In The End | Daryl Dixon

Chapter 29: Brother's Love

"It's the only way. No one else knows." Rick said.

Daryl, Hershel and I were standing around Rick, as he made his decision to hand over Michonne to the Governor. I knew deep down that this wasn't the right call, she had shown time and time again that she was one of us. Besides, even if we did decide to hand her over, what's to say the Governor won't go back on his word?

"You gonna tell 'em?" Daryl asked from beside me.

"Not till after." He responded.

I felt guilt bubble inside me. This definitely wasn't the right call.

"We have to do it today. It has to be quiet."

Daryl nodded, "You got a plan?"

Rick stepped forward Daryl, "We tell her we need to talk. Away from the others."

Daryl looked at Rick for a moment before glancing over to Hershel and I.  I met his gaze for a moment before looking down to the pavement, because I felt like I was going to crawl out of my own skin if we went through with this.

"Just ain't us, man." Daryl said quietly, as he turned his attention back to Rick.

"No." Hershel spoke up. "No, it isn't." I watched as Hershel walked away on his crutches.

"We do this, we avoid a fight. No one else dies." Rick said quietly.

Daryl paused for a moment, as if thinking about the possible outcome of not having a fight. He nodded, "All right."

I shook my head, "So he says." I spoke up quietly, causing Rick to turn around, giving me a blank stare. "You spoke to him. Sat down with him. Do you actually believe he will keep his word?"

The look on his face was more of an answer than he could say with words. He wasn't even sure himself.

Rick turned back to Daryl, "We need someone else."

Daryl nodded, "I'll talk to him."

"I'll do it." Rick insisted.

"I'll go with ya." Daryl suggested.

"No. Just me." He turned around, heading back inside the prison to find who I assume was Merle.

I didn't give Rick a second glance as he walked past me. I waited until his footsteps were long gone before I spoke up,

"This isn't right." I said quietly, "We're just gonna give her to some psycho, who you and I both know, will kill her, and possibly change his mind on killing us."

Daryl stared at me with guilty eyes, adjusting his crossbow that was on his back.

I sighed, "I just don't trust it."

"I don't either." He pulled a cigarette out of his jacket pocket, igniting it with a match.

"Where did you get those?" I asked as he took a drag.

"Dead guy at the silos." He handed the carton out to me, "Want one?"

"That's disgusting." I chuckled at him.

"Beggars can't be choosers." He shrugged, blowing a puff of smoke out of his mouth as he put the carton back into his jacket.

We were quiet for a moment, him smoking his cigarette, while I was lost in thought. Just thinking that this shit wasn't going to end well.

"We're shit out of luck, aren't we?" I asked out loud before looking over to him.

He looked down to me, studying my face, before his head back to look straight forward, taking another drag of his cigarette.