Lost ; Daryl Dixon

Chapter 29

You struggled against the vice-like grip you were held in, almost squirming your way free, when you felt the sting of cold steel pressed against your spine.

'You see, honey, the thing is, we just need you alive for the ritual. You don't need to be in working order, so you try anything right now, and I'll drive this knife in to you just far enough to paralyse you. Do you understand?'

You nodded, whimpering when the pressure of the blade increased. 'I understand.'

'Well, good. Now, let's go and take a look around, shall we?'

Helena propelled you forwards, loosening her grasp just enough that your feet fell flat on the ground again and you could stagger in front of her as she pushed you towards the gate. Rick and Michonne had disappeared as the Congregation surged forwards, forcing them back into Alexandria, and the invaders spilled in after them, fanning out as they explored, gunning down anyone that moved to threaten them.

You watched in horror as they spread through the Safe Zone, pulling women and children from their homes and forcing them to their knees in their own front yards, uncaring of their cries of distress. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Daryl's dark hair flying out behind him as he tore across the street up ahead, rounding the corner of one of the houses and disappearing from sight. The armoury.

Hesitating a moment to take stock of your situation, you realised that most of the group that had been shadowing Helena had dispersed, giving you a window of opportunity that you knew you had to use, and without further thought, you drove your elbow sharply back into her gut, though the impact caused her knife to nip at your skin, drawing blood which you felt trickling down to your waistband. She let out an angered grunt, but you were already spinning out of her grasp, bringing your fist down against her cheek as she bent double in pain and sending her to the ground. Before she could recover herself, you took off, sprinting in the direction of the house that held the community's cache of weapons, hoping that Daryl would still be there, knowing your anxiety would be less likely to incapacitate you with him at your side.

'D!' you called out as you flung the door back, sending it crashing against the wall, cursing as you pushed it quietly closed and lowered your voice, hoping that your desperate actions hadn't drawn too much attention. 'Daryl! Are you in here?'

You took the stairs down to the basement two at a time, rounding the corner at the bottom to find Daryl, Rick and Michonne watching you warily, visibly relaxing when they realised it was you that was thundering in their direction, and not the enemy.

'Hey.' The archer was at your side in an instant, his hands on your face, tipping your head back as he studied the reddened skin on your neck, twisting you round and letting out a growl as he took in the blood soaking through your shirt. 'Y'alright?'

'I'm okay,' you nodded, fighting to catch your breath as you pulled away from him and reached for a rifle, pulling out the drawer below to grab some bullets.

'Rick said he thought they had ya-'

'They did. I got away.' You turned back to him, trying to keep your voice steady as fear and anger overwhelmed you. 'It's them, Daryl. It's the Congregation.'

'They found ya?'

'No, I don't think they knew I was here,' you told him, your voice wavering as you longed to move into his arms, knowing that there wasn't time. 'Just got lucky I guess.'