The One He Chose

~14 / Epilogue~

~Dallas's POV(4 Yrs Later)~

It's been four years since we lost Maggie, Glen, and Rick. I still have nightmares of that day and how everything went down before I blacked out. It's been two years since we lost Beth and Hershel to a herd of walkers. They gave themselves so we could get away. I can still hear their pain filled screams. We found Tyreese and Shasha not long after, I'm guessing they were bitten. When we found them they had turned and were trying to eat us where we stood. We've been running and finally get to take a small break. I sat down under one of the trees resting while Daryl and Carl took Darren and Judith out tracking for food, while Carol stayed back with me. I leaned my head against the tree trying to catch some sleep only to be reminded of the day our group lost its heart.

~Dallas' Dream(4 Yrs Ago)~

I blacked out, and when I woke up I was hit with a blast of painful memories. Rick dead, Glen dead, I looked down at my hands to see the blood of my two best friend's. I then remember that Maggie was gone and I couldn't believe it. I looked at Daryl and he nodded his head, I knew that it was all true. I shook my head and cried, I just cried. Daryl held me close and when he pulled away I looked into his eyes.

"We're leaving tomorrow."

He nodded his head, and we started packing our bags, we left the next morning with what was left of our family. Although at that moment we didn't know how long we would all be together.

~End of dream(Now)~

I woke up to the sound of screams, I jumped up with my knife in hand. I looked up to see Carol struggling with a walker. I sprinted down the road as fast as I could however I was too late. I watched as the walker bit into her neck. Blood poured from her corrugated artery and my heart broke. I ran to her tacking the walker to the ground plunging my knife into its skull. I sighed walking over to Carol holding her as she bled out in my arms. Daryl and the kids came back, he shielded their eyes while I did what I had to. I stood up walking to the small creak washing the blood from my hands walking back to everyone. I picked up Darren and grabbed my pack walking down the road leaving the blood behind us. It was then that I started thinking about everyone that we had lost. Glen, Maggie, and Rick, stuck in my head more than any of the others. I mean I know we've lost people in a lot worse ways. I remember the day we lost Beth and Hershel like it was yesterday. I can still hear their screams replaying through my memories like a broken record.

~Flashback(Goodbye Beth & Hershel)~

Leave it to us to get stuck running from a herd ten times bigger than the one that took the farm. Daryl is holding Darren while I have Judith. Carl and Carol are keeping up pretty well. Hershel and Beth were falling behind, I looked back at them and holler.

"Come on you guys, let's go."

Hershel shook his head and I knew he was done, I shook my head not wanting to let go, Beth looked at me.

"Dallas go, we'll be okay, just go."

Daryl grabbed my arm pulling me forward.

"They made their choice, let's go."

I finally gave in and started running again, the next thing I heard were Beth's ear shattering screams mixed with Hershel's, I wanted to go back but I knew that it was far too late.

~End of flashback(Now)~

"Momma, what's wrong?"

I looked at my baby boy to see a blur, it was then that I realized I was crying. I dried my eyes and put on a fake smile.

"Nothing baby, momma's just tired."

He knew I was lying, he knew I was thinking about all the people we lost. I do have to say though that as far as Glen, Maggie, Rick, Beth, and Hershel goes those were the worst. When we ran into the walker form of Sasha and Tyreese sure it was bad, but at least I got to end their suffering. Maggie I guess had it kinda easy to, but Glen and Rick had to say goodbye to the people they loved the most and they were still breathing when I had to let them go. Beth and Hershel died the most tragic way. The people they love watching them be ripped to shreds by bloodthirsty freaks, they felt the skin being shredded from their body. The smell of rotten flesh all around them, the sound of each other screams filling the air. I couldn't imagine leaving this world that way. I couldn't imagine letting my family see me leave the world like that. I looked at what was left of my family and couldn't help the small smile that came to my face. I've been so blessed to have this group and even though we're few now I know we'll make it. We have each other, I have a wonderful son, an amazing husband and great kids that I've basically adopted. As long as we have each other we'll live and survive this new world that I've come to know as hell on earth. The only reason I have any of this is because a redneck named Daryl Dixon chose me. I'm the one he chose and I always will be.