Chapter 33

Simone's POV

My wrists are burning from all the pulling and tugging as I keep trying to loosen the ties that have them joined together. The only reason my anger has lessened any at all is due to the pure exhaustion settling over me, threatening to knock me out at any moment. I'm sure it's long since been 24 hours from the last time I've slept. Being caught in that snare, like a worm on a hook out there for every snarling biter that could've stumbled up obviously left me with no chance of sleeping and then, out of nowhere, the Asian man and cowboy came riding up, like in some old western movie, accusing me and asking all these stupid questions before tying me up like a wild animal. Just the mere memories of it all cause my ankle to throb, protesting loudly, as if I need the reminder of that pain too.

Now, well now, I'm in this barn. Listening to some horses kick around, making as many annoying sounds as they possibly can, and getting frequently harassed by the people who live here. Only, the one person I need to see again, has yet to show her face anymore. Rose. Rose Montgomery. Black hair, amazing green eyes, and some kind of Barbie-like, naturally tan skin. The exact girl replicant of the guy who asked me to come up this mountain in the first place. Jake Montgomery. He told us he had a sister, although I never imagined it would be an identical twin. So, now I'm still in this barn. Racking my brain for a way to tell someone, most importantly Rose, that I know her brother is alive and just a few miles away.

-Maybe you should stop being so rude then. I say, wishing it were so easy.

I hear the barn door opening, the clashing of metal as the latching strains against its partner, and as if all my pondering were coming to life, there she is. Standing beside the tall, handsome, blue-eyed man, and he's holding a crate.

-What would they be carrying in a crate?

I instinctually try to make myself smaller, moving closer to the siding of the open stall. I've had plenty run-ins with the apocalypse-gang-up-weirdos, the kind of people who plan for this kind of event their entire lives and think they're kings of the world now. Although, I don't get that vibe from these people, I know what humans will do, how they can let this world change them into an even greater evil than the dead that has risen up all around us.

"I don't think we ever properly introduced ourselves." Rose says, her voice even and unwavering. "I'm Rose Montgomery,"

-Yes. It is you. I knew it.

"and this is Rick Grimes."

-Rick Grimes. Rick. He doesn't look like a Rick, but it works I suppose.

I'm not sure how to react to this new-found respect. Them talking to me like a person, not just an object taking up space. I have the perfect witty reply on the tip of my tongue but I think back to Jake, and force it to the recesses of my mind,

"Alright Rose and Rick," I nod to each of them, "I'm Simone Wolfe, for what it's worth these days, and I hope you're here to untie me, 'cause I don't know how much more rope burn I can handle." I say, hopefully sounding nice enough.

They look at each other for a moment, exchanging some sort of silent conversation before Rose pulls out a vicious looking knife. Once again, fear and memories take over and I move away from her, praying her intentions are good. She gives me a look, pointing at the rope around my feet, just that little movement causes relief to flood through my whole body, and I feel as though I can breathe once more. She cuts the thick rope easily, and moves on to my hands. I notice the Rick guy looking very uneasy, like I might jump up and run for it as soon as she cuts me loose. Although that should be the plan, I'm outnumbered and weak, plus, Rose has to know about Jake.

As she pulls away the itchy rope, it's nothing less than pure bliss as I rub my burnt wrists, "Oh man." I say, moving to stand.

After hours in a sitting position, I doubt my legs will even work properly, but they remember what to do, and the aching muscles squeal in delight as I give them both a big stretch. Yet, there's another squeal from that region, far from delight, as I put weight down on my ankle. The ankle that was caught in a wire loop that tightened with every tiny movement, cutting down through my pale skin, for hours on end, no less.

"Don't worry. We'll get that cleaned up." Rose says, looking down at my ankle. "In the mean time, would you like something to eat?"

My stomach answers her question before I let my mouth speak. I'm hungry. Really hungry. The painful type of hungry. I mean, my "hunting" story hasn't been entirely untrue, I did look for something to try to eat on my way up here, but that is why they call it hunting and not catching. Yet, before I even shut my mind up long enough to answer her, Rose is already pulling out a pretty blue bowl with a sprawling design all over it and a lid on top; And on top of that, is something wrapped in paper, and then she pulls out a jug of some type of liquid. I don't even know what's in all these containers but my mouth is already watering.

Rick flips the crate over, creating a make shift table to set everything on and when the pretty bowl's lid comes off, the most amazing smell drifts from within and I feel a pain surge through my gut for just a moment.

"It's stew. So it has a little bit of everything in there, and there's some bread and.." Rose lifts up the jug, "Tea." She smiles, and even though I try to keep the excitement off my face, there's just no way to contain it all. So, I look to her, the food, to Rick, and back to the food, trying to let it all sink in. Questioning why they're being so nice all of a sudden, but really not caring because all I want to do is devour everything they've placed before me.

"Wow. Th-thank you." I stammer out, sounding like a child, but once again not caring because the food continues to torture me.

Both of them give me polite nods before Rose takes Rick's arm, urging him to follow her to where I can't see them, but can hear bits and pieces of the hushed conversation.

"No.. Safe..." I think that's the man, sounds like it. "I'm... It'll be fine..", that was definitely a girl's voice.

Yet, most of the words are simply drowned out by the sound of my own slurping and munching. It's been so, so long since I've had something this amazing. Home-made. Not cooked over a fire. The bread is to die for, even it's home-made, but then again where would one buy bread in times like these. Half-way through the stew, Rose comes back into view, but no Rick? My question is answered with the unique sound of the big door opening and closing.

"I didn't scare him away, did I?" I say, trying to swallow down a big bite of stew soaked bread.

She lets out a melodious laugh, shaking her head, "No, I never thought I'd get him to go, actually." She replies and I stop chewing to give her a confused look. "I just wanted to talk to you. With out anyone else here, no pressure or anything, so maybe it would be easier." She says, with a vaguely serious tone to her voice. I finish off the last of the stew, sponging up the left over broth with my last chunk of bread crust,

"Well, your boyfriend already tried his hand at that. He's not much of a people person, is he?" I ask, taking my eyes away from the bowl to meet hers.

My question, or statement, has obviously strikes some kind of nerve because she fidgets uncomfortably for a moment, placing her right hand to her left side in an odd spot.
"That's Daryl.." She says first, as if trying to replace the boyfriend comment, "and no, he's not good with people at all. I'm sorry."

Her apology sounds sincere as she picks up the jug, opening it to get a big drink before passing it my way. I take it, thank her, and drink it down in gulps, absolutely relishing and savoring every sweet drop.

"How long has it been since you last ate?" She asks me now, concern shining through her flawless face.

I simply shrug my shoulders, "Not everyone has it as good as y'all do up here, almost like this little piece of land is protected or somethin'." I say, trying to clean up my mess.

I notice her hand move back to the odd place on her abdomen and her whole body flinches,
"Not too long ago there was a whole group of walkers up here, so it isn't as safe we thought." She replies to my statement, but her eyes are absent, as one looks when they're day dreaming, but in an instant she's back on alert. "Look, if there's anyone you can, or want to, trust right now, it's me." She starts, using a gently coaxing voice, "In the end, this is still my farm, and I'll be the deciding factor in any deals made.. So, if there's anything you want to tell me, or need to, I'm right here."

- Here it is. Your perfect opportunity, but how to say it. How do you tell someone the twin brother they probably think is dead, is actually very much so alive?

I just look around for a minute, trying to stall for some time to get the words formulated into a coherent sentence. "Rose.. I-I.." It's like my brain isn't even connected to my mouth anymore.

- You sound like a babbling idiot, just say it.

I clear my throat, taking in a deep breath. She's looking at me, expecting something, anything really.

"Jake.." His name slips through in a whisper I hardly hear myself, but her eyes widen and I don't even think she's breathing anymore, just sitting there, unmoving. It honestly frightens me. Now she's standing up so fast it takes me a second to even register the movement.

"How do you know that name?" She asks, her voice is frantic,"How do you know it?!"

I stand up too, from instinct or just imitation, and were eye level and I make sure to keep steady contact,
"Jake Montgomery, your brother." Is all I can manage to say before she lights into me again, all the gentle and friendly long gone,

"Who told you about him?! Daryl? Rick?" She's stepping even closer, so I put my hands on her upper arms, keeping her at bay as well as trying to calm her,

"No one told me!" I yell, but now the barn door is opening.

-Now or never.

"Rose, Jake is alive! He's a few miles down the mountain, he's apart of my group. He sent me up here." I whisper the last part. Her reaction, if there is one at all, is unreadable to me, she just stands there, a vacant look to her eyes.

"What the hell?" It's the redneck, or Daryl, I guess his name is. I'm not surprised it'd be him busting through the door when Rose started yelling, there's something serious between these two.

"Rose?" He calls out, walking past me to grab her arm. "Rose!"
Rose touches her side again and winces as if something about that causes her pain, then she's back. Just back, like her freak out never really happen. Back, like I hadn't just told her that her brother is alive. And back in my face.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Her voice is low, searing into me like a hot branding iron.

Now, both her and Daryl are looking at me. Their eyes are full of questions, but expressions as grim as the night setting upon us outside these walls and I have no choice but to keep looking at her, square in those fiery green eyes, the same crazy passion and intense green eyes her brother has and say,

"Jake. Is. Alive."

HEYYYYYYY! Soo how did everyone like this chapter? I know it's weird being from the new girl's perspective, BUT she has turned out to be very important! Please leave reviews!

. . . . . . . This chapter is also going to be the second the last chapter for A New Hope, BUT don't be too sad! Because seeing how many followers and favs have stayed so faithful to my story, I will be working on a sequel! Good and bad news though, I'm going to try to have it all completed before I even started loading chapters, because I know I've been terrible about my updates with this one and I just can't do that to y'all again:( Anyways, please let me know all your thoughts on this news and tell me how you would want this first story to end?

XOXO