Alicia Smith

9) Captured

Alicia and Daryl walked side by side, the other three members of their group trailing a few yards behind.

"Laurent loved that mule." Alicia sighed. "He would feed it apples every day."

Daryl grunted. "Reminds me of the stuffed horse Jordan used to have. Remember? She was convinced he was real and would try to feed him every meal she ate."

Alicia laughed. "Yeah I do." She unzipped her bag which swung at her side. "I um... I actually still have it." She pulled it out, handing it to Daryl. "Take it."

He stared at it for a moment before shaking his head and handing it back to her. "Nah, I got her blanket." He reached into his own bag, pulling out a tiny pink blanket.

He handed it to Alicia, letting her run the fabric between her fingers. She flipped it over, her eyes finding the red juice stain they had never been able to get out.

"She was so mad when we couldn't get that out." She laughed, rubbing the stained fabric I between her thumb and index finger.

"Yeah." Daryl chuckled. "She threw a fit."

Alicia nodded. "It was the first time she had ever acted like that. We had no clue what to do." She lifted the blanket to her face, inhaling deeply. "It smells like the lotion I used to coat her in." She smiled, shaking her head. "I was so afraid if I didn't keep her lathered in that shit her skin would get dry."

He looked over at her, smiling softly. "You always loved the way it smelled."

She nodded. "I still do."

He furrowed his brows. "Wanna make a trade? I'll keep the horse, you keep the blanket."

Alicia laughed. "Sure." She handed the horse back over to him. "If you're ever in France again we can trade back."

"Co-parenting at its finest." Daryl said sarcastically, earning a small chuckle from Alicia.

A smile tugged at his lips as he watched her. He was just happy he could still make her laugh. He's always been good at that.

Isabell walked up on the other side of Alicia, looking over at Daryl. "We need somewhere safe for the night."

"Just tell him the truth." Daryl said, referring to the conversation that had been happening behind them. "He's gotta learn sometime."

"You don't have children do you?" She asked. That was the part Alicia had left out when telling Isabell about her past. She only knew that she and Daryl had been married. "The truth can wait." She spoke again before he could answer.

Whistling coming from behind them drew their attention, and for a moment Alicia shared a horrified look with Daryl. They were both reminded of Negan.

"Shh." She said, holding a hand to his lips. He set his bag down, everyone turning to where the sound came from.

An arrow flew past their heads, landing on a street lamp. "Get down!" Daryl order.

They ran to the edge of the woods, taking cover behind trees and raising their guns. A man could be seen a few feet in front of them and Daryl ran after him.

Alicia held her hand out to Isabell, Laurent, and Sylvie, signaling for them to wait.

After a few moments, a group of people emerged from the woods. Daryl was with them, his hands tied.

Alicia sent him a confused look, her lips pulled down in a frown. "Good job." She muttered as they held her by her arms.

He rolled his eyes. "Shut it."

The people marched them to an unknown location. The whole time Alicia was planning ways to get out of this mess Daryl had been so kind as to put them in.

A large building came into view, looking to be a house. As they neared it, Alicia used Isabell's French lessons and read the sign. It was not a house, but instead an old preschool.

"What's that say?" Daryl asked Isabell.

"It was a preschool." Alicia answered for her.

Daryl looked at her, his eyebrows furrowed. "I didn't know you could read French."

"Yeah."

They walked through the gates, pushing Daryl to his knees. Alicia watched, very confused, as they began to bang their sticks on the ground and howl like wolves.

A woman appeared on the steps, slowly walking down. She shouted at the kids in French before speaking to Isabell.

Alicia tried her best to understand what they said but her French was very limited. She read better anyway.

The woman walked towards them, stopping in front of Daryl. She seemed to ask Isabell about him. Alicia caught the words, American, Father Daryl, Friend, and Alicia Smith. They cut him loose.

"Okay. Now we will to practice English. Out of respect for Father Daryl and his friend, Miss. Smith." The woman spoke to the children. "Let's go."

The kids began to follow her into the preschool. "Father Daryl?" He scoffed at Isabell. "Really?"

Alicia laughed. "You don't look much like a priest."

Daryl rolled his eyes. "Cause I ain't."