Daryl had followed her outside, not sure what to do or to say, but she was gone already. Off to meet the people of Hilltop. Jesus was showing her around. He was deep in thoughts when Maggie showed up next to him. He flinched when he noticed her. They haven’t talked to each other since… Glenn. Daryl couldn’t look at her, couldn’t really talk to her, it was too much. He felt…no, he was responsible for his death and he had to live with it but that didn’t mean she had to live with Daryl. He heard Maggie sigh before he felt a warm hand on his shoulder.
”I’m glad you’re back”, she said but he could hear the tears in her voice. How could she not see her dead husband whenever she looked at him? He couldn’t help but admire Maggie’s strength.
”I’m sorry”, he muttered. It was the best he could come up with and he wanted to punch himself for it.
”Me too”, she said resting her head against his shoulder. “I promised myself I would punch you in the face when I see you again but-” Her voice broke, he felt warm tears wetting his shirt. “I just can’t. He wouldn’t hold a grudge against you, so I can’t either”, she mumbled, tears running down her cheeks. Daryl couldn’t move. They stood in silence for a while and Daryl wished Maggie would have just punched him in the face, something he could deal with. Her tears were too much.
”So”, Maggie said after a while, wiping away her tears. “Who’s that?”
”I…don’t know her name. She got me out. Away from Negan. I think she’s some kind of weapon to him.”
”And you brought her here?” Maggie looked at him in shock. “You trust her?”
”Yeah.” Daryl looked down.
”But you know nothing about her. Not even her name!”
He knew Maggie had a point but he could just shrug. There was no reason to trust that girl but he still did. He was caged like a panther, now she was free like a bird and he was afraid she could fly away at any moment. “She’s ok”, he mumbled looking for her. He couldn’t see her.
Maggie sighed again. “I trust you, Daryl, but I don’t trust her. Don’t you think it feels a bit set up? You free her, she frees you and you’re living happily ever after? You really think that’s how the world works now?”
”No”, he looked down again. “Give her a chance.”
”You really want her to stay, don’t you?”
”Yeah”, he mumbled and when he saw her walking out of the main house followed by Jesus, laughing, waving at Daryl when she spotted him, he knew he was right. He knew he could trust her. He just knew.
”We’ll see if you’re right about her”, Maggie said under her breath waving back at her. She came over with Jesus who introduced her to Maggie. Her eyes were light as the sky, burning like fire at the same time. There was comfort in it, and war. He wanted to know more about her. Maggie’s voice brought him back to reality.
”What’s your name?”, Maggie asked shaking her hand.
”I don’t have one”, she said with a big smile. “Or all of them. You choose.”
”You have to have a name”, Maggie said looking her up and down.
”I don’t. Take it or leave it.” She still had the big smile on her face but her tone was sharp. The fire was burning in her eyes.
”What should we call you then?”
”I won’t be around long enough for it to matter”, she said and Daryl could have sworn he saw her glancing at him. He didn’t know what to make of it, but he knew he wanted her to stay. To have a name. Maggie sighed deeply. She was obviously done with her.
”Whatever you say”, she muttered tired of arguing. “Make yourself at home. I’m inside if anyone needs me.” And with that she turned around and left. Daryl could see her shaking her head as she headed inside. Maggie wasn’t happy having that girl hear and Daryl prayed to God that he wasn’t wrong about her. Prayed that she would not betray them.
”Maggie doesn’t like me”, she said standing next to Daryl. She was so close her arm was almost touching his and he felt his heart beating faster.
”She will”, Daryl said. “She’s… lost a lot.”
”Oh”, she looked at Daryl with a knowing look on her face. “She’s the widow. Negan thinks she’s dead. If he finds out she’s here, alive, he’ll burn the place down.”
”He won’t find out.”
”He knows more than you think. He’s got his ways”, she chirped as if her words weren’t terrifying.
”He won’t hurt one fucking hair on her head.”
”He will.” She looked at him with a smile and for the first time he could understand why Negan looked her away. She was terrifying. Daryl shook his head to get rid of the thought and forced himself to look at her. Really look at her. Wondered why he had trusted her so easily, why he still did.
”You think I’m playing a game”, she suddenly said turning around. “You think it was all set up. That I’m still with him, that my heart is with Negan.”
”No”, he mumbled looking down. He heard her chuckle.
”But they do”, she whispered looking at Maggie, Jesus and Gregory walking towards them. “They’ll tell me to leave, Daryl.”
There was something in her voice he hadn’t heard before. If he didn’t know better, he would have believed it to be fear. Looking at her eyes it was probably only rage she felt. They watched Maggie and the others walk up to them. Daryl had the urge to grab her arm, run away with her before they could hear what Maggie had to tell them.
”We made a decision”, Maggie said as soon as they reached them. She wasn’t beating around the bush. “You have to leave. Whether you’re with us or against us doesn’t matter. It’s too dangerous either way. I’m sorry, we can’t risk the community.”
”Ok”, she said without moving.
”You can have a car and supplies, stay the night. You can leave tomorrow morning.”
”I don’t need anything.” She was staring at Maggie and Daryl was almost scared she would jump at Maggie’s throat. “I can leave right away.” And with that she turned around on her heel and walked off towards Jesus’ truck where she had left her things. Daryl kept looking at Maggie for a more seconds thinking about what to do.
”I’m sorry, Daryl”, she said, “we can’t take the risk.”
Not sure what to say Daryl grabbed Rick’s Python and gave it to Maggie. “Make sure he gets it back”, he muttered before turning around to follow her. He could hear Maggie trying to change his mind, make him turn around, but he had made his decision. He had to follow her, protect her. Get revenge on Negan. He couldn’t believe that Maggie couldn’t see that she was the only person to kill Negan, that she was the one to have her revenge. But then again Maggie hadn’t seen what she was capable of. He was sure he had made the right decision as he followed her to the gates of Hilltop.
”You don’t have to do this”, she said without turning around as Daryl approached her.
”I know”, he mumbled.
She just nodded and with only the things they could carry they walked out the gates, hoping that in the end this would be the right decision. At least Daryl did.
—— TO BE CONTINUED ——