Runaway Home - The Walking Dead, Fan-fiction (soon to be 3rd & final edit!)

Chapter 9.5: Survive

Relievedslightly he scoops her up heading back out the way he came. Whilstcarrying the semi concious Amber he bumps into Sherry who had justsneaked down the steps "...I wasn't here, OK...?" Darylhesitates, Sherry was dressed immaculately in very revealing cloths,and high heels, Terror swam on her face as she looked over at Amberworriedly "Go..." sherry nods to the open storm drain Darylhad exited moments before. "Get her out of here...GO!"Sherry turned & quietly hurried back upstairs.

Backout of the tunnels as Dusk begins to fall, Daryl carried Amber out tothe edge of town back towards a group of houses beyond the woods thathim and Aaron had already scouted early that day, his bike parked ina shed out of sight. As Daryl walked up the garden path Amber, stilldazed, but slowly coming to the realisation that this isn't a dreamor hallucination anymore, scrambles out of his arms.

"Canyou walk..?"

Herlegs shook as they gave way, crumpling into a heap on the floor.Daryl goes to help her up but she refuses pushing him away sobbing.He kneels by her side attempting to comfort her, taking off hisjacket he wraps it around the young girl he could barely recognise.She was no longer strong and fearsome, but beaten, defeated..."...come on, we'll be safe here for a while" His voice wassoft and so quiet Amber barely heard him as he helped her to her feetand into one of the houses.

"....ifyou ever wanna talk, bout what he... I'm here if you wanna talk."his words trailed off into a quiet grumble. Amber curled up on amattress left on the living room floor, speechless staring intospace. Daryl tilted his head as he watched her for a second beforebraking the silence "I'm gunna, check upstairs" Searchingthe bedrooms Daryl found some clothes for Amber amongst other usefulthings... his foot knocks a bottle of whiskey under the bed. Pickingup clothes Dixon grabs the bottle before heading back down.

Downstairshe finds amber still curled up in the corner, sighing Daryl sits downa few feet away on the other side of the mattress "here"passing the bottle to her, "you look like you do with sum.."Sitting up without a word she takes the bottle from him. He watchedher unscrew the lid, taking a large gulp like it was just water.

"Ididn't know your size but, I found these... they're clean at-least."Amber takes another swig from the bottle before passing it back toDaryl. Taking the pile of clothes she turned away to get dressed.Whilst drinking some of the bottled whisky he notices the newlyforming scars on her back and shoulder, bruises covering her fromhead to toe.. He struggled gulping down the whisky as a lump formedin his throat. Anger at Negan for doing this to her, himself forletting them take her. She didn't deserve that. Doesn'tmatter what it was she did... As she sits back down Daryl asksher about what happened passing her back the bottle.

"That pile of bodies back there... Was that all you?" Amber nodded silently "&....Is that, a Walker bite..?" Daryl asked nervously

Ambershock her head "No..." she said in a hushed voice. Hervoice was no longer soft and sweet, it cracked as she wheezed... herthroat sore from screaming, Negans hands still marking her neck.Daryl got up to look in the kitchen finding another bottle this timevodka and some clean tea towels which he began to rip up as he walkedback over to amber taking long strides with each step. "Arh,Shi...!" Biting her already swollen lip as Daryl examined herarm.

"I'm Sorry, but it's gunna sting like shi'..." Amber winced grittingher teeth her eyes brimming with tears while Daryl continued to cleanthe wound before bandaging up her arm.

"Hetold me.. he told me you where dead" she said staring at themake shift bandage Dixon was tying.

Finishingher bandage he then sweeps the hair out of her face, tears rolling down her purple cheeks. His mind racing with every thought all at once...Why her.. He cradle her as she now lay therecrying uncontrollable in his arms... Eventually having cried her self to sleep Dixon covers her with the jacket and heads outside for a smoke. Punching the brick wall he rested his head next to his fist, gritting his teeth, angry at himself for letting her be taken in the first place...