'No matter how many times I try to accept our new reality. I still can't get used to the eerie silence of the world around us.'
While driving a bus formerly operated by the hospital, Oscar couldn't but feel creeped out by their surroundings, and the scenery of abandoned cars and leftover human carcasses along the way are certainly not helping with it.
'What a shitty situation this world has become.' He sighed, but there's also one thing that made him uncomfortable. It's the eerie silence behind him, the passengers at the back either have their eyes closed trying to sleep or quietly gazing out the window with somber expressions on their faces.
'What a weird group of people. I thought they'd be noisier since they have now left a place they once called home. With them being like this, will they be fine once we reach the Prison?' He thought while scratching his cheek with a finger.
Oscar's assumptions are not wrong though, and they weren't being silent because of Shepherd's selfish decision of suddenly leaving their home and joining an unfamiliar group, but because like him, there are also things they worry about.
'What's gonna happen to us once we get there?'
'Will they even accept us?'
'Are we gonna be fine once we get there? Some of these people with us are not exactly nice people, especially that guy, Gorman. I hope someone kills that bastard!'
'That guy they call Michael. I wonder if he's seeing someone? Even if he is, I need to find a way to get onto his bed, then I wouldn't have to worry about food and getting harassed anymore. It would be even better if he gets me pregnant.'
Everyone had various thoughts going through their heads, some were worried, while some were already scheming for their own benefit.
Driving behind the hospital bus is the school bus currently being manned by Rosita and along with the others.
{You remember that guy Gorman, right? Make sure to keep an eye on him when you guys get to base. Don't let him get close to any of the women and girls inside, make sure to tell the others.}
Rosita was thinking about the words Michael told her before he left when suddenly, the bus ahead of them suddenly came to a screeching halt. Though startled by the sudden situation, Rosita still managed to step on the break and managed to prevent a collision. There was only two inches in between before they could have rear ended the hospital bus.
Screeech!
"What the..!'
"F*ck, that hurt like hell!" Glenn groaned in pain while covering his mouth and nose with his hands.
"Get ready, there might be enemies ahead!" Rosita quickly got up from the driver's seat and immediately armed herself with her rifle.
She quickly got down from the bus, followed by Andrea and Glenn, whose nose had become slightly bloodied.
They quickly made their way to the front, all prepared for an incoming confrontation.
"Are there ene..what the? Why are you here?" Rosita was talking to the radio before cutting off her own words when they reached the head of the convoy. They saw Michael in the middle of the road, gasping for air while leaning on his knees, with Rick already with him.
Oscar remained behind the wheel and started to cautiously watch the people inside. He knows this is a good chance for someone to cause some trouble while the others are distracted outside.
Oscar grabbed his rifle and pulled the safety off before placing it down to lean against the dashboard.
"What's going on? Why are you back?" Andrea asked while approaching them.
Micheal did not immediately respond and instead signaled them with his index finger to wait. He was regulating his breathing since he was full on sprinting on the way back.
'That was just a little over three miles of sprinting, but I'm already out of breath. It seems my physique is still not at the level of a supersoldier.' He thought, panting.
On the way back to cut them off, Michael was actually moving on the cruising speed of between twenty-eight and thirty miles per hour until he went on full fifty miles per hour on the last couple of miles from the city.
"I came back to re-route the convoy." Michael finally told them the reason why he came back.
"What? Why? This is the shortest route and we don't have a lot of daylight left." Andrea was the first one to voice their objection.
Rosita wanted to say something, but chose to stay silent. She knows that Michael might have seen something ahead of them, and the same goes for Rick.
"Is there actually danger ahead that we need to do that?" Rick asked in a grim tone.
Michael dusted off his clothes while saying. "Highly possible, but listen. I don't know if there's danger ahead, but there is a very high chance that there is. When I was on the road, it suddenly hit me when I remembered when Glenn mentioned Daryl being captured, but of course all of us disregarded his words because we all believe that's impossible. We might not want to admit it, but Daryl would be the most resourceful member of the group aside from me. That guy can feed you even when food is scarce."
"I told you so. The chance of him being captured is high, and everything would make sense since he should have regrouped with us hours ago, but he's still not here. I kept telling you guys, but no one listened!" Glenn snorted and looked slightly arrogant this time with his arms crossed.
"What's happening? Why did we stop? Is there some kind of a problem?" Shepherd came down from the bus and joined them.
"We'll need to turn around and take another road." Michael responded to her.
Shepherd creased her brows and asked. "Why? Is there danger ahead?"
Michael and Rick exchanged glances before the latter answered her. "Michael suspects that there is. That's why he came back to stop us from going on ahead."
"So I'm assuming you want us to take another road then?" Shepherd asked, her expression finally relaxing.
"Like I told them earlier, yes. So let's take the rural roads instead of the interstate highway. Especially now, since the night would make us look like fireflies in the darkness." Michael replied and gave Rick a pat on his shoulder as he walked past him.
And no one objected after that, which comes as no surprise since Michael had truly taken the reigns of leadership at this point.
He boarded the hospital bus with Rick and Shepherd while the others made their way back to the school bus at the back.
The two large vehicles turned around while Michael and Rick looked for another route to take with Shepherd's assistance since she has some familiarity in the area.
Meanwhile,
The Governor and his crew had already prepared an ambush somewhere along the interstate highway. Now, they are just waiting for their prey to arrive.
"It's already dark, but there's nothing on the horizon yet." One of the men complained in a small voice as he smacked a mosquito on his arm.
"Be patient, will you? This is life and death. If we don't get rid of them here, then it will be us that will be in trouble." His companion beside him berated him in a small voice.
Martinez could hear the whispering around him and became worried. He immediately made his way to where the Governor was and reported the situation.
Standing at the back of a pick up truck, Philip did not reply and instead picked up his radio to contact someone.
"Shumpert, what's the status at your location?"
There was a brief pause before the familiar voice came through the radio.
[Negative, we have not seen even a shadow of them. Should we continue staying put?]
Philip stared into the distant darkness for a moment before giving a reply. "Pack up and return."
[Roger that.]
"Have everyone at the ready. We'll make our return when Shumpert and the rest arrive." Philip turned to Martinez.
"That's it?" Martinez asked, sounding a little reluctant.
"Yes. No use waiting here. They must have taken another road or decided to stay the night in the city."
Martinez had more things to say, but decided against it. "Got it."
Philip turned his gaze towards the city. 'Such a pity. This could have been a great opportunity to get rid of you lot, but I'm not taking any chances and leave the camp almost undefended while we wait here for uncertainty.'
Not long after, Shumpert and his crew arrived and regrouped with them. They immediately made their way back to Woodbury soon after their arrival and never looked back.