Chapter 18 - Horror Story
Emma opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was the ceiling above her. At first, in a haze from having just woken, Emma forgot where she was. She turned her head and studied the room as best as she could in the darkness. Then, she remembered. She was sleeping on Merle's sofa. Upstairs, Merle and Sam were sleeping. She could hear Merle snoring loudly from his bedroom. There were no sounds that Emma could hear coming from Sam's bedroom. Skipper was upstairs with him. Emma had known, as she encouraged the dog to follow Sam upstairs earlier that day, that Skipper would do more good with Sam than he would with her.
Emma looked back up at the ceiling with a sigh. When they had returned from town that afternoon, Sam refused to go anywhere near the house Merle and Daryl had built for him and Amy. Instead, he returned to his old bedroom in Merle's home. Nobody tried to convince Sam to do otherwise. Emma knew the house was a reminder of the bright future that had been squashed the moment Amy fell ill. Sam was broken, the memory of his recently deceased wife still so fresh in his mind. Amy had been buried the previous day. Even though Emma had seen it coming, it was still difficult news to hear when she learned of Amy's tragic passing...
Emma took her time as she bathed in the sunlight. She had woken when Mrs. Schumaker had peeked in to check on her. Even though her body was pretty well covered by the sheets, Emma still felt embarrassed by Mrs. Schumaker's presence as she brought up a basin of water for Emma to bathe in. When the woman was gone, Emma got out of bed and slipped into the water. She submerged herself completely, then when her hair was wet and heavy, she broke the surface to begin washing herself. The scent of death that had wrapped itself around Emma in Clarke's apartment was slowly fading the longer she washed and the harder she scrubbed.
When Emma was clean, she got out of the basin and unwrapped her hair to use that towel to dry herself off. She thought about getting dressed, but she thought it best that she waited until Daryl returned so that they could go to the reverend's together. So, Emma slipped into her robe. She never had cause to wear it since she typically washed and then immediately dressed for either the day or for bed. It was thin and a pale shade of pink, a shade that reminded Emma of the color of the dress she had worn to Sam and Amy's wedding. As Emma remembered the wedding, she hoped Daryl would hurry back from wherever he had gone so that she could go and be with Sam and Amy.
It wasn't long after Emma had gotten out of her bath that the door was opening. She turned from the window to see Daryl slowly pushing the door open. When their eyes met, Daryl side stepped into the room and quickly shut the door behind him. Emma went to her side of the bed as Daryl stood on the opposite side, looking across the bed at her.
"How are you feeling?" Daryl asked quietly.
"Better." Emma replied.
Daryl rubbed the back of his neck and nodded.
"Good."
Emma could see that Daryl was distressed. He continued to rub his neck as he suddenly seemed to find the floor so interesting.
"What is it?" Emma asked softly.
Daryl slowly looked up from the floor.
"I...was worried about you." Daryl finally admitted.
Before Emma could reply, Daryl turned his back to her so that he could sit on the bed. Emma circled the bed to go to Daryl's side. As she stepped up to Daryl, he slowly wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned his head against her breasts. Emma returned his embrace and pulled him closer to her body to reassure him and soothe any worries he was harboring. She could feel his hot breath easily through her thin robe as he sighed. Since Emma knew that Daryl was probably listening to her heart and her breathing, she purposely took deeper breaths.
They remained that way for quite a while, until eventually, Daryl lifted his head. He kept one arm around Emma's waist, and lifted the other to run his fingers through Emma's damp waves as they hung over the front of her body.
"There's something I gotta tell you." Daryl said, watching his fingers as they passed through Emma's blonde hair.
"What?" Emma asked, her hands on Daryl's shoulders.
Daryl sighed.
"The reason I was coming to see you...at Clarke's...is because..." Daryl held a section of Emma's hair in his hand as he lifted his eyes to meet Emma's. "Amy's dead."
Emma closed her eyes. She felt a flicker of anger when she thought of how Daryl had persuaded her to come with him to the inn and rest when she had wanted to go to the reverend's home, but she did her best to ignore it. Daryl had truly been concerned for her well being, on top of that, he had been right when he said Emma would have been no good to the reverend, or Sam, or Andrea in the state she had been in after leaving Clarke's apartment. That was why Emma allowed Daryl to pull her down and onto his lap. As Daryl slowly ran one hand up and down Emma's back, while the other lay warm on her thigh, Emma thought about poor Amy suffering the same fate as Clarke. Emma didn't regret her decision in leaving Amy's side to go and be with Clarke, but she still felt sick over not being there when Amy passed.
Emma lifted her hands to Daryl's face. As she slowly leaned in to kiss him, he brought his hand up to where her robe separated slightly to reveal her skin. He slid his hand inside of her robe and pressed it to her breast as their lips met. Without breaking their kiss, Daryl slowly laid Emma back on the bed. He discovered that she was completely nude beneath her robe, which immediately aroused him. Emma moaned when she felt Daryl's erection pressed against her thigh. Hands and fingers found the flesh hidden beneath fabric as their lips came together in heated, open mouth kisses. Emma felt curious, learning fingers against her warm, wet opening as she used her own to grip the very visible erection being held back by Daryl's britches and trousers. They were learning quickly. Emma threw her head back and moaned as she felt Daryl pressing his fingers into her core. Daryl panted on top of Emma as she stroked his manhood with a firm, but gentle grip. Too soon, it became too much. Daryl eagerly undressed and guided himself inside of Emma. He closed his eyes and groaned as her muscles squirmed to form the shape of his penis. They both needed release...
Looking back on it, Emma was ashamed of herself for how she had behaved once Daryl had returned to their room at the inn. She should have dressed and left with Daryl to go to the reverend's home to be with the reverend, Sam, and Andrea. Instead, she gave into the urge that had suddenly taken hold of her. It was the same urge that had come over her as Daryl laid her soaking wet, exhausted body in bed after her fainting spell in town.
Emma threw back the quilt and got up. She silently slipped into the kitchen and aimlessly wandered into the pantry. She wasn't hungry, but she looked through the shelves of cans and jars as though she would suddenly find something so appealing she wouldn't be able to say no to it.
0o0o0
Daryl sat in a chair at the end of the bed with his foot propped up on the footboard as Emma lay sleeping. She was on her side, facing the door, with her hands pressed together under her face. Her lips parted as she fell more deeply asleep. Each soft breath she exhaled escaped through them. It was the only audible sound in the bedroom. Daryl watched the way the sheets moved around Emma's body as she breathed. He had been able to quickly roll away from Emma after she had fallen asleep, then quietly dress and pull the chair away from the table to sit by the bed. Daryl knew he had things to take care of, but he was finding it difficult to leave Emma's side. As more and more daylight shone through the window, Daryl knew he needed to go. Time was getting away from him as he sat watching Emma sleep.
Daryl got up from the chair and went to Emma's side. Her hair was wild from having dried during the course of their lovemaking and while she slept. Daryl wanted to run his fingers through Emma's curls or brush his lips against her forehead, but he didn't want to wake her. Even though Emma had been asleep for a few hours, she needed to continue resting after having stayed awake taking care of Clarke for three days, especially since Sam and Amy's family would be needing her when she woke. So, Daryl left Emma to sleep. As he left the inn, he stopped to speak with Mr. and Mrs. Schumaker, who were looking after the inn while Carol took care of her ailing husband. Daryl asked that Mrs. Schumaker check in on Emma while he was gone, but made sure that she understood that she was not to wake Emma under any circumstances. However, if Emma did wake up on her own, Daryl asked that Mrs. Schumaker take her a basin of hot water to bathe in.
The first task Daryl needed to complete was to have a courier take a message to Merle to fill him in on everything that had happened. Daryl scribbled out a letter for his brother.
Merle,
Amy is dead. Her funeral is tomorrow at nine o'clock at the town cemetery. Don't be late.
Daryl
Before he handed the letter over to the courier who would be delivering it to Merle, Daryl made sure the courier knew that we would have to read the letter aloud to his brother.
When that was finished, Daryl rode over to the reverend's house to check in on everything. Daryl had been woken before the sun by the sound of cries coming from above his head. He knew before he even ascended the stairs that Amy had probably died. Sure enough, Daryl found Sam, Andrea, and the reverend weeping over a lifeless Amy. Sam was collapsed across the foot of the bed in a trembling heap. Andrea was sitting at Amy's side, clasping her dead sister's hand and pressing kisses to her knuckles. The reverend was standing over Amy, his hand across her forehead. His eyes were closed as silent tears trickled down his cheeks. Daryl felt very uncomfortable as he watched the three of them grieving over Amy. He didn't know what to do with himself. Should he try to comfort them, or should he leave and let them be alone with Amy? For several minutes, Daryl simply stood in the open doorway watching the sad scene before him. Then, he made a decision and went to Sam's side. Daryl sat down on the edge of the bed where there was room and placed one hand on Sam's shoulder. There were no words spoken. Daryl kept his hand on Sam's shoulder until eventually, he was no longer shaking.
After the family had their time with Amy, as the sun was beginning to rise, the reverend announced that we would retrieve the doctor and coroner. Meanwhile, Daryl decided he should go and tell Emma about Amy, although he kept that information to himself. Something told Daryl that Andrea wouldn't want to hear about anything having to do with Emma. As Daryl left the house and was on his way, that was when he heard several people gossiping in the street about Emma having fainted.
As Daryl rode up to the reverend's house, a stretcher covered in a sheet was being brought out of the house and into a stagecoach right outside. The reverend came out of the house after the stretcher. He was speaking with one of the men who had carried his daughter's body out. They spoke for only a few minutes. Daryl assumed the two men were the doctor and coroner as they climbed into the stagecoach and were on their way. The reverend remained on the steps, watching as his daughter's body was taken down the street, around the corner, and out of sight.
"Reverend..." Daryl got the man's attention awkwardly as he stood at the base of the steps.
The reverend tore his eyes from where the stagecoach had disappeared. One corner of his mouth lifted into a very sad looking half smile.
"We were wondering where you had gotten off to, Daryl."
"Sorry about that, Reverend." Daryl scratched the back of his neck as he slowly climbed the steps. "I thought someone should tell Emma-"
"Emma." The reverend clapped himself lightly on the forehead. "I had forgotten about poor Clarke. Oh, how is he?"
Daryl lowered his eyes with a frown and shook his head.
"I see." The reverend sighed. "I'm glad that he had Emma to care for him, the poor man, may he rest in peace. How is Emma?"
"She..." Daryl lifted his eyes as he thought about whether or not he should burden the reverend with the gory details. "She was pretty upset, so she's resting a while at the inn."
"Of course." The reverend nodded. "Please let her know she doesn't need to rush over. She should rest as long as she needs to."
"I will." Daryl replied.
"Well, would you like to come in?" The reverend asked, stepping away from the door. "Andrea is upstairs choosing a dress for..."
The reverend cleared his throat.
"It was mere days ago that Andrea was helping Amy to dress for her wedding day." The reverend removed his glasses for a moment to wipe away a silent tear. "Now, Andrea is helping Amy to dress...for eternity..."
Daryl felt his stomach tying in knots as such strong emotions entered their conversation. He didn't know what to say or how to handle it. As if sensing Daryl's discomfort, the reverend patted him gently on the back before welcoming him inside...
Daryl couldn't sleep. He tossed and turned in bed for hours before he finally laid flat on his back and stared up at the ceiling in defeat. It had been a long week, so long that it seemed as though months had passed in the span of the six days Daryl and Emma had spent in town as Amy slowly died and was buried.
Daryl looked out the window as he laid in bed. From that angle, he could see his brother's house. It was dark inside. Everyone was asleep, including Emma. Daryl's eyes flickered back up to the ceiling as he thought about their conversation earlier that evening...
"What?" Daryl asked, standing up from the fire he had going.
"I said that until Sam is well again, I'm going to be staying at Merle's." Emma repeated herself once more. "I want to be close by in case he needs me...anyone."
Even though he knew it was selfish, Daryl couldn't help but think back to their argument before Emma had gone to Clarke's apartment. He wanted to be sore with Emma, but he knew it was wrong. Emma staying at Merle's to be close to Sam was different. Daryl knew Emma saw Sam as the brother she never had. On occasion, Daryl thought Emma acted more like Sam's mother than his sister. Either way, Emma cared deeply for Sam. If she thought sleeping one floor below him would be helpful, Daryl couldn't begrudge her that. So, even though Daryl selfishly wanted to ask Emma to reconsider, he kept his mouth shut and simply nodded...
Daryl turned over onto his side, away from the window. It wasn't because Emma wasn't in bed with him that he couldn't sleep, although he did miss her presence beside him. It was because he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that something was about to happen, or about to change. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but the feeling loomed over him all the while as he tried to fall asleep.
0o0o0
Life did change on the farm over the next two weeks, but everyone adapted quickly to the changes. Emma continued sleeping on Merle's sofa, and was glad for her decision, because several nights she woke to the sounds of Sam crying out in his sleep. The first night it happened, Merle had stumbled out of his bedroom, half naked, with bleary eyes and a shotgun in hand. Emma hurried up the stairs and into Sam's bedroom to discover him thrashing in bed, his eyes shut tight, his fists clenched around the covers. Emma was able to shake Sam awake after several minutes. When she finally woke him, he immediately dissolved into tears. As Emma held Sam close, his head against her chest and their arms around each other, she could hear Merle mumbling to Daryl, who had hightailed it up to the house upon hearing Sam's cries. After that first night, Merle and Daryl remained in their beds while Emma would perform the routine alone.
Sam barely spoke when he was awake. He still took meals with everyone, still went to work, but rarely did he speak with any of them. Emma didn't pry. As long as Sam continued working, eating, and sleeping, Emma had no reason to interfere with Sam's grief. He wasn't drinking himself into a continuous stupor like Shane or Rick had. So, Emma was patient with Sam. She stayed close by in case he needed her, she comforted him on nights when he was afflicted with fits, but she didn't put any pressure on him to suddenly get over the loss of his young wife.
It wasn't until two weeks to the day that Amy had been buried that the real changes came.
It started with the sound of hoofbeats as everyone was finishing their breakfast. Merle and Daryl were immediately on the defensive. The rider did not ring the bell to announce their presence, nor had they waited to be let in. Merle and Daryl rose from the table simultaneously.
"Stay here." Daryl muttered to Emma and Sam.
Emma snorted as she got up from the table, but Sam remained seated. She touched his shoulder as she passed him to follow Merle and Daryl. As she left the kitchen, she saw Merle and Daryl both reach for rifles that hung on the wall by the door. A third remained on the wall as Merle and Daryl went out onto the porch together to await the arrival of the mysterious rider. As Emma reached for the third rifle, she heard voices outside. She recognized Merle's and Daryl's voices, of course, but the third was a female voice. Emma left the rifle on the wall as she sidestepped closer to the door, listening. Suddenly, she recognized the female voice, and knew she didn't need the rifle after all as she opened the door and stepped out onto the porch.
"Andrea?"
Daryl turned his head with a frown.
"I told you to stay inside." Daryl grumbled as Emma walked past him, ignoring him.
Andrea had dismounted her horse and was leaning against it, almost as if she needed the support. Emma had never seen Andrea looking so disheveled before, not even when her sister was dying. Strands and even entire sections of hair were coming loose from the bun at the back of her head. Her skin was red and beaded with sweat. Emma was alarmed when she saw Andrea's face and dress were smudged with not only dirt, but blood.
"Emma..." Andrea breathed raggedly. "Emma...you have to come..."
"Andrea, what is it?" Emma asked, taking a cautious step forward. "What's happened?"
"She said something happened in town, that we gotta come with her." Merle scoffed from behind Emma.
"Lives depend on it." Andrea snapped, suddenly finding the strength to stand up straight.
Then, Andrea was wobbling. Emma quickly closed the distance between them and held Andrea by the waist to steady her. When Emma felt Andrea's body trembling, she turned her head.
"Help me get her into the house."
Merle and Daryl both moved to assist Emma, but Daryl looked over at Merle and then nodded towards the house. Merle held the door open while Daryl and Emma guided Andrea up the steps and into the house. They deposited her onto the sofa.
"Merle, get her some water." Emma pointed to the kitchen as she sat down beside Andrea.
"There's no time for any of this!" Andrea suddenly cried.
As Andrea attempted to stand up, she teetered and fell back onto the sofa with Emma's hands easing her into a gentler descent.
"We won't be able to help if you're hysterical." Emma told Andrea firmly, but softly. "Have a few sips of water, take a couple of deep breaths, and then tell us what's happened."
Emma gently rubbed Andrea's back with one hand while she held Andrea's hand in her other. Emma could easily feel Andrea's pulse thundering through her wrist. Merle returned with water for Andrea. While Andrea gulped down the water, Merle and Daryl stood with their hands on their hips across from the sofa, waiting to hear the news Andrea had to tell. Emma let go of Andrea's hand when her pulse slowed.
"Now, what's happened, Andrea?" Emma asked, taking the glass from her quivering hand.
Andrea took a deep, but shaky breath before she began.
"There's something...horrible...happening to the townspeople who are sick..."
Emma wondered what could possibly be worse than what she had seen Clarke go through. As she waited for Andrea to continue, Andrea was suddenly shaking her head as silent tears trickled down her cheeks.
"You won't believe me." Andrea murmured, sniffing.
"Of course I will." Emma replied reassuringly, rubbing Andrea's back again.
Andrea turned her head to look Emma square in the face, a surprising smirk accompanying the tears upon her cheeks.
"I wouldn't believe you if it was the other way around."
Daryl let out a heavy sigh.
"Andrea, I'm sure you didn't ride all this way in your condition to spread lies." Emma pulled her hand from Andrea's back. "Now, tell us what's happening, or we won't be able to help."
Andrea looked away from Emma as she exhaled another trembling breath.
"The people...the people who have...died...from the illness spreading throughout town..." Andrea closed her eyes. "They're...they're..."
Andrea opened her eyes as Sam silently appeared in the kitchen doorway.
"They're...rising...from their graves..." Andrea whispered, closing her eyes once more.
"Rising from their graves?" Merle asked skeptically, crossing his arms over his chest.
"What do you mean?" Daryl asked.
"I mean that the dead are digging their way up out of the ground and walking among the living!" Andrea shouted angrily, lifting her head to glare up at Merle and Daryl.
Before anyone could speak, Andrea laughed darkly, her expression changing.
"Well, I wouldn't really say 'walking', so much as terrorizing."
"Terrorizing?" Sam asked quietly, causing everyone to either lift their heads or turn to look at him.
Andrea nodded.
"They aren't coming back to life and knocking on our doors, praising Jesus for the miracle he bestowed upon them." Andrea shook her head. "No, they're..."
"What?" Emma asked.
"They're...going after the townspeople." Andrea replied, turning her head to look at Emma. "They're attacking the living, the truly living people, and...and eating them."
Emma looked over at Merle and Daryl. They didn't appear to believe Andrea's tale. Their expressions had changed very little from the moment Andrea began her story up until her latest revelation that the undead were feasting upon the living. Emma found her story hard to swallow, but there was no reason for Andrea to lie. Her disheveled appearance and bloodied clothes corroborated the horror story she told.
"The townspeople who are still alive are boarded up inside my daddy's house." Andrea continued. "At first, we were all safe there, but...the ones who have risen have tracked us down. They have begun swarming my daddy's house, moaning and groaning, trying their damnedest to get inside..."
"How did you get here safely?" Emma asked.
"Rick and Shane created a diversion that allowed me time to collect a horse and flee town."
"Did any of those things follow you?" Daryl asked suddenly.
"Yes, but I closed the gate-"
"You could have led those creeps here?" Daryl interrupted harshly.
"We didn't know what else to do!" Andrea cried, more tears coming.
It was silent, except for Andrea's sniffing. Then, it was Sam who acted first. He headed for the door, taking the remaining rifle from off the wall on his way out.
"Sam!" Emma called his name as she got up off the sofa and quickly followed him outside.
Sam was heading for the barn when Emma stepped outside.
"Samuel Graysmith!" Emma called out to him again, this time more sternly than before.
Sam stopped, but he didn't turn around. Emma could hear the door opening behind her as she caught up to Sam halfway to the barn.
"What do you think you're doing?" Emma asked, hands on her hips.
"I'm going into town." Sam muttered.
"I don't think so." Emma shook her head once. "You're going to stay here and look after Andrea while the rest of us go into town."
"You can't tell me what to do Emma, I'm a grown man." Sam snapped.
Sam put his shoulder into Emma's, knocking her off kilter, to move past her. Emma looked up just in time to see Daryl's features darken as Sam shoved her.
"Hey!" Daryl shouted, quickening his pace.
Emma put out her hands to stop Daryl before he could go after Sam.
"Stop." Emma murmured, her hands on Daryl's chest.
Daryl looked down at Emma's hands, then up at her face. It was the first time they had touched in weeks, ever since Emma started sleeping up at Merle's place.
"He doesn't have the right to shove you like that." Daryl grumbled, although his anger was dissipating with having Emma's hands upon him.
"He's upset." Emma replied quietly. "If everything that Andrea has told us is true, then that means one of those things is Amy."
Daryl opened his mouth, but closed it.
"Now, help me try to talk some sense into him." Emma said, removing her hands from Daryl's chest.
By that time, Merle had caught up with Daryl and Emma. The three of them entered the barn to find Sam already saddling up a horse to take into town.
"Sam, what in the hell do you think you're doing?" Merle asked, blocking the barn doors.
Sam didn't reply.
"If you think you're leaving this property, boy, you got another thing coming."
"Sam," Emma moved closer to Sam, but didn't push it, "someone needs to stay here with Andrea. She's in no condition to return to town with us. Besides-"
"Us?" Daryl asked, closing the distance between himself and Emma.
"You, Merle, and me." Emma replied, barely glancing over at Daryl.
"You ain't coming with us either." Daryl told Emma as-a-matter-of-factly.
"I most certainly am." Emma retorted, whipping her head around to glare at Daryl. "You and Merle can't do this yourselves. We'll be more successful if there are three of us instead of two."
"Merle and I can take care of ourselves." Daryl snapped.
"Well, so can I." Emma snapped back, stepping toe to toe with Daryl.
"Shut up!" Sam suddenly shouted.
Emma and Daryl both turned away from each other to focus on Sam, who was standing still.
"We've got more important things going on right now than this."
"Sam's right." Merle folded his arms over his chest. "Daryl, if Emma wants to go with us, then she's going with us. I'd rather have her going with us than Sam, anyways."
"Merle-"
"I don't want to hear another word about it." Merle interrupted Sam as he began to protest. "You ain't in your right mind and haven't been for a while. You ain't in any condition to be coming with us. You're going to stay here like Emma said."
Nobody spoke. Sam stared angrily at the ground, silently seething, but he didn't protest anymore. Daryl glared at Emma, waiting for her to look at him, but she didn't. Emma was looking to Merle.
"So, what's the plan?" Emma asked.