The Walking Dead: Price of Survival

Price's POV

The lad stepped out from his hiding spot, too clean, too well-dressed for the world we lived in. Freshly shaven, clothes that hadn't seen dirt or blood in a long time. 

"I'm Aaron," he said, voice steady but cautious.

I'd already clocked him back at Shirewilt. Him and the others lurking in the trees, thinking they could watch us without being noticed. Bloody amateurs. Either they didn't know a damn thing about intelligence gathering, or they were so confident in their little game that they didn't think anyone would be watching back.

Idiots.

At the time, I figured they were just more of those Wolves, waiting to pounce. Now, I wasn't so sure.

Then Aaron started talking. Said his people were looking for "good, capable people for our community."

I cut him off. "Where's the others?" My voice came out calm, measured. A question, but not really.

His brows shot up, eyes widening. "How did you—"

I didn't answer. Just stared.

Daryl was next to me, crossbow steady. He didn't hesitate. "Answer the damn question, you son of a bitch!"

Aaron held his hands up, trying to keep the situation from turning south. "Easy, easy. They're with another member of our community. Being escorted back to Alexandria."

Daryl flicked his eyes to me, waiting for my call. I didn't look at him, just nudged Aaron with my rifle. "Go on, then. Keep talking."

So he did. Started giving his pitch, going on about how Alexandria was safe. How it had walls. How it had food, running water, a proper community —everything we needed. How they were looking for good people. How they were offering us a home.

I listened. Not to the words, but to the way he spoke. Too rehearsed. Too polished. He'd done this before.

Daryl shifted beside me. Could feel the unease coming off him.

When Aaron finally stopped talking, I let the silence stretch. Let him sit with it.

Then I spoke. "If you want us to join your community, you'll have to come with us. Speak to the others yourself."

His face lit up, like he thought he'd won. Started going on about something else, smiling like we were already packing our bags.

I wasn't having it.

Didn't say a word. Just stepped forward and cracked him across the jaw with the butt of my rifle.

His legs gave out, and he hit the ground hard, knocked out.

"We'll see if you're telling the truth soon enough."

The walk back to the convoy was quiet. Just the crunch of dirt and dried leaves under our boots, the weight of what just happened settling in.

Aaron was still out cold in the backseat, his head lolling against the window, a nice little bruise forming where I'd clocked him. He'd wake up soon enough.

Daryl kept his crossbow slung across his chest, checking our six as we approached the others. Smart lad. Didn't matter how many times we'd done this, you never stopped watching your back.

Rick was already waiting when we got there. He stepped forward, eyes scanning us first, then the car. "How'd it go?"

I sighed, rubbing a hand down my face before cutting straight to it. "Four people left at their camp. Was gonna let one live, interrogate him… but the bastard offed himself before we could get anything outta him."

Rick's jaw tightened for half a second, then he just gave a small nod. "It's good enough that you and Daryl are okay."

Didn't have to say more. He knew how this worked.

Then I told him about Aaron. How I spotted him watching us, even back at Shirewilt. How he came out acting all friendly, giving his recruitment speech about Alexandria.

Rick's eyes darkened. "Where is he?"

Daryl nodded toward the car. "Backseat. Still out."

Rick exhaled, rolling his shoulders like he was shaking off the exhaustion. "Wake him up. Bring him with his eyes covered."

Daryl smirked, already moving.

I just stood there, watching as dragged dragged the bastard into the light.

Let's see what he had to say now

Rick's POV

Daryl brought in Aaron, and I immediately ordered Abraham, Tara, Darius, Eugene, Tyreese, Elijah, and Izzy to scout the area—just in case Aaron had brought more of his kind along. We weren't taking any chances.

Aaron arrived a few minutes later. His blindfold was off, and you could tell his legs were still shaking from getting knocked out. But the kid tried to put on a brave face. He even cracked a joke, saying Price's strength was something to be admired, and mentioned that before all this, he'd been a target for guns because of his work as an NGO worker. He said he believed that he and his people were good, but I just ignored him.

I leaned forward. "What are your intentions?" I asked flatly.

Aaron said he'd been watching us from a distance and that he'd been the one to supply us with bottles of water two blocks away while the others were out surveying the area. I didn't trust him. I wasn't convinced that was all there was to it, and I made it clear to the rest of the group that Aaron had another agenda.

Knowing he wouldn't win us over easily, Aaron asked Sasha to hand me his backpack. Inside were a few photographs—small snapshots of his community, meant to prove it existed. He started explaining what his community was all about and stressed its security. He talked about Alexandria in a way that made it sound like a safe haven.

Before I could get my own questions out, Izzy yelled out, "Everyone! We found someone in the woods! He was attacked by walkers!" Aaron immediately ran over to a new guy who'd just arrived. He checked him for injuries, made sure he hadn't been bitten, and even gave the guy a quick peck on the cheek. I looked around at the others, taking in the strange scene. Aaron then let out a big sigh and thanked Izzy for saving him.

Soon after, the group gathered to talk about what had happened. Michonne tried to convince me that Aaron wasn't a threat. But I wasn't ready to trust him—not with all the lives we'd lost "He's lying," I said firmly. "We don't know what kind of people he's with. We don't know if he's leading us into a trap." Glenn agreed, saying people like us shouldn't be letting strangers with guns near our group.

Michonne countered by reminding everyone of how they'd rescued Gabriel, saved Tara after her run-in with the Governor, Dr. Holloway and his daughter, and Elijah's family and how Price, a total stranger rescued Beth and saved members of our group back at terminus especially Judith.

That hit me.

I turned to Price, who had been standing quietly, arms crossed, watching.

"What do you think?" I asked.

Price let out a long breath, glancing toward Aaron and Eric.

"I'm a good judge of character," he said finally. "And the lad's telling the truth."

The group—now looking a little hopeful at the idea of a new sanctuary—began to side with Price's opinion. They didn't want to follow my decision of not following Aaron, and eventually, I changed my mind.

I asked Aaron, "Where's your community located?" He told us that he'd usually take survivors to the location, but we wouldn't give him that chance. Still wary, we pressed him again for details. He finally revealed the location and even gave me the best route to get there.

Even so, I decided on a different route. Aaron warned me that the path I chose wasn't safe since it hadn't been cleared out, and I had to agree—reluctantly. In the end, I told the group, "We'll head out early tomorrow morning."

It wasn't a decision I made lightly, but right now, all we could do was move forward—cautiously, and together.

The morning sun stretched across the empty road as the convoy pressed on toward Alexandria. The hum of engines was steady, the weight of uncertainty still lingering over the group. Nobody spoke much. They all knew what was at stake.

In one of the vehicles, Noah handed Aaron a small bottle of water and some pills for Eric. Aaron took them with a nod of thanks before glancing at Noah.

"How'd you end up with them?" Aaron asked, voice casual but curious.

Noah hesitated for a moment, then exhaled. "I was at a hospital. The place wasn't right. They had Beth—one of ours. Price, Daryl, and Rick came in, took the place apart, and got her out. I was just… there. They didn't know me, didn't owe me anything, but they took me in anyway."

Aaron listened carefully, then nodded. "They're good people," he said. "And capable."

Noah gave a dry chuckle. "Yeah, they are. But times have changed. Can't trust just anyone." He leaned back, glancing out the window. "And by capable? You don't even know the half of it."

Aaron tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Noah smirked slightly. "Price? He was SAS. British Special Forces. Before all this."

Aaron's eyes widened slightly. "You're kidding."

Noah shook his head. "Nope. That's the kind of people you're dealing with."

Aaron didn't say anything after that.

Up ahead, Rick was driving, Daryl in the passenger seat, while Michonne and Sasha sat in the back. The road was mostly clear, but that didn't mean much.

Michonne broke the silence first. "Rick, you need to let go of this."

Rick didn't respond, eyes locked on the road.

Michonne continued, "We've fought hard. We've lost people. But maybe, just maybe, this is it. Maybe the fights are over."

Rick exhaled sharply. "I still don't believe Aaron and Eric," he muttered.

Sasha sighed. "You don't have to believe them, Rick. But we're almost there."

Rick tightened his grip on the wheel. He wasn't just thinking about Aaron anymore. He was thinking about Carl, Judith, the rest of them. If this was a mistake, it wouldn't just cost him—it'd cost his family.

"Whatever happens," Rick finally said, "I have to be sure."

A few miles out from Alexandria, the convoy slowed to a stop near an old, abandoned shack off the road. It was a quiet place, tucked away, good enough for a brief stop.

Price caught Rick's eye, then gave a small nod to Daryl and Carol. A signal.

Rick didn't say anything, just stepped out of the vehicle and followed them toward the shack. Once inside, he grabbed an old blender cup sitting on a dusty shelf. He carefully placed Aaron's confiscated gun inside of it, then screwed the lid shut.

Daryl folded his arms. "You really think we'll need that?"

Rick didn't hesitate. "I don't know. But if we do, I want to have it."

Carol nodded in approval. They all knew better than to trust things at face value.

With their small task complete, they stepped out, back into the sunlight. The group had no idea what awaited them beyond Alexandria's gates, but they were going in prepared. 

The convoy finally rolled to a stop in front of Alexandria's gates. The group stepped out slowly, the weight of the moment pressing down on them.

Rick stood near Price, both of them still on edge, still expecting the worst. But then—

Laughter.

Faint, but clear. The sound of children playing behind the walls.

Rick's shoulders eased, just a little. He turned slightly, taking in the sight of his people, their eyes filled with something rare—hope.

Michonne stepped beside him. "You ready?"

Rick took a deep breath, looking at Judith in his arms. Then, after a long pause, he nodded.

"I'm ready."

The others began stepping forward, approaching the gate. This was it.

Their new home.

Maybe.