Between Arrows and Hearts - Daryl Dixon

Goodbyes and decisions

Nobody slept that night. Prisoners of the fear that consumed them.

Cass sat on the floor, feeling numb as she stared into nothingness. Holding tightly the knife that Daryl had given her, as if she feared that letting it go would put her in danger again. Next to her, Glenn sat in a similar pensive state, finding comfort in their shared silence. 

When a few hours passed and the sun began to rise, Cass noticed everyone starting to move. Glenn had gotten up a moment ago, but she couldn't find the strength to do the same. She remained motionless.  

Her gaze went to the blonde in front of the RV. A lump formed in her throat. Amy and Andrea had always reminded her so much of her own sister and her. Always bickering, and as different as water and oil, yet willing to give their lives for one another.

Cass wanted to believe that her sister was safe. The thought of a world without her was unbearable. Now, Andrea would have to navigate that same reality.

The girl felt a gaze on her, turning around to find Daryl watching her intensely. Their eyes locked for a few seconds before she quickly looked away. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to stand. She was still alive, and she had to do whatever she could to help.

The camp looks like something straight out of a horror movie. The corpses of the people who died were piled up all over the place, some too disfigured for Cass to recognize, while others were painfully familiar. Daryl was busy dispatching the walkers, smashing their heads to ensure they were truly gone. 

The first thing the girl did was pick up a bottle of water and approach the hunter. "Here." He paused for a moment, then nodded and took the bottle, drinking deeply. 

"Thanks for everything." Cass handed the knife back to Daryl, but he simply nodded in acknowledgment, not saying a word.

Feeling a bit awkward, Cass shifted her weight. Why did Daryl Dixon have to be so difficult to read?

As if sensing that his silence might push her away, Daryl finally spoke. "You alright?" Cass felt a small rush of satisfaction that she had gotten words out of the man.  

"I'm alive." She shrugged. "You?"

"I've had better nights."

Cass couldn't help but snort. "I bet."

As morning fully arrived, Rick cast a worried glance at Andrea. "She still won't move?"

"She won't talk to us." Lori replied, her voice heavy with concern

Cass watched the scene unfold with a broken heart. She had tried to speak with Andrea as well, but the blonde had ignored her, her gaze fixed unwaveringly on Amy. "She's been there all night. What do we do?" The girl asked, feeling helpless.

"We can't just leave Amy like that." Shane said, looking at the two sisters. "We need to deal with it, same as the others."

Rick nodded at his friend's words. "I'll tell her how it is."

Everyone watched in tense silence as Rick approached Andrea. Cass's eyes widened in shock when she saw the blonde suddenly pull out her gun and point it directly at the sheriff. Andrea whispered something to Rick, her expression unreadable. After a moment, he nodded and stepped back, leaving the woman alone.

"Y'all can't be serious." Daryl scoffed at the group. "Let that girl hamstring us? The dead girl is a time bomb!"

"What do you suggest?" Rick questioned.

Daryl stepped closer to Rick "Take the shot. Clean, in the brain from here. Hell, I can hit a turkey between the eyes from this distance."

"No." Lori interrupted, horrified by the suggestion. "For God sakes, let her be."