She was bleeding. Warm, dark blood was leaking from the fresh wound on her neck. It was a ragged, rather infected injury. It happened. Carol's been bit.
- Oh, Lord... Hang on, please. Just hang on... - Daryl was mumbling, helplessly trying to cover the wound with shaky hands. All his hope was slipping through his fingers quite literally. That one person. One person...
Why her... Why his Carol...
Her eyes were searching his, trying to say sorry. She was just leaning by some wall, away from the sounds of war that Alexandria was waging. He saw her walking away, limping, hiding. Of course he would've follow her. But seeing her like this... It was a pure horror.
- Daryl - she whispered softly. He just shook his head with denial. It couldn't end like this. It wasn't supposed to end like this. Not now...
- Daryl, stop. - Carol repeated.
- No... no, no, no!
- Daryl, just go! Just Leave! - Her voice became more angry, but still with fading tone of life. She tried to push him away with one, weak hand. He just crouched next to her closer. Irritated. Determined. But yet, scared. Scared. The fear he felt the moment when they were both falling from the bridge in a car was nothing in comparison of this moment.
- Shut. Up. - he drawled, squeezing her hand. - I'm not going anywhere! The hell were you thinking about!?
A weak, yet empty laugh escaped her mouth. It wasn't calming. It was a laugh of acceptance. She acknowledged her sooner-or-later death long ago.
- That walker liked me. - Daryl half snorted half sobbed, not accepting what was happening at that moment. It was too much. Carol's words were not making any sense. - I was tired of fighting, Daryl. I said in Atlanta that I was trying, and that was true... But now I just can't do it anymore... And it happened. I hesitated. One moment. I came back, I said I was gonna fight with you all, but in the fire of this stupid war... I lost it. I let this ugly life bike a chunk of my skin, I let it, I..
- Why... - he cut her off, looking to the side. Then he met his pure blue eyes with hers. There was so much pain, that made Carol whince with regret. - Why?!
- I told you - a tear rolled on her cheek. - I told you already. I gave up.
A fist hit the wall next to her head. Daryl repeated the hit with an angry growl. He was mad, because he was helpless. But he refused to let it show. He lost too much already.
- There's gotta be a way!
- There's no..
- I ain't gonna let you die like this! Ya hear me?! – He soften his voice, and almost let out a whimper from his shaking lips - I can't lose you too! – Soft whisper. – Not you too… - Sob. – Not you…