NOW
Katie's heart beat a million miles a minute as she walked with the group, making their way back to camp. She placed a hand to her chest and with deep breaths, willed it to calm down. She had to keep a level head. It was too dangerous to draw attention to herself. A dip in the ground caused her to stumble a little, and even though it didn't matter she still chided herself. If her focus waned it could mean her life.
Katie sorted through the events of the last two hours. They almost felt like a dream. It had been years, and she had long ago given up all hope of ever seeing him again.
There was so much of him that was different, his hair was longer and there was a visible scar across his eye, but there was no denying that fierce gaze or that swagger. When she heard his voice, her insides flipped. That familiar tone that was like gravel, rough and hard, she had never forgotten it. It had been a long decade, and he still made her knees buckle and her stomach flutter.
Katie stared down at her frayed pants and worn shoes. While the years had taken their toll on him, he looked to be doing much better than she was.
With little details going in, she had blindly followed orders from her group leader, thinking she was heading into enemy territory. Now it all felt flipped upside down. Daryl Dixon was anything but her enemy.
Shuffling back into camp and seeing all the people felt overwhelming, she needed space to think. Quickly, she looked around, and checked her surroundings. No one seemed to be paying her any mind. That suited her. It was exactly how she liked it.
This group had turned her into a shell of a person, made her feel anxious. Skittish. Trapped. One wrong move and her leaders wouldn't hesitate to slit her throat or put a knife through her chest. She'd watched it happen to so many friends. Finally, she just stopped trying to make friends, and opted to keep to herself, quietly doing her part. Flying under the radar was the only way to stay alive.
She ducked into some overgrown brush and walked a few yards, stopping at a large tree. Falling to the ground, she sat straight backed against the trunk. Sunlight pricked through the canopy of leaves and felt warm in her skin.
Katie lifted her hands to her face, sliding them under flesh and lifting her mask up. She gulped in fresh air and lifted her face to the sun.
Unceremoniously, she let the mask drop to the ground with a soft thud. She hated it and everything it stood for.
Seeing Daryl had changed everything. How long had he been so close without her knowledge? She couldn't think about it too much, it felt too painful. She needed a plan. She no longer wanted to quietly fall in line. She had to get out. Get to him.
She took in a long ragged breath and balled her fists against her knees in determination. She was going to escape and get to Daryl or die trying.
xXx
Author's note. Hi there! Thanks for stopping by and giving my new project a read. I have had this story knocking around in my head for awhile, and I decided to post a few chapters to see how well it is received. When I used to write, I was single and carefree. Now I have a hubs and kids and much less free time! My love for Daryl and writing still runs strong, and it has felt nice to write again. Whether or not I keep writing will depend solely on how many people like it. So if you like it make sure to let me know! XO- CJ
Update 2/21
I laid this story down for a bit because I didn't like how rusty my writing was. I'm taking a little time to update and revise each chapter before posting new chapters. Thanks for reading!
