A/N: Ehh, this chapter is okay but I'd hoped it would turn out differently. Anyway, please read and review. Also, please remember to stop by my profile and cast your vote in the poll about whether or not you would like for me to include the winter months in the story. I am planning on closing the poll on March 31, so please vote! It would really help me know what you guys would like to see:)
~A.S.D
The next thing I knew, I saw staring up at the trees and Shane was kneeling over me, looking completely panicked.
"Addie? Addie! Adeline!" He was yelling and grabbed me by the shoulders, trying to pull me up. I couldn't move, my limbs felt like useless rubber and I could hear my frantic breathing.
"What happened?" I heard another voice say and saw a look of annoyance flash across my brother's face before Daryl appeared in my narrow line of sight.
"I'm not sure. She just collapsed."
"Addie? Can you hear me?" Daryl called softly and I tried to nod. Some semblance of relief colored Shane's face so I presumed I was successful. Suddenly, the feeling started rushing back into my body and the numbness in my arms and legs started dissipating.
"Are you okay?" Shane asked me as I started moving slightly, testing to make sure everything still worked.
"I think so," I breathed, somewhat breathlessly.
"What happened?" Daryl asked and I looked up into his blue eyes, loosing myself for a second.
"I don't know. I've been feeling kind of weird today, I think it's just the heat," I said, not sure whether or not that was the case. Truthfully, the nights were becoming cooler and it wouldn't be long before the days did too.
"You should go to the house and get some rest," Shane said as they both helped me to my feet. "Get something cool to drink and then take it easy the rest of the day."
"Hershel isn't going to let me in that house, not that I want to anyway. We have a lot of work to do," I huffed, trying to steady myself. They were both still holding onto my arms so I wouldn't fall but I pulled away slightly so I could find my balance on my own.
"At least sit in the shade for a while," Daryl compromised.
"Really, guys, I'm fine. If I start to feel bad, I'll stop and take it easy. Promise," I told them, finally feeling centered enough to try and walk. I was successful and released a breath I didn't know I had been holding.
"Stubborn as a mule," the redneck joked, giving me a lopsided grin that I returned easily. Shane looked at us, shook his head, and started walking off.
Daryl and I shared another smile before following him back over to the barn. Everyone was gathered around, unsure of what to do. I saw Dale standing near Lori and Carl with a horrified look of disgust on his face. I remembered what Shane said but decided not to mention it. I still felt weak, though I wouldn't admit that to my worrywart of a brother.
"Do you want us to start burying?" I asked Rick who was staring off in space.
"We need a service. Carol would want that," Andrea piped up.
"Yeah, we'd all want that," T-Dog added.
"Let's-let's dig a grave for Sophia, Annette, and Shawn over by those trees," Lori interjected, pointing to the grove of trees we had just emerged from.
"And we'll need a truck to move the bodies," T-Dog pointed out and Jimmy said he would go get the keys.
"No. I got the truck," Shane interrupted, sticking his arm out to stop the boy before walking to the house.
"And the others? That's a lot of digging," Jimmy said, a bit of skepticism in his voice as he looked around at us.
"We bury the ones we love. And burn the rest," I said, a harsh tone edging into my voice at the last part.
"Let's get to work," Lori said and I didn't even have the energy to lash out at her.
Daryl, Shane, Jimmy, Andrea, T-Dog, and I all worked on digging the graves after driving the bodies out to the trees. Shane kept looking at me, like he was waiting for me to collapse again. Honestly, the more I moved around, the better I felt. After what felt like forever, the three graves were ready. Lori went to go get Carol while Andrea walked up to the house to get Hershel and his family.
We all convened around the graves after we'd filled them back in. Hereshel was wearing a suit and held a Bible in his hands but didn't speak. I tried not to think about sweet Sophia too much because I didn't want to cry but I felt the tears stinging at the back of my eyes. Shane was the first one to move away from the graves and everyone else filed out in their own directions after. I saw Daryl sling his crossbow over his shoulder and head for the woods.
"Hey!" I called to him but he didn't stop. "Daryl!" I called again. When he still didn't respond I started jogging to catch up with him. "Hey, are you okay?" I asked him when I was in stride with him.
"No," he barked and I furrowed my brow and stepped in front of him to make him stop.
"Daryl. There's nothing you could have done, you know that right? This isn't your fault," I said seriously, making him meet my eyes when he tried to dodge me.
"Whatever. It doesn't matter. She's dead," his voice was fierce but I could hear the slight edge of pain there.
"Well, what are you doing out here? Getting yourself killed isn't going to change anything," I barked back, starting to grow agitated.
"I'm not gonna get myself killed, I just wanted to be alone," he snapped, giving me a pointed look that made me step back.
"I was just trying to help," I said evenly even though the words stung more than I'd ever admit.
"Well don't!" He yelled and started walking off, leaving me alone. He turned back and looked at me and I could only imagine what he saw. "Look. I'm sorry, I'm just pissed. I don't really want to be alone, I just don't want to be around them," his voice was softer now and the pain was starting to show in his eyes.
"I get it," was all I said, not wanting to push it.
"Hey, um, do you wanna go for a walk or something?" He asked, looking rather uncomfortable as he shifted the crossbow onto his other shoulder.
"Yeah, sure," I agreed and walked over to him and then we started walking together. We walked in comfortable silence for a while, just thankful to be away.
"So, you okay?" He asked after some time. I smiled slightly and nodded.
"Yeah. I don't know what that was, but I'm good now," I laughed even though it really scared me. "Hey! I have an idea!" I said excitedly and he looked at me questioningly.
"And what is that?" He asked and I laughed at the skepticism in his voice.
"Teach me how to shoot your crossbow," I said and he laughed. "I'm serious. I've always wanted to learn. No time like the present."
"No way. Can't risk you hurting yourself, your brother would kill me," I glared at him at the implication but smiled after a second.
"What? You afraid I'll show you up? I promise not to embarrass you," I joked and it was his turn to glare which made me laugh again.
"Hardly, you'd be lucky to be able to pull the bow back," he snapped but there was a smile in his voice.
"Well, let's see," I demanded, starting to walk to a clearing up ahead. "Come on, show me," I said and gestured around us. He rolled his eyes but pulled the bow from his shoulder and offered it out to me. I walked over to him and put a hand on it but he pulled it back.
"You break it, I kill you," he said with a smile but there was some seriousness in his tone. I took it and held it in my hands, it was much heavier than I'd thought but I soon got used to the extra weight. I pulled it up in front of me and tried to string a bolt the way I'd seen Daryl do hundreds of times.
"No, like this," he said and came up behind me, guiding my hands to swiftly lock the bolt in place and place my hands correctly. I felt heat rush to my cheeks at his close proximity and blew my side bang out of my face. "There ya go, just like that. Now just pull back like this and…" he led me through the process and trailed off as the arrow soared across the clearing right into a tree at the other side.
"Wow," I said, a little breathless.
"Now this time by yourself," Daryl instructed and backed up slightly, giving me room but still staying close.
I followed the steps, but struggled to draw it back, the weight being more than I could manage.
"Deep breath, then pull. You can do it," I nodded and did as he said, finding that I was able to move the drawstring. It was slow and jerky, but soon the bow was ready for firing and I let go. The arrow sailed, all of two feet then crashed in the ground. Daryl laughed and I whirled on him but was smiling too.
"We can't all be good at everything like you," I joked and went to retrieve the bolt to try again.
"I believe you are confusing me for you, little miss perfect," he said and I blushed fiercely.
"I am far from perfect, and I have no idea where you got that idea," he shrugged, arms crossed over his muscular chest, leaning against the tree. I drank in the sight of him then, looking relaxed and open, not to mention gorgeous. My cheeks flamed at the thought and I hid behind my hair so he wouldn't see.
"Go again. You'll get used to the weight," he said and I took up a stance to try again. This time the arrow went further, but wavered in the air. I swore under my breath and went to go get it where it had fallen next to the tree line.
I bent over to pick it up and when I stood, I was face to face with a walker. I screamed and backed up. It was chomping its jaws, teeth clanking as it reached it for me.
"Addie!" Daryl yelled and I turned to look at him, careful not to let the walker too close. More walkers were coming through the trees. I reached to my waistband and pulled out my gun. I knew firing it would draw even more walkers to us and I couldn't have but a few bullets left after the massacre at the barn. I ran to Daryl's side, and handed him back the crossbow and he strung it, quickly taking out the walker who had been on me.
"What now?" I called as more walkers started crowding around us, about ten or more now. My heart was beating radically, and I felt my nose bleeding.
"Clear a path and run like hell," he said, glancing at the limited number of arrows in his possession and glancing at my gun. I shook my head, conveying I didn't have many bullets. I started firing though, the walkers getting too close for comfort. He started shooting too, but it was slow going.
Eventually, a small path had opened and we started running. A hand grabbed my arm but I shot the walker in the face easily and kept moving. After running at full speed for five minutes, we got back to the farm, standing in the field where Daryl had been shoot, panting.
"Are-are you o-okay?" I gasped out between breaths. He nodded and I put my hands on my knees, leaning over.
"Addie?" He said and I looked up. He was staring at my arm and I furrowed my brow as I looked down. My heart sank as I saw three fiery red scratches running down my arm.