twd: the last silence

Chapter 30: The Storm Knocks

The day began like any other—calm skies, the low hum of labor, the comforting rhythm of survival. Redd left at dawn, the same as always, with three of his men. Their mission was routine: check the perimeter, scout the far treeline, and return before midday.

But midday came and went.

No Redd.

No men.

No sound.

Hank found Axel by the watchtower, his arms crossed as he surveyed the horizon.

"It's been six hours," Hank said, voice low and hard. "He should've been back by now."

Axel didn't reply.

"Redd ain't the kind of man who runs," Hank added, stepping closer. "His wife's here. His son. He wouldn't leave 'em behind."

Axel's eyes narrowed. The wind shifted. There was a stillness in the air—too quiet, too patient.

"Something happened," Hank continued. "Something bad. I can feel it, kid."

Axel finally turned. "No," he said. "You don't feel it. You know it."

He walked away without another word, heart already bracing. The storm wasn't coming—it had already arrived. It was just waiting for the door to open.

And then it did.

Seven hours after Redd had left, as the sun hung heavy in the west, a figure appeared at the front gate. Alone. Not armed. Not limping. Just… calm.

The guards raised their weapons. The man didn't flinch.

He held up one hand and pulled something from his coat—a white flag.

"Message " the man called. "I'm just a messenger."

Axel was already on his way, Hank and Emily flanking him.

The man stood in front of the gate, clean-shaven, tall, eyes too empty to trust.

"Talk," Axel said coldly.

The messenger nodded. "My name's Nolan. I come from the Governor."

Axel said nothing.

"We found your man. Him and the others. They're alive."

A cold silence fell over the gate.

"We don't want trouble," Nolan continued. "The Governor wants to talk. Peace, he said. A meeting. No fighting. No tricks."

Axel's stare could cut stone. "And if I don't come?"

Nolan smiled faintly. "Then your men stay with us. And they won't be whole for long."

Hank growled, stepping forward, but Axel held up a hand.

"Where?" Axel asked.

"There's a road," Nolan said, "southwest, marked by burnt trees. You'll find us. One day from now."

He turned, walking away like a man without fear.

Axel didn't speak until Nolan vanished into the trees.

Then, quietly, to Hank: "Prepare the weapons. Send Jason to check every vehicle. Mary and Emily stay here with the civilians."

"What are we doing?" Hank asked.

Axel's voice was colder than ice.

"We're going to meet the Governor."

....

Axel stood before the black truck, its engine rumbling like thunder under a silver sky. The gate behind him creaked open slowly, the village watching in silence as he prepared to leave. By his side were five of his finest—his trainers, though "boys" no longer fit them.

A month ago, they were just survivors. Ragged. Broken. Hungry. Lost.

But Axel had taken them in.

And then he broke them further—stripped away weakness, burned out mercy, carved away fear. He taught them to fight, to kill, to survive—not for themselves, but for him. They weren't just soldiers now.

They were his weapons.

His wolves.

Loyal to the bone.

If he said jump, they jumped.

If he said kill a child, they wouldn't blink.

If he said die—they would bleed themselves dry at his feet.

Now five of those ten stood with him, armored and armed to the teeth, eyes dead and calm like still water.

The other five waited behind.

Hank approached, jaw tight, eyes narrowed with tension.

Axel handed him a folded paper.

"My orders," Axel said, voice low but sharp. "If I don't return in two days…"

He didn't finish.

Hank didn't need him to.

"I got it," Hank said.

"You've got five of my boys here," Axel continued. "If anything happens—you burn that place to the ground."

Hank looked at the five standing beside him. They didn't speak. They didn't blink.

They were still. Focused.

Deadly.

Axel gave a small nod.

Then he climbed into the truck, his five wolves joining him.

The engine roared. The gate opened wider.

And without another word, Axel and his wolves drove out into the world, heading toward the lion's den.

The Governor was waiting.

And Axel was ready to show him what a king looked like.

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