Fire With Fire // D. Dixon

chapter twenty-four

Alexandria was different. In more ways than one.

Chloe was cautious as she explored the new place, weary of every person she came across. She didn't know these people at all, nor did she trust any of these people. At all. She did not stray too far from Daryl and Rick at any given moment, just as she had on the road. Some might say she was being overly concerned about the new place, but she would say that she was being safe.

The only time she had really been away was to take a shower. The first shower she had in six weeks, it had been six weeks since she had been raped. It had been six weeks that she had worn the blood of her rapist on her skin.

Stepping into the shower felt surreal. She had never been so dirty in all her life.

As soon as the warm water hit her skin, the floor turned a disgusting dark brown color. The dirt from her skin was slowly stripped away as she started to clean herself, watching the true color of her skin reappear once again.

She didn't have a clue how long she'd been in there, but it certainly wasn't long enough. No matter how roughly she scrubbed her skin, she couldn't remove the marks that man had left her with. The bruises and superficial wounds were long gone by now, but some scars remained.

Still, she scrubbed, scraped and clawed at her body over and over again, depserately hoping to rid herself of the dirtiness and the grime she knew her body was still tainted with. She had rubbed herself raw underneath the scalding hot water, not stopping when her skin turned an angry red.

She hadn't realized it, but she was crying. She let herself cry this time, having nobody to be strong for right now.

She just let herself feel everything, for the very first time.

-X-

The group were given two houses; right next to each other.

It seemed so excessive. It seemed so generous, too kind to be real. The group was still weary, not fully trusting the situation.

"They're right next to each other but..." Carol spoke, as the small group stood between the two houses. Chloe looked back, seeing Daryl and a newly-shaved Rick.

"Woah," Chloe smiled at her father, "I didn't recognize you there for a second...Haven't seen you like that in a blue moon." Chloe laughed, hitting his arm in a playful manner.

"Can't say I recognize myself either." Rick joked back, happy to see Chloe in a good mood. It was becoming a more common thing, as time went on. He was hoping that meant she was getting better, healing from the trauma that had been so rudely bestowed upon her six weeks ago.

"They took our weapons and now they're splitting us up." Rick stated, looking wearily at Carol, Chloe and Daryl. Everyone nodded, feeling an odd sense of homesickness. Nobody was ready to be separated just yet. Not after all that time they had spent in such close proximity to one another.

"We're not splitting up," Chloe said, crossing her arms in front of her chest, "No way in hell." Daryl nodded at the girl, knowing that he wouldn't leave her side for a second.

Rick nodded, looking at his daughter's defensive stance, "We'll all be staying in the same house tonight."

With that said, the group settled in that night. With everyone scattered around the living room floor, they all stayed close. Just like they always had.

When Chloe had entered the living room with her blanket and pillow in tow, she glanced around the room. She searched for Daryl, knowing that she'd want to sleep next to him.

"Lookin' for me?" Daryl spoke from beside the girl, making her turn to look at him in shock. Chloe let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding in.

"How'd you know?" Chloe asked him with a smile, as she looked at his tired expression.

"I dunno, call it a sixth sense or somethin'..." Daryl said with a slight smile, taking her things gently and carefully placing them beside his spot on the floor. She smiled and followed him, sitting down beside of him.

When Deanna came by, the whole group was a bit shocked, "Listen, I don't mean to interrupt, I just wanted to stop by and see how you were all settling in-"

When she looked around, she saw the whole group sitting scattered on the living room floor. They all had blankets, pillows, and the like. The sight was not so shocking, she had expected this from them. After all, they'd been a family.

"Staying together...smart." Deanna smiled, looking back at Rick. He still held the door open, watching her every move.

"No one said we couldn't." Rick stated, still watching the woman.

"You said you're a family," Deanna smiled, "That's what you said. It's absolutely amazing to me how people with completely different backgrounds and nothing in common can become that. Don't you think?"

"Everybody said you gave them jobs." Rick looked back at the woman, stealing glances from the group as he did so.

"Yes, that's a part of this place," Deanna smiled at the group, "Looks like the communists won after all." Daryl stiffled a grunt from beside Chloe, which made her subtly punch his shoulder in a playful but stern manner. He didn't hide his smile.

"Well, you didn't give me one." Rick looked at her, his voice growing softer. He sensed no need in being as defensive as he had been originally.

"I have," Deanna glanced back at Rick, "I just haven't told you yet. Same with Michonne. I'm closing in on something for Sasha, and I'm just trying to figure Mr. Dixon out...but I will." Chloe laughed at that, looking over at Daryl.

"Good luck with that," Chloe joked, smiling at Daryl as he smirked at the girl. It had taken her a while, but he did eventually open up to the group.

"Goodnight," Deanna spoke to everyone, then turned to Rick, "You look good." As she left, Rick closed the door behind her. The group watched Rick, waiting to hear what he had to say.

Rick only said one thing after that, "Let's get some rest."