𝖣𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝖪𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗌 𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖬𝖾 | ᴅᴀʀʏʟ ᴅɪxᴏɴ ³

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ ꜰᴏᴜʀ

«LOOK FOR THE LIGHT»

AS THEY HALTED, Connie began signing while her sister translated for the group. "If we don't follow each other in the dark, we're gonna get split up."

"She's right," Carol agreed. "We stick together."

"At least we know there's a way out now," Aaron remarked.

"Yeah, but where?" Magna questioned.

"I think they went this way," Jerry indicated, gesturing towards a rock with an engraved arrow pointing to the left.

"You see where they went?" Daryl asked him.

"Not exactly, but I know a road sign when I see one."

The sign guided them to what seemed like a narrow passage. Chloe squeezed in after Daryl with Logan's flashlight in hand, while Daryl lit a match to check for oxygen. It remained lit. "This is the way out!" she declared, her voice carrying a mix of relief and anticipation.

Merle's voice echoed from behind. "Oh, man."

"Tom?" Chloe called out.

"Right behind you," Tom's reassuring voice echoed from behind as Chloe manoeuvred through the narrow passage, eventually reaching Daryl's side.

"Hey," he panted, looking over at her. "You alright?"

"Yeah, and you?" Chloe replied, catching her breath.

Daryl nodded in response, his gaze fixed on the opening ahead. "We gotta climb up," he gestured, indicating the way forward.

"Hey," Tom's voice came from right behind Chloe. "Why did we stop?"

"We're going to climb up," Chloe explained, the dim light from their flashlights casting eerie shadows on the walls.

Daryl led the way, his skilled hands finding grip on the rough rocks. Chloe followed suit, muscles straining as she pulled herself upward into the next narrow passage. This time, they had to crawl.

"You alright back there?" Daryl's voice echoed from ahead.

"Yeah," Logan replied, his voice sounding close behind Tom.

As Chloe followed Daryl through the narrow passage, her senses were heightened by the close confines of the rocky walls. The rough texture of the cave floor scraped against her palms as she crawled. Each breath she took felt heavy and laboured in the stale air, filling her nostrils with the musty scent of damp earth and rock.

Her thoughts couldn't help but stray to Carol. How will she manage to get out?

John and Merle's voices drifted from further behind. "Hey, watch where you put that foot, Merle!" John called out.

"Don't worry, Johnny boy, wouldn't want to step on those delicate toes of yours," Merle replied.

Chloe couldn't suppress a small chuckle as she continued to push herself forward.

"Alright, I'm out," Daryl's voice broke through, and Chloe watched as he emerged from the passage, turning back to beckon her forward. "Come on."

She pushed herself forward, her muscles protesting with each movement, but determination drove her on. With a final surge of effort and a little help from Daryl, she pulled herself out of the narrow passage.

Tom followed closely behind, his flashlight casting eerie shadows on the rocky walls as he clambered out. Magna pushed herself out next, followed closely by Logan, his breaths short and gasping.

"Carol, you alright?" Chloe inquired, her voice tinged with concern as she heard Carol's laboured breathing amidst the struggle to climb out, her figure still obscured from view.

John's voice echoed from further behind, his tone impatient and irritated. "Move it, Carol! You're holding everyone up."

Merle, on the other hand, tried to soothe the tension. "Come on, Carol. You're almost there. Just a little further."

Carol's breathing grew heavier, her voice shaky as she struggled to respond. "I-I can't... I can't do it."

"You can, Carol," Chloe encouraged. "Just focus on getting out of here."

"Follow my voice," Daryl said.

"I'm here," Carol said weakly.

"You hurt?"

"I'm okay."

"Can you see my light?" Chloe asked her.

"Yes."

"Just follow the light," Daryl told her.

"I can't," she started panting. "I can't!"

"Yes, you can. Come on."

"For God's sake, Carol, stop being such a burden," John's impatience grew and so did Daryl's.

"Will you shut the hell up?" he shouted, his voice thundering through the enclosed space.

"No!" John called back.

"You're not helping John," Chloe's voice echoed.

"We're gonna get through this together," Daryl said, softly, his words directed at Carol. "Come on."

Chloe was relieved to watch her emerge into the dim light of the exit.

"Come on," Daryl beckoned her forward, his hand reaching for hers. "Go ahead."

Chloe stepped aside allowing him to pull her out. "I gotcha, I gotcha."

Relief washed over Carol as she took in the cool, fresh air, her trembling hands finding solace in the comforting presence of Chloe. "You're okay."

"Hey, guys," Jerry's voice echoed from behind Merle, who was still struggling to climb out.

"What is it?" They heard Aaron's voice echo next as they watched Merle grunt as he pulled himself out. "Looks like old Johnny boy is havin' some trouble down there."

John's strained voice echoed from below. "Shut up, Merle. Just give me a hand."

"Sure thing, Johnny," Merle replied. "Only 'cause I don't wanna listen to ya whine all day."

A commotion erupted from the hole below as shouts from Aaron and those left behind echoed loudly. "Go, go, go!"

"What's happening?" Chloe called out, but her question was met only with grunts as they struggled to climb out. "Aaron?"

Connie's head emerged from the passage, and Chloe and Daryl hurried to assist her. Once she was out, they turned their attention to Kelly and Aaron, who rushed out with the help of Merle and Logan.

"Where's Jerry?" Chloe inquired.

"Jerry, come on!" Aaron's voice echoed from the passage as he leaned back in, his light illuminating the darkness. "You're almost there!"

"Guys!" Jerry's voice echoed back. "I'm... I'm stuck."

Chloe's heart clenched as she heard the panic in Jerry's voice. "Here, take my hand!" Daryl's shout resonated as he stood beside Aaron, his arm extended toward Jerry.

"My feet! My feet!" Jerry's cries intensified. "They're biting my feet!"

Chloe's sense of helplessness grew as she listened to Jerry's distress.

"Take your gear off!" Aaron's urgent command echoed through the passage, and soon Jerry's equipment was being passed up to safety. With renewed determination, Jerry pushed himself forward, his companions Daryl and Aaron lending a hand until, at last, he emerged from the passage, breathing heavily but safely.

"You okay?" Chloe asked, her concern evident as she hurried to Jerry's side, quickly examining his feet for any signs of injury. Meanwhile, Daryl and Aaron worked to fend off the encroaching Walkers.

"It's okay," Chloe reassured Jerry, relief flooding her as she realized the bites hadn't penetrated his thick boots. "They didn't bite through."

"Hey," Magna interjected urgently. "Look!"

Chloe followed Magna's gaze and spotted the faint beam of light filtering through a crevice. But her attention was quickly drawn back to Magna who almost slipped down a cliff if it wasn't for Daryl who held her back.

Using the lit Walker arm from earlier, Daryl dropped it down the cliff. Below them, they could see the massive herd of Walkers, lying in wait.

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