𝖣𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝖪𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗌 𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖬𝖾 | ᴅᴀʀʏʟ ᴅɪxᴏɴ ³

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ ᴇɪɢʜᴛ

«SCARED»

EVERYONE was bracing for the impending battle. War with the Whisperers was inevitable, and they all felt it. Chloe had heard from Rosita that while they were trapped in the caves, Beta had infiltrated Alexandria, attempting to reclaim Mary for Alpha. He was stopped, but not without a fight— and if it hadn't been for Mary's intervention, Rosita wouldn't have survived.

Chloe pushed the thought of Tom trapped beneath the rubble from her mind by helping the group repair the spikes outside Hilltop's walls. Kelly and Luke's conversation blurred around her as she concentrated on the task at hand. But when a flock of rats suddenly darted out of the bushes, her senses snapped back to attention.

"The horde's coming!" Magna shouted, and they all rushed inside the walls.

It was time.

Inside Hilltop's mansion, everyone armed themselves. Chloe was adjusting her gear when Daryl approached, carrying a bow and a handful of arrows. He handed her the arrows, his expression heavy with the same tension she felt in her chest. 

Chloe took them without a word, her fingers trembling slightly as she fumbled to fit them into her quiver.

"You alright?" Daryl's voice was quiet but cut through the noise of people rushing around them.

Chloe looked up, meeting his eyes. She wanted to say she was fine, that she could handle it, but the words caught in her throat. The weight of Tom's absence and the fear of what was coming was all too much. "I don't know," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Daryl stepped closer, his hand resting on her shoulder. "Hey... We'll get through this," he said, his tone steady.

Chloe swallowed hard, nodding. "But what if Tom—"

"We'll find him," Daryl interrupted gently, his gaze soft but firm. "After this is over, we'll find him. You just gotta hold on."

Tears threatened to well up, but Chloe blinked them away, forcing herself to breathe. "I'm trying," she murmured.

Daryl gently squeezed her shoulder and leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers. "I know," he whispered softly. "I know."

Chloe pulled back slightly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she scanned Daryl's bruised face, the cuts and scrapes still fresh from his brutal fight with Alpha. She could see the pain etched in the lines of his face, but he stood strong, as always.

"I didn't... I didn't have your injuries checked," she said quietly, her voice thick with guilt. "You should've gone to the medics."

Daryl shrugged, trying to brush it off, but Chloe could see through him. "I'm fine," he muttered, his gaze shifting away from hers.

"You're not," she insisted, her hand lingering near his arm, but not quite touching. "You never are. You always act like you don't need help."

Daryl's eyes flickered back to her, something vulnerable flashing in them for a brief moment. "There's no time for that right now," he replied, his voice low. "We got bigger things to worry about."

Chloe bit her lip, her heart aching for him, for all of them. "You're always worrying about everyone else," she whispered. "Maybe for once, someone should worry about you."

Daryl didn't answer right away, his gaze softening as he studied her face. "We just gotta survive this," he said, his voice gruff. "That's all that matters."

With that, Daryl walked down the stairs toward Ezekiel, who was trying to hide the lump on his neck with a scarf. Chloe watched them for a moment before quietly descending the stairs. As she reached the bottom, her eyes landed on Judith, sitting alone in the living room. Leaving the two men to their conversation, Chloe made her way over to the girl.

Chloe approached Judith, who looked up with a weary smile. "Hey, kiddo," Chloe said softly, taking a seat next to her. "Why are you still here?"

Judith shrugged, her eyes serious. "I'm just... waiting."

Chloe nodded, her heart aching for the young girl who had seen more than her fair share of hardship. "You're really brave, Judith."

Judith's expression brightened a little. "Thanks. I'm just trying to help where I can."

Chloe reached out, giving Judith's hand a reassuring squeeze. "You're doing more than you know."

Before Judith could respond, Daryl walked over. "Hi," he smiled at Judith. "You should be with the other kids."

"I wanna help," Judith said causing Daryl's eyes to shift slightly to Chloe. "I can fight."

"I know you can," Daryl nodded, his eyes back on Judith.

"I'm sorry about today," he continued, his tone softening. "You didn't need to see those bodies like that."

"They were just walkers," Judith said, making Chloe's throat tighten. "I've killed plenty of walkers."

"I know," Daryl assured her. "But they weren't just walkers."

It was heartbreaking to think about what kids like Judith, RJ, and Tom had endured in this world.

"I'm not scared," Judith said.

"I know you're not," Daryl said softly.

Judith hesitated before adding, "Maybe I am a little. If I was scared, I'd be scared for RJ because he's so little."

Chloe and Daryl listened, letting her express her feelings.

"Yeah, I get that," Daryl agreed, nodding.

Judith went on, "Maybe I'd worry about my mom. Or be scared that you'd get hurt and I'd lose you and Aunt Chloe."

Chloe and Daryl exchanged a quiet look as Judith continued, "And Aunt Carol, too."

Daryl gave her a reassuring nod. "There's no shame in that," he said gently. "You know who you're fighting for."

There was a moment of silence before Judith spoke up, a smile spreading across her face. "I made you something," she said, holding up Daryl's old vest. "It's for luck."

Judith had redesigned the vest, mending the torn back and adding a hand-drawn angel wing in vibrant colours.

Daryl's eyes widened in surprise as he took the vest, examining it closely before turning to show Chloe. "No way," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "I love it."

Chloe's smile widened as she looked at Judith. "Judith, it's beautiful," she said warmly. As Daryl slipped on the vest, he turned around to show them the new design. "How do I look?" he asked with a grin.

"It looks great," Judith chuckled, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction.

Daryl waited until the chuckles had faded before kneeling in front of Judith. "There's one more thing," he said, his gaze briefly meeting Chloe's before focusing back on Judith. "If, during the fight, Ezekiel comes looking for you and RJ, you go with him, no matter where I am."

Judith listened quietly. "Okay? You have to promise me."

"I promise," Judith said, nodding as she stood up to give him a hug before turning to Chloe and embracing her as well.

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