The Journey Ahead | Daryl Dixon

The Journey Ahead (27)

Y/N's POV

I must have been trudging through these woods for what seems like forever. Every time I move I go through shock and want to give up, but I know I need to push on or I will most likely be walker bait.

The Georgia heat is not kind, especially not in the middle of the day. All I had on me was my knife, an empty pistol, and my good intentions. So far, kinky the knife seemed to get me anywhere.

I don't even know where I was going to be honest. I think I went in the opposite direction of where I saw the group, or maybe it just took a while to find the road? I don't know.

All of a sudden I saw a clearing up ahead leading onto the road. My spirits immediately picked up once I saw the small hope that had been given to me. With all of my strength, I pushed on and tried just to at least make it out to the open.

With my luck the sun went in for a little bit, giving me a period of relief from the heavy heat. My mind couldn't stop thinking about the group and what they were up to. But all in all I couldn't get my mind off of Daryl. All I hoped was that he was okay, and that he isn't kicking the crap out of Glenn for leaving me. Then my mind went to Maggie, if she didn't have Glenn she would be in a Depression right now. I missed them all so so much and just wanted to see a familiar face.

All of my thinking distracted me from the tedious walking. I eventually came to the gates of a large wall. I looked through the bars and saw huge homes scattered all over. Children were playing and others were talking. Almost like Woodbury...

"Hello?" I called out. One of the kids took notice and ran into one of the homes. He came back out with a short woman with blonde hair. She neared the gates followed by three others. A man with brown, curly hair, a really tall one with short black hair, and a woman with blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. I put on my best smile and hoped for the best.

"Are you alone?" The woman asked. I nodded and kept the fake grin on my face.

"I'm alone. Do you have any, medics, equipment?" I immediately asked.

"What's wrong with you?" Instead of explaining I turned around and lifted the hem of my shirt up slightly to show the gash on my lower back. I heard their sounds of remorse and mumbling and figured they felt sorry for me.

"You aren't bit, are you?" The man with curly hair asked.

"No, I slipped down a hill and fell on a rock." The woman shook her head and waved over at someone I couldn't see. The gates soon opened and I was let in within the walls.

"I'm Deanna, this is Nicholas, Aiden and Jessie. I slightly waved to them and they nodded back. Aiden and Nicholas helped me over to one of the homes and out came a tall man with a cheesy grin on his face.

"Umm, what's your name?" Jessie asked me.

"Y/N"

Well, "Y/N," this is my husband, Pete. He is a doctor, he'll take a look at your back and see what he can do.

Pete outstretched a hand and I accepted.

"Pleasure." He said before ushering me into the house. Deanna and Jessie followed after. I lied down on a table in the back of the house and was being tended to as Jessie watched and Deanna sat in a chair across from where I was and started asking me questions.

"You don't mind if I film this do you?" She said. I raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Uh, well. I guess not. But it's sort of a weird time to do it." All of a sudden I felt a sharp pain in my back and I winced in pain. I clenched my fist and let out a shaky breath.

"I'll ask you later when you're up for it. Get some rest, when you're done Jessie will take you somewhere to rest. Jessie nodded and Deanna then left.

////

After Pete stitched me up, Jessie held me up and helped me walk out of room into a separate one with a large couch on it. I lied down and slowly adapted to the couch. She sat in the chair aside from the couch and told me all about this place known as Alexandria.

"You know, before this place went down I used to be a stylist, and like... Twelve other things." I stared up at her and waited for her to continue until she finally caught on. "What I'm saying is that I'd love to give you a trim! If you're okay with that."

"Really? I thought two years in the apocolypse would really give me time for my hair to grow out." I said with a smirk. "That would be great, thanks."

"You might wanna shower before we do."

"Shower? You guys have showers?" She nodded and looked at me as though I were crazy, but then quickly remembered that I had been out there for a while.

"Better believe it." She pat my knee before standing up and walking out of the room. "Bathrooms upstairs! Help yourself!" She yelled back to me. I loved the thought of being clean, was that even a feeling anymore?

It didn't take long to cure my curiosity when I climbed the stairs and made my way to the bathroom to see a shower before me. I walked up and took a good look in the mirror before almost collapsing at the sight. My face was caked with dirt, my hair was tangled beyond belief and I looked like a rag doll. I stripped of my blood stained and flint clothes and stepped into the shower. I hesitated before turning the water on, but when I did I almost got scared. The warm water felt heavenly and I couldn't get enough. I was abusing the power so much I let some of the water catch in my mouth and quench my thirst.

I stepped out and saw myself for the first time in two years. I got a lot skinnier, and I couldn't believe how I looked. I mentally cursed myself because I didn't have anything to change into. That was until I turned around and saw a stack of clothes set on the hamper. Luckily they were a little loose, which I liked.

I walked slowly down the stairs and saw Deanna talking to Jessie at the door. She looked up and saw me in my new clothing.

"Wow." Deanna said.

"Okay okay no need to comment."

"You look... Happier." Jessie said. I looked down and shrugged

"I feel it." Jessie led me into the other room and sat me down in a chair to where she began to tend to the mess on my head.

After an hour or so she was finally done. I looked in the mirror and saw that she took off two, maybe three inches. It looked great, felt a lot lighter too.

"Thanks Jessie, for everything."

"Don't mention it. Oh and you're welcome to stay with me until you adapt to it here."

"I don't wanna impose,"

"Please, you seem harmless." I smirked but was laughing like a maniac inside. If only she knew.

"I'd appreciate it."

Although I just got here, I already know who and who not to trust. It is pretty clear that those who act as though they have it together, really don't. Something isn't right with Jessie or the others... I just don't know what.

I walked out and surveyed the town, taking all of the appearances. I sat down on a bench near a pond and just got to thinking. I wish that Daryl, Maggie, Rick, Glenn and the others were here with me, or that I was there, wherever it was they were, with them. It didn't matter where I was, just as long as I was with them,

My family.