She was staring into the frantic amber eyes of the undead. She fell in slow motion, the walker still clamped down on her shoulder.
At that exact moment, the sound of splintering wood split the air as part of the two-by-four gave way, the main support in barring the church door buckling underneath the force exerted by undead hands...
She could feel every movement as she struggled, like a wounded animal, the walker in the leaves beside her. Any instance of skill she'd had had left her in an instant, replaced with animal instinct, as she scrabbled desperately through the leaves, elbowing the walking carcass, fumbling, struggling, breath escaping in short frantic gasps as she felt the teeth tighten against her flesh...
The church door gave with a clatter, and the undead were pouring down the steps, falling over one another, desperate for flesh...
All this had happened in approximately five seconds. Rick was already on his feet, revolver raised and an order on his lips.
"GET THE GUNS!"
Abraham had seized an assault rifle and began mowing down the impending group- at least two dozen walkers. The smell of rotten blood filled the air, and the church steps were bathed in it.
The walker gave up on tearing the flesh from Jamie's shoulder, then, lunging across her body towards her throat...
She threw her forearms in front of her face on instinct, but the action did nothing. Because at that moment, a well placed bolt sang through the walker's head, and the carcass landed on her like a sack of potatoes, knocking the breath from her.
The walkers leaving the church had been mowed down within a minute, and only a few remained. Carl ran among the more carefully-aimed bullets, which were destined to meet the handful of remaining walkers. He had to get to Jamie.
A moment later, there was nothing but silence. Everyone exchanged horrified glances, shocked at what'd just happened...
A sob split the air. Carl was on his knees beside Jamie, had thrown the walker carcass off her. Jamie laid spread-eagle on her back, eyes glassy, shocked, and Carl broke down and cried...
She'd been bitten.
"Godammit. Godammit godammit GODAMMIT!" Carl was on his feet, now, his voice taking on a quality of such rage it was fear-invoking as he paced. He swore at the sky and began to curse god, tears running down his face as he paced frantically, hands clenched into fists...
Daryl shook his head, eyes hollow, unbelieving at the thought his last daughter was bitten...
Rick was moving first, ignoring the looks of shock and pain around him as he held his revolver in one hand, approaching the ground where Jamie was laying. She, to his horror, hadn't moved.
"Jamie..." his voice held only sadness as he looked down on her. She'd come to be like a niece, even a daughter, to him, in some ways.
"Well?" her eyes were open, now, they'd dulled in their vibrance.
"Go ahead. Shoot me."
She sounded... defeated.
She looked up at their leader, the man who'd been so nice to her in the beginning, allowing her into the group, who'd helped her stay with her father...
"Do it. Don't make my Dad..." she trailed off, closing her eyes and letting out a shaky breath. She didn't want to die.
"Let me see it." Rick ordered quietly.
Her eyes opened once again, surprised...
"Lemme see the bite. I wanna make sure... Maybe we can amputate or somethin'."
Jamie laughed at the thought. "Right. An archer with one arm is as good as dead."
But Rick was already tugging on her shoulders, forcing her to sit up.
She locked eyes with him.
"Just let me see it. I want to make sure..."
She rolled her eyes, peeling off Daryl's vest, as well as the threadbare remains of Ryder's old jacket, and her filpthy t-shirt. The only reason she kept them was for nostalgia...
A dirty sports bra was exposed to light, as well as her bare shoulders. She shivered, and her eyes darted to the ground. She felt exposed, uncomfortable, even though she knew Rick would never try anything.
Her eyes caught on the make-shift bandage on her arm. The one Carl had tied, not even a day ago, to cover her bloody memorial to Beth. She was grateful for it now more than ever.
Rick laughed. Her head snapped up in surprise, and she stared...
"It didn't break the skin." Rick supplied, smiling.
She stared down at her right shoulder in disbelief. There was bite mark, turning purple around the edges, it would surely bruise, but none of the skin was broken...
"Abraham! Daryl! Come take a look at this!"
Daryl, who'd been frozen where he stood, was broken from his stupor, sprinting over, eyes scanning her anxiously... They rested on the bite mark.
"Hey, Dad."
Jamie sounded, if anything, tired. And maybe a bit relieved, as well. It was nice to know she probably wouldn't die this week.
Carol had crept closer as the whole exchange between her and Rick was going down, and she smiled with approval when he hugged her.
Abraham sidled over, mustache bent into a concerned frown, but he laughed when he saw the skin hadn't been broken.
"You're one lucky sum' bitch, kid." he managed, and he slapped her on the back.
Rick picked up the discarded leather vest, eying the bite mark deep in the leather as Jamie tugged her t-shirt back on.
He tossed the vest to Jamie, who caught it, running her fingers over the rough tears in the leather.
"That's what did it. Couldn't bite through leather."
Rick smiled slightly as he stood- thankful. Jamie had been with the group for too long- loosing her right after Beth would've dealt everyone a harsh blow. And the damage it'd dealt to Daryl might just push him over the edge...
Daryl stared at the vest Jamie handed him as though it were some sort of holy artifact, eyes wide with disbelief as Jamie tugged her shirt back on...
He fairly threw it at her, struggling to put it back on her shoulders. "Keep it." he ordered, voice firm, sounding fairly excited that she wasn't dead...
She nodded, pulling it closer to her shoulders...
Carl was standing a fair distance off, back to them, facing the trees, standing eerily still.
Rick looked at the boy uncertainly, stunned by the depth of his son's reaction...
Daryl looked over at him quizically, and Rick nodded. "I'll go get him..."
Carl didn't move as Rick approached him. His face was turned downward, hands at his side, clenched into fists, staring into the woods at nothing...
"Carl..."
"I saw." he growled out through clenched teeth.
"No. You didn't. It didn't break the skin, she's going to be fine..."
Carl felt the bare spark of hope in the pit of his stomach. Hope. It was dangerous. It would pick you up and drop you to your death, and he realized it- his father was trying to shelter him.
He turned, entire stance ridgid with agression as he stared his father down, tears coursing down his cheeks.
"Don't... lie to me!" he managed to get out.
Rick's eyes widened. "Why would I..."
In a lightening fast motion, Carl had his gun in hand, and aimed at his father's heart.
"Stop... lying! Goddammit, I saw her..." he choked on his own tears, looked past Rick, eyes widening, as he saw Jamie standing some distance away, Daryl with a hand on her shoulder as they,p tensely watched the exchange.
His face fell, and he turned to stare at his father in disbelief.
"You... you're going to let her turn..."
"She isn't BIT, Carl."
"I'm not ten anymore, godammit, I know how it works, how you're going to do it! Let her stay, keep her here, wait until I fall asleep... and when I wake up, she'll be gone. Just like Jim." tears still coursed down the boy's cheeks.
Rick gaped at his son. Did Carl really feel that way? He was even more shocked Carl remembered their first experience with a bite victim, with Jim, back at the quarry.
"Just... just go! Don't let her turn!" Carl ordered, motioning furiously towards the ground with his gun.
"Ca-"
Rick was cut off by a gunshot, and a bullet embedded itself in the tree beside him.
"GO! No more talking..." The boy looked so desperate, so broken... and Rick realized that in this state, he wouldn't think twice about killing him. He'd seen it before as a sheriff, the telltale glint in a crazed man's eye... He never thought he'd see that look on his son's face.
He did the only thing he could. He backed off.
Carl lowered the gun and turned back around, going silent again, and Rick approached the shell-shocked group, shaking his head.
"He thinks I'm lying."
"I don't blame the kid. Can barely believe it myself..." Abraham admitted, looking over at Carl, concerned.
As the group huddled together, ready to discuss how to deal with the situation, Jamie managed to slip away. Carl was clearly a mess- she didn't blame him. She'd pull a gun, too, had she thought he was bit and they were lying.
Before anyone noticed she was gone, she slipped into the forest, intent on finding him.
He was still standing, still trying to get his raging emotions under control, when he heard a twig break.
He whirled- ready to scream at everyone piss off, when he saw her and froze. It was Jamie. She looked pale- dirty hair that was just starting to grow out in scraggly strands reaching down her neck. Yet she still looked like an angel amidst the dirt and gore.
He was frozen on the spot, thoughts whirling. She was bit, she was bit, Jesus Christ, she was bit and nobody was going to put her down and he had to do it because he couldn't let her turn and he needed to save her...
Shaking hands fumbled for his gun, he could hear the metal clicking as his hands violently shook. He aimed the barrel at her, he was panicking.
Even if he could bring himself to pull the trigger, there was no way he'd be able to get a clean shot to the head, she'd suffer...
"Jamie!" Daryl had noticed where she stood, now, shouted a warning. She didn't bother to turn.
Tears were still streaming down Carl's face.
"I don't want to do this..."
"You don't have to." Jamie assured him quietly. "It didn't break the skin."
"Don't lie to me." Carl's voice was barely above a whisper, but she saw the dying spark in his eyes amidst the tears- hope.
"Let me show you."
Carl still looked hesitant, gun up. She quietly peeled off the leather vest, the remains of her denim jacket. Finally, she pulled the t-shirt over her head, revealing the dirty skin and bite mark beneath.
"Come over. It didn't break the skin..."
Carl hesitantly came towards her, gun lowered.
His eyes anxiously roved over her, scanning her form, lingering dangerously long on the bite mark. He stepped closer, hand outstretched hesitantly, running his hand over the indented flesh...
It was turning purple on the edges, beginning to bruise, his hands were shaking so forcefully that his gun slipped from his grasp and he stared at the bite mark, where none of the skin was broken...
He broke down sobbing, then, wrapping his arms around her and burying his face in her bare shoulder, unable to control himself anymore.
"Carl..."
He said nothing, shoulders shaking with sobs... It felt good to be wrapped in his arms, and she blinked back tears of her own as she reached up and rubbed soothing circles on his back...
"I saw it get you, I had my gun, I couldn't get the shot off in time..." he choked out breathlessly.
"It wasn't your fault." she said calmly, meeting his teary eyes with her own cool green ones. "I just didn't see it. It's okay. I'm lucky- and I'm still here..."
"You better be." Carl muttered, wiping the back of a grimy hand over his wet eyes.
Jamie smiled slightly at the pouty tone in his voice. "Well, I am. So suck it up- let's get moving." she planted a peck on his cheek, before crouching down and grabbing her t-short from where she'd discarded it on the leaves and pulling it on, along with Ryder's ragged old jacket and the vest.
She wordlessly handed Carl his gun, and they locked eyes for a moment. He nodded. He was under control, he could handle it...
They wordlessly walked back towards the group.
"Everyone alright?" Rick asked, sounding slightly unsettled. His gaze lingered on Carl longer than normal- his boy had calmed down in a remarkably short amount of time, all it had taken was Jamie...
Daryl strode over so he was beside her, standing between her and Carl,before putting an arm protectively around her shoulders. He knew it was probably necessary for Jamie to calm down the Grimes boy, but showing him the bite mark- taking off her shirt- had unsettled him. Not to mention the way the Grimes boy had cried on her shoulder, the way he'd absolutely lost his shit when he thought she was bit... His gaze flickered up and he met Rick's eyes for a moment- they'd discuss this later.
Everyone seemed to be eying the teenager for the moment, before their minds flickered back to the group. Glenn stood, arms crossed, nodding to Rick. "Supplies are running low." he admitted.
Rick nodded, looking from the piles of dead walkers on the church doorstep to the broken door.
"Seems like this place has outlived it's usefulness." He admitted.
Daryl nodded, heading to pack up their few things. Secretly, he was glad to leave this place- the place where one of his girls had died and the other had almost been bitten, behind.
Anywhere would be better than here.
MAILBAG
Bvbarmy4lifetwd, chapter 84
update. Crying jamie is bit what the fuck is that how you are gonna end the story daryl loosing everyone that really matter to him. Is she different? Will she survive? What about carl?
I hope this chapter answers some of your questions. It's chapters like this and readers like you that make me love writing- how much simple words can just totally tear your emotions into tiny, little pieces. And no- I'm definitely NOT going to end the story that way, lol! I can be an asshole, but I am not psychopathic! Moreover, Jamie has survived far too much to die because of a fluke accident where she didn't see it until it was too late.
I really hope you guys didn't panic too much during the interlude, however, as I wanted to make this perfect. Don't get me wrong- they WILL be dealing with the aftermath of this in the following chapters, especially with the adults trying to figure out why the hell Carl lost his mind when Jamie got bit and what on earth is going on between the two of them.
Finally- I love your username. Signing off, hope you enjoyed this, my Fallen Angel :)
Ms. SeaDreamer, chapter 84
Geez... I've just entered into this TWD world, because I admit that I used to hate it! Now I just think how I was capable of hating this wonderful show! I mean, I saw the whole 5 seasons in five freaking days and when I finished watching the last episode before the hiatus I was so anxious that I have to look for some stories to calm down. Then, I found your wonderful masterpiece! Really, I LOVE your way of writing! I was really needing of some Daryl love! I can perfectly imagine every inch of the scene, every reaction... Just perfect! I think your characters are well developed, and the focus is well divided as well. Keep going like that I'm sure you will be a wonderful author! (I study this in college and, sometimes, it's hard as hell to write things, mainly because some issues are boring! :) )
Xoxo
P.S.: I also read your whole story in two days. But, don't worry! I didn't forget to eat, sleep, drink some water or do whatever I have to do! :)
Thank you! Hehe- I don't blame you for hating on the show at first. The first two seasons, in comparison to the current season, are just... meh. A lot of group drama/ character development, and not a lot of moral conflict/ survival tactics. I'm amazed you watched five seasons in five days, and am wondering if you're in insomniac, but hey, good for you! :)
I'm also really glad you enjoy my writing style- sometimes it kills me myself- some days I just can't find the right words, and someday I just spit it out way too fast and put it out before I can proofread. Such is the life of a writer! Besides, I find it amazing people like you enjoy it so much and love every minute of it- You guys are amazing to me, and make me feel so much better than just some high school sophomore living in the middle of nowhere.
Finally- thank you for remembering to eat/drink/sleep between reading! The story is good, sure- but I'd be NOTHING without you readers! If you guys are in a coma or unconscious in front of the computer, that doesn't do anyone any good! :(. So thanks again, and I'm glad you're enjoying it!
YourxXxLittlexXxPacifist, chapter 84
You are something special ! Your work is absolutely fantastic , I'm besotted with your story and am waiting ''expectantly'' for your next chapter. ( I was gonna say ''patiently'' , but who the hell am I kidding ? The wait is killing me) so please update as soon as you can
Thanks a million! I'm really glad you enjoy the story and my writing style, and I hope I can keep you on the edge of your seat. Thanks again!
Finally, a reminder to all my readers! I love each and every one of your reviews, whether it be a simple, "plz update" or an essay dissecting my character's motives and conflicts- each one gives me more inspiration and more perspective that I can draw from. That being said, while I would love to respond to them all, I can;t post them all in mailbag. And I do my best to give all thoughtful, well-written reviews exposure on here, though I try not to keep posting the same people's different reviews for each chapter.
So know that, even if you aren't in mailbag, I absolutely read your review and you at some point brought a smile to my face when my email pinged and told me I had a new review. So thanks and god bless!