- CAROL! Where are you?- he shouted into the woods although the smoke didn't let him see anything.
Alexandria has been attacked by the megaherd and it has been completely destroyed, people has panicked and there was fire, smoke and death everywhere. He started to run when he saw Carol with Judith running away from there.. he tried to go for the kids but Rick stopped him
- Carol has Judith! go for them! I'm going for Carl! Run!- shouted Rick
And he ran from Alexandria, shouting for Carol, praying for her and Judith to be alive.. He ran and ran and he continued running and shouting for hours.. Until he saw he didn't know where the fuck he was.
He stopped and listened,he has been tracking her and he knew she has to be close but he didn't know where. He didn't even think of waiting for Rick and the others, he needed to go for Carol.
- CAROL!- he shouted again and again- Fuck… please.. just please…where is she?- he whimpered as he fell to his knees
He couldn't lose her again, not now. He has lost her so many times.. he almost lost her again in Grady and now.. when he heard the megaherd was going to Alexandria. Rick's plan failed and everything was so fucked up. He didn't even see if she was okay when she went away running. He should have gone after her the moment he saw her.. fuck
And he hasn't talked to her for so long.. really talked to her. The last thing she said to him was "Be safe" and she didn't even hug him or anything. And he just looked at her, he didn't tell her anything. And then he saw that sign of "start over" and he found that cherokee rose. He came back to Alexandria ready to fight and ready to talk to her and he found Alexandria in flames.
- Fuck fuck.. don't let her die.. let me find her.. one last chance.. please- he begged looking at the sky still full of smoke- Carol…
And then he heard it.
A little girl crying and he would recognise it anywhere. He started to run listening to Judith's wasn't even breathing, he was sure of it, he didn't look if there were walkers , he just ran to her cries, praying for her and Carol to be okay.
- CAROL!- he shouted again
- DARYL?
Thank God.
…..
He found her next to a tree, it looked like she has fallen and she has hurt her ankle badly. And Judith has fallen with her.
- Carol!- he shouted going to her
- Daryl- she said extending her arms as he fell to his knees and hugging both of them- God, Daryl..
- Thank God, thank God- he whimpered into her neck and then he looked at Jude,she looked okay- Fuck, I thought I lost you both… I've been running for hours, fuck
- I.. I didn't know what to do, I just ran with Jude..- she said crying while Judith look at both of them so calm. The girl has stopped crying when he hugged them
- You did good, woman. You did good- he said caressing Carol's jaw and looking at her leg- what happened?
- I fell.. I was so exhausted.. and the others?- she said between her tears as he looked at her ankle.
It wasn't broken, just bruised. He looked at her again, thanking God for her to be alive.
- I.. don't know.. Rick ran too with Carl but don't know where.. He sent me for you - he said
- Okay.. you hear that sweetie? Daddy is okay, Carl is okay- she said kissing Judith's nose- My brave girl, the bravest girl ever..
He looked at Judith and her. He didn't know what they were going to do now, they were supposed to go to the north if things were wrong like this. But they haven't.. he didn't even know if anyone else has survived. He looked around them, it was time to move. It was dangerous to stay here.
- I have supplies.. some food and I have Judith's things.. - said Carol and he nodded at her
- Time to move- he said as he looked at both of them.
How was he going to take both of them? Jude was so little to walk by herself in the woods and Carol was hurt. But he saw Carol has already though of it. She took a stick and she looked at him with a smirk in her face
- I stole it.. it's Morgan's- she said- Take Jude.. I will walk
- Mm okay.. come on- he said kissing her cheek surprising her- Come on, princess- he leaned to Judith and took her in his arms
And they started to walk to the North.
….
They've found a car the next day, it was.. a family has been attacked for walkers and the car was almost full of gas. So, they could use it for a bit.
- Where do we go?- whispered Carol with Judith in her legs
- Mm.. North.. we'll stop when we can or when we find a good place- he said as they drove by the road.
It was a solitary road, he didn't know why but the sky was too grey. Maybe too much smoke, too much death.. He didn't know how far they were from Alexandria. He really didn't know where they were now..
- Look- she said pointing at a sign in the road
Baltimore 47 miles
He looked at Carol and she was smiling sadly at him
- Let's go- he said and he held her hand briefly
…..
Their car stopped when they had just 23 miles left. It seems like everything was good but the car didn't move. Maybe it was just life telling them they were fucked up again. But he would never forget Carol's face when he told her the car wasn't moving.
Her face was so full of despair, pain, fear… she looked like she was ready to give up
- Ataa- said Jude hugging Carol
- what baby girl?
- I'm hungyy- said Jude looking at Carol and then at him with her beautiful eyes
- Feed her and then we will continued walking.. it's not far away, just.. 23 miles, okay?- he said to Carol caressing her hair
- You can't stop touching me, can you?…- she said looking at him with her impossibly big blue eyes, it was almost teasing
- Yeah.. almost losing you again was too much, you know?.. who would embarras me if you die?- he told her trying not to cry and she laughed making Judith smile
He smiled at them.
Maybe they would be okay. If he has them, he will be okay
….
- Is that the sea?- she asked him
There was a lot of water.. he didn't know if it was the sea or a big river. He was so fucked up in geography but the sign said they were already in Baltimore
- Maybe.. I don't know- he whispered trying not to wake Judith
- Daryl..look- she said pointing at something
There was a big wall in front of them, maybe at 20 minutes walking. He was so distracted looking at the water he hasn't seen it.
- Let's go- he said holding her hand and she let him hold it.
They walked for half an hour always close to the water until the arrived to the gates of the wall. It was a wall made of cement, it looked strong. Not like Alexandria walls..
They stood there looking at the gates and the sign in it.
Baltimore Safe Zone
He held Judith with force and he kissed Carol's temple as the gates opened.
Maybe they were safe again… who knows?
To be continued