The smell of smoke and ash clung to the air at Terminus. What once appeared to be a sanctuary was nothing more than a cruel trap, a haven for monsters who preyed on the desperate. For Song Ji Hyo, the revelation had come too late. She had been captured, dragged into a dark room, and chained like cattle. Her captors' twisted smiles and promises of survival had only made her fight harder to escape.

For days, Ji Hyo endured their taunts, surviving on scraps and sheer willpower. But even the strongest resolve couldn’t last forever, and she began to lose hope. Her body ached, her throat was dry, and the sound of footsteps outside her cell sent waves of terror through her.

Meanwhile, Rick Grimes and his group—Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, Michonne, Carl, T-Dog, Merle, Abraham, Rosita, Eugene, Tara, Dale, Sasha, Shane, and even Sophia—were trapped in their own way. Caught in Terminus’s web, they had managed to escape their railcar prison, but now the stakes were higher. As they navigated the grim corridors of the compound, the distant screams of another captive echoed through the halls.

Daryl froze mid-step, his crossbow raised. "You hear that?"

Rick nodded grimly. "Someone’s alive. We’re not leaving without them."

Maggie’s voice was determined. "If it were one of us, we’d want the same."

They moved swiftly but cautiously, weapons at the ready. The sound of Ji Hyo’s cries grew louder as they approached the source. Daryl was the first to reach the door, and with one swift motion, he kicked it open.

Ji Hyo flinched at the noise, her eyes wide with fear. She was chained to the wall, her wrists bruised and raw. Her gaze darted to the group, unsure if they were more captors or saviors.

"Hey, it’s okay," Maggie said gently, stepping forward with her hands raised. "We’re here to help."

Daryl quickly scanned the room, his jaw tightening at the sight of her condition. "We gotta get her out of here. Now."

Rick and Abraham worked to break the chains, while T-Dog and Dale kept watch at the door. Ji Hyo watched them warily, her body trembling as exhaustion and relief began to mix.

"Who… who are you?" she finally managed to whisper.

Rick offered a small, reassuring smile. "We’re people who don’t leave anyone behind."

The chains gave way, and Ji Hyo collapsed into Maggie’s arms. The group quickly moved her out of the room, knowing the cannibals would notice their absence soon.

As they navigated the maze of Terminus, Ji Hyo began to piece together who these people were. Glenn and Maggie’s supportive presence, Michonne’s quiet strength, Carl’s youthful determination, and Daryl’s protective nature all became clear in moments of crisis.

When they finally reached the exit, they were met by a group of Terminus hunters, blocking their path.

"You think you can just take her and walk out of here?" one of the cannibals sneered, his weapon raised.

Daryl stepped forward, his crossbow aimed directly at the man’s head. "You hurt her. You don’t get to keep breathin’."

The ensuing fight was brutal. Arrows flew, bullets rang out, and knives clashed as the group fought to protect Ji Hyo and escape Terminus. Ji Hyo, though weak, managed to grab a fallen knife and defend herself when one of the hunters lunged at her.

Finally, the group emerged into the open air, battered but alive. They didn’t stop running until they were far from the compound, hidden deep in the woods.

As they sat around a small fire, Ji Hyo found herself overwhelmed by the kindness of these strangers. They had risked their lives for her, a person they didn’t even know.

"Thank you," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "I thought… I thought I was going to die there."

"You’re with us now," Rick assured her. "We look out for each other."

Daryl, sitting across from her, nodded. "You’re safe. Ain’t nobody gonna hurt you again."

Ji Hyo smiled weakly, the warmth of their words seeping into her soul. For the first time since the apocalypse began, she felt a glimmer of hope.

She had found people worth fighting for, and in this dark, unforgiving world, that was everything.

The End.