The Day the World Ended

Chapter 15 Lila

Lila heard me fall to my knees and woke up from her sleep. She growled and barred her teeth, jumping down from my bed. She rounded the corner of my mattress and saw me, her hair prickled up and drool dripped off of her teeth. I looked up at her with tears in my eyes, and realized that she didn't recognize me. She thought I was one of them. Oh, my precious Lila... she must've been fighting for her life out there. She backed up against the wall and growled again as I sniffed and held out my hand. I was trembling, I was actually scared of her.

"Lila..." I whispered, "Lila, it's... it's me, remember me?"

She growled again and barked, and then stepped forward towards me.

"It's me, please... remember."

She took another step forward, her sharp fangs barred. I trembled, afraid to move. This was all so wrong, this wasn't like her. She was loving and caring, and she should remember me. We were best friends. Another tear fell from my cheek as she was face to face with me now. She was still snarling, and her nose almost touched mine. She looked at me, and I looked at her. Nothing stopped her from attacking me.

I decided that if death should come, it should be by my best friend, rather than a walker. In my final attempt to get my friend back, I slowly reached up and pet her cheek where I knew she liked it. I always used to pet her there. She looked over at my hand with only moving her eyes, and then she felt my touch. Oh, how I've missed petting my little Lila. Her silky and soft fur made me remember all the great times we had together.

Her eyes slid back over to look at me as I said, "Lila, remember me? I loved you ever since I got you. Please remember."

Slowly, her hair smoothed out again and the fierceness and fear left her eyes. She was no longer growling, and instead of being in between her legs, her tail was wagging. She remembered me. A piercing whimper shot through the quietness as Lila started licking my tears away. I giggled and held her tight as she knocked me over and continued licking me. Daryl walked up the stairs with Chris following close behind, guns drawn. They must've heard Lila's cries of happiness. They stopped at the door abruptly when Lila looked up and snarled at them to stay away. She was still standing over me, as if protecting me from what she thought were walkers.

I reached up and pet her cheek, "It's alright girl, they're good."

She looked down at me unsurely and saw the sureness in my eyes, and in pure trust, she calmed herself and let the boys come in.

"So I uh... who is the dog?" Daryl said, looking at both of us on the floor.

"This is Lila, my dog from my childhood. I lost her, and we were best friends. When I came up here to get the stuffed animal version of her she was here also."

Chris walked around my room, looking at my now dead fish, my desk and snow globes... even getting out clothes from my dresser.

Daryl grunted, "So you can have your pet dog and I'm not allowed to have a walker?"

I nudged Lila off of me and stood face to face with Daryl, "This is an animal. That is a walker. Two different things. Don't you dare compare them like they aren't."

He smirked, "Both can kill, so they basically are the same."

I growled as I said, "Walkers eat people, not dogs. Dogs are also capable of protecting and loving."

Daryl didn't answer, but pushed pass me to gather my clothes for everyone else. Meanwhile, I decided to go and find Lila one of her old collars and get the leash. I wasn't going to leave her here. Before I walked out though, I grabbed the stuffed animal and put it in my pocket.