Last One Standing ~ TWD Daryl Dixon

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Jo

"Jo?"

"Jo!"

"JO!"

I jerked as the voices finally penetrated my thoughts. I turned and blinked hard to see Enid and Maggie standing on the fence less than ten feet away from me. I frowned at them. I hadn't heard them approach. It concerned me that other things may have slipped my notice. I was too tired. I turned back to the field laid out before me. The one I had been staring at for who knows how long, essentially sleeping on my feet with my eyes open.

"Are you sure you're ready?" Maggie was speaking again and I turned back to her so she would know I was listening.

I nodded a few too many times pressing my lips together. I glided my fingers over my new knives and instantly felt better. "Yeah," I promised, my voice was hoarse and I cleared my throat.

Maggie looked doubtful and I didn't blame her. The truth was I was exhausted. My eyes were burning with the effort it was taking to keep them open. I was chilled and my stomach was cramping. All signs I was pushing my body far beyond the limits of what it could handle. I wasn't fine. I couldn't control my emotions or my thoughts as they spiraled out of control.

I didn't know anymore how long ago I had slept. It felt like days. My tired thoughts slid over the hazy memories of the cell in The Sanctuary. Had I slept there? I felt the darkness and the cold. The pain as I worked my tired body until I bled and cried. Then the ghost of his menacing chuckle as he called me his hot friend.

I jerked back, my eyes wide and my heart thundering in my ears. I looked around frantically, surprised to find myself standing on the wall of The Hilltop and not back there, trapped by a herd and the psychopath holding the keys.

"-should go in and get some rest-" Enid was halfway through speaking before I actually realized she was talking to me.

I closed my eyes against the rush of panic that was closing my throat. I tightened every muscle in my body against the overwhelming urge I had to run and hide until I felt safe.

Stop, reset.

I looked back and forth between Maggie and Enid as I fought to keep my body in lock down and control my breathing.

Enid shifted her weight uncomfortably and Maggie's expression turned to one of concern. "Enid," she said looking down at the teenager. "Why don't you give me a minute with Jo."

Enid blanched. Maggie noticed, but seemed to decide not to react. Instead, she smiled down reassuringly at Enid. Enid still looked doubtful, but left Maggie alone with me anyway.

"See," I said, flashing Maggie a tired smile. "Even my friends," I said as though we were still in the middle of our conversation from earlier. I tried not to let it hurt my feelings. You would think after all this time I would be used to it. That it wouldn't hurt anymore.

I looked away so Maggie couldn't see the emotions that were slamming through me too fast to control or stop.

Maggie just stood there and seemed to be waiting me out, her eyes soft and patient. I tightened my jaw. It felt too much like weakness.