The Farm and the Fortune Teller

Under the tall tree just outside the wooden farmhouse, an old man with a white beard stood quietly, flanked by a few cautious-looking people.

"Who are these people? And how did they find this place?"Hershel's voice was calm but wary. His eyes narrowed when he noticed the convoy parked nearby and the men with rifles slung over their shoulders. The sight didn't sit well with him.

"I…"Otis opened his mouth but faltered. He hadn't yet recovered from the earlier encounter and didn't know how to explain.

"Don't worry, sir—we're not bad people. We're not here to steal anything or cause trouble,"Jason stepped forward, hands raised in a peaceful gesture. "We're just passing through and need a place to rest. Once we're recharged, we'll move on."

As he spoke, his gaze drifted behind Hershel—where he finally spotted her.

Maggie.

She had light brown hair, a simple white shirt, and curious eyes. She wasn't especially tall, but her presence stood out. Right now, she looked young and innocent, but Jason knew she'd grow into a formidable force—intelligent, strong, a true survivor.

"I'm sorry," Hershel replied firmly, "but I don't accept strangers on my farm. Not at a time like this."

His voice was polite, but the message was clear: You're not welcome here.

Jason, however, was unfazed.

"That's fine. We don't need to be on your land."He pointed behind him toward the grassy field where they'd come from. "We're happy to camp out there. I just thought it'd be better to introduce ourselves first, you know—out of respect."

Then he paused, tilted his head slightly, and continued in a calm tone, "But if I may say something… Mr. Hershel, no offense, but this world isn't what it used to be. The rules we once followed don't carry much weight anymore. You say this is your land—but who enforces that now? In times like these, strength speaks louder than paper boundaries."

Jason's words weren't threatening, but they had an edge to them—like a subtle warning.

Rick's eyes widened slightly. He stepped in quickly."He doesn't mean it that way," Rick said to Hershel. "He's just pointing out the reality. We're not here to fight anyone—we just need some rest, that's all."

Otis, finally finding his voice, explained everything: how he'd accidentally led Jason and Daryl here after the deer incident, and how it all unfolded. Hershel's brows furrowed as he processed the story.

After a long pause, the old man nodded slowly. "Alright. You can stay. But don't get too comfortable—I want you gone soon."

He turned to leave but froze mid-step. His eyes locked onto Jason. "Wait a minute… how do you know my name?"

Jason hadn't introduced himself. And Hershel hadn't either. No one had said his name out loud yet.

"Oh."Jason scratched his nose with a grin, eyes twinkling mischievously. "You can probably tell I'm Asian, right? What I haven't told you is… I'm a bit of a fortune teller. It's a special skill. I know things."

Hershel raised an eyebrow. "You're telling me you can predict the future?"

Jason shrugged. "Let's just say I'm rarely wrong."

"Ridiculous."Hershel let out a short laugh. "You can't expect me to believe in tricks like that."

"You'd be surprised," Jason replied smoothly. Then he turned to the young woman behind him. "Isn't that right, Miss Maggie?"

Maggie blinked, startled that he knew her name too.

And just like that, Jason's game of fortune-teller had begun.