Unexpected (A Daryl Dixon Fanfiction)

16 - Search

It had been only a few days since Sophia went missing and every day I was out there looking for that little girl until the nightfall. Finally, Rick decided that we should go searching as a group. Of course, with T-Dog's arm, he had to stay behind and Dale was still working on the RV.

"Do I have to?" I whined.

"Yes, It's sooner better than later."

"I'd rather later..."

"Let's say you're in a jam and you run out of bullets. What're you gunna do then?" Shane inquired.

"Fucking run?"

"What if you're taken down by a walker?" Rick added.

I sighed, crossing my arms.

"No."

"Just take it Aaron."

I looked at Daryl and sighed giving in. Rick and Shane have been trying for a good hour and a half to get me to carry a melee weapon. I lost my knife back at the CDC and ammo isn't exactly a luxury these days.

I took the long sharp weapon, apparently, Carl had found an arsenal of weapons and they were being dispersed among the group for the search. I pouted slightly, I am not one for close combat, but Shane did have a point, if I was tackled by a walker and out of bullets, I could say goodbye to my life. I walked up to T-Dog and placed a hand on his bald, sweaty head and leaned over to look him in the eye.

"You stay put, and be safe, protect Dale," I said quietly.

He let out a sarcastic chuckle, "Sure thing."

The group set out into the woods looking for Sophia, I walked in the middle in front of Glenn keeping an eye on the surroundings. We came to a stop and Rick motioned Carol forward. They shuffled closer to a tent that looked like it could have been abandoned. Carol started calling out her daughter's name softly and Daryl stood ready if something other than Sophia was in there. He walked inside, but it took a bit before he came out.

"Was she in there?" Carol asked as Daryl came out of the tent.

"Nah, jus some guy, did was Jenner said, opted out."

In the distance I could hear what sounded like church bells, everyone else seemed to hear it as well. Rick pointed in a direction and we all started to follow.

"Which direction?"

"Dang it's hard to tell out here," Shane stated.

"Maybe Sophia's ringing the bells?" Carol said quietly.

"Or maybe someone found her?" Andrea added

"Only one way to find out," I replied.

We continued running to until we got to a break in the tree line where a graveyard and church were in sight. I started sprinting alongside Rick and Shane as they went towards the door. They opened it and there was three walkers inside. Rick and Daryl walked in going to take down the walkers.

Shane pushed me forward slightly, "Better time than ever." I groaned quietly and walked closer to the walker, it was at least a couple inches taller than me, and I had to look up at it. I growled at me and I swung the axe at the walkers head. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to take it down. I continued to hitting it with the weapon a few more times until I was sure it wasn't coming back to life a second time. I stood up and I sighed I looked around the church and I could feel the room start to spin. Rick's calls for Sophia echoing in my ears. I clutched my chest and started to steady my breathing. I walked out of the muggy church and into the open air. I took seven deep breathes and each time I named one of the seven dwarves.