"Your world is about to get a whole lot bigger."

93. hilltop colony

MILO

     MILO HAD A HARD TIME KEEPING HIS EYES away from the stranger seated in front of him. Not because of those intriguing blue eyes or because of his handsome features but because of the curiousity burning within him. Jesus, which was the strangest nickname Milo'd ever heard, had been captured by Rick and Daryl. And instead of trying to escape he had calmly woken Rick, taken a seat on the stairs and waited for them all to get dressed so he could talk with them. Which was either the stupidest or the bravest move Milo had seen in a long time. Having faith in people wasn't a luxury you could afford anymore and the fact that this stranger chose to have faith in them made him burn with curiousity as to why.

'So, how'd you get out?' Rick questioned the stranger.

They were seated around the table in the kitchen. Maggie, Glenn, Abraham, Carl, Michonne, Quinn, Daryl and Rick. Every one of them was watching the man who called himself "Jesus" with both interest and distrust. Especially Daryl seemed apprehensive as he kept pacing back and forth behind the man, as if he could jump up and kill them all at any given second. His behaviour didn't exactly come as a surprise, but that of his sister did. She seemed calm and genuinely interested in hearing the man out, which wasn't behaviour he was used from her. Maybe Aaron did succeed in convincing her there were good people out there after all.

'One guard can't cover two exits or third-floor windows,' Jesus replied casually, as if he was jumping out of third-floor windows all the time. 'Knots untie and locks get picked. Entropy comes from order, right?'

'Right,' Daryl snarled as he finally stopped his pacing and leaned against the wall, still holding the gun in his hand.

Jesus, however, managed to remain calm beneath the burning gaze of the redneck, which was not something Milo had seen happen often. 'I checked out your arsenal,' Jesus went on, as if Daryl wasn't currently trying to kill him with a single look. 'I haven't seen anything like that in a long time. You're well-equipped, but your provisions are low. Very low for the amount of people you have. Fifty-four?'

'More than that,' Maggie told him, her voice made of steel.

For the first time since they sat down, Jesus' resolve slightly faltered but he took a small breath and went on. 'Well, I appreciate the cookie,' he said. 'My compliments to the chef.'

'Yeah, she ain't here,' Daryl snapped.

Jesus shifted in his seat so he could look Daryl in the eye. 'Look, we got off to a bad start,' he said and for the first time there was a hint of annoyance in his voice. 'But we're on the same side, the living side. You and Rick had every reason to leave me out there, but you didn't. I'm from a place that's a lot like this one. Part of my job is searching out more settlements to trade with. I took your truck because my community needs things and both of you look like trouble.'

Milo crossed his arms over his chest. There was no arguing his logic. Both Daryl and Rick looked like a serious danger. He turned to look at Quinn who was seated on the opposite side of the table. If he trusted anyone's judgement, it was hers. And the fact that she wasn't wearing a worried frown but instead a genuinely curious one, was enough for him to know that this man might be telling the truth.

'I was wrong,' Jesus added, his eyes pleading as he looked at Rick. 'You're good people. And this is a good place. I think our communities may be in a position to help each other.'

'Do you have food?' Glenn questioned.

Jesus nodded. 'We've started to raise livestock. We scavenge, we grow. Everything from tomatoes to sorghum.'

'Tell us why we should believe you,' Rick said, though judging by his tone Milo could tell he was more convinced that this was indeed the truth than he appeared to be.

'I'll show you,' Jesus said, seeming determined to make this work. 'If we take a car, I can take you back home in day and you can all see for yourselves who we are and what we have to offer.'

Maggie leaned forwards. 'Wait, you're looking for more settlements. You mean you're already trading with other groups?'

A smile appeared on the stranger's face. 'Your world is about to get a whole lot bigger.'

For a second silence lingered in the room as Rick turned in his seat to look at his friends for council. Maggie gave a small nod and Glenn an encouraging smile. Even Quinn nodded at Rick, determination written on her features. When Rick turned his eyes to Milo, he too felt himself offering a reassuring smile. So far there were no alarm bells ringing in his head. Everything about the stranger seemed to add up. He heard a lot of lies in his life but this honestly didn't feel like one. The chance of it being a trap was small, seeing as they had little to offer to another community. And besides, if it was a trap, they knew how to handle themselves.

'Alright,' Rick finally decided, turning back to look at Jesus. 'Everyone grap your gear. We'll meet at the RV in ten.'

Milo felt himself smiling as he stood up and left the room with the others. He joined Quinn's side as they made their way to the arsenal. He looked at her out of the corner of his eyes until she finally sighed deeply.

'What?' She asked him.

'I didn't expect you of all be people to be okay with this,' he admitted.

She shrugged. 'Maybe I've changed.'

The two of them walked inside and started loading up on weapons. He reached for a Colt M4A1 and while making sure it was loaded he couldn't resist saying: 'And that sudden change wouldn't have anything to do with a certain someone now would it?'

She glared at him. 'If you're talking about either Aaron or Morgan, then yes. If not, then I don't know what you're talking about.' She slung the strap of her M16 over her shoulder and headed for the door.

Grinning to himself he followed her outside, knowing it was indeed thanks to those two his sister found her renewed faith in humanity. Though he knew for certain that her relationship with Daryl had helped as well. Being in love made the whole world seem a bit brighter. He could remember that feeling like it had only been yesterday instead of almost four years now. He had loved Aiden so much that his life seemed to have gained more colors. He just wondered if that would be the case if he were ever to fall in love again.

He caught up to his sister while they walked to where the RV was parked. Pushing the thoughts of relationships aside, he looked at her and felt himself smiling. 'I really am proud of you, Quinn,' he said and he meant every word.

She flashed him a quick smile. 'I just finally understand what you've been talking about all your life. That people deserve a second chance.' She took a deep breath. 'I couldn't see it before but I do now. I understand.'

He nodded. 'I know.' He gave her shoulder a nudge. 'And I'm glad.'

They crossed the street and loaded the guns into the RV. Then he turned back towards the house to help Maggie load a bag filled with ammo. 'No lifting heavy things for you,' he said with a wink.

Maggie scoffed but didn't protest as he took the bag out of her hands.

'Let's chew up some asphalt!' Abraham called out.

Everyone climbed inside and they were off. Milo had found a spot in the front of the RV, exactly opposite the stranger who was giving Rick directions as they left Alexandria behind. Quinn was seated next to him, with Daryl on her other side. Her leg was pressed against Daryl's even though there was enough space for them to sit apart. Milo tried his hardest not to smile, knowing the two had their struggles with showing their affection in public, yet even the small gestures did not go unnoticed by anyone, especially not with him. In the back of the RV, Abraham was whispering with Glenn while Maggie slept peacefully next to them. As Milo looked around he felt his heart swell at the sight of his family. He just hoped this trip to Jesus' community was going to be worth it. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if something went horribly wrong.

'So, I've heard you cost us a whole truck filled with supplies,' Quinn broke the silence, her gaze focused on Jesus. Although her tone had been stern, there was a slight twinkle of amusement in her eyes, almost unnoticable if you didn't know her all that well.

Jesus shifted in his seat, leaning back against the couch, that same amusement dancing through his eyes as he stared back at her. 'I fear you've been misinformed.'

Milo watched with a grin as Quinn raised her eyebrows. 'Then enlighten me.'

Jesus' piercing blue eyes shifted to look at Daryl, a small smile appearing on his face. 'Your boyfriend has probably left out the part where he jumped out of the truck to chase me across a field. And when I did finally manage to get the truck, it was because of him trying to pull me out that the brake was released and it drove backwards into a lake.'

Though Quinn had colored slightly red when Jesus had adressed Daryl as "her boyfriend", she had quickly regained her composure and was now turning her eyes to the redneck, a small smirk playing on her lips. 'He did leave that part out.'

Daryl stared at the stranger with a challenging glare. 'We shoulda made those knots tighter.'

'Maybe you should've,' Jesus nodded. 'Though, if you did, I wouldn't have been able to help you out.'

Daryl's eyes darkened. 'Yeah, we'll see.'

Quinn was still trying to fight her smirk when she placed her hand on Daryl's leg in a small effort to calm him down.

'So, when exactly did you decide that we could be trusted?' Milo asked, forcing down his grin. He was genuinely curious to know what had made Jesus change his mind.

When Jesus turned his eyes to Milo, he felt his stomach do a strange flip when seeing the burning intensity in that gaze. He ignored the feeling however and forced himself not to look away. 'When I saw what Rick and Daryl had been fighting for out there, I understand that you weren't bad people.' He doubted for a moment, then added with a look at Michonne. 'Also any place filled with horrendous art can't be run by bad people.'

Michonne turned around from her position in the front seat and frowned at Jesus. 'It's art, there's nothing horrendous about it.'

'Come on, you gotta admit the colors on that painting you wanted for in the bedroom are an attack on the eyes,' Milo grinned.

'Almost as bad as that cat you had in the prison,' Quinn joined in.

Michonne rolled her, focusing her gaze back on the road before them. Rick took her hand, smiling warmly at her. But just as soon as his smile had come, it was gone again. Something on the road ahead of them seemed to distract him. He slowed the RV as he steered to park it at the side of the pavement.

'Yo, Rick, what's going on?' Daryl asked, leaning forwards to look out of the window.

'We got a crash ahead,' Rick replied. 'Looks like it just happened.'

As Rick drove the RV up next to the crashed car, Milo caught side of the vehicle. It was flipped on its side, walkers were stuck beneath, blood and oil covered the ground around the crash site. It would be a miracle if anyone made it out the wreck alive.

'That's one of ours,' Jesus muttered and before anyone could stop him he had jumped out of the RV.

Quickly the group gathered their weapons and made their way after him. Milo held his machine gun tightly as he walked closer towards the car. As he approached the wreck he noticed there were walkers stuck in the front of the car as well. Whoever had been behind the wheel, they must've crashed right into the corpses. His eyes caught a flash of silver and tensed as he watched Rick raise his gun, pointing it at Jesus, who had been staring at the wreck with wide and panicked eyes.

'If this a trick, it won't end well for you,' Rick spoke, his face showing no sign of the warmth it had held mere seconds ago.

'My people are in trouble,' Jesus said, not seeming to care whether or not Rick believed him. 'They don't...we don't have a lot fighters.' He sighed. 'I know how it looks, but I'll play it out. Can I borrow a gun?'

'No,' Daryl spoke immediately. He gestured at the ground where the oil of the crash had been smeared out over the asphalt. 'We got tracks right here.'

They followed the footsteps of oil and blood towards a building at the side of the road. Rick walked up towards the front door and knocked loudly, waiting for any possible walkers to show up.

'They gotta be in there,' Jesus said nervously when no answer came.

Rick turned around, distrust written all over his features.

'We moving in or what?' Abraham asked.

'How do we know this ain't firecrackers in a trash can?' Daryl muttered, staring at Jesus with a venomous glare.

'You don't!' Jesus told him, once again able to withstand the hostility of the redneck.

Rick's eyes shifted between Daryl and Jesus before he finally nodded. 'We'll get your people.' He walked towards him. 'You're staying here with one of us.'

Jesus turned around to face the others, his eyes pleading for help. It was Michonne who answered with a simple shake of her head. 'That's the deal.'

'Will you stay?' Glenn asked Maggie while Rick put his handcuffs on Jesus.

'Yeah,' Maggie nodded at him, her grip on her gun tightening. 'Ya'll go, just be careful.'

'We're gonna be careful,' Rick promised.

'Just hurry,' Jesus said, looking at the building ahead of them with worried eyes.

'You hear me whistle, shoot him,' Rick told Maggie while moving towards the door once again.

She nodded. 'I will.'

Milo followed the others towards the door, his gun held high and finger near the trigger, ready to shoot. He threw one quick look over his shoulder at Jesus. The genuine worry in his eyes was almost convincing enough for Milo to believe it wasn't a trap. But when he looked forwards again, his eyes landing on his sister, he knew he couldn't let his guard down. He moved inside with tense shoulders, his eyes frowning against the darkness in the hallway. Without windows and electricity to keep the lamps burning, the building was covered in complete darkness.

Wordlessly they split off into smaller groups. After spending so much time fighting together, one glance was enough to know the plan of action. Milo followed Abraham into a hallway on their left, with Quinn walking closely behind him. In the distance he could hear a slight snarling and stumbling but he couldn't see the source of the sounds just yet.

'Ahead,' Quinn muttered, nodding at a door at the end of the hallway.

Abraham threw a quick look over his shoulder, as if wanting to check if the siblings were ready for whatever was behind the door. When he seemed satisfied with their positions he turned his eyes forward again, taking the last few steps to reach the door, his hand hovering above the handle. Before he could move to open it however, he was distracted by a sound coming from the hallway on their left.

Silently the three of them moved into the darkness towards the source of the noise. Ahead Milo could make a figure shuffling around in the dark and he moved his finger to the trigger.

Abraham walked towards the figure with a few great strides. He reached for the shape and pushed it against the wall, right into the only spot of light coming through a hole in the ceiling. Milo caught sight of a man. Very much alive. But Abraham didn't release him from his grip. And as he stared the man right in the eye, he was trembling all over as if having to physically stop himself from killing the man.

Milo looked at Quinn who stared back at him with worried eyes. He took a step forwards and muttered the soldier's name, not wanting to touch him in fear of startling him and ending up hurting the man he was holding.

'Let's go, Abraham,' Milo pressed.

For a moment silence hung in the air, as thick as smoke. Until finally Abraham released the man from his grip and swung his arm around his shoulder to help him walk faster towards the exit.

The four of them quickly made their way back to the front door and as they stepped outside, Milo saw they were the last group to return. It also didn't escape his notice how Daryl reached for Quinn, his eyes scanning her body for any possible injuries. Milo looked away from the two, turning his eyes to Rick instead, who was working on getting Jesus out of his handcuffs.

'Let's get them into the RV,' he said, gesturing for everyone to follow him.

Jesus helped the man Abraham had been holding to walk towards the vehicle. It was only now that Milo saw him broad daylight he realises the man was injured, which explained why he'd been stumbling around.

There was barely any space left in the RV with the four people they'd saved crammed inside as well, but Jesus assured them it wasn't far anymore.

Milo watched as Jesus turned to look at the man they'd saved, the genuine worry he'd seen outside the building still written all over his features. He knew nobody could deny now that Jesus' community was real and that he cared for his people just as Milo cared for his own family. And for some strange reason it warmed him to see other people having found the same kind of safe haven that he had. There might just be hope for the world yet.

'You okay Freddie?' Jesus questioned the wounded man, taking Milo out of his thoughts.

The man, Freddie, blinked. As if having to get his thoughts in order before he was able to reply. 'For a second back there,' he started, swallowing thickly, 'just when I thought he was gonna...' His eyes drifted to Abraham and he shivered. 'I saw my wife,' Freddie continued, his voice breaking as tears gathered in his eyes. 'She died before all this. Just when I thought it was over, there she was. Clear as day.' He smiled through the tears, the thought of his wife strong enough to break through the pain.

Milo noticed Abraham looking everywhere but at the man. Whatever was plaguing him, Milo could only hope he figured it out soon. His thoughts drifted back to that day on the road when Eugene revealed he had been lying about Washington. It felt like years ago, when it really couldn't have been more than a few weeks. He remembered Abraham being so broken he hadn't even had the strength to control himself from hurting his friends. He wished for nothing more than for him to find some peace, though he knew it was easier said than done.

A shock went through the RV, forcing Milo out of his thoughts. With a frown he turned in his seat to look at Rick as he tried to move the vehicle forward. The sound of the tires spinning  came from outside, but the RV didn't move. They were stuck.

'Damn it,' Rick muttered. 'A storm must've passed through. We're stuck.'

'No worries,' Jesus said, standing up from his seat. 'We're here.'

One after the other they made their way outside. Milo threw a quick glance at the front of the RV, sighing as he saw the wheel was stuck deep in a pool of mud. But his gaze quickly drifted elsewhere. Across a green field stretched out before them he could see wooden walls standing proud and tall.

Jesus noticed him staring in awe and smiled. 'That's us. That's the Hilltop.'

Milo teared his eyes away from the walls and looked at Jesus standing beside him. 'It looks secure enough.' For some reason he wanted to hit himself for saying something so obvious but Jesus merely nodded at him, still smiling. Then, after a quick look over his shoulder to see if everyone had made it out of RV, Jesus made his way up the road towards the front gates.

With his weapon in his hand, more out of habit than out a real sense of danger, Milo walked after the people from Hilltop towards the huge wooden gates ahead of them. Quinn was walking beside him, her eyes sparkling with what he could only describe as excitement.

'Stop right there!' A stern voice called out.

Immediately they halted and raised their weapons towards the source of the warning. Up on the wall stood two guards, one on either side of the gate. They both only held a spear in their hands but despite that, no one lowered their weapons.

'You gonna make us?' Daryl shot back.

'Jesus what the hell is this?' One of the guards questioned.

'Open the gates, Kal. Freddie's hurt,' Jesus replied, then turned to look at them. 'Look, sorry about these guys. They get antsy standing up there all day doing nothing.'

Milo smiled despite himself, trying to hide his face behind his gun as he pointed it up.

'They give up the weapons, then we'll open the gates,' the guard, Kal, said.

'Why don't you come down here and get 'em?' Daryl spoke through gritted teeth.

'Gentlemen!' One of the people they rescued interrupted, stepping forwards to face the guards. 'Look, we vouch for these people, all right? They saved us out there. Lower the spears.'

'Look, I'm not taking any chances,' Rick said. 'Tell your guy Gregory to come out here.'

'No,' Jesus told him. 'Don't you see what just happened. I'm letting you keep your guns.' When Rick still didn't seem convinced Jesus sighed and added; 'Look, we ran out of ammo months ago. I like you people. I trust you. Trust us.'

For a moment Rick simply stared at Jesus with a face like that of a cop trying to decide whether a criminal was lying or not. He must've been unable to detect any trace of a lie though because finally he nodded and gestured for everyone to lower their guns.

'Open the gates, Kal,' Jesus said once again.

And this time his request was answered. The two guards pulled at two huge wooden beams and slowly but surely the metal gates creaked open. Jesus led them inside a small community, the gates closing behind them. On Milo's right hand, against the wall, stood a few trailers and on his left here were little barns filled with people working on all kinds of things. Milo could see a smithy, a butchery and a kitchen. Behind the workshops were fields where food was being planted and produced. There was even enough space for some cows and horses to graze behind a fence. All the sheds, trailers and workshops were built around a huge house that stood in the very center of the community. It seemed like it had once belonged to a very rich family, as high and mighty as it was. There was even a little tower up on the roof. Every person he spotted was working on something, whether it was feeding the chickens or hanging out clothes to dry. Everyone was working together, chatting away like the world had always been like this. He felt the rest of his nerves disappear when he realised that these people were no different than the people they left back home.

'There was a materials yard for a power company nearby,' Jesus explained like a proud tour guide. 'That's how we put up the walls. A lot of people came from a FEMA camp. Trailers came with them.'

'How did people find out about this place?' Michonne questioned.

Jesus pointed to the mansion. 'That's called Barrington House. The family that owned it gave it to the state in the '30s. The state turned it into a living history museum. Every elementary school for 50 miles used to come here for field trips. The place was running a long time before the modern world built up around it. I think people came here because they figured it'd keep running after the modern world broke down.' He pointed towards the upper windows. 'Those windows up there let us see for miles in every direction. It's perfect for security. Come on, I'll show you inside.'

Milo looked at Quinn, only to find she was already looking at him. 'What do you think?' She asked as they made their way after Jesus towards the mansion.

'It's-' he doubted, searching for the right word, '-different,' he finally said.

'Yeah,' his sister said, taking one last look around before heading up the porch and inside the house.

The inside looked exactly as Milo had pictured. Old fashioned and very ugly, like a house from a rich and snobby family from a television series. There was a huge stairs circling to the second floor. A golden lamp hung from the ceiling and the floor was covered in a carpet that seen its best days long ago. On the wall hung several paintings of landscapes and important people and in the corner stood a divan with a flower pattern. He felt very out of place in his jacket, blouse, jeans and dirty sneakers.

'Good gracious Ignatius,' Abraham breathed behind him. Which Milo felt was a very good way to describe the strangeness of standing in a museum-like mansion.

'Most of the rooms have been converted to living spaces,' Jesus said. 'Even the ones that weren't bedrooms.'

'People live here and the trailers?' Rick asked, sounding surprised.

'We plan to build. There's babies being born,' Jesus simply said, smiling brightly.

One of the doors of the hallway was suddenly pulled open, revealing a man in his late fifties wearing a suit that seemed so out of place that Milo wanted to laugh. He just about managed to hold it in, realising his must be the leader of community Jesus told them about.

'Jesus,' the man said, 'you're back.' His eyes wondered to the rest of them. 'With guests.'

'Everyone, this is Gregory,' Jesus introduced the man. 'He keeps the trains running on time around here.' While Jesus talked, Gregory looked around the group, his eyes lingering on both Quinn and Maggie a little too long. Both Daryl and Glenn moved to stand in front of them, making Gregory turn away like nothing happened and focus his gaze on Jesus. Milo felt his fist tighten on his weapon, deciding then and there he did not like this man one bit.

'I'm the boss,' Gregory grinned, holding out his hands like that would make his statement somehow more impressive.

Rick nodded, keeping his face perfectly straight. 'Well, I'm Rick, we have a community-' 'Why don't ya'll go get cleaned up, hmm?' Gregory interrupted him, pointing at the stairs.

'We're fine,' Rick said, frowning at the man in front of him.

Gregory, however, ignored him completely. 'Jesus will show you where you can get washed up, then you come back down here when you're ready.' He walked closer to Rick, standing face to face with him as he added; 'It's hard to keep this place clean.'

'Yeah,' Rick simply said, probably deciding not to waste his time on this idiot. 'Sure.'

'Follow me,' Jesus said, throwing a glance at Gregory that Milo couldn't quite understand the meaning of. Then he turned to walk up the stairs, the rest of them following while the boss himself retreated in his office.

'I don't think I have the patience to deal with this idiot,' Quinn muttered so softly that only Daryl and Milo, who were walking directly beside her, could hear it.

Milo felt himself grinning at her words and noticed even Daryl smirking slightly. It was indeed going to be a long day if they were going to have to deal with that idiot of a man to get a deal for some food. But they'd come all this way and he refused to go back empty handed.

A U T H O R 'S  N O T E

Hi guys, I'm finally back! It's been a while and I truly apologize for that. Lately I just haven't had any inspiration to write and I just couldn't get anything done. But now that I have some free time on my hands I forced myself back into it, since I just wanted to write again so badly and I hated not getting it done. I think this chapter turned out pretty decent. It had some light moments that I really enjoyed writing. Also, Milo and Jesus finally met! I am so excited to write more about these two!

Also, with the news of the walking dead ending I've been thinking about my plans for this fic. I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to see this through until the end and that is still my plan. I've planned this story out all the way to the season 10 finale and I plan to write the extended season 11 as well. Just know that I have my own ending in mind and no matter how the serie ends, I am going to write that ending (any guesses to what that's going to be? ;).

Another thing I wanted to say is that I'm not planning on writing Quinn and Milo into the Daryl and Carol spin-off. I'm not very excited about it to be honest. We don't know anything about it yet but I honestly just don't see them (especially Daryl) leaving the communities behind. The whole idea just doesn't make any sense to me. Unless the spin-off will be surprisingly good, which I doubt, I am not going to write it. The same goes for the Rick Grimes movies or anything else that the amc might come up with to make more money. I am planning to end Collapsed with the season 6 finale. The second book will cover season 7 - 11.

All my word vomit aside, I really hope you can guys can forgive me for not updating this long. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, please leave some comments or a vote if you did. Hearing from you guys really means the world to me!

Much love,

xx Nelly