Dixon's Baby Girls

Part 61: Death Row

Hayley's POV:

Word quickly spread about someone killing Karen and David. And burning them. It's frightening.

My dad had left with a group to a Veterinary College to find medicine to help.

I begged him to stay. I was afraid. But after convincing me that everything would be okay, he'd be back, and that Maggie & Rick are here to look after me, I stopped begging. Knowing it was something he had to do.

I had found Patrick's grave, and I'm sitting at it now. Away from others.

I woke up feeling bad. No cough or anything yet. Just body aches, but I'm putting it off as being sore from working the day before, for now.

But, more and more people are getting sick. I'm just hoping that I'm not next. As if being on the brink of death with their sickness wasn't enough, it's turned out with Karen's and David's situation the sick are also not safe.

Just as I'm thinking this, I start coughing. No, no, God no please. Daddy just left, far away, what if I die? And I never see him again.

I don't realize I'm hyperventilating, until someone grabs my shoulder, snapping me back into reality.

"Hayley. Hey, hey. What's wrong." I faintly hear Rick say to me. I feel the wetness on my face from tears now.

"N-nothing, I'm okay." I nod, wiping my face, trying to convince myself more than convince him. "I just-I got sad over Patrick. That's all." I lie.

"You sure? You don't look to good." He asks me. I only nod.

He looks like he's going to let it go, but that is short lived when I break into another coughing fit.

Only this time I cough up blood. Seeing it covering my sleeve, where I used my arm to cover my mouth.

I get light headed looking at it. I look up to Rick with tears in my eyes.

"Rick." I say weakly, before my legs give out. He catches me. Holding me and putting his hand against my head.

"Shit. You're burning up." He says before picking me up, and carrying me.

"Where are we going?" I ask quietly.

"To Dr. S." He says

"But, he's in cell block A."

"I know. I'm sorry Hay, you have to be quarantined like the other sick people." He says "Can you stand?" I nod.

He sets me down. I look to see we're at the door to Cell block A. On the sign beside the door, it reads, 'Death Row'.

I step back, as Rick tied a bandana around his nose and mouth. Banging on the door.

When he turns to me, he kneels to my height.

"Hay-" I cut him off. Shaking my head.

"I don't want to go in there."

"Hayley. You gotta, you'll be okay." Rick soothes. Putting his hands on my arms. "Dr. S. Is in there, he'll take care of you."

"I DON'T WANT TO! I want my dad." I cry jerking away from him. "I'll die and I'll never see him again."

"You're not gonna die. He and the others are gonna bring some medicine back."

"You don't know that. Lots of people already have. He just left, and it's far away so it'll take him a while to get there, and then just as long for him to get back. A lot can happen."

"You just have to be brave, and strong. Carol and I are going out, seeing if we can find anything to help in the meantime." He says cupping my face with his hands. "You can do this, you can. You can survive this."

The door is opened, & Dr. S is on the other side. He nods to Rick, and he holds out a hand to me.

When I don't make a move toward him. Rick takes my hand, and walks me over to the doctor. He puts my hand into Dr. S's.

"It'll be okay." Rick says when I look back at him.

"C'mon sweetheart." Dr. S encouraged me. And I finally follow him into the cell block. "Let's get you settled Hayley."

We come up on an open cell, it's darker than my old one. He walks in and fixes the bed for me, all while I stand in the doorway, scared.

"Okay, it's all set up for you." Dr. S turns to me. "How are you feeling."

"Scared." I frown, he gives me a sympathetic look and kneels to my height.

"I know it's all scary. But I'm gonna take good care of you. When your dad gets back the medicine is going to heal you right up."

"But, what if he doesn't make it back in time?"

"He will. Now, Let's try to think more positively. How about a game?" Dr. S asks.

"What game?" I ask.

"There's, jacks, cards, or we could always draw or play tic-tac-toe on paper." He lists all the games we could play.

"Tic-tac-toe sounds nice I guess." I shrug.

"Okay I'll be right back." He says leaving to go fetch some paper. I sit on the bed.

"Hayley?" I hear and look up quickly, seeing Glenn in the cell doorway.

"Glenn?" I gasp, getting up and running over, hugging him. Wanting comfort. I pull away and look up at him. "I didn't know you were sick too."

"Yep, me and Sasha. Sorry you're sick kiddo." He smiles sadly at me.

"I don't like it here." I say, looking around the cell.

"I don't either kiddo."

I try to turn on the lamp beside the bunks, and it didn't switch on.

"It's dark, and cold."

"I'll tell you what, how about we move your stuff into my cell. There's a free bunk in there, and I've got a working lamp. We can be roommates."

"I'd prefer that actually." I nod quickly. Just as Dr. S returned with the paper & a pencil.

"Here you go. Now, I've got something I need to tend to, but I figured you could still draw." He smiles at me, handing me the stuff.

"Thank you." I smile back, he nods.

"Actually, her light doesn't work, so I figured she could sleep in my cell, I also figure she wouldn't be as scared that way too." Glenn explains to the doctor.

"Okay. Sounds like a great idea." Dr. S nods, then looks at me. "Sorry I couldn't play tic-tac-toe miss Hayley. Doctors stay busy though."

"It's alright." I shrug. He walks off.

"I can play Hay. Once we get your stuff moved. It'd be a nice distraction." Glenn smiles at me.

"Okay." I say, grabbing my pillow, and handing him my blankets. "Let's get going."

Glenn chuckles but follows regardless.

I'm so glad I'm not alone...

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Hey guys here's another chapter after a long wait. I'm sorry guys but I've been pretty busy. Please leave a comment, and vote and I'll do my best on getting more written. Hope you're having an amazing day!🤍