The department store was silent.
Dust floated slowly through the air as the group stepped inside. The lights were off, and the only illumination came from the broken windows near the ceiling.
Rick slowly lowered his hands.
The survivors inside the store kept their weapons pointed at the newcomers for several seconds longer.
Finally Glenn stepped forward.
"Relax, they're with me."
The tension eased slightly.
A tall man with a shaved head stepped forward next.
Merle Dixon.
He looked the group up and down with clear annoyance.
"Well look what the cat dragged in."
Rick frowned slightly.
"We're not looking for trouble."
Merle spat on the floor.
"You brought it with you, cowboy."
Another survivor stepped between them quickly.
Andrea.
"That's enough, Merle."
Behind her stood her younger sister.
Amy.
Both looked exhausted.
Glenn gestured toward the rest of the group.
"This is everyone."
Rick glanced around.
The store had been turned into a temporary safe zone.
Barricaded doors.
Improvised sleeping areas.
A few supplies.
But it was clear they were trapped.
Rick turned to Glenn.
"How long have you been here?"
"A couple days."
Rick looked toward the windows.
"What's the plan?"
Merle laughed loudly.
"Plan?"
He stepped closer.
"The plan was to get the hell out of this city."
Cole crossed his arms.
"And?"
Merle gestured angrily toward the street outside.
"And look outside!"
The walkers could still be heard wandering nearby.
Glenn sighed.
"We tried leaving yesterday."
Andrea nodded.
"There were too many of them."
Rick glanced toward Ghost.
Ghost had been silent the entire time.
Merle finally noticed him.
"…And who the hell is this guy?"
Ghost didn't respond.
Merle stepped closer.
"What's with the mask, freak?"
Cole spoke before Ghost could.
"That's our leader."
Merle laughed loudly.
"That kid?"
Ghost slowly turned his head toward him.
The red lenses of the mask reflected Merle's face.
The room went quiet.
Something about the masked stranger made everyone uncomfortable.
Merle narrowed his eyes.
"You got something to say?"
Ghost answered calmly.
"Yes."
Merle smirked.
"Well?"
"This location is compromised."
Andrea frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Ghost pointed toward the windows.
"Too many walkers."
Then toward the barricaded doors.
"Poor escape routes."
Glenn nodded slowly.
"He's not wrong."
Rick crossed his arms.
"So what do you suggest?"
Ghost paused for a moment.
Then spoke.
"We disguise ourselves."
The room went silent again.
Amy blinked.
"…Disguise?"
Ghost looked toward the walkers outside.
"As them."
Several people immediately reacted.
"That's insane."
"No way."
"That's disgusting."
Merle laughed again.
"You serious?"
Ghost remained calm.
"Yes."
Rick thought about it for a moment.
Then he remembered something.
Earlier that day…
When he had covered himself with walker blood to escape the tank.
He looked at Ghost.
"…It might work."
Glenn nodded.
"That's actually how Rick got here."
Andrea looked uncomfortable.
"You want us to cover ourselves in walker guts?"
Ghost answered simply.
"Yes."
Merle shook his head.
"You people are crazy."
Cole stepped forward.
"Crazy beats dead."
Silence filled the store.
Finally Rick spoke.
"It's our best chance."
Glenn nodded.
"I agree."
Andrea looked around at the others.
Slowly… reluctantly… the group began to accept the idea.
Because the truth was simple.
They had no other way out.