chapter 26 : Eventful reunion

They arrived in front of two houses and Deanna knocked on the first door, Rick opened it.

 "Calvin…" Rick greeted him and they shook hands, Cal looked Rick in the eye and knew something had changed deep inside him, it even seemed like he had shaved.

 Calvin: Look at that killer gaze ! I don't know what you've been through since the last time but wow, that made you ready for this new world.

 Rick: We've had our ups and downs since Hershel's farm. Maybe if you had stayed, things would have been better.

 Calvin: Yeah, maybe. (looks around the room) On the way here, Deanna told me that she gave you two residences for your comfort. Why are you all gathered in this living room ?! You look like migrants ! 

 Deanna: They're still suspicious...a real family.

 Rick:…

 Others :…

 Daryl: (to Calvin) Are you part of this community too ?! Can you tell us more about it ?

 Calvin: I'm just a guest here and as luck would have it, like you, I found this place today. It's pretty funny though. If you want to know more about this community, know that they had 23 handguns, two rifles and 11 assault rifles, they do not have any heavy weapons but with your weapons they took them into custody , they now have 31 handguns, 2 rifles, 2 shotguns and 16 assault rifles.

 Deanna: YOU…! HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS ?

 Calvin: I sent Molly to spy on you earlier when we went hunting. She's talented, isn't she? (to Rick) Oh yes, they have a fairly well-equipped infirmary, a library and a standard pantry and water and electricity supplies. My men didn't find anything alarming and by observation, these people seem totally normal with a lot of luck, the type who can't last even a week outside. You have nothing to fear from them and in my opinion, you are the danger at the moment, right Rick?!

 Rick: What are you talking about?

 Calvin: Rick, your gaze is both dangerous and desperate, if someone like you came to my community then I'd kill him. They are good people here so if as a last resort, you plan to take the place by force then you and I will have a problem that will cost you your life. I came to see some neighbors and I like them quite well so don't do anything stupid here while they give you a better chance of survival than outside, instead make yourself useful and indispensable to help them.

 Deanna: You analyzed us all so quickly in such a short time?

 Calvin: I'm fast huh (smiles)!? (To Rick) I was going to organize a feast tomorrow to celebrate my meeting with this nice community so I hope you will be at the party tomorrow, we will do that during the day because I will be leaving in the evening.

 "Okay, I'll leave you now that things are clearer. You certainly have things to tell each other. (To Rick) I hope you don't do as he said, I'd like to restart civilization here and I have places and work for you. And by the way, nice razor, you still look better without the beard. » She said before starting to walk away.

 Calvin: Sorry again for the spying Deanna.

 "It's okay, you're…surprising…" She definitely walked away smiling and Calvin entered Rick's living room.

 Cal: Well, tell me what happened to you so you could end up here in Virginia. It's crazy though!! Introduce the new ones to me too, did you tell them about me?

 Eugene: If you are Calvin Lincoln then we have indeed heard about you, especially from Doctor Simmons who spent his time regretting and praising you.

 Calvin: Lise really did that ?! I am sincerely touched. Who are you my friend?

 Eugène: I am Eugene Porter, I was a physics professor.

 Calvin: You seem like an incredible coward but you have the potential to be someone very useful to their group. Well, who tells me?!

 Glenn, Dawn and Lise began to tell him about their journey from the farm and everything they had experienced.

A few minutes later, Calvin was looking at them with his mouth half open.

 Cal: I...I'm sincerely sorry, I honestly don't even know what to say. I also met some disgusting people but I was strong enough to crush them easily, my journey looks like a walk in the park compared to yours.

 Daryl: We had a hard time man, we managed to build something with the prison but in the end -(interrupted)

 Cal: Shut up, I don't even want to hear you Daryl. You abandoned them to go with your asshole brother found when he tortured Glenn, unleashed a walker on him to kill him and let his boss humiliate Maggie. They needed you but you left with Merle! MERLE!!!

 Daryl:…

 Calvin: Where is the crossbow that I gave you, I asked you to watch over them and help them when needed but you turned your back on them and Hershel died when the governor attacked. Give me back that crossbow, you're not worthy of it you bastard and you're lucky you and Merle broke up because if he had been here then I would have killed him myself.

 Lise: Daryl redeemed himself Calvin. He helped us.

 « I should never have left you with them, it's because of the governor's men that Hershel died and you're disabled now. I am sincerely sorry Lise. » Calvin said moving closer to Lise.

 Lise: It's not your fault and not all of the governor's men were bad, he lied to survivors by making us look like bad people to kill during his last attack. Tara was one of those people and she is with us now.

 Calvin: Huh?! Who is Tara?!

 "It's...it's me..." Tara pointed sheepishly and Calvin looked at her for a few seconds, his eyes didn't stop looking at her as he started to ask questions .

 Cal: Was she with them when they killed Hershel?

 Maggie: Yes.

 Cal: She was on their side when they fired the tank and children were buried under the debris?

 Shane: Yes.

 Cal: (To Lise) She was on their side when they shot you to damage your hip?!

 Lise: Cal, she didn't know…

 Calvin started walking towards Tara and they all felt something was wrong so they wanted to hold him back but he pushed them away without any problem.

Tyrese wanted to grab him but he punched him in the lower abdomen which sent the man to the ground in excruciating pain as drool came out profusely from his mouth.

Sasha saw this and tried to defend her brother but he pushed her and she was thrown almost to the other side of the room, landing fortunately on a table.

Abraham also tried to intervene but Calvin threw him to the ground very violently which cost Abraham his now dislocated shoulder.

 He suddenly accelerated towards her so Daryl and Michonne wanted to intervene but found themselves in the void.

Quickly, he grabbed Tara's neck to pin her against the wall while the girl's breathing was immediately cut off, Shane and Dawn watched the scene without moving because they were of the same opinion as him after everything that had happened .

 "You're going to die today…" He said as Tara's eyes turned completely red but Lise came to grab his hands.

 Lise: Cal, please stop. She saved Glenn and she is one of us now, she has tried to redeem herself many times to earn her place. Calvin looks at me.

 She grabbed his face and they looked into each other's eyes before Calvin left Tara to take Lise in his arms.

 "You come with me, from today you are in my group. I'll take care of you..." He said before carrying her at arm's length then leaving out the door without Lise even being able to refuse, all she could do was to clinging to him because she had bitterly regretted not having left with him.

 He took Lise with him to his residence where she was given food and rest, he talked with her for a long time and apparently her disability could be cured with an excellent surgeon and the right tools, which Calvin had in Lincoln.

 The next day, Rick and Calvin were in Deanna's office because Calvin's outburst there had caused a stir.

 Cal: You don't have to worry about this little inconvenience, it was just an argument over one of their members and I might be the one in the wrong. I decided to cancel the feast we had planned because I need to return to my own community to take care of something urgent.

 Rick:…

 Deanna: I understand. Do you plan to come back?

 Calvin: Yes, I have other things to sort out with them. (To Rick) You will tell Morgan and Carol that their children are alive and well, they're with me in my community. I'll bring them back after taking care of Lise.

 The news was like an electric shock for Rick who first looked at Calvin.

 Rick: How-(interrupted)

 Cal: Don't ask me any questions and just do what I tell you, these kids have suffered and think you abandoned them. (To Deanna) I'm going to leave, one day soon, I'll come pick you up to visit our premises.

 Deanna: My pleasure, thanks again for the crawfish and Game .

 "Goodbye…" Calvin got out of there to head towards the vehicles while Rick followed him trying to call out to him.

 Calvin: What?

 Rick: Your community, could you welcome us?

 Calvin: No, you already have a place so don't be choosy after what you experienced outside.

 Rick: I don't want to be their leader anymore, you're far better than me at that.

 Calvin: The problem is that I have no need of you, here however your presence will be essential. Become useful to your new home, there is already a leader here if you are tired of leading your group.

 They arrived at the vehicles already prepared by her men while Lise greeted the others for her departure. Shane and Dawn saw Calvin coming so they approached him…

 Shane: We want to come with you, we want to be part of your community.

 Dawn: Lincoln, please...

 Calvin: That's out of the question, I only want Lise and the rest of you she's not interested in. Congratulations on your wedding, how romantic to have done it at the same time as Glenn and Maggie.

 Dawn: A lot happened...a lot behind you Shane lost his arm to protect me.

 Calvin: It's cool, Shane will take care of you so stay here and help these people survive. (looks at Lise) Let's go, your new home is waiting for you and if you want then you can come back here whenever you want but you are under my protection now.

 Lise looked at him before smiling and getting into King with Molly while Calvin got on the black horse he found the day before, he had called his steed "Vader" because of its very black color.

They left while the others had mixed emotions seeing them exit the big gate, mostly wondering what a community built by someone like Calvin was like.

 ........... 

*** That was the last chapter of the essay. I hadn't planned to continue the story before because I don't have a lot of talent and I was writing several stories at the same time. If readers want a sequel then I'll write one. Thank you again for your time and reading, once again I apologize for my shortcomings in English, I have no editor. I will definitely post my essays on Game of thrones, Spartacus and Invincible ***