Confide in Fear | DARYL DIXON •1

17. Terminus

Alex's *POV*

"We're getting close." Daryl said, as we stopped at the down terminus sign, just a few feet off the train tracks. "Be there before sundown."

"Now we head through the woods." Rick added, looking around at everyone. He seemed tired, just like everyone else. But it was different, he looked different.

"Is it necessary?" I asked, hands resting at my waist as I leaned on one foot. "I mean, what are the chances they're actually good people?"

"

"We don't know who they are." He responded,

"Alright." Daryl said. "Let's go."

The group and I had followed Daryl and Rick into the woods, taking our chances on finding out who they are first, instead of showing up to their front door. It might've taken us less than an hour to have found Terminus. Carefully, we approached a fence, which happened to be the back of the sanctuary we've been constantly dreaming about.

"This is it..." I said, my eyes wide as I stare out to the huge fenced in courtyard to Terminus.

"We'll spread out, check the grounds." Rick suggested.

"Are you okay with us splitting up?" I ask.

"We're strong. All we gotta do is just watch for awhile, see what we see... And get ready." Rick confirmed. "We'll stay close. Looks like Carl and Michonne already took off."

"They'll be okay. He'll be okay, Rick." I pat him on his arm, a smile forming on my lips. "Alright then. I'm going to take a walk."

"You sure you're fine alone?" Daryl asks, standing with his crossbow in his hands, instead of behind his shoulder. Without saying a word, I lean into him, kissing him on the cheek once Rick started to walk away.

"I'll be fine." I found myself walking away, but still close enough to be in sight of Daryl and Rick. I didn't want to go so far, but I wanted to make sure there wasn't anything suspicious happening behind these fences in Terminus. Roaming along the fence in the woods, my eyes looked to every red box car that seemed old and dusty. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, I began to gain some calmness throughout my body. Maybe it was hope.

As I came back to the men, I watched Rick toss the big duffle bag into the dirt. It was our weapons we had collected along the way and I wondered why he'd do such a thing. As he and Daryl covered it with dirt, I approached them. Rick sees me as I stand behind Daryl. My eyebrows raise as I give him a questionable look.

"Just incase we need it for later." Rick nods, as they finish covering the hole. "I'm gonna go get Carl and Michonne, then we'll head on in."

"Alright." I say, watching him rub the dirt off himself and walk away. "Hey, you okay?"

Daryl wipes the dirt off his face with his red rag, then turns to face me. "Mhm."

"You sure?"

"I don't know." His gruff voice speaks up. "I guess it's just gonna be hard to settle into a new place with people we don't even know."

"That's how I felt back at the prison. Look how close we are now."

"It's different. Now it is. Our people are gone, it's just us."