Early morning, the fog was hazy.
A figure in a light beige shirt appeared early on this land.
Stepping on the ground, the green grass underfoot, mixed with the crisp misty air, seemed to penetrate directly into the lungs.
Rick didn't know why he woke up so early today, but he just tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
"Big guy, nothing happened last night, right?!"
As soon as he stepped out of the 'administrative area' and onto the grass, Rick called out to the Big guy who was on duty at the gate's watchtower last night, asking from a distance.
"Everything is OK."
The Big guy heard Rick's voice, turned his head, leaned on the edge of the old watchtower, and stretched his neck to respond.
Rick nodded at the words, his gaze finally converging on the main gate of the Prison.
Since Shawn left, after discussions between Rick and Shane, it was decided to immediately begin building the high walls for the latter half of the Prison.
At the same time, the cast steel gate that Shawn brought back also began to be installed synchronously.
Looking out, just behind the Prison's original barbed wire gate, a row of steel bars was being erected, with large wooden blocks propping them up as a base; once the poured concrete dried, the wood could be removed, and the cast steel gate could be directly embedded.
This construction plan was led by Jacob, assisted by Oscar, with the cooperation of everyone in the Camp.
Everyone was determined, wanting to complete the tasks Shawn had assigned before his return.
"It's good that nothing happened… it's good that nothing happened…"
Rick stroked his newly grown beard, which was already somewhat damp.
When he came to the platform built along the inside of the high wall, he looked down.
In the deep pit, many figures were already swaying leisurely; at 4 meters deep, they definitely couldn't get out, and could only voluntarily fall into the deep pit to become the Prison's new wave of 'moat Walkers'.
Only at this moment did Rick truly and thoroughly realize that Shawn had always been right; the Prison was the apocalyptic fortress that would allow everyone to live better.
As of this very moment.
Although the Prison still had many shortcomings, the mere existence of this high wall and deep pit isolated most dangers to the outside.
Lori's belly was visibly growing day by day, but she no longer had the idea of getting rid of the child.
The Prison gave them hope, and the medical equipment Shawn's team collected brought back gave them hope.
It was just that Hershel's main profession was a farmer, and his medical knowledge was only barely sufficient.
So perhaps the reason Rick couldn't sleep was due to this factor.
"I hope Michonne taking people out today can find some doctors."
"Carl's yearning for the outside world is growing stronger, and as he gets older, I can barely suppress his restless heart."
"…"
Rick stared blankly ahead, emptying his mind, with only a face that was domineering yet held a hint of murderous bloodlust remaining in his consciousness.
"No matter what, Shawn, you must come back safely."
Rick murmured to himself.
He could feel that something had happened, or was about to happen, and his uneasy heart vaguely sensed it was related to Shawn.
However, all Rick could do was manage the Prison well and silently hope that Shawn, Daryl, and Merle were safe.
May they have a safe journey.
Prison, Rick.
…
Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers away from the Prison, in Atlanta.
In the Hospital, city center.
Shawn's head was lowered, his breathing faint and slow.
He sat on the ground, one hand resting on his bent knee, unmoving.
He was covered in blood, and on the ground beside him, a complete stalker suit was neatly laid out.
When dawn arrived, Daryl still hadn't received a signal from Shawn.
The impatient Dixon Brothers, disregarding Columbus's advice, directly led Tallahassee and Aji and the others to charge into the Hospital from the front.
Columbus held a broken wooden table leg in his hand, cautiously following behind the three.
However, what puzzled everyone was that although they had clearly rushed in through the Hospital's main entrance, they hadn't encountered any obstacles along the way.
Aji and Daryl exchanged glances: "Something's not right."
Although there weren't many people in the Hospital, given the Hospital's 'order,' they should have been met with gunfire by now.
But at the moment, the entire Hospital seemed empty, to the point where no one stopped them from openly breaking in.
Tallahassee exaggeratedly swung a baton a few times on the spot, then powerfully swung it towards a ward, and a Walker fell to the ground in response.
"What is this Hospital doing? Is there really still anyone here?"
"Walkers have already started to invade."
The few exchanged glances, sensing trouble.
Their steps quickened, winding up the stairs, finally reaching a long corridor that almost spanned the entire Hospital.
As soon as they entered the corridor, Daryl, who was uncharacteristically impatient and walking at the front, instantly narrowed his pupils!
In his sight, Shawn's head hung limply, he was covered in blood, and even his usual combat uniform, which he never took off, had been removed.
And in front of him, almost all the patients were gathered here, surrounding Shawn.
"Get away from him! Now! Take three steps back!"
Daryl took a sharp breath, his crossbow arrow already pointed at this group of patients, his stern face looking like he wasn't joking.
Everyone looked at them, and Aji felt as if he was looking at the old people he used to care for.
"We haven't figured things out yet…"
As Aji spoke, he wanted to raise his hand to push Daryl's hand down, but when he saw the transparent emotion Daryl was struggling to suppress in his eyes, Aji's hand paused in mid-air.
He didn't know whether to retract it or push it down.
But soon, someone continued Aji's words, their voice coming from behind the group.
"He's right, there's been a misunderstanding between us, this… gentleman is just tired."
"Now, please gently put down your weapons, they are all just patients."
Daryl looked back and saw Lamson standing there watching them, and behind him stood a man and a woman, both survivors of this purge.
They belonged to the neutral faction of the Hospital, like Lamson.
Daryl glanced at Lamson, not believing his nonsense; the apocalypse had taught him to be wary of any outsiders.
Daryl reached into Merle's embrace and pulled out a 'pipe bomb', holding a source of fire in one hand, then carefully retreated to Shawn's side.
But seeing Daryl approach, this group of patients remained indifferent.
Some of them had dull eyes, containing only a faint, timid glimmer.
Despite facing the bomb in Daryl's hand, they still didn't retreat a single step, blocking Shawn.
At the very front was the woman from Room 7 who was the first to leave her room and follow Shawn; she tightly clutched a needle in her hand, staring intently at Daryl.
Daryl looked at her, frowning.
From the woman's eyes, he seemed to see something different.
What was it?
Daryl felt it was familiar, as if he had seen it somewhere before… Oh right, it was Beth, the Beth who was initially so fanatical about Shawn.
And in the woman's gestures and demeanor, there seemed to be something more than just fanaticism.
Was it admiration?
No!
Absolutely not!
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