Chapter Text
Chapter 89: Shadows Behind Walls
POV: The War Table at Kin, then Paul “Jesus” Rovia
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Part I — “We Listen.”
Location: The War Table, Kin
The whisper came through like a ripple over glass—sharp, low, and brushed with urgency.
The room had dimmed for evening. The war table glowed in pulses, casting faint silver light onto the watchers huddled near it. Hermione stood with her arms folded, eyes narrowed; Luna flanked her, as ever, quiet and sensing something more. Reed and Rook sat beside Hershel, not touching the table—just watching it flicker.
Ben leaned closer as the voices crackled in through the listening rune pinned inside Alexandria’s council chamber. A small enchantment helped filter ambient noise, and now the sound was clear as ice:
“He didn’t say where he was from,” Aaron’s voice said.
“Do you trust him?”
“Yes. But I don’t think he trusts us.”
“We’ll need to be ready.”
Silence followed.
Then the faint scrape of a chair.
“What kind of things did he say, Aaron?” came Deanna’s voice, calm but clipped.
“He said there are people out there who trade safety for fear. Who hurt others to stay in power. He didn’t say names. But… I could feel it. He’s seen things we haven’t.”
Hermione leaned over to scribble on the parchment beside her: Outside contact. Jesus (Hilltop) met Aaron (Alexandria). Shared warning. Alexandria unaware of Saviors.
“I thought Jesus didn’t like Alexandria,” Rook said, furrowing his brow.
“He doesn’t dislike them,” Luna murmured. “He just… doesn’t want to waste time.”
River, half-lounging nearby, rolled his eyes. “You’re such a Jesus apologist.”
“Wouldn’t be the worst religion,” Dean muttered from where he leaned on the doorframe. “Guy’s got a better beard than half the apostles.”
The table pulsed again. A small flicker near Hilltop lit up.
Harry entered with a steaming mug. “He’s on the move again.”
“Where to?” Rick asked, walking in with Morgan beside him. Both had clearly been summoned mid-conversation, concern on their faces.
Hermione circled a rune on the table that glowed faintly green. “He’s… actually heading back to Alexandria.”
“Round two,” Glenn muttered.
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Part II — “Knocking on the Gate”
Location: Alexandria
Jesus didn’t knock. He didn’t need to.
He simply appeared just outside the gate, hands raised peacefully, no weapon drawn. The guards, half-distracted and poorly positioned, fumbled with radios and shouted for Deanna.
Inside, Aaron was already rushing toward the gate, half-expecting him.
When it opened, Jesus offered a small nod.
“Didn’t expect you back so soon,” Aaron said.
Jesus gave a faint shrug. “Didn’t like leaving things open-ended. Thought you deserved a few facts.”
Deanna arrived moments later, flanked by Spencer and Olivia. She kept her expression polite but guarded.
“You said there was a threat,” she said. “Something worse than the Wolves. I want you to explain.”
Jesus looked at her. Calm. Direct.
“There’s a group called the Saviors,” he said. “You haven’t met them yet. That’s good. Keep it that way. They’re brutal. Organized. They take from communities like yours. They demand tribute. And if you don’t comply—” he tilted his head, “—they make examples.”
Deanna’s eyes flickered.
Aaron stiffened. “Have they—have you—?”
“We’ve only seen the edge of them,” Jesus replied. “But others haven’t been so lucky.”
Deanna folded her arms. “Why tell us this?”
“Because I’ve seen places like yours crumble under delusions of safety. You have gardens. Lights. Hope. That draws attention.”
“So you’re offering… protection?”
“No,” Jesus said, firm. “I’m offering truth.”
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Back at Kin
“They don’t know,” Luna said softly as the voices played out across the war table.
“No,” Hermione agreed, mouth a thin line. “But now they have a name.”
Rick exhaled. “And that changes everything.”
Carl, sitting on the edge of the bench near the triplets, leaned forward. “What do we do?”
Judith, older now and bright-eyed, whispered from beside him: “We watch. Like always.”
Reed grinned. “And then when it matters… we strike.”
Luna gave him a Look.
“Eventually,” Reed muttered.
The war table shimmered as Jesus left Alexandria, heading back toward Hilltop. The room stilled, filled with the low crackle of candlelight and the realization they had crossed into something deeper.
The Saviors weren’t just a rumor anymore.
They were real.
And they were coming.
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