OUTLIVE.
❝The dead were never the enemy.
It was the living. ❞
THE WALKING DEAD.
DARYL DIXON.
BOOK TWO of the LANCASTER SAGA.
[ SEASONS 4 - 6 ]
*****
*I do not own The Walking Dead or any of its characters. I simply write to write. Astrid, any addi...
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[ xxvi. cracked and scattered ]
june 30th, 2012
➸➸➸
THE LOUD CHATTER AND different octaves of laughter enveloped Astrid's ears as she and her fellow survivors congregated around a modest table adorned with bowls brimming with food. The Lancaster woman moved in tandem with her hunter as they shuffled buffet-style down the line, each hefty spoonful shared between them a testament to their extreme appetite. However, Astrid's other senses remained hyperaware, as she purposely disregarded Rick, a presence behind her who stood far too close for comfort.
Talking with him was out of the question. After what he had done, Astrid could not even look at him. How could he have committed such a selfish act? Rick Grimes had all but shattered her illusions of their friendship.
Her anger, however, was also now eclipsed by self-reproach. She questioned her own naivety, her obliviousness to the emotions her leader had harbored for her. Bitterly, unwantedly, visions of an alternate reality plagued her thoughts all over again, causing her to squirm uncomfortably within her own skin. Daryl was the one she loved, unequivocally and without reservation.
At the end of the table, Astrid's fingers reached out to grab a water bottle, and they inadvertently brushed against Rick's hand as he reached for one as well. The contact sent a shiver down her spine, her hand recoiling as if scorched, her gaze plummeting to the ground beneath her feet. The weight of Rick's intense stare bore into her, and with hurried haste, she averted her attention and set off towards her hunter, who had already made himself comfortable on a church pew.
The Lancaster woman managed to force a semblance of a smile as she settled down beside him, her plate nestled on her lap as she proceeded to dig in. The food was rich and creamy on her tongue, finally satisfying her once insatiable hunger.
Elsewhere, the church was aglow with the soft luminescence of candles, casting long shadows in the hallowed space. Beyond the confines of the sanctuary, nightfall's darkness reigned supreme, the quiet so very different from the celebration unfolding within.
Each bite Astrid consumed was an attempt to redirect her thoughts to the love of her life who sat beside her. Her gut churned with the secret she had no choice but to bear. Because how on earth could she really tell Daryl that Rick had kissed her? There was no possible way to divulge such a revelation without invoking a heartbreaking catalyst of some sort.
"What're you lookin' at?" A raspy voice shattered her reverie, pulling her abruptly from the depths of her thoughts. Astrid's eyes hastily refocused and locked onto Daryl's dark blue stare. She swallowed with deliberate slowness and shifted her attention back to the meal laid out before her.
"Nothing," She reassured.
Daryl's tongue danced briefly over his lips, and he reached out, gently tucking a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "You okay?" He asked softly.
