The Hunter's Prey

Chapter 13

The next morning we met back up with Ezekiel. This time was outside, amongst his people.

"This is life here. Every day." Ezekiel gestured to all the happy people. "But it came at a cost. And I wanted more of this. I wanted to expand. To create more places like this. Men and women lost their limbs. Children lost their parents because I sent them into battle against the wasted when I did not need to."

"This is different." Rick reached Ezekiel's side.

"It isn't."

"It is. The dead don't rule us. The world doesn't look like this outside your walls. People don't have it good. Some people don't have it good at all."

"I have to worry about my people." Ezekiel seemed as though he didn't want to help us out of fear.

"You call yourself a damn king. You sure as hell don't act like one." Daryl spoke.

"All of this came at a cost. It was lives, arms, legs." Ezekiel looked at Daryl before going back to Rick. "The peace we have with the Saviors is uneasy, but it is peace. I have to hold on to it. I have to try. Although the Kingdom cannot grant you the aid you desire, the King is sympathetic to your plight. I offer our friends Daryl and (Y/n) asylum for as long as they require it. They will be safe here. The Saviors do not set foot inside our walls."

I nodded at Ezekiel. This place was safe. Negan would never think to find us here. I looked over to Daryl, he seemed as though he wasn't thinking the same thing.

"How long do you think that's gonna last?" Daryl asked before walking off.

The rest of the group followed. I stayed towards the back. The others talked for a while as we walked to the gates. Daryl was leaving. Leaving safety. Rick pulled me aside.

"Daryl's not gonna stay and we both know I can't change his mind. Can you try to?"

I nodded and walked over to Daryl.

"You and I are staying." I said once I reached his side.

"I'm not staying here." He turned to me.

"You have to. It's the smartest play. You know it is. Plus we can try to talk to Ezekiel. Or you can stare him into submission- whatever it takes. The others will come back soon."

Daryl stayed silent and nodded. Rick gave us one last glance before the gates closed. Daryl walked off without saying anything. I sighed slightly. It had been different between the two of us since we got back. We were more distant from each other. Almost as if he was hesitant to be around me.

I tried to focus on something else as I walked around the Kingdom. I hadn't explored it yet. It would be smart to have back up plans in case the Saviors ever came inside the walls. I passed Morgan and a group of people getting into two cars. They pulled out a few minutes later. I continued walking around trying to get a feel for the new landscape.

I found my way back to where the cars had left. It seemed like an area not many people would pass. I slid down against a wall. I leaned my head on the wall and closed my eyes. The sun beat down on me. It was nice. Peaceful even.

A few hours passed before the sound of cars pulling in filled my ears. I stood up and leaned against the wall as I waited for Ezekiel to finish his conversation. We needed to convince him to help us. Ezekiel finished and walked off. I went to follow but stopped when I heard Daryl's voice.

"Hey." I looked back to see him looking at Morgan. "Where'd you go in those trucks?"

Morgan noticed me and then looked back at Daryl. I was curious too. I moved towards Daryl and Morgan as Morgan dismissed the boy next to him. Daryl came to Morgan's side as I reached them.