At a railway.

Daryl was watching the train "There's six of 'em. "

Me " You think we can follow it without them seeing us? "

Daryl nodded "I think we hang back far enough, we'll be fine."

i froze "Daryl"

Daryl " They got Connie."

We were able to hear the trooper since i had stolen one of their radios.

Trooper: Guy's saying I have to put an exile on here. It's a cargo transport and against regs. Over."

Man " It's been cleared from up on high. She's not gonna be a worker. She's designation two. "

trooper "Oh, sh¡t. "

Man "Yeah, exactly. Get her there safely. "

Trooper "Copy that. "

Me "What's "designation two"? "

Daryl "We can't go get her. They'll radio ahead. We'll go find the kids. "

Me "Hey. We'll hang back, and we'll follow it to the others, and we're gonna bust them out all at once. "

The Train stared to move again.

--

Daryl and i were following them in the car.

He snapped "Damn it!"

Me " Just get ahead of it."

at a cabin.

Me " Train's gotta hit that junction. We should just sit tight until it does. "

Daryl shook his head " I don't think I can do that."

Me " Do what? "

Daryl grabbed his crossbow "Sit tight. "

Me "Daryl. Hey."

I blocked his way to get into the car " When I saw Connie get on that train, and I saw the door shut, I thought the same thing that you did. "

Daryl "What's that? "

Me "The cave. "

He looked down.

Me " Do you remember what Kelly said the minute her sister was gone? "

Daryl " "We can't save them if we're dead." "

I nodded "We can play this however you want. But if we go it alone, we might be making the same mistakes again. please"

He nodded "okay"

I grabbed his hand that was on his thigh.

--

Daryl and i were driving again.

Me "Is that Maggie?"

Daryl pulled over and i saw Maggie sitting there holding a walker.

At the cabin.

Maggie's voice broke "They just ripped him away from me. I wasn't strong enough. I hate not knowing. It's worse. I shouldn't have... I shou... "

I shook my head " This is not on you. You are just one person."

Maggie sobbed out " Doesn't matter. It's on me. "

I hugged her "you know, when we were all given the chance to join the Commonwealth Daryl and i had a fight. He was gonna join them because he didn't trust them but i refused to join them. He asked me to let Judith go with him. He knew that it was safe there and i knew he would protect her "

Maggie "still you stayed with me"

I nodded "i did. You know, i knew Daryl would protect her but i just couldn't be with Daryl...not after everything that happened. Even after i had said no i could've joined them but didn't. I didn't him throughout those months ...i was doing my own think just like they were doing their own thing. It was like the old world. Back then, we never would've spoken to each other. But after The Fall, we were forced to become family. That's a good thing. It's a gift that's held, even in that place. They had to come at us when we were separated. What does that say to you? "

Maggie "That we scare the shit out of Pamela. "

i nodded "Exactly."

Maggie " And she failed. "

Me "We're not alone any more, and we're gonna make it right."

Suddenly Rosita showed up with Gabriel and Carol"Ken, Maggie"

I hugged Rosita "Hey. How did you find us? "

Gabriel "We heard a train. Did you hear a train? "

I nodded "Yes"

Rosita "Where's Daryl? Is he with you? "

Maggie "He's inside. "

Daryl was trying to get a wounded trooper to speak.

-

I was watching Daryl threatening the trooper.

Daryl "They took my kids from me, and I want them back. You hear me?! "

Then he kicked him.

Me " Train's gonna be here soon."

Daryl took out his knife " That's alright. We can hurry. You wanna die quick? Or you wanna die screaming?"

Gabriel looked at the trooper" I know you. Every Sunday, back pew, closest to the door. You'd always come a little late and leave a little early. Seemed like you wanted to talk about something."

Trooper " Does God forgive people like me?"

Gabriel " I don't know. I wish I did. "

Trooper "It's, like... torn up all the time with guilt. And shame. "

Gabriel "Because you're a coward. It's okay. You're trying not to be. Fear can make us do things that... that bring shame. Could also push us into the light. And you're trying to do the right thing now. He sees that. I see it, too. We all do."

Trooper " I wish I'd talked to you sooner. "

Gabe nodded " I wish you had, too. "

The Trooper was coughing out blood.

Gabriel " People remember the last thing that you do. The end of each story is very important. How do you want yours to end? "

Trooper " They punish exiles by making them do hard labor. Your friends are on railway duty. "

Gabriel "Where?"

Trooper " I don't know. They called me out when you escaped. You'll have to follow the train to find out where your friends are. I've only heard rumors about designation two. They're taken somewhere far away. They're never seen again. Will you help me? And pray with me while I go? "

Daryl walked out.

Gabriel nodded and looked at us "Can you give us a minute?"

I walked out and over to Daryl "Daryl"

Daryl "If that train pulls in, Connie's gone. "

Me "If they see us coming, they're gonna radio ahead. The best way for us to get the kids is with them not knowing that we're coming. "

Daryl "We can't just leave her on there, though. "

Carol "We won't. I think there's a way to do both."

---

We had sabotaged the junction switch. The train stopped and a trooper got out.

Maggie got into the front.

Daryl and i snuck around the train to kill all the troopers while also killing walkers.

One trooper got onto a bike and drove off.

Daryl also got onto a bike and drive after him.

--

We had brought the traindriver back to the cabin. His name was Wilson.

Wilson" I do what you're asking, I'm dead. "

Me "You know what? You're dead if you don't."

Wilson" My family lives at a nearby outpost. Warden finds out I helped you... I'll end up just like your friends. "

Me "They took our children. "

Rosita "You said you have a family? I bet he had a family."

Wilson" There's a map. Back at the train. It's in the engine room."

Maggie nodded " Let's go. "

I heard a bike outside, looks like Daryl is back.

At the car.

Wilson aimed a knife at his throat "Stay back!"

Me "Put it down. "

Wilson " I'll do it! Please. I help you, my wife and two boys will die! "

Me "No, listen. Just tell us where our people are, and we'll injure you. N-Nothing serious. Just enough to make it look like... Make it look like you barely got away, and you can tell him you escaped. He'll never know."

Wilson sobbed out " He'll know I lied! He'll torture me when he finds out I did! Then he'll kill my family. Please... I can't! I'm sorry! No!"

He rammed the knife through his throat.

I sighed.

Night.

Rosita was talking into the radio "Outpost 22 this is 301, I need help. The train was overtaken, and I'm in the woods, I'm lost. They're still looking for me. I-I need to get back to the site. Over."

No reaction.

Rosita " Outpost 22, please. I need help, over. "

Woman "301, what was your original sit-rep and location? "

Rosita "Junction seven! I'm the last one left! "

Woman "Damn. Copy that. Don't worry. We'll get you home. Do you still have your compass? "

Rosita "Yes."

Woman " Good. Head due north through the woods. You'll eventually reach a breach. After that, you'll be on a rough road. That's Packard Avenue. Gauge your direction, and head south. Copy so far?"

Rosita " Yes, copy. "

Woman "Eventually you'll hit highway 30. Take it east. Get off at Crooks. Head down the road until you find a suburban neighborhood. A section has been shored up and fortified with walls. You'll see friendly faces in the guard tower. When you get here, you'll take the northeast gate closest to the railroad tracks, and we'll have guards on the lookout for you. Unfortunately, we don't have any spare units to send out your way for a pickup. We have a convoy coming in for colonial processing. Governor's orders. "

Rosita "22, did you say a convoy is coming in for reprocessing? "

Woman "Yes, ma'am. Word is that most of the processees used to live here before the Commonwealth claimed the territory and turned it into an outpost, back when it was still called Alexandria. The Warden will debrief you when you get to base. In the meantime, keep an eye out for any more hostiles on the road. If you have to engage, shoot to kill. Watch your six, and godspeed, 301."

Woman " Thanks, 22. I'll see you soon. "

I gritted my teeth and hit the walls "fucking hell!"

Maggie " Milton has underestimated us since day one. We are gonna get our kids, take back our home, and make it right. And Pamela's never gonna see it coming. "