This story is the same as one I had previously put up on here however the last chapter I posted was back in 2014. The reason for that is because I wasn't liking my OC or how it was written (and life).
I wasn't sure how I wanted to go about reloading it but after much deliberation I decided to delete the other version of the story and start again.
I am halfway through my rewrite so have now decided to start uploading them again.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Walking Dead or any of its characters.
Rated M for some serious language used by everyone's favourite Brothers.
This is set a little before Season 1 but as the story goes on we will follow the shows plot.
Enjoy
Daryl's POV
The sound of running' feet has the two of us halting' in our tracks. On instinct we both raise our weapons in unison but the footsteps are too fast and even to be a walker's however they stay aimed towards the possible trouble.
With how fast he's running it don't take long for him to appear.
"Well fuck me". Merle lets out a surprised chuckle as I instantly lower my crossbow.
She skids to a stop, nearly toppling over in the process but she just manages to catch herself. The first thing I notice, kind of hard to not to, is the lack of shoes. I then roam up skinny bare legs and onto the yellow dress that once must have been bright but now is dull with filth and is un-salvageable with rips and tears. Moving up I notice her hands are raised slightly in surrender. The wind is forcing her black hair over her face not giving us a view of her at all.
Nobody moves. Not until I swing my crossbow onto my back to try and show I have no intentions of using it. With a quick glance at Merle I notice he's shouldering his rifle. Together we raise our hands to show we mean no harm but not sure what good it'll do we definitely aren't the nicest looking fuckers around, or the cleanest.
Beside me Merle takes a step toward her but she counters it with one back. Her head whipping back to look in the direction she's just come from. She's weighing up her escape route.
"Hey squirt, its alrigh'. We don't mean no harm. We're just tryin' to get back to our truck." At first I'm convinced she's not going to listen to him but then after a tense few seconds she finally reacts. Her fingers curl into a loose fist before she lets them smack against her sides. She gives a slight nod.
Merle smirks at her pleased with himself. He tests her by taking another step forward which she allows to happen. "Ma names Merle and this", he gestures at me, "Is Darylina" I scoff, that bastard.
She pulls her hair away from her face allowing us a perfect view of her. Her eyebrows are raised questioningly above her doe like brown eyes.
I shake my head, "The names Daryl". She opens her mouth, I take a step forward ready for her to talk but before she can utter a word the unmistakable groans of the dead can be heard.
Danny's POV
They don't need a warning about the oncoming dead. They have their weapons out and are facing them before I even have time to blink. I take this chance. If they want to stay and fight they can do it on their own. I hitch my bag higher then take off back the way I came.
I come to another sliding stop behind a dumpster. Flinching when my bag smacks against it. There's three of those things up a head. They're not too close together, if I can just find something to use against them I could probably make it through. I quickly scan over my surroundings, jackpot. An old broken chair lies opposite me.
I glance back just as the two guys race around the corner. I yank on one of the legs and stamp down hard with one foot. I have to hold back a yell as my foot erupts with pain. I give it one last twist and the leg comes off. It's not the greatest weapon but it'll do.
The guys are getting close as I take off once again toward the beings at the end. The first one comes into swinging distance so I swing. It falls back with the force but it isn't enough to finish it but I don't dwell on it. I just jump over its still grabbing hands. Number two and three are now very much interested in me and are shambling closer.
My foot is on fire but the adrenaline from the first hit is now coursing through me so I push through it, doing my best to ignore the throbbing pain.
I move onto my second target; however he's slower than his comrade. He has half an arm missing while the other has been completely ripped off. He's not an immediate problem so I ignore him. I dodge around him and move onto his friend, problem number three. Just as I go to swing my makeshift bat an arrow is suddenly sticking out of its eye.
I don't hang around though, I need to be long gone before the herd behind catches up.
I reach the end of the alley and split right. My heart drops as I practically run head long into another heard, I manage to skid to a stop mere inches from ones back.
I accidentally let out a startled squeak as I'm yanked back by my bag, into a pair of arms that then push me in the other direction. The one named Daryl is now pulling me along by my wrist.
At some point I end up getting in front of them both and end up pulling Daryl behind me.
We're heading down a main street, not even bothering to hide from those things.
"Turn left up ahead, the trucks there". I'm not sure if Merle's talking to me or not but I listen to his instructions anyway. I jump over an upturned trashcan, still pulling Daryl with me, and turn left.
I'm more prepared, this time, for the herd that appears as I round the corner. I skid to another stop and back up until the building hides us. My wrist is freed as Daryl loads up his crossbow.
"What now?" I can barely hear Merle as he whispers fiercely to Daryl.
"Don't fuckin' look at me, you're the one that wanted it fuckin' left there".
They're arguing, seriously! Thankfully Merle doesn't answer because this is not the time nor place to be putting the blame on each other.
Daryl steps away from the wall and shoots a bolt straight through the eye of a dead one which reminds me we're trapped. Round that corner are hundreds of dead people, well it's probably more than that but never the less it's a lot more than I'm comfortable with. And let's not forget the herd that's bringing up our rear.
I glance at the two strangers beside me and other than the few choice words to one another they seem perfectly calm. Which is the complete opposite to me, I feel like I could have a panic attack at any moment.
Only once, since this whole thing started, have I been in a situation this bad and it didn't end well.
There's a crash to my left. Merle has kicked in a door. They disappear inside and without hesitation I follow in after them.
As soon I'm through the door it's slammed shut and Daryl's pushing a desk up against it. If the dead realise we're in here, a simple desk won't stop them getting in, but it should hopefully slow them down enough so we can get a head start.
When I turn away from the door I realise that the two men haven't stopped. They're already weaving their way through the office cubicles that fill the entire floor of this building.
Once again I don't have any hesitation in following them, I know I should seeing as I don't know them and have no idea what kind of people they are, but there's no doubt in my mind that these two know what they're doing. Plus if they can get me out of here then I'm happy to follow.
The desk behind me jolts as the dead push against the door, so with my broken chair leg at the ready I run to catch up with the other two.
TWDTWDTWDTWDTWD
No longer in imminent danger, the adrenaline is now starting to wane and the pain in my foot is seriously starting to affect me. The limping is also slowing me down.
Up ahead Daryl and Merle are still weaving through cubicles, they're being very thorough. If that was me I'd have just ran straight through to the other side.
I sigh heavily, if they want to scope this place out then they can continue to do it on their own. I need to rest.
I lean up against a cubicle. It wobbles under my weight and then I scream as something shoots out from under it.
As the rat scurries away I get my breathing back under control. I instantly regret the screaming as Merle starts to laugh from right behind me. Didn't realise they'd come back.
"Out of everythin' that is goin' on out there and ya scared of a rat!?" Although he's stopped laughing he still wearing the biggest grin I've ever seen.
I roll my eyes with a scoff. "What, no of course not". Yes a thousand times yes. I hate them so much. "It just startled me, I wasn't expecting it".
Daryl drags a chair and pushes it in front of me. I listen to the unspoken order. I collapse into it happy to be able to sit and rest.
I slip my bag off onto floor and grab, from inside it, my meagre first aid kit. I rest my injured foot on my other knee and take a wary look at it. Okay, so it's not looking so good. Looking past the dirt and grime my foot is black and blue. It's also double its normal size.
"Fuck me, Girl. Where the fuck are ya shoes?" I glance at Merle who is staring at my foot. Daryl lowers himself to his knees and takes my foot in his hands, surprisingly gentle I might add.
"Uh, I was wearing sandals and, well uhh, it was pretty hard to keep them on my feet while running for my life. Hey!" I attempt to jerk away my foot as Daryl prods it but he keeps a firm grip on it.
"Just checkin' it ain't broken".
"Anyway I've actually done pretty well without them, up until today that is. And before you ask I haven't actually been able to find another pair that don't belong to the dead. Couldn't get anywhere near where all the shops are".
Daryl takes the first aid kit from my hands and starts rifling through it.
Merle drops down on another chair. "Ya got any weapons other than ya chair leg?"
I pull a sheathed knife out of my bag and put it in his outstretched hands. He pulls it out and inspects it.
"Jesus girl, this is blunt as fuck. How much ya used this, never seen a one so fuckin' useless".
He's being a bit over dramatic. "Urm not at all really, other than for opening things. I found it... On a guy".
"We're gonna have to find ya somethin' useful cause that chair leg ain't gonna last ya much longer, until then I can sharpen this for ya, if ya want?"
"Thank you". He just nods his head in acknowledgement and starts searching through his own bag.
Daryl pulls my leg out straight and rests it on his. He's holding a bandage.
"I'll put this on for now but its needs cleanin' as soon as ya can get some water." He starts wrapping it. "It's definitely not broken, I think it's just bruised. The swelling should go down in a couple of days".
"Thank you". And I mean it, I probably wouldn't have got out of there if they hadn't had followed me.
He just nods his head as he secures the bandage in place.
"So squirt... Why ya out 'ere alone?" I glance at Merle with his harmless question but then look away as my eyes start to get blurry.
I manage to contain the tears before answering. "I was with... some people but as you can see not much can survive in this city". I can tell he noticed my hesitation but he ignores and just accepts my answer. "What are you two doing in Atlanta anyway?"
"We need some supplies. There's a lot of hardware stores here and gun shops that need raidin'. Atlanta fell pretty quick so not a lot of shops where looted?"
"Had any luck?"
He shrugs. "A little but there's a lot more places left to go".
Daryl stands up. "Ya gonna have to make sure ya don't put all ya weight on that foot." He grabs up his crossbow. "Right, Merle. We gotta get goin', it's gettin' dark and we need to get back to the truck and find somewhere to make camp."
I'm assuming this is where I say my goodbyes. They've swept this floor of the building so I could just stay here tonight. Maybe shut myself in one of the lockable offices.
I gather up my meagre belongings and stuff them back in my bag. I get to my feet, well foot and slide my bag onto my back.
"Right, so it was nice meeting you both. You've helped me stay alive this afternoon and I won't forget it". I point to the knife in Merle's hand. "And thank you for sharpening that for me". He hands it me. I slip it into a side pocket. "I won't keep you any longer because I also need to find someplace to settle for the night."
Merle runs a hand over his face and stares at Daryl, who stares right back. After a few silent minutes, where I'm fairly certain they were having a silent conversation, Merle finally looks back at me.
"Right listen 'ere. It's always just been me an' ma brother, which is how we like it. But I ain't just about to walk away and leave you unprotected," he nods towards my foot, "and injured. Now what I'm offerin' ain't gotta be permanent, it's completely up to you."
He looks at Daryl who carries on for him. "Ya can come with us. We find somewhere for the nigh', help ya find a few supplies and weapons tomorrow an' then ya can go ya own way. Or ya stay with us until ya foot heals and then see what ya wanna do after that".
I'm speechless, gobsmacked. They don't even know me! I'm not sure on the whole staying with them permanently though. I really want to find a permanent place I can stay yet these two seem like they would always be on the move. But I could stay with them for the night, let them help me find somewhere safe.
"Uh sure, thank you".
"No problem squirt, can we 'ave a name or?"
"Right sorry. My names Daniella, uh, but you can me Danny".
"Well Danny and Daryl we've really gotta move, cause I don't fancy dyin' just yet". Merle then turns on his heels and stalks to the other side of the building. Daryl points after him, gesturing for me to go first so he can bring up the rear.
By the time I've limped to the other end of the room Merle already has the fire escape open and more than likely already half way down the back alley.
I can hear Daryl swearing under his breath. He suddenly forces my arm over his shoulder and takes my weight so we can move faster, after his brother.
By the time we reach the alley, I can see Merle has reached a blue pickup at the end, which for some reason has a motorcycle on the back of it.
"Ya couldn't fuckin' wait." Daryl shouts towards Merle, which I wouldn't say was a very good idea as there's an unearthly groan now coming from behind us. "Shit".
We make it to the truck with Daryl practically picking me up and chucking me inside it. He slides in and slams the door just as a couple of, what did they call them... Walkers? Walkers appear, they start banging against the glass but Merle already has the engine roaring and is peeling out of here.
TWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWD
Merle is manoeuvring us through the streets of Atlanta, there are so many walkers here. The amount of times he's had to turn the car around and make a hasty exit because of the hordes. Which is why, at this moment in time, we are travelling down a street that holds the worst memory for me.
Someone nudges me. "Ya listenin' to me squirt?" I give Merle an apologetic look. "What's up, ya've been zoned out for the last five minutes."
"Sorry it's... it's just this is where it happened... where I let them... Where the people I was with died".
"Sorry squirt, they must 'ave been important to ya, but ya can't keep dwellin' on it. Otherwise ya ain't gonna make it here. We lose people we 'ave to suck it up and move on."
My breath catches in my throat and my vision starts to become blurry. I ignore him and focus my attention outside the windscreen.
"Merle! What the fuck?"
"What? She'd live a fuckin' easier a life if she didn't dwell on the dead".
"Ya need to shut the fuck up".
"No, She... Oh shit. Sorry squirt didn't mean to upset ya". I wipe away some of the traitorous tears away.
"It's fine. I didn't mean to... huh... cry like that. Can we just forget about it, Please?"
"Sure, squirt. Nothin' else will be said." He clears his throat. "Right, Daryl ya remember that housin' estate we passed on our way 'ere. Ya think, that'd be a place to try for the nigh'?"
"Looked empty, can 'ave a look".
TWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWD
Merle pulls into a cul-de-sac on the outskirts of Atlanta just as the sun is beginning to set along the horizon. He stops the car dead centre of the road and neither one of them wastes anytime in bailing from the cab.
Daryl leans back in to grab his crossbow. "Stay 'ere ya ain't goin' nowhere on that foot". He then slams the door shut and follows after Merle.
It isn't long before they both appear again. Daryl opens the passenger door and slings his crossbow onto his back. "It's clear but stay out of the far end room upstairs". I'm assuming that's where they've put the bodies.
"Sure".
I slide to the end of the bench seat as Daryl grabs me under the arms to help me down. He wraps his arm around my waist and I sling mine over his shoulder. Together we make our way into the house while Merle grabs things from the bed of the truck.
TWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWD
Half an hour later we have a small fire going and the food is about to be served. As soon as my food is handed to me I'm stuffing it down. It's been so long since I last ate something hot even if it is only beans.
I catch Daryl's gaze from across the fire. "Been sometime since you ate somein'?"
I shrug. "A couple but I haven't eaten anything hot since this whole thing started"
"Well eat up Darlin' we've got plenty more where that came from, an' we can always get some more tomorrow". At the word Darling my stomach does an uncontrollable flip and I have to put my eyes back on my food to stop them seeing me blush.
Once food is done. Daryl goes out to check the boundaries and to set up some warning signals using the empty cans from tea. Once he's gone Merle starts digging through his belongings so I'm left sat on the sofa believing that I could quite easily fall asleep as I'm the safest I have been in a long time.
TWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWD
I'm suddenly jerked awake by a hand latching onto my upper arm and yanking me to my feet. In my hazy and injured state Daryl is practically carrying me across the living room.
"Ya need to go upstairs now."
"Why? I was okay there. It was comfy". But Daryl doesn't get to answer me because as we reach the stairs Merle comes banging through the kitchen door. He struts into the living room, has a quick glance round and then spots us clambering up the stairs. I stop moving which forces Daryl to as Merle comes towards us.
As he gets closer I get an unbelievably strong smell hit my nose, he's been drinking heavily by the stench of him, and not only that but there's a baggy of white powder being clutched in his hand.
"Hey sugertits, is he takin' ya to show ya a good time cause if ya come 'ere I can show ya an even fuckin' better time." My jaw practically hits the floor and I'm left speechless, I even spare a glance at Daryl to make sure this isn't a joke but he looks angry.
Merle steps forward and reaches through the banister but I take a quick step back to avoid his grabbing paws. This is not the man I met earlier.
Daryl suddenly lets me go leaving me grabbing for a grip on the wall to steady myself. He grabs the hand Merle has through the banister and bends it up at an extremely painful angle.
"Ya try to lay a hand on her again, I'll chop the fuckin' thing off. I don't give a shit if ya my brother, I have no problem feedin' ya to them dead bastards outside." Daryl's voice is low and menacing and I have no intentions of ever having it used against me. What's hitting me the most though is the fact that Daryl's threatening his brother to help me, he doesn't even know me.
Merle gives. "Fine whatever. Just get ya fuckin' hands off me". Daryl lets him go. Merle then steps back with a few unsavoury words and collapses face down onto the sofa. I guess he's done.
Daryl wraps his arm back around me and silently leads me the rest of the way upstairs and into a bedroom which holds a double bed.
"Get some sleep, we've got a big day tomorrow'". I cross my arms over my chest, he is not getting away without explaining Merle.
"What the hell was that? You think maybe a warning would have sufficed, you know a little heads up. You honestly think I want to sleep here, with him downstairs?"
He points to the bed. "I said get some rest". He ignores me, so much for standing my ground and getting answers. It seems maybe he's too angry to have a conversation with, maybe it could wait until the morning.
I climb under the covers. Once my head hits the pillow I let out an involuntary moan, it has been so long and this bed feels so comfortable. I whisper a goodnight which I don't expect him to answer, he doesn't but I do get the tiniest of smirk from him.
I expect him to leave after but instead he places his back up against the door frame and slides down until he's sat inside the frame. With his arms resting on his knees he looks back at me.
"I'll make sure he don't come up 'ere tonigh'".
I hope you've enjoyed the updated version. Please feel free to leave your reviews.