PREY | sequel ✓

01. COLD WEATHER

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THE WEATHER GOT COLDER, the snow got heavier, and the clothes on their backs got thicker. Tonight they sat in a house, far from the road. Hopefully far from the Walkers that roamed through the trees.

It had been a harsh winter for them all. Having a baby and another one on the way had been tough for them all. They were all exhausted. Running and scavenging all day had worn them out. It didn't help that they couldn't find any medicine. Remmi had came down with the flu this winter and they couldn't find much of anything to give her causing her to get much worse day by day. This was weeks ago and she was still ill.

With the door bursting open, there stood Hershel and Daryl, a sack in Daryl's hand.

"Did you find anything?" Maggie asked.

"We finally did," Hershel spoke. "There was a little pharmacy down the road. We must've skipped over it."

Daryl rushed over to a sleeping Remmi and shook her lightly. Groaning, she sat up. Daryl looked at her for a moment. She was white as a ghost, but looked beautiful in his eyes.

Daryl took out the white bottle, opening it. "How many?" He asked Hershel.

"Give her two to start with and we'll see how she feels in the morning. How's her fever?"

Daryl gave Remmi two capsules, handing her some water before feeling her head. "Burnin' up," He sighed.

"Alright. Let's hope she sleeps through the night. As for the rest of you, we all need some shut eye," Hershel told the group. Most of them nodded in agreement, but not Daryl.

"I'll take first watch," Daryl said to which everyone agreed.

Ellie then went to put Andy, the seven month old baby, down before walking over to talk to Daryl.

"She's gonna be okay," The mother started, "It's Remmi, she's been through hell and back. She's gonna make it." Ellie gave Daryl a soft smile, rubbing his shoulder before heading to bed herself.

As Daryl walked around outside the house, he couldn't help but think of Remmi. How he should have noticed when she first got sick. Then maybe he would've been able to find the medicine she needed sooner. He felt horrible about it.

When Remmi was awake, she tried talking to him about it, but he wouldn't budge. He couldn't help but worry about her. Daryl told himself time and time again that he'd be fine if she were to die, but he knew that wasn't true. In reality, he didn't know what he'd do without her. She kept him grounded in the group and was always there to keep him in check if he needed it.

Shaking him from his thoughts, his eyes turned to the screen door. It was Remmi.

"What the hell are you doin' out here?" He asked her.

Pulling the blanket closer to her, she replied, "Nightmare, I couldn't fall back asleep." Daryl sighed as Remmi sat on the porch steps, looking up at him. He made his way to sit next to her.

"You should be back in bed darlin'," He told her.

"I wanna stay here," She told him, placing herself on his chest to which he wrapped her arms around her.

Daryl kissed the top of her head, "Alright, you can stay here."

Up until she got sick, Remmi wasn't this vulnerable and she hardly ever showed it. But when it came to Daryl, he knew all of her moods. Including this one.

Soon enough, Glenn came outside to take Daryl's place.

"What's she doing out here?" Glenn asked. "Hershel's not gonna be happy."

"Tell Hershel that I wanted to come out here," Remmi said to the Korean man.

Glenn just shook his head. "You're crazy, Rem,"

"And you're Korean," She said before cracking up in laughter.

Glenn just laughed with her. "You're at your best when you're sick," Glenn told her before telling her to get back inside the house.

Remmi sighed and got up, walking back into the house. Daryl was behind her, giving Glenn a pat on the back on his way inside. When Daryl went to his and Remmi's spot, and as expected, she was already asleep.

"Goodnight darlin'," He whispered to her before turning over and trying to get some sleep himself.

"Night," He heard her mumble, "Love you."

Daryl turned back over. "What?" He whispered. But by then, she was already asleep.

It was safe to say Daryl got no sleep that night. Did he hear her right? Did she really say she loved him? He must've heard her wrong. Right?

*PUBLISHED
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773