What Lies Ahead • the walking dead ¹

31 • Aftermath

The girl in the shadows of the barn was none other than Sophia Peletier. The no longer missing girl.

"Sophia?" Carol cried, running forward. "Sophia!" The mother ran, only to be stopped by Daryl and dragged onto the dirt. "Oh no. Sophia." She cried. Her sobs echoed around the empty fields.

The rest of the group was quiet, watching as the now-walker Sophia stumbled forward. Her legs getting caught on the dead scattered on the ground. Her starved growls echoing much like her mother's sobs. Her sunken-in, bloodshot eyes showing how dead she really was.

Alexa stood, her arms falling away from her brother as she let her mouth drop open in shock. This was what she had been looking for. For days on end, she was searching. Climbing high and low, walking on water, risking her own life for the little girl that was now standing in front of her.

But Alexa wasn't sad, she was angry. Everything she did, she did for nothing. She had promised herself to never lose another child. Not after her sisters. Not after Martha and Tristan. But now little Sophia was dead. And Alexa's promise to herself was broken, a third child's blood was now on her hands.

Alexa pushed herself forward. Her fingers curled around the handle of her blade as she strode past the group that stayed frozen in place. Alexa walked up to Sophia, putting a hand on the little girl's shoulder to stop her from coming closer. She drew her knife, raising it so it was at the side of Sophia's head.

"I found you," Alexa whispered so quietly that it was inaudible to everyone else before she sunk her knife into the walker's head. Alexa Let the walker collapse into her arms and pull her onto the ground with it. Her mission was finally over. Now, all that mattered was protecting Chase.

And this time, Alexa would not fail.

Alexa sat next to Sophia's body for a couple of seconds, watching as Carol pulled away from Daryl and ran up to camp. Watching as Beth lumbered through the bodies and up to one Alexa assumed to be her mother. And watching as the very same walker grabbed the girl.

Without flinching Alexa stood and ran over to the girl, stabbing her knife into the walker's skull. The rest of the group ran over to the girl as Alexa stood up. She didn't pay any attention to them. Instead, she took her brother's hand and lead him up to camp as well.

Alexa knew everyone was watching her leave. But she didn't care. Her mind was finally running blank. She lead her brother into camp and inside the RV. Carol was already inside, just blankly staring out the window, not even bothering to acknowledge the girl's presents.

It didn't bother Alexa at all as she lead her brother to the back of the trailer. She sat the little boy in bed, pulling a blanket over him. She knew he didn't feel well, and he wasn't going to get better running around, mingling with the group and the dead.
"Get some rest," Alexa whispered to her brother. "I'll be back."

Alexa left the camper, neither she nor Carol sparing the other a glance. The girl walked over to the tree where she left her pack the other night, only to find it missing.
"Lookin' for this?" The voice Alexa knew as Daryl Dixon asked. Alexa turned, facing the man who immediately flung her backpack in her direction.

She caught it with ease, throwing it over her shoulder before trying to push past Daryl. Only for her upper arm to be grabbed and her body spun around.
"S' that's it, huh?" Daryl quizzed, his shotgun still clutched in the hand that wasn't holding the girl. "You're jus' gonna leave now?"

The two stared at each other for a long moment before Alexa replied with a question of her own.
"Why do you care?"
Daryl's eyes widened at her words. He didn't actually know why he cared if she left or not. It's not like he knew Alexa enough to care about what she did or didn't do.

But for some unexplained reason he did. Daryl cared, though he didn't want to tell Alexa that.
"I don't," Daryl said flatly, letting go of the girl's arm.
"Then don't act like you do," Alexa responded, nonchalantly walking back inside the camper. Leaving Daryl with a lot to think about...

Alexa ventured to the back again, she and Carol still ignoring each other. Sitting down on the edge of Chase's bed, Alexa flipped open her pack, before digging out a bottle of Advil and dumping four into her hand. Chase turned at the sound of pills, flashing a grateful smile as he took the medication, swallowing them dry before he flipped back over.

Alexa sighed as she closed her bag, setting it on the ground next to her before she zoned out. She was so lost after the events of today that she didn't know what to think. This group had lost people before, and Alexa had lost people before. But the death of Sophia was different. The whole group was so sure they'd find her. But watching her step out of that barn was just... heartbreaking.

The girl was only pulled out of her trance as she felt the bed dip next to her, turning her head only to be met with the face of her fellow tracker. He didn't speak but only looked off in a random direction.

After a while of them sitting in silence, Alexa felt a light pressure on her hand. Much to her surprise, she realized Daryl had set his hand on top of hers.
"You're right." He said blankly, still staring into space. "I do care."

Alexa was taken aback. She didn't have any words to say to him. At least none she could muster up. And she didn't know why he care so much if she left. Daryl didn't know her, and she didn't know Daryl. So why would either of them care what the other did?

But it was at this moment that Alexa figured out Daryl Dixon. He was strong both physically and mentally. He was resourceful and loyal to the people he cared for. And he was hardened to the world around him, but that didn't mean he didn't have a soft, emotional side as well. So that was the side he was showing right now. His soft side for the people he cared for.

And no more words needed to be said. From that moment on, the two had a relationship that couldn't be put into writing. So instead of speaking Alexa rested her head on Daryl's shoulder. She let her fingers get laced with his. And she let herself enjoy one happy moment in a world surrounded by death.