The New World (Days Gone Fanfic)

New Life

The harsh sound of a heart-wrenching scream is what woke me up, I fell off the bed not fully awake yet. the scream sounded again louder this time as the sleep fog started to clear. I whip around to see if anything was happening outside but the sound of shuffling from the bed on the other side of the room pulled my attention as the screaming turned into deafening cries for help and for someone to 'please stop'.

noticing Erin's distress I rush over to her and try to gently shake her out of her nightmare "Erin! Erin hey wake up sweetheart!" she starts to thrash and swing her arms. i hold her from behind and cage her in my arms so she wouldn't hurt herself and I try again "Erin wake up!" I slowly rock her as she finally starts to wake up, she then starts to cry as she leans into my hold.

"it's ok, your ok. I got you, I got you" I whisper softly into her ear as she struggles to regain her breath.

after a while she seems calm only now sniffling from time to time, we don't talk. she just leans on me as I hold her, slowly rocking our bodies in a soothing way. "I'm sorry" she finally croaks out my eyebrows furrow "for what, we all get nightmares out here. it's nothing to be sorry about" she leans her head back on my shoulder so she can look up at me, her face a shade of orange because of the lamp but you can tell her eyes are wet and puffy from crying "but I woke up, you probably haven't gotten much sleep and I ruined it for you"

a half smile moves to my lips " hey it's ok, you didn't ruin anything. you were having a hard time. I'm here if you need me even if I'm half awake" she sadly laughs and just nods.

a few moments pass and her eyes finally close and her breathing slows. but I don't move, I wouldn't dare so instead I slowly lean back against the wall and breath a sigh before I too close my eyes.

*****

a knock on the door is what wakes me up the following day "Deek I got Erin's clothes, where should I leave them?"Rikki. I look down to find Erin still sleeping soundly, that's great, the problem is she's still on me and moving her would most definitely wake her up. so I resort to whisper yelling and hoping to god that Rikki can hear me "uh just leave it on the chair out on the porch please, thanks Ricky." she laughs quietly "uh ya no problem Deek"

her footsteps fade as she walks off, great. one last look at Erin, she's still sleeping. must be nice to be a hard sleeper.

I stay there with her for a few more minutes before my limbs start to prickle meaning they're falling asleep again. I slightly move and try to shift out from under her, when she stirs "sorry my legs we starting to fall asleep" her eyes widen before for she quickly stands up "oh sorry" I shake my head as I stand in front of her "nah it's ok" she lets out a giggle as she turns to head for the bathroom.

I open the front door and walk out to grab her clothes just as Boozer walks up "long night?" I ask, and he laughs "you have no idea. how'd she sleep?" I shrug "how anyone whos been through what she has would, she had a nightmare but after I calmed her down she seemed better." he nods "good, good" he points to the clothes in my hands " those for her?" I nod " where is she anyway?" a thumb behind me " bathroom, why?"

"Iron Mike wants to meet her" I nod and we head back inside, I walk over to the bathroom and lightly tap on the door "uh I got some clothes for you, do you want me to just leave them by the door or?" she opens the door "oh thanks, uh is there running water here?" I nod "ya there is but beware it might start out cold so give it a few minutes." she thanks me while taking the stack of clothes and then shuts the door, a few minutes later and I hear the water turn on.

"bro, did you even sleep?" Boozer asks on his spot laying on his probably cold bed "ya sorta why?" he just shrugs "beds cold that's all" I just shrug not wanting to mention that I held on to Erin all night. "hungry!?" I yell out to no one in particular, Boozer nods and I hear a quiet and muffled 'yes please' from the bathroom.