HappyGoLuckyGirl: I have a few winter chapters written. But there are time jumps within those chapters.
Dixonluvrgirl: Just wait, just wait. ;)
Boondockgirl543: It might be. Depends on how you read it. I'm not a very good action writer so I hope I did this part some justice.
Vampiregirl13: You never know. Getting separated (or not getting separated) might lead to good or bad things...
Merry Christmas everyone! Hope y'all enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think by commenting below!
Stand Your Ground or Run
As we stood on the porch, Hershel whispered to Patricia to kill the lights while Andrea went inside to get the guns. I took a small step towards Daryl, having the need to know that he was right there beside me. Glenn spoke up, his voice slightly shaky "It kind of looks like the herd that passed on the highway. Shouldn't we just go into the house and let them pass?" I shook my head as I answered "Unless you know something about a secret back door, then yeah we can. But by the size of that herd, they'll probably knock the house down."
"Carl's gone!"
Turning around, I saw Lori behind us, her hands on her chest. Glenn tried to suggest that maybe, just maybe, Carl was hiding. Lori shook her head "He's supposed to be upstairs. I'm not leaving without my boy." Carol took control of the situation by grabbing Lori's arm and pulling her inside the house "We aren't gonna leave. We're going to find him."
Maggie and Andrea dropped the bag of guns on the floor and Maggie passed them out, along with extra ammo. When she passed a gun to Glenn, he just stood there, his mouth hanging open. I gave him a small smile and elbowed him "Glenn, at this point, knowing that Maggie can use a gun should be the least of your surprises."
Daryl shook his head "I've got some numbers. The guns ain't gon' help." Hershel stood up from where he was loading his gun "You can go if you want." I turned to Hershel, speechless "You're going to take them all on?" He cocked his gun and said "We've got guns and we've got cars Ava. I'm pretty sure we can get the jump on them." As I was about to argue with him, I felt a hand wrap around my arm and pull me to the side.
"Ava, you listen and you listen good." Daryl put both hands on my shoulders and held me in place, his eyes locked onto mine "I don't want you fightin' unless you absolutely have to." I tried to pull back from him but he held onto me. "I want you to get everyone and everythin' you can into one of the cars and head to the highway. Grab Lori, Carol, Beth, whoever. I want your ass off this farm. I can't lose you." I stood still, confused "But Daryl, I can fight. I can probably shoot better than anyone here!"
Keeping hold of my shoulders, he gave my body a small shake "Dammit A! Don't you understand what I'm tryin' to tell 'ya. Get your fuckin' ass off this fuckin' farm! I don't fuckin' care if you're the best shot in all of Georgia. Hell, in the entire world! I need you to get off this farm and get to safety!" Still dazed and confused, I continued to try to argue my way around his reasoning "But-"
I was cut off by Daryl pressing his mouth against mine. As his lips molded with mine, all thoughts of arguing went out the window. All too soon, he pulled away, the both of us panting as we tried to catch our breath. Looking straight into my eyes, he gently squeezed my shoulders "Now, will you please go and get off this damned farm?" I slowly nodded and he gave me a small smile as he touched his forehead to mine. "Thank you", he muttered.
As he moved to rejoin the group, I let my hand slide down his arm and into his hand. Giving it a small squeeze, I whispered "I love you Daryl Dixon." If he heard me, he didn't show it. He continued over to the group and helped make the battle plans.
Letting out the breath that I must have been holding, I secured my bow over my shoulder and made my way into the house. Once inside, Lori and Carol were running around and checking everywhere in search for Carl. I sighed to myself, thinking Carl, why can't you ever stay in the fuckin' house like you're told?
Lori came rushing down the stairs as Carol came around the corner "I can't find him anywhere." Speaking up, I suggested "Maybe he snuck outside." Lori stopped her pacing and put her hands on her head, shouting "What do I do?!" Carol tried to calm Lori down "He was here. He probably just ran off looking for Rick."
"Maybe he's the one that set the fire", Beth said as she stepped away from the window. I spoke up "Lori, go check the shed. Maybe Carl tried to bring Randall back himself. Beth, Patricia, we need to grab everyone's emergency bags and get them into a car. Carol, go check the attic and the cellar and then go get Lori. We've got to go!"
I grabbed the bags and put them into Hershel's car. Running back inside, I grabbed Beth and Patricia as Carol went to get Lori. After Lori called for Hershel multiple times, I pulled the women I was with along with me as I made my way back towards the cars. Hearing a scream behind me, I looked over my shoulder to see Beth hanging onto Patricia's hand as the walkers took her down.
I ran to Beth and wrapped my arms around her waist, pulling her away from Patricia. As they screamed, I muttered into Beth's ear "C'mon Bethy. We've gotta go. We've gotta leave her. I'm so sorry." As Beth's hand slipped out of Patricia's, I pulled her away to T-dog's truck. Pushing Lori and Beth inside, T-dog asked "Where's Carol?"
Looking around, I saw her backed up against the chicken house. Pulling my bow off my back, I yelled "Go T! I'll get her! Just go!" As I ran over to her, I reached behind me and pulled an arrow out of my quiver and nocked it, letting it sit on the arrow rest. Taking my stance, I drew back on the string and let the arrow fly towards the walker nearest Carol.
As the arrow hit its mark, the rotting body fell down just inches in front of Carol. As she caught her breath, she looked up and screamed "Behind you!" Lowering my bow, I turned around to find a walker almost on top of me. Swinging my bow up, I caught the bastard on the side of his head, effectively knocking him down. As more walkers came towards me, I shouted instructions to Carol as I shouldered my bow "Carol. Run! Make for the highway! I'll catch up with you."
Lifting my leg, I reached down and pulled my knife out of my boot. One by one, I took down walkers as they came closer to me. Repeatedly I would step forward, plunge my knife into one's head, twist and yank my knife out, only to do the same thing milliseconds later. I kept backing up, hoping to find a break within the wave of the undead, but it never came.
This is it. I'm going to die. I'm never going to see Daryl again. I'm just glad that I told him I loved him, even if he never said it back.
*Daryl's POV*
Sitting on my bike, I watched the barn burn. I watched as the flames ate up the wood, hay, and the Walkers inside. Sighing, I made my mind up that I needed to go ahead and head for the highway. Ava should have made it off the farm already.
As I was about to kick start the bike, I heard a scream rip through the groans of the walkers. Turning my bike around, I drove down the dirt road, praying to whatever higher power there is, that it wasn't Ava.