Remember Me (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter Forty-Three: Losing It

No way. This isn't happening. This had to be a dream.
Wake up, Elizabeth. Please wake up now.

I felt the air growing thinner as we moved closer. I could see my father and Michonne sitting on the ground with their hands bound. It was him. He was really back.
But he wasn't back alone this time. He had people and they had weapons. They even had a tank. But most importantly, they had my father.
My eyes moved to Rick with desperation. He had to do something. He had to get him away from this man. I knew more than anybody what he was capable of. Maggie knew just as I did.

.
"Let me handle this," Rick calmly spoke as he began walking towards the gate. "Get everybody ready to leave."

Leave? Why would we have to leave?

I moved to the fence with Beth as I watched the gates open for Rick to begin his plan. I honestly didn't know what his plan was. There was no way out of this. Even if we agreed to leave, he would kill us all anyways. He would kill my father. I couldn't let that happen.

Daryl and Maggie slowly moved with us to the fence as Rick continued his journey to The Governor. I could tell that Maggie and Beth were just as anxious as I was. Daryl didn't seem too worried about it. Daryl never worried about anything.

Rick finally made it to him and I could tell that they were exchanging words. That's when Daryl moved the weapon bin over to us. He snuck each of us a gun, preparing for the worst.

I had really hoped we wouldn't have a need for the guns. I hoped we could somehow resolve this without slaughtering everyone.

The Governor would be getting killed despite whatever agreement they came up with. I was going to take him out the first chance I got. But I couldn't do it just yet. I would get Rick, dad, and Michonne killed in the process.

Though Daryl and I were on bad terms, I felt his hand join with mine.
His gesture made me feel much better. At least he was there for me through one thing. The Governor hopped off the tank where he had been standing and moved to another man. I watched as he grabbed Michonne's katana from the man and put it to my fathers neck.

"No," I whispered as I clutched to the fence. I snatched my hand away from Daryl and held my gun up. I knew that this could go bad any second. Beth let out a whimper as she also began clinging to the fence. Everything fell silent in the moment that followed.

I could see Rick talking to him, trying so hard to keep him from doing the unthinkable. It honestly seemed to be working. The more Rick spoke, the more he moved the katana away from my father's neck. Yes, keep going. You're doing it. You're going to do this, Rick.

I could feel hope building up inside of me as the katana was completely moved away from him. Daryl could sense my hope as he glanced at me for a split second. That's when my entire world fell apart. With one quick motion, The Governor changed everything.

I watched as the katana met with my father's neck. I could see the blood from where I was. Maggie and Beth let out terrible screams as we watched our father hit the ground. Something snapped inside of me when I saw this.
"No!" I screamed, trying to aim my gun with shaking hands. I couldn't breathe. I knew that I was having a panic attack, but I couldn't focus on that. Everybody began firing once Rick shot his gun. I was screaming desperately. I watched as my father tried to crawl away. I had never felt so sick in my life.

Michonne had already rolled behind a vehicle at this point. I knew she would make it. I began shooting at the men that were near her. I never hit any, but I tried my best. I just couldn't aim with how badly my hands were shaking. I just couldn't do it.

I watched as The Governor continued hacking at my father. I knew that it was too late. I knew that he was already too far gone. When the tank rolled through the fences, I quickly began running in the direction of The Governor.

"Elizabeth!" Daryl shouted as he tried to stop me. I was running right into a death wish. I was going to be in the middle of the fire if I kept going.

Maggie snatched me by the arm and almost caused me to fall by doing so. "Get on the bus," she shouted at me. The tank was rolling our way as it shot holes in this place we called home. "Elizabeth, go to the buses. Now!"

I wasn't going to the buses. I was going to finish this. I pried her arm off me and continued running. I could see The Governor and Rick fighting in the distance. This would be my chance to take him down. I ducked down behind a trashcan as the little army moved in front of me. The tank continued while the people started spreading out.

I knew that their goal was to kill us all, but I wouldn't let that happen. I stayed silent as I watched a man linger behind them, guarding one of the doors. I wasted no time. I jumped from the shadows and snapped his neck as if it was nothing.

That was my first time killing a human. I didn't feel any different. In fact, I felt nothing. I was no longer crying and I was no longer screaming. I didn't think of Lori, Merle, or even my father. I only thought about revenge. Revenge was the only thing I was seeking.

I began walking towards where I had previously watched Rick and The Governor battle. Rick was no longer there. The only thing I saw was a woman standing above The Governor, gun in hand. I could tell that he had already been injured. In fact, he was dying. I would finish the job before this woman had the chance to.

I walked up behind the woman and snatched the gun out of her hand. She didn't try to fight for it back. She just simply stood there with her hands covering her ears.

I looked down into his eyes. I could tell that I was the last person he wanted to see. With a smile, I pulled the trigger. And just like that, it was all over. I had done the one thing I promised. I killed The Governor. I looked back at my father's body lying in the distance. I looked back at the prison. I could see Maggie running around in the distance.

I turned back in the direction of The Governor and began walking towards the woods, shooting every walker who dared to get close to me.
I could hear faint footsteps on the grass behind me as I continued to the tree line.
"W..where are you going?" the woman from earlier called after me. I didn't turn to face her.
"It's time to move on," I spoke in a monotone as I continued walking.

"M...move on?" she asked me as she continued shuffling behind me. I could already tell that this woman was going to be following me wherever I went.

"Move on from here," I continued as we got closer to the woods. "From these people."

I eventually made it into the woods with her footsteps following me. This woman is like a fucking lost puppy.

"Your name?" I called behind me as I continued walking on the forest floor.

"Lily," she whispered in a fragile voice.

I stopped in my tracks as I turned around to face her, smiling. "Well, Lily, it's a new life now. Everything is over now. We're reborn."

Lily seemed confused at my words. She was looking at me as if I was crazy.

"Nice to meet you," I said as I extended a hand. "I'm Lori."