18 parts Ongoing MatureIn a world long since burned down, survival isn't the hardest part anymore. It's what comes after-the quiet, the grief, the memories that won't die even when everything else has.
Ryan doesn't talk much. He writes. In torn, ink-stained pages of a weathered journal, he records the days he survives, the names of those he's lost, and the thoughts he can't speak aloud. That journal becomes his voice, his shield-his only lifeline in a world that keeps taking more.
The world doesn't care about healing. It doesn't stop for broken people. It just keeps breaking them. And Ryan? He's still here. Still breathing. Still bleeding between the lines. Every page he writes is another scar. Another memory he can't escape. But it's also proof that he's still fighting to exist in a world that tried to erase him.
Ink-Bled Scars isn't about saving the world. It's about what's left when the world is already gone. It's about trauma, memory, survival, love, and the quiet truths that live in silence. Through Ryan's journal, you'll see not just what the world looks like-but what it feels like to someone who's lived through its worst.
⚠️ This story contains sensitive themes: trauma, mental illness, substance abuse, SA, and death. Trigger warnings will be listed at the top of each chapter. Please read with care.
I do not own AMC's original The Walking Dead characters. This is a fan-made passion project that includes original characters and storylines. I write this from a place of deep love for these characters, so please be patient with updates.
Chapters will be posted weekly, but the schedule may vary-especially once school starts again. Follow along for updates and extras on TikTok:
@daryls.little.brother
Thank you for reading. I hope this story finds you when you need it most.