The Walking Dead: A New Beginning From the End of the World

A few minutes ago…

The large convoy of military vehicles entered the city with extreme caution, correctly evading the massive horde of walkers still gathered in the parking lot, where Jason and the others had previously taken the truck that got them out of the city.

That was why they could now drive with more ease, though they still maintained a regulated speed.

As they advanced further, the sound of car and truck engines echoed through the silent streets. Everyone felt a mix of slight fear and excitement about what might happen in this place. Their hearts pounded intensely, the breaths of those stationed at the machine guns were restrained, and all eyes were fixed on the road ahead.

Seeing that their destination was getting closer, Jason grabbed the radio and began issuing orders regarding the necessary precautions:

"This is your captain speaking. If things get complicated, do not use heavy weapons. We need to take down the walkers as quietly as possible."

"Once we reach the extraction zone, position the vehicles strategically and keep your eyes wide open. Send out scouting teams to secure the area and stay informed about the surroundings."

The reminders were transmitted over the radio, and everyone listened attentively, nodding silently. Their marching speed slowed slightly to avoid being caught off guard.

After communicating with the shelter they were set to evacuate, Jason, based on reports, knew the exact street and location where the refugees were. Since the shelter had exposed itself in a very careless and obvious manner, Jason realized just how desperate they must be.

"We're approaching the location. Secure the perimeter and start clearing all the walkers in the area!"

Since Jason's group consisted of more than twenty soldiers, it included leaders for groups of six, responsible for giving precise instructions and ensuring everyone's safety. This command structure made Jason's job easier, and the group leaders were Billy, Tommy, and Sam Valdez.

Two of the leaders quickly began issuing orders, and all the soldiers exited the vehicles—except for those stationed at the machine guns and in the driver's seats.

Everyone swiftly got out and started eliminating all the walkers in the vicinity. The vehicles were strategically positioned to allow for a quick escape if things went wrong.

Jason approached the shelter door with several soldiers at his back. He knocked, then took a step back and waited silently.

"We're evacuating refugees. We've arrived to assist civilians. The situation outside is not favorable, so time is of the essence," Tommy announced in a deep voice to the people inside.

Seeing that no response came, Jason stepped forward and added, "I'm Captain Jason. I am currently responsible for protecting what remains of the CDC and any refugees in need of help. You can rest assured—we're here to take you to a safer place where you won't lack anything."

Just when they thought the refugees would hesitate longer, a young man opened the shelter door and said, "You can come in and take a look. We're facing some difficulties."

Jason frowned and entered the shelter with a small group of soldiers. He didn't recall anything significant happening in the early days after Rick had woken up, which only deepened his doubts.

Upon entering, Jason saw many people, most of them of Latin descent, many with tattoos on their bodies and especially on their faces.

"I thought no one would come to help us in this place. We're happy to finally see someone from the government after months without contact," a Black man approached Jason and the others with a somewhat serious expression. From his appearance, Jason knew this was Guillermo.

When Jason saw Guillermo, he stepped forward and extended his hand in greeting. The reason he was here was to have these reliable people by his side. He was confident in trusting those who took care of this place and was also counting on their support to back him as a leader.

"My name is Jason. We're evacuating refugees trapped in the city to a safe location. Our convoy is stationed and ready to move." Jason looked around and introduced himself.

"I'm Guillermo. I take care of this place." Guillermo examined the soldiers' uniforms with slight confusion—these uniforms were different from those of the usual military personnel.

"Guillermo, it's time to move! There are vehicles outside to transport everyone from this shelter." Jason had no intention of wasting time and got straight to the point.

"As we mentioned over the radio, we have some elderly people who have difficulty walking. Do you have a solution?" Guillermo still hesitated. After all, they had put in great effort to protect this place and weren't keen on leaving it behind under uncertain conditions.

Jason signaled with his hand, nodding toward Merle, who was standing behind him. Merle turned and stepped outside.

"Don't worry—we're prepared!"

Not long after, Merle returned with several soldiers carrying stretchers and wheelchairs.

They were ready for this because they had been assisting elderly individuals who couldn't move on their own. Jason had anticipated the possibility of encountering Guillermo's group, so he came prepared.

In the past, there had been reasons not to help those who supported him—mainly because Jason had not been prepared. But now, he could say that he was.

Seeing this, Guillermo stopped hesitating. He turned to Miguel and said, "Go in and inform everyone. Tell them to pack their things immediately and come help transport the elderly."

Miguel nodded and quickly ran into the area where the others were gathered.

As soon as Guillermo extended his hand, gesturing toward a room to continue their discussion, the three of them walked toward the backyard.

Merle rarely acted strangely on the road, and his face was less hostile. At that moment, he was just an ordinary person who looked a bit like a ruffian.

Now, Merle was silently observing the situation in this shelter. He noticed that there were many young and strong men here, at least twenty of them. After reaching the backyard, he gradually found many women, both young and slightly older.

Yes, indeed, these people were mainly responsible for taking care of the elderly and performing various tasks.

Then there were the elderly—around a dozen of them, with about six or seven having limited mobility.

Merle carefully observed every detail, admiring Jason more and more for his tricks, which perhaps no one else had considered. Compared to the elderly, there were many strong and intimidating-looking men here. With so many young, strong men, as long as they were equipped with weapons, they would be a force not to be underestimated anywhere.

And most importantly, all these people would be eternally grateful to Jason for saving the elderly in this shelter, ensuring that he had reliable people under his command from now on.

Merle noticed that Jason was walking more slowly and had already reached his side. Knowing that Jason had something to say, he listened as Jason whispered.

"How does it feel?"

Merle smiled and replied, "I think it's pretty good!"

Hearing Merle's response, Jason knew that he understood his hidden intentions. Merle was very smart but simply hadn't set his mind on the right path in the original story.

Soon, some people arrived at the room where Guillermo had led them. People were moving around, packing their belongings.

"I don't have much to bring, just some clothes," Guillermo said openly, pointing at his backpack.

"Guillermo, I will be separating from you because I must go to a place where there are more survivors. The elderly will be moved to a safe location and will be protected by half of my men."

Guillermo nodded, indicating it was not a problem, but still frowned and said, "Alright, that's fine."

Merle also spoke with some confusion, "Jason, is the place you're managing really that big?"

"There's nothing to worry about. The shelter my group oversees is large enough to house many people. The CDC is the safest place in the country," Jason reassured them, knowing that with all these people, the shelter would continue to expand.

Seeing that everything was secure, everyone nodded in relief.

...

That night, Jason's group split into two teams again—one drove straight to the CDC, while the other headed to the quarry.

After a busy afternoon, Guillermo's people finally evacuated with everyone to the CDC. This time, he decided to stay with Jason to help however he could, while the others went directly to the shelter.

At that moment, many people were standing at the entrance of the camp, led by Rick and Morgan.

Jason jumped out of the truck, smiled, and greeted the two of them. Behind them were the people who had been at the Atlanta mall before, and they all approached and hugged Jason one by one.

There were no unnecessary words—at this moment, just being "alive" was the best news.

Lori also approached, greeted Jason, and said with a smile, "It's been over a month, and we finally meet again!"

Jason smiled and hugged Lori as she stepped forward, and she continued to thank him.

Six soldiers and Guillermo got out of the Humvees and greeted everyone.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone gathered in the open space at the center. Jason looked around. The open space was now surrounded by at least dozens of people.

Jason understood that not everyone was familiar with the situation, but he believed everything would improve over time.

Looking at the dozens of people before him, he suddenly felt that his efforts had not been in vain. These people were the foundation, the base for survival in the future.

After gathering information, Jason learned that the camp had always been led by Shane, but at that moment, most of the people there had been brought in by him.

The atmosphere was a bit strange, and many were waiting to hear what Jason was going to say next.

Without waiting for everyone to start asking questions, Jason slowly walked to the center of the open space, and his deep voice echoed in everyone's ears.

"Many of you here don't know me. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jason. I am a former Special Forces soldier, and right now, I am protecting a CDC facility where I will take care of all of you until we figure out what to do next."

"When the outbreak happened, I did everything I could to secure the CDC. Fortunately, during one of my operations, I came into contact with some of the people here. My resources only allowed me to save a limited number of people, so you are the last ones I can take in for now."

As he spoke, Jason observed everyone's expressions. Doubt, confusion, fear—every kind of emotion appeared on their faces, so Jason paused and continued.

"It pains me to be the one to say this, but the world will undergo massive changes from now on. The world you knew no longer exists. While at the CDC, we made contact with departments in other countries still searching for a cure, but they are no better off than we are right now. In these circumstances, all we can do is survive together."

"We can work together and overcome the challenges ahead. The initial situation may not be worse than what you've faced here, but your lives will be very different. However, I can assure you that in a short time, you will no longer fear this new world."

"The plan is simple. We will stay here tonight, and tomorrow morning, we will head to the CDC. Once there, you will receive training, and each of you will learn to master the basic survival skills necessary to make it through this crisis."

"Of course, no one will be forced to stay. If you want to take your chances and go your own way, tomorrow will be the time for you to decide."

"No matter what your choice is, beware of strangers, and remember—fear the living more than the dead."

Jason paused again, his serious expression raising the spirits of everyone present, as they all watched him with concern.

"Remember, the world as we knew it has come to an end!"