breakout✗d.d

Chapter 11 - Jokes

My vision impaired as I completely disappeared until the water, still clutching onto the hands that tried to struggle out of my grip. I went to scream but an array of bubbled just appeared in front of my eyes. I let go of the hands and reached to the surface, taking a deep breath and trying to trudge to shore. The river rushing against me as my feet resisted against the force of the water, my head and shoulders bobbing above the water as I was just tall enough to stand and not have my entire face underwater. Not worrying about what had pushed me in, I clawed for the shore, trying to rush to safety. That was until I heard laughing from behind me and realized I was the only one trying to get out the water. No one was chasing me to the shore or trying to viciously drown me, it was Daryl. He was soaked, standing in the middle of the river, watching me struggle to climb out and away from my supposed 'death'.

"Daryl! WHAT THE FUCK!?" I yelled turning around and shouting at him, gesturing to my clothes that were drenched in the muddy water, my hair also messily swept down my face. My boots filled with water, and socks soaked. He was the same too though, it was probably not his intention to get thrown into the river with me but he deserved it. He just carried on laughing, even though the water was freezing cold he just kept sniggering. I had goose bumps and was shivering as the breeze now not so welcoming but a sharp prick of ice all over my skin. He pursed his lips, smiling and trying not to laugh. "You can't say much, have you seen yourself?!" I shouted louder at him and he began to make his way towards me. I rolled my eyes and dragged myself to the shore, taking off my jacket and shaking it off, trying to get the water off it and squeezed out my hair before tying it in a messy ponytail out of my way. I stood with my hands on my hips as he joined me on the shore.

"I'm sorry..." He giggled. "I slipped," He shrugged trying to hold back a wide grin as he took off his jacket and shook it off too. Before he could continue or make up any more excuses I got the bottle from the edge of the river and continued to fill it up. I didn't say a word to him and when he tried to help I just took the container off him and did it myself so he had nothing to do. When I was done I shoved everything into the bag then slung it on my back along with my crossbow and began to walk off.

"Layla, come on. We both fell in, it's just a bit of fun, come on lighten up." Said Daryl and he caught up with me and put his hands on my shoulders, trying to slow me down but I continued to walk away quickly, ignoring him. No idea where I was going, just stumbling over twigs and tripping over my own feet.

I hiked through the woodland, dead leaves and branches crunching under my feet. An hour ago the sunset had radiated across the cloud, turning it molten orange with bands of pink. Now it is gone and I just strode under the starless, moonless sky. There was no twilight, only blackness. I felt claustrophobic, like I was in a cave. The low sky had become a ceiling of grey, black rock above. Only the wind and masses of trees around me let me know that we were in the open. Daryl almost constantly trying to stop me and explain as he could see his little 'joke' hadn't been that funny. He eventually walked in front of me and led the way and gave up on trying to speak to me as I wasn't and wasn't going to respond. The day was once again, coming to an end as the woods became submerged in the charcoal coloured atmosphere.