Daryl's Angel: Saviour (Book Two)

Chapter 13: Stranger

I wake to deep thuds and the low roar of snarls. Thunder rolls, rain causing a constant static in my ears, but there's a throaty, rasping noise beneath it all. In an instant, I'm bolt upright, eyes wide.

I hear grunts outside, creaking wood and chains rattling, and I scramble to get my clothes on. When I throw the door open, I find my family fighting against the barn doors, undead fingers clawing at the gap between them.

I throw myself against the door, right between Carol and Michonne. It's like pushing against a wave, like fighting nature itself as the undead groan, desperate to get inside, desperate for food. My boots slip against the mud, but I fight back, trying to find a hold, straining with everything I have.

It's all noise, constant noise, filling every part of me, blocking my senses.

We fight against the horde with everything we have.

----------

I don't know when it all ends, but far too soon, my eyes open again. The noise is gone. It's...eerily quiet.

Panic floods me as I sit up, looking around in rapid jerks. Everyone is scattered around the front area, and with each person I see, my heart calms a little more. Only Maggie, Sasha, and Daryl are missing, making my panic rise again.

"I'm over here."

My head whips towards his voice. Daryl sits against the far wall of the barn, knees bent, elbows resting on top. I carefully get to my feet, not wanting to disturb the others, and pad across the floor to his side. We sit side by side, staring at our sleeping family, and at the light poking through the gaps in the barn door.

"Maggie and Sasha went out," he says. "Should be back soon."

"And the herd?"

He jerks his chin lightly towards the door. "You'll see."

I can guess that they're dead-dead or immobilized, but the important part is that they're not pestering us anymore. I sigh, dragging my knees to my chest.

"Did you sleep at all?" I ask.

He grunts. "Tried."

So no, but I don't push it. It may still be early enough for him to get a little bit of sleep before we head out. Maybe I can convince him to grab a few more winks.

"Sorry," he mumbles, barely audible. I look at him, and he exhales. "Last night...felt like I used you."

My heart squeezes. "You asked. I said yes," I say. His head dips forward, his hair blocking his eyes from view. "I needed you, too."

"Still..."

"I don't feel used. Do you?"

He's silent for a second, then shakes his head. "Nah."

"Good."

Maybe we were using each other, but it's fine. I got some of what I wanted, but a quick and dirty round of sex isn't going to fix anything. All I can hope for is that it reminds him that I'm here for him in every way that he needs. He isn't alone so long as I'm here.

There's some rustling as the others start to stir, a few people waking up here and there. All I want is to go back to sleep. My eyes still feel heavy, struggling beneath the weight of exhaustion.

Rest in peace, now get up and go to war, I tell myself.

----------

"Hey."

The barn door creaks open, letting in the pale daylight. The rest of us sit around the barn in silence, too tired from the night to do much else but wait, but Maggie grabs our attention as she enters. There's a stranger behind her—a clean-shaven man with short curly brown hair who can't be much older than me.