AND THEN I FOUND YOU » Daryl Dixon

21. TOO FAR GONE [PART II]

Phillip tackled Rick, pinning him on the ground with his entire body weight. Blow after blow rained his fists. The strikes seemed to come faster and harder each time, leaving Rick rendered nearly powerless as he endured the onslaught of punches.

Blood flowed from his mouth and nose, staining the ground beneath them. Phillip wrapped his hands around Rick's throat, with death just waiting around the corner. At that moment it felt like Phillip would never stop, like the assault would continue on for an eternity.

Like a blood-covered angel, a figure appeared from behind Phillip. Her arms wrapped around Phillip's neck, pulling him off Rick. The two of them collapsed onto the ground behind them. Jasmin rolled them over, so she was now the one pinning him down.

The knife in her hand was about to plunge into his face but he blocked her arm. He grabbed the sides of her waist and threw her to the ground beside him. They both quickly shot up from the ground, movements stalled as they sized each other up.

"Jasmin," Rick managed to say intelligibly.

She looked like a bull ready to charge. Rick could've sworn he saw a puff of smoke leave her nose.

"Go find your kids, Rick," Jasmin spoke, her voice carrying a hint of warning for him to leave before her reins were let loose.

Rick watched her with fearful eyes. She had transformed into a completely different person. The way she moved, the sound of her voice, the intensity in her eyes - they all combined to create an unparalleled sense of fury. Someone else, something else had taken control and turned her into something utterly terrifying.

A long-awaited brew of rage was surfacing and there was nothing to stop her now, nothing to hold her back. The fight she had with Phillip belonged to her, and only her.

Jasmin's eyes never left Phillip's as Rick stumbled toward the prison.

The sight of him brought with it a wave of nausea that coursed through her body. Her stomach twisted with revulsion. But instead of letting the feeling overwhelm her, she forced it down into the pit of her stomach, letting it churn into something more of use.

Revenge.

"I'm gonna kill you," she whispered.

Phillip let out a quiet, taunting chuckle. "What was that?"

"I am going to kill you," she enunciated loudly.

He shrugged his shoulders, basically telling her to 'go ahead and try'.

There wasn't a second to waste. Jasmin snatched her sword from the sheath on her back and charged at him.

Just as she raised the blade to swing at him, Phillip stepped to the side and moved behind her. She swung anyways, letting the blade swing in a wide circle around her body. The blade caught on the flesh of Phillip's thigh and he let out a yell.

He held onto his leg as blood seeped into his pants. Jasmin spun around with the sword raised once again, ready to strike. Phillip ducked, letting the blade whoosh above his head. He stood back up straight again, but the sword was already coming back for another round.

He grabbed onto Jasmin's arm, halting the weapon in its path. She glared at him, eyes blazing with a crazed fire. His grip moved down to her wrist, squeezing it hard until she was forced to let go of the sword with a yelp.

Jasmin flung her head forward, letting their foreheads meet with a crack causing Phillip to stumble backwards.

It wasn't the best idea she'd ever had that's for sure.

The world spun around her. It had only been a few hours since she had woken up. Medicine was still flowing through her system and the dizziness was evidence of that.