Final Chapter guys! It is super, duper long though and that's because my internet keeps spazing out so I just put two chapters together so I could finally get it on here. Let me know what you think, you're reviews could mean me carrying on with a sequel or giving up on my fanfiction days! Thanks to those who stuck it through to this point, it might not have been pretty the whole time, but it's a first and at least, now I can say I did it! -D
As the weeks pass, I've noticed that reality has come and gone. We have these moments, where it feels so normal, like we're living again and not just scratching by, and then there are times like these when it seems as if reality comes back in force just to bite us in the ass. Literally. As my thoughts consume me, I quickly take the head off another walker, turning back, "Rick!"
My shouting has turned the attention of the other three walkers to me, giving Rick the chance to take out two of them, leaving the last one for me. With all threats eliminated, Rick makes his over, as I'm doubled over, puking from the heat and the putrid smell. I give his leg a punch when I hear a faint chuckle, but if our places were swapped, there's no doubt I would definitly be laughing, so I can't be too mad at him.
"Damn it, they're coming more often now." I say, after finally being able to ease my heaving, looking up into Rick's light blue eyes. With a simple nod, he wipes some blood off my face,
"I know." He says, deep understanding in his voice, like he had already come up with a solution to our problem, "We've been here for almost two months, that's the longest time since the prison we've stayed in one place. They're comfortable here."
With my hands loosely hanging off my hips, I can't help but to agree with him, "Hell, I think we all are. "
He pats my back, "Let's get goin', before they send out the Calvary." Rick says lightly, but I can hear the uneasiness in his voice, and it's more than a little frightening. Yet, what more can I do besides put on a smile and keep everyone else's spirits high, even when Rick tells me things that the others have no clue about. Like, how he's been making plans for a big move. He'll show me areas ever so often, pointing out the geographical features that will benefit us. Not even Daryl knows yet.
Of course, I love the country club, but with the walkers coming more and more, there's always that time now, when we have to stop putting our selfish wants before the needs of the group.
-Yeah, like you're one to talk about selfish wants. My mind comments snidely, causing my eyes to roll.
For the past month, my escapades with Daryl happened more often than I care to admit. When things got stressful, or overwhelming, and sometimes just for the hell of it, we would go out to the blind. We didn't have to think about anything, it was just us, letting go of our worries for even the smallest amount of time. And when the sweat dries, we step back into reality, fighting and carrying on like we always do. The worst part is, everytime it happens, I feel a little part of me staying behind with Daryl.
"Earth to Nora!" I jerk my head up, meeting Carl's icy blue eyes. In my thoughts, I hadn't even made it into the house with Rick, instead opting to plomp myself down in a rocking chair.
With a nervous laugh, I ruffle his long hair, " I think it's time for hair cut, kid." Standing, I pull the collar of his jacket, "C'mon!"
Carl pulls and struggles the whole way, begging me to let go but no way, he was getting my mind away from a certain redneck and I was grateful for that.
"I was kind of digging the long hair." I hear Michonne say, leaning against the doorway of the kitchen, a sly smile on her face.
Pouting face and all, Carl sits still as I trim until his brown hair sits just above eyebrows.
"See? At least now everyone can see those pretty eyes!" I exclaim, giving him the broken mirror,
"Yes, because walkers really care about the color of my eyes." He says, disdain dripping from his voice, before dragging his feet out of the kitchen.
Michonne comes forward, "He'll thank you later.", she says with an appreciative gleam in her eyes.
"Well until then, I promise to not hold it against him." I reply, brushing his hair out the door and off the patio, "Michonne?"
"Yeah?" Now she's leaning agaisnt one of the large, stone pillars watching expectantly.
I pull my hair over one shoulder, deciding soon I would need to cut it too, "Tell me about your son." I say, not meeting her eyes, just staring at the stone pavers beneath my feet.
She repositions herself, an uncomfortable silence runs between us for a moment, "Andre," Michonne begins, a smile coming to her lips from just saying his name, "he was a ball of energy to say the least. Always moving, laughing.." I watch her face contort in sadness, " I miss him everyday."
A single tears rolls down my cheek, pictures of Claire flashing before my eyes, wondering how she would have looked now, how long her hair would be, how beautiful her eyes were, shining like two stars in the night sky. Dropping the broom, I walk to Michonne, embracing here as the tears flow freely now,
"I'm sorry, Michonne, I'm so sorry." I say, my voice muffled as she hugs me back, still as a statue, "I miss my little girl so much, I-I-I just needed to hear it, because I can't say it." Pulling away, I wipe my face, embarrassed for breaking down like this until I see the wet streaks trickling down her ebony cheeks,
"I understand. But.. But at least they didn't have to see all this." She says, holding back a sob, "And, we'll see them again. It'll be safe, and we can be happy."
I nod, a smile coming to my face, "Thank you." I say, the sincerity in my voice overpowering as I turn to head back for the door, Rick stopping me from crossing the threshold,
"Nora, have you seen Daryl?" He asks quickly, notable concern pulling at his features.
I shake my head, "Not since breakfast.", I answer, a seed of worrying growing within me now too, "Why?"
He walks away, of course with me hot on his heels, "Rick, why? What's wrong?" Pulling his arm so he has to face me, the man's face unreadable,
"I can't find him, I'm sure it's nothin'. Didn't mean to worry you." Rick says, a very forced smile coming to his lips as his big hand lands on my shoulder. Yet, the worry was very much there, very real, and very scary. Daryl and I had a routine, we made sure to know where the other would be at, so, why didn't he say something? My mind raced with questions as I grab my rifle, slamming the side door behind me, heading straight for the ,now very worn, path that will take me to the hunting blind.
-What the hell is wrong with him? Daryl never does this. My raging thoughts lead only to more anxiety as I break into a jog, yet as I jump, pulling myself into the blind, my eyes find nothing. No Daryl, only the quilts, and candle I had found a week ago, and of course the undeniable feelings the space gave me,
"Damn it." I mutter, tying my hair up, trying to think of anywhere he could be.
As I jump from the blind, I move a little deeper into the forest finding no tracks to follow, only that a howling wind has picked up since this morning. Which is really just my luck, because with the wind blowing soil and leaves around, any track would have been covered long ago. Creeping a little further, my heart begins to beat faster, something telling me things just aren't right.
"Shit!" I scream, falling to the ground as a walker tackles me. Kicking myself backwards, away from the thing's reach, I pull my dagger out, sending it straight the spongy brain and watch as the used-to-be man dies for the last time. And before I can catch my breath, I hear another monster behind me. Turning around things seem to move into a slow motion, I get tunnel vision as the walker grabs me, the rotting woman's teeth going straight for my bicep. I'm able to stab her, finally standing to my feet only to find the forest around me begin to spin at dizzying speed.
I tumble down into a small revine, landing on my back, my eyes looking towards the bright sun until I finally feel pain trickling through my arm, seeping into my head. Turning my eyes, I'm met with a grusome sight to say the least, with the andrenaline pumping through me, I hadn't even known that the bitch actually got me.
"Damn." I say, trying to control my breathing as I look up at the clouds moving by, and feel the wind dance over my sweat dampened body. Soon enough, I'm seeing Jack and Claire before me, smiling and waving, beckoning me to come with them. I smile and wave back of course, blood still seeping from my arm, everything spinning again.
My breathing becomes labored and I can feel my body throwing itself into a panic attack. Yeah, like that is really going to help my situation at all. My limbs begin to tremble, as the trees above spin faster and faster, and I feel heat surging through me. The source of heat being the bite.
-You're dying! My brain screams.
"No shit." I answer myself, figuring what's the point of hiding my crazy anymore. Then, I see Daryl and he's just standing there, eyes fixed on me, saying nothing. Like I could expect anything more. But he looks sad, so sad, and I can feel my chest begin to tighten as I close my eyes, a few tears squeezing from the sides because it hurts me seeing that look in his eyes.
"I love you Claire, " I say, ticking through the ones I had lost, Jack, my mother and father, I say Claire a few more times, smiling at the fact that I'll see her soon enough. Then, my new family and everything thing we've been through, Michonne, Rick, Carl, and Maggie, each one of their faces trickle through my vision and how the love I have for them is so completely different and real, I knew that to be more than true. And with the little strength I have left, I roll on my side, hardly even feeling my arm anymore, I guess due to the sheer blood loss, I just feel numb. "and I love you too, Daryl." His name is only a whisper, but I finally let the tunnel close into an inky blackness. There's no bright light, no warm, fuzzy feeling. Just nothing.
"She's waking up." A dreamy voice says, but I can't pinpoint it's exact location.
-Is that God? Am I really dead? If so, I'd say this is a little bit of let down, I'm suppose to feel pain if I'm dead.
-Hmm, maybe he's punishing you first.
-That makes no sense. God isn't like that.
-Oww, what the hell!
A searing pressure radiates from my right arm, as my eyes flutter open for a moment, a bright white light burn into my pupils.
"Her eyes! She is waking up, get the rod." Again I hear the dreamy voice, this time clear enough to know that it's definitely not familiar.
-Rod? A rod for what? Oh my god, please don't be aliens.
I move my fingers, a sense of relief pouring through me, followed just a quick by a sense of overwhelming dread.
-I'm not dead. So what the hell am I? I got bit! I remember that very clearly, you don't wake up-wake up from a walker bit.
-You have to say something, they're going to kill you.
-I can't even feel my lips right now, what am I suppose to say!
- ANYTHING.
"D..D-Don't." I force the single word through my lips, and it's like a ghost might as well have sat down in the middle of where ever I am. I hear a few screams, some in fear and others in a curious way.
"How is she..?"
"I don't know, it's been hours."
"She never developed a fever or any symptoms.
The voices overwhelm me, and I have no idea what they're talking about, which is quickly driving me crazy, so I attempt, for the last time, to open my eyes. My lids are heavy, but eventually they remain open long enough for me to catch a few glimpses. I see a pure white room around me, flooded with bright, radiant light. The people around me don't look dirty like I'm so used to, no, they're wearing doctor scrubs oddly enough,
"Wh-w-where am.. I?" I whisper, looking to each of the faces for only a moment for the darkness returns, my eye lids shutting again.
"You're safe." Is all I hear before falling unconcious.
