The Devils Eyes •Daryl Dixon•

S I X T Y - F I V E : D R E A D

The group had dispersed, and chatted as everyone got caught up.

I had just told Maggie about Beth, telling her that had been taken from right under my nose.

I stood close to the door of the cart, staring outside through the cracks, as I saw Merle approach me from the side.

I nodded at him to greet him and looked back out, but he didn't leave, and held sadness deep in his eyes.

"I need to talk to ye," he whispered and I looked over at him, locking eyes with him.

"Shoot," I shrugged.

"Let's head to the corner, get away from the others," he muttered and headed to the far left, on the opposite side of where everyone was.

"What's going on?" I cocked an eyebrow as I followed him.

"It's about Clementine," he frowned, and leaned against the wall.

My heart froze.

She was alive.

"Where is she?" I pressed, panic overcoming me.

"She got bit, right at the prison," he started. "We cut off her arm, and we were on the road for a day or two."

"We came across a pharmacy, then this group rolled through, and forced us to go with them. We were there for two and a half days, until they decided to try and give her a prostetic hand," he sucked in a breath as he looked away and dread filled me.

"She was put under, and then during the surgery, they found a parasite, took it out, and that's when hell broke out," he looked at me, locking eyes with me. "Her heart stopped Daryl. She didn't make."

And my heart dropped as I sucked in a breath.

No.

The woman who I'd loved, the woman who finally helped me open up, the woman who put all of her trust in me, was gone.

I didn't fight the tears, and allowed the sob to break through my lips as I slowly fell down to the floor.

I noticed the group giving me sad looks, as it must've clicked in their minds what happened, and I locked eyes with Rick as I ran my hand through my hair.

I would never see her again.

I'd never see her beautiful smile again.

I'd never get to look into her gorgeous hazel eye.

We'd never have our kid together.

Never grow old together trying to live out happy lives.

I'd never get to wrap my arms around her small body again.

Never get to feel those warm lips against mine.

I'd never get to tell her how much I loved her.

That I'd always be there for her through thick and thin.

"Daryl," someone's voice cracked and I looked up to see Rick with tears in his eyes as he sat down beside me.

"She's gone man," I croaked, the grief clear in my eyes.

"I know man," he nodded and brought me into his chest, and I didn't stop him.

"She's gone," I repeated over and over while Rick rubbed his hand up and down my back as I let out all my pain and my body racked from the sobs.

"I know."

I'd never see Clementine Dixon again.

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