Recapture

Chapter 26

Daryl took aim at the walker crawling after Melissa and fired. He looked down at her and almost couldn't believe his own eyes. He could tell it took a moment for her to register who he was. He knelt down next to her to start to help her up. Melissa looked back in shock at the walker motionless behind her with a bolt sticking out of it's head. She turned back to Daryl, pulled herself up to her knees and threw her arms around his neck. She couldn't find the words to speak. She just felt so relieved to see him she started to cry.

Daryl would normally cringe at someone hugging him but not this time. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Neither one of them said a word at first. He just wanted to burn this moment into his brain. The last day had been full of fear for Melissa and now she had never felt safer with anyone than she did in Daryl's arms. Daryl slowly pulled away from her so her could look at her. He cupped her hand in his face.

"Are you hurt?" Daryl asked her.

"My ankle….I think it's broken." She said as she pointed towards her left foot. "I think that's it though….oh my head still hurts a little."

Daryl could see the rope marks around her wrist. He gently took a hold of her hand as he looked at them.

"I was picked up by a man and woman, they tied me up. Then the walkers came, I thought we were all going to die but I managed to get away and hide here for a bit…at least until now." She told him. "The man also hit me with something….my shotgun I think. I can feel the bruises on my head but I don't think it's too bad."

Daryl brushed her hair from her face and could she some bruising and a laceration on her head. Blood had dried and was matted in her hair from it. Daryl pulled her back close and kissed her on the forehead. Melissa leaned into him and buried her face in his neck holding him tight. She just wanted to feel his arms around her. Daryl pulled away from her again and got up, walking over towards the walker. He pulled the bolt from it's head and wiped it off on the ground. Securing it to his crossbow he walked back over to Melissa and knelt down again.

"Ain't nobody gonna hurt you again." Daryl told her. "Come on….I'm taking you home." Daryl helped her to her feet but she couldn't put any weight on her left foot. She balanced herself as best she could as Daryl but her backpack over both shoulders then secured his crossbow crossways across his chest and around his back. Before she could say anything, Daryl scooped her up in his arms and started to carry her towards the front of the house.

"You can't carry me the whole way back…." Melissa told him.

Daryl just looked at her and smiled. "Why not? It wouldn't be the first time….". Melissa had forgotten about him carrying her back from finding her in the creek but he was right. She could only assume she was easier to carry this time since she didn't feel like dead weight from being unconscious like before.

"I knew something was wrong about that house…." Daryl told her.

"What do you mean?" Melissa asked looking confused.

"Rick and I were here yesterday looking for you. We found those people that tied you up…" Daryl told her.

Melissa looked towards the house for a moment as they passed by it and then it occurred to her what Daryl was actually saying.

"The dress… you thought she was me didn't you? You thought I was dead…." She replied.

Daryl didn't say a word, he didn't want to think about her being dead anymore. His heart ached at just the thought.

Melissa knew it was her own fault for Daryl to think that. If she hadn't have stormed off in the first place they wouldn't be in that situation. She felt guilty.

"What made you come back then?" Melissa asked.

Daryl stopped walking and looked at her. "I didn't put it together at first but then I got to thinking…..she had a tattoo on her wrist…I knew it couldn't be you….plus….she wasn't wearing these damn boots of yours." Daryl said as he laughed at her a little as he began walking again. Even as an adult all she wanted to wear was cowboy boots.

"Well some things never change I guess…" Melissa added as she rested her head on Daryl's shoulder and they headed back.