As she was about to answer me, someone suddenly opened the door, cutting our conversation short. Turning around, I saw Rick, who simply nodded at me, signaling for me to follow him. I went with him and the woman who was now accompanying us, likely to keep an eye on me.

Upon entering the area they must have spent a lot of time organizing, I saw several people. Maggie was a bit further away, talking to her father and another man, whom Rick went to join. Looking around, I noticed that each former cell had been converted into a sort of bedroom for the group members, which was clever. Some members of the group moved toward Rick and the others who were talking. There was a boy wearing a hat and a girl holding a baby.

"Come," Rick said, noticing that I hadn't moved from where I stood. The others were looking at me as if I were an enemy, though Maggie and Hershel gave me small smiles.

"Light is a friend. I helped treat her some time ago. She's never attempted anything criminal against us, and I completely trust her. She knows how to defend herself and survive, which could always be helpful for the group," Hershel said, placing a hand on my shoulder and smiling at me. His words seemed to reassure most of the group. He must have been considered one of the group's leaders since everyone listened carefully to what he said.

"Completely trust her? Are you kidding me?" My gaze immediately turned to the person who had spoken. He was a tall man with striking yet chilling blue eyes and brown hair. He carried a crossbow slung over his back and didn't seem like someone you'd want to provoke. He was already annoyed by the situation, and my presence seemed to irritate him further.

"Listen, Daryl. If Hershel trusts her, I trust her. Besides, she saved Glenn's and my life earlier by putting herself in danger. She didn't have to do that, but she did," Rick said.

I raised an eyebrow, a bit taken aback by the group talking about me as if I weren't standing there. However, knowing that even Rick was defending me brought me some relief. I mentally told myself to thank him once this little meeting was over. Just then, the boy with the hat spoke up, looking at me.

"Are you a ninja?" Rick placed a hand on the boy's head and chuckled lightly. "Sorry, this is my son, Carl."

I looked at the young boy and smiled gently at him. Not knowing what to say, I simply smiled.

"Take off that mask so we can at least see what you look like," the gray-haired woman from earlier said. I raised my eyebrows and sighed.

"No, I feel more comfortable with it on." Hershel nodded at my response. During our first encounter, I hadn't shown my face without the mask, and he hadn't questioned it.

"Stupid," Daryl muttered before walking away as soon as he said it.

The others went back to whatever they were doing before, and Maggie asked me to follow her to one of the cells.

"Sit there; I'll grab what I need to treat you. I'll be right back," she said before leaving.

I sat on the bed and watched through the cell door as the others went about their activities. The girl with the baby was walking around, likely trying to soothe it as it cried. Seeing her, I stood up and approached her and the baby, who indeed seemed to be crying. The girl, Beth, was Maggie's sister. We hadn't spoken much, but from what I remembered, she seemed kind.

"Can I try?" I asked Beth, who was struggling to calm the baby. I had often taken care of my little sister before, so I knew how to handle this.

"Here, her name's Judith," Beth said. She hesitated, but deep down, she must have known I'd never think of harming the baby. She handed Judith to me, and I gently cradled her in my arms. Speaking softly to reassure her, I began rocking her gently and lightly stroking her face. Beth waited a few moments to see if Judith had really calmed down and then smiled widely.

"How did you do that?" she asked, whispering so as not to wake the baby.

"I had a little sister. I used to take care of her often. Is she your baby?" I asked Beth, but someone interrupted her before she could respond.

"She's my daughter," Rick said, looking a bit confused to see me holding his child but ultimately pleased that she was finally asleep.

"Sorry, I just wanted to help Beth," I said defensively as I handed Judith back to Beth, who quickly left, leaving Rick and me alone.

"Don't apologize. Thanks to you, she's finally asleep," Rick said with a smile before heading back to Hershel, who had been watching from a distance.

When I turned, Maggie was waiting for me, so I went to join her.

"Don't worry, this won't take long," she said as she started treating my wounds. As she worked, she talked about everything that had happened. I learned a lot about the deaths of some of her family members, her encounter with Rick's group, and how her father's farm had burned down. She also explained how they had settled in the prison as a safe haven but were now facing threats from a man called the Governor and Daryl's brother.

I tried to remember every detail. If I wanted to be part of this group, I needed to know what to expect. She also shared her story with Glenn, which made me smile. It was nice to see that even during an apocalypse, good things like love could still exist.

Maggie paused, staring at my hair, which now fell just below my shoulders and was shorter in the front. I had cut it myself the last time I found a mirror, leaving shorter strands that curled inward on the sides.

"This new haircut suits you, though it's strange not to see your long hair anymore," she said. The last time she saw me, my brown hair had been long, reaching my lower back, and she had complimented it, saying it was beautiful. I thanked her politely as she lowered her head slightly, seemingly unsure how to bring up what was on her mind.

"The man who was with you... Connor, I think. What happened to him?" I quickly looked away and stared at the ground. My mistake had been one reason I lost my companion, and I still blamed myself for it.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have asked," Maggie said, standing up to dispose of the used gauze.

"No, don't apologize. He was bitten, unfortunately," I replied, lifting my head and forcing a small smile to reassure her.

"I'm sorry. I'll go find Glenn outside. Try to talk to the others," she said before leaving.

I replayed her last words in my head. I wondered how to approach someone or even start a conversation with them.

I got up and stepped out of the cell, observing the people around me—survivors who must have fought hard to make it this far. Seeing Maggie with her family or Rick still protecting his children felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

I was useless, unable to protect my own family or even my friends. Once again, I let myself get lost in a cloud of dark thoughts until a tall man approached me with a big smile. Placing a hand on my shoulder, he leaned down slightly to my height and smiled.

"You okay? From the look on your face, it seems like a hurricane just passed through," he said with a light laugh.

"Sorry, I was just lost in thought," I replied, chuckling slightly.

He seemed friendlier than the others, wearing a dark blue beanie.

"What's your name?" I asked, remembering Maggie's advice about talking to others.

"Tyreese. And you?"

"Light." He nodded, acknowledging my response. I wasn't used to confiding in others or starting conversations, but there had to be a first time for everything.

Searching for a topic, a question popped into my head.

"Do you have family here too?"

"Yes, my sister. She's all I have left, and I'd give my life for her." His expression darkened, likely thinking about the dangers posed by the Governor.

"Light, come here. I need you," Rick called out from a distance, standing with Glenn and a few others. I excused myself to Tyreese and headed toward them.

"Do you mind if we talk later? I'd like to get to know you better," I said. Tyreese nodded in response, watching me leave before turning to talk to his sister.

When I reached Rick, Glenn, and Daryl, they all looked at me differently—Glenn with a smile and Daryl as if I were the worst person alive.

"Listen, as Maggie probably told you, we're in a complicated situation with the Governor. Michonne has explained several things, and he'll likely act in the coming days. We need to protect ourselves and make sure the group can defend itself. But Merle, Daryl's brother, is still over there, and we need to get him before this all starts," Rick said, pausing to take a breath before continuing.

"If you want to be part of this group, now's the time to prove yourself. Hershel told us you're a good survivor and a decent shot. Is that true?"

My eyebrows furrowed. While it was partly true, I wasn't nearly as skilled as Hershel made me out to be.

"Yes, I think so, but let's not exaggerate. I get by, that's all," I said, crossing my arms.

Daryl sighed loudly, looking at Rick. "You're seriously sending me with the damn ninja? What the hell am I supposed to do with her? We don't even know if she can hold a gun." He pointed a finger at me as he shouted.

In an instant, I pulled out the last weapon I had hidden in the back of my jeans and aimed it directly at him.

"If I were you, I'd watch what I say about the damn ninja before claiming I can't hold a gun," I said.

Rick frowned. I had lied earlier, but not entirely—the gun was empty, so I couldn't have done anything with it anyway. I lowered the weapon and handed it to Rick.

"There are no bullets left in it," I said, just as Daryl shoved me roughly with both hands.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" he snarled, his cold eyes locked onto mine as I tried to maintain eye contact.

"You're acting like a child. I can't go with her," he said, turning to Rick, who had taken the opportunity to talk to Hershel.

"Daryl, come here. I need to talk to you," Hershel called, gesturing for him to approach. Daryl shot me one last disdainful look before walking away.