Unrequited Love- Daryl Dixon

Chapter Three

I awoke the next morning to an empty bed. The white sheets clung around my naked form and I sighed sitting up. I held the sheets to my chest, and scanned the room, there was no sign that he was ever here with me and for some reason that kind of bothered me. The empty wine bottle had rolled to the corner of the room somehow and I chuckled. I brought my fingers to my lips, they were still swollen from last night.

I grabbed my t shirt and tugged it over my head. I walked to the bathroom and stood in the mirror looking at myself. My cheeks were pinker, eyes bluer and skin softer. Even though Daryl wasn't my first time in someways it felt like it. There were small purple bruises across my collarbone and down my chest. I blushed at the memory of his lips on my skin.

I quickly took another shower before going down to eat. I got dressed in a royal blue sundress, it hugged in all the right places and I couldn't help but feel beautiful. I brushed my wet hair back into a braided bun and padded across the floor with my bare feet. I walked into the dining room and everyone was gathered around, laughing and talking. My mom looked up and smiled at me. "Hey honey, finally decided to join us.." She said patting the seat next to her and Carl. I sat down and instantly my eyes scanned the room looking for Daryl. When my eyes locked with his he immediately looked away. I looked down at my empty plate with a frown. Did I do something wrong?

My mom served some toast and eggs onto my plate and I didn't wait to dig in. I was starving and boy has it been a long time since i've eaten a proper meal. Once everyone was done we all dispersed and did our own thing. I went back to my room and sat on my bed. I didn't know really what to do so I found myself browsing over the book shelf in the rec room. Suddenly the air shut off and I looked around the empty room confused. I walked to the door as Jenner was walking through the hall and everyone was asking the same question I was. "Why's the air off?" My mom asked. "And the lights in our room?" Carol added. "What's goin on, whys everythin turnin off?" Daryl asked next, peaking his head out of the doorway. Jenner snatched the bottle out of Daryl's hand and replied "Energy use is being prioritized." "Air isn't a priority? and lights?" Dale asked. "It's not up to me, Zone 5 is shutting itself down." He said walking away down the hall. "Hey! Hey what the hells that mean!?" Daryl shouted. All of us followed Jenner into the lab where all the computers are. "Hey man i'm talking to you! What do you mean it's shutting itself down? How can a building do anything?" Daryl said, getting up next to him. "You'd be surprised.." Jenner said, continuing to walk further into the room.

My dad walked up next to him, "Jenner what's happening?" He asked worriedly. "System is dropping all the non essential uses of power. It's designed to keep the computers running until the last possible second. That starts as soon as we pass the half hour mark." The clock comes into sight, "31:28" is on the screen. "Right on schedule" He said pointing at it. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Everyone is quiet, and Jenner takes a long drink of the alcohol in his hand. He hands it back to Daryl and he snatches it out of his hand. Alcohol spilling on the floor.

"It was the french." Jenner says suddenly. "What?" Andrea asked confused. "They were the last ones to hold out as far as I know. While our people were bolting up the doors and committing suicide in the hallways they stayed in the labs till the end. They thought they were close to a solution." He said, turning his head to the ground. "What happened?" Jackie asked.

"Same thing that's happening here. No power grid, ran out of juice. The world runs on fossil fuel, I mean how stupid is that?"

Shane walked up to him and looked like he wanted to fight but my dad of course held him back. "Everyone go pack your bags! We're getting out of here NOW!" He yelled. I quickly walked towards the door and the alarm started blaring. I pressed my hands over my ears. "What the hell is that?" I yelled in frustration. A timer started running down on the screen. "30 minutes till decontamination." The computerized voice called out. My blood ran cold, decontamination. If we don't get out of here, we're going to blow up. "Doc what's going on!" Shane yelled. I saw Jenner put in a code and the alarm finally stopped beeping.

"Everybody go and get your stuff now!" Everyone started jogging to the doors, and then they shut. Their was so much chaos at that moment I almost didn't even know what was going on. Everybody was yelling, Daryl and T dog were trying to axe through the door even though it was useless. I walked over to my mom and Carl, I held his small hand in mine. He was scared and it broke my heart that I couldn't protect him from this. Nobody could. My dad calmly but passive aggressively walked towards him, "Jenner open that door now!"

"There's no point, everything is in lockdown. The emergency exits are sealed." he said.

"Well open the damn things!" Dale yelled. "That's not something I control, I told you once that front door closes it's not opening again. You heard me say that!" He said pointing. "It's better this way.."

"What is? What happens in 28 minutes?" My dad asked.

I stepped forward, my arms clasped around my slender body. "We're all going to die. This place is going to blow up with us in it." I said, Jenner's eyes locked with mine and his face was set in a grim line as he nodded and approved what I had said. My mom grabbed my arm and pulled me back to her, her arms wrapping around my brother and I as she tried not to cry. Everyone was hugging each other, some were staring into blank space, in shock. My eyes found Daryl's and he gave me a slight nod. I struggled to look away, not wanting to never see him again. This pain surged through my chest, true and utter fear. It coursed through my veins, I didn't want it to end like this.

My dad tried to get him to ease up, "We want a chance, let us keep trying as long as we can."

He walked towards the controls and the doors went flying open. "I told you the doors are sealed and I can't open those."

"Come on!" Daryl shouted. I ran towards the door, straight to my room. I shoved everything into my bag, soap, shampoo, conditioner everything I could get my hands on I shoved inside my bag. Even the blanket and pillow. I threw the bag over my shoulder and ran out, following everyone to the top portion of the building. The boys were axing the doors down again and slowly our time was running out. I saw that Jackie, Dale and Andrea weren't out here with us. Tears sprang to my eyes. Shane tried shooting the windows even and nothing was working. We were all gonna die. I went to Daryl as his chest heaved up and down from swinging the axe over and over again. My hand slide into his, at first he didn't even act as if I was there but he hand slowly gave mine a squeeze.

Carol rushed forward. "Rick I might have something that can help!" She pulled a round grenade out from the bag and my eyes widened. Daryl quickly shoved me to the ground and crawled over me, he acted as my human shield. I prayed that this would work and I clenched my eyes shut as a loud explosion filled my tears. Ringing followed after the explosion and it was almost jaw clenching. Daryl pulled me to my feet and I grabbed my bag before we were all running to the cars, knowing we had less than a minute before this thing was gonna blow.

I jumped into the passenger seat of the truck and looked up to see Dale and Andrea climbing out of the building. "Oh my god" I whispered. I cracked the window and started screaming for them to get down. Daryl yanked my face away from the window and shoved me down. I felt the warmth of the chest press over me. I covered my ears as I heard the explosion, when we came back up the building was in flames, rubble everywhere. I gulped and watched as Daleand Andrea got into the RV unharmed. My breathing was shaky as I leaned back into the seat, I can't believe that just happened.