Fire With Fire // D. Dixon

chapter eight

Terminus.

Sanctuary for all, community for all.

Those who arrive, survive.

It was the last glimmer of hope the group of five had. Though it had taken three days to finally make it, they had made it. After all of that time being on the road, from the very beginning of the end of the world until now, they had seen so much. They'd lived through so much, too much, all to end up here.

At Terminus.

"Terminus. Sanctuary for all, community for all. Those who arrive, survive." A woman spoke into the microphone, seemingly speaking to no one in particular.

"Hello." Rick spoke, still cautiously taking in the sight of people. Nobody had noticed the group come in, that is until Rick had spoken. There was a brief moment of silence before a sigh was heard among the foreign people.

"Well, I bet Albert is on perimeter watch," the man came forward, "You here to rob us?"

Chloe was watching these people, as they worked on whatever it is they were working on. It seemed like some people were making signs and some working on old radios. Of course, she thought, they were trying to get the word out to others that they had a safe haven.

"No," Rick spoke, "We wanted to see you before you saw us." Rick walked forward, still cautiously inspecting the people and the place. You could never be too careful these days, especially when it comes to new people. Unknown people. Untrusted people. They'd learned that the hard way.

"Makes sense. Usually we do this where the tracks meet," The man addressed the group again, before throwing his arms out, "Welcome to Terminus, I'm Gareth. Looks like you've been on the road for a good bit."

Chloe sighed internally, knowing that it had taken them a while to get here. It had been three days since what happened at the camp. She had kept track of the days as if her life depended on it. It was a sort of landmark in her mind, of all of her time on the road. Hopefully this would be a place where she could rest for a while, let her body recover from the trauma it had been put through.

"We have." Rick answered, before introducing their clan. Chloe gulped, seeing as the man standing before them seemed to inspect them. She gripped tightly onto her knife, not allowing herself to trust anyone...not after what happened.

It had been three days since Chloe Grimes had been raped. Three days since she was truly herself. Three days since she felt okay. Three days since she had lost her fire. It was safe to say that she was very weary of people, especially men.

"You're nervous, I get it. We were all the same way. We came here for sanctuary, is that what you're here for?" Gareth beckoned, trying to ease the group of their apparent stress. Rick smiled and agreed.

"Good," Gareth spoke, "You found it."

Chloe wouldn't allow herself to loosen her grip, neither did Daryl. In fact, Chloe couldn't believe that her father was trusting these people. She hoped he was only pretending to be so accepting, as a way of earning their trust without suspicion.

"This isn't as pretty as the front. We got nothin' to hide, but the welcome wagon is a whole lot nicer," Gareth spoke, just as another man came up to the group, "Alex will take you, ask you a few questions. But first...we need to see everyone's weapons."

The group tensed, glancing at each other. Every single person was skeptical. Chloe gulped, fearing the worst. The last thing they needed was to stumble upon another Woodbury with some psycho killer who calls himself a governor. Daryl sent the girl a glance, trying to tell her that he'd protect her. Chloe did not move, even when Rick did.

"I'm sure you understand..." Gareth spoke as he watched the group put down their weapons. They started to pat each member down, making sure that nobody was hiding anything else on their person. Well, everyone except for Chloe.

"I'd hate to see the other guy." Alex said, glancing at Chloe's bloodstained appearance. She was still covered in the blood of her rapist, the man that had stolen so much from her in such a short period of time. Chloe's eyes gazed over the man in a grimace as he patted down her father, and then Carl. She knew what was coming and she hated it. The anticipation.

"You would." Rick spoke, his tone of voice very matter of fact. He was glad the man that had brutally raped his daughter was dead. He knew that if that whole group hadn't been killed, he would have fought night and day to hunt each one of them down to the ends of the Earth, if it meant successfully avenging her. Anything he could do to give his daughter some sense of justice in this world, he'd do it.

Rick could clearly see that his daughter did not like what was going on, he knew that she feared them touching her or being anywhere near her for that matter.

"They deserve it?" Alex asked, as he moved on to Daryl. Chloe's mouth went dry at his words, her body froze in place. She had killed the man, that was pure fact. She asked herself yet again, Did he deserve it? The memories of that night had left her in a trance, her body stiffened.

"Yes." Carl was quick to respond, taking up for his sister. His sister's silence scared him, who looked as if she had seen a ghost, her skin turning a sickly pale color as her grip around her knife had never faltered.

"I'm going to have to ask you to put the knife on the floor," Alex asked gently, but Chloe did not move. In fact, she hadn't even heard him speak. Rick glanced at her, seeing her face grow paler with each passing moment. He knew what it was; she was remembering.

"I need you to cooperate-" Gareth said, placing his hands around her shoulders. Chloe looked up at Gareth, and saw that man. All of a sudden, she was back there again. Laying on that concrete, with his hands all over her. Chloe screamed out in both fear and shock, sending Gareth backing away with his hands up.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Chloe shrieked, pushing herself away. She could still smell him, something she couldn't stop herself from remembering. She hated remembering, and she hated that she couldn't just forget it happened and move on.

"Woah, what the hell is your problem?" Alex had his gun out now, ready to shoot the girl. Rick was quick to calm down the situation.

"She...she's had a rough few days. She didn't mean to do that, she's still in shock." Rick spoke, not revealing more than what he had to. It wasn't his place to say anything, especially when it wasn't his story to tell. He didn't want to take anything else away from her.

Everyone seemed to calm down at that, as Daryl had moved from his spot and was by her side. Just as he had promised her. Chloe knew it was Daryl and allowed herself to calm down again. It's Daryl Dixon, he'd never hurt her. She knew that.

Those men were not here, they are dead. They are dead and gone. They can't hurt her again. She repeated those words like a mantra.

"No matter what happens, I won't let nobody hurt ya. You hear me?" Daryl spoke, low enough for only her to hear. Chloe nodded, as she took Daryl's hand in hers.

Maybe they would be okay here.