Captive | The Walking Dead |

103

The next morning, Isabella slipped out of Alexandria before anyone or Rick could see her off; she wanted nothing more than to avoid him after how the night had gone before.

But it was all she thought about on the short ride to the sanctuary, thinking about how close they were, about as how much she wished they closed the distance, she was glad they hadn't.

Once she did reach the sanctuary, she shook out of her daze and got to helping around the community. She and Daryl were rebuilding a break in the gates, covering it with wood pallets.

"So how're things at Alexandria?" Daryl asked as she held the pallet in place while he got to hammering it in place.

"It's going," she shrugged. "Things have been looking up a bit."

"You've been coming around less," Daryl nodded.

"Same with Hilltop."

"And things with Rick?"

"Uh, it's gotten better," she nervously said, avoiding eye contact with her answer in fear he'd see the heat the rose in her cheeks.

"You thinking of getting back with him?" She couldn't help but hear the edge in his voice.

"No, it's not like that- why? Is that a bad thing?" She let go of the pallet and stood to her full height.

"After the shit he did?" He remained still, staring at the pallet.

"I know Dare, I'll never forget that. But I want to move on. I know you're upset at him from all those months ago but-"

"You forgave him?" He stood to his full height and met her eyes.

"I don't know, I- jesus Dixon I'm working on it. I'm just so tired of holding onto the past. I mean, aren't you? You're his brother for gods sake."

Daryl didn't say anything but she knew how much Rick doing what he did hurt him. The two had such an unbreakable bond and now everything felt different.

"Hey, I'm sorry. I know what Rick did hurt you, and I know you're just looking out for me," she sighed, running her hand over her face.

"Nah, you're righ'. Just don't wanna see you get hurt again is all."

"I know, and I'm glad you're looking out for me. Who knows, if I can one day work up to forgiving him, maybe you can too?"

Daryl snorted as they got back to work with the pallet.

"Have you even talked to him? I mean really talk to him, about what happened?"

"Ain't had the time," Daryl shook his head and she grimaced.

"You know he cares for you right?" She said as he hammered at the pallet. "And I do too. We all love you."

Daryl nodded but avoided her eyes.

"Daryl-"

But she was cut off by a scream before she could get any more words out. Both her and Daryl's heads swivled in the direction of the commotion and saw walkers had broken past the gate and gotten two saviors.

"Shit!" Isabella exclaimed as she took off running towards them with her gun drawn, and began to take down whatever she could.

Daryl wasn't far behind her and he sent a bolt before pulling out his knife to take out the others.

Isabella's gun clicked and she quickly swapped her bow out, sending an arrow into a walker near a savior that was too far for her to get with her knife.

She tried not to look at the dead saviors she passed as both she and Daryl worked on killing the small herd with the few survivors who jumped in.

A fear stricken savior barreled into her, and as if to save his skin, in one swift motion, he grabbed her wrist and threw her towards a walker. She gasped as she didn't have time to register what he did and in a search for food, the walker's teeth skimmed her skin. It was barely enough to draw a drop of blood but she still fell to the ground from the impact and Daryl quickly came over and grabbed the walker quickly sending his knife through its skull.