traded my life [TWD]

『72』

"Hyejin," Rick calls, motioning me over.

Rick, Daryl, Glenn, Hershel, and Michonne were gathered. 

"Look, we gotta talk about something," Rick says as I approach.

"Fire," I urge.

"Carl.." Rick hesitates.

"Carl?" I repeat.

Rick takes a breath. He looked.. shameful?

"Carl told me something."

"What's that?"

Rick taps his gun. "Carl told me I should stop being the leader."

I frown. "I'll talk to-"

"And I think he's right," Rick cuts me off.

"What?"

"He's right. I'm not.. here. I'm here, but.." he motions around his head. "I'm not here."

I look at Daryl, expecting his words now.

"We think you should take over leadership," Hershel announces.

"What?" I ask again, stupid and caught off guard.

"You're the one thinking with your head straight the most. And everyone trusts your words. You know how everyone feels. You felt Woodbury's attack firsthand," Rick explains. "So, we think you should be the leader."

"I'm not.. I don't.." I struggle.

"It's not forever. It's only if you want it. But, you're our best chance right now."

I look at their waiting expressions. I reach out and grab Rick by the shirt, tugging him to the side with a quick 'I need to talk to you'.

"What's wrong?" he asks.

"I can't lead this group," I deny. "Caring for people and shit is one thing. Leading the charge in a war? That's another."

"You won't have to do it alone. Just you have the final say-so. If you really think about it, you've been making all the hard calls lately, anyway."

I think about the past couple of weeks. How I drag Rick back to himself. Keep the group in order. Make sure meals are going well. How I fought to keep Tyreese and his people with us.

But.. I still had other things.

Woojin. Judith.

Q.

"What's on your mind?" Rick suspects.

My hands fidget nervously.

"Hyejin," he calls. "What is it?"

"I think Q killed my sister," I whisper.

"What?"

"Shane.. he said that he talked to Jiwoo. She gave him a name and hung up. Seongyu. Q never gave his real name, just 'Gyu'. That's why people started calling him 'Q'. And.. there's just been back and forth. I think.. I think he's the reason Jiwoo went missing."

Rick sighs. He takes a moment to register my evidence.

"He keeps trying to make moves on me. He held Woojin and Daryl stopped him. He's.. I can't keep living like this. Not with him around."

"You don't have to," Daryl says, making me jump. "I'll take care of the son of a bitch right now."

My eyes widen as Daryl storms off to the cafeteria. Had he heard everything between Rick and me?

"Wait, Daryl!" I chase after him.

The group runs along behind me, startled by the sudden change in atmosphere.