Part 1

The group had been on the road for hours, pushing through dense trees and broken streets, trying to find a safe place to rest. The air was thick with tension, and everyone was on high alert. They had been through their share of close calls, and each member of the group had become accustomed to the harsh realities of the world. Survival was the name of the game.

Except for Jihyo.

Jihyo, despite being a part of the group, was not used to this kind of life. She’d grown up in a different world—a world of luxury and comfort, where the worst thing she had to worry about was a bad hair day or a ruined dress. Now, in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, she was terrified of everything.

"Alright, guys, let’s keep moving," Rick ordered, scanning the area ahead. "We’re not far from the next town. Just a little bit longer."

Everyone nodded and continued on their way, walking with a quiet determination. But not Jihyo. She lagged behind, glancing nervously at the trees, the ground, and every creak in the distance. She’d heard the term “walker” countless times, but nothing could have prepared her for the sight of them.

And today, as the group trekked along, her fear reached new heights.

“Wait! Stop! There’s... there’s something ahead!” Jihyo squeaked from behind.

Everyone froze and turned to face her, wondering what she was talking about. Jihyo, trembling, pointed off into the distance, her eyes wide with panic. "I saw them. Walkers. About... about 400 meters away, maybe more."

The group’s reaction was mixed, but mostly filled with a sense of disbelief. They had seen plenty of walkers before—this wasn’t new.

“Jihyo, it’s far. We can handle it,” Daryl said, his voice calm but firm. He, of all people, wasn’t afraid of a few walkers.

“No! We can’t! They’re coming this way, I swear!” Jihyo said, her voice rising in fear. She looked like she might faint right there. “I’m not going near them. We need to hide!”

T-Dog shook his head. “It’s not that bad. We’ve faced worse.”

But Jihyo, shaking with fear, wasn’t convinced. Her eyes darted around as if she was searching for a place to escape to. "I can't do this! I can't! I’m not built for this! What if they... What if they get us?!”

Without waiting for anyone to respond, Jihyo turned and bolted. She ran to a nearby thicket and hid behind a tree, her body trembling as she crouched down, trying to catch her breath.

Rick sighed and turned to the group, his face a mix of concern and frustration. “She’s not built for this kind of life,” he muttered.

“I told you this wasn’t gonna work,” Merle said with a gruff tone, folding his arms over his chest. “You can’t coddle someone like her. She’s gonna get us all killed.”

“She’s scared. We all are, in our own way,” Carol responded softly. “We just have to keep an eye on her.”

“I don’t know if I can keep doing this,” Rick said, his expression hardening. “She’s not ready for the world we’re living in. But we can’t leave her behind.”

Meanwhile, Jihyo stayed hidden, eyes wide, her hands clasped tightly around her knees as she waited for the danger to pass. She wasn’t sure how long she would stay there—just hiding until everything was okay again.

Carl glanced over at Jihyo’s hiding spot and turned to Rick. “We can’t just let her hide forever. She needs to face this.”

Rick nodded. “I know. But we’ll give her some space. She’s not ready to fight the walkers. Not yet.”

After several long minutes, Jihyo peered out from behind the tree, her eyes darting around nervously. When she saw the walkers had passed, she slowly stood, still trembling but relieved.

"All clear," she said shakily as she walked back to the group, trying to act as though everything was fine. But her voice quivered.

Daryl, watching her approach, couldn’t help but shake his head. “We can’t be running every time we see a walker, Jihyo.”

Jihyo opened her mouth, then closed it. She couldn’t explain why the thought of fighting or even facing the walkers terrified her so much. “I—I know,” she said quietly, almost apologetically. “I just... I can’t handle it. I can’t even look at them without freaking out. They’re just... so terrifying. What if one of them bites me? Or... or... eats me?”

Rick sighed, his expression softening. “We’re all scared. But running away from everything won’t help. You have to face it. You have to face the fear.”

Jihyo nodded slowly, but she didn’t look convinced. “I’ll try,” she said weakly.

---

As the day continued, the group moved more cautiously, keeping a close watch for any signs of walkers. Jihyo, despite her fear, stayed close to the group, though her eyes would frequently scan the surroundings, her body tense.

Later that evening, as they made camp, Jihyo sat by the fire, trying to eat her meal without letting her hands shake too badly. Everyone else seemed to be talking and sharing stories around the campfire, but Jihyo was lost in her thoughts.

Tara noticed the girl’s discomfort and sat next to her. “You doing okay?” she asked gently.

Jihyo looked at Tara, her eyes full of guilt. “I don’t know if I can do this. I’m not... I’m not cut out for it. Everyone is so brave. And then there’s me, who’s too scared to even look at a walker from far away. I just... I’m scared of dying.”

Tara gave her a sympathetic look. “None of us are invincible. We’re all scared, Jihyo. But we don’t have a choice. We either face our fears or let them control us.”

Jihyo nodded, trying to fight back the tears. “I don’t want to be weak anymore. I’ll try. I’ll try to get better.”

The group watched Jihyo as she spoke, and while most of them understood her fear, they also knew it couldn’t last forever.

Daryl stood up and walked over to her. “You ain’t weak, Jihyo. You just need time to figure out how to handle things. Don’t let fear rule you. We’ll have your back.”

Jihyo looked up at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. For the first time in a while, she felt something other than fear—hope.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

And in that moment, the group knew that as long as they kept supporting her, Jihyo might just find the courage to face the horrors of the world that terrified her so much.

End of Story