Catch Fire | Daryl Dixon

DEAD OR ALIVE

Kennedy's POV

As we joined up with the others, a heavy silence settled over the group. Daryl carried Judith in his arms, her small body pressed against his chest as if seeking comfort from the chaos around her. I walked beside them, feeling numb and disconnected from everything.

The Alexandrians were gathered, their faces etched with worry and exhaustion. Glenn, Rosita, Tara, and Dwight were among them, each looking as shell-shocked as I felt. We were united by our grief, each of us carrying the weight of what we had lost and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

I couldn't shake the feeling that we were leaving a part of ourselves behind in that tunnel. Carl was gone. Just like that, he was ripped away from us, leaving a void that couldn't be filled. It seemed impossible to comprehend that we would never see him again, never hear his voice or see his smile.

I rested a hand on my growing belly, the gentle curve a reminder of the life Daryl and I were bringing into this world. But instead of feeling joy or anticipation, I was consumed by doubt and fear. How could we protect our daughter when the world was so cruel and unforgiving? Would she even have the chance to grow up, to become an adult? Or would she suffer the same fate as Carl, torn away before she had the chance to truly live?

The questions swirled in my mind, each one a stab of uncertainty. What kind of people were we, bringing an innocent life into such a brutal world? The guilt and doubt gnawed at me, relentless and unforgiving.

The darkness around us felt oppressive, the only sound the shuffling of feet and the distant call of night creatures. My heart was heavy, and it took everything I had not to break down completely.

Glenn's voice broke through my thoughts, soft and gentle. "You holdin' up okay?" he asked, his concern evident in his eyes.

I shook my head, unable to find the words to express the turmoil inside me. "No," I finally managed to whisper, the honesty of it cutting through the silence.

He gave me a sad smile, understanding in his gaze as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "I know. It's hard."

We walked in silence for a while, his presence a comfort amidst the chaos. We'd lost so many people in such a short span of time, and I didn't know how much more I could take. The world seemed determined to strip away everything we loved, leaving us raw and exposed.

Judith's soft breaths against Daryl's shoulder were a small reminder of hope, of the future we were trying so desperately to build. Her innocence was a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding us, and I clung to that small beacon of light.

As we continued on the long, uncertain journey to Hilltop, I found myself drifting toward the back of the group, where the more vulnerable members of Alexandria were beginning to lag behind. Many of them were elderly or injured, struggling to keep up with the relentless pace we had to maintain.

I moved among them, offering words of encouragement and support, doing my best to ensure no one was left behind. It was a welcome distraction from the turmoil of my thoughts, allowing me to focus on the needs of others rather than my own grief. But it also meant that I was further away from Daryl, who was carrying Judith, and from Glenn, Rosita, and Tara, who were helping to lead the way.

The night was eerily quiet except for the sounds of our footsteps and the occasional whisper of reassurance or shared grief. I kept glancing back, ensuring that the stragglers were still with us and that we hadn't lost anyone to the shadows.

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the unmistakable crack of gunfire. Chaos erupted around us as the Saviors ambushed our group, their shots echoing through the darkness. Panic spread like wildfire as people scattered, desperately trying to find cover.