Drowned Words

3

We hit the floor, their arms around me as I sobbed, "Oh god."
"I got you, you're fine."
I looked up and realized it was Daryl, embarrassment set it. Of all people for me to break down in front of, the last one I wanted it to be was a Dixon. He is going to hold this against me forever... I quickly sat up and off of him, our legs still tangled. "You asshole," I wiped the tears from my face only to smear more blood across my cheeks. He sighed, "I'm sorry. I didnt realize how close you guys were to the edge-" "-Rick was saying almost the same thing," a small hickup left my chest as my hands continued to burn, "what happened was an accident. As soon as you accept Rick's apology... I'll accept yours." Although part of me felt like I'd never forgive him for that. He let out a grunt, "You almost just died and you're worried about me and Rick."
"Oh no," I grit my teeth, "my hands hurt like a mother fucker."
He tisked, "Let me see."
Reluctantly, I held my hands out to show cuts across the palms of my hands. Daryl was silent and grabbed a water from his belt, taking my hands in his and pouring it over the top. Washing away some of the blood but it stung like a bitch, I leaned my head back in an attempt to ignore it.
"(Y/N!)" Glenn ran from the doorway and slid to my side, Rick quickly following behind, "You alright?"
I nodded, "Yea.."
"Good catch," Rick sighed and pat Daryls shoulder. I bit down as his thumb brushed over one of my cuts, "Luckily they arent too deep."
Glenn quickly pulled his bag around, "I dont think I have anything to cover it..."
Suddenly Daryl was pulling something from his pocket, two bandanas and he already started to wrap my hands. I sniffled and took my hands back, "Thank you..." He stood up, "Welcome." Glenn got up and grabbed my arm to help. My hands felt absolutely screwed, fuck. I shook them out as if it'd help, "Let's just find Merle, okay?"
"We found his blood trail close to here, it lead down from the maintenance doors," Glenn spoke hushed and looked around as if Merle was to pounce any moment. I grabbed onto knife, careful of my wound, and followed the guys.

They were right, Merle cutting his hand off left a blodod trail right to wherever he was hiding, I was sure of it. "We sure he didnt just bleed out?" I looked back and noticed the look on Daryls face, "Sorry..." He only shook his head and pushed forward, taking front and chasing after Merles trail. We made it into what looked like a kitchen, a burnt smell lingered throughout the room. "Oh God-" I stepped up and turned off the stove eye, "What's is that smell?" "Jesus," Glenn grabbed something from the counter, a iron press... it had something charred on it. Rick sighed, "He cauterized his stump."
Daryl stood by a window that seemed smashed out, "He got out through here." I stepped over and looked to our right, a few walkers dead on the floor, "Merle was one hardcore son of a bitch."
"Yea but now where is he?" Rick asked, looking out the window.
Daryl shrugged, "Dunno... probably made a break back for camp."
I shook my head, "probably hasnt made it too far, everything looks pretty fresh."

Glenn sighed, "Gun time I guess... There is nothing left to follow."
"But-"
"-but nothing," I looked over to Daryl, "I am sorry but we are going to get ourselves killed if we start searching the streets."
Rick nodded, "As much as I hate it. She is right. We cant go out there like that."
"So," Glenn pulled a marker out of his bag, "gameplan.."

He continued to draw boxes on the tile floor, explaining the plan. Glenn was to run out and grab the bag, Rick covering him from behind, Daryl and I keeping watch down the ally incase the other side got surrounded by walker; in turn would make Glenn flee our direction. All of us meeting back towards Rick but using back allyways.
...
I couldnt help but feel bitterness rise in me as I walked behind Daryl. The man nearly killed me then tries to apologize... I looked down at my hands, the bandanas he covered me with. I was thankful though, he tried to right himself by saving and wrapping me up. This didnt mean I had to like him though. "Eyes up, a walker can stumble on us any second."
"Yea," I tightened the hold on my shotgun and peered around the corner, "Glenn should be in sight soon."
He stayed silent, it was eerie coming from him. I looked over and couldnt stop the sigh, "I'm sorry about Merle but he wouldnt want you being like this."
"Yea he'd want me shooting those sons a bitches that left him up there. Storming into the horde to find his ass," he groaned.
Daryl was right, I swallowed, "Then why dont you?"
He stayed quiet for a moment, really pondering my question.

"Whoa-!"
I turned to find a boy stumbling up, maybe a teenager, "Hands where I can see them!" I whisper yelled.
The boy froze, eyes wide. Instead of following instruction he started to stumble back but was quickly stopped, Daryl snatching him up by his wife beater. "WHERE IS MERLE?!"
I cringed back from his yell, "Hey, hey stop!" Attempting to keep my voice down as he continued to question the boy was difficult. The boy started screaming for help, "Ayúdame!" I looked back to the road, Glenn no where to be seen. With a sigh I went towards the guys, Daryl having the boy in his grasp, "IF YOU DONT-"
"-Stop! If you keep this up we will have half of-"
"-Ayúdame!!!"
"-Atlantas walkers on us. And we will ALL be dead!" He kept his hands on the stranger but we were both interrupted from Glenn busting into the Alley, "Guys!"
I turned quickly, gun drawn and shooting the Walkers that chased after him. As I shot another, a car came by and hit a few of the bodies. I couldn't help but stare in shock as two larger men stepped out, "Ayúdame!!!" The boy screamed and I instantly knew these were his friends. "STEP BACK!" I pointed my gun his direction but he easily smacked it away, it dropping from my grip as he grabbed me. "AH-" my hands stung as I smacked and clawed at the large man. Glenn could be heard fighting and wrestling with the other one. I could hear them speaking Spanish but I was mostly worried about the one holding me. One walked by in the scuffle, trying to take the guns. I screamed out, "THE BAG! GET THE-" The man's hand clapped around my mouth in an attempt to stop me. In the corner of my eye I saw Daryl punching the man in the face, yanking away the bag and throwing it behind him out of reach. I kicked and clawed but to no avail. "Let's go!" The driver spoke in English. The man holding me attempted to pull me out the alley and towards the car but a hand grabbed onto my bag, easily pulling me out of the grasp and backwards. I could hear it was Daryl as we both fell against the concrete, my hands only scraping worse.

The other attacker from earlier had Glenn by the arms, "GUYS!"
"GLENN! NO!" I attempted to sit up but was pulled back down by Daryls tight grip on my backpack strap. In a millisecond, the group of men were in their car and gone, taking Glenn away.
"What happened?!" Rick could be heard running down the alley. I turned, stunted by the hold still on my back as I was splayed over Daryl. The boy sat on the ground in shock and adorning a few new bruises. Rick came into view as I shook my arms out, pulling the sleeves off and getting on my knees and up, "You bastard!" Ignoring the pain that wracked my body, I stalked forward and towards the stranger. My hands found their way around his shirt and I shook him, "WHERE DID THEY TAKE HIM! WHERE?!" I screamed into his face, unable to hear the other men trying to stop me, only able to feel their hands pulling on me. Eventually Rick was able to get his arms around me and could pull me off, "LET GO!"
Rick pulled me farther away and put a hand over my mouth as I continued to scream for answers, "Enough! Enough! The walkers are on their way and we cant be here for them!"
My heart started to slow down as I took in the sight before me, the duffle bag strayed by a trashcan, boy on the ground, and Daryl standing over him with my bag in hand.

This has already turned into one hell of a trip.