Down by the water • TWD

Sanctuary Is Bullshit.

Avery thought a lot about Glenn. Their morning walks they would take along the fence line of the prison. Oh, how she missed it, how she missed him. It hung heavy over her heart at the thought of him being dead. She didn't even know if she made it through the sickness. Last time she heard, he was choking just like she had.

She just wanted to talk to him. She'd be able to say a lot of things she couldn't to others. He unlocked things in her that she didn't even know were hidden away.

So many people she cared for were gone. She didn't know if they were dead, just...gone. She was only making it worse for herself to dwell on them.

Daryl stood watching the fence with Ranger at his side while Rick and Avery stood a couple feet away. They arrived at Terminus around thirty minutes ago. Rick had ordered that they split up and keep an eye out, watching. The three stayed at the fence while Michonne and Carl scanned through the woods.

She'd noticed Ranger took a liking to Daryl. He would follow her around the same way with her. She was almost grateful she didn't have to keep him entertained much. The energy was slowly draining from her body.

No words have left Avery's mouth since she talked with Daryl earlier this morning. Her only responses were a nod or a hum. The thought of talking made her throat dry. Every time it got too quiet, her mind shot back to last night. That man's laugh lingered in her ears every second, the way it made her feel helpless.

She was dirty.

She was stained, and she felt it all over. It haunted her to the point everything around her was a soft whisper. She watched Michonne and Carl hug from a distance, no emotion appearing within her. The pages in her book no longer had writing; they were blank. She was blank.

"We should leave Ranger here until we know it's safe." Rick's words rang sharp through her: "He can stay around with the bag I buried; we'll come back for him."

"What?" She blinked. "I don't even know if he'll stay."

"We don't know what he'll do in there." Rick countered, desperation in his eyes. "I promise we'll come get him after we know."

Avery understood his idea; it almost made sense. But she didn't know if the dog would stay here. He would either want to follow her, or he'd be gone when they got back. If they got back, she thought.

She didn't want to argue, and her throat burned at each word that left her mouth. With a quick nod, avoiding his eye contact, she knelt down beside Ranger.

"You have to stay here, bud." She whispered to him, petting behind his ears softly. "I'll come back for you." He let out a whine, and she closed her eyes tightly. "Just stay here. Please don't go anywhere. I will be back."

Avery stared at the animal in front of her. The way his eyes scanned with uncertainty of his surroundings. She breathed in slowly, and as she was about to say one last thing to him, he started licking her face. This caught her off guard suddenly. "Be good; I'll see you soon." She got up in a swift motion, wiping her face from his kisses.

They climbed over the fence one by one. Daryl attempted to help her but only shut it down with a tight-lipped smile that never reached her eyes. She held her gun high as she crouched, following Rick through the perimeter. Her eyes searched all angles for danger; it had become natural for her.

When they reached the door, Daryl went in first, his crossbow aimed into the distance. She heard the voices before she saw who it was coming from.

"Terminus—those who arrive survive. Follow the tracks to the point where all lines intersect. There are maps at the crossings to help guide you with your journey. Sanctuary for all.  for all. Those who arrive survive. Terminus, sanctuary for all. Community for all."