#barbor creek

[pic-a-roon]

Rented a Getaway tiny cabin with my boyfriend and his dog Duke. First road trip together (Chicago -> Michigan) stopped for a bagel sandwich at this Jewish deli and proceeded to play music for one another and just talk and laugh for the 2 hour drive. Ate many snacks that I packed - my chocolate dipped chocolate espresso cookies were out of this world.

Cabin was ready at 3pm so first stop at Saugatuck, MI on our way in to grab groceries and eat at the Pennyroyal Cafe for lunch.

Made a fire when we found our cabin named “Sadie.” Prepared a Shrimp boil in aluminum foil cooked on the fire pit for dinner. Brought a Bluetooth speaker and played some 70s rock classics while prepping for dinner. Capped the night with We’re Not Really Strangers, a bottle of red wine and s’mores. Ended the night cuddling in bed with the dog and some candles it was so romantic.

Woke up to this huge bedside window of snow blanketed woods. Made lemon ricotta blueberry pancakes for breakfast and left the cabin to go hike the snow covered dunes of coastal Michigan. Stopped by a brewery in Southaven for a bite to eat before heading back to Chicago to for a House music show (Honey Dijon!)

Best date/trip on the books.

[stilessdylanobae-ddixonlove]

Surviving The Walking Dead - The Darkest Parts (Chapter 19)

Author: @stilessdylanobae-ddixonlove

Characters: Daryl Dixon, Carol Peletier, Evan, Will Barbor, Lydia, Aaron, Yumiko, Magna, Beta, Alpha, Negan, Maggie Rhee and Reader.

Plus Merle Dixon in some more visions.

Summary: What happened with Y/n and Magna is revealed, Daryl continues with his desperate attempts to find you. 

Note: Yes, some of this chapter is taken from The Walking Dead’s Season 10 Episodes 9 and 10. Some of the ideas and some of the dialogue are very similar and I do NOT take credit for those. As always. However, I’ve still changed quite a bit and added my own twist to things. I love the idea that Daryl helped keep you safe by holding Alpha off without even knowing it.

Warning: Cursing, graphic violence, death, blood and gore, painful triggers/loss, hallucinations, phases of denial.

Chapter Nineteen - Chapter Twenty

It was hot. Boiling hot. Daryl’s sweaty palm slipped down the small mountain of rocks as he blindly continued to dig. He removed every rock he could, searching for even the smallest crack. That would be a good start; even seeing just a hint of an opening would give him a little comfort. His mind was racing but he never slowed down. He wanted to break through so badly. He wanted to call out your name and maybe be able to hear your voice from below. But what if he heard nothing-what if you didn’t respond. His heart was pounding and his chest ached. Aaron approached with caution, unable to watch him struggle any longer.

“Daryl?” He urged. “Daryl?” He voiced a little louder. “It’ll take us a week to clear this.”

“Then help me!” Daryl finally stopped and looked at the mortified faces behind him. He began to softly sob, thinking about all he most likely lost. But then something within him wouldn’t let that fully sink in. He found a glimmer of hope and would hold onto that until he succeeded in getting you and his unborn child back. He climbed down from the debris, Aaron lending a hand until he reached the bottom safely and came face to face with Carol again.

“You were right. I’m so sorry.” She cried. “You cared about her, loved her and now she’s gone because of me.” Carol remained hunched over, holding her stomach in agony. She needed him to tell her how mad he really was. But he didn’t give her the satisfaction. He remained silent and walked away, leaving them both beyond devastated.

“Where are you going?” Evan asked as a tear escaped his dirt covered cheek.

“To find another way in.” Daryl's voice was firm and it cracked with grief. And then he left. Lydia approached Carol and she glared hard, the tears pouring from her face while Will remained on his knees, unable to move. Unable to speak. Unable to even cry.

________________________________

It’d been days. 

Two days since Daryl took off from the rubble you still laid beneath. No one knew if you and Magna were dead or alive and they still could not reach you. Daryl woke up in a tent he’d made from an old tarp. He built it right in the middle of Whisperer territory, hoping to come across them and do whatever he needed to get them to mention another way inside the mine. 

It was morning. The birds chirped and the sun was shining bright and high in the sky. It peaked through the holes in the tarp, blinding Daryl’s left eye as he sat up. He squinted and ran his hand through his messy brown hair, lowering his head as he thought about having to bare another hopeless day. He approached the creek and splashed some of the ice cold water onto his face to cool him down and wake him up. He thought about you. He thought about the last conversation the two of you had-the regret was crippling to him. He grabbed a large rock from his feet, where the river barely passed over it. He tossed it as far as he could out into the water making a very loud splash while his breathing grew heavier. He grunted, taking uneven breaths and forcing back tears. He’d been out here for days and nights without any success. He never spotted a single Skin, despite being completely at risk of being caught by one. He snatched his crossbow from the ground beside the tent and decided he couldn’t sit here in this spot any longer. 

So he marched through the forest, kicking mud up from behind his boots as he walked. He was almost back to the main road when he finally heard voices. He crouched down in the bushes and remained behind one large tree, trying to catch a glimpse of whoever stood before him. He could see her dark black hair as she stood in the road talking to someone. It was Yumiko, Magna’s girlfriend. He stood from the bushes and saw Aaron standing in front of her, who scratched his forehead; he slouched and his posture was rigid. 

Daryl huffed and made his way through the bushes, making his presence known. “Hey!” He spoke, the first time in days. The two slightly jumped in surprise, clearly being interrupted from an argument. “What are you doing?” Daryl questioned. 

“You aren’t the only one with a missing girlfriend.” Yumiko explained with a shrug. Daryl turned to Aaron, knowing he was still angry with you the last time they saw eachother.

“And you felt guilty?” 

Aaron sighed heavily. “I’m just trying to help.” 

“Yeah well, it’s don’t matter.” Daryl threw his right arm out in frustration. “I’ve been here for days, ain’t no Whisperers coming through here.” 

“We know.” Yumiko rubbed her arm, nervously. 

“Come back to Hilltop with us, it’s what I was just trying to tell Miko.” Aaron stated. 

“I ain’t gonna stop looking.” Daryl stated harshly. 

“I know. I’m not asking you to.” Aaron said. “Just come eat something decent, take a shower. Maybe we can talk to Maggie-” 

“Maggie ain’t gonna help us, you know that.” Daryl glared.

“I was just going to say that maybe Maggie will let you stay in the house for a few, I imagine you don’t wanna go back to Alexandria right now.” Aaron replied.

“Yeah well, Hilltop’s no better.” Daryl quickly replied, thinking about Maggie’s disapproval of you.

“Shit.” Yumiko shook her head. “Let’s just go.” Aaron nodded, finally getting her to come to his side. “You coming?” She asked Daryl, who instantly stood back.

“Nah, not yet.” He refused. He eyed Aaron hard before disappearing back into the woods alone. ________________

Daryl walked the opposite side of the river, inviting any Whisperer near by to come and take him on. He all but shouted for them as he angrily stormed through the fallen sticks and leaves. He spotted a few walkers slowly approaching from across the way, where he had been earlier. One sideswiped his tent and he felt that glimmer of hope again, figuring that killing walkers on Whisperer territory would surely earn him their attention. He raised his bow, aimed and shot the closest one directly through it’s rotting face. Then the next one. But just as he was about to let his third arrow fly, he heard a voice in his head that stopped him and instantly gave him goosebumps. You’re being reckless, Little Brother. It said. Daryl lowered his weapon and shook his head. He brought his crossbow back up to his cheek and prepared to continue by killing the next couple. All this for one woman? Let it go before you do something stupid. He heard Merle’s voice again. “Shut up!” Daryl yelled, fuming with uncertainty. He was so focused on the voice of his dead brother that he didn’t notice what approached him from behind. Hey, dummy! Turn around! Merle’s voice hollered just as Daryl finally turned, some part of him clearly hearing the trouble. It was just one walker, one that had been dead for so long he couldn’t even tell what it used to be. Man or woman, old or young-he didn’t know. It had gotten too close and as Daryl went to shove it away, he stepped back and tripped over a large rock. He fell into the cold water, hitting his head hard against more rocks below, the walker still on top of him and forcefully trying to bite. Daryl pulled out his hunters knife, stabbed the corpse in the back of the head and crawled halfway out of the river before he blacked out completely. 

Blood ran with the rivers current. The walkers along with a little of his. 

He could see a bright light shining behind his eyelids and the forest around him was now silent, his hearing temporarily impaired. A shadow suddenly stepped in front of him, blocking the light and he couldn’t help but finally blink his eyes open. He saw Merle standing over him with an irritating smirk on his face.    Say she is still alive, you know she’s pissed as shit. You knocked her up and then told her you didn’t want the kid. Merle laughed. Who does that? Daryl closed his eyes again, knowing somewhere deep inside that he was hallucinating and wanted it to stop. “I told you to shut up.” Daryl stated, much quieter this time. She won’t want you anymore. Merle insisted. But it don’t matter, you know she’s gotta be dead and now you’re alone again. “I’m gonna get her out.” Daryl mumbled to himself. I told you before, ain’t nobody ever gonna care about you except me, Little Brother. Now, get your ass up! Daryl slowly opened his eyes again to see no one this time. He was in fact, all alone.

__________________

~Two days ago~

In the dark, dust covered caves you sat sulking amongst the rubble. Magna rested across from you, where she remained unconscious. Your left arm was stuck under a large boulder, mostly caught by the sleeve of your hoodie. You coughed repeatedly, worried that Magna was dead and you would slowly die of starvation. You kicked Magna’s leg that you stretched to reach and coughed some more. She very slowly came to, sitting up and holding her pounding head. 

“What happened?” She asked, barely able to make out your face. 

“You hit your head. You alright?” 

“I think so. You?” She asked, coughing. You looked down at your arm and wondered if there was anything left of it. “Shit.” 

“There’s a small opening there, I think it missed but my sleeve is caught and I can’t reach to cut it. 

“You sure?”

“Either that or my arm is too damaged to feel it anymore.” You eyed her. Magna grimaced over the thought. 

“Do you want me to look? Can you move it?” 

You tried to wiggle your fingers, tried to concentrate on their existence. Finally, you did it. “Yeah, yeah I can move it.” You said. 

“Thank God.” Magna noted as she scooted in amongst the rocks and pulled out her knife. She cut away at your hoodie and pulled at your arm. 

“Ow, ow!” You screamed and hollered some more, pushing against the ground with your right hand. And to your surprise, you got free. Your forearm was already turning different shades of blue and purple but it was in one piece. 

“You’re lucky.” Magna coughed. She looked around at your surroundings, wondering how you survived. You’d brought her to a spot where the wooden frame of the mine was sturdy and sat directly below it. “And a genius.” She complimented. 

“Don’t thank me yet. We’re still trapped down here.” You looked beyond the debris, back towards where you’d all came from that would still allow passage. Magna helped you stand and pulled your water bottle from your bag, it was only half full. “Savor that, we might need it.” You insisted. She sighed heavily. 

___________________

~Present time~

After the sound of the creek came back and Daryl managed to get back onto his feet, he made his way to Hilltop’s doors and watched them slowly open. His crossbow rested against his back as he stumbled inside, the back of his head still slightly bleeding. He was overly dehydrated on top of suffering a head wound. Yumiko and Aaron ran to him, helping him inside the house as Evan and Will watched, this the first they’ve seen of him since the accident. 

They brought him inside and to the room you and him once shared. Aaron handed him a clean, damp cloth and he laid back on the bed with it resting between the pillow and his head. The coolness of it felt good, now fully letting in the pain. 

“Take off your shirt.” Yumiko stated as she entered the room next. Daryl raised an eyebrow. “Just do it so we can check you over for any other wounds.” She said, recognizing his uncomfortable body language. 

“What happened out there?” Aaron asked as Daryl sat up and took off his shirt and his vest, then laid back down. Yumiko checked him over, then left to report to Maggie. 

“I just fell.”

“So, you didn’t find them?” Aaron sighed. Daryl painfully eyed his friend, both physically and emotionally strained. And now he let out a heavy sigh.  

After a few more minutes of quiet, Aaron left as well to allow Daryl some much needed rest.

Daryl had fallen asleep for a couple hours, unable to hold it off any longer. And when he woke up, he was surprised to see Maggie sitting by the windowsill, waiting. He sat up and reached for his boots and missing top. Maggie fidgeted with her fingers and popped her knuckles, awkwardly. 

“I ain’t staying so quit worrying. I’m going back out there.” He mentioned, tightening the laces of his boots. 

“Fine.” Maggie replied, harshly. “But if you find her, don’t bring her back here.” She left the room fiercely, without even needing to say much of anything. Daryl was thankful for that though, he did not feel like talking about the rivalry between her, you and Negan. He did not feel like talking at all.

____________________

Meanwhile, you and Magna could hear the horde again as you came up to the arrow engraved in the wall, this time only pointing to a dead end. You stared at it, desperately wanting to believe that there was another way out of here. “I need to stop for a minute.” You said, sliding your back down the rock wall to sit. Magna huffed, then came and sat next to you. 

“Your arm hurt?” She asked you. 

You nodded. “Mhm. But not as bad as other things.” You admitted, lowering your head shamefully. 

“Yeah.” Magna understood. “How long do you think we could be stuck down here?” She wanted to change the subject to the more obvious problem. 

“Hopefully not longer than 9 months.” You quivered. 

“Jesus, don’t even say that.” You eyed her, unsure how to even respond. Suddenly a Skin appeared from the other direction, coming at you fast with a knife. Magna stood and grabbed her arm, then kicked her in the stomach. She fell and grunted. “How did you get in here?” Your new friend hollered. 

“Hey, you’re out numbered.” You added, standing up. 

“For now!” The Skin whimpered from the ground. 

“Just tell us how to get out.” Magna ordered. 

“The horde.” She smirked. “Let them end it for you.” You shook your head and removed your knife from your belt loop. “Whoa, no. Okay!” The woman put her hands up in surrender. “But my people are coming. You won’t make it far.” You and Magna made eye contact, knowing you had a long way to go before reaching any kind of safety.

____________________

Daryl walked the empty and lonely woods, heading back in the direction of the mine to take another look around, hoping this time he might be able to track where else the Whisperers leave and enter it. Maybe he’d been looking in the wrong area.

He was a little stunned when he spotted Alpha, a few of her people and several walkers finally walking along the river, which instantly changed his plans. Overcome with anger and not thinking about the consequences, he shot a Skin with his crossbow. The man fell to the ground while the surrounding real walkers began to feed on him, alerting Alpha of her enemies presence. With the dead distracted, Daryl jumped out in front of her with his knife raised and quickly took out two more of her people when they tried to protect her. This was a personal, close combat fight. She raised her double barrel shotgun and smirked devilishly, the same as when he last saw her but this time she wore her mask. He instantly kicked it out of her hands while one of her fellow minions grabbed Daryl’s knife and turned it around on him, slicing his forehead. Daryl then stabbed him in the stomach with his other knife-sending the man to the ground screaming. Now without a weapon, he reached for a large stick at his feet and ran back for Alpha, jamming it into her shoulder. She hollered as he pushed harder, knocking her flat on her back and grinding onto the stick further while keeping her away from her gun.

_______________

Back in the caves and within minutes of your previous conversation, several Whisperers joined you and your prisoner. You immediately recognized Beta as he pushed his way to the front. You took note of where they came from, obviously having missed an existing path. 

“Remove your weapons.” The giant man demanded. You tossed your knife to the ground and Magna’s soon followed. 

“What’s the matter? Thought we were all dead?” You glared up at him. He growled at you through his mask that only covered the upper half of his face. Suddenly, another familiar foe appeared from the small crowd and your chest instantly lightened. Negan, who stared at you with his eyes wide and his mouth gaping open.

“Kill them both.” Beta enforced as he picked up your weapons.

“Whoa whoa, Frowny McTwoKnives!” Negan’s sarcastic, defiant voice filled your ears as he stepped forward. “Now, Alpha purposely trapped them down here. You really think she’d want you ending the fun?” He vouched for you. Magna tilted her head and squinted her eyes in disbelief. Beta growled some more as he looked to his most recent and annoying travel partner. 

“Fine. They come with.” Beta countered. Negan looked to the ground in defeat, knowing your fate was sealed once Alpha got here. He would have to help you escape or find another way to keep you safe. 

As you and Magna joined the Whisperers on their way to the horde, Negan stealthily made his way over to walk next to you. Your enemies had tied your hands and pulled you both by a single rope, reminding you of the day you met Daryl. 

“Beta told me to take over.” Negan told the Whisperer who pulled you and Magna behind him. He rolled his eyes and handed the rope over, clearly not caring enough to verify those orders. “Sorry, Princess.” He said to you quietly. 

“Got any bright ideas?” You questionably mumbled. 

“Not yet.” He admitted. “But we don’t have long. Alpha is on her way to move the horde again.”

“Does she know the others got out?” You asked. 

“Yeah, thought you all did.” Negan shrugged. 

You sighed. “So, what’s taking her so long then?”

_____________________

Daryl twisted and pushed on the large stick he still had plunged into Alpha’s shoulder while the cut on his forehead bled into his eyes. “Where are they?” He demanded. Alpha quickly reached over to her fallen ally and removed the knife from his stomach, thrusting it deep into Daryl’s right leg. It got him off of her as he groaned in searing pain, allowing her to pick up her shotgun.

Daryl was forced to flee the scene.

Angered by the attack, Alpha put her plans on hold to follow Daryl, hoping to see the end of him. She tracked his messy footprints and blood drops to an abandoned gas station, where he limped and staggered his way into a small and cluttered corner to hide. Still gripping onto her gun, she made her way inside but her shoulder was slowing her down. She grunted and removed her mask, revealing her pale skin under all the dirt.

“I don’t know what that insane move was going to accomplish. I don’t know who ‘they’ are but I promise you when I find out I’ll kill them immediately.” She harassed, looking around the area and listening for any sign of movement. “Now you’ll bleed out here for nothing!” She hissed. Daryl gritted his teeth and looked to his leg, unsure of how to safely remove it. Alpha heard nothing but a few walkers, giving her an idea. She began knocking her shotgun against the metal garage door, calling them in. She grinned, decided to sit down and wait for them to finish him off for her. Her vision had grown fuzzy and she felt lightheaded from her blood loss. Daryl was beginning to feel the effects of his as well when he reached for items to protect himself. He struggled to stand, struggled to see, was winded and in agonizing pain. He reached his arm up onto the counter he leaned against, feeling around and found an old pipe wrench. He pulled it down and held onto it tightly while he waited for what came next.

Three of them had gotten there all too quickly. While Daryl tried to scoot away, Alpha smiled at the show. Daryl used the wrench on the first one, then knocked down a dusty fire extinguisher and hit the second one over the head. He grew exhausted and struggled to find another weapon source as the last one fell on top of him. So, without another option he pulled the knife from his leg and killed the final walker with it. Blood poured from his leg and he tried to hold it off. But he would surely bleed out, just as Alpha said he would. His vision was fading. As was hers across the room. She thought about Lydia, who randomly appeared before her. To their surprise, Lydia had found and followed Daryl after leaving Alexandria in hopes of helping find you. Instead, she found her mother. “Oh, Lydia. You’re here.” Alpha moaned, uncertain of whether her daughter was really here or not.

“I didn’t come for you.” Lydia replied, looking up to where Daryl laid, dying. He thought of you. His only regret being how he left things. The pain of it all being too much to hold onto any longer so he closed his eyes and he let go.

__________________________

@jodiereedus22 @dashesoflipstick @theunofficialduke @dixonluvv@nikki082489 @jordangdelacruz​ @lunatheumbreon @dbtvluv​I @letsstarsfalling​

Thanks for reading! 

I would also like to note that I have not read The Walking Dead Comics. I only know what I have seen or read online about them. I wrote Chapters 14 and 15  (the chapters where it’s revealed that Y/n let Negan out of his cell) of this series way before AMC aired Season 10 Episode 12 (The episode where it’s revealed that Carol let Negan out of his cell). Now, I heard rumors/theories that Negan joined the Whisperers as a way to help and based my version of the story around that. However, I wrote it before knowing that it was Carol who let him out. So....I kind of gave myself a pat on the back for that one, wishing though I’d have finished the last chapter (Chapter 18, where it’s revealed Y/n let Negan out to kill Alpha) as well and published it before that Episode aired. Oh well, though. It really makes no difference right? Just had to point that fact out because I’m an ass like that. Lol 

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