When The World Caves In |C.G.

fifty one

Briggs' figure is standing over me, looming in the shadows like a monster. A malicious grin forms on his face as he approaches. Each step is slow and torturous, like he's drawing this out. 

"You can't get away this time little bitch." He says in a low voice. 

"You're not real." I murmur, looking around for Daddy, Carl, Rick, anyone. Anyone. I'm scooting backwards further away from the man. 

"I might not be real, but I'm not going away." Briggs says as my back hits something solid and I have no where to go. Each step shortens the gap between the two of us. It gets smaller and smaller until he's standing over me trapping me in place. "You're going to have to deal with me for a long... long... time." 

My eyes snap open as my heart thunders loudly in my chest. It's nighttime, the sky is pitch black. The only light stems from the dying fire that sits in the middle of our group. 

Looking around, I notice that the majority of the group is asleep on the ground. Daddy and Carol are on watch,  talking quietly on a log. Carl's arm is slung over my waist but he doesn't stir as I move. Carefully picking his arm up and placing it back on his side, I get up slowly, stepping over my boyfriend as he slumbers. 

Tip-toeing across the group I finally make it over to where Daddy and Carol sit. I make myself comfortable in between the two of them, feeling safer with the both of them on either side of me. 

"Hey Ro." Carol says softly as Daddy wraps an arm around my shoulder. I bury myself into his side, grounding myself into this moment. He's resting his chin on the bottom of his crossbow, and staring at Carol intently, waiting for her to say something. "I don't want to talk about it, I can't."

She's silent for a moment longer before she adds, "I just need to forget."

"Alright." Daddy says, rubbing my shoulder. "You okay?"

"Nightmare..." I whisper, my voice hoarse. Daddy just holds me a little tighter and I don't say anything else.  

A twig snaps somewhere in the distance and I freeze as Daddy stands up, taking a step forward to examine the darkness. Carol stays by me, taking a protective stance as I pull my knife out of its sheath and holding it in front of me.

"Nothings there," Daddy says, and holds out a hand towards me, telling me to lower my weapon. I'm not sure if I can though, every fiber of my being tells me not to, but I slowly put my knife back in my belt. "Come on, you need to rest." 

"I'm fine." I whisper, staring off to the direction that the twig snapped in.  Unable to draw my own eyes away, Daddy takes a step in front of my line of sight, snapping me out of whatever trance I'm in. 

"You haven't slept in days." He tells me, and I take a deep breath, rolling my eyes. 

"Daddy I'm fine." I tell him and he shakes his head. 

"Aurora." He says sternly. 

"I said I'm fine!" I snap, eyes growing large at the way his face distorts. "I'm fine. I promise. Just had a bad dream, and I ain't going back to bed." 

Especially not with the way I feel like someone is watching us. Maybe another group like the claimers, maybe the people from Terminus.  My heart is thumping in my ears as I examine the woods, even though Daddy says there's nothing and no one in there. 

"I ain't doin it." I whisper, tucking my knees under my chin. Daddy looks at me and nods, taking a seat next to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. He pulls me close, and kisses my forehead. 

"Okay," He whispers back. "You don't gotta." 

We sit there in silence until the sun comes up. Rick rises earlier than the rest and Daddy tells him we're going hunting. He whistles for me and I grab my crossbow, following him into the woods.