He knew the way the story was supposed to go. Alive or dead, she was supposed to be behind that door. He'd read the ending a thousand times. He knew it by heart, every subtle emotion, every sullied second of it.
Disclaimer: I don't own AMC's The Walking Dead, wishful thinking aside.
Authors Note #1: This is response will for the USS Caryl's "What if" Challenge on tumblr regarding the following prompt: (Scenario #6) "What if, in season three, when Daryl opened the door where he thought walker!Carol was hiding, she wasn't there, not even as a walker? Re-write their happy reunion or detail the discovery of Carol, perhaps even walker!Carol by Daryl?" - As requested by Octoberland.
Warnings: Contains spoilers for all three seasons of the Walking Dead, specifically season three, violence, strong language. Also contains a big divergence from canon circa season three.
1. Chapter 1 by The Readers Muse [Reviews - 1] 
(720 words)
2. Chapter 2 by The Readers Muse [Reviews - 2] (1357 words)