Breathe Princess (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter Fifty Eight

Daryl stayed with me all night.

He slept pretty much all the way through which even for him was a miracle.

I on the other hand, couldn't sleep a wink.

The dreams, nightmares, whatever they were, kept coming, washing over me like a dark mist. I thought nothing could get worse than living in a world full of the walking dead, but apparently these nightmares were worse.

Let go, all you have to do is let go. The mans voice kept repeating in my head, over and over again like a stuck record. Even as the sun began to rise above the tops of the walls surrounding us, the orange hues casting a brilliant tone across the room; I hadn't managed to sleep longer than about half an hour the whole night and the orange was just a reminder

Daryl was however right, I needed to stay but the voice in my head was overpowering even Daryl's usually comforting voice.

When morning broke, I pretended to be asleep, keeping my eyes closed. Daryl woke, much to his annoyance, ready to make something of his day.

I slowly tore my eyes open, trying to find the energy to get my ass out of the bed I was in. I had to get out and move around. Even though I had only been awake less than twenty four hours, the little room was starting to get to me and I had to keep moving.

I did my shirt up, covering the lovely new dressing, and followed Daryl out into the cold morning air, hugging my arms a little tighter to myself.

No one appeared to be around, no one of patrol of the area to make sure there were no breaks in the fence, even as Daryl and I continued down one of the roads towards the bigger houses, there was nothing. Not until I heard the sound of loud footsteps slapping onto the concrete and a pair of hands clammed down onto my shoulders.

"How you feeling?" Glenn's familiar voice came from behind me.

"I'm tired but I'm getting there." I didn't want to tell him about the dreams. Not only because he would worry but I know just how much he sucked at keeping secrets. "Where is everyone?" I asked, looking around at the empty streets.

"Most of them are probably recovering from last night, but a few of us are heading out on a run, you wanna come with?"

"I would, but having just woken up from a surgery I think I'll pass, but if you see anything out there to help with the mind numbing boredom, I'll take it." He nodded in understanding and headed off to wherever it was they had decided to meet.

Daryl led me down the road to an empty large house, the one next to where everyone else was staying.

"No one else is usin' it. Figured we could 'til you're better." Daryl held my hand as I slowly walked up the steps and into the front room of the house.

It was huge, all furnished with what appeared to be a brand new white couch facing a very empty wall.

"Wow." I smiled, leaning on the back of the sofa as I looked around the room. With just the two of us there it was going to get very quiet. "You not going with the others on the run?" I asked, moving carefully over to where he was leaning against the railing on the stairs.

"Nah," His arms were crossed but almost instinctively reached out towards me as I got closer. "I've got some stuff I need to talk to Rick about." I tilted my head slightly, waiting for him to continue; he never did. "You stay here and rest up, the bed is real comfy. I'll be back soon." He gave me a light kiss on the forehead before squeezing past me and walking out the front door.

He was definitely hiding something from me.

It wasn't like Daryl to keep things a secret from me, especially not since everything that we'd been through, but maybe it wasn't as bad as I was thinking and he was trying to keep me safe from whatever it was.

I ran a hand through my hair and started my slow ascent up the stairs, taking in the pale white walls, hopefully I can find some things to fill them with eventually, eventually I made it to the bedroom, the large double bed on the far right hand side of the room up against the wall, yet again with white bed sheets.

I quickly collapsed onto the top of the duvet, Daryl was right about something, it was very comfortable.

The idea of falling asleep just to see the same man again frightened me, but I was so exhausted I knew that I needed to at least try. It wasn't long before I had gotten comfortable and quickly the darkness took over from me.

The hallway was long and narrow, the white tiles cold against my bare feet.

"Hello?" I called out, my voice echoing across the hall way.

The sound of a door creaking down the hall caused me to turn sharply, although there was no tug at my chest like there should have been. I looked down, only a scar covered my chest where my new bandages should have been.

My head whipped up at the sound of more foot steps coming into the hallway, the dark silhouette of a man stood at the end of the hall. I couldn't see his face this time but he looked as menacing as ever. I took off in the over direction, trying my hardest to find a room that wasn't locked.

"All you have to do is let go." The voice called out to me, his voice monotone but still menacing. "just let go".