Temerity ➳ Daryl Dixon

Chapter One

---*--- Rewritten on 11/19/2021---*---

The sounds of leaves crunching and sharp, ragged,, breaths were all I could hear.

My throat burned from not breathing properly as I ran. The crossbow on my back dug into me with every step. My legs and arms were numb from the long journey and adrenaline.

I can't stop here. If I stop to catch my breath I'll die here.

Carefully looking behind me, I saw the hoard chasing me. They weren't in sprint mode, but I couldn't keep a good distance since they always seemed to be wherever I turned.

Atlanta is screwed. Why did I listen to that stupid radio?

I turned and could barely make out an opening up ahead through the darkness. The sound of a gun going off twice kept me going.  I haven't seen another living being since shit hit the fan.

Just a little further. Just keep moving.

I saw two figures up ahead. The larger one crouched and put his hand on the smaller one's shoulder.

I opened my mouth to shout, but no noise came out. I dodged a couple of pee-brains and put everything into my legs to get within their sight.

The man stood and put his hand on, what I assume was, his gun. He put his other in between us, as if to halt me. I glanced back and saw the dead were far enough back I could stop for a quick breath.

I put my hands on my knees and dropped my head, taking in the fresh air.

I turned to the man and pointed behind me. He tried looking but didn't see them.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave. This is private property. We don't take to kindly to strangers."

I took a few deep breaths and looked up at him. "Listen here sunshine, I'm just passing through. You have fun with them."

He turned to the boy and then raised his gun at me. "Who's 'them'.

By the time he finished his statement, the groans were within earshot.

He and the boy ducked and he started pushing him towards the big house on the top of the hill. "Go go go go."

I took off after them, just so I could at least have a way away from the herd. They dodged them. One grabbed the boy and I stabbed my hunting knife into his skull and kicked him off to release it.

They ran to a barn and when I thought he was going to close the door on me, he held it open just in time for me to slide in.

I immediately collapsed to the ground. Breathing was super painful, but I kept taking in deep breaths. "....thanks."

He nodded and grabbed some gasoline. Telling us his plan, I agreed. "Only thing wrong with it is there may not be a way out and you may get bit. Let me do it. You protect..."   The boy tipped his hat with a smile. "Carl."

I smiled back. "Carl..   both of you get up that ladder and I'll give the signal."

The man opened his mouth to protest but the boy grabbed his hand and shook his head.

He sighed. "Fine, but if you screw us, you'll be dead faster than you can run and from what I can see, pretty fast."

I smiled. "Got it."

They climbed and he held the lighter, waiting for my cue. I turned and began to bang on the door, yelling at them to rouse them. I removed the wood blocking it and hit it some more, yelling some more.

About a hundred freaks charged at me, hungry for my flesh. I moved back towards the ladder and motioned for them to follow after I took a couple steps up it.

The sound of wood cracking under my foot was loud, but I ignored it. Waiting for them to get closer.

I looked up, "now!"

Putting pressure on my foot to step up caused the stair underneath me to collapsed on itself, cutting my shin in the process.

I would have been eaten if it wasn't for the man grabbing my hand to pull me up.

He stared down at the burning corpses for a moment before moving to the opening behind us.

We all climbed out and saw an rv pulling around. He waved them down.  "Over here!"

I glanced at the pee-brains starting to move towards us. The man hopped on the top of the rv and held his hand out for the boy and then me.

I thanked him and slid down the ladder at the back. I pulled out my knife and began hacking away at the dead that got closer.

He shot a couple and we then moved towards the house where we heard gun fire.

A white haired man was firing his shotgun, taking out one after another.

They spoke briefly over the continued fire. He then stopped for a moment to look at me.  "Who's this?"

  The man opened his mouth to speak but bit his tongue and sighed.  "I'm not really sure but if it wasn't for her we wouldn't have gotten here.

I felt my vision spinning and I let out some muffled words.

But then the world turned black.