A/N: RATED M FOR A REASON. This story contains, course language, explicit violence, and sexuality. Spitfire47
Snow fell lightly from the sky in small flakes. Wind whooshed in small gusts that could cut through thick clothes and send chills down the spine. The sun was blocked by grey clouds and a low rumble echoed in the distance. The trees were bare of leaves and the ground was littered with Walkers. Snow covered a majority of the gore however melted directly on the still steaming bodies. The smoke rose into the sky in thick dark streams, the pungent smell of burning blood and flesh lingered in the air and a tire iron was stamped into the ground next to the pyre.
Lying only inches away was a girl. Hayden's eyes were closed and her mouth slightly open for air as any oxygen coming through her nose would sting her sinuses. Her long sleeve shirt was splattered with blood, however the black colour hid most of the red leaving only the smell of fresh blood coming from her. The ripped jeans leaved her open for the harassment of winter to abuse her already broken body. Hayden's breaths were raspy both from the fight and the environment itself. Flakes melted on her bare light brown skin and one flake landed on her eyelid, melted and trailed down the side making it seem that she was crying. Her bag was torn to pieces and her remaining water bottle cut open and the water already absorbed into the ground. Her food was crushed underfoot during the melee and the remainder of her clothes were used to create the fire to burn the Walkers. The wind felt nice against her burning body, the snow tickled her bare skin making her give a small smile and the cooking flesh flavoured air made her stomach grumble loudly reminding her of how hungry she was. Hayden's head rolled to the side and rocked once before being still. She tried to move her arm but she had lost feeling in her body due to the cold and was positive that in mere hours, she would be dead. The gauze on her left arm was starting to unravel revealing a hideous gouge on her upper arm that made her wince as another gust of wind blew directly into it. Another rumble ran through the air but unlike before this one sounded closer.
There was a low moan and Hayden forced her muscles to reply to her command and she turned over to see a Walker coming towards her, Hayden knew that this one was slow to the call which would answer for its lateness. Hayden struggled to her feet with great difficulty, the gauze completely unraveled and hung from the wound by mere strands. She winced as the gauze tugged lightly and blood started to trickle out slowly in a single rivulet. That grabbed the Walker's attention, it turned its head to Hayden's direction and advanced at a fast pace. Hayden ripped the tire iron out of the ground with a strangled groan and then swung it low. The tip of the iron hit the Walker in the knee sending it crashing to the ground as if it were shot. It's one and only remaining arm reached out to Hayden as if asking her to help it, instead Hayden regarded the thing with a cold stare before ramming the end into its head. Thunk! Blood squirted out the sides and Hayden gave a final twist to make sure the brain was scrambled. With a groan she lifted the iron out of the head and a loud sucking noise accompanied it as the iron made its exit. A wave of exhaustion and nausea overwhelmed her and Hayden collapsed onto all fours. Bile came forth and landed on the ground in a gooey glob, blood came next and it dribbled in tendrils from her lips. A shudder ran through her body as another wind assaulted her and Hayden collapsed to her side curling her body into a tight fetal position. Pain screamed in her mind but she squeezed her eyes shut, her tire iron held firmly in one hand and the other laid palm up to the open.
An hour passed, the snow grew thicker and the wind picked up speed, every few seconds a larger gust of wind went through the small open area. Hayden was lying flat out, her body was numb and her fingers tingled at the tips. Thick flakes landed on her body, slowly piling up to the point where she would force herself to turn over to get rid of it. Already another small pile of snow started to gather on her stomach and her knee. The fire had long since gone out and the tire iron was still in her hand however the grip weakened. Hayden opened her eyes and the leaf green eyes scanned the sky above. The clouds grew darker indicating that a horrible night was to come and to add effect the wind blew around her, picking up leaves and twigs as well as swirling the wretched smell of rotten and burning flesh. Hayden's breath were faint, her body felt weak and she wanted to lean further into the ground and fall asleep. But fear gripped her empty stomach – the fear of never waking up. Her eyes flew open at the very thought making her heart quicken and her muscles twitch. Real tears formed on her face and trailed down dampening her hair.
There was a low rumble and Hayden was worried that it was a Walker but a sudden flash of light made her cry out in surprise and the headlight died down. The snow started to fall faster as if the environment wanted to cover her from whoever was coming. She could hear the snow and leaves crunch underneath the weight of those coming towards her. Hayden knew that she had her tire iron but what if she didn't have the strength to lift it? What if these men wanted to hurt her like the other groups? Fear was replaced by anger. They would have to kill her, torture her and beat her before she would submit to anyone. Hayden tightened her grip on her tire iron ignoring the pain screaming from her fingers. Twang. The sound of an arrow being released from the bow was clear, so was the dying moans of its target. The sound of footsteps advancing made her breath faster, her heart picked up the pace and her body twitch involuntarily. Someone spoke. The words were all jumbled so she couldn't understand what they were saying. Then, dark figures entered her blurred vision, they towered over her like most did during the first encounter however during those encounters she would easily show who's boss. But now Hayden didn't even have the energy to open her mouth.
"Ain't no Walker," one voice said, the voice had a drawl.
One of the figures knelt and the features became clear slightly. He had short cropped sandy hair, dark eyes and sharp features. He was dressed in a heavy coat and Hayden immediately noticed the cleanliness of this man, he reminded her of a politician or someone who was high up on society. Another figure leaned in for a closer look and he was practically polar opposite, sunken eyes, a bit of a stubble and he was dressed in a second-hand clothes.
"Is she even alive?" the clean man asked, his voice was deep and filled with both pride and command.
"Don't look like it," the man with the wind-breaker replied, he was the one with the slight drawl. Another man gave her a small kick on the foot, all waited for a reply. Hayden wanted to tell them to piss off – to leave her alone but she didn't have the energy. The man with the bow and arrow leaned down to pick up the tire iron when Hayden's grip tightened again ignoring the pain.
"Damn she is alive!"
Hayden blinked thrice and tried to get up but instead let out a low groan.
The clean man commanded. "Bring her into the car."
Everyone nodded and took their position Crowley was about to grab her under the left arm he let out a cry of surprise and jumped back.
"Holy shit!" he screamed then pointed at the gouge. The clean man turned back to inspect himself and the men parted to allow him so but their weapons were trained on her head. With one of his gloved hands he raised her left arm slightly and studied the wound. Hayden let out a loud hiss of pain and raised her other arm to shove the man away when a foot came down on her wrist and pinned her arm to the ground. Hayden looked to see that it was the man with the windbreaker, however now she noticed that he was missing his right hand; it was replaced with a metal brace and a bayonet tied to the end with thin strips of leather. He grinned at her menacingly.
"Wouldn't do that girly," he said still grinning.
Hayden tugged but he applied pressure and Hayden was forced to stop.
"Not a Biter," the clean man concluded. "No bite marks, must have been from a previous fight with a group."
That seemed to make some of the men relax slightly but some were still on edge.
"Sir?" the Asian interrupted and with his gun raised the old blood stained gauze for everyone to see. Mutters rippled lightly but the leader didn't faze.
"Blindfold her, get her into the car."
They returned to their positions and lifted on the count of three. Pain exploded inside Hayden's broken body and she let out a strangled cry, her tire iron fell out of her grip and landed on the snowy ground. The clean man walked over and picked it up. That angered her, that was her tire iron, she won it fair and square and Hayden wasn't going to just let anyone take it from her either. Along with the pain came a surprising burst of energy that she used immediately. She kicked one the man holding her right leg and then twisted her body so that her left leg would be freed from the surprised man. With her right hand she went for the man's throat, he let out a startled cry and fell backwards then punched the man holding her left arm captive before wrenching it out of his grip. She picked up the baseball bat and held it before her daring one of the men to come at her. One did. She swung it upward striking him in the lower jaw, he twisted in mid-air and fell to the ground howling in pain and clutching his broken jaw. Just as she was ready to attack the man in charge someone fly tackled her and a familiar sting ran down her back. Hayden struggled but the one handed man placed the bayonet none-too-kindly against her throat already drawing blood.
"Ea~sy Gorgeous," the one handed man sang in her ear. The bayonet released the pressure on her neck but didn't leave.
"Merle," the clean man said calmly. "Get off of her."
The one handed man, Merle, stood and forced Hayden to her feet. Tim came up with a syringe in his hand then rammed it into Hayden's side. Taken by surprise she attempted to punch the nearest enforcer but she felt her body not respond to her commands correctly. Thoughts and images swam in and out, her vision started to blur again and with a last deep breath her body sagged backwards and Merle caught her. Tim and Crowley grabbed each leg and they carried her to the jeep.