spare room, Duane and I would be sharing while we stayed. She smiled, "Sorry dear, my name is Abby and Jud is my husband and Matt is our son. You two are welcome to stay as long as you need, and a good handful of men have volunteered to take you back home and help out, we survivors and decent human beings need to stick together in times like these." she was sent from God, she was like ma, fierce and protective.

I smiled. "That is so much to offer, are you sure? They will be risking their life's by doing so, they have families to care for." we walked into the living area seeing men standing around talking, all farm hands and owners, looking rugged.

"They understand this, now you lot need rest."

I made my mind up we should leave earlier, it was like a bolt of lightning hitting me. They think we're dead and with that information, they will launch an attack on the Sanctuary in days not weeks.

"I am planning on leaving in a day, our zone thinks we're dead and will act out in a rage. My boyfriend, Duane's pa, everyone we know will be ready to fight." this must have made sense to them because they all agree to head back with us. This was how we should act towards each other, helping and caring for each other, not trying to kill and take all that you can. The Ranch, Hilltop, Oceanside, and the Kingdom will go against the Saviors, I prayed the Farm stayed out of it.

Duane was sleeping when I walked into the spare room taking the bed on the left, but sleep was far away as I stayed awake through the night, it had been two days that we have been here, I was healing better now. It was perfect watching the sun rise over the mountains in bright oranges, yellows, and even reds, it felt like the Farm all over again but without the mountains. We are leaving though, it was another thirty-three-hour drive, with four trucks and a haul of guns, we bid goodbye to Abby and the rest, with every hope to see them once again.

I drove with Duane, the bed of the truck held guns, a few bags, along with Matt, Luke, Billy and Willow. The weather looks gloomy but with any luck we would make good time, and the rain held at bay.

I smiled. "You ready, Duane? When we arrive back I have a bad feeling the war will have already begun."

"Ready." he cocked the gun given to him by Jud after he helped hand make a haul of bullets for the guns, I helped and relished in the knowledge they gave about making them.

I just drove…