Survival - Daryl Dixon Fanfic

survival.

Survival. It breeds an animalistic instinct in us. Some people simply do not have the strength to put out and try, you can't blame them. In a world of such disease, death and chaos... what smart person would choose to live. I am not a smart person. When the world ended, I chose survival... only because I was so scared of death.now my reality is a nightmare because death surrounds me. In this world, you don't get to live... the only option is to survive..

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Death feels peaceful. Your last breath... ecstasy. Almost like a sigh of relief because you are finally able to let go. Atleast, that is how they always describe it...

Reality is... it's so painful. I tried taking a breath into my lungs, only to feel pressure against my rib-cage. My heart was beating so fast and hard, I was bewildered as to how it was still in my chest. I thought I would have crossed paths with someone by now. Someone...alive. It has been a matter of days since I began walking through the woods. Every tree looked identical. No signs of life. Just death and despair. I am convinced I had just been walking in circles, I am tired and exhausted.

Stopping in my tracks, I heard a noise from behind me. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on edge, I felt fear run through my veins... freezing me in place. It has been a matter of days since I had seen a rotter. I listened intently. The shuffling feet grew closer and closer. And then I heard it... the snarl. Spinning on my heel, the rotter lunged at me, taking me down with a thud. Scrambling back away from the creature, I kicked around.

I carried no weapon. I was stupid thinking I could survive. I was exhausted. Laying back, I closed my eyes. I was ready. I was tired of running. 3 days in the woods. No life. No one else. I was never built for survival, I was an elementary teacher for christ sake... what did i know about survival?

The snarls grew closer along with the decaying scent. The rotter stood above me, clambering onto their knees ready to devour my flesh. Flexing and snapping its jaw. I squeezed my eyes tight when I felt a warm hand wrap around my arm. Hearing a whizzing sound pass my head... the snarls stopped instantly.

"God damn lady... you got some big hairy ol' ladynuts doin that trick"... i looked at the middle aged man, who held my arm within his rough calloused hand. I snagged my arm out of his grip earning a smirk from him. I was confused by everything that just happened. I turned back, looking at the rotter on the floor. An orange arrow sticking out from its cranium.

"Nah she's just dumb, could have got yeself killed girl. What were you thinkin?" the younger man grunted at me with an attitude, pointing in my face with his arrow he'd recently retrieved from the dead man. The man lectured me, as if I didn't already know the consequences of my silly stunt. "Well... Lloyd Christmas... ya got a name?" he questioned

I looked at him. Hope filled me. Finally I had found life.

"Amalia Hawke" I spoke quickly and mumbled. Quite nervous with both of them staring me down. I could tell they were reading me... trying to determine if I was a threat or not. "But you can just call me Malia"

I raised my hand towards the young looking man. He stared blankly at my hand before shaking his head and the other man began loudly chuckling. I placed my hand back into my pocket, feeling embarrassed. The world has just ended and people lacked the knowledge of a simple handshake greeting. Yet, they understood how to use a crossbow. Sure. makes sense. Totally.

"My name is merle and that antisocial son of a bitch is mah lil sister darylina" merle spoke, smirking at the nickname he just gave his brother. I smiled, looking at his brother as he once again shook his head.

"The names daryl" he frustratingly responded locking eyes with me. They were a deep steel blue. Sweat dripped from his hair onto his forehead. They must have been walking for a while until now. I watched as he lowered his crossbow, his arms flexing under the weight of the weapon. I licked my lips.

"Ya thirsty" Merle questioned, knocking me out of my trance. I nodded frantically. I hoped he didn't see me checking his brother out. "Come on, we will take you back to camp"

"Camp? A military camp?" I asked, looking at him curiously. This could be it, help, food and safety... soon, that thought was tarnished. I heard his brother snort. Quickly twisting my head to look at Daryl, I saw he was holding my bag ready to go.

"Nah, just a group of survivors. Ye will get along with them. It is pretty safe." Daryl spoke, staring at me as we began walking... I saw him turn back looking at the walker. "Yur safer with them than out here"

Daryl was not wrong. I was just so thankful to have found life and hope. So, we began trekking to wherever their camp was... hoping this was a chance to survive.