In The End | Daryl Dixon

Chapter 3: The Archer

I leaned my head against the window watching the the trees pass by. I felt guilty. Even though Merle seemed like a jackass who deserved karma, I couldn't help but feel bad. What if that was Tyler left on that roof? I felt a churning in my stomach.

I felt a hand on my shoulder causing me to look behind me, "Best not to dwell on it. Merle got left behind. Nobody's gonna be sad he didn't come back... Except maybe Daryl."

I furrowed my brow at Morales, "Who's Daryl?"

"His brother."

I looked back forward, "I just keep thinking if it was my brother." I whispered. I shook my head and looked down at the floor board.

Morales sighed and sat back in the back of the truck. I heard the sound of a car alarm sounding off and I looked in the side mirror, seeing Glenn speed around us having the time of his life.

"At least somebody's having a good day." Morales gave a tight lip smile.

Rick was following Glenn back to the camp. It was somewhere up in the hills overlooking the city. Rick pulled the truck over behind a church van, I was nervous to say the least. I wasn't going to know anyone or how they were. I knew I trusted Rick, and Glenn with my life, but everyone else was still up for debate.

Morales peeked his head in-between the driver and passenger seats, "Come meet everybody."

I nodded to Rick and slowly got out of the truck. While everyone was reuniting with all of their loved ones, I stood by the hood of the truck. It made me miss Tyler. If he was still in the city Andrea might be right. He was as dead as any.

I heard someone ask in a country accent, "How'd y'all get out of there anyway?"

Morales with his arms around his family said, "New guy and gal. They got us out." 

"New guy and gal?" the same man with the country accent asked.

"Hey, helicopter boy! Jordyn! Come say hello." Morales called out.

Rick stepped forward before me. He saw the guy who had curly hair holding a shotgun over his shoulder, and he had the look of disbelief written on his face.

Then a little boy shouted, "Dad!" he ran from a woman who I assumed to be his mom to Rick.

Rick engulfed him in a hug squeezing him tight. He picked up his son and carried him over to the woman and hugged her.

I smiled to myself, happy that Rick had found his family. I was happy that Rick got his happy ending, at least someone did. I slowly walked up, shifting the weight on my bag on my shoulders.

The curly hair guy looked at me, and asked, "I assume you're Jordyn?"

I only nodded. I was nervous to use my voice.

"Jordyn is a badass. She was slicin' and dicin' geeks left and right." Glenn proclaimed.

This caused the man to raise his eyebrows towards me, "Well Jordyn, it's nice to meet you. I'm Shane." He gave me a crooked smile.

For some reason I felt like I couldn't trust him. His vibe was off, and I didn't know how to feel about it.

"Well, come, come. Let's get you settled in Jordyn." said an older man who was reaching his arm out to me. I nodded and followed him.

I held both of the straps on my bag as I followed the older man.

"My name is Dale." He kept glancing behind himself to talk to me, "I can't express how thankful I am that you helped them get out of there."