Chapter 6

Everyone was starring at me but nobody spoke a word; and I didn't take my eyes off of Daryl. I thought that if I did, that he would disappear. I still sat on the hard dirt ground; just looking at him. I didn't want him to disappear again; I wouldn't survive without him. Lori said something that I ignored and I felt a hot tear trickle down the side of my face. I wanted to reach out and touch him; this all just seemed too unreal.

"Krista? Can you hear me?" I saw his lips move, but I couldn't speak. I couldn't move either. "Kris, come on kid speak." He said again.

"I-I thought you were dead." I said quieter than I intended to be. His grip on my leg tightened slightly. "Y-you were gone. And M-Merle…" I felt my chest get tight.

"Krista, where is Merle?" he asked firmly. My mind got fuzzy; I, I couldn't remember what happened to him. I'd just told them what happened and now, I can't remember. I didn't like this, this feeling for not knowing; of not remembering shit!

"She said someone took him away, a few days ago." The Asian kid said.

"What? Took him?" Daryl looked at the kid, and then at me, "Who did? Other survivors, walkers?" I felt like I was going to break down and cry; which I never did. Growing up a Dixon, you don't cry. It was like an unwritten rule and you just; you didn't do it.

"No, they were, like," I tried so desperately to remember. Flashes of people and colors rushed through my brain, "Men in uniform," I looked at the ground, almost searching for the answer among the dirt and leaves. "Ten of them, in the army I think…" then I looked up at Daryl, mortified. "I killed people; Daryl. I killed three full grown Army soldiers; by myself…" another tear fell down my cheek. "I saw them take Merle, and threw him in the back of a big truck. Then I got hit on the head and, I don't remember." He scooted closer to me, close enough that I could throw my arms around his neck and I would be okay, I would feel safe again.

"Kris, look at me." I didn't want to look him in the eye when he told me what he was going to say, that was never easy for me to do. "We've all had to defend ourselves from, bad people. You didn't do anything wrong; they were bad men, and you were only trying to protect yourself." He took my face in his hands, "You are not a killer. You hear me? You're a good person." I nodded my head and closed my eyes. He pressed his forehead up against mine, and I exhaled heavily. "You're safe now, Kris, you're safe." And for the first time in months; I felt like I was okay.