Down by the water • TWD

Life Saver.

Avery squinted, trying to make sure this nightmare was real. Everything came back to her. How he left her in the woods when she was only twelve.

She had to navigate through the woods alone because of him.

Avery assumed he'd be dead by now, just like she should've been. Was he really a part of these people now? He would definitely fit in.

He raised his gun at her high and confident. This made her pulse quicken, but she couldn't move. It was like someone hit pause on her life.

His fingers were about to pull the trigger, but with a second to spare, he was on the ground. Lifeless.

Avery didn't have time to register what just happened due to Daryl shaking her violently.

"Aves."

Her eyes whipped to Daryl, then back to her dad, then to Rick. Who had his gun held high, aimed right at her dad's body.

Shoving Daryl away, she ran to the body.

"What?" She gasped.

Avery blinked rapidly, shaking her head roughly. This wasn't her dad. It was just a random man. It didn't make sense. She saw her dad; she knew that look he'd always give her.

The look of pure hatred and disgust.

She almost forgot what it looked like.

"Avery!" Rick shouted, "We need to go now!"

Daryl watched her confused as she just kept shaking her head, over and over again. He didn't understand what was going on with her. His eyes never left her body as she turned around following Rick. He noticed the last glance she gave the body.

Something inside him churned as he lingered a few moments longer. Daryl stepped towards the body and crushed his foot into its skull. Spitting on it quickly, before turning at the sound of Rick yelling his name.

Once everyone was over the fence, they were on their way back to where the group of five was earlier. The only thought on Avery's mind was Ranger and the fact he wasn't where she left him. She scanned the woods, searching for any sign of the dog.

The realization started to kick in, and it didn't go unnoticed by the group. Daryl knew the moment the girl started to walk around aimlessly.

"What the hell are we still around here for?" Abraham asked.

Rick dug up the bag of weapons they hid before entering Terminus. "Guns, some supplies." He breathed, "Go along the fences. Use the rifles. Take out the rest of them."

"What?"

The girl stood still as the conversation whirled around her. There was nothing she could do; she screamed Ranger's name and got no response. Guilt filled her chest; he could be hurt. Or...gone. She didn't even want to think about it.

"They don't get to live." Rick stared.

Glenn swallowed, watching. "Rick, we got out. It's over."

"It's not over till they're all dead," Rick said, checking his bullets.

"The hell it isn't. That place is on fire." Rosita mocked, "Full of walkers."

Avery looked at Rick, trying to understand him. The last thing she wanted at that moment was to go back there after seeing her dad...who wasn't actually her dad.

"I'm not dicking around with this crap." Abraham spoke up, chest raised. "We just made it out."

"The fences are down." Maggie added, "They'll run or die."