Impregnable {A Walking Dead Fanfiction}

Ten

    "We'll get out of this." Daryl said, pacing back and forth. I walked over to the ladder we'd climbed. Maybe twenty of them, nothing compared to the other side. Our vehicles were engulfed by the horde, it seemed hopeless. "Think you can make that jump?" He said, pointing at the large gap separating the two buildings, the opposite side from where we'd climbed. "The first jump looks the worst, if we can make it to the other ladder, we might have a way out," Theo said, scanning the area. "Anyone have a better idea?" I asked sarcastically. "If not, I'll go first." I backed up to get a running start, took a deep breath, and sprinted forward.

    Four strides, then the roof below me disappeared. I jumped off the ledge and dove for the next building, not daring to look down. I hit the roof hard, my skin scraping against the bricks. "That wasn't so bad!" I called out, wiping my bloody palms on my shirt. Theo jumped next, landing just in front of me with a loud thud. We continued to the next building, stopping just before the ledge. "Hollie, I think I can make it, can you? That looks longer than you are." He said, glancing at me as the others joined. "We don't have a choice. Can you go first and catch me if I slip?" I asked, wiping sweat from my forehead. I tried to slow my breathing as Theo and Daryl jumped. I didn't volunteer to go next. Glenn stepped up, shaking off his nerves before sprinting forward. He jumped and nearly missed the ledge all altogether, grabbing onto the building with one hand. The men grabbed him and hoisted him over the side to safety. There's no way I'm making it across there.

     Merle and Andrea went next: Andrea made it across with no issue, Merle clung to the ledge and had to be hoisted. It was down to me and Matt, and I didn't want to be the last one. I stepped forward, preparing myself. "Whenever you're ready, Hollie!" Theo called from the other side. I didn't hesitate, I sprinted forward with everything I had, then lept forward.

    My chest slammed into the edge of the roof, sucking the breath out of my lungs. I heard a loud CRACK, and a wave of agony crashed into me. I'm slipping. Oh f**k, I'm slipping. I clung desperately to the ledge, feeling myself falling backward. Someone grabbed my arms and pulled me up while I screamed in agony. "Something's broken." I wheezed as they laid me on my back. "That's probably a broken rib," Daryl said, standing over me to block out the sun. "I need a minute," I said, unable to breathe. Andrea helped me sit up as I cried out. Part of me wanted to give up and die there, and part of me knew I had to keep going. "Do you think you can make it down the ladder?" Andrea asked. I nodded, wiping away my tears. They helped me to my feet and the world began to blur and spin violently. I stumbled around for a moment and contemplated giving up again when the adrenaline started to kick in. My entire body felt like static and my right side was numb, but I could push on. "I can do it," I said to the group. They didn't look convinced, but Daryl continued: "Once you get down, run for the outcropping over there," He said, pointing. "No shooting unless it's your last option. We need to get out of here as quickly and quietly as possible. We still have the keys, it's not a lost cause. We can come back when we're more prepared and get vehicles." Daryl gave me one last look before walking to the edge of the building and descending the ladder.

    Everything burned, even through the adrenaline and the endorphins. My body screamed at me to stop. I followed next behind Daryl, gritting my teeth and forcing myself down. As I moved to grab the next rung, I heard and felt another small series of cracks in my ribcage, sending another wave of agony ripping through me. I bit my tongue to keep from crying out and giving away our location. My feet shakily found the ground and I stumbled, smacking into the side of the building. I felt myself being lifted and hoisted over someone's shoulder and we began running. There was no containing the cries now, every step was torture, and my insides began to sound like crumpling paper. My head throbbed violently and the world began to blur. "Stay with me, Hollie!" Daryl said between huffs of air, his voice was distant, fading fast.