YEARNING - Daryl Dixon

SIXTY THREE.

BONNIE walked carefully and quietly into the store, Abraham behind her as they split off down a hallway away from the others.

Bonnie had her knife held tightly in the palm of her hand, boot cladded feet making soft thumps on the hardwood floor beneath her, her soft breaths and the pounding of her heart filled the silent air.

Bonnie came to a corner, with Abraham hot on her heels and the pair stopped at the sound of growls from a walker.

Bonnie looked over her shoulder up at Abraham who checked behind them, Bonnie tapped her blade just loud enough for the pair of them to hear, and Abraham sent the woman a nod.

Bonnie took off with Abraham right behind her down the hallway, a figure stumbled out in front of her.

Abraham pushed Bonnie aside protectively, pushing the body up against the wall hard.

Bonnie checked in the room that the figure came out of for any extra walkers and was met with nothing.

The blonde turned back around and just in the light that poured through the glass, she could see that the figure was in fact alive, not a walker, and her and Abraham stopped what they were doing.

"Hey, you with us?" Bonnie reached up and tapped the man's cheek gently "We're friends of Jesus, come on we gotta go." Bonnie urged as a light appeared at the opposite end of the hallway.

Many figures appeared, running towards them down the hallway, causing Bonnie to squint and lift her arm up to shield the light from attacking her eyes.

"Come on, we gotta go!" Daryl's voice called, taking Bonnie's hand in his and pulling her down the hallway as the rest of the group followed behind them.

The group reached Jesus and Maggie, who remained stood outside and at the sight of his people Jesus visibly relaxed and Bonnie smiled softly.

"Lets get going, we'd like to get to your settlement by nightfall." Rick spoke and walked over, uncuffing Jesus and the group walked off towards the RV.

Bonnie sat on the floor in between Daryl and Abraham's feet, facing Jesus and one of the men they saved, Freddie.

"You alright?" Bonnie asked Freddie, bringing her knees up to her chest and watching the rather conflicted man.

"For a second back there, just when I thought he was gonna..." he trailed off, a layer of sweat covering his face as his eyes met Bonnie's, then Abraham's "Saw my wife, she died before all of this, just before I thought it was over, there she was." He let out a wet laugh and Bonnie felt her heart ache for him.

This must have been what she was like when she was injured, seeing her brother, most likely others too.

It sent shivers down her spine.

"Clear as day." Freddie smiled "They are our guardian angels," Bonnie began and sat up crossing her legs "they come for us in times of yearning, to heal the pain and put us at ease."

Bonnie sent Freddie a comforting smile.

But the conversation was abruptly ended with the RV revving.