The Hunter's Angel

Chapter 31

Daryls POV

It's been a while since we got stuck in this car. I don't know how much time has passed. The Walkers are still banging on the vehicle; at least the glass is holding up. I've had time to calm down and think about everything that's happened. I come to terms with a lot of things and think of a plan. 

I let out a slight chuckle. "What?" Aaron asks beside me. I turn my attention to him as he already has. I look down at the steering wheel and shake my head. "I came out here to... not feel all closed up back there. Even now, this still feels more like me... than back in them houses." I say honestly. The only reason I rather be at those houses is because Seaira is there. "That's pretty messed up, huh?" 

Aaron gently smiles. "You were trying." "I had to." I say. "No, you didn't." He says. I look at him, confused. "Listen, I saw you with your group out there on the road. Then you went off on your own by the barn," He pauses. I remember what I was doing. Embarrassed, he saw that. "Storm hit, and you led your people to safety. That was it. I knew I had to bring you people back. You were right." He finishes. "And, When you went by the barn, Seaira followed you too. She cares about you more than anything in this world. She trusts you with her life." He adds. 

My chest swells when he told me that. She saw me so vulnerable, yet she shows me how much she cares about me. "We should have kept looking for that guy in the poncho. I shouldn't have given up," he says. He looks at me, and I look away. "You didn't," he says. I look down at the pack of cigarettes I found a while ago. I think of everything I was before. I make up my mind.

I put the butt of the cigarette in my mouth and reach into my leather jacket to retrieve my Zippo lighter. "I'll go," I say with the cig hanging from my lips. I take the lighter out, and I motion out the window. "I'll lead them out. You make a break for the fence." I mumble and strike my zippo, lighting my cigarette. 

 "No, no, no. This was my fault." Aaron protests. I get very serious and say, "It wasn't a question." I stare at him through my bangs. I puff out a couple of hits and take the cig out of my mouth. "And this ain't your decision." I state, flicking the ash off. I look down at the lit part. "It ain't nobody's fault. Just let me finish my smoke first." I hold up my smoke as I take another drag. 

I don't know what will happen, but I might not make it back to her. She will know I went down fighting, but she won't know how I really feel about her. I wanted her to be mine, but I won't ever know.

Aaron stares at me the whole time. He finally says, "No, You don't draw them away," I look up at him, releasing the smoke through my nose. "We fight. We go for the fence. We do it together. All right? Whether we make it or not, we do it together. We have to." A long pause drifts in the air. I look away from him again, looking down and pondering. I slowly nod my head; we are both risking something. Might as well do it together.

"All right." I look at him as I take my last puff, feeling the last smoke fill my lungs before we do this. "You ready?" I say, tossing the cigarette in the back and straightening up to prepare. "Yeah." He answers. 

I grab my knife as he grabs his machete. "We'll go on three," I say, grabbing for my door handle. "One," I count down. "Two," I say, thinking of Seaira. I feel all of my adrenaline kick in. "Three-" Before I can finish, The Walker standing in front of my door gets slashed, and blood spills over the window. Red ooze rolls down the window. I look on Aaron's side, and something stabs a Walker right in the head and disappears. 

His door swings open, and Aaron runs out. "what the fuck?" I mumble as I see someone out there with him, pulling him through. My door flies open, and I'm ready for whatever lunges at me; a guy with a gator over his face stabs a Walker getting close, and he yells, "Get out, come on!" He pushes the dead Walker off his gutting blade, grabs my arm, and pulls me out. Beside him, we fight our way to the fence. Another man with Aaron is fighting towards us.