Not the End of the World

Chapter 2

Daryl's POV
   I walk along the broken and lonely road, stabbing a few walkers here and there. I hear a scream come from the forest. I should go check it out... I immediately take out my crossbow and run into the woods. I find a little girl with long black hair and freckles trying to fight a walker. I run over and stab it in the head. "You alright?" She nods. I look around the woods and raise an eyebrow. "Where's your family?" She shakes her head, "I don't have one." "Well, you need somewhere to go. I live in a pretty nice place about half a mile from here. C'mon." She grabs a hold of my hand and I don't make her let go, but start walking towards Alexandria. "How old are you?" I ask. "Eleven." I nod and we talk the rest of the way to Alexandria. "Rick, open the gate! It's me!" The gate opens and I walk in with the little girl. "Hey, I never got your name," I say. "Skylar," she tells me, and I reply with, "Daryl." "Daryl, who's the girl?" Rick asks, nodding to Skylar. "This is Skylar," I say. He extends his hand, and she shakes it. Despite her being out on the road, she looks clean. She's wearing new clothes, too. Noticing my look I'm giving her, she says, "I like to raid stores." Rick chuckles. "Just like having your own kid, ain't it, Daryl? Just like you!" "Shut up," I mutter. "Skylar, you can sleep in my house. I have a spare room," I offer, and she nods. "Thanks."
Time skip to midnight.
   Skylar has just fallen asleep, and I talk with Rick downstairs. "Who's she gonna live with? She obviously can't leave Alexandria. Not yet," I say. "Well," Rick begins, "Does she have parents?" I shake my head. "Well, you found her. You should be the one who takes care of her." "Like a father?" I ask anxiously, and he nods. "I'll talk with her tomorrow," I yawn, "Night." As I walk to my room across the hall from Skylar, I hear the front door close. I smile and collapse onto the bed, forgetting all the worries of the past day for the time being.