TWD - Chapter 502: Deanna (Patreon)

They followed Aaron and Eric’s car through the rugged mountain roads for a full forty minutes. Aside from Tyreese behind the wheel and Sasha in the passenger seat, everyone else was fighting to stay awake, eyelids drooping with exhaustion.

As the SUV rounded a steep slope littered with loose gravel, Sasha suddenly barked, “Stop!”

Tyreese slammed on the brakes. The tires skidded half a meter through the mud before the vehicle came to a halt.

Everyone snapped awake at once, backs straightening as a rapid series of clicks filled the SUV while weapons were chambered.

But no threat appeared.

Instead, every pair of eyes turned forward.

At the edge of the desolate mountain forest, a community stretched out before them.

It looked like a piece of the old world casually dropped into the apocalypse, leaving Sasha with the surreal feeling that she had somehow stepped into another time.

The Alexandria Safe-Zone.

The first thing they noticed was the prefabricated wall, nearly four meters high and remarkably clean.

Wire fencing ran along the top, but it lacked the vicious tangle of barbed wire so common in the apocalypse. The mesh was neatly arranged, and little colored flags had even been tied to it every few meters, fluttering gently in the night breeze.

Somehow, it gave the place a touch of pre-apocalypse warmth.

The wall followed the rise and fall of the terrain, enclosing what looked like a sizable area.

Most surprising of all were the lights mounted at regular intervals along the wall, each giving off a steady, soft white glow.

Electricity.

Continuous electricity.

Of all the communities they had seen recently, this was the only one that still had power.

Noah stared through the window, lips moving without producing a sound.

This place looked almost exactly like Greenwood.

But the blackened ruins and rotting bodies of his own community were still fresh in his mind, clashing violently with the brightness before him.

The muscles in Noah’s cheeks twitched uncontrollably, and his nose stung.

He couldn’t tell whether he wanted to cry or laugh.

Zach nudged Boone.

“This place doesn’t look bad.”

Kango frowned, slowly scanning the wall, wire fencing, and streetlights.

He gave a slight shake of his head.

“Looks fancy, but that’s about it. These walls might stop a few walkers, but against raiders with heavy weapons? One good blast and they’re coming down.”

Boone’s frown deepened.

He quickly moved to Sasha’s side, pressing his shoulder lightly against her arm as he lowered his voice to barely more than a whisper.

“I don’t think these people have ever dealt with raiders.”

Sasha had noticed the same thing.

The place had walls and lights, but the defenses lacked depth. There were no concealed firing positions, and the sentries looked more like security guards than soldiers.

The entire community radiated the comfortable ease of life before the apocalypse.

Sasha lightly pressed Boone’s arm, then glanced at Kango, signaling them both to keep their voices down before someone overheard.

Aaron climbed out of the car ahead.

When he turned and saw Sasha’s entire squad standing on alert, clearly stunned despite themselves, he couldn’t help smiling.

He patted the car door.

“Relax. This is Alexandria. No walker hordes, no raiders. Feels like a dream, doesn’t it? When we first got here, we were even more overwhelmed than you.”

No one answered.

They honestly didn’t know what to say.

Eric nodded and pointed toward the main gate.

“Ms. Deanna led everyone in restoring the whole community. That’s how we’ve managed to keep the electricity running. Come on. I’ll let the guard know we’re here.”

A figure could be seen inside the guard post beside the gate.

Eric walked over and spoke quietly with the sentry for a moment, then turned and gestured toward Sasha’s group.

The guard nodded and waved toward someone inside.

The heavy gate slowly slid aside.

Sasha was the first to open the SUV door and step out.

The moment her boots touched the ground, she froze.

What lay beyond the gate left the team, accustomed to the stark environment of the prison, speechless for several seconds.

They had all spent their time at the prison and had never been to Rock Fortress.

The asphalt road was solid and smooth, bordered by neatly laid curbs.

The lawns in the landscaped strips had been carefully trimmed, while the branches of the roadside trees spread beneath the streetlights, their leaves still damp with evening dew.

Detached houses lined the streets in staggered rows, all built in the style of pre-apocalypse American suburbs.

The roofs were intact.

The walls weren’t peeling.

The windows had been polished until they gleamed.

Many windowsills even held clay flowerpots overflowing with blooming petunias and pansies.

Farther away, they could see a large greenhouse reflecting the lights, along with several buildings that appeared to serve public functions.

A few people were walking through the streets.

Their clothes were clean.

Their expressions were calm.

Against the darkness of the apocalypse, everything felt unreal.

Like an elaborate stage set.

Or a dream that was simply too good to be true.

Another Woodbury?

Sasha and the others exchanged looks and silently tightened their grips on their weapons.

Their caution only deepened.

“Welcome to Alexandria!”

Aaron turned around and folded his arms across his chest.

He couldn’t hide the pride on his face, and his eyes were warm and bright.

“I’d say this is one of the few true safe havens left in the apocalypse.”

Aaron and Eric led them toward the center of the community.

A detached house stood near the middle, with a wooden front porch and a wide lawn. Wind chimes hung beneath the porch roof.

“This is where the Alexandria Council works, and it’s also Ms. Deanna’s home.”

Aaron pointed toward a parking area beside the road.

“Please park your vehicle in one of the designated spaces. Also... according to community rules, would you mind temporarily handing your weapons over to us for safekeeping? It’s just procedure, and it helps the elderly and children here feel safer.”

Sasha stopped immediately.

She looked up at Aaron.

The softness disappeared from her eyes, replaced by firm resolve.

She tapped the weapon at her side.

Her voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear.

“We’ll keep our own weapons. If that’s unacceptable, we’ll leave right now. We won’t cause you any trouble.”

Hand over their weapons in an unfamiliar place with defenses this flimsy?

Not a chance.

Calista would never allow it.

Neither would Sasha.

The others said nothing, but they all moved a little closer to her.

Tyreese noticed the troubled looks on Aaron and Eric’s faces and stepped beside his sister, his broad frame imposing despite the mildness of his voice.

“Aaron, Eric, we don’t mean any harm. Alexandria looks like a good place, but without our weapons, none of us are going to feel comfortable staying here. I hope you can understand.”

Aaron and Eric’s expressions stiffened.

They exchanged a look, both clearly conflicted.

Eric scratched his head and murmured to Aaron, “Deanna never said we could make exceptions...”

“I understand why you’re cautious.”

Aaron sighed and looked at Sasha sincerely.

“Alexandria hasn’t had an armed group from outside visit in a long time. People here have started to forget the rules of surviving out there.

“I believe you mean us no harm. We’ll make an exception this time. You may keep your weapons, but please stay restrained and don’t alarm the residents.”

Sasha gave a slight nod, her own tone softening.

“Of course. Thank you for understanding.”

They entered the house.

The solid wooden floor had been polished until it shone.

A sofa and coffee table sat in the living room, with oil paintings hanging from the walls.

A man in his fifties wearing thin-framed glasses stepped out of the study.

His sleeves were rolled to his forearms, revealing faint calluses around his wrists.

When he saw Sasha’s heavily armed group, he showed no panic.

After a brief flash of surprise, he smiled, walked forward, and offered his hand.

“This is Reg, Deanna’s husband. He’s a senior structural engineer. He led the work on Alexandria’s walls, power station, and greenhouses,” Aaron introduced with a smile.

“You’ve had a long trip. Welcome to Alexandria.”

Reg’s smile was warm and genuine.

He turned toward the sideboard, picked up a teapot, and poured several cups.

“Fresh tea. Sit down and get some rest.”

Then steady footsteps sounded from the stairs.

Everyone instinctively looked up.

A woman around fifty slowly descended.

She stood straight and wore a simple stud earring.

Her white blouse fit neatly, the cuffs properly buttoned, paired with khaki pants and black loafers.

Her features were composed, her eyes bright and sharp.

She carried both the cultured warmth of an intellectual and the decisive confidence of a leader.

This had to be Alexandria’s leader.

She walked into the center of the living room, calmly swept her gaze over their weapons without showing the slightest discomfort, then extended her hand toward Sasha.

“Hello. I’m Deanna Monroe.”