Blood painted a tree with a loud splash as Rick's hatchet sliced through the head of the closest one. He spun on his heel, arm raised, ready for the two over his shoulder. He grabbed the first by the neck, holding it just inches from his face, the growls and spit filling his ears while his blade disabled the other. He kicked the first backwards, following it on unsteady steps until he fell to his knees above it. With one more swing it was done.
"Michonne!" he yelled, wiping blood from his forehead. His blood, their blood; he wasn't sure.
Sweat flew off his brow as his head whipped right, then left, searching. He shoved off of the corpse beneath him, wrapping his hand around the handle of his weapon, reclaiming it from the skull it had just broken. He scanned the top of the hill behind him, where he last saw her, then the thick tree line on either side of the road. Silence. No moans seeping from undead mouths, and no sharp whistle of wind from her blade slicing through the air. He took off running up the incline to where she last stood. "Michonne!"
The slope was steep and the earth was soft from a recent rain. Reddish brown mud slid beneath his boots and he tripped, staining the knees of his jeans with soil and blood. He scrambled to his feet and faced his destination again, finally spotting her standing at the crest. "Hey!" he hollered, relieved. "You ok?"
She didn't answer, she just stared at him with the most vibrant smile he'd ever seen. He matched her stare, eyes combing her, looking her over. She looked fine. She was fine. He started his ascent again, cautiously stepping on the slippery terrain, but he couldn't close the distance. He was climbing, but she was no closer than before. He panicked, starting to run again, and again he fell. "Michonne!"
She shook her head, her beautiful smile never wavering. Her brown eyes beckoned, but he couldn't get his feet underneath him, couldn't get a grip on the earth. As he kicked backwards, desperately searching for traction, he saw one. "Behind you!" he yelled, but she didn't turn. She kept her eyes on him, grinning. Another came out of the trees, arms outstretched, heading right for her.
"No!" he cried, but his screams didn't stir her, she just held his gaze. "Michonne!"
"Rick," she whispered into his ear, stroking his damp chest. His heart beat wildly beneath her hand and pain rolled over his face like a wave.
"Rick." Her hands moved to his biceps, pinning his arms as she moved above him. She pressed her mouth to his, brushing against his lips as she spoke. "Baby, wake up."
His eyes flew open, fear still swimming in them as he tried to focus on her face. His breath was ragged and his hand clutched the back of her neck, pulling her to his chest. "Michonne."
"It's ok. You're awake. I'm here."
xxxxx
A/N this was my submission to the RJD July 2017 Flash Fic Challenge. Prompt: Wake Up Kiss
