This might be my favorite chapter yet. I really enjoyed writing it. I find myself at work distracted, thinking about where I want the story to go...I know where it will end, but theres still a good bit of inbetween that I have to hash out.
As always, thank you so much for your time and feedback. 3
Daryl looked back at the group before pushing the door open. Their bows and guns were drawn.
Rose's heart was pounding hard in her chest and she tried to fight a wave a dizziness that washed over her-a combination of fever and fear.
To her relief, the building was unoccupied. In fact, it was completely empty…yet totally unnerving. She could feel her body resisting the situation, the space. She was trying her best not to recoil in grim anticipation.
The four of them stepped inside. Shane threw the door open all the way when he entered. Daylight washed over the interior walls and floor.
That was when the smell hit them. Rose later pondered on this, and asked Daryl if it was the same for him-did the nauseating, nostril-burning scent of blood and tissue flood him when he first walked in or when the contents of the room were revealed? He confirmed the latter.
There was a drain in the center of the cement room. Dried blood and bits of flesh (of walkers or the living, maybe both) littered the floor and collected obscenely over the drain. There were a few pieces of shredded, blood soaked fabric haphazardly strewn about.
Blood splattered the walls in an obvious pattern-large sprays of red that lined up and ran into thin, bold rivulets down to the floor.
They had all seen an unthinkable amount of gore in the last few months, but Rose had been more sheltered, if only in the way that she was always running from it. Don't stop, don't think, just run. Add to that that by nature she was squeamish and easily affected by things and…
Her head spun. Shane reached an arm out to steady her when he saw her sway, but she pushed away from him and stumbled backwards.
Daryl went after her as she floundered towards the door. Her foot caught on the slightly raised entrance and she went down hard, landing on her knees. She managed to keep her arms out long enough to vomit into the grass, then collapsed.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Loud, pitiable sobs shook her.
Daryl's hands were on her and she awkwardly, desperately reached up to him. Scooping her into his lap , he cradled her head to his chest and rocked her. He had no idea where this protective instinct, this comforting nature was coming from, but she drew it out of him like needles.
Shane and Andrea could do nothing but observe-both the wreck that was currently Rose and this mind blowing nurturing side of Daryl.
"Shh…shh…I've got you. We're all safe here." He stroked her hair over and over again and looked up just briefly at the rest of his group.
Finally reacting, Shane squats down next to them and puts a hand on her shoulder. Its awkward with the way Daryl is holding her, and the gesture surprises them both. Daryl watches him closely and Rose nearly flinches.
His words are calm and even, not quite gentle but without motive. "I know you're worked up, but you've got to be…quieter. And we've got to toughen you up."
Daryl's eyes meet Shane's and he allows the statement, knowing his words have validity for once. He simply kisses the top of her head in response. He loved her softness, her genuine sweet vulnerability…but it wasn't for this world, and he had to keep her safe.
Andrea's unassuming observance was slowly turning to irritation as she watched the two men trying to calm Rose. She wasn't special. She hadn't been through anything that the rest of the world hadn't been through. She was younger but that didn't matter. The sun was going down and they needed to move.
"We should get going", she said, pressing her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
Shane looked at her and held his hand up, gesturing-give them a minute.
Andrea rolled her eyes. "Are you kidding me? You too?"
Daryl glared at her. "What is that supposed to mean?"
He felt Rose take a few deep, shaky breaths before pressing her forehead to his briefly. She put her small hands on his shoulders to steady herself and stood up.
Shane noticed the blood first. With lips slightly parted he gestured to her legs. "Well, that ain't good."
She had dark spots on both of her knees where blood had seeped through her jeans.
"Kid…", Daryl breathed.
"I'm okay. I just…I just needed…a minute. Another minute and we can go."
"You can walk all the way back. Like that?", Shane said, pointing.
She gritted her teeth. "I kind of have to.", she said quietly. "I can do it."
Shane and Daryl looked at each other.
"Great. Ring the dinner bell." Andrea spat.