Arrived

A/N: Short chapter, but there haven't been an update in two weeks, so here it is. The next ones will be the usual 1.1k—1.7k words.

Sarah and Clem climbed into the truck, where the rest of their group was already gathered. Carlos sat with his broken fingers carefully secured in a splint.

"Are you two okay?" Maria asked, her voice laced with concern.

Both girls nodded in response.

"Come here, Clem," Eddie said, gesturing for her to approach. Clem complied, and Eddie examined her closely as the door closed behind them. "Good," he said with a nod, followed by a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of their situation.

Clem settled down next to Eddie, leaning against him for comfort. The atmosphere in the truck was tense, and the group rode in silence for what felt like an eternity.

"I can't believe we're in this mess because of you guys," Eddie grumbled, breaking the silence.

"How is it our fault?" Rebecca shot back, her voice defensive.

"Oh, I don't know… Maybe it's because you brought them right to my doorstep?!" Eddie replied sarcastically, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

"Eddie, calm dung," Maria said soothingly, her thick Jamaican accent lending her words an undeniable calming effect.

"I am calm, Maria. It's just that we've been living well, comfortably, and then these assholes show up! Now we're captured, and we don't even know Carver!" Eddie's voice rose slightly with indignation.

"Mi know, okay? But wi need fi keep wi head clear if wi waan get out a dis," Maria said, gently rubbing his knuckles in a reassuring gesture.

"You don't know Bill like we do…" Rebecca muttered, her tone laced with unease.

Eddie frowned, his brow furrowing in confusion. "And why are you calling him Bill? Hm?"

"You don't understand. He's different… he's worse," Rebecca replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

"What are you saying?" Carley asked, her eyes narrowing with concern.

"He wants to punish us," Rebecca said, her voice shaking slightly.

"And why are we even part of your fucking punishment?" Eddie growled, his anger palpable.

"Why would we know?" Carlos interjected, frustration evident in his tone.

"The fat bitch just said that we don't know him like y'all do. So what's up now?" Eddie shot back, his words sharp.

"Is he… is he gonna kill us?" Clementine asked, her voice small and filled with apprehension.

"I… I don't know," Rebecca admitted, her eyes downcast.

Eddie wrapped his arm protectively around Clementine. "Don't worry, Clem. He ain't gonna do shit as long as I'm alive."

"Yeah," Carley nodded in agreement. "Over my dead body."

———

Meanwhile, Bonnie, Tavia, and Troy escorted Eddie's group through the stark landscape of Carver's camp.

From a loudspeaker, Carver's voice echoed, "We've got some familiar faces back with us tonight. Now, I understand some of you are confused as to why we'd bring these people back after they left us the way they did. Healing takes time, and while it might not come all at once, patience is key. Take solace in the fact that they're here to help us make our home a better place. All those feelings—anger, betrayal, hate—they're valid. No one needs to forget what happened, but we must find it in our hearts to forgive."

"Look at all the food they have…" Clementine remarked, her eyes wide as she took in the shelves bursting with supplies.

Carver continued, "As many of you already know, a large herd of lurkers is gathering just south of us. We've been monitoring their movements, and with any luck, they're just passing through. But rest assured, if they turn our way, it's nothing we can't handle."

Troy turned to Carlos, a sense of urgency in his voice. "Come on, we need you for something."

Carlos attempted to decline, "Can it wait until morning? We're all exhausted."

But Troy wasn't willing to back down. "Come the fuck on."

"I need him! I need my dad. I can't… he looks after me," Sarah pleaded, her eyes following her father as he was led away by Vera.

"Some of you have voiced concerns about the need for expansion with the looming threat, and those have been taken into consideration. However, this is not up for debate. The expansion project will move forward," Carver continued through the PA system.

Eddie placed a gentle hand on Sarah's back, guiding her as they continued to follow Tavia. "Calm down, Sarah. I'll look out for you until he comes back, okay?" he reassured her.

"I thought we'd never come back here. My dad said we wouldn't… I wish I could talk to him," Sarah sobbed, her voice cracking.

"You will," Eddie promised, his tone firm yet comforting.

"Thank you," Sarah said, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

"And with the added manpower joining us this evening, I have no doubt we will continue to grow and prosper," Carver declared over the PA, his voice filled with a chilling confidence.

Bonnie approached a garage-like door and unlocked it. "Make sure y'all stay off the fence. Bill can see if you're messin' with it," she warned.

"It's no longer enough just to survive; it's our obligation to make this community a beacon of hope. To provide a light… a bright light. Bright enough to shine in all this darkness. So that is what we'll do," Carver concluded his speech with a finality.

Bonnie swung the garage-like door open wide. Troy and Bonnie quickly began to untie the ropes binding everyone's wrists before leading them into the prison area.