𝐈𝐍 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 - The Walking Dead

ꜰᴏᴜʀᴛᴇᴇɴ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ꜰᴏᴜʀᴛᴇᴇɴ || ʙᴜᴄᴋʏ
ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ s3

Two weeks had passed since the people from Woodbury moved into the prison, and the group was slowly adjusting to the new dynamic. Aderlee had found her place, spending most of her time with Mika, Lizzy, and the other kids. They ran around the yard, laughing and playing games that made the harsh reality of their world fade away for a while. Aderlee was always smiling now, her carefree laughter echoing around the yard as she found comfort in her new friendships.

But Ottilie was different.

While Aderlee thrived, Ottilie remained quiet and distant. She was often found sitting beside Daryl, just as she was today. Daryl sat on a bench outside, doing nothing in particular, while Ottilie was absorbed in her drawings. She didn't engage in the games with the other children, even though Aderlee always made a point to invite her. Ottilie would just shake her head and return to her sketching.

Daryl, noticing the other kids having fun, turned to Ottilie. "Why don't you go play with them?" he asked gently, motioning toward the others.

Ottilie shook her head, her attention still fixed on her drawing. She was sketching something with a delicate hand, her small fingers moving the crayon across the paper with concentration. "It's a flower," she murmured quietly, her voice soft but clear enough for Daryl to hear. It was progress, at least with him. Ottilie had started speaking to him in short, simple sentences, though she still hadn't said more than a word or two to anyone else.

Daryl didn't push her further. He had learned that patience was key with Ottilie. It wasn't just about her fear of speaking but also the way she was withdrawing into herself. He sat there in silence, watching her draw, occasionally catching the small twitches in her hand. He didn't mention it, but he kept an eye on her movements, just to be sure.

After a while, Ottilie finished her drawing and passed it to Daryl without a word. He took it from her carefully, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Thank you," he said softly, studying the colorful flower she had drawn. It was simple but sweet, a little piece of beauty in a world that had been so cruel to her. Daryl folded it and put it in his pocket.

Daryl looked at her again, seeing how focused she was on the next blank page, and he made a mental note. "Next time I'm out on a run," he said, "I'll try to find you some more pens and paper. How 'bout that?"

Ottilie nodded in quiet thanks, her eyes never leaving her drawing. She didn't need to say much for Daryl to know she appreciated it.

But even as she sat beside him, seemingly content in her quiet world of drawings, Daryl couldn't shake the concern growing in his gut. For the past two weeks, Ottilie had been glued to his side, following him everywhere. While Aderlee had quickly adapted to their new life at the prison, Ottilie seemed to be struggling more each day. She rarely interacted with the other children, and Daryl noticed that she had become more withdrawn, spending less time with her sister. She had also had trouble sleeping, he'd often catch her out of bed in the night because she couldn't sleep.

What Daryl didn't know was that Ottilie felt different, alienated from the other kids. They didn't outright reject her, but she could sense they saw her as strange, someone who didn't fit in. And though Aderlee always invited her to play, Ottilie felt like her sister was drifting away, drawn into the circle of new friends who didn't understand her the way Aderlee used to.