Without A Voice

Chapter 31: Guilt

~word count: 1172~

I lay in my bed for a while until Rick and Daryl came in. The looks on their faces told me something was wrong. It was obvious considering the mysterious injured woman but it's like they didnt want to tell me. They glanced at each other before Rick came forward.

"Glenn and Maggie have been taken. We're going after them. So is Oscar." He put his hands up to stop me from getting up.

My heart dropped, "I'm coming too!"

"No." He shook his head, "You're too weak."

I furrowed my brows out of frustration, "Please!"

"You're staying." Rick pulled me into a hug, "I can't lose anyone else."

"Be careful." I gazed into his worried eyes before he left, leaving me and Daryl alone.

I smiled softly at him before placing his hand on my heart, "You'll come back. I know you will. You always do."

He kissed my forehead, "See you later, Robin Hood."

I tried to rest but I just couldn't. There were so many questions I needed answers for. Like who took Glenn and Maggie? Why did they take them? It felt like hours had gone by. What was taking them so long? What if they're dead? Tears brimmed in my eyes at the thought.

"You okay?" Daniel caught my attention the second he walked in.

I shook my head in defeat, "I'm just worried. What if they're dead?"

"Don't think like that." He tried to reassure me, "Your friends are strong. I bet they're on their way back right now."

I ran my hands through my greasy hair, "Imagine me trying to be badass like Rick. I can't even shoot a gun." He joked, trying to make me feel better.

It worked, I laughed at the thought, "Rick was a cop. None of us can compare to him." I nudged his arm with a smirk.

He noticed I was itching my leg through my jeans, "You should go take a shower. Get all that dust off. It'll make you feel better."

"You're right. If nothing else it'll pass the time." I nodded with a smile.

I stood up and reached into my bag, grabbing clean clothes. As I headed toward the showers I passed by Hershel and Carol. They were talking about something but as soon as I walked by I caught their attention. Hershel stood up and hobbled over to me.

"Where are you going? You should be resting!" He leaned against his crutches.

I shrugged, "I feel fine. I'm going to go take a shower."

Carol looked between the both of us before nodding, "Go ahead. We'll keep watch."

"Thanks." She knew I liked showering alone. I can't hear anyone if they come in so I like having the room to myself.

It was cold when I walked in. While I waited for the water to warm up I gazed at myself in the dirty mirror. My hair was oily and my lips were chapped. I looked terrible, not that I should look like a supermodel after being trapped in a dark room for days with no food or water. As steam began to pour out from behind the curtain, I stepped under the hot water. I let out a sigh of relief. It felt so good. Like riding a bike on your own or learning to swim without floaties. The dirt and blood flaked off of me as I scrubbed my body. I reached down to gently clean my burns but when I stood back up, I got dizzy. I lost my balance and grabbed the curtain, falling onto the tiled floor. My head hit the ground and everything went black.

I was back in the forest. The wind brushed against my bare chest. No. Not this nightmare again. My eyes landed on my ripped tank top sitting in the dirt. It was hard to breathe and my head was pounding. I could feel two fingers touch the side of my neck. He was going to kill me. I have to do it. I didn't even think before I grabbed the cold metal next to me, swinging it as hard as I could. Drip. Drip. A warm liquid dripped onto my chest but it wasn't a memory. It was real. I opened my eyes but I was frozen. No. No! What have I done?

~ Authors POV ~

Daniel sat across from her choking on his own blood, a metal hook jammed into his throat. Their eyes were locked in horror as he pulled it out instinctively. He tried to scream but his vocal chords had been shredded. Jane crawled towards him and put her hands on his neck, trying to stop the blood from spraying everywhere.

"No. No. No." She cried.

But it didnt matter how hard she pressed. He bled out in a matter of seconds. She watched tears pour from his eyes as he stared up at her with confusion. Her heart stopped at the realization of what she had just done. She killed him. Someone she loved. Her friend. Her chest tightened and a wave of nausea washed over her. His blood covered her arms and hands. The crimson liquid circled the drain as it pooled near her knees. All she could do was sit there and stare at his body, replaying what she had done over and over again.

~Elsewhere~

Hershel went back to his cell to rest so Carl waited up with Carol.

"They've been in there a long time. Do you think she's okay?" Carl asked Carol with concern.

She grinned at the thought, "Oh I'm sure they're just fine."

"Can you go check? Please?" Carl pleaded. He had good reason to worry.

"Carl." She put a hand on his shoulder, "Let them have some privacy."

He rolled his eyes, "If you don't go in there, I will."

She went wide-eyed at his threat, knowing he would do it. That kid is stubborn. "Fine."

Carol stood and walked over to the door. She put her ear against it to make sure she didn't walk in on anything but it was silent. She didn't even hear water running. Strange. She knocked and then waited for a second before coming in.

"Daniel?" She called out to no response.

That's when she saw them. Jane sat naked and motionless, her arms bathed in blood. She was shivering. A lifeless Daniel lay next to her. His throat nearly ripped from his body. One of the metal hooks that held the shower curtains lay on the other side of the room covered in shredded muscle. Blood pooled on the floor around the two of them. Jane paid no mind to Carol as she rushed over. She just kept staring at him. Daniel.

"Oh my god!" She wrapped her jacket around Jane, "Carl!"

Carl hurried in and went wide-eyed, "I'll get Hershel!"

"What happened? Are you okay?" Carol knelt down and signed but Jane didn't respond.

All she could do was stare at the man she used to love. Dead. By her hand.