A War On Her World | TWD: D. Dixon

Ch. 38

When people say the walls were closing in around them and black dots filled their vision when in tight spaces, I could only imagine it was something similar to what I was experiencing at that moment. The difference, however, was that the tight space was how close we were to death, and the black dots were walkers. Hundreds of walkers crowded the vehicle we were now trapped in.

"Oh shit. What do we do!?" I yelled.

The fear was clawing its way into my throat, and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I was borderline hyperventilating. There was not enough oxygen in the entire world that would be able to calm my breathing. Of course, I understood panicking wasn't going to help, but really, what could have possibly made this situation any better?

"Grab somethin'!" Daryl yelled, slamming the car into reverse, turning dozens of corpses into roadkill during the process. We sped backward only a few meters before we came to a halt. We were able to successfully back away from some of the walkers, at least, enough to clear a way for us to escape into an opening. However, just as Daryl turned the car to drive, the worst-case scenario came true.

The vehicle was bogged on the flesh and bones of decaying people. To put it simply, we weren't going anywhere, not unless we were crazy enough to get out and make our way on foot. The very thought sent shivers down my spine. We all knew the very idea was absurd and in no way safe, and yet it seemed like we had run out of choices. It was either do or die, that or do and die, either way, that didn't change how none of us wanted to do it, let alone be the first to make a move.

Still, something had to be done quickly, or else we were ultimately screwed. This was apparent by how the herd was becoming more and more dense.

"We're jammed up!" Daryl yelled, panic building up rather quickly as the situation became increasingly more dire. He looked around, glancing through the gaps of walkers as best he could in an attempt to formulate a plan. There was no safe option, no option that guaranteed us safe passage into the woods, but we had to come up with something.

"Make a run for the gaps right there," he instructed, pointing out the window over Michonne's shoulder. Sure enough, following the direction he was gesturing, there was a clear-from-walkers gap. "You two, you make a run for the woods. Birdie... follow Tyreese, you got that? You gotta be safe."

I nodded my head in confirmation despite how full my heart was with hesitation and uncertainty. There was no saying that any of us would make it, let alone all of us. It was a huge risk we had no option but to take. I felt sick.

"And you don't stop for nothin', you hear me?" he finished looking at all of us, expecting an immediate response.

"You too," I agreed, given he did the same. I knew within myself that, if it came down to it, I would most likely be the one to end up in a compromising situation and I didn't need him losing his life for a helpless cause... someone had to go home to Benji.

At first, he didn't answer. He just stared at me as if what I said was completely impossible and was never going to happen. And I had to admit, I never wanted to even think about a life without Daryl or a life where either of us didn't return to my- our son. I never wanted to believe it could come down to one of us being left behind so the rest of us could survive. But the problem was, it very well could have at any given moment and we wouldn't have had a choice.

He knew it, too. I could tell he knew I was right even without saying anything. I knew he knew despite how adamantly he wanted to refuse. Regardless, he reluctantly nodded his head, and, at the sight, I braced myself to make a run for it out of the car.

"Now!"

Everything was set in motion. Michonne threw her door open and began taking the heads off of everything that moved, her door falling shut as a walker fell into it with extra force thrust upon it by those behind it. Following suit, Daryl made his way up through the sunroof before I could even begin to process anything. The next to leave was Bob who, without thinking, threw his side door closed behind him, ultimately leaving me no choice but to climb out after Tyreese.