In The End | Daryl Dixon

Chapter 30: A New Beginning

Rick wanted to go to Woodbury to finish the job. Glenn and Maggie decided that they would stay behind and help protect the prison incase they came back. That meant that Rick, Michonne, Daryl and I would go. 

 Daryl was in front on his bike leading the way, while Rick drove the truck when we came across two of their trucks. 

In the roadway were scattered bodies, and walkers having a feast. I got out of the truck and as soon as my boots hit the ground I reached for my gun in my waistband. I saw Daryl shoot one walker in the head with his crossbow, and Michonne took out three with her sword. There was a walker coming towards me, I grabbed my knife from its sheath and met the walker half way. I plunged the knife deep into its skull, almost struggling to retract it. I wiped the blood on my pants before putting the knife back into its sheath on my hip. 

There was a bang against one of the windows inside one if the trucks. I quickly turned around seeing a woman inside with her hands pressed against the window. Rick and I aimed our guns at the woman while Daryl opened the truck to let her out, she held her hands in the air in surrender. 

"What happened here?" Rick asked, as he lowered his weapon. 

The woman's eyes darted between Rick and I as I still had my gun trained on her. She swallowed nervously, "He-he just started shooting everyone. He's-he's gone mad, I don't know." 

Her hands were now shaking, and her lip was starting to quiver. I glanced over to Rick, he nodded, and I lowered my weapon. 

Rick wiped his forehead of sweat before looking back to the woman, "You're comin' with us to Woodbury. To finish this." 

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We snuck our way pass several dead corpses, and broken down vehicles. They must have learned their lesson last time, because as soon as we made it even close enough to potentially be seen, a gunshot zipped past me, and broke a near by flowerpot. 

We all jumped behind a broken down car for cover as we returned fire. When there was a break in the gun fire the woman jumped out into the open yelling. 

"Tyreese! It's me! Don't--" 

Rick grabbed her by her shirt pulling her down to the ground, "Get down!" 

"Karen!" Tyreese yelled back, "Karen, are you okay?" 

She wiggled herself out of Rick's grasp, standing back up again, "I'm fine!" 

"Where's the Governor?" He asked. 

"He fired on everyone. He killed them all." 

There was a silence before I heard the man yell out again, "Why are you with them?" 

"They saved me." She yelled back. 

"We're comin' out!" Rick shouted. 

I looked at Rick with wide eyes, I assume Daryl and Michonne were doing the same as I heard Daryl whisper no beside me. I watched as Rick put the rifle on his back and stood up slowly. 

"We're comin' out." He said with his hands raised. 

I groaned quietly, maneuvering my way out from behind the car with my rifle still in hand. I reluctantly put my hands up, giving Daryl a glare when I saw he was still aiming at them. He groaned as he rolled his eyes, placing his hands up in surrender. 

We walked towards the wall, Tyreese and another woman opened the door. 

"What are you doing here?" He asked Rick. 

"We were comin' to finish this." Rick admitted. "Until we saw what the Governor did." 

"He--he killed them?" Tyreese asked again. 

"Yeah..." Rick said quietly. "Karen told us Andrea hopped the wall goin' for the prison. She never made it. She might be here." 

Tyresse looked to the woman next to him, he had a conflicting look on his face. Like he was struggling internally with himself. Finally, he motioned with his head to follow him inside. 

Rick took point, taking us to the same building they held Maggie and Glenn in. 

"The Governor held people here?" Tyreese asked.

"He did more than hold them." Daryl responded, his rifle raised. 

We came across a metal door, on the floor pooling around the entrance was fresh blood. Rick placed his hand on the lock, counting down before he swung the door open. Daryl and Rick had their guns raised, ready for anything to come at them, but in the center of the room I saw a dead body, and off in the corner by the door I saw a set of feet. 

"Andrea!" Michonne rushed in, crouching down next to Andrea. 

We all filed in, and I was met with a blood soaked Andrea. My heart immediately dropped to my stomach. 

"I tried to stop them." Her voice was weak. 

"You're burning up." Michonne whispered. 

Andrea gently pulled back her jacket and shirt to reveal a bite on her neck. My breath hitched in my throat. Guilt was what I felt. 

"Judith, Carl, the rest of them..." She sat up against the wall. 

"Us." Rick squeezed her knee, "The rest of us." 

"Are they alive?" She asked.

"Yeah, they're alive." Rick whispered. 

Tears were forming around the brim of my eyes, I crouched down beside her, taking her hand in mine, "I'm so sorry, Andrea...For everything that I've said."  

She squeezed my hand, "It's okay...You just-just gotta promise me one thing." She said in a raspy voice.

I nodded, the tears were now falling down my cheeks, my breathing now irregular. 

"Promise me you won't be sad...I'm ready to be with Amy again." She smiled weakly. 

I shut my eyes, my head hanging low. More tears seeped through and stained my cheeks before I looked back up to her and nodded. "I promise." 

She turned her head and looked to Michonne, "It's good you found them. No one can make it alone now." 

"I never could." Daryl said from behind me. 

"I just didn't want anyone to die." She admitted, "I can do it myself." 

"No." Michonne said through tears. 

"I have to. While I still can. Please?" Andrea looked to Rick, "I know how the safety works." 

Rick handed his gun over to her. I felt a hand on my shoulder causing me to look up and see Daryl holding out his hand for me. I stared at his hand for a moment before finally taking it as I wiped my eyes with my other hand. 

"Well, I'm not going anywhere." Michonne said with her lip quivering.

Daryl led me out of the room, I held tightly onto his shirt. Rick closed the door, leaving Andrea and Michonne in the room alone. It was silent, then a single gunshot echoed, and the sob I was holding onto surfaced, because that was the last time I would ever hear her voice again. 

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Tyreese talked to the survivors at Woodbury, explaining to them what the Governor did to their people and all the lies that he has told. It took a bit of convincing, but the rest of Woodbury agreed that it would be better if they came back with us, than stay with an unpredictable leader. 

We arrived back to the prison with a bus full of Woodbury survivors. I slowly got out of the truck, with my rifle on my back. I watched as men, women, and child filed out of the bus and into the prison. 

I felt a hand on the small of my back, I looked and saw Daryl standing beside me with his poncho covering his body. I took in a deep breath, taking in the crisp morning air, hoping for a new beginning.