Our Extinction Event {Daryl Dixon}

Left Behind

The next morning, everyone woke up early to hear King Ezekiel's decision but instead of having to find him, he had met with them instead, leading them around the Kingdom. "This is life here," Ezekiel said, nodding towards a group of people as they laughed. "Every day. But it came at a cost. And I wanted more of this. I wanted to expand. To create more places like this. Men and women lost their limbs. Children lost their parents because I sent them into battle against the wasted when I did not need to."

"This is different," Rick pointed out. Parker's heart sank as a wave of realization hit her. She knew he wasn't going to agree to help them. Not without an extremely good reason.

"It isn't," Ezekiel muttered as Rick stepped towards him.

"It is," Rick insisted. "The dead don't rule us. The world doesn't look like this outside your walls. People don't have it as good. Some people don't have it good at all."

"I have to worry about my people," Ezekiel replied and Rick stared at him for a moment before turning away.

"You call yourself a fucking King," Daryl snapped. "You sure as hell don't act like one." Ezekiel approached him slowly and Parker narrowed her eyes as she tracked his movements.

"All of this... came at a cost. It was lives, arms, legs." He turned around to Rick. "The peace we have with the Saviors is uneasy, but it is peace. I have to hold on to it. I have to try. Although the Kingdom cannot grant you the aid you desire, the King is sympathetic with your plight. I offer our friends Daryl and Parker asylum for as long as they require it. They will be safe here, and Parker can give birth safely. The Saviors do not set foot inside our walls."

"How long do you think that's gonna last?" Daryl asked, walking away. Parker followed after him, catching up after a few hurried steps.

"Hey, it's going to be okay. We'll find a way to beat them." The group headed to the doors, Daryl and Parker leading them. Daryl scoffed, shaking his head.

"Sure we will."

"I knew he was going to say no," Parker stated, looking around at her people as they headed for the gates. "From the moment he told us he would tell us in the morning, I knew he wasn't going to agree." They reached the door and Daryl pointed to the doorman, not wanting to be there a minute longer.

"And, yet, it still pissed me off," Sasha ground her teeth together as she and Rosita walked side by side. The pair had seemed relatively closer after Abraham's death.

"Alright, open it up. We're goin'," The doors opened and the group began to leave. Rick touched Parker's shoulder, blocking her and Daryl's path.

"You're not leaving. Daryl isn't either."

"I'm not staying here," Daryl argued, already moving towards the open gates.

"You have to," Rick told them, pulling Daryl back. "It's the smartest play. You know it is. Try to talk to Ezekiel." He aimed that bit at the two of them. "Or stare him into submission." He said to Daryl. "Threaten to shoot his pet tiger." He directed that at Parker. "Whatever it takes." He placed a hand on Daryl's shoulder. "We'll be back soon."

"Are you seriously going to leave us here?" Parker asked in a lowered voice as he started walking away. "Rick-"

"It's the safest place for you," Rick explained to her. "And I don't want you near Negan if he shows up again." Parker gritted her teeth, knowing that he was right. Didn't mean she had to like it.

"Fine, but be careful and keep everyone safe, okay?" Daryl and Parker stood and watched as Rick left with the rest of his group, and when the doors closed, Parker let out a long sigh. "I guess we're stuck here."