The decision wasn't announced.
It simply appeared — the way all important things did after the end of the world. No vote. No shouting. People started gathering their gear before anyone said the word Atlanta out loud.
Harry checked his weapons in silence. Movement after movement, unhurried — as if he'd done this hundreds of times before. T-Dog stood nearby, watching closely as Harry adjusted straps, checked magazines, touched metal without looking, but never missing.
"So who's going?" Dale asked when it became clear this wasn't just preparation in case.
Harry lifted his head.
"The main group," he said.
"No kids.
The Morales family stays behind — camp security, comms, rear guard."
Anna nodded immediately. Carlos looked tense, but didn't argue.
"I'm going," Daryl said.
It wasn't a question.
"Understood," Harry replied.
"So am I," Andrea said.
A few people turned toward her. She stood straight — no challenge in her posture, but no hesitation either.
"You sure?" Dale asked quietly.
"Yes," Andrea answered. "I'm not staying behind to guard tents."
"Me too," Amy added.
Harry looked at both of them carefully.
"You stick together," he said.
"No improvising.
No heroics."
"Agreed," Amy replied.
"I'll cover the rear," T-Dog said.
"I don't like cities, but I know how to survive in them."
Merle snorted.
"Sounds like a real raid."
"It is," Harry said simply.
"I'm going too," a voice said from the side.
Glenn stepped out from behind one of the vehicles, a backpack slung over his shoulder. He looked focused, but when he took a step, his right foot shifted awkwardly. Harry noticed immediately.
His gaze dropped to Glenn's shoes.
The old sneakers were worn nearly to failure — the sole peeling at the toe, fabric torn at the heel, mismatched laces. Shoes like that wouldn't fail you in a fight — they'd fail you while running.
"Your shoes," Harry said plainly.
"They'll hold a bit longer," Glenn shrugged.
"For a runner, 'a bit longer' is the difference between living and dying," Harry replied.
He opened a side compartment of the RV and pulled out a pair of boots.
Dark matte leather. Flexible sole with deep tread. Reinforced toe and heel. Nothing flashy — just function.
"Try them."
Glenn changed without a word. Took a few steps. Squatted. Stood quickly.
"They're… quiet," he said, surprised.
"Soft sole," Harry explained.
"Ankle support without killing your stride.
No slipping on concrete.
They won't fall apart in a week."
Glenn looked up.
"I won't let you down."
"And don't play hero," Harry added.
"You're more valuable alive."
Glenn nodded and tightened the laces properly this time.
"That's too many people," Shane snapped.
He stood off to the side, arms crossed.
"The city's a trap.
And if someone here thinks they're in charge—"
"Stop," Harry said calmly.
Shane froze.
"You don't command," Harry continued.
"You suggest.
We decide."
"I was a cop," Shane shot back.
"But when we were ambushed by bandits," Andrea said coldly,
"you weren't there."
Silence fell.
"You didn't do anything for the group," T-Dog added.
"And now you want everyone obeying you."
"I held the perimeter," Shane snapped.
"The perimeter was empty," Dale said.
"I checked afterward."
Harry didn't raise his voice.
"You didn't cover.
You didn't coordinate.
You didn't lead."
He looked Shane straight in the eyes.
"But now you demand authority."
Shane clenched his jaw and turned away.
"Do whatever you want."
Before departure, Harry opened another side compartment of the RV.
Inside, secured with straps, lay spears — simple in appearance, perfectly balanced. Dark wooden shafts, matte metal heads.
"We take these," Harry said, handing one to each of them.
"For tight spaces," he added.
"Quiet.
Distance.
When ammo runs out — these don't."
"Good balance," Daryl muttered.
"We trained with these," T-Dog said.
Andrea tested her grip.
Amy repeated the motion without guidance.
"Where the hell do you get so many?" Merle asked.
"I prepare ahead of time," Harry replied.
Merle huffed.
"Smart bastard."
Harry walked along the line one last time.
Three vehicles.
"We move like this," he said.
"Dixon brothers together — front.
T-Dog and Glenn — second vehicle.
Andrea and Amy with me — in the RV."
"This isn't a privilege," he added.
"It's responsibility."
The engines started.
End of the Chapter — Inside the RV
Andrea took a few steps inside — and stopped.
The space didn't add up.
The corridor was longer than it should be. The ceiling higher. The interior was larger than the vehicle's exterior allowed.
"It's… bigger," Amy whispered.
Portraits lined the walls.
People inside them were watching. Not like paintings — like living observers.
"I've heard of this," Amy said quietly.
"My parents talked about it… but I thought it was just stories."
"Living portraits," Andrea whispered.
"I've never seen them before."
"The world didn't break all at once," one of the portraits said calmly.
Amy held her breath.
"They're… talking to us."
"Only because you understand where you are," a woman in another portrait replied gently.
"Now I get it," Andrea murmured.
"Why he never let anyone in here."
Harry didn't turn around.
"You've seen more than most," he said.
"We won't say anything," Amy said immediately.
"That's enough," Harry replied.
The RV rolled on —
bigger on the inside,
filled with things
the outside world wasn't ready to see.
Atlanta lay ahead.