Worth It

Chapter 33: After

I forced Michonne to take me back to the prison so that I could get my bow. "I don't think..." She starts, but the prison comes into view and we both become silent. I swallow hard before wrapping my arms around me and walking out from the tree line. 

Michonne follows me soon after. Our walk is slow and observant, but mostly heart broken. This was our home. I step through the gates, looking around before my eyes land on my brothers grave. I run up to it, falling on my knees.

"I'm so sorry." I cry to him, knowing that I had to leave. "I wish I could take you with me." I say, sniffling and then laughing. I can almost hear him laughing beside me and my heart hurts more. "Michonne. Wheres Daryl?" She sighs, watching me as I stand up and turn towards her. "Lets go get my bow." I mumble, walking back to the cars where the Governor first kept us.

I walk towards the red car, opening the trunk to find my bow and arrows. I grab them quickly and follow Michonne back into the forest.

"We should try to find a place to sleep." She says, not looking at me. I nod, even though she cant see me, and look behind at the walkers trailing behind us. "Michonne." I whisper, trying to keep my movements low. She looks behind us and then turns back, her facial expression neutral.

"Just.. keep walking." She says. But I know her well enough to know that she's concerned. They eventually catch up to us, and were surrounded, including the two on the chains. But they don't attack us, we just join them in the herd and keep moving.

"Here should be fine." Michonne says, opening the door to an abandoned car. I nod and climb inside, watching as she ties the walkers up to the car doors before climbing in herself. I'm not sure when or how I fell asleep, but I did, and I was thankful that it wasn't alone.

Early in the morning, I woke to Michonne breathing heavily. "Hey- hey are you okay?" I ask her, rubbing her back with my hand. She swallows hard and nods her head. "Bad dream is all. Don't worry."

Of course I worry, but I leave it alone since I know that she would tell me when she's ready. "Lets get going." She says to me, and I nod, following her out of the car. 

I don't know how far we walked, or where we were, but we ended up right outside a small side street full of large houses. "We should look around, maybe stay in one for tonight. I miss sleeping in a real bed." I tell her, yawning. She nods, leading us into he street. 

"Let's start here." She says and I nod, following her into one of the houses. "I'll head upstairs." I mumble. When I make it up stairs and have checked three of the bedrooms, I sit down on one of the beds, staring at the wall.

I was alone, for the first time in awhile, and I was able to let out all the grief I had from loosing Daryl and I's daughter. I let my face fall into my palm, silent sobs leaving my mouth. I had to be strong in front of Michonne because she was hurting. After being on her own for so long, the prison was her home and my people were her family. So I didn't cry, I only smiled. 

After awhile, I get up and leave, wiping my tear stained face with my sleeve. I stop at the top of the stairs, noticing another room I hadn't checked yet. I sigh, annoyance filling my gut, and I open the door quicker and further than I should have.

A walker jumps out at me and my surprise mutes the silent scream coming from my body. I stumble backwards a few steps before my feet fall out from under me and I'm falling down the stairs.

The last thing I hear is Michonne and the last thing I see is the walker falling down behind me.

Michonne POV

I kneel beside her, out of breath. The fear of loosing another person I love fills me with anger. The walker was dead, and Chloe was unbit. Yet she hit her head and won't wake up.

We need to leave. I'm sure her falling made a good amount of noise and I'd rather not risk it. "Chloe." I shake her a few times but she doesn't move. I check her pulse and let go of the weight I felt when she had one.

"Shit." I mumble, pushing my arms underneath her and lifting her into my arms. She was lighter than before, and she was small to begin with. But without food, I doubt her body would be able to replenish itself.

I look around quickly for anything else and get outside and into the street as quickly as I can.  I don't know where I'm going or what I'm going to do. But I can't let her die. She's... she's my best friend. I chuckle to myself at that, shaking my head. When I look up, I see an opened jar of... Nutella? I think so anyway. I look around, suddenly cautious. 

It takes awhile for me to check each house but theirs only three left. I needed to make sure no one was nearby. Chloe wasn't awake so she couldn't cover my back and me hers. I needed to protect the both of us with one set of hands.

I don't know when or how it happened. But I looked down at Chloe's face to see fresh tears. At first I think their hers but then another one falls from my face. I was... crying. I swallow hard but I can't stop the tears and my arms are holding Chloe so I can't wipe them either.

I take steps up to the next house and peer through the window. I recoil, before looking closer. It was Rick. And Carl. I laugh, shaking the new tears from my face. I take a steady breath and walk up to the front door before kicking it with my boot.

I can hear them shuffling around behind the door and then Rick.

"It's for you." Rick says. I can hear the smile in his voice and almost immediately, Chloe's eyes flutter open. I gasp, my eyes wide. I laugh, holding her close to me, rocking her as Carl opens the door. "Chloe?!" Rick calls out, pulling me inside. He hugs me close before hugging Chloe. I smile, watching as she cries in his arms.