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. 

As the hours passed and the first rays of sunlight broke over the camp, people began to stir. Glenn got up to help, but Cass couldn't find the strength to follow. She remained where she was, rooted to the spot as if her body had forgotten how to move.

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. 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 she did was pick up a bottle of water and approach the hunter. "Here." 

Daryl paused mid-swing, turning to look at her. For a moment, she wasn't sure if he'd take it, but then he nodded and reached for the bottle. He drank deeply, his throat bobbing with each gulp.

"Thanks for everything." She said quietly, then hesitated before holding out the knife he had given her.

Again, Daryl said nothing, just taking it and going back to his task.

Feeling a bit awkward, Cass shifted her weight. 

Why did Daryl Dixon have to be so hard to talk to?

"I'm really sorry about Merle" she blurted out, her voice faltering slightly. She meant it—every word—but the moment they left her mouth, she regretted them. Daryl's face hardened, his expression unreadable again.

For a second, Cass felt like crying. The weight of everything crashed over her in waves —the guilt, the sadness, the unrelenting stress— a lump formed in her throat, but she swallowed it back, refusing to break.

After what felt like an eternity of silence, Daryl finally spoke. "Ya' crying?"

His question caught her off guard. She blinked at him, startled by the genuine, albeit rough-edged, concern in his voice.

"No. I'm just a bit emotional, I don't know. Bad night." She replied with a shrug, trying to joke. "You?"

"I've had better." He said dryly.

Cass couldn't help the snort that escaped her. "I bet." She said, shaking her head.

-----

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.