𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 | TWD [Book 1]

LXXII. The Beginning of a War

"I didn't care what he did to me as long as I could save her, and eventually you. You kinda ruined my plan," she replies with a hint of playful reproach, their shared smile lighting up the room.

As he places a hand on her cheek and leans his forehead against hers, a sense of peace settles over them. "I love you, Lily," Daryl murmurs.

"I love you, Daryl," she whispers in return, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead before reluctantly slipping out of the warmth of their bed. "I'll see you later. I'm going to see her."

He lies in bed, watching as Madeleine moves about the room, slipping into her clothes with practiced ease. She moves with a quiet grace, her every movement a symphony of sinuous curves and fluid motions. As she exits the room, he remains where he is, content to bask in the warmth of the sheets for a few moments longer.

Descending the stairs, Madeleine finds Enid seated on the couch, a plate of breakfast balanced on her lap. Concern etches lines across Enid's brow as she looks up at Madeleine, her eyes searching for any sign of distress.

"Hey, you okay?" Enid's voice is soft, laced with genuine concern as she rises to her feet and pulls Madeleine into a tight embrace.

"I'm good." Madeleine returns the hug, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of Enid's head before pulling away.

"Thanks for letting me live here again," Enid murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper as Madeleine moves to the kitchen to grab an apple.

Madeleine places a comforting hand on Enid's shoulder, her touch gentle yet reassuring. "This will always be your home," she assures her.

Enid's lips tremble slightly as she meets Madeleine's gaze, her eyes reflecting a mixture of gratitude and apprehension. "What are you going to do about him?" she asks, her voice barely above a whisper as she braces herself for the answer.

"Don't worry about it. I always figure it out, don't I?" Madeleine reassures Enid with a gentle smile, her tone carrying a quiet confidence. Enid's response is a slow nod, her expression a mixture of gratitude and concern.

"Take care of yourself. I'll see you later," Madeleine bids farewell, her words tinged with a hint of solemnity.

"Be careful," Enid cautions, her voice soft but filled with genuine concern.

They exchange smiles before Madeleine turns and exits the house, the weight of Enid's words lingering in her mind as she navigates through the bustling streets. She observes the ebb and flow of the community, her gaze catching Alita's at the watchtower. A silent nod of acknowledgment passes between them, a silent understanding of their deal to keep Alexandria save from what lurks beyond the walls.

Continuing down the street, Madeleine eventually arrives at the infirmary, the familiar scent of antiseptic greeting her as she steps inside. Her footsteps echo softly against the sterile floors as she makes her way to the room on her mind. Upon entering the room, she sees her sister lying peacefully on the bed, the steady rhythm of her breathing, and her heartbeat on the machine becomes a reassuring presence in the quiet room.

Her eyes meet Rosita's briefly, gratitude passing between them as Rosita replaces the IV drip before she slips out of the room, leaving the sisters alone.

Madeleine sinks into the chair beside the bed, her heart heavy with anguish as she watches over her sister, tears streaming down her cheeks as she clutches Esperanza's hand tightly in her own. The dim light of the room casts a somber pallor over them, adding to the gravity of the moment as Esperanza slowly stirs, her eyelids fluttering open.

A weak smile tugs at Esperanza's lips as she meets her sister's gaze, but it quickly fades as she senses the weight of the unspoken truth hanging in the air. "What happened?" she rasps, her voice barely a whisper against the quiet of the room.