So sorry for the waiting. Thank you to everyone who is still following this story! It is very much appreciated. I'm going to get better at this I SWEAR!

Hope you enjoy this chapter as a very important character is introduced! It has definitively been long awaited! Don't forget to leave a review if you enjoyed!

Chapter 18: The One Where Abraham Leads

"Marry me?"

Rosita's body was frozen in the warm summer afternoon.

The pounding of her heart against her rib cage made it hard to hear her own thoughts - not that she actually had any, her mind had gone completely blank once the question he asked her left his lips.

A few long seconds had passed since the question was asked and Rosita tried to figure out where to look as she avoided looking at Abe. Rosita couldn't even process the question let alone what she wanted to respond with. She was not expecting this from him but then again, no one ever called Abraham Ford predictable.

Simply to say, Rosita was in shock which caused her to forget that Abe was standing just a few feet in front of her waiting for an answer.

"Look," He spoke after noticing her hesitation. "I know this isn't what you expected of me - not even what I expected from myself." He mustered a laugh through a huff. He was a little nervous now but his heart took control as he spoke. "You don't have to answer right now. Jus' that…you should know that I've never been so sure about something before. But I mean all of it, Rosita, I only want this with you. Will you let me have the greatest honor of marrying you?"

She rarely saw this side of Abraham but every time she did it unfailingly made her weak in the knees.

Looking back into his piercing blue eyes after tracing the crevices of the dark wooden porch, Rosita could feel just how sure he was in one look. She could feel that all he wanted was her.

Finally understanding that, her breath caught and her heart stopped completely.

She could also notice his confidence fading with every second she remained silent. That made her smile.

She stepped out of the door frame of her cabin and didn't stop until her head was buried in his chest.

Abraham instinctively wrapped both arms around her til his hands came together at the small of her back holding her tightly to him.

He rested his chin on the top of her head and let the sounds of the natural outdoors around them calm his nerves before realizing that he was unsure of what her hugging him meant. He pulled away gently. "...means you say yes?"

Rosita looked up with a smile and some fallen tears. "Course it means yes!" She assured before feeling his lips come down and lock with hers.

She slid her hands up along his chest and wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her off the porch and held her in his arms - neither one breaking their impassioned kiss.

Abraham moved his lips down to her chin and neck leaving a trail of kisses before he set her back on the porch. "Should probably go so I can get back 'fore if gets too dark." It pained him to break their moment.

"Go where?" She put her hand in his to stop him from walking off the porch.

"Gotta get my fiance the ring she deserves." In an affectionate manner he pulled her toward him and kissed her once more before slipping out of her loose grip.

Rosita just smiled and watched as he walked off. He made her happy and being happy for the rest of her life with him sounded great.

Summer...Summer...Summer

"Married?... The both of you?" Daryl finally broke the silence that fell over the girls' cabin as his team processed what they were being told by both Abraham and Rosita. He couldn't blame the others for being so in shock. Earlier that day Rosita looked like she wanted to kill Abraham and now they were engaged. That must have been one hell of an apology Daryl thought.

"That's the plan." Abraham said with a nod and gently squeezed Rosita's hand that he had been holding. He'd like to think it was to comfort her but he secretly needed the reassurance. For some reason he was more nervous telling the kids about the engagement than when he proposed to Rosita just a few hours ago.

Rosita rubbed her thumb over the back of Abraham's hand as she traced the profile of his face with her eyes. "I know this came out of nowhere, but we are two adults who know what we want - and what we want is to spend our lives with each other."

Lori sat on her bed with Shane and Kelly beside her. The three had shared a look of confusion at first but then a smile, the same as Kelly's, swept over the face of both girls. Shane only became more confused when he noticed the two smiling so he looked over to where Tara was standing and was relieved to know he wasn't the only one still puzzled.

"Wow, you really didn't waste time." Glenn nodded with acceptance.

That calmed some nerves Abraham had and he felt a little more comfortable. He smiled and brushed his shoulder against Rosita's. "You just know when it's the one."

In an effort to not giggle like her six year old sister would have at the sweet affection, Maggie chewed on her bottom lip and stared at the nearest person to her, which was Rick. The boy was nodding but at what? She had no idea. It was becoming silent again so she lightly kicked Rick and when he raised a brow to her she nudged her head in the direction of their leaders.

Rick clear his throat. "Guess we're jus' a little taken aback. But in a good way" He assured as he chuckled.

A wave of contentment fell upon Michonne as she stood beside Carol. "This is way better than what I was hoping for. I am so happy for you two!" She said with a smile then made her way to the two camp leaders as they welcomed her in a hug.

"I am too!" Carol chuckled and joined the hug in between Abraham and Michonne.

"Hey, me three!" Kelly jumped up and wrapped one arm around Michonne and the other around Rosita.

"Me four!" Lori ran and squeezed herself into what was turning into a group hug.

Glenn and Shane both stood at the same time and walked over to the clump of people and encased their arms around someone closest to them.

Tara was off in her mind thinking of a nice - not at all sarcastic - way to congratulate them and when she finally found something good to say she found most of her team hugging in the middle of the cabin. "When did this happen?" She questioned Rick who just laughed as he walked over to her and wrapped an arm over her shoulders, leading them both to their group's tight embrace.

Maggie stood up from the bed and walked to the older boy standing at the far side of the room. She held her hand out to him but he just looked at it and shook his head. Maggie lifted a brow. "C'mon Daryl, it's not complete if you ain't with us." She pleaded.

Daryl looked passed the girl and saw the rest of the team giggling and embracing one another. A piece of him wanted to be with them but he was scared since he knew that camp was soon to end. When he looked back at Maggie at that moment he was more scared to hurt her feelings by shaking his head again. Daryl reached out and put his hand in hers and together they walked to their team where they were quickly pulled in by the others. The warm welcome reminded him that these people were going to be there for him long after summer ended.

"So… are we like, the first to know?" Tara asked when the group finally pulled apart.

Rosita's eyes widened as she caught Abraham's eye. She was shocked that she hadn't even thought to call her mom or dad yet - or one of her sisters - or one of her many cousins. Instead her first thought was to tell her team. "Yeah. Yeah you are." She laughed. Her whole life she imagined telling her mother first but the kids in front of her must have meant more to her than she'd realized.

"My god." Abraham breathed. "I've gotta tell Boss the news!" He turned to Rosita and silently pleaded for her to let him go.

"Go ahead." She rolled her eyes at how the grown man rushed out the door. She never understood the relationship between Mr. Phil and Abraham. It was as if the two grown men had a crush on one another. Well they did have a bromance of sorts… a weird bromance.

"Guess I should call up my family." Rosita told the kids as she went to grab her phone before quickly turning back to her team with a pointed finger. "If my sisters ask, they were the first to know but if my abuela asks, she was the first to know."

"Understood." Maggie giggled.

Summer...Summer...Summer

Two days passed since Rosita and Abraham had gotten engaged. It was Monday now and the start of their last week at camp. Slowly, each one of the Walking Dead team members showed up to the round table that was in the middle of the cafeteria.

Carol was the last to join the table and was shocked to actually see Glenn was there before her. Well, she was more shocked to see Glenn there at all. "Nobody ever bothers to wake me up." She said as she took a seat in between Daryl and Rick while eyeing her cabin mates.

"You look so peaceful when you're sleeping, I don't have the heart to interrupt that." Lori explained.

Tara snorted. "No, a bomb could sound off and Carol still wouldn't wake up from it - let alone the alarm clock we practically tape to her ear every night."

Carol shook her head. "Well, I'm not apologizing for the love I have for sleep."

Daryl made a mental note of that. He found interest in learning the small things about Carol, it made him feel closer to her in the slightest of ways. It made her human to him. He personally was a light sleeper, then again he was probably the only teenager who would wake up to the sound of raindrops on a window - even in his deepest of sleep. Maybe that was why he hated mornings so much - especially here at camp. The sound of his cabin mates waking up never allowed him to sleep in even if he were dead tired.

Daryl snapped out of his thoughts and debated on whether or not he should give Carol a kiss on the cheek but she had been sitting there for about a minute already, would it seem weird and out of nowhere to kiss her now? He looked up as his eyes fell immediately on Kelly whose eyes were already on his. "What?" He quietly questioned his teammate.

Kelly gave him a knowing look before smirking. It was like she was in his head reading his every thought.

"Nothin'." The girl shrugged before popping a small slice of watermelon in her mouth.

She definitely knew how to get under his skin. Daryl eyed the girl for a moment and as if he were proving something to her, he turned to Carol and quickly kissed the side of her smooth, warm face.

"You look real nice today." He hadn't realized it until it was said from his own mouth. Daryl felt his face heat up. There was something about voicing what your mind was thinking that made him feel vulnerable - and it didn't help that the rest of his table heard him.

Carol could feel her cheeks turn red. She thoughtlessly smiled and turned slightly to look in his eyes. "Thank you." She whispered back.

Shane smiled at that. He found it amusing at how both Carol and Daryl shifted uncomfortably for a moment. He thought of making a friendly joke but according to Maggie his jokes weren't 'friendly' at all. He also figured it was hard enough for Daryl to find the nerves to compliment her let alone to say it in front of the whole team. "So how's breakfast?"

"It's really good." Glenn stated before half of his team looked at him with widened eyes. Glenn looked back at them with confusion. "Did I say something wrong? The food is great..." He restated wondering if he hadn't emphasized on it as much as they'd like.

"Don't listen to him Shane, the food isn't as good as it was when you were helping cook." Michonne rushed in to say.

"Definitely nowhere near as good." Lori threw in with a shake of her head and a disgusted look at the yellow runny blobs that Mary called scrambled eggs.

"Yeah, what does Glenn know anyway? He's barely here for meals." Even Tara made sure Shane felt good about how his food made a difference, it was probably because she saw first hand how much work and pride he took in preparing the meals.

Little Beth studied her plate and all the food that was still on it before nodding. "I sure like yer cookin' better Mr. Shane. Look, I barely touched my plate!" She pouted.

Rick chuckled at that. He knew how good his best friend must be feeling with all this praise. "I have to say that I agree. Even the orange juice was better."

Shane nodded. "I had the same thoughts." He shook his head and took a weary glance over to where the kitchen was at the back of the cafeteria. "Poor Mary, she's probably wanderin' 'round helpless n' lost without me."

Kelly fought back a laugh. "Maybe you should go check on things." She patted his shoulder.

He nodded. "Alright, but I'll be right back." He assured them before standing in a hurry and rushing to the kitchen.

Michonne was the first to let out a giggle. "I worry for that boy." She shook her head.

"Least I'm not the only one anymore." Rick agreed, sharing a smile with his girlfriend.

Summer...Summer...Summer

It was noon when every group in camp met in front of an outdoor stage. They were all loudly talking amongst one another that they hadn't noticed both camp directors walked on stage until Mr. Phil spoke into a microphone.

"Attention campers and camp advisors!" He spoke loudly through the mic and waited the few short seconds it took for everyone to quiet down. "It is now the last week of camp and as it comes to an end we'd like for every team to participate in this camp-wide game where your team is competing against every team in camp."

Maggie's heart sunk. "We have to participate?" She looked to Abraham for assurance.

"You'll be fine." The young adult gave a pat to her back. The girl's shoulders slumped. Next to her Tara snorted. Maggie looked over and frowned and Tara simply raised a brow in response as if to say "Did you really think that Abraham of all people was going to say we could skip out on the last of the games?" Maggie simply sighed and focused back on Mr. Phil.

The director continued. "Of course there will be two different leagues for this game because of the vast age groups. The younger campers consisting of kinders to third graders will be in one league while fourth graders to juniors will be in another, know which league you are in and know who you are competing with."

Tara didn't like the sound of playing with elementary kids. "Enough small talk! What's the game?!" She shouted from the crowd as all of campers shifted to get a look at the girl as Abraham covered his face with one hand. Though he secretly approved of her enthusiasm for the game.

Phil and Deanna shared a look before the older man turned back to the microphone. "Miss Chambler I hadn't heard from you in awhile! I began to believe you found a way to escape from camp." Tara began to raise her hand but before she could lift one particular finger in the air Rosita slapped her arm down.

Deanna moved to speak through the shared mic. "This game is going to stress the importance of teamwork, problem solving, perseverance, and dedication. It will also build skills that are vital to know when you're camping outdoors such as how to build a tent, keeping your food out of reach from bears, and how to look for fresh water. . . most importantly, you will learn how to live in the outdoors by indeed living and sleeping outdoors with your team for the next three days." As the two directors had expected, the crowd exploded in questions, comments, and concerns.

A squeal of dread was heard from the back of Lori's throat. "We're all going to die!" She cried as Maggie pulled her into a tight embrace.

"I know it is a bit to process." Mr. Phil's voice, again, silenced the crowd. "I hate to overload you all with this news, but the camping outdoors part isn't the full game. There is more…"

"Go to summer camp they said, it will be fun they said." Michonne whispered to Kelly, who chuckled.

"I know… I should have left when my dads gave me the chance two weeks ago." Kelly sighed.

"As I stated before, this game is camp-wide. A camp-wide Scavenger Hunt. Over the next three days there will be a full list of items your team is required to collect in order to win the game. The items are not put in any particular order and you will not receive the full list all at once. It will be given to you in different parts. Each item on the list will have a riddle that reveals where it is hidden. Solve the riddle find the item, it's that simple." Mr. Phil explained. "Whichever team finds the most items by the end of the third day will be the ultimate winners. If a tie occurs there will be a battle between those two teams to decide the winner." Phil finished.

"Once in your groups your leaders will announce the next set of instructions. The game will officially start at one-thirty this afternoon which gives all teams two hours to find their base camp, set up tents and grab a few extra clothes from your cabins. When your two hours are up the camp's bell will be rung in which your leaders are then allowed to give you part one of the scavenger's list." Deanna informed. "This will be a challenge for most but I wish you all the best of luck."

After the two camp directors made their way off stage and each team received two large duffle bags that carried food supplies, first aid kits and blankets, as well as four sets of tents that the campers would need to assemble, all groups took off in different directions.

Daryl turned to look at his team with a smile on his face and was confused to see them all looking petrified. Only then did he realize that none of them grew up practically living in the woods as he had. His team seemed lost and so nervous they looked sick. Something warm moved in his chest when he told himself that he would keep them safe, he did know all that could be known about surviving in the woods after all. It was now that his friends would be thrown into his world the way he had been thrown into theirs at the start of camp.

"We should get moving so we can find a good spot to camp out." Abraham told his kids.

"How do we know what's a good spot?" Rick questioned.

"Follow me." Daryl said over his shoulder with a nudge of his head in the direction of the woods in which he lead the way.

Summer...Summer...Summer

"Say we should set up here." Daryl stated as he looked at the small clearing that trees surrounded. "Got more than enough space." He shrugged then turned to face his group.

"If you say so." Kelly nodded. She didn't doubt her best friend one bit. "The only thing that I'm wondering is how long did the both of you know about this?" Kelly focused her attention on the two leaders.

Rosita cringed. "Well you see… the thing is… because the final game is such a big deal and needs a lot of time to prepare the camp leaders have known since before the first day of camp."

Carol's eyes widened. "Yet we received no warning?!"

"We weren't at liberty to say!" Abraham said, on the defensive. "Trust me I've been dying to let you guys know."

"I'm more worried about how we're supposed to find anything on the scavenger list?! I for one have not memorized anything at this stinkin' camp!" Tara huffed.

"Neither have I." Carol breathed before biting down on her lip.

"Shit." Daryl huffed. How could he have not mapped this place out by now? When he looked over to Carol he realized he had spent most of his time focused on her and not the trails and landmarks of the camp grounds.

"What are we gonna do?" Lori chewed on her thumbnail as she became more nervous.

Glenn turned to Shane who was already facing him with a smile plastered across his face. "What?" Glenn questioned the taller boy.

"There is somethin' you know about the game, isn't there?" He said in a hushed tone while the rest of the team voiced their concerns to each other.

"Why would you assume that?" Glenn lifted a brow.

"'Cause when the game got announced you didn't seem shocked - n' you don't seem concerned with anything… s'almost like you've known 'bout this for some time now." Somehow Shane's smile grew even more. "What is it man?" He nudged his friend before gasping. "My God… Glenn, did you steal all the items we're supposed to find?!"

"No!" Glenn said in a voice that just barely counted as a whisper. "That would be cheating and our team is going to win this fair and square."

"Then tell me!" Shane said excitedly.

"Why should you be the first to know?" Glenn folded his arms across his chest.

"Fine." Shane looked from the boy to his other team mates and before Glenn could protest Shane announced, "Everybody gather 'round! Glenn's been keepin' a secret and he wants to finally tell us."

They all quickly gathered around Glenn who continued to shake his head at Shane.

"Well? What is it?" Maggie questioned with haste, her nerves getting the best of her.

"Okay, okay." Glenn sighed. "There is something I have been keeping from you all, for a while actually."

"I knew it!" Tara pointed a finger at the boy.

Glenn rolled his eyes. "It's not as big as it seems, really." He promised. "It was the first day of camp, my mom was dropping me off as my sisters practically pushed me out the car while it was still moving. I was lost so obviously I searched around for where I was supposed to go - but I got distracted. I saw a turtle an-"

"You saw a turtle?" Lori interrupted. "Aren't those supposed to be in the ocean or something?" Michonne shared a look with Daryl, both wanting to burst out with laughter.

"Anyways, I saw one go behind some bushes, so naturally I followed it." Glenn started back in. "While I was crouched behind the foliage I heard a few people come walking by, I assumed they were camp leaders because they were talking about the final game. I remained hidden because… well, I didn't want them to think I was doing something that I shouldn't be." He explained. "All I over heard was that the campers would need to know the camp grounds like they know the back of their hands." Glenn slipped off his backpack before opening it and pulling out something that looked a little wrinkly and it was all folded. "Over the past weeks I've been doing my own research and I came up with this." He lifted the folded up paper but didn't reveal exactly what it was. "As I dug deeper into researching I came to a lot of challenges." Glenn almost looked sick. "I'm not proud of the things I've done…" He swallowed hard.

"Like what?" Carol was scared to ask but she was so intrigued by her friend's impressive skill to keep all of this from them.

"It was the first time sneaking into the kitchen through the back door. I had finally got in but then I heard Mary coming so I ran back out and jumped into the dumpster for protection… right before she threw out some spoiled eggs." He tried hard to not remember that moment.

Abraham gave the kid a look of sympathy before a question popped in his head. "So what's that?" He nodded to the paper that the boy was holding.

Glenn was thankful for the quick transition. "A map that I put together." He started unfolding it. "It's not a normal map either. I've added trails that aren't on the official map of the camp. It has shortcuts to landmarks, like if you want to go to the lake."

"There's more than one way to the lake?" Kelly questioned.

"Yes! Just like there is when you're going to the cafeteria or the yoga room-"

"We have a yoga room?" Michonne asked with clear shock.

"Yes." Glenn shook his head. "What would you guys do without me?"

"Crash and burn." Abraham said. The man was practically glowing with pride. Glenn might have just become his star player instead of Daryl.

"Yeah, that's pretty cool Glenn." Rick nodded.

That boy waved a hand out in front of him. "It was nothing."

The group began to set up camp with the time they had. After about thirty minutes Daryl had gotten one tent up as Shane and Carol fought over which step they should do first to begin theirs. Lori helped Rick tie up the food supplies in a tree with Abraham's help and Kelly and Maggie went with Rosita to search for logs and kindling to make a fire, while Michonne and Glenn went back to the cabins to get some extra clothes for everyone all while Tara claimed she was, 'supervising'.

Later they all met back up to see it they were missing anything.

"I think we go it all." Daryl told them.

"Hey team!"

A woman's voice pulled everyone's attention to her. It was Sasha along with Tyreese and trailing close behind them all clumped together were the kinders and firsties.

"Hey!" Rosita smiled to the two.

"We hate to be a bother, but Deanna wanted us to set up camp with an older team to help us with the kids and we thought of you all." Tyreese explained.

"No bother at all!" Maggie assured them. No way was she letting her little sister sleep in the dangerous woods without her near.

"This should be fun." Shane said to Daryl, who smirked and shook his head.

"Naw, we got four more tents to build." He stated before sighing. It would be quicker if he put the tents up by himself but Rosita had nixed that saying that everyone had to do their fair share of the work to set up camp.

Again everyone worked to set up the little one's supplies and tents - even Tara. Afterward both teams split up to start their separate games.

When they received the clue for the first item on the scavenger hunt it was written in a code that was hard to crack. It was turning into night and they still hadn't been able to figure it out so they headed back to their camp ground before it got too dark to see.

Summer...Summer...Summer

The sun had set and the moon was high over the mountains. The teams were seated around the campfire that took both Shane and Rick to light and maintain - not that it would have taken either of them very long to start the fire, it was something the two had learned while they were in Boy Scouts after all. It was just that they were fighting over the lighter. Tara was a little disappointed when they decided to stop fighting and light it together.

The older girls helped the little ones put marshmallows on sticks and taught them how close the marshmallows should be from the fire so they could be nice and creamy on the inside while the older boys were already on their second and third s'mores.

Little Beth softly sang a song that Maggie hummed along to though she'd sing a few lines here and there every time Beth forgot the lyrics. When she finished singing everyone clapped and complimented the six year old.

"Why don't the marshmallows just burn into flames or explode?" Lizzie asked Tara in an unsettling way.

"Hmmm, I don't know, but I like watching it slowly melt anyway." Tara shrugged. The little girl seemed content with that answer as she nodded.

"See now look at that!" Abraham walked over to the camp fire. "This isn't that bad." He rested his hands on his hips.

"Sure, because being attacked by blood sucking insects is so much fun." Carol mustered up a fake smile.

"Oh! That reminds me, I've got some bug spray!" Sasha announced as she ran over to her tent to grab it.

"Careful guys, she goes crazy with that thing." Tyreese warned. "Next you'll know all the bugs in the woods will be dead."

"Good." Lori huffed as she rubbed her arms with her hands when she felt the cold hit her.

Rosita took immediate notice to Lori's shivers. "Looks like we're going to need more blankets. I'm gonna make a quick run to the supply closet and grab a few more before they're all out. I'll be back!" She said to the two leaders who stood by the kids as she walked through the trees and out of sight.

"Ty! I left the spray back at the cabins and I don't want anyone getting bitten up tonight, come with me to get them?" Sasha asked her older brother pleadingly.

Tyreese looked at Abraham wearily, "You alright with watching twenty kids?"

"I'll have you know half of us are fully capable of watching ourselves." Glenn informed.

"I'll manage." Abe reassured.

Tyreese put his hands up in surrender. "Alright, but if one goes missing this time, it's all on you." The big man half heartedly joked. "We'll be back."

Abraham watched the two siblings walk away before focusing back to the kids. "Alright! How are the s'mores comin' along?" He questioned rubbing his hands together while taking a seat on a log right beside Kelly.

Kelly lifted a marshmallow from the fire and slid it between two graham crackers and a piece of chocolate. "Here, try it." She handed her leader the dessert.

Abe took a bite and looked at the young girl sitting at his side with wide eyes. "This is amazin' Kelly!"

The girl smiled with a look of satisfaction. "I know right!"

Michonne laughed, "Guess who taught her how to make them that good." The teen pointed at herself.

"Nothing wrong with a little help!" Kelly stuck out her tongue.

"I want help!" Andre cried. "Michie can you help me please?!"

Michonne smiled. "Of course I can."

"No, Michie, can you help me?!" Zach whined getting jealous that Andre was getting all the attention.

"How about I help you both?" The boys both froze, turned to look at one another then simultaneously turned back to her and nodded with smiles. Michonne chuckled and moved from her spot next to Rick and sat in between the two kinders.

Shane leaned into his best friend. "How's it feel with your girl's attention on other guys?"

Rick furrowed a brow. "They're both five."

"Hey, age is just a number." Shane stated before adding, "Zach's a smooth talker already. I'd keep my eye on him." He forewarned.

Rick gave his friend one last questioning look before shoving him away.

Lori held both hands out near the fire to warm up and smiled when Judith copied her. "It's nice and warm, huh?"

"Yeah!" Little Judith nodded as her ponytail bobbed around. "Carl you could try it too!" The little girl looked over her shoulder to where her brother was seated next to her before she gasped. "Carl?!"

Lori looked over and gasped as well when the little boy was not in his spot. "Carl?!" She called out, her eyes scanning the whole area.

"Shit." Abe murmured as he stood from his seat frantically looking around as well.

Everyone began to scan their camp grounds with their eyes, even the little ones stopped roasting marshmallows to join in on the search.

Lori stood up to get a better view, as well, just when she spotted him. "Over there!" She pointed but before she could move Rick shot up and went to grab the boy.

"And where do you think you were going?!" Lori had questioned the boy as soon as Rick brought him back and seated him on a log before Abraham got the chance to scold the child.

The boy just shrugged.

This was why Abraham didn't lead little kids in this camp. "It's dangerous going on out there alone." He managed to say in a soothing way. "Lots of scary things. S' why we stick together like wet on water." He stated looking around at all the kids making sure they all understood.

"What scary things are out there Mr. Ford?" Little Sam asked from his spot between Carol and Sophia. He seemed very intrigued about learning more.

Abraham's face lit up as an idea sparked in his mind. There was nothing better than telling an old legend around a campfire. "Well - naw, nevermind. It might spook sum of ya…and Rosita would get mad if I said anything." The man waved a hand in the air - although mad was an understatement. Rosita would kill him if he told this tale again and with the kinders and firsties there, she'd probably bring him back to life and kill him again.

"Tell us, tell us, tell us!" Half the kids chanted, most of them being the little ones.

"Yeah right." Tara huffed a laugh.

"Oh, ya ain't think so?" Abe smiled when the girl shook her head challengingly. Then again, he figured he had enough time before Rosita and the other two got back to tell them of the camp legend. "A'ight, everyone squeeze in tight to one another an' let me tell you something that will jus' knock yer socks off." He alerted.

Little Sophia wrapped both her arms tightly around Daryl, who was caught off guard by the little one's actions. He looked down at her and when she nuzzled her head into his rib cage he slowly looked back up and locked eyes with Carol. She smiled and bit down on her lip to hold any laughter that was threatening to escape.

"A long time ago when the camp first opened, a group of campers snuck out of their cabins in the middle of the night…" The red haired leader began with a deep and slow rumble in his voice. "The only thing the teens took with 'em were three flashlights. They traveled into the woods in search for something."

"What were they looking for Mr. Ford?" Carl asked getting excited.

"Lookin' for an old folklore creature." The man answered, his voice mysterious as ever.

"What was the creature like?" Little Lizzie asked with a fascinated smile, Mika just shook her head from beside her sister.

"He stood a great eight feet in height with a thin tree-like figure with no face. There were also tentacles that came out of his back as you neared him - though they say he was hard to catch sight of since he faded in with his surroundings… especially if you were looking for him- in the woods." His voice resonated in the heavy air sending a shiver up everyone's spine - except Daryl, who continued to roast himself some marshmallows.

"These kids were up to no good that night." Abe shook his head dramatically. "They were calling this creature out… by his name."

"Wh-what was it's name, M-Mr. Ford?" Beth hadn't meant to ask but the words were out before she could stop herself.

"They call him, Slenderman." Again his voice shook the kids. "A beast with no mercy. Those who see him… well… let's jus' say they don't live to tell the tale."

Rick sat forward with a raised brow. "What happened to the campers?"

"That night the group of kids continued to taunt the brute, that's when the temperature dropped drastically. Their flashlights weaved in and out of power. Trees rustled and the ground quaked. All of 'em tried running from him but they'd been so deep in the woods that every direction looked the same. They'd forgotten which way they came. Their screams couldn't be heard either." The man let the last line sink in for a moment before solemnly adding, "The next morning a search team was sent in search for the kids… three flashlights were the only things found."

Maggie's eyes were the size of saucers. She grabbed Beth, plopped the little girl on her lap as she felt Glenn scoot closer to her and wrap an arm around her waist.

Lori, who was still freezing, had long since grabbed both Carl and Judith and held them close to her while her head rested in between theirs.

Kelly had her hands over her ears but the man's loud deep voice overpowered her barrier.

Michonne stared at the fire as she tried to block her leader's voice. She would cover her ears like Kelly was doing but from the looks of it, it didn't seem to be working for her friend. She really wished that she didn't move from her seat next to Rick.

Shane and Rick seemed to question the story but every little sound that rustled in the trees caused both boys to inspect the surrounding areas.

"N' like I've said, he's never been caught and no one who has seen him, is found." The man finished as all the kids looked at him with horror in their eyes.

Tara didn't realize how tight she was holding Lizzie until the small girl was gasping for air. She immediately loosened her grip. "Tha-that didn't really happen…" she laughed. "Di-did it?" She tried to keep a poker face but failed.

Abraham raised his hands. "They say-" The sound of small twigs snapping and leaves crunching silenced the grown man.

They all fell silent as each of them listened to the sound. It became even louder and more frequent. Abraham and the older kids slowly stood all making sure they had a hold on one of the little ones.

All eyes were locked in the direction the sound was coming from.

"It's him, isn't it?" Kelly's whisper quivered against her will.

"Don't be silly." Abraham's voice didn't make anyone feel safe, in fact it made them fear for the worst. His muscles tensed as he stood completely still, remaining focused on the sound - his own heart racing.

No one moved. No one breathed. The little ones dug their heads deep into the sides of the older ones, none of them daring to take a peak.

Abraham reached for his flash light, his hand shaking as he fumbled to turn it on. Gaining some control he flipped the switch and blasted the light where the sound was coming from. A disfigured shadow appeared seconds before something popped out from behind a tree.

Everyone screamed at the top of their lungs.

Abraham dropped the flashlight and grabbed Kelly, lifting her out in front of him like a human shield as he shouted, "Son of a dick!"

"PUT ME DOWN!" Kelly cried trying to be freed.

"WHY IS EVERYONE SCREAMING?!"

When those words were shouted by a familiar voice everyone stopped.

"Ro-Rosita?!" Shane stammered through his heavy breathing.

All the little ones were whimpering. Abraham quickly set the girl down as Kelly spun around and gave him dangerous glare before sprinting over to her other leader.

"What is wrong with you all?!" Rosita questioned as she picked up the blankets she dropped after being scared half-to-death only to drop them again as Kelly crashed into her and was quickly engulfed in a breathtaking hug.

"Mr. Ford told us a scary story!" Mika shouted, slowly letting go of Shane's leg that she had been glued to moments before. "I don't wanna sleep out here no more." She pouted.

"Me neither!" Patrick shouted his defiance.

"Yeah! Me neither!" Andre shook his head frantically.

"Abraham Ford!" Rosita had a look in her eyes that was even more scary than the Slender Man legend. In that moment, Abe knew he was a dead man. "How could you tell them something like that?! Half of them are only SIX!"

"They asked to hear it!" He shouted his defense.

"No such thing as Slenderman." Daryl told them all as he set Sophia down after she had somehow climbed into his arms. He finished the rest of his s'more before sitting back down.

"You can't tell me you weren't scared a little bit." Shane tested his teammate.

"Wasn't" Daryl shrugged.

"He wasn't because there isn't anything to be scared of." Rosita said walking to the campfire with Kelly close to her side.

"We're going to be fine." Michonne told the little ones for reassurance. "The only thing scary was how fast Abraham was willing to sacrifice Kelly." Michonne shook her head in disapproval at her leader.

Abe rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeaah… sorry about that Kels…"

"You're not getting off tha-"

"Shush!" Rick shushed Kelly. "Listen, do you hear that?!"

Everyone quieted down. The sound of movement within the trees was much louder than what Rosita had made.

Rosita rolled her eyes at how everyone looked so petrified. "It's probably just Tyreese and Sasha." For a brief second everyone relaxed before a voice coming from behind them paralyzed everyone.

"We got the bug spray!" Sasha announced in the opposite direction in which the loud noise remained getting louder.

Tyreese noticed all of the frightful faces. "What… what's going on?" He whispered to his sister, who shrugged.

Rosita turned back to the direction she had come from. It sounded as if someone… or something was cutting a path straight to them. "What did you do Abe?!" She said backing closer to the group.

Daryl slowly stood. He didn't recognize the sound but he did know that it couldn't have belonged to any type of animal. Without wanting to concern them, Daryl slowly moved to stand in front of Carol and Sophia.

This time Abraham stood in front of everyone as Tyreese joined him.

In a blink of an eye a shadowed figure came from behind the foliage and stood before the group.

Everyone once again screamed.

"ENOUGH!"

With a muffled shout the person silenced the large group.

The fire was just bright enough to show the figure of a man. Tyreese reached for his flashlight and shined it at the person to get a better look.

In one hand the man carried a long wooden stick as he slipped off the hood of his jacket with his other and ripped off a black mask to reveal his face. A face.

Everyone then sighed in relief.

"Who the hell are you?" Abraham questioned. Rosita elbowed him hard in the stomach while muttering about language.

"Morgan Jones, the groundskeeper."

Way more to come from this eventful night! And again I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

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...Until next time...