The Edge of Survival

Chapter Five

Suddenly, a low, guttural growl shattered the moment.

Nora barely had time to react before a walker lunged from the shadows, its rotting fingers clamping down on her arm with terrifying strength. She let out a strangled yelp, panic surging through her veins as she twisted, trying to pull away.

The walker snarled, its decayed face inches from hers, and she felt the cold, slick grip of its hand dig into her skin.

Then Daryl moved.

It happened so fast—his knife flashed in the moonlight, and with one brutal thrust, he drove the blade deep into the walker's skull. The creature crumpled instantly, collapsing at her feet with a sickening thud.

"Jesus," Nora gasped, clutching her arm, her heart hammering against her ribcage.
Daryl's voice was rough with urgency as he grabbed her shoulder, turning her toward him. "You okay?"

She nodded, still catching her breath. "Yeah. I'm fine." But her voice was shaky, and she hated how small it sounded.

Footsteps echoed from the distance, and moments later, Rick, Maggie, and a few others came running toward them, drawn by the sound of the struggle.

"Nora!" Maggie called, breathless. "What happened?"

"I'm fine," Nora repeated quickly, brushing dirt off her hands. "It's nothing. Daryl took care of it."

Maggie's eyes flicked between Nora and Daryl, concern etched across her face. "You sure?"
"Yeah," Nora insisted, glancing down at the walker's lifeless body. "I'm fine."

When she looked back up, Daryl was already moving, wiping his knife clean with a practiced flick. Before she could say anything else, he turned and walked away, his steps quick and deliberate, disappearing into the night like nothing had happened.

Nora watched him go, her chest still tight, her heart still pounding from more than just the walker attack.

Her hand drifted to the bracelet on her wrist, her fingers tracing the smooth stones. The weight of the small gift felt heavier now, tangled with emotions she didn't want to admit. The cool stones pressed against her skin, grounding her in a way that only made everything more confusing.

"Nora," Maggie's voice cut through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. She was still standing by the truck, the body of the walker crumpled at her feet, its decayed face twisted in death. Maggie stepped closer, her brow furrowed with concern. "You sure you're okay?"

Nora gave a small nod, forcing a shaky breath out of her lungs. "I'm fine, really. Just... startled."

Rick appeared beside Maggie, his gaze shifting between Nora and the walker, then toward the direction where Daryl had disappeared. His expression was unreadable, but his sharp blue eyes missed nothing.

"You should get her inside," Rick said quietly to Maggie, his voice low and steady. "Ain't safe out here, not this late."

Maggie nodded, placing a hand on Nora's shoulder. "Come on. Let's get you back to the house."

"I'm fine," Nora insisted again, her voice too quick, too defensive. She didn't want to leave, not yet. Her heart was still tangled in the moment she shared with Daryl—the unspoken connection, the way he had looked at her like she was more than just another person to survive with. And then the way he walked away, like none of it had happened.
But Rick's gaze pinned her, a quiet kind of authority in it. "It's late," he said simply. "Come on."

Nora swallowed hard, feeling the sting of frustration rise in her chest. She didn't know why she felt so desperate to stay—Daryl was already gone, slipping back into the shadows like he always did. But leaving felt like giving up on something she hadn't fully grasped yet.
Still, she let Maggie guide her away from the truck and toward the farmhouse.