22
The inhumane and horrid sound of the undead growling made its way through the cellblock. In a matter of minutes a quiet night in the quarantine Cellblock turned into a mess. Almost a day had passed since the group went out on the run looking for the medicines, and people kept dying because of the sickness. We were doing as best as we could, but it was not that easy.
I was with Lizzie, checking on the little girl temperature and the symptoms she had, it was something that I had to do if I wanted to help Hershel. Inside there, it was a matter of times when people started to die. And the worst of all was that we couldn't do something to avoid it. We just needed to wait, using a inhaler to help breathing the ones whose lungs were getting filled with blood pressure and started to had difficulty with steady their breathing.
After what it seemed like minutes, a walker came out of a cell with the inhaler still on. I left very clear to Lizzie that she needed to wait until I came back. And with that said I stepped out to the aisle following the now undead. I could hear Hershel calling for me, and when I turned around, I had another walker in my backs.
– Dammit! — Cursing I pierced the undead skull in a swift movement, blood splattering in my shirt. — Hershel! Jerry turned; we need to take off the inhaler. — The old man walked out one of the cells, and with an evident worried look on his face he nodded and walked to me.
And then, the mess started.
Another one came out of the nearby cell. Blood's trails falling down his now dead eyes, and crimson liquid covering his jaw. The walker growled lifting its arms to Hershel, and I took the chance reacting as quickly as I could. Grabbing the knife on my hip I threw it to the walker's head and it collapsed with a deaf sound as it dropped to the floor.
I thought it was over until I heard the coughing coming from one of the cells. Walking and following the sound, I found Glenn on his cell coughing uncontrollably and when he looked up there was blood falling from his nose. I contained a sob; Glenn was at one step from getting a heart attack if we did not help quickly. He was on the floor and I Noticed he had tried to walk to the door and collapsed in the process, I immediately kneeled by his side and grabbed him by the shoulders so I could lift him up a little and help him steady his breathing.
– Glenn, hey, I'm here hun – I said softly in an attempt to don't show him how terrified I really was. Glenn shocked again, but this time a thin trail of blood left his mouth and stained his chin. My eyes widened, this was bad. – Look, I'll get some help, okay?
I reached out so I grabbed the pillows of the bunk and I put behind his head. He was heavy breathing and coughing randomly but it seemed like he was trying to fight the illness taking over his lungs. As I tried to stand up, Glenn grabbed my wrist. He glanced at me with a terrified look on his dark eyes and I crouched beside him and squeezed his hand.
– Mary… – He started to cough again. I held him for a moment but I knew I didn't have much time if I wanted to save him.
– Look, I'll go get the inhaler, you need it.
I stepped in the aisle again finding a worst mess than before. Walker Jerry had fell on the ceiling and now was hanging and moving awkwardly. The echo of gunshots almost startled me. I ran to the right side near the cellblock's door and the sound increased with every step I took.
- Rick? - My question sounded girly and with doubt, i didn't know what the hell was going on and neither had I known who was shooting at the door's pommel.
- Is me! - Maggie's voice said - Open the door Mary!
I managed to pull the remaining of the pommel and Maggie entered with the rifle responsible of it. We didn't have much time to explain and i nearly jumped out of my skin as the sound of Hershel's yelling echoed inside the cellblock.
The old man was trying to take off the inhaler from the hanging walker. We got closer and in the blink of an eye Maggie and I aimed our weapons at the walker. We both looked at each other for a mere second before we shoot. The walker stopped moving as i saw how two bullet holes pierced its forehead. Hershel dragged the dead body out of the ceiling and took off the breathing tubes from the corpse. They rapidly walked to get it to Glenn and i finally breathed out a little.
I checked on the others Making myself sure that everyone was okay or weren't bit. Sasha was asleep i felt relieved she hadn't noticed the little problem we had. Lizzie remained in the cell as i told her and the rest of them seemed just tired and obvious sick. I walked to the next cell and i nearly jumped backwards.
Pushing against the bars and with an horrid growl was Dr. S. Caleb had been one of the victims of he flu. In a moment of the night while we were trying to calm the situation in the cellblock he died and eventually turned. Bloodshot lifeless eyes were looking at me, his mouth and nose red with the crimson liquid and trails of red falling from his eyes. I felt the sting begin to nag at the backs of my brown eyes. And I pulled out my litmus knife a sob knotted in my throat. I tried not to be upset but I could not.
- I am so sorry.
With swift movement the sharp point stabbed through his temple and the now dead body fell limp to the floor. Breathing out I managed to contain the stupid tears that burned in my eyes. I turned around cleaning the knife and making my way to Glenn's cell. As I walked and let the thoughts rushed in my head I found myself gasping at the view in front of me.
Standing in the middle of the aisle with his shaggy hair and clothes covered in dirt was the archer. His blue iris staring at me. I didn't even thought about it, my mind only processed the fact that Daryl Dixon was there a few steps from me. He placed a bag he had carefully on the floor and looked at me again. And this times when his eyes glued to me I stopped thinking definitely.
In a matter of steps I was crushing him into hug with my arms around his neck and the craziest thing was that he didn't flinch. Daryl reciprocated my gesture with the same need that I had. He circled his strong arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him as if I could disappear in any moment. I sniffed his neck feeling the smell of forest and sweat that was in his skin. He smelled like leather and smoke which seemed to be his particularly scent. I could not help but chuckled, Daryl was here, and that meant that they had found the medicines and made it back to the prison.
When I looked up to him, his piercing gaze was still on me and I only could grin. The corner of his mouth curled up slightly like the soft shadow of a smirk. I didn't have to say anything I didn't need to.
We didn't need to.
...
- I can't believe it.
It was still dark when Rick told us what Carol did. It was kind of crazy how they came back and now all the sicks ones were steady and feeling better. Hershel and I spent the rest of the night using intravenous serum with the antibiotics on the people and now that was almost dawn, the quarantine cell block was quiet. Except for the cold feeling I had when Rick said she had murdered Karen and David. And the worst part was that she confessed it like it was nothing.
- I couldn't too, but she said it to me.
- Ya could've wait we came back — Daryl snapped at Rick. I knew he cared about Carol and I was feeling the same. Except I knew the decision Rick made was the right one even though she was gone now.
- Hey, Daryl — The sheriff stepped to us — she wasn't sorry, she felt no remorse.
Daryl nodded reluctantly and with that he stormed out of the cell block.
- I have to talk with Sophia, and now to Lizzie and Mika. — I stepped to Rick who was still looking at the door with narrowed eyes. — Don't worry; I'll talk to him too.
- I don't know how you do it. — I stopped in my tracks and turned my head a little bit to glance at Rick.
- Do what?
- Change him. That man was a hot-headed and now this is the angriest thing he does. — I chuckled and shrugged at the same time.
- I'll talk to him.
Outside the cool air was blowing. A glimpse of sunlight was appearing on the horizon with pretty colors of yellow and blue. I always thought how something that beautiful could still exist in this destroyed world. It mean something, no matter how hard things were for us we still got to see the breaking dawn.
I found Daryl sitting on a trunk, he was sharping some knives and I made my way to and sat by his side. It was a cold morning a weird weather in the middle of July. I looked at him and he tilted his head looking back to me.
- They're feeling better, Glenn is feeling better — He grunted.
- He's a tough son of a bitch — Daryl put the knives aside and sighed.
- I'm glad you're back, honestly Dixon I was dead worried about you. — Something in his eyes changed, like he was really looking at me.
- Ya know, out there I thought about ya. — His voice sounded more husky than usual as he talked.
- Oh dear God — I pouted — about what?
Daryl tilted his head like a puppy, his eyes looked at mine for a mere second and then he shrugged.
- I just... I just thought — He mumbled and nibbled at his lips. I couldn't avoid the warm feeling that crept into my chest and how my stomach twisted. With an innocent grin I averted my eyes from him and my gaze followed the rising sun.
- So, you just thought?
He breathed out after a moment and that made me look at him again, this time he was serious.
- I don't wanna sleep on the floor anymore — His statement made me feel confused for a second, I was about to talk when he stood up suddenly and I followed his action — I care about ya.
As he admitted that out of the blue, I felt too aware of his height and how I had to look up to see his face, his handsome features still a little dirty with dust and sweat but the expression in his eyes softened them.
- I care about you too — Daryl's gaze held mine and I was wondering what all this meant. He grunted as a response and I realized how he was leaning towards me. I was feeling the tension around us, my heart was beating uncontrollably in my ribcage and then I stopped thinking. Something clicked in my head, Daryl was not kicking me out the cell, and it was completely the contrary.
- Look, I know...
I didn't let him finish. With the tip of my feet I lifted myself to him, grabbing at his vest with the impulse. My lips touched his, carefully and fearfully. What is the worst that could happen to me for kissing Daryl all of a sudden? Rejection wasn't something I was scared of. And all my doubts were pushed aside when he cupped my cheek and kissed me back. I had to push myself away from him, even though the kiss was short and when I looked up his face was a puzzle.
- Oh, sorry I... You know what? I'm not sorry.
- Ya don't have to. — He mumbled, his southern accent making his voice raspier.
That was the only thing I did not expect to hear from him. But I understood, my feelings were clear, I cared about him more than I wanted to admit. And he felt the same.
- Are you asking me out? — I said jokingly, Daryl snorted and to my surprise he grabbed my hand and pulled me to walk.
- Yeah, takin' ya now to a fancy date, sunshine.
Our hands were gently intertwined as we made our way back inside.
…
I was talking with Effy and Beth, the day had been quiet and I spent most of the time changing the IV bags and helping around while Hershel rested. We had an awful long and difficult night so he being the older one needed more rest than us. I had to admit that I felt joy because everything was falling into place again. People were healing from the flu; Rick and Carl were working outside with the plantation, since we had lost the pigs.
I honestly felt really optimistic, and my enthusiasm was overflowing. I just wasn't aware that I may have showed it too much even though my sisters weren't seeing my face, but what could I do? Everything was falling into place again and I kissed the man I've liked for months.
- You sound happy Mary, is there something you're not telling us? — Beth asked, and even though I could not see her face because of the door I knew she was grinning.
- Of course I'm happy, Glenn, Sasha and everyone inside there are getting better, and soon we'll be having our normal life again.
- And Daryl? — Effy teased.
- What about him?
- Mary Ross I know you, something happened and you will tell us — My sister stated.
- Yeah, guys I have to go back, take care of Sophia while I...
My words were silenced as a detonation resonated. The floor trembled and I saw how the walls moved slightly like the beginning of an earthquake, I heard the gasping of a terrified person. I immediately opened the door, Beth and Effy were both looking at me with shock in their blue eyes and in that moment the eldest Dixon came running to us.
- Y'all okay? Biscuit? — We nodded, and I had my shotgun again in my hands ready for whatever the hell was happening. — Come, we need to get out.
- No, you go get Sophia and Judith — Merle looked like he just remembered about the two little girls so he nodded and walked inside the other way.
- Got your gun? — Effy nodded and I leaded the way.
Outside, the others were near the fences. And when I realized what they were looking at, I almost had a heart attack. At the end of the yard, and with all the fences tore apart was a tank, a real enormous military tank. One of the watchtowers was on fire and I could notice the trail of smoke coming from the front the tank. I did not have to wonder who was doing this and though I couldn't recognize the person from the spot I was, I knew who it was.
The Governor was in the top of the tank and he descended and walked close to the field. I saw how Rick said something to us but I was too concentrated for listening to him. There were other cars, trucks to be more specific. All of them with armed people that seemed to be ready to shoot at us without hesitation. That wasn't the worst thing, I spotted two people with bags on their heads and even though they were kneeling on the grass and their faces were covered I knew who they were.
When the Governor said the first words, I felt how my optimism and enthusiasm disappeared.
Hey guys! New chapter here ;)
Sorry it took me so long to post but I accidentally deleted Chapter 22 the day I was supposed to post it and I had to rewrite the whole document. Well, I hope you like this new one.
See you next week!