Hii! this is my first ever story and truth be told i don't even know if its any good! i pretty much just knocked it up at work and loved writing it. any suggestions are welcome but please be kind! Its gonna be a slow burner and dark but i am trying to write from the perspective of a strong female character not one that necessarily depends on a man but at the same time does fall in love.
As with all fan fictions i don't own anything and all rights belong to The Walking dead, i am just a fan with an over active imagination! lots of love xxxx
Damaged people gravitate to damaged people - Norman Reedus
It had been almost two hours being held up on the road trying to get into Atlanta, Rachael had never considered even going back to Atlanta but with the promise of safety and military protection she had no choice. She impatiently tapped her thumb on the wheel of her car quietly singing to the song on the radio not really paying much attention to her surroundings snapping out of her day dream as people started exiting their cars and began walking over the woods down the hill on the right hand side, the music on her radio turned to white noise and never came back on, furrowing her brow she undid her seatbelt and pulled her long silver blonde hair back into a tight ponytail, pulled out a menthol cigarette from her leather jacket and she too stepped out her car. Looking around still confused fumbling for a lighter she felt a hand on her shoulder,
"Here lemme get that for you. You all alone their toots? Don't you know the worlds went to shit? Names Merle and over there skulking about is my brother Daryl" Rachael looked at Merle and then to Daryl. She wouldn't have pegged them for brothers but at the same time she saw loyalty between them. Daryl stood taller than Merle with messy brown hair with chiseled features, he looked tough but at the same time stand offish as if he was holding back, almost shy. Merle was smaller than his brother but just as broad shoulder wise he looked tough and acted tough full of confidence, if Rachael had to guess Merle was the older brother and quite obviously the leader and Daryl's boss.
"Erm hey, Rachael and yeah all on my lonesome, you know whats going on here then?" she said taking a long draw from her cigarette but just as Merle was about to answer a tall burly man wearing a police baseball hat walked over to them.
"Right i've been speaking with the rest and I think its best we move onto higher ground, theirs no safe zone the city has been destroyed we've just watched the military bomb the whole town, I'm moving the rest of the group up now you coming?" The policeman looked at Merle and then to Daryl, Daryl nodded and began walking his bike onto the bed of their truck.
"Sugartits here is coming too" Merle said nodding his head to Rachael as she sat nervously puffing away on her cigarette till there was nothing left.
"Erm names Rachael actually not the other thing" offering her hand out to the officer
"Shane. The more the merrier, jump back in your car darling and follow these two rednecks and I will introduce you to the rest of the group."
Daryl shot Shane a look of disgust at being called redneck but kept quiet and then glanced back to the girl. She could only be maybe 25 and little over 5 ft, he couldn't help wonder why someone so young and quite pretty was doing all alone in this predicament, where was her boyfriend, friends and family? Even he had Merle and he wasn't exactly friendly and warm like he guessed the new addition to the group was.
"Darlina over here will drive your car up why dont you come and ride up with me toots?"
"erm no its okay i'll drive up myself but thanks though hun" and with that she stepped back into her car sighed turned the keys pumped the gas and turned off onto the grass and began following Shanes SUV off road and up hills by passing many obstacles on the way. She couldn't believe she was so willingly following a group of strangers of around 5 cars into the darkened woods but she knew she was alone and if things had gotten as bad she thought they had, their was safety in numbers and they all seemed nice enough, well hopefully. Shane seemed nice enough and seemed to know what he was doing and she hoped he would be able to protect them from whatever was going on, plus it appeared he was informed and she was sure to press him for more information later. Merle seemed okay, she felt a little uncomfortable about how friendly he was and how although he tried he never seemed to look her in the eyes but instead was looking all over her body like a piece of meat but then their was Daryl who for the whole 15 minutes they had met hadn't taken his eyes off her but only looking into her eyes and features less in a perverted way and more curiously admiring.
After around nearly 45 minutes of slowly driving up hill to the highest point they could reach, the front car signalled for everyone to slowly park up. One by one people emerged from their cars, Rachael was last to do so and seemingly the only one on her own but seeing more woman and children appear made her feel safe and although she did grab her knife and slide it into the side of her black worn cowboy boots. She made her way to the rest of the group and like everyone else her eyes fell on Shane who she had met down on the high way.
"Okay Atlanta has gone, we watched as the military sent planes over the city and dropped bombs over it, its gone no safe haven any more. For now we are on our own, but we're gonna knuckle down get over this shit"
Rachael cleared her throat, "yeah but what's happened? Like I don't understand? I saw people biting and eating other people and then those people got up...and..." it was then her voice broke and reality sunk in, she was all alone surrounded by strangers who all seemed to have someone and here she was standing alone. She bowed her head as a tear ran down her cheek and she felt an arm slide around her as the woman who had been standing next to Shane pulled her into a hug, Rachael felt everyone awkwardly look away except one pair of eyes fixated on her, Daryl's. She couldn't tell if he was looking at her with pity or disgust.
Shane coughed loudly bringing everyones attention back to him as he began to explain what he knew about the monsters that had been attacking and that the only way they were gonna get through this was together and it was then they began to formulate a plan. As very few of the group had tents it had been decided to sleep in cars for tonight and tomorrow a small group would go out and try find some food, shelter, medical, toiletries and anything that could be used as weapons.
Rachael looked around at the group, people seemed uneasy. It looked as if she wasn't the only one who felt uneasy as she shifted from foot to foot. Eventually though people finally started talking quietly and started to introduce themselves. She noticed the eyes that had previously been on her had moved away and Daryl had moved away from the group with his brother as he began trying to start make a fire.
A woman with short cut grey hair began walking towards her with her young daughter, she greeted Rachael with a warm smile and held out her hand. "Hi the names Carol, and this here is Sophia, Rachael right?" She nodded back to Carol shaking her hand "Shane was saying your on your own? Well thats my husband over there Ed, he's a bit of a survival nut we have everything and more. Your always more than welcome to stay with us if needs be" Rachael smiled back at Carol and said thanks, she looked up to see Ed glare at them and instantly she got a bad feeling about him but she didn't dare show it. One by one the group came and introduced themselves first was the group in the RV, Rachael liked them a lot and found herself talking to them a lot as Dale and Jim helped put her at ease along with the two sisters that travelled with them, Andrea and Amy. The Morales family were next, although they seemed lovely but just like Rachael had been at first were really uneasy and still kept close together and always kept their two younger children beside them and didn't even introduce them. T-dog and Jacqui helped carry blankets from everyone's car as people began sitting round the fire that Daryl had successfully made and Rachael found her self sitting next to the woman who had put her arms round her earlier in the evening who she found was called Lori.
Rachael pulled her knees close to her chest as she pulled the thick red plaid blanket around her, the group had been sharing supplies they all had and Carol and Jacqui had been warming up soup for everyone. Once everyone had a share of the watery chicken soup they all started swapping stories about themselves in hope of attempting to forget about the flesh eating monsters that had been sweeping the city and plaguing their minds. It was then she felt it again, the eyes burning into her but this time it wasn't Daryl it was Carols husband Ed. He was looking at her like a piece of meat, but with sheer lust and disgust all rolled into one. It was her turn to speak and still she could feel his eyes baring down on her it wasn't until Daryl coughed loudly and glared at Ed who dropped his stare and went back to lighting a cigarette.
"Well I guess you all guessed i'm not from around here, i'm English from a small town outside of the north called Whitby. Not much going on there and when my parents passed away I had a little bit of money left to me so I sold my house my care and I bought a one way ticket to America with the plan of driving across the country until my Visa ran out. That was last week so I never even made it out of Atlanta, I had intended on never staying in one place too long and just travelling but then all this happened and here I am. Some adventure huh? You are all the first people i've actually spoken too since landing in the US never made any friends in the week I have been here either. So you could say I really am all alone. Sorry im awful at telling stories."
Rachael had never pulled out a pack of smokes so quick before in her life she felt incredibly awkward uncomfortable and like everyone was judging her or even worse pitying her. She remembered quickly she hadn't got a lighter but as she looked up she realised sensing her awkwardness Shane had already began talking about him, Lori and Carl, who turns out wasn't his son and Lori wasn't his wife. Although he did look at them like they were. She liked Shane, she liked how he looked at her protectively even though they had only just met. Still fiddling with a unlit cigarette she felt something hit her foot looking down was a silver lighter that Daryl had thrown to her, she lit it and took a long drag from her cigarette wiping away at a small tear trying to escape from her bright green eyes. She threw the lighter back to Daryl and nodded back at her mouthed thanks.
One by one everyone started to move back to their cars and shortly it was only Merle, Rachael, Shane and Daryl left. Ed minutes ago had, had an argument with Carol and in Rachael's opinion he had been awful to her but no one felt it was their place to say anything, not yet anyway. Carol and Sophia had gotten into their car to sleep and Ed had told them to "Fuck off" and went skulking off to the woods muttering more profanities as he went. Ten minutes went by and Ed still wasn't back Shane stretched shuck his head and stood up.
"Well, I guess I best go and look for that idiot, I told everyone to stay close if he comes back before me tell him to stay put, I want to talk to him. Daryl, Merle will you mind putting the fire to a low light, Rachael go get some shut eye its gonna be a long day tomorrow." And with that Shane pulled out his gun and began making his way into the woods after Ed.
"Night" Rachael said as she made her way over to her car. Daryl did nothing but nod his head towards her but Merle began walking towards her, "Why don't you let old Merle here walk you to your car sweetness and maybe I could even keep you warm and protect you from the big bad eh?"
"Merle get back here and help me will ya!" Daryl called out to his brother, as Merle snaked away from Rachael and back over to Daryl, she was sure she heard Merle hit Daryl in the arm and tell him off for cock blocking him. She smiled to herself and climbed into the back seat trying to shut her eyes pulling her knees up her chest and using a spare jumper as a pillow. She had just slipped into a deep sleep when the nightmare began, the images she had witnessed of walkers attacking people, ripping out organs throats and tearing people apart plagued her conscious. The walkers turned and followed her plunging its rotten teeth into her neck as she felt blood fill her mouth choking not able to breathe. She awoke straight away jumped bolt up right sweating even though it was little over 10 degrees outside. She grabbed at her neck making sure it had all just been a dream but immediately she felt claustrophobic and needed to just get out of the car and make herself feel better.
She had no idea how long she had been sleeping for but no one seemed to be around which was perfect as the last thing she wanted was the group she barely knew see her have a panic attack. She pulled her leather jacket right the way up and pulled the blanket round her like a cape and made her way from the cars to the open space. Daryl and Merle had left the fire burning lowly as not to attract attention and as she still had no lighter she made her way over to the fire and lit her cigarette and began walking slowly towards to the woods. Not really wanting to go into them but at the same time wanted some sort of cover in case anyone was peaking out their car. Leaning with her back to a tree she took in slow deep breathes while still smoking away at her menthol cigarette. She smiled to herself knowing while suffering panic attacks she really should be trying to rest her lungs but here she was smoking away, but it was working. Her heart was beginning to calm and she was finally able to regain her breathe as she puffed away savouring every last drag. It was then in a lull of peacefulness she felt it cold hard hand grab at her waist just as she was about to scream the other knocked the cigarette from her mouth and covered her mouth stopping her from screaming out. She was dragged back into the wood unable to move or fight back as someone much stronger and taller than her had her pinned to their body. She knew it wasn't a walker but who was it?
What was only maybe a minute and only maybe 200 metres into the wood felt like miles and hours for Rachael until finally she was released then slammed hard against a tree. Horrible grey eyes staring back her, Ed.
"Hello sweetness, waiting for me eh? I know you've been giving old Ed the eyes since you joined us." He licked his lips as Rachael stared blankly at her attacker still unable to make a noise as he still covered her mouth. He looked her up and down like she was a prize poodle examining every inch of her body, he had already ripped away her blanket which lay on the floor in a muddy heap and had slowly began unzipping her leather jacket and began ripping at the top she was wearing underneath thus exposing her bare chest to the elements. Its then she began to fight back trying to do anything she could to stop this from happening but thats when Ed moved his hands from her mouth and up to her pony tail on the top of her head pulling her towards him then slamming her hard against the tree. She felt her whole body shatter and she especially felt her head smack hard against the tree feeling something warm and wet run down from the back of her head down the back of her neck. With Ed's hands still on her hair she screamed out help crying into the darkness. What felt like forever as Ed put his hands back on her mouth and back on her chest she heard a small snap of a twig behind where Ed stood, Ed being too fascinated with keeping her quiet while at the same time trying to unbutton his own pants didn't hear it.
Just as it was almost too late the moonlight shone on Shane and Daryl's faces as Shane took the butt of his gun and threw it hard into Ed's temple sending him flying and falling down like a sack of bricks. As Ed fell Rachael did too as he was the only thing keeping her up as when he had hit her it really knocked all her energy out of her, Daryl uncomfortable with the whole situation and reeling with anger began kicking Ed several times in the stomach dragging him up by the scruff of his collar and then knocking him straight back down again. Daryl in his past had seen far too many woman knocked about by scum like Ed.
Shane had covered Rachael back up and had swept her up into his arms as she silently sobbed "Stop, Daryl. Stop. Pick him up and get that low life back to camp leave him at the fire I think we need to have a word with him, I'll take Rachael back then I want you to sit with her." And without another word the men began walking back to camp, dragging a half conscious Ed and carrying a stunned Rachael. The walk back to camp was quick and although fully conscious she just didn't feel real, she didn't feel like this was happening to her. It wasn't until Shane had carefully placed her in the car and Daryl had been made to sit with her that the first tear escaped he eyes as the pain in the back of her head seared through her body.
She had already gathered that Daryl was a man of few words and crying woman obviously made him feel uncomfortable so instead he reached inside his pocket pulling out two cigarettes and a lighter, he lit both of them then handed one to Rachael turning to her. He took a long drag looking at her, bit his lip and then finally spoke. "Shouldn't be going out there on ya own you 'no" She looked down embarrassed by what had happened, she never needed rescued before and here she was first night in the worse situation possible absolute damsel in distress, not her style.
"So did he? Y'no?" She shook her head continuing to look down embarrassed she raised her hand to her head and undid the high pony tail letting her waist length silver hair out, shaking it feeling for where Ed had cut her head, she hissed when she felt it.
"Turn around" Daryl ordered to her as he noticed exactly what she was doing. He pulled his torch to get a better look and began examining the back of her head.
"looks worse than it is 'cos of ya hair being so light and tha, but it will be okay just needs cleaned up 'ang on." And with that he got up and went to his truck.
In doing so he must have woken up Merle who had obviously demanded to know what was going on as she seen Merle storming off down to fire pit where Shane was "talking" with Ed. Daryl returned back with a rag, water and a bottle of Jack Daniels. "Here, drink" he commanded holding the bottle of Jack Daniels out to her. He wet the rag and waited for to take a drink before he began cleaning out the wound of dirt from the tree and began rubbing the red blood out of her hair. She hissed in pain as he returned the rag back to her wound, "Seriously. Drink." Well, you obviously weren't a nurse in a previous life Rachael thought to herself about Daryl's bedside manner or lack of. By the time Daryl had finished she was feeling rather tipsy and had completely stopped crying. She looked back up at Daryl and muttered thanks handing the bottle back to him as he took a long swing of the drink. "Y'no he will never do tha again? If it wasn't for the woman and her kid he wouldn't even be back 'ere. But he didn't get like tha far did he?"
"No, I thought he would. But thanks you and Shane really saved me y'no" and with that she went to give Daryl a kiss on the cheek as a thank you. But he could see what she was doing and she had never seen someone move so quick as Daryl did avoiding her kiss. He turned his head away from her so he was out of reach bending over and picking two more cigarettes lighting them handing her one and then began making his way out of her car. "I'll be watchin' 'im don't worry. Get some sleep Rach. G'Night." and with that Daryl walked off to where his brother and Shane were. She was still warm from all the Jack Daniels in her system but she did notice Daryl had left her a fresh blanket which she wrapped herself up in and smoked the rest of her cigarette before lying down pulling the blanket over her face shutting her eyes she took a deep breath in smelling the musky smell and cologne realising this was Daryl's blanket that he had left for her and although she had only known him no more than 12 hours he had saved her life, protected her, tended for her and even gave her his blanket. But in the same 12 hours he had shown how uncomfortable he was with her as she had only tried to show gratitude. She took another deep breathe of his smell and began to slowly drift off to sleep for the first time in a long time she didn't wake up having another nightmare. She still felt eyes on her the whole time except this time it wasn't Ed's lustful gaze or the dead eyes of a walker it was the protective stares of the three men who had fought her battle for her tonight, Shane, Merle and the most welcome of them all Daryl. She wasn't going to ever give them a reason to think of her as weak again, she was a fighter not a victim, and for the first time since this happened she definitely felt like they had hope, they were going to survive.