THE COLD WAR (Daryl Dixon)

CHAPTER EIGHT: STRANGE BEHAVIOR

"Just running a mission for the governor nothing for you to worry about Ray." He says while patting her hair as he walks past but she makes a face.

"You say that every time. But- I look out the window Mr Dean. Everyone in town goes towards the end of the street. Why can't I go?" Raya asks with a slight pout. "Because what have I told you huh kid? You'll understand when your older. Besides you gotta be sixteen and up to go okay? Just- trust me it's nothing you'd wanna see." He says with exasperation as the little girl narrows her eyes at him bitterly.

She was curious and wanted to see it for herself. Carl had shown her at the farm how well badgering adults worked so she constantly tried.

But Dean never budged.

"Please? I'll behave?" Raya pleads but he still shakes his head no and looks a bit more stern making the girl humph and cross her arms.

Julia would let her go, she couldn't help but think bitterly with a slight pout.

"That's not working this time. Go get dressed we gotta head to the center of town." Dean demands and the small girl sighs and does as he says but- she knew damn well she was going to see this special occasion and it was going to be that night while the whole town was distracted.

Including Dean.

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The town was even more lively then usual which seemed impossible. But Raya enjoyed it from time to time being around cheery people. But it always felt temporary, just like the quarry and the farm. She didn't want to get too comfortable.

She even wore her back pack now with her most prized possessions just in case.

Sometimes the town people seemed in denial when she would innocently mention the place getting over run. All the adults claiming the walls would keep them safe but Raya didn't trust it.

She also didn't trust the governor or his crew including Merle. Something about them always felt off, maybe because she remembered how mean Merle was the last she saw him.

How he had gotten into a fight with her dad....

Plus he was just all around scary looking, Daryl wasn't as bad but Raya would say it's because Julia would knock his teeth in easier. Merle was a force to be reckoned with but Raya believed Julia could defeat anyone or anything.

That's what she'd brag to Dean anyway.

He was the only guy on the governors squad that didn't act mean and seemed to genuinely care about her. He always listened to her rants of Julia and he would agree with her that the woman would come for her.

Sometimes a little too enthusiastically but Raya brushed it off as nothing.

"Ray come on Governors giving a toast." Dean calls the girl who draws with chalk on the street. The small blonde brushes her jeans off and swings her bag on before running to him at full speed. He clamps a supportive hand on her shoulder and guides her to the large crowd.

Raya couldn't see anything with her small stature and pouted. Dean easily lifting her onto his shoulders to see which made her squeal and laugh as she balanced and looked at the man in charge.

The governor smiled at her but something about it made Raya a little uncomfortable so she pretended not to notice as she looks around the crowd.

He gave a boring speech with a giant smile but Raya stared around until her eyes landed on Michonne and Andrea. Andrea had her eyes dead set on the governor, but Michonne met her gaze. The little blonde couldn't help but give the woman a friendly smile that was not returned. In fact Michonne turned away with a slight glare back to the governor.