Barely Alive // TWD // Daryl Dixon

Chapter 17 -- Unjust Consequences

"And hard times are good in their own way, too.

Because the only way you can achieve true happiness is if you experience true sadness as well.

It's all about light and shade. Balance."

– Gabrielle Williams, Beatle Meets Destiny

Six months ago

"You shouldn't go," Carl said as I ate breakfast with him that morning.

Only Rick, Michonne, Daryl, Carl and Beth had woken up by now but it wouldn't take long for the rest of our group to wake up as well.

"I'll be back soon," I told him. "Don't worry."

"I won't have anyone to talk to, to play with," Carl said with puppy eyes, trying to make me stay. "And I will be left alone to care for the animals."

Only about two weeks ago we had found some pigs and some hens and brought them here, we helped Rick with them every once in a while, it wasn't nice but better than killing walkers through the fence.

"There are other kids now, Carl," I told him with a smile, trying to cheer him up.

It had been about three or so months since we went to Woodbury to end it all and instead brought the people back here, we had also gone on runs and if we find someone we bring them here if we think we can trust them. There were around twelve kids now, all of them around the ages of six and fourteen plus Judith.

"They're immature." I sighed.

"What about Patrick? He's older than the rest."

"He's the most immature out of them," Carl complaint.

These three months Michonne hadn't taken a break from her searches of the Governor, she had been gone for days or even weeks and then she comes back, stays for a day or two and then leaves again.

Nobody else besides Michonne, Daryl and I have bothered to go look for him after the first two weeks or so after he attacked our prison, our home but we have been unsuccessful. It's like he vanished into thin air.

I go with Michonne on these search parties about half of the time or even less and just on the short ones and usually Daryl comes along too. At first we could use a car but now that three months have passed, Rick has forbidden us to use them because we need to save the gas for emergencies but he can't forbid us to go, even when he has tried.

"Cici, just let Michonne and Daryl go and stay with me, please?"

"So I can clean pigs' poo and miss the fun?" I exclaimed as I finished my breakfast. "No way."

"Thought you loved me," Carl said in a fake hurt voice.

I loved Carl but I wasn't going to stay, as crazy as it seems I've always liked to go out of these fences and kill some walkers and be useful for the group, even when this time I wouldn't be so useful, we weren't bringing anything back.

"I need to get ready," I said, standing up. As I passed next to Carl, I messed up his hair, earning a slap on my hand as he grunted, I just chuckled, feeling like the mean older sister annoying her sibling.

I jogged back to my cell and checked if I had everything I needed in my backpack, my gun, two knives, some food and three bottles of water.

"Why don't you take the crossbow this time?" Daryl asked, making me slightly jump. I turned around to face him and flashed him a smile.

"Because I'm not ready yet," I told him.

"Come on," he said, grabbing it for me. "You can use this trip for practice, I'll help you."