The Journey Ahead | Daryl Dixon

The Journey Ahead (33)

It's been a couple days since the incident with Rick and Pete, Jessie is more relaxed now hat I've basically been spending most of my time with her. Rick has been held up in a house across the complex and Pete in another practically on the other side of town. Everyone's basically gone about their business.

I haven't seen Daryl much, let alone talk to him. Last I heard he was planning on going with Aaron on a run that would take a couple days to get there and back. He's tried to reach out to me, but I've kept my distance. I know I'm definitely not the strongest one here, but am I that weak in his eyes? If that's the case, I must look like a helpless child in everyone else's.

I was leaving Jessie's for the first time in two days and went to go visit Rick and see how he's holding up.

"Y/N!" I heard from behind me. I turned around and saw Daryl walking towards the porch. I tried to pass him, but he stepped in front of me, causing me to practically run into him.

"Daryl, I-"

"Please... don't." He said with a low, gruff tone. My gaze flicked to his and I saw how distraught he looked. He had bags under his eyes and his facial expressions weighed heavy on my heart. Although I wanted to go and check on Rick, I couldn't leave him hanging again.

"Five minutes." I said. He motioned for me to sit down on the porch steps next to him.

We sat there for a couple minutes keeping our thoughts to ourselves. He stared off out to the street and watched the kids that lived in the neighborhood play along the road, while I stared down at my feet and scuffed the edge of my boot along the wooden steps. He cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck, as if he was looking for the right words to say.

"I didn't mean to make ya mad." He said, his soulless blue eyes caught my gaze for a second before the awkwardness set in and he quickly looked away.

"I'm not mad, you're right." I said under my breath. He looked back to me with a confused look on his face and waited for me to further explain.

"I'm not strong, definitely not cut out for this world." He shifted in his spot uncomfortably and tried to meet my lost eyes with his.

"You are just as meant for this world as everyone else here. You are strong, don't let my talking let you think otherwise." I locked eyes with him and so badly wanted to break the tension and give in to him, but pulled back and walked away. leaving him on the porch steps.

"Y/N are we... good?" He asked as though he was afraid of my answer. I hesitated, but gave a small smirk and nodded my head. He relaxed his shoulders and nodded in return.

I turned and walked towards the house Rick was held up in. For some reason I felt a large amount of weight being lifted off of my shoulders. Just the satisfaction of knowing that I can be strong, I can be brave. I can make it.

I walked into the house up to the bedroom on the second floor and saw Carol, Glenn, Michonne and Abraham standing around talking with Rick. he ha bandages all over his face, covering up the scrapes and bruises from the fight on the street yesterday.

"Hey Y/N," he spoke up and adjusted where he was sitting. He cringed at the pain and froze automatically.

"Don't move, I'll come to you." I made my way around the room to the side of the mattress where Rick sat. He looked washed up and exhausted. then again, we all would after living in the apocalypse for so long. but something seemed... off. He looked distant, like he wasn't comprehending why he was here.

"They're having a meeting tonight, probably planning to throw you out." Carol said breaking the silence.

"Do you think they actually would?" I questioned.

"Only one way to find out." Rick said. He cleared his throat and sat up once again, wincing in pain. I reached out to help him but he put his hand up as if telling me not to.

"If things go South, Michonne grabs Reg, Carol grabs Spencer and I'll get Deanna."

I watched as Rick explained his plan to the five of us. He was completely serious about it all. I was a bit taken back by this, Deanna and her family have been nothing but good to us.

"Rick, don't you think that's a bit, drastic?" He looked to me like I didn't know what I was talking about. I looked around and saw the same expression I carried on Michonne's face. She liked this place and wants to build a life here just as much as I do.

"If they're not willing to cooperate, we'll just take this place." I stood up and began to walk out until I heard Rick call my name, bringing me to a stop.

"Don't say a word. Not to Deanna, not to Jessie, no one." He said. I nodded in response and left. I wanted no part in the slaughter of these people. They're the nicest people we've come across in a long time. If Rick wanted to take them out, I won't stop him. But I won't help him either.

////

I needed to clear my head for a bit. I went to leave and go beyond the gates, but this time I had a spare pistol hidden in the back waistband of my jeans and extra ammo. My pocket knife and my wits would carry me the rest of the way. I wasn't going too far, just far enough to get away from the chaos.

Spencer opened the gates for me and I made quick eye contact with him before walking out. He flashed a smile and then shut the gates. My heart weighed heavy knowing what would be the posh blue outcome of his death. I hid every ounce of guilt I had and returned the gesture.

I promised myself that I would stay somewhat close to the gates, not wanting a repeat of last time. I walked through the woods and practically tripped over a root. my balance was completely thrown off and before I knew it I was in the arms of a stranger.

I tried my best to scream, but he put his hand over my mouth preventing me from doing so.

"If you wanna live, I suggest you don't try anything." His calm voice said in a low whisper. Before I could even process what he had said, I bit the patch of skin between his index finger and thumb and ended up drawing blood. He screamed numerous curses out in the open and released his grasp on me, allowing me to make an attempted escape.

"HELP! SOMEONE, PLEASE!" I screamed while running through the forest back to Alexandria. Just when I had regained my balance, I was knocked back to the ground by a blow to the head. Everything became blurry and the noises around me were muffled. The last image I saw were another pair of feet shuffling closer to me. And just like that, I was out.