Lost then found • Daryl Dixon

Chapter Nine

Kaylee's POV

I was slowly following behind Daryl, I had just told him about my past. I don't do that. No one needs to know, and quite frankly I don't want them to.

Daryl stopped walking as he reached the tree line, looking back to me. Why did I tell him? I guess it felt natural, it felt easy to talk to him. Weird, considering Daryl talks the least in the group.

I stopped next to him, looking towards his eyes as the moonlight hit them just right, making the blue sparkle.  I could stare at this man all day, his perfect shaped jaw, his scruffy hair that gets longer by the day falling into his face. Our eyes were locked as they always seemed to do when looking at each other. There was more emotion there now, he's always been hard to read but I'm slowly starting to be able to read his emotions. He didn't ask questions about what I had told him about my grandpa, he just sat and listened to me. But it looked like he wanted to ask those questions now.

He opened his mouth to speak, but all we heard were screams. Screams? I looked around trying to pin point what directions they were coming from. The person was still screaming what sounded like in pain.

I looked back up to Daryl, as he looked down at me giving me a slight nod. I took this as my go, and started running as fast as I could towards the screams.

I could hear Daryl running behind me, as we got closer to the screams our worst fear had come true. A walker on top of Dale clawing at his stomach ripping it open. Daryl tackled the walker off him as I dropped to my knees beside Dale.

Daryl took care of the walker and quickly joined my side next to Dale. My hands were pressed to his stomach trying to stop the bleeding, it was too big. I turned to Daryl, "give me your shirt, now!" I said frantically.

He looked at me confused but quickly took it off, leaving him in just his vest. He handed me his shirt as I pressed it down to Dale's wound.

I knew there was nothing we could do, a walker caused this he will turn but I couldn't just watch him bleed out like this.

"Help! Over here!" Daryl shouts as the others started running towards where we were in the field. I kept my eyes on Dale as he did with me.

"It's okay, just look at me, okay?" He gave me a small nod through his tears, my eyes were starting to water as I tried to hold it all back.

"Hang in there, buddy," Daryl said to him. Everyone was starting to get closer now, as I could their shouts. "Who is it?" Andrea asked full of fear.

Dad and Shane were the first to get to us, I could hear the gasps.  Dad kneeled down beside Dale's head, looking at him. "All right just listen to my voice, just listen to me."

Dale broke his eye contact from me looking up at dad, he was starting to choke on his blood, but I kept my hands pressed on his stomach. You know you can't save him, Kaylee.

"Just listen to me alright, hold on now," dad continued, "Get Hershel!" he shouted. "Dad," I called to him, tears threatening to spill down my cheeks, he either didn't hear me or isn't responding. "Dad!" I said louder this time, getting his attention. I shook my head to him, but he just shook his back.  "Kaylee, you and Hershel can help him."

"He needs blood, we've got to operate now!" he said, standing up. Andrea took his place kneeling next to him, taking his hand "hang on Dale, hang on."

"Just listen to my voice okay, just listen to me, " I said trying to hold back more tears from falling. "Get Hershel!"

Dale's eyes were darting between mine and Andrea's, his breathing getting more raspy.

"Kaylee, we have to do something," dad said frantically.  I looked up to him as Hershel came over he looked down at Dale getting paler by the second, the life slowly being sucked away.

"Can we move him?" dad asks Hershel, he looks down to my hands then back to my face asking a silent question, I shook my head.

"He wont make the trip," Hershel said calmly. I could see dad wasn't getting it and this is becoming worse for everyone, especially Dale, who was suffering more as time went on.

"You're going to have to the operation here, both of you," he said looking between us again. "Glenn get back to the house!"

"Rick," Hershel said more firmly, putting his hand on dad's shoulder. He looked at him,  then down to me, as I slowly let the pressure on his stomach go, moving my blood soaked hands away.

"No!" dad shouted turning around now, while running both hands through his hair. Everyone was crying, not being able to comprehend what was happening. 

"Dale" Andrea sobbed by his side, I took Dale's hand, squeezing it as he gripped mine tightly. He kept his eyes focused on me as he yelled in pain.

"He's suffering, " Andrea says,  "Do something". In the corner of my eye I see dad pull his python out of its holder, his hand shaking as he pointed it towards dales head.

"Oh God" Andrea whimpered,  turning away from him but I kept my eyes focused on Dale's and my hands. He kept his grip tight refusing to let go, not that I would anyway.

It felt like time had stood still as dad kept the gun pointed to his head, an internal dilemma happening as he couldn't seem  to be able to pull the trigger on his friend.

Daryl came up beside him taking the python slowly out of his hands. He knelt down next to Dale,  brining the gun closer to his head. Dale diverted his eyes from me for a moment as he looked towards Daryl, giving him a slight nod, then turning back to me.

Everyone had turned away, not wanting to see Dale's life being ended as they cried.  Dale's grip somehow continued to grow stronger as we looked at each other, I could see the fear and pain. I didn't want to see him suffer like this, no one deserves it, especially not Dale.

"I'm sorry, brother," I heard Daryl say to Dale. I jump at the sound of the gun going off.

His grip on my hand immediately loosening, as the life in his eyes faded away.

He was gone.

~~~

Thank you beautiful readers!! Please vote and comment I love to hear what you all think! This book is nearly at 400 reads and I'm extremely grateful and overwhelmed by the love of you guys!

This was a hard chapter to write and it was hard for Kaylee as her first death since being back with her family! What do you think will happen next?