These Wicked Games (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter Seven - Struggle

"Struggles are required in order to survive in life, because in order to stand up, you've got to know what falling down is like." - Alexander Alvarez

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I ran, as fast as I could out of the dark house, gasping at the cool night air, white clouds rapidly blooming from my lips as I panted. All I could hear was the crackly voices on my radio.

"Hotel Alpha Six. Hotel Alpha Six. Please respond. Welfare check."

It took me a moment to realise the bodiless voice was calling for me.

"It's Ben." I started. The radio silent and practically begging for me to continue.

"I think he's...dead." I cried.

More silence.

"Help me!" I shouted.

Neighbours started coming out of their houses despite the late hour and I began to hear the distant wail of the sirens.

A middle aged man from the house opposite came running over. My stomach churned and the acidic contents emptied themselves at his feet.

"You ok lady? Do you need some help?" He placed his hand on my shoulder as I lent forward, retching.

"Please." I begged. "Please go back inside, it's not safe."

I looked at him, dead in the eye, my wild expression seeming to get the message across and he slowly backed off. He walked back towards his house throwing me worried glances over his shoulder. He reached his door and ushered his wife and child back inside. The next moment their faces peered through the curtains at me.

"EVERYONE BACK INSIDE. YOU ARE IN DANGER. GO INSIDE AND LOCK YOUR DOORS AND WINDOWS." I commanded. Fortunately everyone complied. They could hear the fear in my voice. 

I turned back to the door I had run from, unearthly moans emanated through the still air to my ears, sending a chill up my spine. A shadow appeared in the hallway, shuffling towards me. As it reached the doorway I saw the bloody disfigured face of Ben, but it wasn't Ben. He had those ghostly eyes that Mr Brown had looked at me with.

He lunged at me, arms outstretched.

I screamed.

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I bolted awake, hot and cold all at the same time, shivering but covered in sweat. Unable to shake the memories that haunted me in my dreams.

I thrashed around a little attempting to untangle myself from the sheets that had stuck to my body and wrapped themselves around my legs.

My chest heaved as I hyperventilated. It was beginning to feel like I had spent most of the last twenty four hours fighting for air rather than just breathing it.

As I was in my own I calmed myself soon enough by focusing my eyes on the shadows that danced in the candlelight

Heaving myself off the soft bed I padded across the swirling gold and blood red carpet to the heavy red curtains. Throwing them open I was met with deep blackness that confirmed the late hour.