No Way Out *Negan/Daryl/Joelle

Hello?..

***

Jo finished re wrapping her ankle in a fresh set of bandages before setting out to look for Sophia. Jo had gone out to look at different parts of the woods everyday, since she lost the little girl. She didn't want to be slowed down by anyone else. So she had to sneak out of her tent and into the woods. No one ever spotted her and she was glad to be alone. After the fight with Daryl, Jo felt like everyone was blaming her for Sophia.

Armed with a long hunting knife and her own strength, Jo started to trudge through the forest. She had no care about being quiet, like Daryl had taught her. She just wanted to cover as much ground as possible before dark. 

Hours went by with nothing but a couple squirrels and walkers crossing Jo's path. She quickly took out the walkers with her knife and wished she was fast enough to catch the squirrels. After attempting to chuck her knife at a squirrel running up a tree, and failing miserably. Jo decided it was time to head back to the barn. The sun was starting to set, while her body was growing weak from lack of food. 

Jo walked over to the tree to retrieve the knife. She had thrown it with enough force for it not to budge while she tugged on it. She pulled on it harder and eventually yanked it out. The release sent her flying backwards where she tripped over a tree trunk and started falling down a steep hill. Jo did a few backward summer salts, landing on her back with a thud, at the bottom. 

A moan escaped Jo's mouth at the impact. She went to roll over on her side, but let out a gasp. A sharp pain rain through her side. She jerked her heads towards the pain and saw she had been run through by a pointy stick. She quickly assessed herself and figured nothing vital had been penetrated. Looking around, she checked for in coming danger. No walkers to be seen. Then without hesitation she grabbed the stick in her side, from behind and pulled it out as fast as she could. A scream erupted from her mouth and blood started to gush from her side. 

No longer attached to the ground, Jo gently pushed herself up and took her light jacket off. Tying it around her waist for pressure, she started for the hill. Using roots and deeply embedded rocks, she gradually made her way up the hill. Jo slipped every now and then, which irritated her side but she kept pushing on wards. She had to get to her medical supplies and stitch herself up before she bled out. 

When she finally made it to the top of the hill, Jo fell to her knees. She was exhausted and could barely breath. The pain was growing as time went on and her vision was getting blurry. Knowing she had to get to the barn asap, she used almost all of her strength to get up and started dragging her feet back home. 

She could see the lights of the barn and gave a sigh of relief. She was almost there. Halfway to the barn, Jo saw two figures running towards her. She didn't have time for anyone's crap. She had to get to her tent. 

It was Daryl and Carol. 

"Oh my God, where have you been, Jo!" Carol yelled. 

"Just searchin' for your daughter."

"Why the 'ell ain' someone wit' ya?" Daryl questioned her in a stern voice. 

"Look, guys. I'm tired and exhausted. Can I just go to my tent and sleep.... please?" Jo begged. 

"'old up." Daryl said while he grabbed Jo's arm and pulled it away from her waist. She let out a hiss of pain and snatched her arm back. 

"Let me be, Dixon."

"Wha' the 'ell happened to ya? We need to take ya to Hershal, now!" he said while wrapping Jo's arm around his neck. 

"What did I say?! Don't touch me! Thought I was a burden to ya. How about you go help someone else... somebody that ya'll don't hate, huh?" Jo pushed Daryl out of her way and glared at Carol before storming past them as fast as she could. 

***

"Look, I didn' mean wha' I said to ya las' week." Daryl said while hiding his face behind his dark, greasy hair. 

Jo hummed without looking at him. 

"Really, I didn'. I feel real bad abou' it too. Ye did nothin' but help her. It wasn' yer fault, that lil' chicken shit ran off."

"Hey! Shes not chicken shit... shes just a child, Daryl." Jo snapped, looking harshly at him.

"I know, I'm jus' mad, I'm sorry..." Daryl turned towards Jo with sadness reaching his eyes. 

Jo's eyes softened. "Me too, Dixon. Me too." Jo sighed whiling laying her head on Daryls shoulder. 

***

Hell, they were in hell. Walkers were piling out of the forest towards the barn. Jo had been relaxing in the rafters of the shed when she heard the groaning. She ran to the window to see if the others were aware but could not see anyone. She had to warn them about the heard, but would not make it to the barn is she ran. 

She had an idea. She had to warn them and what better way to kill two birds with one stone. Taking a matchbox, she had, out of her pocket. She lit it and dropped them all into the hay. It was so dry it went up in flames instantly. This way the walkers would be attracted to the fire and burn up while warning the others at the same time. The only thing Jo didn't think of was how fast it would burn and block her way out. The whole shed was engulfed in flames and the only way out was the window she had looked out earlier. She could hear the rev of engines and felt thankful her plan had worked. 

Without stopping to think about the fall, Jo grabbed her knife and jumped out of the window. Trying to minimize the pain, Jo landed and rolled. Pain still shot up her legs, and she gasped. Gathering herself she looked around to see who was nearby. No one. Everyone was gone. She could see the RV by the stables, but it was overrun by walkers. No cars were left behind, so she started limping towards the forest. Walkers noticed her and redirected themselves. She wasn't going to outrun them in her state. Looking forward and seeing her escape being crowded by the rotting beings, she slowed. There was no hope. She stopped and took a deep breath, while closing her eyes. 

The moans and groans of the walkers, were so loud. Jo blocked out the sound and took the last few seconds of her life to think about her family. 

An arm wrapped itself around her waist and pulled her backwards. Jo screamed and kicked. A sound of an engine blared in her ears before she realized she was no longer surrounded by walkers. She looked down at the strong arm around her and followed it up to a shoulder, then a head. Daryl. He picked her up and sat her on the front of his bike. 

Tears ran down her face. She thought she was dead and gone. She thought she was alone. Feeling relief wash over her body, she tucked her head into Daryl's chest while he drove away from the walker infested barn. 

***

Jo woke up with a start. Someone was outside her cell door. She scrambled up to her feet, ready to fight. The locked rattled and clicked, while the door cracked opened. Jo expected the door to slam open. When it didn't she sneaked up to the door and peered out into the hallway. 

"Hello...?"