Chapter 34: Prison Idea
The word "prison" lingered for a moment in the bleak atmosphere beneath the bridge. The first reaction was suspicion and fear.
"Are you crazy?" snapped T-Dog. "Prisons are crawling with walkers! Guards, prisoners... Going in there would be suicide."
"T-Dog's right," said Hershel. "It's too big a risk."
Jayden was prepared for this reaction. He calmly began to present his argument. The [Intelligence: 11] statistic helped him organize his thoughts and present them persuasively.
"Let's consider the pros and cons," he said. "The cons are obvious: It's going to be absolutely crawling with walkers, and cleaning it out will be the hardest thing we've ever done. I admit that."
Then he moved on to the pros. "But the pros? High concrete walls and barbed wire fences. Watchtowers. It might have its own water source—a deep well. It might have an infirmary, an armory. Most importantly, cell blocks. Secure, lockable rooms for each family. It's a fortress, designed to keep people in. That makes it the perfect place to keep things outside out."
Jayden's logical and detailed explanation began to change the group's minds. Daryl was intrigued by the idea. It presented a great challenge and a strategic objective for him. "The kid's right," he grumbled. "We can't run forever. A fortress sounds good."
Glenn and Maggie also saw the potential of the idea. Lori's situation was pushing them to find a permanent solution.
Rick had the last word. He stared silently into the fire for a long moment. He saw the determination in Jayden's eyes, the logic of his plan, and the group's exhaustion. Finally, he looked up.
"He's right," he said. "This is crazy. Maybe impossible. But it's our best idea yet. It's a desperate plan, but it's a plan. Okay. We'll find a prison."
With this decision, the fog of despair that had settled over the group lifted. Now they had a purpose. They weren't running, they were conquering.
The next weeks were spent in a purposeful search. They studied maps, followed old roads, looked for signs to prisons. Finally, one day, from the side of the highway, they spotted it: West Georgia Correctional Facility.
It was a massive, gray structure. Just as Jayden had described, it was surrounded by high fences and watchtowers. And just as he had described, its courtyard was filled with hundreds of walkers. A slowly moving, groaning sea of the dead.
The sight was simultaneously terrifying and hopeful. This was their new goal. The impossible fortress that could be their new home.