The door rocked in it's frame, the force of the Walkers' desperation scooting the barricaded furniture inch by inch across the carpet. Adrenaline took over and Savannah launched herself at a nicked wooden dresser. She dropped to her haunches and braced her shoulder against the rickety drawers. With a deep breath, she shoved with all her might, forcing the furniture back against the now slightly ajar door. It snapped shut on a decaying hand, one of the fingers bouncing across the carpet and coming to rest at Daryl's feet. Pulling his crossbow from underneath the bed, he marched to the window, pulling the curtain aside a fraction.
"Aw fuck," he muttered under his breath. There had to be at least a dozen walkers out there. Where the fuck had they come from? He had only seen a coupla' those bastards out there earlier. They were damn fast for dead folks. He turned to Savannah, who was sweating under the strain of holding off the Walkers. Daryl swung his bow over his back and mirrored her crouched position, shoving with all his might. "There are more 'an ten of 'em out there. We need tuh find another way outta here." Savannah nodded, not trusting herself to be able to talk. This was pathetic- she knew that she'd not been eating as much as she should have been, but she wasn't just underweight; she was fucking frail! She should have been able to hold this barricade, but it felt like the world was pushing against that damn door.
She took a shuddering breath. "Sadie, find a way out. I don't know how long I can keep this shit up," she panted. Sadie jumped off the bed and ran to the bathroom, hoping there was a window there. If they could get out the back, then went the barricade broke, and the Walkers were preoccupied with the motel room, they could make a run for the Explorer. Shoving open the door and flicking on the light, Sadie grimaced. Obviously this bathroom wasn't used for any sort of relaxation. The sink was covered in a grayish green film and the floor was worn and faded.
"Thank God I kept my shoes on," she muttered. This was downright filthy! Scrunching up her nose, Sadie turned and saw a window high up on the wall. It had to be no more than a foot tall and a couple wide, if even that. Standing on the clogged toilet, she tried the latch, which was rusted, but after a few forceful yanks, opened with a creak. She poked her head out the window, looking around quickly. Behind the motel was a long overgrown basketball court and an emptied swimming pool. It was obvious that the motel no longer attracted the clientele that required such amenities, so management probably quit with the upkeep. She hopped off the toilet and raced back into the room. "Sav! There's a window- it's small, but it opens! And there's no Walkers back there! We can get out!"
Taken momentarily off guard, Savannah's feet lost purchase on the threadbare carpet and her leg shot out from underneath her. She fell to the floor only to have her side of the dresser slam back into her right shoulder, making a sickeningly loud crunch. A jolt of pain rocketed through her arm and down her side. She hissed in pain, her teeth bared, as she leaned her back against the dresser, pushing once more. Savannah cradled her right shoulder with her left arm, her right one dangling limply from the socket. Daryl knew at once that her shoulder was dislocated and that he couldn't pop it back into the socket without moving from his position. There was no way that she could get through a tiny bathroom window without help either.
Savannah took a calming breath before looking at Sadie whose eyes were wide with worry. "Sadie, get our stuff and throw it out the window. We need to get everything we need out before making a run for it." The younger girl merely nodded before snatching up their backpacks and darting away to the bathroom. Savannah looked at Daryl, sizing him up, before saying, "It's dislocated, right?" She already knew the answer, but she needed some sort of confirmation. When he nodded, she continued resolutely, "Go break apart that chair. We need to prop this barricade up."
He stared at her in disbelief. Now wasn't the time for fuckin' heroics. There was no way she could hold those damn things back in her condition. "Ya can't do it alone. I dun' think so." She glared at him before planting her feet shoulder's width apart and with a look of determination, shoved with all of her strength.
"You're gonna have to do it. I can't do anything with my bum arm, and Sadie can't either, she's too weak. Now break that damn chair before I break you, ya hear?" The ferocity in her voice was enough to give him slight pause, and the defiant look she gave him made him comply. Shrugging, he hoisted himself up. Grabbing the chair, he smashed it with his booted foot. There were only a few good pieces, but they'd have to do. Daryl snatched them up and used them to prop up the barricade, the sharpened ends digging into the carpet and the more dull ones wedged into the seams of the dresser. Savannah eased up a little, testing their strength- they could hold enough so that she didn't have to strain too much, but not so much that she could stop pushing altogether. Regaining her footing, she looked up and Daryl and to Sadie who was standing in the bathroom doorway, shifting nervously from foot to foot. She knew that she wouldn't be able to get out that window without help. Sadie was too small and weak to help her, and someone had to stay here to hold the barricade, that much was certain. Savannah's heart was pounding as she turned back to Daryl who was looming over her, stern looking as ever.
"Get her out of here." Her voice was nothing but a whisper, half resigned and half pleading. Sadie launched herself into the room and right in front of her sister.
"Why are you telling him to do that? You have to come with me! You promised that we'd always be together!" The girl was now wailing, making the Walkers push against the door with renewed hunger. Her face was twisted with rage and sorrow, not understanding why Savannah would make her go with this guy they didn't even know.
Savannah smiled sadly. "Sadie, someone has to keep holding the barricade. We can't just-"
"He can do it! He's stronger! His shoulder isn't hurt!" Sadie interrupted, pointing wildly at Daryl.
"I know, Sadie, I know. But I can't get out a tiny window with just one arm, and you're too small to help me. He can get you both out of here. He can keep you safe, right?" The question was aimed at Daryl who, uncomfortable with such displays, had retreated to the other side of the room. At her question, he perked up and nodded.
"I'm part of a group. There's other kids. She'll be fine." He ruffled his hair with one hand. What the hell had he gotten himself into? All he wanted was to see who the fuck was ballsy enough to drive around yammering on the radio, but now he was gonna leave someone to die and inherit her tag-along. What a fuckin' day.
Savannah smiled. "See? He can take care of you. You have to go. I don't know how much longer I can hold them, and I'll be damned if they get you." Savannah reached out with her good arm and brushed away Sadie's tears, even though they kept coming. With a sad smile, she pulled the girl closer and hugged her fiercely. Burying her face in the girl's curly brown hair, she whispered, "Même lorsque je ne suis pas à côté de vous, je suis toujours avec vous. Je vous aimerai toujours.*" Sadie sobbed harder against her shoulder, inconsolable. It was only when she heard the door splintering that Savannah pushed her away. Daryl guided the girl away by her shoulders, his eyes meeting Savannah's once more. He couldn't help but feel a grudging respect for the slight woman. She knew what had to be done, and even though it meant risking her life, she made sure that her sister survived. He would have done the same for Merle. He had many a time, in fact. But they weren't the same. Sadie was going to be destroyed, and he seriously doubted that Merle even gave his sacrifices a second thought, the bastard. But he was family. Daryl looked down at the girl, her eyes red rimmed from crying and her lip quivering from trying to hold herself together. Now, he had someone else to take care of. Giving Savannah one last look, he guided Sadie into the bathroom and hoisted her through the window, following quickly afterward. He had someone else to take care of.
*Even when I'm not beside you, I'm always with you. I'll always love you.
