ᗯᕼEᑎ TᕼE ᗪEᗩᗪ ᑕOᗰE ᗩᒪIᐯE [ ᴅᴀʀʏʟ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ]

- 33 -

            It had only been a couple minutes since I watched Negan leave with Carl, and a group of his men when I heard movement near the door of the room I was confined to. I carefully got down from the counter I was sitting on to look out of the window as the door handle to my room began to rattle lightly. I peaked around the corner from the bathroom, waiting to see if someone was going to enter my room, but then the rattling stopped. Confused, I began to walk slowly towards the door. The sound of something sliding on the ground caused me to stop in my tracks as something off-white peaked out from under the door. Footsteps sounded from the other side as they quickly walked away from the door in the opposite direction; I swear it sounded like heals tapping against the solid surface.

Once I was sure the footsteps were long gone, I walked over, and picked up a tattered slip of paper sticking out from the crack under the door. I unfolded the paper to see it was a note written in cursive.

It read "𝑔𝑜 𝓃𝑜𝓌"

Go now? I thought, but the doors lock. . ed, I trailed off as I had instinctively put my hand on the door knob mid sentence only to find it had turned. . . all the way.

It was unlocked.

Without much time to think as my mind had begun to race, I carefully opened the door and checked to see if the coast was clear. To my right, to my left, there was no one in sight. Quickly I slipped out of the door as I closed it softly behind me, and made my way down the hallway. I thought back to all the exits I was aware of in the building, trying to remember which was the closest to my location, and safest one to use. I remembered a metal door that lead to the back of the building not too far from me, it seemed to be the safest option as the back of the building was practically unguarded in comparison to the front.

Cautiously I made my way down the hall till I had reached the corner. I peaked around the corner to see a male standing at the end of the hallway towards the door that lead outside. It seemed like he was talking on the walkie to someone as I heard the light beeps of the transmission. Just when I was starting to consider finding another exit to attempt my escape, I heard the man's footsteps head towards me accompanied by the sound of a door opening and closing behind the man inches away from me.

This is my chance

Quickly, but quietly I sprinted towards the door making sure to crouch down as I passed by the grey door the man had entered seconds before. I reached the metal door and quickly opened it letting the bright sun beam into the damp building momentarily. I softly shut the door behind me, and scanned my surroundings for any people near by. To my luck there was no one around. I eyed the tree line that stood directly before me, and took off running. In this moment I didn't care if I was spotted, or shot at, or even chased, I just ran as fast as I could. Miraculously it seemed like no one saw me as I looked back on both sides to see not a single person on either side of the building, but I wasn't about to stop running any time soon. As soon as I reached the tree line I ran even faster than I had ever ran before; surprising even myself. I sprinted through the trees, hopped over bushes and logs in my path, but I ran in a relatively straight line to make sure I knew I was putting distance between myself and the Saviors.

After some time of running, I had crossed two different roads in my direct path before I had finally reached the edge of the forest. The tree line ended and I ran into an open section of field surrounded by trees on all sides. The sun enveloped the field in a warm ray as I finally slowed down to a complete stop. I knew it hadn't been long since I was taken prisoner, but in this moment it feel like it had been many months since I had been outside feeling so free like this. I threw myself down into the field of tall grass as I rolled onto my back, and basked in the sun. My heavy breathing slowly settled back to normal as my mind began to fill with thoughts.

'Who was it that slipped the note under the door?'

'Why??—'

'No! It doesn't matter, now that I'm gone Negan can't use me as insurance to try and control Daryl anymore.'

'. . . but if they set me free? . . did they do the same for Daryl. . . ?'

'Will he look for me? —Should I look for him?'

'No, no no!' I slapped myself with both hands cuffed over my cheeks.

'Snap out of it Y/n! The first thing either of us should do if we got out is find Rick and let him know we are safe.' I told myself.

'I'm sure that's what Daryl would do.'

I sat up in the tall grass, surveying my surroundings to figure out in which direction I should head to get to Alexandria. Then the realization hit me.

"Where even am I?"

I stood up. I knew which direction I came from, but I realized I had no idea in which direction the Saviors were in relation to Alexandria or Hilltop having been stuck in the back of a truck whenever we moved around.

"Fuck~" I whined feeling like a lost child in a grocery store. "It's ok Y/n, just take your time" I told myself knowing that me being out here is already better for both sides than if I was still one of Negan's hostages.

With little thought to my decisions, I started heading right in hopes that I would come across somthing I could use as a landmark to gauge my location. The forest felt quiet aside from a light breeze blowing through the trees, some stray birds chirping here and there, and the sound of my footsteps crunching through the dry grass. It was almost therapeutic; like a leisurely stroll. I breathed in the fresh air while my eyes scanned the treeline. There was no signed of the dead nearby, nor any suspicious sounds off in the distance that could indicate I was being pursued. It was just nature all around me.

.• _____ •.

I walked for about 3-4 hours through the wilderness, only coming across a few of the dead that were unable to move but rather growl and moan at me as I passed by. At some point I came across the remnants of a dirt trail that I briefly followed to a small shed no bigger than a single out house. There wasn't much inside the small space, but without anything to my name but the clothes on my back I grabbed what I could use: a small bag with an empty water bottle, one abnormally large pocket knife, a line of rope, half empty lighter, and a large rusty shovel.

"Not too bad a haul" I told myself somewhat sarcastically before moving on. The sun was starting to set, and I contemplated setting up camp for the night or continuing my journey in the dark.

Right when the visibility was getting low, I spotted a sliver of light in the distance that looked like the kind of light a campfire would emit. It was clear that the fire was hidden as the light is almost unnoticeable, but not quite well enough if I could spot it. Feeling a little desperate, I decided to take a peak at who I might possibly find around the fire, and hope it wouldn't cost me my life.

I knew part of me wished deep down it was Daryl I would come across at that camp, but I never would have guess who I would find sitting around the fire. . .

Not in a million years. . .

"Chris. . . ?!"

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Chapter 33: End