CHAPTER FIVE|| SECRETS

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" We have so much to talk about," was what got Alex indulged in information she wasn't sure she wanted to know. That morning, Alex sat with Lori for an hour, talking about secrets she couldn't believe. She learnt of the true events on the farm and how Lori wasn't sure the baby was Rick's, almost certain it wasn't. Alex remembered Shane from when she first stayed with her Uncle and Aunt just after Carl was born. She remembered how he was a good man, not that she particularly ever liked him. Now she wondered if she'd found her family at a bad time, with the tension between Rick and Lori, and Carl having some issues.

"That's why you and Rick are acting different then? You're mad at him for killing Shane?" Alex questioned, her eyebrows knitted together as she attempted to piece together the information Lori had exposed, confusion clouding her brain. 

"Not at all. I was upset. I acted in ways I shouldn't have. I just want this baby, Carl. I just want them to be okay. I don't want Carl and Rick to resent me," Lori replied, her voice laced with worry. Alex's heart ached as she listened to her aunt's words. She didn't care about the circumstances. Alex loved her family. Mistakes are just that.

"They won't. It doesn't matter what's happened or what hasn't. Whose baby that is. Family is the most important thing in this world now. They love you more than anything," Alex reassured her aunt. She could tell by the look on Lori's face that she wasn't fully convinced. Alex sighed and pulled her aunt into a hug.

"I'm here now. if he doesn't get over it'll talk to him. I love you" Alex reassured as she pulled her aunt into her arms, a smile growing on her lips feeling Lori's arms wrap around her, she still couldn't believe she was actually with them, and they were all safe. 

"I love you too... I'm so glad you're safe" Lori smiled cradling the back of Alex's head, relishing in the feeling of family, of love. things happen, especially when faced with grief, Alex knew that better than anyone. Despite the fact that Alex couldn't fully wrap her head around Lori's actions, her love for her family stuck. There was nothing that could make that bond waver.

The conversation ended Almost as quickly as it started when she saw the group of men gathering by the gate that lead to the inside of the prison, Getting up Alex rushed over to see what they were up to. to see if they needed help. 

"Rick what are you doing?" she asked forgetting about his speech from the night before, looking to Daryl he shrugged, not wanting to get involved with the Grimes family drama. 

"clearing the walkers" Ricks's words made Alex Immediately reach for the Hunting Knives on her belt, one in each hand, the long sharp objects fit her grasp perfectly.

"I'm coming" She stated throwing one of her knives up, it flipped in the air before the handle landed perfectly in her hand a smirk on her face as Glenn watched her in Awe. She was going with them. 

"No, you're staying with Lori and the girls,'" Rick ordered, making Alex's face contort in disbelief as she looked at Maggie. Rick didn't trust her ability to protect herself, but he trusted Maggie's? that had to be a joke.

"Rick," she tilted her head slightly, signalling for him to follow and walked off to the side. He sighed and followed his niece, adamant about his decision. He wanted to keep everyone safe. including her. he knew about her past, but she lived it. she knew herself better than he did. 

"You're not coming, Alex. I need you safe," he challenged before she could even get a word out. Alex bit her tongue, trying not to say anything she'd regret. her short temper had only seemed to get worse in the weeks she was alone. 

"Rick, all due respect, I was in the army for six years. I joined when I was 17, remember? I have more experience than everyone here, including you. So, respectfully, I'm coming with you so you don't get yourself killed," Alex stated, annoyance laced each word that slipped past her lips before she turned back and walking to the group with knives in hand. She didn't give him any time at all to speak. He sighed, nodding in defeat, and made his way back over to the gate. He wanted her safe, but he knew they needed as much help as they could get to complete the task at hand. 

"Ready?" Hershel asked as Rick looked out into the area, walkers prowling around making their way to the fence. Unclipping the chain holding it closed, he let the gate swing open and gestured for the others to follow him. Alex fell into step beside him, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of danger. Daryl and T-Dog rushed in first, taking out two walkers.

Standing in formation, somehow Alex ended up between Rick and Glenn, her eyes focused on approaching walkers as she stabbed her knife up through its jaw and skull before pulling the knife down, blood squirting over her clothes. As they pivoted forwards, everyone around her taking out more walkers.

Alex's heart raced, adrenaline pumping through her veins as she saw T-Dog take out a walker as they got back into formation, keeping their eyes peeled for more as they headed further into the grounds of the prison.

As they moved deeper into the prison's grounds, the group encountered more walkers. Alex's heart pounded in her chest as she moved fluidly, her knife slicing through the air as she took down one Walker after another. Her movements were quick and precise, and she didn't hesitate for a moment as she plunged her knife into their skulls.

Glancing towards Glenn she watched him pull a knife from a Walker's skull, the muscles in his arm flexing as he did before Alex lunged forward taking out another walker. her heart racing as she watched Rick slice the head of a walker, its head falling to the floor in front of her. stepping over the head she stabbed both of her knives into one walker's skull before yanking them out sending the walker to the floor.

The sound of Daryl's crossbow echoed as he took out a walker that had been sneaking up behind them. T-Dog was right beside him, his machete flashing in the sun as he slashed another walker. Rick was at the front of the group, his Knife at the ready as he scanned the area for any sign of danger. Glenn was next to him, his Dagger held tightly in his hands. Alex was between them, her eyes darting back and forth as she watched for any walkers that might be coming at them from the side.

Despite the danger, Alex felt a sense of exhilaration as she fought. This was what she had trained for, what she had spent years preparing herself for. And now, she was putting that training to use. Alex watched as her uncle turned a corner, coming to an abrupt stop and hiding behind the wall as he held his hand up, telling everyone to stop. Alex's eyebrows knitted together as she saw two walkers in riot gear approaching them.

Daryl raised his crossbow, shooting the walker, but the bolt just bounced off the helmet, making him back off. Alex lunged forward, grabbing the helmet and pushing it back, making the walker's head fall back, and jammed her knife up through the walker's chin. quick thinking. As Daryl worked on closing the gate, which seemed to have a herd of prisoner-dressed walkers behind it, the rest of the group killed the remaining walkers. Alex kept watch, her eyes scanning the area for any other walkers that might be approaching. 

once the area was cleared she walked away from the group checking the security of the fence and buildings around them to ensure everyone's safety. Before she looked back at the group, her eyes subconsciously checking each person for injuries. She watched as Glenn jogged over to the fence to let the rest of the group through yet her uncle stopped him.

Alex looked down at the walker on the floor, dressed normally, dressed like a civilian, no guard or prison uniform. something was off. "That's a civilian," she stated, as her heart skipped a beat looking up at the group. "There's a breach somewhere."

Alex's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the group. She knew that they needed to stay together if they were going to make it safe and if they were gonna push in further. "We need to find that breach and secure it," she said firmly. "We can't let any more walkers in."

"so inside could be overrun?"T-Dog's question hung in the air, Alex and Daryl nodded in unison. They knew that it was better to be safe than sorry. In this world, you always had to assume the worst.

"We can't risk a blind spot. We've got to push in," Rick stated firmly as he walked up to the entrance door of the prison, the group following beside him. They needed to make sure it was safe. He nodded towards Daryl, who raised his knife and pulled open the door. Alex felt her heart pounding in her chest as they entered the prison. She knew that they were taking a risk, but it was a risk that they had to take if they were going to make this prison safe enough for Lori to have the baby. She followed closely behind Rick and Daryl, ready for whatever lay ahead.

**

The group managed to find a clear cell block, which made it seem like a weight had been lifted from Alex's shoulders. She settled into one of the cells, claiming it as her own. She sat on the bed, thinking about the plan for the next morning. She knew that they needed to find the infirmary and the cafeteria, but her mind was also trying to come up with an emergency escape plan in case things went bad.

As she looked around the cell block, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. There was only one way in and one way out, and that made her nervous. She knew that they needed to be prepared for anything, even if it meant finding a new way out of the prison if things went wrong. She heard someone clear their throat from her door the noise pulling her from her thoughts looking over to the door she saw Glenn stood looking at her, his eyes trained on her leg rapidly bouncing anxiously.

"you okay?" he asked slowly walking into the room, he leant against a table that was placed opposite the bed Alex was sitting on, her foot rapidly tapping against the floor due to the uneasy feeling that came with there only being one way out. being trapped.

"yeah," she nodded rubbing one of her hands over her face trying to ease her anxiety as her leg continued to bounce up and down at a rapid pace the uncomfortable emotion clear to Glenn.

"you sure? you seem off" he asked getting up from the table and moving to join her on the bed, sitting next to her he looked down at her. She kept looking forward avoiding his eye contact.

"yeah Glenn I'm good" She nodded getting up and turning on her heel to walk away, Glenn's eyebrows knitted together as he got up stopping her. her behaviour concerned him, he wasn't stupid he could tell when people weren't okay, he wanted to help. he wanted to help everyone... save everyone.

"where are you going?" he asked concern laced in his voice as he looked down at Alex, turning she met his eyes. his gaze was different to what she'd seen before. Alex couldn't see a reason for his concern, his generosity and the pure kindness of the man before her confused her. She couldn't understand why he gave a shit.

"I can't sleep in here, I'll be on watch" she answered, watching as Glenn's Eyebrows knitted together in confusion. They were safe, they'd checked the perimeter. rick was on watch. they were safe. 

"ricks on it. we're safe here, you can get some real rest" he countered, He knew something was different with Alex compared to the rest of the group, he knew she hadn't ever felt safe within the group. the closest to that was at the campfire the previous night which she was already beating herself up about. Alex's pure exhaustion from the previous night made her guard falter for a minute as she accepted Glenn's affection to keep herself warm, yet now she only felt bad about it.

"no, we're not, there's one way in one way out. That exit can be easily compromised, we need another way out" Glenn's gaze softened as he looked down at the girl, realisation washing over him as he tried to understand her hesitation.

"Alex we are safe here, ricks going to stay on watch, we checked the walls, and doors nothing is getting in without us knowing. we are safe" he reassured, yet Alex knew no one could guarantee their safety. not him. not rick. no one. 

"one thing I've learnt Glenn is always have an escape plan no matter how safe you might think you are." he looked down at Alex, wondering what she could've gone through for her mindset to be as robust as it is. her heart raced as her blue eyes met his, his eyebrows knitted together as he took in the serious expression plastered on the girl's face. 

"Alex your uncle is on watch. Daryl is sleeping out there, you can stay in the same cell as me. Nothing is going to happen to you. we'll keep you safe" Alex listened to Glenn's reassuring words butterflies in her stomach fluttered at his words and the sincerity in his soft voice. yet, in reality, she was the last thing she was worried about, if anything happened she would go straight for Carl and Lori, keeping them safe, that was all she cared about.

Alex stayed silent for a moment contemplating her decisions as Glenn nodded and left the room, leaving Alex to her own thoughts. turning to watch Glenn walk away she thought she'd taken advantage of his generosity. Sighing Alex turned, walking back over to the small bed, perching on the side, her head found its way to her hands before she heard footsteps, looking up she saw Glenn standing with a blanket and his pack. A soft smile on his face as he placed his backpack on the table and laid his blanket down on the floor, his kindness once again warming Alex's heart.

maybe she could trust him.

"you're gonna sleep in here?" Alex questioned watching him as he leaned against the table opposite her bed, a few stay strands of his dark hair falling onto his forehead as he nodded with a soft smile.

"yeah if it makes you feel better. I'll stay here until you're comfortable being in here" Somehow he understood better than she did herself. being alone, that scared her more.. being alone, that terrified her.. she couldn't be alone like that again.

"I'm not a kid Glenn" She sighed, she didn't need Rick or Glenn to protect her, she huffed pulling her Jacket off her shoulders. She pretended she was stronger than she was because showing her vulnerability scared her more than being alone ever did.  

"Never said you were." Alex looked up at him before glancing to the floor where he'd laid the blanket. Alex huffed and laid back on the bed, watching from the corner of her eye as Glenn lowered himself to the floor guilt setting in as he lay on the floor.

Alex couldn't understand why he was like this, his kindness, generosity. everything about him screamed innocence. Alex sighed looking up and the Celling the silence lingered before Alex had to ask a burning question, the thoughts in her mind outweighing her desire for silence.

"Why are you so nice?" she asked, staring above her. Glenn stayed silent for a moment, unsure of what she meant. He was surprised by Alex's question, as he never really thought about how he acted towards others. his kindness came almost as naturally as breathing..

"What do you mean?" he questioned, trying to understand what she was getting at.

"Giving me your food, checking on me, now this. Why?" she questioned, turning her head and shifting so she could lean on her elbow and look down at him, surely he wanted something in return she'd done nothing to deserve this.

"Oh- um I guess I just care. You're my friend," he said, looking back at her. His heart raced purely from just that question. Glenn had always been a kind-hearted person, but he never really thought about why he acted that way. He was just being himself. However, his thoughts about Alex had been growing lately. He found himself becoming more curious about the girl.

a friend, Alex had barely even considered that.

***

A/N- I've just re-written this chapter and some quotes in this, I'm actually so proud of icl. 

anyways please don't be a silent reader, id love to read some of your comments! thank you so much for reading!