Chapter Fifteen
Sirens
There was always something about death that Anna found amusing. Death was always certain, no matter the extremes that people went to prolong life and prevent death. And people all over the world tried their best to hide age and keep it at bay, but no one could stop it from happening. No one could stop death from knocking on their door. Life was a cruel game of fate. Some people lived until their body was too old to see another day and others were taken before their time. Before you take your first breath, your death is sealed. The apocalypse, or outbreak, whatever you wanted to call it, made the duration of life even more short. Life was full of twists and obstacles, but death... death was always in the plan.
And in Anna's case, she never realised how much she wanted to live - to beat this world - more than when she was heaving behind a tree just in case it helped with preventing the onset of the infection, with a man holding a crossbow at her head. Today, she surmised, was not her lucky day.
She heaved one last time and the granola bar she had eaten that morning made its way out. She coughed, her hand resting against the tree, and wiped her mouth. Her leg was sore and she stood slowly, trying to put her weight onto her good leg.
Her gaze turned to the man holding the crossbow, and eyed him. She smirked, though the darkness prevented him from seeing her.
"I'm surprised you haven't shot me in the head yet."
"Don't tempt me," the man sneered.
"But I know you won't," Anna countered. She was buying as much time as she could. She knew the longer she kept talking, the more she provoked the man, the more adrenaline she would have in her body. The anticipation of turning or being shot would allow the outcome to her situation to become clearer. Adrenaline was key; it was the answer to her questions, and to the tests and experiments she had conducted in the first few weeks of the outbreak at the CDC. The more adrenaline a person had in their body at the time of ingestion or after being bitten by the dead, the quicker the individual turned.
"Whatever," he said. "Just keep ya mouth shut. Do us both a favour."
"You want to know how I know?" Anna pushed. It felt as if she was prodding a sleeping bear with a stick or taunting a cornered animal. Sooner or later, they were going to attack.
"Not really," he growled.
"I'm going to tell you anyway..." Anna replied.
"Now that's a surprise."
"Because you would've done it already. As soon as you had the chance."
He narrowed his eyes at her, and shook his head. "Ya don't know me. Who's to say I won't?"
The other man appeared then, followed by the two children. He exchanged a look with the crossbow wielding guy and nodded. He turned his attention then to Anna. "The children have told me that you helped them. That you saved Sophia's life."
Anna nodded. "Anyone would've done the same."
The comment burned her mouth, knowing that the man she had met earlier - The Governor - was not a man who would probably help a child who was lost in the woods. She watched the man's expression change slightly, a frown forming on his face.
"No, they wouldn't," he replied. "I'm Rick. And this is Daryl."
Anna glanced at Daryl and wasn't surprised that he kept his crossbow aimed at her.
"Is it true?" Rick asked then, causing Anna to glance back at him. "Sophia told me that you were with Merle?"
At this, Daryl turned to Rick in shock. The mention of his brother's name was bittersweet. Daryl turned back to Anna who was glancing between both men, and advanced towards her. His footing was quick as, before Anna could realise what was going on, he had his hand around her throat tightly and had backed her against the tree. She had backed up too quickly, her leg twisting. She fought back, her hands on his shoulders trying to push him away from her. He was strong, a lot stronger than she thought he would be.
"Ya know Merle?" Daryl growled, the vibration of his words radiating through his body and making contact with her skin. She kept calm, her eyes searching his with the same intensity that was pouring from his.
"Daryl!" Rick's voice could be heard but it didn't seem to stir the man.
"Answer me!" Daryl sneered, forcing her further back against the tree.
"I'll tell you if you..." Anna began, her hands tightening around his shoulders. "If you let me go!"
Daryl stared at her for a moment, as if weighing in his options. He backed away, and the air that she was struggling to get burned her lungs. She heaved for a moment, taking deep breaths. She placed her hand around her throat, over the top of his fading touch.
"Well?" Daryl pushed.
"I met him today. That's it," Anna answered. "We're not exchanging birthday or Christmas cards yet unfortunately."
Daryl spat on the ground near her feet, the anger still coursing through his veins.
"So, you're the brother he spoke about," Anna acknowledged. "Anyone ever told you that you're very alike."
"Anyone told ya to shut ya mouth before?" Daryl countered. "Ya playin' happy families now?"
Anna smirked. "Yep. Very alike."
"Ya don't know nothin' about me."
"Daryl," Rick warned. "This ain't the time nor the place."
"Good a time as any," Daryl said, his gaze still fixed on Anna.
"This ain't the time nor the place," Rick repeated. "Got that?"
Rick's voice was thick with authority, and Daryl turned his attention on Rick. After a few moments, Daryl nodded and retreated away from them and over to the children.
Rick turned to Anna. "The children both speak highly of you. Especially Sophia."
Anna nodded, acknowledging Rick's words. The young girl was staring the both of them.
"We have a place," Rick continued.
"A prison?" Anna asked, to which Rick's demeanour changed slightly. He placed his hands on his hips and nodded slowly. "Sophia mentioned it to Merle. I overheard."
"Right..." Rick said. "You know which one?"
"No idea. I don't really know my way around. The tours suck here."
Rick smirked and nodded. "Where were you headed?"
"Washington," Anna said. "Family."
Rick's eyes softened. "We can get your leg checked out, give you a bed to sleep in, some food and water. One night, then you go on your way. Got that?"
Anna stared at him and nodded.
"You got anything to ask me?"
"He ever this friendly?" Anna asked. Rick smirked.
"Anything?" Rick asked.
Anna shook her head, to which Rick nodded. He moved over to where Daryl stood, and the children made their way to the woman.
"I wish Daryl was nicer to you," Sophia whispered sadly. "He isn't like this."
"It's fine," Anna replied, her voice small.
"It's not," Carl said. "He's treating you like an enemy."
Anna kept quiet. She knew that she had to warn Rick about Philip and his alter ego, The Governor. It would be the right thing to do, and maybe Carl was right. If Daryl was treating her like an enemy, then maybe the knowledge of a potential threat and the boss of his brother could allow them to see her in a better light.
It wasn't long before they set out to travel back to the prison. Sophia and Carl walked alongside them, with the little girl's hand in her own, with Rick at the front and leading them back, and Daryl at the back, no doubt with his crossbow pointed to the back of her head. The prison was nearer than she thought, but the pain in her leg made it near impossible to keep walking for longer than a few yards at a time. Her strides were beginning to slow down until she was shuffling. She was grateful to Sophia who kept hold of her hand and slowed when she needed to rest for a moment.
She heard the tutting and mumbling coming from behind but she ignored him. All she kept thinking as she moved one foot in front of the other slowly was that she would be on the road before she knew it. She would go to Washington, back to her colleagues and this would just be a memory.
The prison soon came into view, and she felt a flutter in the pit of her stomach. It was like thick, dark and stormy clouds parting to reveal the long awaited sunshine.
She had nothing to lose, and maybe a lot to gain. She just had to play her cards right.
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who have reviewed and put this story in their alerts. It really means a lot! Let me know what you think as I love to hear from you!
