Catch Fire | Daryl Dixon

TRAPPED

Daryl's POV

The roar of the engine beneath me was a familiar comfort as we rode towards the 20-mile marker. The plan was simple: lead the herd far enough away from Alexandria so they wouldn't find their way back.

"Alright." Sasha's voice crackled over the walkie-talkie.

I pressed the button on my walkie. "That's 20?"

"It will be. 642 is a mile ahead. We gotta put distance between us and them before the turnoff," She replied.

Abraham chimed in. "So floor it."

I revved the engine of my bike, feeling the familiar vibration through my body. "All right, try to keep up."

Sasha's laughter echoed through the static. "Daryl, have you looked at this car? Believe me, we want to get back there, too."

We pressed on, pushing our vehicles to the limit as we created the necessary distance between us and the herd. The thought of getting back to Alexandria, back to Kennedy, was a constant in my mind. We had to do this right.

As we began our journey back, the sound of gunfire erupted. A group of gun-wielding assailants ambushed us in cars, bullets whizzing past. I swerved, trying to avoid the incoming fire, but the chaos was overwhelming. The last thing I saw was Abraham and Sasha veering off in a different direction before I lost control and crashed my bike.

Pain shot through my body as I hit the ground hard. My arm and head throbbed, blood trickling down my face. Dazed, I struggled to my feet, my survival instincts kicking in. I had to get away from the attackers. Ignoring the pain, I got back on my bike and sped off, riding away from the gunfire until I reached a burnt-out forest.

The forest was a haunting sight, charred walker bodies littering the ground. I walked my bike through the wreckage, wincing with every step. My arm and head were bleeding, but I pushed through the pain. I needed to find Sasha and Abraham. Stopping for a moment, I pulled out my radio.

"Sasha? Abraham, are you there?" I called out, but all I got was static. The frustration was palpable, but I couldn't give up.

I inspected the wound on my arm, relieved to see that my leather jacket had taken most of the damage. The wounds were deep but not life-threatening. As I pulled off my jacket, a noise nearby put me on high alert. I quickly grabbed my bag and crossbow from the bike before covering it with branches to hide it.

Moving silently through the forest, I spotted two women with their hands up, clearly frightened. I kept my crossbow at the ready.

"You found us, okay? Here we are. We earned what we took," one of the girls said, her voice trembling.

Before I could respond, something hard hit the back of my head. Stars exploded in my vision, and I hit the ground, consciousness slipping away.

---

Kennedy's POV

The night was oppressive, the sounds of the walkers banging against the walls of Alexandria a constant, terrifying reminder of the danger just outside. I lay in our bed, the sheets cold and unfamiliar without Daryl's warmth beside me. The bed felt massive, an expanse of emptiness that made my heart ache even more.

I curled up on my side, pulling the covers tight around me, but it did little to stave off the loneliness. My ribs ached from the fight with the intruder, a dull throb that matched the pain in my arm where the stitches pulled with every movement. I placed a hand on my belly, feeling the slightest hint of the life growing inside me. It was a small comfort, knowing that my unborn child was safe, but it didn't ease the fear gnawing at my mind.