When the dead roam - (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 66 - Lucky or Stupid?

17 months ago

The air between them was worse than tense. With every step, anther sob escaped her lips and her fist clenched a little tighter. The very presence of him behind her sent her mind into over drive and it took every ounce of her strength, not to put a bullet in his brain.

In the hours since her daughters death, Louise had taken on the small horde they had been running from. A single axe had lasted her the duration of the battle but she hadn't walked away unscathed.

A deep gash was evident on her leg, blood pouring from the wound profusely and causing her left leg to inherit the majority of her body weight; even though in her malnourished state, it probably wasn't that much.

She limped constantly, dragging her leg behind her and refusing any help that was offered by her brother. She didn't need anything from him.

Louise had been so focused on the ground in front of her, that she didn't notice when they had arrived in front of a large metal fence. It was only when a rifle was directed at her and a rather slender man shouted down to them, that she had fully realized the situation they were in.

"Stop right there!" He shouted down to them, looking through the small scope. "Don't come any closer"

"Please, my sisters hurt" Shaun yelled up, rushing to Lou's side as her leg buckled.

"She bit?"

"No but- we just lost someone, please, she needs help"

The unknown male looked backwards, presumably towards another member of his group and began talking inaudibly to them. Shortly after, the gate before them opened and a large metal fence was pushed to the side. A huge town stood inside the perimeter, houses piled up around the quiet, dimly lit street.

"Thank you, god, thank you" Shaun said, attempting to help his sister, despite the numerous objections.

"Hand over your weapons before you enter" the same man said. He looked young, with short brown hair and a slightly Muscles physique. He word a flannel over a white shirt and his jeans looked to be freshly worn.

Shaun raised his eyebrows. "We keep our weapons"

"You wanna enter, leave your weapons at the door. Price of admission" he said, a smirk on his face. He looked Louise up and down.

"Fine, fine" Shaun said, removing his revolver and Louise's bow from her shoulders. "Just...help her, please"

"Spencer! What the hell are you doing?" An older lady asked as she jogged towards the male.

"She's hurt, needs our help" Spencer said, nodding towards Louise, who was still struggling to stand.

The woman sighed, obviously annoyed that he had allowed somebody access to their safe-haven. "Fine. Take her to the infirmary"

A whimper escaped her mouth as Spencer placed an arm underneath her arm pit and assisted Shaun in guiding her towards the building at the back of the town. 

The building was smaller than she had expect, very little medical supplies were noticed and Louise found herself wondering if they could ever help her at all. She was lifted by her brother and placed on a bed that lay in the Center of the room and he dropped into a seat at the bottom of it, waiting patiently.

"Spencer what have I told you-who's this?" An unfamiliar female asked. She had fair skin and dirty blonde hair that was tied back in a neat ponytail. Her figure was stockier than Louise but she looked well fed, healthy even.

"New comer. She needs help, mother said it's alright" he said, before locking eyes with Louise. "Come find me when you're done and we'll find you somewhere to sleep"

"My names Denise" the blonde said. "What's yours?"

"Lou"

"You're cut up pretty bad, what happened to you out there?" She asked, pulling over a trolly full of instruments.

Louise looked towards Shaun before speaking. "My daughter, uh, she..."

"Oh...I'm so sorry" she said softly, a sympathetic smile on her face. "Alright, this is gonna sting"

A harsh gasped escaped her lips as an antiseptic wipe was dabbed across her bleeding skin.

"Sorry" Denise sighed, moving it away and threading a large needle.

It took another hour before Louise was completely stitched up and she had found herself wincing every few seconds as the needle came into contact with her skin. She wasn't usually one to handle pain well but somehow, she survived the ordeal on little painkillers or anesthetic.

"You don't talk much, do you?" Denise observed, rather than asked. She looked towards the male sat at the bottom of the bed, who was crouched over with his head in his hands. The only sign that he was awake was the slow movements of his fingers brushing against his scalp. "You hurt?"

Shaun looked up from the ground and shook his head. "Nah"

"Mind waiting outside?" she asked, clearing her throat. "I need to do some more examinations"

He looked towards his sister hesitantly, silently hoping she would ask him to stay but she didn't even glance in his direction. "Yeah, sure" he grumbled before leaving the two women alone.

The doctor pulled the chair he had occupied towards her patient and lowered herself onto it. "He seems to make you uncomfortable..."

Louise bit the inside of her cheek and shook her head as her eyes began to water. "He uh...she's dead-she died because of him"

"I'm sure whatever happened was an accident"

She shook her head. "He threw her to the 'walkers'"

There was a terribly long silence before Denise spoke. "You call them 'walkers'?"

"What do you call them?"

"I don't...I've barely been outside the perimeter" she admitted.

Lou sighed, finally looking up from the ground. "I can't tell if that means you're lucky...or stupid"