This story is a piece of fiction and is strictly for entertainment purposes. All characters, scenes, etc. are strictly the property of TWD and AMC.
As she ran through the trees Carol could feel it was different this time. Ever since Rick set up this morning's run, something had felt off to her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but instead, passed it off as lack of food and sleep. The walker's growls were closer than she originally thought and she pushed on. She knew there had to be three or four walkers behind her and she only had one bullet left along with her knife. "Daryl!" she screamed as loud as she could, "Help me!
Fear grew inside her as she fell into some old fencing that had barbed wire and her clothes became tangled. She pulled and twisted trying to free them, but it only seem to make it worse. Terror filled her screams, "Daryl! Rick! Michonne! Oh God, anyone please help me!"
"Carol!? Where are you?" yelled Daryl as he thrashed through the trees towards the sound of her voice.
"I am over here! Hurry up!" Carol aimed the gun toward the walker coming at her and fired a clean shot right through the skull, sending walker fragments flying. A second and third walker came toward her at the same time which allowed her to pierce the skull of one, but due to her shirt sleeve being caught up, the other walker was able to stumble, fall and scratch her all the way across her stomach. She screamed out in agony at the same time she heard a thud as Daryl's arrow caught the walker's skull. Her armed burned and she began to cry. Daryl got to her, sliced her clothes with his knife and picked her up.
"I am so sorry Carol, I ran as fast as I could when I heard you call my name." Tears began to fill his eyes as he carried her to the car. Rick and Michonne ran up to them. "We have to get her back to the camp right now," said Daryl as he pushed through them.
"What the hell happened?," asked Rick as he gathered up the items they had found on the run and quickly caught up with them. They filed into the car and Rick gunned it down the dirt road.
"It is my fault," said Carol quietly. "Daryl was checking the house and I went out back to check a car that I thought may have gas in it. When I didn't see one, I got deeper into the trees than I realized and ended up caught in some old barbed wire."
Daryl's jaw clenched as he pulled her tighter to him. She snuggled in and just began whispering over and over, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." He caressed her hair and cheek quietly saying, "Sssshhhhh, I am going to take care of you. I promise..." His tears began to fall as he knew what they would soon face.