In The End | Daryl Dixon

Chapter 61: The Kingdom

Rick's silence was louder than any threat he could've thrown.

He stared at Tyler like he was trying to burn a hole through him, like if he just looked hard enough, the truth would rise to the surface. My heart was pounding. I hadn't seen Rick this wound-up since... since the lineup. Since Glenn. Since Abraham. He wasn't just thinking with his head right now—he was remembering.

Tyler didn't move. Didn't blink. He just stood there, shoulders squared, taking it.

"You were one of them," Rick finally said, his voice low and sharp. "You stood by while he killed them like it meant nothin'. And now you show up here—after everythin'—and expect me to just believe this sob story?"

Tyler didn't flinch. "No," he said. "I expect you to hate me. I deserve that. But I'm not here to get your forgiveness, man. I'm here because I had one shot to help. I took it. That's it."

Rick took a slow step forward. "You chose him."

"No," Tyler said, jaw clenched. "I chose my sister. I chose the Hilltop. Negan said if I didn't join up, he'd wipe them out. So yeah—I was one of them. And I've hated myself for it every day since."

I watched Rick's hand tighten near his holster. My breath caught in my throat.

Tyler kept going, softer now. "You think I liked watching what he did? Think I don't see it every damn night when I close my eyes? I didn't swing the bat, but I didn't stop it either. That's on me. I own it. But I've been trying to fix it ever since. This—getting Daryl out—that was all I could do."

Rick's eyes narrowed at that.

Tyler nodded. "That's why I'm here now. And yeah—if that's not enough, if I gotta walk, fine. But I'm not gonna pretend I didn't do what I did. I made my choice. Now you gotta make yours."

Rick turned to me, eyes narrowed. "You trust him? After everythin'?"

I sighed. "He saved Daryl, Rick... That has to mean something."

A long silence stretched between us. The kind that makes your lungs feel too small.

Rick looked back at Tyler, his voice cold. "I trust Jordyn. But, you prove you're not the man who stood by that day."

Tyler nodded. "Sounds fair."

Rick lingered for a moment longer, and for a second, I thought he might change his mind. But then he turned and walked away, his voice trailing behind him like a warning.

"Make no mistake, just because you rescued Daryl, doesn't mean I won't hesitate to put a bullet in your head. "

He disappeared through the front door, with everyone else behind.

Tyler let out a slow breath. "So... he seems nice."

I smacked his arm. "You're lucky that wasn't your last conversation."

He gave me that crooked grin—the one I hadn't seen in forever. "Yeah. Story of my life."

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Everyone else had gone inside. Just me, Daryl, and Tyler were left.

I walked over to the graves. The pocket watch was sitting right on top of the dirt, catching the afternoon sun.

I knelt beside it, letting my fingers brush the edge of the metal. Hershel gave that watch to Glenn—it was more than a gift. It was a blessing. A sign that Glenn had earned his place in the Greene family. I remembered how proud he was... how much it meant.