Our Extinction Event {Daryl Dixon}

The Price of Revenge

Rick Grimes had been through hell. He had seen and done things he never wanted to do.
Ever since he woke up in that hospital, fearing for his life upon realizing that he was alone and that the dead walked the Earth, he had been forced to change. To adapt to the world he had been brought back into.

He had adapted to the situations he found himself in, forcing himself to do things for the good of his family.

He had killed his best friend, amputated limbs to save the lives of others, ripped out a man's throat with his teeth for threatening his family, and through it all, he had never found peace.

He knew his time was approaching, the wound in his side cutting through his torso as he staggered towards the bridge.

He had been looking for his family, searching for them. Just like he had in Atlanta. And when he collapsed on the bridge and saw everyone rushing to his aid, he had found them. But the security he felt when he realized quickly vanished just as fast as the hallucinations did.

Carl, Parker, and Judith were his blood, but they were most definitely not the only family he had. Now Rick had more. He had Michonne, Daryl, Maggie, and Carol.

He had everyone he had known and fought alongside in this new world. Fighting for a better future.

He could only hope that his little girl and Parker's twins could grow up safe. However, that's not a delicacy that everyone could have anymore either.

His time was approaching. He knew that, and he could feel the life draining from his body as he walked, but then he saw her.

Parker was standing on the other side of the bridge, dressed in clean clothes and with her hair freshly washed. She looked younger. Back before he got shot in the car chase. She was smiling at him, extending a hand as if beckoning him to come closer.

Rick was confused. She wasn't dead, like Hershel and Shane... she wasn't there. He shouldn't be seeing her.

When he stopped in front of her and touched her hand, it felt so real that he was sure it wasn't another hallucination. This had to be real.

"You really thought I'd leave my big brother behind?" She asked him, placing her other hand over his. Her eyes showed no signs that she saw the danger creeping up behind him.

"No," Rick gasped, holding his side, blood dripping through his fingers. His body is struggling to hold its own weight.

"I just wanted you to know that we will be okay," Parker spoke reassuringly. "You will feel guilty for leaving us, but we're going to be okay. Judith will grow up knowing that you are a hero, and I will never let your memory die. Neither will Michonne, Daryl, Carol, Maggie, or anyone else. We'll keep you alive."

"Are..?"

"Shh," Parker whispered. "Save your strength. So many things are about to happen, Rick. There are things we can't prevent, but you can do your part to help stop this. You can save your people, and then you can rest. The ones we love never really leave us. This is going to change everything."

"I can stop this," Rick said.

"I know," Parker nodded, a tear finally falling. "You can. It doesn't mean it won't hurt, and it doesn't mean we won't feel your absence, but when your time comes, I want you to know that we'll be okay. And you're going to be okay too."

"I can't.." A rough, painful cough cut off his words.

"You protected me since we were little kids," Parker spoke softly. "You supported me and protected me from the beginning. Even through all this, we managed to find each other. I am very proud to call you my brother, and I don't want you to forget that I love you more than anything. It's time to see your family again, Rick. It's time to find them."