Safe haven | Rick Grimes

076. GODDAMN PSYCHOPATHS

Chapter seventy six

"Goddamn psychopaths."

Having held onto each other for a long time, Rick and Scarlett finally got back into the van and drove toward the Hilltop. When they arrived and walked up to the entrance, they kept their arms wrapped tightly around each other, refusing to separate.

"Open the gates! It's Rick and Scarlett!" a guard shouted from above.

The heavy gates swung open, and the two walked inside. Immediately, their attention was drawn to a large cage packed with captured Saviors. Before they could focus on it, Michonne walked up to meet them, holding Judith in her arms. Scarlett reached out her hands and took her daughter close, pulling the little girl tightly against her chest as a wave of grief hit her. Knowing Carl was gone forever made holding Judith feel desperate, like she was trying to keep what was left of her world from breaking apart.

Rick leaned in to kiss the little girl's forehead, his hand trembling slightly. Over Scarlett's shoulder, Rick and Daryl locked eyes in a heavy, unspoken silence.

Judith leaned her head against Scarlett's shoulder, and Scarlett looked over at Rick.

"Where are they?" Scarlett whispered.

Rick knew exactly who she was talking about. Placing a supportive hand on Scarlett's back, the two of them quietly walked away with their daughter, Scarlett still squeezing Judith tight as they headed toward the graves where she would eventually have to let her go.

Scarlett handed Judith off to one of the residents before walking with Rick toward the graveyard. They sat in the dirt before Glenn and Abraham's graves, staring at the markers in silence.

After a long moment, the sound of heavy footsteps approached. Daryl walked up behind them, his hands in his pockets.

"You know, I look around and... I think about the people that are gone," Daryl shared softly. "And the people that are still here. It ain't right. And it ain't fair. Look... about what I did at the Sanctuary, trying to end it real quick... I just wanted it done. I didn't wanna give them another chance, not again. And I didn't care who was there. I don't know if that makes it right or..."

"It does," Rick interrupted, standing up to face him. His eyes were cold. "I didn't wanna risk killing innocent people. I should've just been worried about our people. To hell with anyone else."

Daryl nodded slowly, looking between the two grieving parents. "We'll keep fighting... until you're ready."

"We're ready," Scarlett told him, finally standing up to join Rick.

"Maggie's got lookouts out there," Rick noted.

"Every half mile, waiting to signal each other. I know," Daryl replied.

"We're going out there, too," Scarlett told him.

"To make sure we're all ready," Rick added.

Daryl adjusted his vest. "I'll go with you."

"We should split up," Rick shared, shaking his head. "We need to cover as much ground as we can."

"All right," Daryl said, his eyes lingering on them with quiet concern.

"We're okay," Rick reassured him.

"Yeah?" Daryl asked, wanting to believe it.

"Okay. We're gonna be okay," Scarlett shared, her voice barely a whisper. "Just not now."

She stepped around Daryl and began walking away. Rick followed closely behind her. But as Scarlett walked, Carl's past words about Daryl suddenly echoed in her mind. Her chest tightened.