Safe haven | Rick Grimes

103. BETRAYED BY BLOOD

Chapter one hundred and three

"Betrayed by blood."

Daryl stormed away from the campsite on a mission, his jaw clenched as Dog trotted faithfully at his side. Judith, Caroline, and Rick scrambled through the brush, struggling to keep pace with his furious stride.

"Daryl?" Rick called out, breathless.

Daryl ignored him, pressing forward.

"Daryl, would you please slow down!" Caroline voiced, her heels digging into the dirt.

He didn't listen. Sensing her brother's spiraling panic, Judith sprinted ahead, stepping directly into his path. She planted her hands firmly on his chest, forcing him to a sudden halt. "Stop," she ordered. "You've been mad ever since you saw Aunt Maggie. Why?"

"Because she's not our family," Daryl spat, his chest heaving. "Family doesn't do what she... what he... what they both..."

His voice cracked. Suddenly feeling like he couldn't breathe, his vision blurred, and his legs completely gave out beneath him.

"Daryl!" Judith cried out, dropping to her knees beside him.

Dog began barking frantically, pacing in tight circles. Caroline and Rick stood frozen in place, their eyes wide with fear.

Hearing the commotion, Negan came running through the trees. "What's wrong?" he asked, taking in the chaotic scene. Seeing the boy collapsed on the forest floor, he quickly kneeled down beside Judith. "What happened?"

"I... I don't know," Judith shared, her hands trembling. "One second he was talking, and then he just dropped."

Negan gently checked the boy's pulse and placed a hand on his forehead. "It's... it's okay," Negan reassured them, his voice calm and grounding. "It's just exhaustion. All four of you are completely running on empty. You've been going non-stop since yesterday. Let's get you all back home, alright?"

Negan carefully scooped Daryl up into his arms. Judith stood up, wiping her face, as she, Caroline, Rick, and Dog silently fell into step behind Negan, heading back toward the safety of the community.

They finally made it back to Alexandria. The Whisperers had left the rest of the community in ruins, but the Grimes home still stood strong amid the destruction.

Judith pushed the front door open, allowing Dog to slip inside first. Negan followed, still carrying the unconscious Daryl tightly in his arms, while Rick, Caroline, and Judith trailed close behind. Judith shut the door, locking out the broken world, and they all quietly headed up the stairs.

Negan turned down the hallway toward the master bedroom, knowing it belonged to their parents. He walked over to the large bed and gently laid Daryl down onto the mattress, carefully pulling off the boy's heavy boots and jacket so he could rest comfortably.

Judith, Caroline, and Rick silently kicked off their own shoes and jackets. Weary and emotionally drained, they crawled onto the mattress, piling in close to protectively surround their brother just like they used to do.

Negan stepped back, looking at the four siblings huddled together. "Alright, you guys need anything else?" he asked softly.

"No," Judith whispered, wrapping an arm over her brother.

"Okay. I'll, um... I'll be downstairs if you need me," Negan shared. He gave them one last nod before turning and quietly walking out of the room, leaving the children to finally rest.

The next morning, the four siblings were still fast asleep, with Dog curled up peacefully at the foot of the bed.

"Daryl. Daryl."

His mother's voice echoed clearly in his mind, causing him to bolt upright. He looked around the room, desperately hoping to see her standing there, but the bedroom was empty. It had just been a ghost in his head. Running his hands through his messy hair, he finally realized they were back home in Alexandria, no longer hiding out in the dangerous woods. He slid out from under the covers and quietly stepped out of the room, heading down the hallway and making his way downstairs.

As he walked into the kitchen, he found Negan standing by the counter. "Hey, kid," Negan said, turning around. "You gave us a pretty good scare out there yesterday. You feeling alright?"

Daryl didn't offer a greeting. "Did Maggie and Uncle Daryl try to kill my dad?"

The sudden question hung heavy in the air. Negan took a slow, deep breath, his expression shifting. "A lot happened that day, kid."

"So they did," Daryl concluded, his voice tightening.

"Daryl..." Negan started.

"When I saw Maggie, I remembered my mom being angry at Uncle Daryl," the boy shared, stepping closer. "She wanted him to tell her what happened."

"Kid, I don't think you really want to get into this right now," Negan told him gently.

"I want to know," Daryl insisted.

Seeing the fierce determination in the boy's eyes, Negan sighed and pulled out a kitchen chair. Daryl walked over and sat down, his posture rigid.

"Nobody ever really agreed with the fact that your parents decided to save my life after your mom slit my throat," Negan shared, leaning back against the kitchen island. "Your father thought building that bridge to connect the communities would bring everyone together. But your mother... she knew when people were out for blood. She didn't trust anyone except your father."

"I know that part already," Daryl told him coldly, waiting for the rest of the truth.

Negan let out a heavy breath. "That day, I heard footsteps right outside my cell door," he shared, pushing off the counter and pacing the kitchen floor. "I wasn't sure who it was because they didn't come right in. They just... waited. It wasn't until she spoke up that I knew it was your mother. And whoever she was waiting for, she wasn't happy to see."

He stopped, looking out the window before turning back to the boy. "That person was Maggie. She came here to kill me, and your mother wasn't going to let her. But your mom also knew that Maggie had done something to your father. He should've been back at Alexandria already. So, she left to go find him."

Daryl hung on every word, his hands gripping the edges of his chair.

"And that's when Maggie came in to see me—to kill me," Negan continued, his voice dropping lower. "When she mentioned Glenn, we talked about what I had done. But I had to ask what she did to your father, just like your mother did. And unlike your mom, I actually got an answer."

"What was it?" Daryl asked, his breath catching.

Negan stayed silent, staring down at the floor.

Daryl stood up from the chair and walked right up to him. "What did she say?"

Negan still didn't answer. He just looked at the boy with an expression full of conflict and regret.

"What did she say!" Daryl demanded, aggressively shoving Negan backward.

"She said that your uncle was with him," Negan finally shared, the words cutting through the tense air. "That Daryl was supposed to lead Rick away from Alexandria. He was supposed to do whatever he had to do to make sure your dad didn't make it back."

Daryl instantly shook his head, his face contorting in denial. "You're a liar!" he voiced fiercely, striking Negan in the chest. "You're a liar!" He hit him again, harder this time, but deep down, he knew it was the truth.

As his anger collapsed into pure grief, Negan stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the boy. Daryl broke down, sobbing into his chest.

"You're okay, kid. You're okay," Negan whispered, holding him steady.

Just down the hall, the heavy truth echoed up the stairs. Judith sat on the steps with tears streaming down her face, tightly holding a crying Rick in her arms. Beside them, Caroline sat with her knees pulled to her chest, sobbing silently. They had heard the whole thing.