𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡, 𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘀

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗢𝗙 the night had never been louder. That night, Ivy hadn't slept at all. Usually, she could fall asleep in Carls arms but the touch of a man was the last thing on her mind.

And the first.

Ivy could still feel the man's hands lingering on her body. It was like the feeling had been permanently tattooed onto her body and could never be removed.

She had spent the whole night sobbing. If anyone was to check up on her, she would push them away. She wouldn't even talk to Carl.

The sun shone through the car window. Ivy sighed as she realized that she made it through another night without sleep. She rubbed her sleep deprived eyes and looked over to Michonne, who she didn't know was awake.

Instead of starting a light conversation, Ivy just looked away and opened the car door. She exited the car and closed the door gently, making sure to not wake up Carl.

Ivy looked to the side of the car. There sat Rick, dried blood around his face, and an emotionless look on his face. Ivy walked away and towards the bags on the ground. She kept her head down and stared at her feet.

Ivy walked right into someone. She gasped and jumped back in fear. When she looked up, she was relieved to see it was just Daryl, but she didn't show any emotion.

Daryl looked at her with sadness. He knew he had disappointed the girl. He couldn't blame her. If he could take it all back he would. If he had just kept Beth by his side, she would still be with him.

Ivy walked right past him. She didn't know where she was going. She just needed to get away from everyone.

Ivy sat near the bags. She sat on her stomach and her feet up. Ivy took her finger and started drawing little shapes in the dirt.

She drew heart, stars, squares, circles, honestly anything she could think of.

She let her fingers do whatever they felt like. This was the closest she was ever going to get to peace and she knew it. Her favorite thing to draw was hearts.

Ivy drew 'C + I' with a huge heart around it. She drew miniature hearts around it and smiled. She kicked her feet and giggled like a school girl.

Daryl and Rick picked up on the girl's behavior. The two men stood up and made there way over to the girl. The initials C and I came into view.

"One of the men had a camera in one of them bags. Take a picture of that, it's a good memory." Daryl spoke. Ivy snapped her head towards the two men. Ivy got into her knees and crawled over to the bags. She looked through the bags and finally found the camera. It was an older polaroid camera.

Ivy snapped a quick picture then messed the dirt up. Ivy pushed the camera to the side and shook the picture. Ivy stood up and shoved the picture in the pocket of her basketball shorts.

Ivy walked past the men and walked towards the car.

Daryl felt defeated. He was worried Ivy was going to hate him forever. He felt disappointed in himself. He could've stopped Beth but he didn't.

Ivy opened the door of the car and looked to Carl and Michonne.

"We should probably get going." Ivy spoke. She talked loud enough so the Rick and Daryl could hear as well. "I don't wanna be stuck here any longer."

Rick nodded and spoke.

"Alright, lets go then."

⎯⎯⎯⎯

The group was walking along the familiar train track. When Ivy was younger, she would always wondered what it would feel like to walk on a train track. She always wondered what the adrenaline rush would feel like.

Ivy didn't want to die when she was young, but now that she's finally walking across those train tracks, she just hoped and prayed that a train would come a plow right through her.

Ivy walked besides Carl. They hands interlocked, holding onto each other like they were the last two people on earth.

Ivy was thrilled to go to terminus. She was excited about meeting people. She hoped to meet people her age so she could make friends.

But the only bad part about making friends her age is that Carl will make friends too. Friends of the female gender. Girlfriends.

Carl wasn't an object, but he was Ivy's. That was Ivy's boy. The only boy that could make her blush, or giggle like a little kid. Carl belonged with her.

Carl was also very excited for terminus. He also had the same concerns. Boys.

He was the only boy that could treat her right. He was the only one that could love her unconditionally. No one could love Ivy like Carl does.

The way his pupils grow the second he lays eyes on her. Everything about her made him flustered.

Her smile, her eyes, her laugh, the way she could brutally murder a walker.....

All very attractive traits of a woman.

Ivy and Carl didn't say a word to each other. They didn't need to. They could comfort each other with just their presence.

As the group walked, they came across a piece of wood with 'terminus' written on it.

"We're getting close." Daryl spoke. "Be there before sundown." Ivy smiled lightly at Carl. Carl smiled back and tightened his grip on her hand.

"Now we head through the woods." Rick stated. "We don't know who they are."

The group nodded and started walking through the woods.

As they walked, Rick had stopped Carl.

"Carl, can you come up here with me and Michonne real quick?" Rick asked. Carl nodded hesitantly and released Ivy's hand. Carl jogged ahead, leaving Ivy and Daryl alone.

Daryl looked over to Ivy who was sulking and had her head down.

"Don't walk with ya' head down. Gon' smack right into a tree." Daryl broke the awkward silence. "And I might laugh at ya'."

Ivy laughed a bit, which made Daryl smile.

"I'm sorry kid." Daryl apologized. Ivy looked up at him.

"Don't be sorry. I almost killed you for something you had no control over." Ivy said. "I can't imagine how hard it was— you know, being someone one second and then the next they just leave."

"It's happened more than you know, kid." Daryl's statement made Ivy frown a bit. It hurt Ivy's heart that Daryl had lived a life of disappointment and people leaving.

"I think the reason I got so mad at you is because they doesn't sound like something Beth would do." Daryl slowed down his walking and looked at Ivy.

"Whatcha mean?"

"Beth would never run off like that." Ivy explained. "She would stay by your side— no questions asked."

In front of Daryl and Ivy, Carl, Rick, and Michonne had a conversation of their own.

"So..." Rick started.

"So." Carl said.

"So." Michonne added. Carl looked at the tw adults like they were crazy.

"What?" Carl asked. Rick sighed before moving closer to Carl.

"When are you gonna ask Daryl?" Michonne inquired quietly. Carl looked at Michonne with wide eyes before snapping his head to his father.

"You told her?" Carl whisper-yelled, sounding very offended. Rick put his hands up in defense before laughing.

"Hey, she won't say nothing. We're waiting for you to make your move." Rick patted his sons shoulder.

They group had their separate conversations. Sooner or later, they had arrived at the fences surrounding terminus. Ivy walked in front of Carl and behind Daryl.

Ivy peaked through the leave covered fence and at the building, reading 'terminus' in huge letters on the side. Ivy smiled widely before looking back at Carl. Carl couldn't help but smile at the excited girl.

"We all spread out, watch for a while, see what we can see, and get ready." Rick explained. The group nodded in response. "We all stay close."

Daryl was the first to walk away, then Carl. Rick stopped Carl.

"You want to stick with me?" Rick asked him.

"It's all right. I think I'll go with Daryl." Carl answered. Ivy was quite confused on why Carl would go with Daryl and not his father. Rick nodded and Carl went to Daryl.

Daryl moved up against the fence and looked through. "Why you wanna be with me for?" Daryl asked. Carl also moved up against the fence.

"I need to ask you something." Carl said. Daryl nodded, eyes still on terminus. "It's about Ivy." Daryl whipped his head towards Carl.

"What about er?" Daryl stood up straight.

"I need your blessing. I really really like Ivy and-"

"Your asking me?" Daryl inquired.

"Yeah. Your the closest thing Ivy has to a father figure and she loves you."

Daryl had to look away from Carl and blink away any tears that were forming in his eyes.

"But yeah— I need your blessing. I want to be with her so badly, but I need to know that you approve. If you don't want us together, I'll simply back off. But please... I love her Daryl." Carl explained.

"The fact that ya' came to me and asked for ma' blessing is enough proof that yer perfect for Ivy. She loves you a lot too." Carl smiled widely at Daryl. "Now let's see who the hell we're dealing with."

Ivy had watched over the interaction between Daryl and Carl. They seemed to be having a serious conversation. Ivy had gone with Michonne to watch over, but the only thing she was watching was Carl.

Rick had signaled the group back over. He explained how there was a duffel bag with guns buried in the dirt. The group jumped the fence and held onto their weapons.

Ivy gripped her gun by her side and made sure Carl had his gun. Daryl led the way and they all held their weapons high.

The group ran to a slightly opened red door. Rick opened the door more and Daryl ran inside, the rest following after.

"Terminus— those who arrive survive." The group heard over an intercom. They entered a hallway which had an opening. Daryl looked through the opening and saw a huge room. There was an older lady sitting at a desk. She was the one talking over the intercom.

Daryl stepped slowly into the doorway, stopping so he could signal the group in. The group walked in slowly and had not gained anyone's attention yet. Rick walked right up to the lady at the desk.

"Community for all—"

"Hello." Rick cut the woman off. "Hello." Rick spoke louder so he could gain everyone else's attention.

"Well, I bet Albert is on perimeter watch." One of the men spoke. The man walked towards the group. "You here to rob us?"

"No." Rick said. Rick walked closer to the man and put his gun away. "We wanted to see you before you saw us."

"Make sense." The man spoke again. "Usually we do this where the tracks meet." The man walked even closer. He cleared his throat and extended his arms.

"Welcome to terminus." He said. "I'm Gareth."

The man looked around at the group.

"Looks like you've been on the road for a good bit." The man inspected.

"We have." Rick agreed. Ivy looked to Carl who had started to lower his gun. "Rick. That's Carl, Michonne, Daryl, and Ivy."

Ivy just looked at the man, the infamous unreadable expression masked her face again.

"You're nervous. I get it." Gareth flared his arms around as he talked. "We were all the same way. We came here for sanctuary. That what you're here for?"

"Yes." Rick nodded.

"Good." Gareth stood awkwardly. "You found it." Gareth's eyes drifted over to Carl. Ivy flashed the man a look that basically said "don't you dare fucking look at him or I'll slice your balls off and feed it to your mom."

"Hey, Alex." A man named Alex stepped forward and stood next to Gareth. "This isn't as pretty as the front. We got nothing to hide, but the welcome wagon is a whole lot nicer."

Ivy looked at the man as if he was speaking gibberish. It took her a minute to process everything that had just come out of his mouth.

"Alex will take you, ask you a few questions, Uu, but first, we need to see everyone's weapons." Ivy's face dropped. She knew this was going to happen but she still dreaded it.

Ivy found comfort in her family, but she also found comfort in the sound of a gunshot or the sound of a knife plunging through walker flesh.

"If you could just lay them down in front of you." The group looked at each other hesitantly. Rick pulled his gun out and put it on the floor.

"Alright." Rick said.

Everyone started to put their weapons down, except Ivy. Ivy kept her gun by her side.

"I'm sure you understand." Gareth spoke. Rick nodded.

"Yes, I do."

Gareth look towards Ivy and Ivy just looked at him. He motioned to the floor but she just looked over towards Carl. Carl gave her a scolding look.

"Ivy." Carl scolded lowly. She sighed in defeat and put her gun on the floor.

Alex and Gareth walked towards the group to frisk them. They started with Rick and Daryl. Ivy put her arms out.

"I'd hate to see the other guy." Alex laughed a bit as he looked at Daryl's face. Ivy looked down at the ground and Carl frowned a bit.

"Yeah, you would." Rick answered. Alex finished frisking Daryl and moved onto Carl.

"They deserve it?" Alex asked. Carl looked over to Ivy.

"Yes." Carl answered almost immediately. Alex moved onto Ivy. He moved his hands to her side and she flinched a bit. Alex mouthed a quick sorry and continued patting her down.

"I'm trying to be quick, sorry." Ivy smiled at the man's kindness

They finished frisking everyone and Gareth stepped in front of the group again.

"Just so you know, we aren't those kind of people, but we're not stupid either." Gareth said. "And you shouldn't be stupid enough to try anything stupid. As long as everyone's clear on that, we shouldn't have any problems. Just solutions."

Ivy couldn't process what this man was saying. It sounded like a foreign language to her. She looked at him like he was crazy.

"Ok." Gareth clapped his hands together. Alex started picking up the weapons, but inside of taking them, he gave them back.

What was the point? Ivy thought. But then again, she wasn't really listening to anything that was happening so she could've missed something.

"Follow me." Alex said with a huge smile. Ivy couldn't tell what it was, but something was off putting. Ivy felt Carl grab her hand and start pulling her.

The group exited the building and Daryl was the first to break the silence.

"So how long's this place been here?" Daryl asked.

"Since almost the start. When all the camps got overrun, people started finding this place. I think it was instinct, you know." Alex explained. "Follow a path."

They group rounded a corner and were met with a view of plants, people, all normal things. Ivy felt weird. Ivy hadn't felt anything normal in years. The only time she ever really felt normal was with Beth, and she was gone. But she believed she was going to find Beth.

"Some folks were heading to the coast," Alex's voice interrupted Ivys thoughts. "others went west or up north, but they all wound up here."

The group stopped in front of a woman. Carl pulled Ivy closer and held her hand tight. Ivy knew Carl was nervous, and so was she, but she had Carl. He was all Ivy needed.

"Hi. Heard you came in the back door. Smart." The woman smiled. "You'll fit right in here."

Alex looked over to a woman at the grill. "Hey, Mary, would you fix each of these new folks a plate for me?" The woman nodded and began whipping up some food.

Everyone's gaze was on Alex, but Ivy's was somewhere else. She looked all around at the people. She studied them closely, trying not to miss any details.

Michonne had started a conversation but Ivy showed no interest in. She furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at a chain hanging out of Alex's pocket.

Ivy's face went shocked. Eyes wide, and mouth gaped. As Alex walked by, Ivy carefully snatched the chain. No body noticed her as she inspected the jewelry.

It was a watch.

Glenn's watch.

Ivy elbowed Rick and showed him the watch. Ivy pointed towards all the familiar objects and Ricks eyes went wide.

The woman handed Carl a plate of food and Ivy smacked it out of his hand. Carl looked at Ivy with a confused look on his face. Ivy grabbed his hand and pulled him backwards a bit.

Rick stepped forward and pulled a gun on Alex. Carl pulled Ivy closer to him. Ivy let go of his hand and pointed towards his gun. He grabbed it and cocked it.

Ivy looked around at the men and women of terminus. Ivy knew no one was intimidated by a skinny, scrawny, 5'1, fourteen year old girl.

But if they knew the half of what she's done, they'd be fucking terrified.

If they knew her people, her family, they'd kill themselves to not have to face them.

But, the only dilemma is that they did seem to face Ivy's family already.....

"Where the hell did you get this watch?" Rick asked. He had Alex in a headlock with a gun against his head.

Ivy held her gun high. She looked very confident on the outside, but on the inside she was a nervous wreck.

If these people had her friends and family, they could be dead. Ivy looked to the plate of food and gagged.

They could be that food.

"Where the hell did you get this watch?" Rick asked again, more aggressive this time.

"You want answers? You want anything else?" Alex yelled frantically. "You get 'em when you put down the gun."

Ivy looked around at the people of terminus. If Rick was to shoot, they were all dead. They'd never find their people.

"I see your man on the roof with a sniper rifle." Rick said. "How good's his aim?"

"Where'd you get the watch?" Rick spoke in a low tone. "Where'd you get the watch?" Rick yelled.

"Don't do anything! I have this! You just put it down!" Alex yelled to the man with the sniper. "You put it down!"

"You want to listen to me. There's a lot of us." Alex ignored Ricks question.

"Where'd you get the watch?" Rick asked again.

"I got it off a dead one!" The man answered. Ivy rolled her eyes at how pathetic this man was. Not only was the group surrounded by the items of their people, Alex was also a very bad liar. "I didn't think he'd need it."

But maybe Alex was telling the truth, and they got all the stuff off of dead people. A dead Glenn, a dead Maggie, a dead Bob, maybe even a dead Beth.

"What about the riot gear? The poncho?" Rick inquired.

"Got the riot gear off a dead cop." Rick turned him and Alex to look at Gareth. Ivy was confused on how these people just kept teleporting to them. "Found the poncho on a clothes line."

"Gareth, we can wait." Wait for what?

"Shut up, Alex." Thats not so nice.

"You talk to me." Rick stated.

"What's there left to say? You don't trust us anymore." Gareth said.

"Wow, someone remembered their context clues from fourth grade." Ivy whispered under her breath so that only Carl could hear. Carl smirked slightly.

"Gareth-"

"Shut up." Gareth raised his hand to silence Alex.

"Gareth, please."

The group was extremely confused on what was happening. "It's ok. It's ok." Gareth spoke.

"Rick, what do you want?" Is he stupid?

"Where are our people?" Rick asked.

"You didn't answer the question."

Rick turned around and pushed Alex to the ground. The people of terminus began shooting and Carl immediately went to Ivy's side.

"Ivy!" Daryl yelled. Ivy grabbed Carl and ran to Daryl's side.

"Carl, get down! Now!" Rick yelled. They ran, trying to avoid the shoots as much as they could. The ended up running through some form of garage but their exit was quickly closed. Daryl looked to the side and saw a smaller gate.

"Here!" Daryl grabbed Ivy's hand and ran towards the gate.

Ivy is not one to brag but she's held Daryl Dixons hand, Carl Grimes hand, and Rick Grimes hand. Honorable mention to Michonne, who was 110% Ivy Castillos woman crush.

They were all supposed to be like family to her but it's not Ivy's fault she got stuck with such attractive people.

The gate wouldn't open so they turned back around. They found another exit and ran towards it. They opened it and ran out. Daryl led the way.

Gun shots were fired at them. Carl had put himself beside Ivy, using himself as her human shield. The group stopped at the end of the road due to the shots being fired in front of them.

Ivy looked to the sniper and flipped him off.

"You can't aim for shit!" Ivy yelled loudly, even though he probably couldn't hear her. A shot was fired right near her feet and she flinched a bit. "Fuck!" Daryl grabbed the girl by her torso and physically dragged her away.

Ivy squirmed out of Daryl's grip and began running again. The group began hearing voices and banging from the train cars.

"What the fuck?" Ivy yelled. The group slowed for a second before Rick pushed them a bit.

"Keep going!"

The group entered a room filled with lit candles and flowers.

"Oh hell nah!" Ivy groaned. "This some fucked up horror movie type shit."

"The hell is this place?" Daryl asked as he looked around.

"These people, I don't think they we're trying to kill us." Michonne spoke.

"No, they we're aiming at our feet."

It all clicked and Ivy's head. Ivy began to gag and tried to not throw up. The group looked at her in alert.

"We just stepped into a group of fucking cannibals."

Everyone's eyes went wide and Carl stepped towards her. Ivy's breathing became heavy and Carl grabbed her arms.

"How do you know?" Carl asked.

"I used to watch a lot of horror movies— and crime shows. This is how it all starts. They're going to fucking cook us!" Ivy freaked.

"Well lets not stay here long enough to find out." Rick said. He pointed to the door with an A next to it. The group ran towards it but before they reached the door, someone closed it.

Daryl noticed another door and pointed to it. "There." The group ran to that door and exited into the outside.

The gunshots still rang through.

If you would've told 11 year old Ivy Khaleesi Castillo, the gentle, soft, dancer that she would be shot at in a couple years, she'd laugh at you.

So that it's actually happening, she couldn't be more confused. Confused on how the world just simply went to shit so fast.

The group tried to run towards the fence, but they we're cornered. Men and women surrounding them with huge guns. There was no way out.

"Drop your weapons, now!" The group turned around and saw Gareth on the roof. "Now!"

The group dropped their weapons.

"Ringleader, go to your left." Gareth yelled to Rick. "The train car, go." Rick didn't budge.

"You do what we say, the boy goes with you." Gareth said. "Anything else, he dies and you end up in there anyway."

Ivy grabbed Carls hand out of instinct. Ivy would do anything to protect Carl.

Anything.

Rick looked to Carl and began walking to the train car.

"Now the archer."

Daryl didn't move.

"Go." Ivy whispered.

"I ain't going without her." Daryl said, pointing to Ivy. Ivy gave him a scolding look.

"I'll kill her right now." Gareth said. Daryl took a deep breath in and began walking to the train car.

"Now the samurai." Michonne looked to Ivy and Carl. Both the kids nodded and Michonne walked towards the train car as well.

Carl tightened his grip on Ivy's hand, practically cutting off circulation. Ivy looked around at all the looks her and Carl were getting.

Worried looks from their group, and excited looks from the people of terminus.

"Stand at the door, ringleader, archer, samurai, in that order." Gareth ordered. The all stood in their places.

"My kids!" Rick yelled. Ivy's heart broke when she heard him say that. A tear slipped from her face and she looked down at the ground.

"The boy, go." Ivy ripped her hand from Carls and she pushed him forward without hesitation. She mouthed a quick 'go' and Carl made his way to the group.

Ivy turned to look at Gareth. Gareth smirked.

"The little bitch with the bad attitude, go." Gareth laughed slightly. Ivy flipped him off with both hands.

"Fucking jump!" Ivy spat and walked towards the train car.

"Someones gotta teach you some manners!" Gareth yelled. Ivy knew she wasn't going to get killed, but she was still playing with fire.

"I taught your mom some manners in bed last night!" Ivy yelled as she reached the group. Carl grabbed her hand and gave her an angry look. Ivy knew she was being immature, but she was 14 and sad, what do you expect.

"Ringleader, open the door and go in." Gareth ordered. Rick hesitated at first, but finally walked up the steps. He slid open the door and walked in. The rest of the group followed.

Rick pulled Carl into a hug when they entered the train car. Daryl rushed over to Ivy and hugged her quickly.

"You're a little shit, you know that, right?" Daryl said.

"Yeah, it keeps me awake at night." Ivy joked as she removed herself from the hug. Someone came and closed the door.

Carl went to hug Ivy but was interrupted by the sound of a thud behind them. The group quickly turned around to see silhouettes of people. Carl grabbed Ivy's arm and pulled her close.

From the shadows, the familiar face of Glenn appeared. Ivy's mouth gaped as she stepped forward.

"Rick?" Glenn asked. From behind him, Maggie, Sasha, Bob, and some unfamiliar people came into view.

𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥𝗦 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗘
LETS FUCKING GOOOO!!!
fuck terminus, live laugh love ivy and her immature attitude