In This Life

Chapter 11

Hey, I really hope everyone is enjoying the story so far. What do you think about it? Goods and bads? I'd love to know. Enjoy!

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Darkness. No thoughts, no memories; nothing. Numbness. Then a cold, tingly feeling and hot pain throughout my entire body. Blurred vision. Blood; my blood, covered everything. Yelling, crying, whispering. Then numbness and darkness swallowed me again. I have been flashing in and out of consciousness for what seemed like eternity. One minute, my body and mind would be at ease, feeling no pain. Then I would abrubtly jolt awake, agonizing pain consuming me. Then, before I could even react or beg for help, my body would shut down and my mind would turn into nothing, once again. It was as if I had no control over my body or my actions.

Upon waking up, I would see the usual scene; Maggie hovering over me, pressing whatever she could find against my back in an attempt to stop the blood from pouring out of me, Hershel proding whatever was causing me so much pain with his medical tools. And then Carol, holding my hand, blotting my face with a damp towel, whispering nonsense into my ear about "hanging on" and "fighting through it.'

But on very rare occasions, I would wake up to find Daryl, sitting in a chair across from where I lay, either sleeping or staring out the nearest window. Before my body could pull me back into unconsciousness, he would glance over at me, only to find me staring right back, barely able to keep my worn out eye lids open. But instead of rushing to my side in concern, he would just sit in his same slouched position and stare harshly at me. I could never ask him his reasons for such a cold stare before my body went limp and my thoughts swam away.

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A low humming noise buzzed in my ears. My eyes fluttered open slowly. I began to gain control over my body as I wiggled my toes and fingers, then flexed my arms and legs. I slowly turned my head from side to side, and began to arch my back, when the same hot pain shot through my body. I let out a small, surprised yelp and let my head fall back and my eyes snap shut.

"Anderson?" A low voice called out.

My eyes shot open when I heard the familiar voice. I leaned up, ignoring the pain still lingering throughout my body, and relaxed against my elbows, searching for the voice.

A rugged old man with a worn face and blood stained hands came into view. "Hershel." I coughed, my throat throbbing in pain. "W-what happened?" I honestly couldn't remember much. The last thing I remember was Daryl letting go of my arm when we were running through the CDC. He said he had to let go, and my foot must have gotten caught on something, cause the next thing I knew, I was face first on the floor of the CDC, watching as Daryl's figure disappeared.

Hershel cleared his throat as he slowly walked to my side and sat down in a chair.

"I really don't know. From what Daryl described, and by the looks of your head-" He reached his hand up and gently pressed his fingertips against a spot on my forehead that I hadn't even realized was sore "-you must have fallen when you two were running out of the CDC. The next thing I knew, you came running out of the building, but before you could get covered, it.. exploded."

Images flashed through my mind as I slowly began to remember what took place at the CDC.

He contiued. "You were too close to the building with no cover, that once it exploded, a peice of shrapnel hit your back."

A small gasp escaped my lips as I reached my hand around to my throbbing back; the cause of all this pain finally revealed.

"It was lodged in pretty deep, and you lost a substantial amount of blood. I suggest you take it easy for the next week or two." Hershel spoke in an authoritative tone.