FALLING APART daryl dixon

EIGHTEEN - RICK GRIMES SIGHING OFF

As the group prepared to leave, Alycia noticed where Rick was leading them—back into the city, one more time. After the tragic end at the CDC, where Jacqui chose to stay behind, Rick decided they should visit the nursing home where the Vatos once were. When they arrived, they found nothing but the corpses of the elderly and the men who had once fought to protect them.

Alycia's heart broke a little more.

- Poor bastards - Daryl muttered, pulling one of his bolts from a lifeless body.

- They're all dead - Alycia sighed, leaning against a nearby desk, the weight of it all pressing on her.

- Something must've gone down...

They scavenged through the ruins, but it was clear there was nothing left. From the top of the building, they watched the dead shuffle aimlessly through the streets below. Rick was desperately fiddling with his walkie-talkie, trying to reach the man who had saved him.

- Glenn, Daryl, go on and clear our path to the next building. Aly and I will catch up in a minute - Rick instructed.

Daryl hesitated, his eyes lingering on Alycia. She looked lost, her usual fire dulled.

- You two gonna be okay? - Glenn asked.

Rick nodded, but Daryl still stood frozen. Alycia gave him a small nod, and only then did he leave, following Glenn.

- We... we keep going, okay? Our family—we keep on going - Rick said softly, trying to reach her.

- I don't...

- I got you, okay, babygirl? I got you - Rick reassured, his voice full of love and strength.

Rick then picked up the walkie-talkie again, speaking into the static for what felt like an eternity, but no one responded.

- Be careful out there, Morgan. I hope you and Duane are okay. Stay off the road. Keep moving. Keep your eyes open. I don't know, just—just be safe. Maybe we'll see you in Fort Benning someday. Rick signing off.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, Alycia saw a flicker of hope in her father's weary gaze. It was the same mix of fear, hope, and determination that always seemed to drive him forward. She didn't know what to feel, but she knew one thing—she had to keep moving.

Minutes later, they were following Glenn and Daryl into the next building, ready to make their final escape from Atlanta.

And then, they left the city—for good.

"I guess I'm losing hope that you can hear me. But there's always that chance, isn't there? That slim chance. It's all about slim chances now. I tried to do everything right, keep people safe. I tried, Morgan. I tried. Our group's smaller now. We lost another, the day before last. It was her choice. I won't blame her, but she lost faith. The CDC was a dead end. A met a man there, a scientist. He told me something there. He told me... It doesn't matter. What matters is we're moving on. Atlanta's done. We're going to try for Fort Benning."

It didn't take long for the four of them to reach Daryl's truck and reunite with the group.

- The Vatos are gone - Rick announced to everyone, his voice grim. - Their place was overrun. We managed to find some supplies and a small bit of gas, but it's not enough for all vehicles.

- We'll have to leave some cars behind, then - Shane said, his tone practical. - Dale's RV and T-Dog's van take up the most gas.

- I'm not giving up my RV - Dale interjected, his voice firm.

- It has a bed, a shower, and a stove - Andrea added, standing in defense of Dale. - It can hold more people, too.

- We can leave my van - T-Dog offered, glancing at the others. - It's got a decent amount of gas left. That should help fill the others.