FALLING APART daryl dixon

t w e n t y - t w o - stay alive

It's a chilly afternoon in early october in Cynthiana, Kentucky, and the residents of the city murmur and gossip as they see a young Alycia Grimes screaming for her little brother playing on the field, he was so good at it. But in the middle of the game, some sour kid came and pushed Carl onto the ground, and with that he broke his foot.

It took a while to get Alycia to stop screaming at the boy and his parents, it needed Rick and Lori to hold her. The girl got mad, that kid ruined Carl's game, and in the middle of all that screaming and fighting, Carl was onto the ground, holded by a very angry Alycia, but he didn't feel pain. He only felt love. A type of love you only get by a parent, but in that case, he got that from his big sister.

Alycia didn't really know someone was to shoot at the deer, but she knew that she had to be one step ahead of Carl. To always protect him, especially in this new world.

And it was what happened. It turned out, some stupid person didn't see them, and shot the deer. The impact was so hard that yanked back Alycia and Carl. But luckily for the boy, it only grazed him in the arm. Unluckily for the oldest Grimes, she got shot. Real bad.

- No, no! - It was all Alycia could hear after she passed out from so much pain.

It was her father's scream.

Rick Grimes didn't really have any time to think, but to carry his daughter's body and ran after the man with the gun came saying that someone could help them.

The man has never before ran so much, carrying his limp and blood covered daughter in his arms. Ignoring his pain, fighting to get his daughter the help she desperately needed.

Shane was behind them, carrying a very confused and scared Carl in his arms, with his clothes soaked with his blood. He's shouting at the man - Otis - to run faster behind him.

- Move! Shithead - Shane shouts.

- How far? How far? - Rick shouts.

- That way! Ask for Hershel! Tell him Otis sent you - The man shouts back.

Rick races in front with an unconscious Alycia in his arms. She is alive, for now. But they didn't know for how long.

Rick runs onto the property and Shane is only seconds behind him. Both men look at the group of five people before them.

- They bit? - The old man asked.

- Shot, by your man - Rick breathed out, showing his daughter.

- Otis? - The older blonde asks.

- He said find Hershel, is that you? - Rick asks, crying. - Help me! Help my kids - He begs.

- Get 'em inside - Hershel orders.

- Patricia! I need my full kit! Maggie! - The man orders.

- Yeah? - A young woman shows up.

- Painkillers. Grab everything. Clean towel, sheets, alcohol... In here - Hershel says before clearing the bed.

Rick lays his daughter on the bed, blood everywhere. The man is shell shocked, completely paralyzed at the sight of both of his babies bleeding on a stranger's bed.

- Patricia! Help the boy - The man screamed.

Hershel took Alycia's jacket off before ripping her shirt just enough to the wound. He then guided a shocked Rick to get a pillowcase and apply pressure on his daughter's wound. Hershel then listens to find Alycia's heartbeat.

- I've got a heartbeat - Hershel says.

Rick gasps in relief.

- It's faint. Maggie, IV - Hershel asks.