When The World Caves In |C.G.

thirty eight

The smell of burning flesh lingers in the courtyard. Someone killed Karen and David last night, dragging their bodies outside to burn. Daddy tells me to wait inside and for once, I listen retreating to my cell. He's supposed to be going on a run to a local college for meds. 

Overnight, my nausea has grown worse. When I woke up, my throat was swollen to the point I could hardly breathe. I haven't stopped coughing either. It makes me worry, considering David and Karen were sick and now they've been murdered because of it. I grip Mr. Tubbins close to my chest as another coughing fit racks its way through my body. 

I can't seem to stop coughing, choking on my own breath as my body shakes. A shadow finds me clutching both my throat and Mr. Tubbins as I sweat profusely. I can't tell who it is until I see the crutches. It's Hershel. 

"Help-" I manage to gasp out between coughs. They're so violent they make me gag, and I resist the urge to throw up. That's the last thing I need right now.  

"Daryl!" He shouts. "Someone! Get Daryl!" 

Daddy was about to leave for that run wasn't he? Maybe he already left, how long have I been in here? Maybe he already made if back from the run. My brain is foggy as I try to find answers to the questions at hand. 

"Alright Aurora," Hershel says, gripping my hand and finding my pulse. The old man gazes down at me, concern lacing his eyes. My heart is going a mile a minute as I try to catch my breath between coughs. "I need you to calm down okay?" 

I squeeze my hand as an okay before attempting to stop coughing and take some deep breaths. It works for the time being but my shaking hasn't stopped and sweat drips off my nose and onto the floor. My entire body feels weak, like it's going to collapse in on itself at any given moment. Footsteps come pounding down the hallway and stop abruptly in my cell. 

"Nah, not you." Daddy says falling to the floor next to me. He grips my body tightly against his gently lifting me like I weigh nothing. That's a contrast from how I feel, because all of my limbs feel like they weigh a million bajillion pounds. 

"We need to get her separated from everyone else." Hershel tells him and he nods sadly, brushing my hair off of my sweaty forehead. It feels like I'm a small child again, the action. 

"Christ kid, you're burning up." Daddy whispers and I cough weakly away from him. He can't get sick. He's too important to the group, he does so much around the prison. Without him, the place would probably go up in flames. 

"Mr Tubs." I whisper, seeing my bear discarded on the floor. It's silly, but I'm not going into quarantine without him. Daddy squats, grabbing my brown stuffed bear and placing him in my hands. 

"It's gonna be okay Ro," He rasps in my ear and I nod weakly. Whether he's reassuring himself or me, I honestly have no idea. I just fight to keep my eyes open. "We're gonna be okay." 

Slowly but surely, we make it to quarantine, where Glenn who is also sick wraps an arm around my shoulder to guide me once Daddy sets me back on the ground. Already, the atmosphere of the cell block is depressing. 

"You're gonna be fine Rory," Daddy says doing his best to keep some kind of composure. He stands further away than either of us would like, the door behind me leading to where sickness awaits on the other side. Daddy turns to Glenn, staring at him desperately. "Take care of her for me, will ya?"

"Course," Glenn nods, doing his best to hide his own shaking. I wonder how Maggie is feeling, with both her husband and father being in here. 

"I love you Rory Rose." Daddy tells me, brushing the hair from my face once more.