I know it's been a while since I updated but I've been thinking about how to end this story. If I was going to do a sequel or not. But after thinking about it. There will be a Sequel. Thanks for reviewing, Love the reviews and I am extremely happy you all like it. Well here is chapter 25, Enjoy.
Darkness that's all she saw. There was even a tempature she should describe. No breeze, no chill, just nothing. She looking around the simiular darkness around her. There was no light, no nothing. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She couldn't talk. Why couldn't she talk? Now that she noticed she really didn't even open her mouth. She tried to raise her hand to her throat but found she couldn't move. What the hell? What's wrong with me? She asked herself. She listened hoping to hear something. Maybe somebody to tell her what's she suppose to be doing. But nothing came. She felt as though she was missing something. Forgetting somebody or she was suppose to be doing something. She wasn't sure. But whatever it was is important.
"Sweetheart don't do this to me." Rick cried thrusting on her chest once again. Daryl pulled at him now trying to get him away from the girl's body. He would pull out of Daryl's grasp going back to the girl. "She's not dead."
There. What was that? She looked around wanting to yell hello or say anything but she couldn't. Was somebody calling her? Who would be calling her? That's when she heard it somebody's voice. It was faint she couldn't make it out but she was sure she heard something.
"Come back to me." He whispered before once again placing his lips on hers.
That time she did hear what the voice said. "Come back to me?" Come back to who? Was that what she forgotten? Had she forgotten someone? Memories came flooding back to her. "I'm Nicole" "I'm Rick" "I like the name, Lane." "Who's your favorite person?" "You are" "Walker Bait" "I'll always stand by you." "I love you Annie." "I love you too." "My husband" "These people are my family" "I love you, Rick" "I care about you a lot." "If I can't have you nobody will." She knew what he had forgotten she had forgot to live. She reconigized the voice now. It was Rick calling for her.
"She's gone Rick." Daryl told him still standing with the crossbow. His grip on the handle tightened. He just couldn't understand why this girl has been the target for every attack. Why would somebody want her dead? "Stop Rick you can't save her."
Rick slammed his fist into the ground beside Nicole's head. Daryl watched as the man's body shaked. "You are not dead, you are not dead" He sat back up looking at Nicole.
"Rick stop!" Daryl demanded. "She's gone."
She needed to move. She needed to yell. She needed to do something show them she was alive. With everything in her she tried to do something. Move her hand, whisper his name, anything so show them she was not gone.
"No she's- she's-" Rick went silent slowly backing away from the girl's body. His eyes glazed over coldly. "Gone."
I need to wake up. Annie needs me, Rick needs me. I can't leave them please help me. Move! Yell! Do something, anything!
Daryl slowly lowered his crossbow staring at the girl in disbelief. He wasn't sure if it was his imagination or if he really saw it. No she's a walker that's why her hand twitched. He raised his hand again aiming at the girl. Rick stood up beside her pulling his gun from his holster.
"I'll do it Daryl" Rick whispered pointing the gun at her. His finger cocked it before glazing the trigger. His hand was shaking as he stared down at her. He wasn't sure if he'd be able to do it. "Goodbye sweetheart."
Wake up! she screamed.
They both watched in amazement as the girl gasped and started coughing. She looked up at the gun being pointed at her. She blinked acouple times before her eyes started to adjust to the light. Daryl and Rick both lowered their weapons. She looked up at Rick with a faint smile.
"Hey" Her head fell side ways unconcious. Rick dropped to his knees placing his ear to her chest before checking her pulse.
"She's breathing." Rick said in disbelief. "Her pulse it weak though we need to get her to Hershel." He picked her up in his arms. Her head falling against his shoulder. He stood by up with her in his arms. They both broke out into a steady run towards the cell block. Her arm was dangling by her side. Rick looked down at her. The way she looked reminded him of the time he had carried Carl after he had gotten shot. Daryl opened the cellblock door before him as he ran through. "Hershel!" Rick yelled grabbing everyone's attention. Carol gasped covering her mouth with her hands.
"Is she alive?" Carol asked looking over at the young girl in Rick's arms. Daryl nodded. Hershel looked down at her checking her pulse. He looked at the redness of her neck and blood under her nails. He knew she was attacked.
"Bring her in here. Her wind pipe might be crushed." Rick followed Hershel into his cell laying the girl on the bed. He quickly covered her with the blanket because the state she was in. The lack of clothing. He was pushed from the room by Hershel and Carol. Rick stumbled out looking back. He wasn't sure what to do. He looked forward seeing the small girl trying to look inside the cell. Her doe eyes on the verge of tears. She looked from the cell meeting eyes with Rick. Her lip was shaking holding back sobs. Rick's heart broke at the sight of the girl.
"Ni-Nicole?" She asked her voice breaking. Tears started rolling down her cheeks. He bent down allowing her to run into his arms. Her small arms wrap around his neck. Her body was shaking as she let out sobs. He wrapped his arm around her small frame. "Is- Is she okay?" she whimpered her tears soaking his shirt. Rick stroked her hair trying to calm her down. But he couldn't, the guilt was eating him alive. If he would have waited for her Annie wouldn't crying right now. Nicole wouldn't be in the bed unconious.
"I'm sure she will, she's strong." Rick whispered "I'm sorry Annie, I'm so sorry" he wasn't sure if she heard him or not. She just shook. He stood up holding her against his chest whispering it'll be okay in her ear. After acouple minutes of rocking her in his arms he felt the shaking stop and her breathing softened and become steady. He realized she was asleep. He moved her head to his shoulder allowing her to lay somewhere dry. Her small hand was clutching his shirt. He walking around rocking her in his arms. Carol came out of the cell. She gently patted Annie's back.
"Nicole's okay. Her windpipe isn't damaged, she should be fine. Nothing's really fractured. Rick do you know what happened to her?" Carol asked in a hush tone not trying to wake up the small girl in his arms. Rick's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I have a slight idea." Rick hissed thinking off Connor. He wanted his hands on the bastard more then anything. Choke him the death with his bare hands for touching Nicole. He would go for the little bitch now but he couldn't leave Annie alone. He would find him sooner or later.
"There's something else I want to talk to you about." Carol said shyly looking at the girl and not Rick. Rick told to go on, so she continued. "I think Nicole might have gotten bitten by a walker." Carol revealed playing with Annie's curls. "She has teeth mark on her shoulder. But she isn't having any symptoms. Which is really strange. I was thinking maybe the virus is starting to were off or she's immune to their bites. Hershel says it's more of a human bite than a walker one. The skin wasn't torn or anything. It's strange." Carol wasn't really staring at anything as she talked. It was as if she was lost in thought. Rick couldn't help but blush. He was going to have to explain to Carol he had done it in the heat of the moment. Rick cleared his throat gaining Carol's attention.
"It's nothing to worry about." Rick told her hoping she would catch on but she didn't.
"No Rick it looks like it could be something serious. We need to know why it's not effecting her like others." Carol said worry written in her voice. Rick leaned closer to her so only she could hear.
"It was me." He whispered before pulling back. She looked at him confused.
"Why would you-" Carol cut off her eyes going wide and a blush rising up on her cheeks. He could tell she was slightly embarrassed about the situation. She rubs the back of her neck with her hand before shifting on her feet. "In a weird way I kind always knew, you know?" She give him a smile before patting his shoulder. "I'm going to explain to Hershel it's not a big deal or anything we should worry about." She turned away walking back into the cell. Rick watched before turning back to the small girl in his arms. He didn't even hear Daryl approach until the redneck spoke.
"Shouldn't we go kick somebody's ass or something?" Daryl asked as Rick slowly looked up at him.
"I'm sure he's already ran, being the coward he is." Rick said with disgust. Daryl nodded in agreement. There was the sound of a door slamming and they both looked up to see one of Connor's group members, Joey. Daryl already had his crossbow up aiming. Carol ran out just as she seen Daryl ready. Rick looked over at Carol. "Here take Annie for me" Carol nodded taking the small child from Rick's arms. "Will you take her out of here?" Carol nodded before going back into the cell. After Annie was out of sight, Rick pulled his python from the holster charging after Joey. He stood there waiting, not saying a single word. Rick grabbed him by the shirt slamming him against the wall.
"I didn't come here to fight. I came to tell you Nicole's in trouble!" Joey pleaded closing his eyes tightly. "I didn't do anything. I heard Connor talking about it so I left to come tell you guys." He didn't open his eyes as he told Rick the situation. Rick held his gun the guys cheek.
"He's still here?" Rick asked through clenched teeth.
"No that was this morning. He's already gone. I stayed behind because I can't take those people anymore. And from what Connor told me about Nicole. I know she's a good person and I want to stay here with all of you. Please don't kill me!" Joey begged. "I'm just tired of everyone dying or being killed. If I stay with them I know I'll end up being killed or they'll make me kill somebody."
"Well you were to late." Daryl snapped from his spot next to Rick. Joey finally opened his eyes looking at Daryl.
"What you mean I was too late?" Joey asked in shock. Rick's grip on his shirt tightened. He pulled Joey forward before slamming him back into the wall once again.
"Don't play stupid!" Rick demanded making the boy once again shrivel up with fear. He closed his eyes once again turning his head away.
"I don't know what you are talking about. Please I'm being honest!" Joey pleaded his hands being held up in surrender. "Just let me talk with Nicole, I need to warn her about Connor. I'm not here to harm anyone I swear that's why I didn't bring my weapon I didn't want to look like a threat. I saved you Rick I saved you not Ashley not Connor not Dave. Me!" Rick loosened his grip letting go of the boy's shirt. He didn't put his gun down however. Daryl narrowed his eyes stepping closer.
"Why did you save him?" Daryl asked wanting to know why his group would allow him to save somebody when they were clearly unstable people.
"I had too." Joey said brushing off his shirt and looked at Daryl. "I seen the fire and ran off in that direction but tripped over something. I looked down to see a man lying on the group coughing and barely concious. He was muttering names and well one of them was Nicole so it snapped in my head that if it was the same Nicole Connor was always talking about then maybe I could get her to stop him from going crazy, well more crazy. So I talked to Connor telling him what I heard so he allowed Rick to live until he found out if it was the right Nicole. And it wasn't he wasn't going to put a bullet in his head." Joey swallowed before continuing. "And I was so happy to find out she was the right Nicole. I thought maybe Connor would change back to the guy he was in the beginning but he didn't. He turned even colder always mumbling about "she's going to pay". I never really paid attention to it until now. So last night I heard him and Nicole arguing and him hit her. I wanted to say something but Dave told me if I did Connor would most like kill me so I didn't. And after she left I heard him talking to Ashley about parking the car in the back because we would be leaving tonight. I wanted to come tell you as soon as I woke up but Dave had me cleaning the weapons and I didn't want to ask out of the ordinary. About fifteen minutes ago I left to come tell you but before I could make it to you I heard Connor yelling to get ready because we are leaving. So I hid down the hall waiting. As soon as he was gone I came here and here we are." Joey took a deep breath waiting for them to say something. Glenn stepped next to Daryl.
"I believe him. I spent most of the day with him yesterday he wasn't like Dave. Dave was cold and almost got Joey kilt." Glenn explained looking at Rick. "He kicked Joey into a walker trying to save himself."
"Glenn's right. I think we should trust him." Maggie said agreeing with her boyfriend. Rick groaned angrily looking around at everyone.
"Look just let me talk to Nicole. She can explain how much Connor isn't in his right mind." Joey pleaded.
"She's in no condition to talk." Daryl said his crossbow still aimed at Joey. Joey opened his eyes in shock.
"What happened?" Joey asked looking from Daryl to Rick. "Did he kill her?"
"We aren't sure what happened, but she's okay now. We think Connor tried to strangle her" Daryl explained. Rick looked over at Joey narrowing his eyes.
"You can stay, but we are locking you in a cell." Rick hissed before nodding for Daryl to grab him. Rick turned on his heel as Joey and Daryl followed behind him. He stopped in front of the cell beside Hershel's. He opened the cell letting Joey walk through before slamming it closed and locking it.
I am sad to see this story go but I am doing a sequel. There is only one more chapter left in this story. I'm not sure when I'll upload the second story but I've been working on it lately. It's been a very difficult job but I almost have chapter 1 done. I'm thinking about adding a new OC for the second part. Maybe for Daryl? I'm really not sure. But I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on this subject and the story. Thanks so much for reading everyone.