they were chasing after you,

and you weren’t sure how much longer you could outrun them.

your legs ached, your heart pounding rapidly in your chest as you struggled to catch your breath.

the zombies growled and snapped their jaws behind you, chasing after you as you raced through the dark woods.

walkers — you had heard some people call the undead, but that was when you had a group; before it was just you.

part of you wanted to give up — to stop and let them rip you apart, to finally put an end to this life you could barely live.

but like a beacon of hope, a light flickered past the tree-line. so you continued.

————————————————————————

daryl had never been a soft man. sure, he held kindness and compassion in his heart, but this world had hardened him beyond compare.

he was a careful man, a protective man. he was grateful for the community rick and the other survivors had formed in the prison, and he was determined to keep them safe.

no walkers would hurt them, no other survivors either.

but there you were — banging against the front gate of the prison, a herd of walkers in the woods behind you.

daryl ran fast, his crossbow trained for your head as he approached the gate; it seemed to be just you, but a lone survivor was rare these days.