Hey guys, I am so sorry this has taken ages to update :( I have been in and out of hospital and have broken my arm which is making typing so much longer, and I am so sorry if this chapter is kinda crap. I wanted to add in the walkers here, and then work with them in the next chapter. I'm afraid Daryl and Merle will be leaving this soon, but don't you worry my dears, I will be working with the other story so they are lined up properly and you get a little more in depth detail about how Callie grows as a person. :)
Lots of love and a new chapter should be up tomorrow! Love Elly xxx
Callie woke up with a gasp and looked out at the dark night sky, shimmering with stars. She looked down next to her and smiled lightly at the sight of Daryl sleeping sweetly, his head resting where her shoulder once was. She rubbed her eyes and stretched out, only one thing on her mind. She walked over to the door, her body shaking under how slow she was, trying to be silent. She pulled the door open enough to shimmy her body through, and she looked back over to make sure Daryl was still asleep.
She ran over to her fathers barn and picked up her belt stacked to the brim with knives. She clipped it around her waist and set off down the hill, on high alert. She missed the feeling of Dixie being beside her, his head down and his ears pricked up. She shook the feeling off and jogged down the hill, trying to remember the way to the hospital. She saw it in the distance, the big sign flickering on and off before her and sending an unexpected chill down her spine.
She carried on walking towards the hospital, still hearing the screams from inside. Her body shivered and a chill shot down her spine as she tiptoed into the ER. The sight shocked her a little as her eyes scanned over the police border that blocked off the stairs. "What's going on?" she asked a woman next to her. "They had to quarantine off the floors above, no one is allowed in our out. Some kind of outbreak apparently" the woman answered, and Callie bit her lip at the remembrance of what she saw earlier on that night.
"Callie" she heard someone call out, and she swivelled around and saw Daryl walking in through the door, his head turning as he searched for her. She bit her lip as he caught eyes with her and he stormed over to her, crushing her in his arms. "The hell are you doing here?" he growled into her ear. "I need to see what is happening" Callie said and Daryl sighed. "You aint gonna let this go are you?" he asked and Callie shook her head determinedly.
"Fine, come on then" Daryl answered, and pulled Callie round the back of the reception area. Callie tiptoed behind him, gripping his hand as the lights flickered again. Callie was shocked when they reached the next floor up - the whole area was strewn with paper, the lights were off and only the dim light from the moon allowed them to see what was happening. Callie's stomach knotted and turned as she stared at the horrific sight ahead of her.
Daryls hand clamped over her mouth when he saw what she was looking at, and pulled her to one side. Callie watched in sheer horror as her mother, or what was her mother, was biting chunks of flesh out of a body, still twitching underneath her. Callie lurched forward, even though her body jerked back as Daryl pulled her back down the stairs, flinging her over one shoulder. He walked out the door and into the street, the cold air hitting the both of them and making them shudder.
"Daryl..." Callie started, before he put her down and pulled her body in close to his. Callie sobbed quietly into his jacket, her arms wrapped around his neck as his own pushed on her back. She felt his arms hook under her thighs and she allowed herself to be walked back up the hill as she cuddled into him. She noticed how comforting it was to be locked in his arms, and looked up as she was walked into her house. "Callie, where have you been?" her father asked as Daryl put her down.
Callie kept hold of his hand so he couldn't leave, and sniffed a bit looking over at Zephy as she slept with her teddy under her head. "Dad... All those stories on the news about those weird people who ate others... It's all happening" Callie said, her voice a faint whisper. "What do you mean?" her father asked, an Daryl wrapped his arms around Callie's waist. "We went to the ER... Everything is shit crazy in there, there's people biting others... eatin' 'em. S'like a horror movie" he said.
Callie's father blinked a few times, and Callie knew he believed her. "I didn't want to say anything, but we heard the same thing on the news a while ago. Some hospital in the city had the same infection, said the only way to stop them was by hitting them in the head or something. They said it was all under control, guess the same thing will happen here too" her father said, and Callie hoped with all her heart he was right. Daryl gently tugged at Callie's arm as he headed for her stairs, but her father stopped them.
"I aint no stupid foo. Them people on the radio are talking bullshit. Keep yourselves safe, and keep an eye out. They might have it under control but shit like this can spread like wildfire. If something happens, take Zephy, take everything you can and get the fuck outta town" her father said quietly, with a dark edge to his voice. "And you make sure she stays safe" he added, looking at Daryl. "Yes sir" Daryl answered, and walked upstairs with Callie.
"Look in the cupboard" Callie's father mouthed to her, and she nodded as she walked upstairs, her father following as he carried Zephy up to her room. Callie went to her cupboard and found a satchel and her bow and arrows, as well as a few more knives stocked on a shelf. "Dad always had an idea something bad would happen, was always prepared" Callie said, and Daryl snuggled his head into her neck, leaving gentle kisses along her jawline.
Callie smiled as she shut the door, and walked over to her bed, plonking herself on it with a sigh. "Everything will be ok" Daryl said, and lay down next to her. Callie turned so she was on her side, her face inches away from Daryl's. "We'll find Dixie, the hospital thing will be sorted, and we'll all be fine" Daryl said, and Callie looked into his gorgeous eyes. "Don't leave" she whispered as she heard Merle calling for Daryl. "I won't, I promise" Daryl said, sticking his head out the window to see where his brother was.
Callie cuddled into his arms as he got back into bed, and her mind ran circles as she tried to sleep. Both her and Daryl stared at the ceiling, wondering what the next day would bring.