𝐀𝐒𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐄, daryl dixon

𝘷. 𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘴

FIVE,
bed of roses.

—

GOT TO KEEP moving I reminded myself every few steps. My stomach rumbled in disagreement with the food I had eaten, trying to digest the poison that I consumed in a blatant range of hunger. It was a race to see which one could kill me faster, the toxins or starvation. It was lucky that I haven't encountered many walkers.

A few now and again but nothing like a huge swarm that bolted straight toward me. Some limped, and some crawled, but I was able to get away without any conflict. This place seemed safe in the daylight, but nightfall was another story. It was like walkers appeared from thin air left and right. I was safe for a few more hours at least.

Unless I was killed by these stomach cramps. Hunger pains were nothing to take lightly, it felt like your organ was being crushed from the inside. Along with the berries it felt like hell on earth. The ground beneath me spun in a clockwise motion. I felt like I was going to be sick.

I whaled over, unable to bear the pain much longer. My hands clutched my abdomen as I backed myself against a tree. Moans of pain escape my lips. "You're okay, everything is going to be fine," I reassured myself. I had to keep fighting, I couldn't give up now.

I stood weakly, unable to remove my hand from my stomach I wobbled my way forward. I couldn't stop, had to keep moving. My mind raced through the moment when Daryl turned his back to me. Did I make the right choice? I pondered this question until my mind went blank.

What was I doing, where was I? My eyes scanned the forest. The nearest tree was a few yards ahead of me. That was strange why did the tree line suddenly stop? My brain's gears turned once more and I looked down at my feet. It was pavement. How hadn't I noticed such a thing was right beneath my feet?

"Suck it world, I made it!" I shouted at no one in particular. Relieved to have found signs of what direction to head that wasn't a railway system. I had to find somewhere to stay fast, a nearby business or a house would be nice. Sundown was fast approaching and I had very limited time before my body gave out.

Hoped I didn't run into any scavengers, looking for someone to shake down and steal all their supplies. I didn't have much to offer, besides I probably looked like a walker, all hunched over and wobbling to keep my footing. They would shoot me on sight, not even thinking twice about it.

Maybe they would take pity on me if they did happen to stumble across my path. I could tell I was getting closer. More and more walkers appeared, I kept my head down and tried my best not to attract attention to myself. There could have been a whole swarm building up behind me but I never looked back, not ever again.

Then my mind trailed off to Daryl. I wondered what he was up to right now and if he found a place to stay. Perhaps I was the bad luck that loomed over him. Maybe he just so happened to stumble across a nice cabin in the woods where he could settle down for the night.

I was supposed to hate him, loath his very existence. However, some part of me refused to do that. I needed him, that part was clear. He may have been a complete dick to me from the moment we started acting like a make-believe team, but he wasn't all bad.

I thought back to the night he gave me his jacket to keep me from freezing. How he stayed up all night fending off the gurgling creatures from reaching me. And just a few hours ago, how he came back and may have even saved me from eating all those berries.

He may have this mask on that says he doesn't care, but deep down in his pitch-black soul he truly did. And I knew that now. But now was too late. He was gone, and frankly, I was the one who left him. Now when I needed someone to be there for me I had no one.

My eyes locked on the large box structure. It couldn't be, could it? I almost celebrated right there and then. Instead, I kept my cool and waddled over to the house. The sounds of the dead built up behind me. I picked up the pace, basically running as fast as I could toward the open door.

Once inside I locked and barricaded the door with a nearby sofa. The scratching and groaning at the door gave me chills. I could tell just from the sound there were a lot of them. I felt my body grow weaker by the second but I made it my mission to get up the stairs. I climbed with every ounce of strength my body had left.

My breathing quickened as I slumped over at the top of the staircase. From the hallways I was able to spot a bed, it was a decent-sized queen bed with velvet sheets laying untampered draping over the edges. I was no longer able to withhold the urge to rest. An instant wave of relief hit me soon as my body fell limp onto the mattress.

My eyes grew weary as my body pleaded with me to rest. And rest I did. I would not allow myself to step one foot off this bed until I was rested up. Who knows when I'd be able to get a good night's rest if not now? With that reassurance, my eyelids fluttered shut and I felt myself drifting away into dreamland.