AMBER | Daryl Dixon

What You Sacrificed

Amber's POV

"Welcome to Woodbury."

"This is all your fault."

"We tried looking for you."

"Brother against brother! Fight to the death!"

*Walker growls*

"Just give up! It's hopeless! They are gone!"

"I am your family now!"

*Walker growls*

"We are at war."

"Dad?"

*loud music*

"Hey pumpkin."

"Merle!"

____________

My eyes shot open as I gasped for air, feeling a sense of tightness around my chest. As I heaved, tears began to fall down my cheeks while I clenched my chest. My body began to shake as the feeling of fear and terror surround my vulnerable body. I hurried and looked over the edge of the bunk to see if Daryl was sleeping; he was gone.

Panic struck me and I quickly jumped off the top bunk and dashed out of the cell, hearing the sound of my bare feet smacking against the concrete floor. Halfway into the cafeteria, I stopped in my tracks and just stared at the cell just above the door that led to the outside. There was his metal arm, sticking out at the bottom.

"The factory, the car blasting music, the bodies, the blood, dad and his knife." My mind began to play the day we found Merle over and over again, even if it had been a few days since. I clenched my ears and squinted my eyes shut, trying to get the images out of my head.

"Amber?" I thought I heard someone call me, it sounded like Merle but I just ignored it, thinking it was just my mind playing tricks.

"No, he's, he's gone. It's not real, none of this is real. He's not really there." I whispered to myself.

"Amber?" They called again. I ignored.

"No, no, no, no. Stop it."

"Amber." I was finally turned around to come face to face with my father's eyes.

"Dad." I cried out as I crashed into his chest with sobs.

"The hell are you doing running around like that?" He asked as he held my head against his shoulder, letting a sigh escape his lips. I just continued to sob as he held me close.

"I see him again." I managed to say, past my sobs against his shoulder. Daryl just sighed as he placed his lips against the side of my head and kept them there, holding my up as I clung onto him.

"I know, I see him sometimes too."

____________

I had just finished packing my belongings into my duffel bag and zipped it shut when Daryl walked in.

"Hey sunshine." I looked over my shoulder to find him bent over to pick up his duffel bag. I smiled before turning back around to fully close the bag when I felt eyes on me so I turned to find him looking at me.

"Are you okay?" I let out a sigh and sat down onto the bed.

"I'm okay. I'm just..." I paused, not wanting to speak.