WITH YOU | TWD

[42] TERMINUS

Everything was over for good now.

There was no prison. There was no family. No Rick. No Carl. No Michonne. No Glenn. No Daryl.

Charlie's emotions were a tumultuous mix of relief and dread after the prison's fall in The Walking Dead. The shattered sense of security clashed with the freedom from constant threat, leaving Charlie grappling with a new and uncertain reality. The loss of familiar faces and the upheaval of the community intensified the weight of survival in a world where trust was as fragile as the decaying structures around them. And on top of that she was stuck with a baby she couldn't even look at, a crazy little girl and her scared sister.

A scream cut through the air.

"You leaving us?" asked Mika.

"Thay maybe from the prison," Tyreese answered.

"We need you!"

"There's Charlie," he said and look at the girl that was sitting under the tree. staring somewhere away. "Charlie," Tyreese walked up to her and held her shoulders, which made her look up at him. "I'm going to help someone. Do you hear me?"

She did. But profound sense of emptiness filled her whole body, a hollow ache that echoed through every corner of her being. It was as if something essential had been extracted, leaving a void that no amount of distraction could fill. The world seemed colorless, devoid of the vibrancy it once held, and even routine actions felt mechanical, lacking the emotional resonance they once carried. Each breath was a reminder of the emptiness within, a silent plea for something meaningful to restore the purpose that had slipped away.

"Mica, tuck your shirt behind your knife, it's easier to grab," said Lizzie. "We'll be okay."

Tyreese touched Charlie's cheek with affection but also with worry. He stood up and left them.

Shortly after the man was gone, Judith began crying loudly. Lizzie and Mika immediately tried to calm her, but nothing seemed to work. Second later, Lizzie was squeezing the baby's face, her hand muffling the noise Judith was making. Charlie knew what that meant, but at the same time couldn't bring herself to do anything, so she was just watching.

The thought "it would be better if Judith was dead" echoed through her mind torn between despair and a twisted sense of relief. It was a dark moment where the burden of pain seemed unbearable, and the idea of escape from the chaos of emotions momentarily felt like a solution. Yet, beneath the harshness of the sentiment, there lingered a profound sadness, fueling the internal struggle and the yearning for some form of resolution or solace.

"Girls?" asked a similar voice, appearing from behind the bushes. "Charlie?"

She looked up. "Carol?"

Immediately, Charlie was up on her legs and with hurry approached the woman. The reunion with Carol after the prison's fall was a bittersweet blend of emotions. The joy of finding a trusted ally tempered the grief of the shattered community. The unspoken understanding of shared hardships and survival struggles created an unbreakable bond, turning the reunion into a glimmer of hope in the bleak aftermath. Yet, beneath the surface, the scars of loss and the changed dynamics of their world cast a shadow on what once was, making the embrace a poignant reminder of the challenges that lay ahead. They hugged each other and Charlie let out a sob - the first one she held in for a very long time. Carol caressed her back in mother like gesture and started rocking their bodies. "Sweet thing, what happened?" she asked

"I couldn't safe anyone," she choked out and shook her head. "The Governor came back. There were bullets everywhere, I lost them there. There's nothing left from the prison."

"Shhh," Carol shushed and placed hands on her cheeks. "It's okay now. You're safe. Breathe," Carol said looking into her eyes. Charlie took a breath in together with her and held it for a while, trying to calm herself down.

As the man that Tyreese saved said, they started following the tracks. They were supposed to find something at the end of it, however, each step forward carried a sense of uncertainty, hinting at the possibility of safety, community, or even a new threat. In a world altered by the fall of the prison, the tracks symbolized the journey into an unpredictable future, leaving the characters to navigate a path where survival and the pursuit of hope intertwined in an ever-changing landscape. But after a short walk in the sun, Carol stopped.

"I didn't see you get out," Tyreese said.

"I wasn't there," Carol furrowed her eyebrows. "Rick came back to the prison, while I...kept looking. But I saw the end," she said. "Then I saw you, but I lost you..."

"You found us," Mika smiled.

"I knew you would," Lizzie stepped closer to Carol before passing her.

"You said you had a car," Charlie said while matching her peace. There was an idea born in her head as soon as she heard about the vehicle. "Maybe we can circle back and..."

"The Walkers and the fire..." she shook her head. "I know what you want to do, but...you can't go back to a graveyard, sweet thing," Charlie saw her small smile that was supposed to support her.

"Look," Lizzie turned all their attention towards the board.

"Sanctuary for all. Community for all," read out loud Mika. "Those who arrive survive."

Charlie looked down at the map and saw bold letters forming a word: TERMINUS.

When the sun began to hide behind the horizon and the evening approached, they decided to stop their voyage and make a camp. It was risky, but they just stopped in the middle of the tracks just in case they would lost it in case of emergency.

"It's yours," said Mica approaching Charlie who was trying to make a fire. She was spreading her arms in front of her and she was holding something almost as big as she was - it was strange she hadn't seen it before. "We kept it for you."

She looked at the girls and back at the bow in confusion. She thought she lost it forever, but the last thing after Daryl was back in her hands. The memory she will never forget. "Where did you get this?"

"We took it from the prison."

"Thank you," smiled at them with a gratitude; however, as she was holding onto the cold steel, she realized that she lost something else in exchange.