The Man With The Crossbow (Daryl Dixon romance)

Chapter 11

The house came into view as we walked up the slight hill.  Merle was carrying the all the fish while walking between the awkward tension of Daryl and I.  Merle smirked at me before opening his mouth.

"Ya both could make me choke on the tension in the air, shit"

"Shut up" Daryl and I spoke at the exact time.  We looked at each other for second before I turned my head away quickly.

Looking between us again, Merle let out a throaty laugh "Maybe fryin' up some of this fish will calm the two of ya"

We came to a screeching halt at the scene that forming in front of us.  Three rotters came from behind the house, lazily walking around.  We all looked at each other before turning back.  We quietly sat our stuff down, trying to not make any noise.  I watched as Daryl raised his crossbow and aimed it at the closest corpse. 

Merle and I both held our knives up and walked slowly toward the house.  More rotters were starting to come out from the sides of the forest.

"Shit" Whispering quietly.  Daryl and Merle both ran to the rotters , killing them quickly.

Looking around, my heart thumped roughly against my chest.  Looking to my right  to see a rotter heading toward me.  Without a second thought, I found myself bolting toward the dead bastard.  Plunging my knife deep into the skull,  I could feel the decayed flesh in my fingernails as the body began to fall to my feet.  Looking behind me quickly, another one came toward me.  I backed away a few steps, hopping over the dead corpse.  The out reach hands got closer.  Pushing it's body back roughly, causing it to fall backwards.  I pounced on it roughly and shoved my knife straight between the eyes rapidly.  My heart was beating out of my chest.

Standing back up, I could see Merle next to the house laughing as he stomped on a rotter's head, his foot shook off the blood and flesh.  Daryl was on the other side of the house quickly shooting two of the rotters with arrows.  I couldn't see any other Ritter's, tell me that we're safe.  Fuckers can't mess with us!

Walking up to Merle who was smiling at me like he won a game, I couldn't help smirk.  Stupid redneck, smiling to myself.  Putting my knife in the back of my jeans. 

"Woo! Now that's a way to end the day!!" Merle laughed out.  His laughing stopped abruptly.  I tilted my heaf slightly and Lifted an eyebrow in confusion.

The sound of slight growling caught my attention but not before it felt like knives were stabbing me.  Falling roughly  on my stomach as loud snarls filled my ears.  The emence pain had me clawing at the ground trying to get away.

"HELP!". No!  Not like this godamnit! This world isn't going to take me!

I flipped over quickly and kicking rapidly.  The rotter's hands grabbed at my leg and bit it's teeth into the air.  Crawing backwards, my own screams filled my ears.  Two hands wrapped around me, pulling me away.

"No!  God no!!"  I pushed away from the hands, but they held tightly.  Shutting my eyes tightly fighting the hands with all my strength.  How could I had been so stupid?!  Why didn't I see the bastards?! 

I fought tooth and nail flailing my arms and legs. Ignoring the pain in my back, I'm not gonna let these things kill me so easily!  I trusted my head back feeling it connect with the rotter's face.

"Stop!"

My body froze the minute I heard the familar voice, opening my eyes to see me Merle stab the rotter in front of me.

My body heaved up and down, looking at the two hands that were still around me.  Now I was realizing the heavy breathing on my neck.  A sharp stinging pain ran up my spine.

"Ahh!" I thrusted my body forward falling to my hands and knees. 

"Shit"  Daryl's voice came out from behind me.

Before I knew what was happening, I was cradled in two arms gently.   Daryl's eyes held so much sadness through his calm mask.  But I refuse to accept it, I know why he's sad.  I don't want him sad for me.  The throbbing in my back caused me thrash in his arms.

We got inside the house and I was laid gently on my stomach on the floor.  The cold wood floor felt nice on my face, distracting me from the throbbing in my back.

"How bad is it?" Asking softly.  Daryl and Merle stood in front of me looking at each other and to my wound.

"We gotta clean that darlin',  but ain't gonna be much use". Merle spoke quietly. 

I looked over to Daryl who avoided my eyes, his arms were crossed, chest whole body looks tense.  Merle walked away leaving Daryl in front of me, his eyes met mine and for second I could see all his fear, anger, sadness. But as soon as I saw all his emotions they went away just as quickly.

"Don't worry, it's just a scratch". Smiling weakly.    His knees bent down as he slowly sat in front me.

"Ya know damn well it ain't a scratch"

A shooting pain ran up my spine, I closed my eyes tightly.  Doing my best to shake, I don't even wanna know how bad my back is.  How the fuck did I not hear the son of a bitch sneak up on me?

"I was so stupid" mumbling to myself.

I opened my eyes at the sound of Merle walking into the room with a bottle alcohol in one hand and a cloth in the other "This is going to hurt like a bitch, but ya know it's gonna be a waste of booze. Your gonna end up-

"Shut the hell up Merle!"  Daryl roared out before Merle could finish his sentence.

My eyes widened from his outburst.  I stared up at Daryl as he stood face to Merle.  If looks could kill Merle would dead and 6ft under.  Daryl yanked the alcohol and piece of cloth out of Merle's hands.  Merle just continued to stare at his brother in shock.  Unable to even come up with a dumbass comeback.

Daryl's body knelt down next to me, his eyes never leaving mine.    His eyes held an emotion I wasn't able to figure out.  They held a softness to them but at the same time fear.    My breathing began to quicken, whether it was from pain or the intensity from his gaze.  I sucked in air  when another burst of pain shot up my back.

Daryl exhaled sharply "He's right though, this goin' to really hurt"

I nodded my head and shut my eyes tightly. I felt the back of my shirt being ripped open.  Daryl cursed under his breath.  Merle stood in front of me staring at my back and shaking his head grimly.

God, let's just get this over wi- "Ahh! Fucking shit!  Fucking redneck bastard!"   I gripped Daryl's leg, looking up at him pleading for him to stop pouring the alcohol on me "Fucking god! Stop! Please Daryl stop!"   It felt like acid on my skin, tearing my flesh apart, piece by piece.  Merle grabbed my arms, pinning them to the ground to keep me from thrashing.

Tears were streaming down my face, Daryl wouldn't even look at me, his eyes trained on my back.  God just make this fucking torture stop!

"Please, Daryl stop! Stop!" As I felt the cloth run over my back.  With each second it felt like the pain was getting worse and worse.  Why didn't the damn rotted just bite my head off?

My hands found the bottom of Daryl's pants.  Tugging at them with all my strength, but I felt my body weakening.   I stared up at him, feeling my breath hitch as he finally looked down at me.   The world spun around me and I was now staring at what seemed like 3 Daryls all looking down at me.  For a second, the pain subsided and I closed my eyes calmness. 

No pain, no fear.   Only bliss that came with the darkness.