Chapter 99

- Xenon -

I usually woke up earlier to make full of use of the day, but today was an exception. I slept very late into the morning, mostly because I didn't want to leave Amy's blissful embrace, feeling the warmth of her naked body under the blankets, playing with her blonde locks as I came back to consciousness while she was still deeply asleep. We were both tired from last night's events, that ended up with us losing our virginities to each other, opening a whole new world of possibilities to us.

But I would never have expected my endurance to fail me when I needed it the most... So I ended up pushing myself to the limits on our second time to make up for it. I was a bit anxious, frankly, as I am not sure how I did. I couldn't tell if she orgasmed or not, as all I could think about was to hold on for as long as I could, something I failed terribly at. It made me wonder if she'd think less of me as a man...

I was lost in thought for a while, caressing her hair until she stirred, signaling she finally woke up. She took a moment to understand the strange situation she found herself in before she understood the events that led to it. She looked up to me with a warm smile: «Good morning.»

«It is...» I didn't stop caressing her hair, something she seemed to enjoy as she leaned into my hand.

«Last night was great...» She grinned, though she couldn't hide the red hue adorning on cheeks, clearly as embarrassed as I was, no matter how I want to hide it.

«I'm glad to hear that... I wasn't sure how I did last night.» I admitted though I was breathing a sigh of relief.

«Don't worry, you were amazing.» She reassured me. I wasn't sure if she was only saying that to comfort me, or if she truly thought so, but either way, it had the desired effect.

«Thank you.» I kissed her forehead, and she just kept a goofy smile on her face. We spent a while in bed, laying in each other's arms before we heard a knock on the door.

«Give me a minute!» I hollered, before looking at my partner. I reluctantly got out of bed and put on a shirt to see who was at the door. The living quarters belonged to the previous warden of the prison and they were reasonably comfortable for a man of his status it seems. I opened the door to the sight of a sweating Glenn catching his breath, having run to my door.

«Did something happen?» I asked seriously.

«It's Dale...» He breathed out. «He came back...» There was no visible reaction on my part, but I was seething inside at the nerves he has to come back here as if nothing ever happened... «He is being held at the gates, Shane wouldn't allow him.»

«I see.» I nodded. «Thanks for telling me, I'll be there shortly.» Understanding my dismissal, he left while I got back to the bedroom.

«What are you going to do with him?» Amy asked, looking at me worriedly.

«What do you think I should do?» I asked her as I got ready to get outside.

«Well... He clearly betrayed us, so can't be allowed to stay.» She said thoughtfully. «But he also knows a lot about us...» She said vaguely, knowing full well what she was implying, but my mind was already made about the subject.

«I already have a plan, don't worry your pretty head about it.» I kissed her, before leaving for the gates.

- Narrator -

Dale was feeling unwell amidst the hostile stares of his former friends. He could recognize every face he saw, but none of them were happy to see him. He wasn't sure what most of them were fed, but he knew it didn't warrant such hate from them.

«You should've stayed there, you know.» Shane said with anger, as he knew what would've happened if they had lost the previous battle against the governor's men. Dale would have given them their location free of charge, and with Xenon away the group would not have presented much resistance because of their overly trusting nature. It is only recently that Xenon revealed details of the mission to everyone, which is the reason why they hate him so much. «Group is doing so much better since you left.»

«I'm sure it is.» Dale nodded. «I have no doubt Xenon is a capable leader.»

«Yet you went out of your way to stab him on the back, didn't you?» Shane snarled at him, though Dale didn't seem remorseful at all.

«It had to be done. He believed everyone outside of our group was an enemy, which we both know is false, and the fact that I am here is the living proof of that.» Dale shook his head. «Don't you see the strength in allying ourselves with others, don't you see that if we don't get more allies, we will be helpless when we are truly faced with enemies?»

«Don't you see that HE would've thought of that before you ever did?!» Shane was getting angrier and angrier. «You think you're so fucking smart, if you had waited like you're supposed to do, we would've met them on OUR terms! But you risked EVERYONE'S LIVES just to prove a point!» Dale was about to say something, but a new voice interrupted him.

«Seeing they see not, hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.» Xenon quoted as he walked in. «Don't bother with him, Shane. No use crying over spilled milk.» Xenon looked at Dale up and down, before he said: «I assume you came here to get me to meet with the people of Woodbury?»

«Yes.» Dale nodded, concluding it was of no use beating around the bush.

«The leader and three trusted aids can come to this location tomorrow,» Xenon gave him a map with a red circle on it. «where we would discuss the future of our two groups, to see if an alliance of some sort is feasible. You will be there as our mediator since you have been part of both groups before. Is that all you came here for?» Dale was lost for words because that was not the conversation he expected to have. He expected way more swear words, more admonishing from Xenon, guilt trips perhaps, and he was prepared to endure all of it if it meant prosperity for the people.

«I expected you to be angrier than this.» Dale admitted uncertainly. «I know I went behind your back, but you must understand why I did it...» To which Xenon merely smiled.

«For all your smarts, Dale, you are a very predictable man.» Xenon shook his head, looking at him with pity. «This goes without saying, but you are no longer welcome here. Good luck.» He said, before turning and walking away, leaving a confused Dale.

«You heard the man.» Shane shook him out of his reverie. «It's time for you to fuck off.» Dale frowned before he walked towards the car with a million thoughts on his old mind. Doubts began settling, but his stubbornness eventually won over as he rode off to the distance.

«Organize patrols for the surrounding area. I don't want the governor's men close enough to us.» Xenon told Shane, as they both looked over Dale's car disappearing in the distance.

«What are you going to do about him?» Shane suddenly asked, turning to look at Xenon. The latter had been wearing a look of indifference since he met Dale, and he never dropped it even then. «I understand this governor has innocent civilians under his protection at Woodbury, it makes sense to invite them to join us after with deal with him. But what about Dale?»

«Shouldn't it be obvious?» Xenon looked at him with a raised eyebrow, before turning away. «I will kill him myself.»