The Lucky One//twd

027. Two days

Blake's POV

Her blood soaked through my shirt by the time we reached the farmhouse.

I didn't even realize I was crying until Rick touched my shoulder and said my name three times.

"Blake. Let go. Let Hershel take her."

I couldn't. I didn't want to. My arms tightened around her limp body like letting go would mean losing her for good.

"Let go," Rick said again, gentler this time.

I forced myself to open my hands.

They carried her inside. I stood on the porch and stared at the blood on my shirt. At the dark trail of it on the floorboards. Like she'd left breadcrumbs of herself behind for us to follow.

I didn't move for hours.

⸻

The first night, I didn't sleep.

Hershel said the bullet missed anything vital, that she lost a lot of blood but her vitals were stable.

Stable.

That word meant nothing when she wasn't waking up.

She looked small in the bed. Pale. Her blonde hair matted with sweat. The strong girl who danced on dinner tables and flipped off Shane in the middle of the highway—she looked like a stranger now.

I sat in a chair at her side and watched her breathe.

Just up and down. Up and down.

"You're not allowed to die," I told her. "Not like this."

No response.

Just the sound of wind against the windows and Glenn pacing outside the room.

I think he thought I didn't notice him. But I did. He'd stand in the hallway, then leave. Come back. Then leave again.

He didn't come in.

⸻

The second morning, Shane snapped at everyone. Told Daryl to shut up. Told Rick they shouldn't have gone into the woods.

He didn't even look at me.

I didn't care.

I hadn't left Madison's side.

Every time I blinked, I saw her falling again. Heard that gunshot. Felt her weight go slack in my arms.

I'd never been that scared in my life.

Even now, she looked peaceful. Like she might wake up and laugh it off. Make some smart-ass joke about all the fuss.

But her hand didn't twitch. Her eyes didn't flutter. She just... lay there.

"You've got people waiting," I said quietly, brushing some hair from her forehead. "Your brother's pretending he doesn't care, but he looks like he's ready to kill someone. Glenn won't say your name. Lori keeps looking at me like I'm going to fall apart. And I might."

I swallowed hard.

"Just don't make me tell them you're not coming back."

⸻

Day Two.

I almost missed it.

Her fingers twitched. Once. Then again.

"Madison?"

I stood up so fast the chair fell over.

Her eyes didn't open, but her lips parted slightly. Her brow furrowed.

"Madison, can you hear me?" I leaned down, gently took her hand.

Her fingers curled around mine.

Then she winced. "Hurts," she whispered, hoarse.

I almost laughed. Or sobbed. I wasn't sure which.

"You're back," I whispered. "You're back."

She didn't open her eyes again. Drifted back under. But she squeezed my hand.

And that was enough.