Mute

T H R E E

"Look for any sign of human life. Footprints, clothes, anything. Just stay out of my way." Daryl growles, heading off on Nelly. I'm afraid something is gonna happen. Nelly gets spooked easily, meaning that if she gets spooked while Daryl is on her back, she'll bunk him off. I broke my arm because of Nelly. Dad never let me back on her since. 

A growle from one of the infected knocked me back into reality. Not just one infected, a dozen or so infected, and they're heading my way. Shit, how did I not notice before?! 

I was about to make Midnight turn and run to find Daryl, but he bucks me off and takes off running, leaving me dazed and on the ground. The undead are still limping their hearts out, trying to get at me. A million thoughts run through my head. I start to hyperventilate, not being able to call out for help. As the infected get closer, my breathing speeds up, me not being able to calm myself or concentrate. 

One infected reaches me, but before it can get any of me, an arrow goes through its skull. Daryl!  More arrows go flying into the infecteds skulls, each one dropping dead with a thud. My breathing slows. My head spins, my stomach twists and black dots start to fill my vision.

"Nicole?" 

*Daryl POV*

"Nicole?" I call out to the girl. She looked at me, then her eyes closed and she went limp, making me fear the worst. I got closer to her, noticing her breaths are unsteady, meaning I still have time to get her back and get her help. 

I pick her up in bridal style and rush over to Nelly, since Midnight ran off somewhere. Nicole was really light, so it was easy for me to get on Nelly using one hand, while holding Nicole in the other. I held the lace in one hand and Nicole in the other, as I rushed back to the farm.

"Come on! I'm not losing anyone else!" I yell, making the horse go to her limits. I found Sophia's doll when Midnight went racing past me, signalling that something was wrong. That's when I found her, propped up on hand elbows, laying on the ground, watching the walkers get near. 

The farm house came into view, making me push the horse even more. As we made it to the house, everyone rushed to see what was wrong. I pulled Nelly to a stop, as Rick and Shane rushed to me, seeing what i was holding.

"Hershel!" Rick yelled, running into the farm house, as I got off with Nicole in my arms and followed after him, leaving Shane to take care of the horse. 

"Dear lord child, must you scream?" Hershel asked, rushing out of the kitchen to see what Rick needs. Daryl comes next to Rick as Hershel glances at him, then into his arms. There laid his daughter. Her face was violently pale and her breath was unsteady. 

"Herhsel!" Daryl says, making the old man come back out of his daze like state. 

"Follow me." 

*Nicole POV* 

' "Hold on tight, Nicole!" Mom laughed, as I sat on our new horse for the first time. Her name is Nelly. 

I nod, as Nelly starts to walk around the field. Mom and dad followed behind me and Nelly, as she walked. 

"Get a picture, babe." Mon said to dad, as I finally sat up right, my foot hitting Nelly's side. As my foot connected with Nelly's side, she bucked me off. I fell down hard on the ground, landing in an awkward position. My arm snapped. A jolt of horrendous pain went through my entire body.

"Oh my god! Nicole!" Dad yelled, rushing to my aid. Pain was all I felt, before I blacked out.'

"Nicole?" Someone called out my name. I shot up, pain erupting from my lower leg. I clutched my leg in pain and bit my lip. 

"Lay down Nicole." Dad instructed. I do as I am told, and lay back on the bed, watching him as he wraps up my leg to his best ability while trying not to hurt me any more than i already was in. 

"What happened?" Daryl demands a answer from me. His icy, cold, demanding, blue eyes staring right into mine. I feel a little nervous and i don't know why. Maybe it's because he saved me. Yeah that's it. Daryl hands me my dry erase board and my marker.

"Infected came out of nowhere. Midnight threw me off. And that's all i remember." I recap what happened back in the woods. And here I thought Daryl would be the one to get bucked off. 

"This man saved you, Nicole. I think he deserves thanks." Dad says, finishing up my wrap and leaving to go do whatever.

"I owe you one." Was all I wrote, not really wanting to say thank you, but that was close enough.

"Whatever. Princess." Daryl snapped, grabbing his crossbow and storming out of my room as dad entered.

"Looks like you broke your leg, Nicole." Dad sighs, coming back in and handing a book. "You should have asked me." 

"You would have said no." I argue, laying the book down beside me.

"Yeah. Too keep things like this from happening." Dad sighs, once more. He stands up and makes his way to the door.

"I'm sorry daddy."