'Walking Dead' Season 9 Spoilers: Episode 9 Sets Up a Death From the Comics

The Walking Dead has officially introduced the survivors’ newest threat, The Whisperers, and the Season 9 midseason premiere appears to be setting up a brutal moments right out of the comics — just with different victims.

Do the two characters that fell into The Whisperers’ trap in Walking Dead Season 9 stand a chance of making it out alive?

Spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 9 below.

In “Adaptation,” some of the survivors learn the truth about their newest enemy when it’s revealed that the Whisperers wear the skins of walkers as disguises. After one killed Jesus in the midseason finale, Michonne, Daryl, Aaron, Eugene, Magna, and Yumiko bring his body back to Hilltop. Along the way, they encounter walkers and a couple more Whisperers. They capture a Whisperer named Lydia and take her back as their prisoner.

While Michonne and the others are gone, however, the people at Hilltop are worried about their friends and send out scouts. Alden partners up with Luke, and the two come across Yumiko’s arrows. Luke’s convinced the trail will lead them to their missing friends, but instead, it leads them right into a trap.

The episode ends with Alden and Luke surrounded by The Whisperers and introduces their leader, Alpha, wearing a walker mask and holding a shotgun. “Trail ends here,” she tells them.

Luke and Alden are now the Whisperers’ hostages. It’s possible they could simply be part of a trade for Lydia, Alpha’s daughter. However, it’s more likely that their conversation from earlier in the episode could play a role in their fates. Luke decides that since he and Alden both have musical talents, they should perform at the upcoming fair.

In the comics, the fair is when the Whisperers put the heads of several characters, including Ezekiel and Rosita, on pikes to mark their territory. The AMC TV series has put twists on storylines from the comics before, and it’s possible this could be another instance where different characters suffer a gruesome fate.

What if Luke and Alden are the main attractions of the fair? Luke even says they’ll “knock ‘em dead at this fair,” which could be foreshadowing their fates.

AMC has released a sneak peek (above) for the next episode. Members of Hilltop, including new leader Tara and Magna and her group, find Luke and Alden’s horses. Since the horses have been cut open, they know it’s likely the work of Whisperers. Tara insists they return to Hilltop and make a plan before looking for their missing friends.

This may suggest they won’t be the ones to find Luke and Alden. Rather, their friends may be brought to them, either as an offer for a trade or via their heads on pikes.

Whatever happens, one thing’s for sure: The Whisperers are officially here, and we’re likely about to say goodbye to at least a couple more characters.

The Walking Dead Season 9 airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC.

Related video: Daryl Plays Walker Or Whisperer In The Walking Dead Season 9 Episode 9 Clip