Survivor - TWD (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 31 - Spend

Nelly

I sit there for what feels like an hour, the argument with Daryl replaying over and over in my head. His words hit me like bullets, each one striking deeper, leaving a bitter ache in my chest. We'd been in this perfect moment, wrapped up in each other, and now it's all shattered. How did things go wrong so fast?

I can't sit here anymore. I get up, moving with purpose even though my mind feels numb. Tugging on my cargo pants, I tighten them at the waist, slipping a tank top over my head. My hands move quickly, almost on autopilot, as if my body knows what to do while my head is lost somewhere else. I strap on my double holster, the cold metal of the guns sliding into place, heavy but familiar. The bulky jacket comes next, its weight settling on my shoulders like armor.

Crouching down, I tie my boots tight, making sure everything is secure. I strap a knife to my belt, the familiar click of the sheath comforting in its own way. Another knife goes in my boot, hidden but always ready. A third gun—the one I never checked in—gets tucked into the back of my waistband, its cold steel pressing into my skin. I shrug my short swords over my back, the leather straps tight across my shoulders. Each weapon feels like a piece of an old identity I'm slipping back into.

I grab my backpack and throw it over my shoulder, heading downstairs. I hear voices in the living room, the murmur of conversations carrying through the house. I stay in the hallway, keeping to the shadows as I slip out the back door without making a sound. The cool morning air hits me, waking me up fully as I head toward the gates.

Aiden's on watch, leaning lazily with his rifle. He spots me and smirks, that usual arrogant look on his face.

"Where are you going?" he asks, his tone thick with smugness, eyes scanning me from head to toe.

"None of your business, dipshit," I snap, not breaking my stride as I stop in front of the gate, waiting for him to open it.

He doesn't move, just stands there, looking me up and down like I'm a joke. "You scavenging?" he asks again, like this is some game.

I've had enough of his smug attitude. "Open the gate, Aiden," I say, my voice firm and cold.

He chuckles, like I've just told a joke. The condescension in his eyes makes me grit my teeth.

I narrow my gaze. "Open. The. Gate," I say slower, my tone like ice. "Or I'll knock you on your ass again."

That gets his attention. His smirk drops for a second, and he raises an eyebrow, sizing me up. "Is that a threat?"

"Did it sound like a compliment?" I shoot back, my voice sharp, staring him down until the smirk fully fades.

He holds my gaze for a moment longer before he moves, the gate creaking open slowly. I step past him without a second glance, feeling his eyes on me but not caring. There are bigger things on my mind.

The second I step through the gates, the world changes. The air feels different, the quiet hum of Alexandria fading behind me with every step I take into the woods. The trees stretch out ahead of me, familiar and dark, and there's a calm that settles over me, one I haven't felt in a long time. Out here, I know how to survive. Out here, I don't have to explain myself.

I don't look back. There's no reason to. The part of me that was a loner, that thrived on isolation and survival, is wide awake now. And I'm not sure she's ever going to fall back asleep.

...

Alexandria...

As soon as Daryl storms out of the room and out of the house, he heads straight for Aaron's. He pounds on the door, startling Aaron and Eric awake. Aaron opens it, his hair tousled and his eyes bleary with sleep. The sight of Daryl, visibly agitated, surprises him.