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lilyevanstan1325 · 10 months ago

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Hi people ❤️

❤️ Built For This World ❤️

Chapter 6

Behind my still closed and sleepy eyelids I perceive an annoying light.

I grunt, letting out a soft wail.

Damn it.

I have to find a better arrangement.

As grateful as I am to have a place to sleep, the floor of the RV isn't exactly the best.

My back hurts.

I blink quickly a couple of times and then finally open my eyes.

Another day is about to begin.

Another day of anxieties and fears awaits me but a small part of me is no longer too scared.

Things between me and Daryl seem to have taken a more peaceful path.

And this thought makes me smile like an idiot.

Well, at least now I know he doesn't hate me.

I don't know exactly what we are.

We are not friends.

We are not lovers that's for sure.

But we both need to be close and I'm not complaining about that.

I stretch my arms upward and my back pops in multiple places.

Ok, it's settled.

Next run I have to find a tent.

And maybe a sleeping bag.

I roll onto my side, pushing myself to get back on my feet.

I look around and obviously I'm alone.

Shit!

I need to get an alarm clock too.

I can't keep sleeping more than everyone else, I don't want to give that asshole of Shane another reason to yell at me.

I snort.

Yet I had asked Carol to wake me up when she got up.

I get out of the RV looking for my friend and I see her right next to Lori, together they are hanging out the laundry.

Great.

Everyone is already busy with something and I'm here to sleep.

It's certainly not a good way to make me accept.

I walk towards the two women, fixing my ponytail, trying to tidy up my not-so-fantastic look.

Another thing I need?

New clothes.

Glenn and I need to take another little trip into town soon.

Glenn, my sweet little traitor.

I sigh resignedly.

“Good morning” I yawn as I approach the two women.

Lori mutters a hello under her breath, avoiding my gaze.

I'm sorry that she feels uncomfortable with me but I understand her.

She doesn't know me well and maybe she fears that I might betray her trust but I will show her to what I'm about and that she can trust me.

After all, it's not her fault.

It's not her fault that Shane let her fall into his clutches.

“Good morning, Summer” Carol greets me with a huge smile on her face.

I can see the curiosity shining in her eyes.

I roll my eyes and she giggles.

I know what she wants to know.

Last night she saw me leave with Daryl and when I got back to the RV she was already asleep so she doesn't know what happened.

Technically nothing happened but something changed inside me.

Now I know that Daryl wants me here, by his side.

For what I don't know but we will both find out.

“Why didn't you wake me up?” I ask her, yawning again.

“Because you need to rest Summer and then you came back late last night…so?” Carol whispers, lowering her voice so Lori can't hear us.

I look around trying to figure out where the others are.

“What exactly do you want to know, Carol?”

“Oh let me think…maybe I want to know when you came back tonight.Or what did you do tonight”

Her bright sly eyes make the corner of my lips lift.

“Don't fantasize too much.We just talked”

Carol crosses her arms over her chest.

“Okay.You don't have to tell me about it.But something happened last night, with Shane I mean”

I jump when I hear his name.

Instinctively my eyes find Shane as he hobbles towards the old yellow Cherokee where Rick, Andrea and T-dog are talking to each other.

It seems his ankle isn't fully healed yet.

At the same time Daryl comes out of his tent.

The sun reflects off his crossbow strapped on his back.

Today he seems to be in a slightly better mood.

I pinch my bottom lip between my teeth.

I wonder if I'm the cause of the aforementioned good mood.

He walks with a sure step as he fastens the last buttons of his shirt, a shirt that clings to his statuesque body in a sinful way.

��Earth calls Summer”

In front of my eyes Carol is waving her hand, which I playfully push away.

“Yes, you certainly didn't do anything.Your dreamy look tells me something completely different" the woman teases me, making me giggle.

I look at Daryl one last time and then turn to her.

“No Carol, we didn't do anything.But that doesn't mean I wouldn't want it" I reply smiling and winking at her.

Carol giggles, nudging me lightly.

It's nice to have someone you can confide in and joke around with.

“But what about Shane?Why do I feel like you literally stopped Daryl from beating his ass yesterday?”

A shiver runs down my spine thinking back to last night.

If Daryl hadn't listened to me…I'm scared to imagine what would have happened.

Carol looks at me carefully with her big eyes, a feeling of concern and love on her face.

I glance towards Lori and my gesture does not go unnoticed by Carol who raises an eyebrow in response.

“I'll talk to you about it later, okay?”

She nods.

I can trust her.

And speaking of who I can trust, I haven't seen Glenn yet.

He and I definitely need to have a chat.

In front of the car Rick gestures, pointing to a map placed on the hood.

Today I won't sit idle, today I will give my help to Sophia's research.

“Carol, do you mind taking care of the chores today?”

“Sure” she replies without hesitation.

I thank her with a nod of my head moving away from her and towards the group of people in front of us.

“All right, everyone's getting new search grids today” Rick is saying when I reach them.

I stop next to Daryl, immediately catching his attention.

His bright blue eyes look down at me.

“Hey” he greets me embarrassed.

The tips of his ears are red.

I answer him with a brief smile.

His embarrassed gaze returns to Rick as I lower mine to my boots.

Here in the sunlight the weight of the words we said to each other last night, when the darkness protected us, seems to crush us.

Maybe he regretted having laid himself so bare in front of my eyes.

Or maybe he didn't really mean what he said.

When I look up Shane is staring at me, he looks at me as if he is annoyed by my presence.

As if he were bothered by my very existence.

I feel Daryl's body slide slightly in front of mine, his hand rests lightly on my hip, hiding me completely behind him.

This is his way of letting me know that he cares about me in some way and won't let anyone hurt me.

A slight smile curves my lips.

“If she made it as far as the farmhouse Daryl founds, she might have gone further east than we've been so far” continues Rick.

From behind Daryl's shoulder I can see Shane shake his head and walk away to sit in the passenger seat with his back to us.

I don't have time to investigate further his annoyed attitude that another voice attracts our attention.

It's Jimmy.

If I remember correctly he should be Beth's boyfriend.

“I'd like to help” begins the boy, approaching Rick.

“I know the area pretty well and stuff”

Rick nods.

“If Hersel agrees, we wouldn't mind having extra help”

His tired look makes me understand how much this man is fighting with all his strength not to collapse.

His heart and his head right now I'm sure are not pleasant places.

Great responsibilities rest on him.

His head and heart are full of worries and fears.

Fear for his son.

The burden of protecting his people.

The fear of never finding Sophia.

We all need to find that little girl, not just for Carol but for all of us.

She is our last chance to continue to have hope in this chaotic new world.

Jimmy nods.

“Yeah, yeah.He said I should ask you”

Rick thanks him with a nod and a small pat on his back.

If Rick agreed for Jimmy I'm sure he won't object to my decision to volunteer for the research.

I take a step forward joining Daryl side again.

“I want to help too, Rick”

The archer stiffens and he and Rick exchange a long look after which with a slight snort and an annoyed look Daryl nods.

“Ya can come with me” he grumbles without even looking at me.

Great.

I move nervously, shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

I feel the blade of my knife stored in the waistband of my jeans rubbing against the skin of my back.

I can't decipher Daryl's reaction but I'm pretty sure he doesn't want me with him.

I admit that it hurts me but at least he accepted, does it mean something right?

“Okay.Like I said before we've got a lot of ground to cover so any help is welcome”

I'm about to thank Rick when Shane's annoying voice interrupts us.

“Nothing about what Daryl found screams Sophia to me.Anyone could have been holed up in that farmhouse”

Asshole I think, letting all the disappointment I feel for his words show through the expression on my face.

This man is heartless.

“Anybody includes her, right?” Andrea intervenes.

Daryl fidgets next to me.

I get close enough so that our arms touch.

He relaxes a little but doesn't look at me.

“Whoever slept in that cupboard was no bigger than yay-high” Daryl says, indicating with his hand the height of a little girl.

“It's a good lead” I speak supporting his hypothesis.

“Maybe we'll pick up her trail again” adds Rick hopefully.

His crystalline gaze falls on his best friend as if he felt the need to have his approval but obviously the man ignores our words.

“No maybe about it.We're gonna borrow a horse, head up to this ridge righ' here, get a bird's-eye view of the whole grid.If she's up there, we'll spot her”

The confidence with which Daryl speaks while with his thick finger he points on the map sends my brain into a tailspin.

His dominant nature prevails over everyone here.

He doesn't speak for what if or hypotheses, he is certain of what he says.

He knows that he will find Sophia.

It's just a matter of time.

“Good idea” nods T-Dog.

“Maybe you'll see your chupacabra up there too” he adds with a chuckle.

I can't help myself and smile too.

I didn't think Daryl would be a guy who believes in such nonsense.

“Chupacabra?” Rick asks, raising both eyebrows skeptically.

Dale arrives behind us and places a bag on the hood of the car from which he begins to take out a rifle.

“You never heard this?” questions the man addressed to everyone.

“Our first night in camp” the old man begins to tell “Daryl tells us that the whole thing reminds him of a time when he went squirrel hunting and he saw a chupacabra”

Jimmy and I laugh in unison, both getting a scowl from the man.

“What are ya braying at, jackass?” he grumbles at both of us.

I shake my head even more amused as Jimmy ventures a response.

“So you believe in a blood-sucking dog?” the boy teases him.

Daryl shifts in place, running a hand over his face.

“Do you believe dead people walking around?” he replies, silencing the boy.

Amused by the whole situation, I put my hand on his chest, giving him a playful pat.

“You have a point, Dixon” I chuckle.

He looks at me with stormy eyes but then he cracks a smile, shaking his head, making me weak on my knees.

He seems amused by my insolence.

Shane huffs like he's bored.

Each of us is trying to see the bright side in all this crap why the hell does he have to be such an asshole?

Suddenly I feel anger rising in my body, I can feel it boiling under my skin.

His threats.

His looks full of disgust.

His intolerance towards the others.

His indifference towards Sophia.

Lori.

All this mixed together creates a deadly mix inside my head.

Dale sees the change in emotions in me and before he can grab me by the arm I'm already gone.

With my mind clouded by anger I march towards Shane ignoring the various gasps of the others and once I reach him I stand in front of him crossing my arms over my chest.

“What is your problem?”

Shane, who was looking down at his hands, raises his gaze to meet mine.

At first he seems confused, then, realizing that I was addressing him, he narrows his icy gaze and, standing up, he towers over me.

We exchange glances full of hatred and resentment.

His nostrils flare menacingly.

“Do you really want to know, kid?” he mocks me.

This only increases my anger, I dig my nails into the palms of my hands to keep them at bay.

Right now I just want to punch that know-it-all fucking face of his.

“Take it easy man” Rick murmurs as he takes a few steps closer.

I keep my gaze straight on Shane's.

I'm not afraid of him.

And I want him to know this.

“Yes, I want to know.Because we're here, trying to find that poor little girl and you almost seem annoyed, like you don't care.You're acting like we're just wasting our time” I hiss, barely containing all my disgust.

I feel like I'm losing the last bit of my mental clarity now.

Shane laughs in response, a laugh full of mockery and malice.

“That's the point kid.There is no us.You are not part of this group.Who gives you permission to get involved, huh?”

His words hurt me but I don't give them importance.

I know what he's trying to do.

He wants to cut me off.

He wants to convince others that I don't belong here.

Shane takes another step towards me, our bodies almost touch and that's when a large body positions itself between us.

“Step back” Daryl's voice is low, menacing.

It almost sounds like an animal growl roaring from deep in his chest.

The two men challenge each other.

Neither of them lowers their gaze.

Neither of them step back.

“That's enough, son” Dale intervenes trying to calm things down.

Andrea grabs Jimmy's upper arm pulling him back, away from the two men who seem ready to jump at each other's throats at any moment.

Finally Shane takes a step back but his hostile gaze remains focused on the archer's.

“You know what man, I didn't think it was enough for you that a little girl let you smell some pussy to make you turn your back to your people.To your family.Is the promise of a few fucks really enough to make you lose your mind?"

His words make me blush violently.

Daryl's arm muscles tighten, his biceps swell dangerously, his hands curl into menacing fists.

He takes a step forward, pressing his forehead threateningly against Shane's.

“Be careful with words, man.I'm not the one who loses his mind over a pussy.Ya know what I mean, righ'?”

No, oh no.

It can't happen.

I try to tame my instincts and approaching Daryl's back I seek his hand with mine.

I grab his large closed fist which slowly and trembling loosens and intertwines with mine.

With a small tug I pull him back under the amazed gaze of those present.

Taming a man like Daryl Dixon is almost impossible but strangely I succeed every time.

It's as if I'm the only one who can penetrate the anger that clouds his mind.

Rick's gaze bounces between the two men in confusion.

Obviously he doesn't know what they're talking about and I tremble at the thought that he might catch the hidden allusion in Daryl's words.

Lori needs to stay out of this whole thing.

I have the duty to protect her.

To protect her secret.

Her baby.

"Let's go.It's not worth it" I whisper to the only man I really care about.

With extreme difficulty Daryl turns his back on Shane, looking down at our still intertwined fingers.

His body trembles and his eyes close.

The tension seems to fade as Dale takes a step in our direction and places a hand on Daryl's shoulder, squeezing it slightly.

“Yeah that's exactly what I mean!Get your bitch and get her out of here.This isn't her place”

The words shouted behind us by Shane trigger something in my head.

It's as if a blackout obscured all my rationality.

I see red.

The only thing I remember is letting go of Daryl's hand and lunging towards Shane with the handle of the knife gripped between my fingers.

A moment later Daryl's arms were wrapped around my waist.

I struggle trying to free myself, fighting against the incredible strength of the man behind me.

I grunt as nonsensical sounds leave my lips.

Guttural, almost animal sounds.

Shane doesn't step back at the sight of my knife, in fact he comes towards me as if he were ready to hit me back.

Rick steps in front of him, pressing both his hands on Shane's chest.

“C’mon Shane.Stop it!” he yells at him nervously.

“You're crazy!Let me tell you something bitch, sooner or later everyone will understand it and know they made a mistake welcoming you” Shane shouts trying to escape from the arms of Rick who is now behind him and holds him by the crooks of his elbows.

I try to free myself, shaking in the throes of pure madness.

I'm not afraid of him and if I have to use force to make him understand I won't back down.

The arms around my waist tighten more tightly.

Agitated steps sound behind me and after a few moments Glenn's face fills my entire field of vision.

“Summer” he murmurs in a worried tone, his big dark eyes darting towards the knife in my hand.

His hands are raised in my direction as if he was trying to disarm me.

Or as if he were afraid that I might hurt him.

This thought makes my anger subside.

“Calm down, Sunshine” the calm archer's voice vibrates in my ear, finally bringing me back to reality.

His arms are still wrapped around my waist as he lifts me just enough so my feet no longer touch the ground and drag me away.

I give up and stop struggling and, mortified, I look down when I meet Carol's worried eyes and Lori's panic-filled face.

Daryl moves quickly towards the stable and once we get there he sets me down making sure my feet are stable on the ground.

Remaining behind me, he continues to hold me, leaving only one arm to wrap around my waist while the other hand moves to rest in the crook of my elbow, sliding it along my arm until it reaches the hand that still holds the knife.

“Let it go, c'mon” he whispers extremely calmly.

My eyes rest on my hand tightened around the handle of the knife.

I watch his thick calloused fingers slip between mine, opening them gently.

The realization of my gesture hits me violently and the memory of what I have just done tightens my throat in a grip of shame and regret.

God, what have I done?

What will think of me the others?

Once the knife is no longer in my hands Daryl lets me go but my knees are shaking so much I can't stay upright.

I sag until I feel the hard ground beneath my knees.

In front of my eyes I see only Daryl's boots.

“Summer?”

I squeeze my eyes shut, hiding my face in my hands.

I want to be alone.

I need to cry.

“Summer?”

His voice again.

I shake my head violently remaining silent.

From where we are it is impossible to hear the others.

Who knows what they'll be saying about me now.

What if they were really considering the idea of sending me away?

After all, I couldn't blame them.

My behavior is unstable.

I am emotionally unstable.

I come from a reality unknown to them.

I lived under a particular leadership when I was with him and perhaps I am not ready for civil coexistence.

I'm not ready to live in a place where decisions are made together.

In the days following the end of the entire civilized world I learned to obey.

To don't reply.

This outburst of mine is only the result of my mental distress.

Maybe he was right after all.

Your place is here, next to me.I will give you the world Summer but you must obey me.

“Summer?”

His voice again but this time his warm and strong hands wrap around my wrists and with disarming ease he manages to move them away from my face.

I observe him, while bent on his knees, he scans my entire face with his wonderful blue eyes, perhaps searching for some flash of madness.

“That's ok” he murmurs.

I look down guiltily.

I feel embarrassed.

“I'm sorry” are the only words I can murmur while I try with all my strength to hold back the tears.

“Ya have nothing to be sorry about.Shane is a prick”

His words vibrate with anger, it's like he's trying to keep himself calm just so I don't lose my mind again.

Pulling away from his grip I get back to my feet.

Angry again.

But this time with myself.

My body trembles as I cross my arms over my chest.

I hate the idea of letting someone like Shane provoke me.

“It's ok, sunshine”

“Please Daryl!Can you…could you stop repeating that?”

Even though it wasn't my intention, the words come out in anger.

I can't stop them.

I can't stop.

“It's not ok!It is not!What Shane said…”

The words die in my throat.

I can't maintain eye contact with the man in front of me so I decide that maybe the best thing to do is look at the tip of my boots.

I can still hear Shane's voice echoing in my head.

I really do not belong here.

And then the allusions about me and Daryl.

I feel my face burning with shame.

“Since when do ya give importance to that idiot's words?” the archer asks me.

I close myself in my silence, continuing to keep my gaze lowered.

“Summer?”

His sweet plea is followed by his fingers which, with a light pressure on my chin, invites me to look up.

His eyes, shining like two mirrors of crystalline water, study my every little movement.

“Since when do ya care?” he asks again.

Do I really care what Shane thinks about me?

No, of course I don't give a damn what he says or thinks.

The real problem is that I care what other people think.

Because all I want is to be accepted for who I am, for how I am.

But there's more...

“I don't care but...but I care about what you think”

The corner of his lips lifts, a hint of a smirk.

“Ya know what I think”

Do I really know what he thinks?

What if he just saw the promise of some messing around in me?

Am I really so blinded by the hunger for love, by the desperate desire to feel accepted, that I don't understand who I really have in front of me?

Would Daryl really be capable of something like that?

But I just need to look at his face to understand that.

No, he's not like that.

His fingers still firm on my chin are delicate, gentle.

His fingers slowly move up my cheek, gently touching my cheekbone.

I close my eyes as a trembling sigh leaves my parted lips.

I know I can trust him.

On the heated skin of my face I feel Daryl's hands resting on my cheeks with disarming delicacy, his thumbs move back and forth caressing my sun-torn skin.

“Summer”

His breath crashes on my face with the power of a tsunami.

My knees tremble slightly and to support myself I grab his wrists, squeezing them with more force than would be humanly acceptable but he doesn't complain about it.

He gives me time to find the strength and put the pieces back together.

I slowly open my eyes again, aware of who is in front of me but totally unprepared for his proximity.

I don't think my heart will ever get used to him.

I breathe slowly trying to synchronize my breathing with him.

I succeed but as soon as he cracks a smile it's the end again...my heart starts racing all over again.

We remain still for moments that seem infinite.

The skin in contact with his touch seems to burn as if it were exposed to a living flame.

His eyes burn into mine with such intensity that I almost forget how to breathe.

I watch him as he inhales deeply and slowly lets me go.

He shakes his head, a barely perceptible movement, as if he's trying to free himself from some troublesome thought.

He turns his back on me, leaving me shaken and trembling.

My eyes remain focused on his back as he places the saddle on the horse and with an agile gesture mounts it.

Grabbing the reins, with a light touch of the heel on the animal's belly he encourages it to move closer to me.

“Be careful” I murmur with a dry mouth, my voice coming out in a trembling whisper.

His eyebrows raise in confusion and then without saying a word he reaches out his hand towards me.

“What?” I ask, not being able to understand what he wants from me.

"Ya come with me.Isn't that wha' you wanted?” he replies amused by the confusion on my face.

Does he really want me to go with him?

Even after what happened?

And the others?

Is Rick still okay with it?

I shift uncomfortably in place.

“I don't know if this is a good idea, Daryl” I murmur, bringing my index finger to my lips and nibbling at the tip.

Maybe it's best for me to stay here so I don't give Shane an excuse to pick on Daryl again.

The man shakes his head.

“Nope.No way.Ya will come with me.I won't leave ya here with Shane”

I shrug feigning indifference even though the thought of being alone with him scares me, all my courage seems to have evaporated completely.

But it is also true that Daryl cannot always be by my side and sooner or later I will have to clash with that man again.

“You can't protect me forever, you know that?” I say in defeat, accepting the hand he offers me but remaining still.

Wait a moment.

How the hell do I get on a horse?

“What's up now, pretty eyes?”

“How the hell am I supposed to get on this?” I ask laughing.

Daryl stares at me for a few moments, I'm unable to understand whether the situation irritates or amuses him and then...then for the first time I see him laugh.

Really laugh.

And my heart stops.

Literally.

If up until now I thought he was simply beautiful, now I have to change my mind.

Daryl laughing is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

His relaxed face, his eyes surrounded by many small wrinkles that I would kiss one by one.

“Ya such a city girl” he says, shaking his head with still a shadow of a smile on his lips.

“I'll take it as a compliment” I mutter trying to sound angry even though his cheerfulness infects me making me smile.

His grip around my fingers tightens.

“Put yer foot in the stirrup and give yourself a little push.I'll take care of the rest, okay?”

One moment.

In the position I am in I will find myself sitting in front of him.

I feel my face colouring with embarrassment.

“C'mon Summer”

“Yeah…I-I-I…ok” I stammer in response to his prodding.

I do as he tells me and after a moment I find myself astride the beautiful horse with Daryl behind me.

His broad chest presses against my back.

I feel a shiver run through my body.

I sink my hands into the soft mane trying to calm the frantic beating of my heart.

If I don't die at the hands of a damned walker I will certainly die because of my poor stressed heart.

Daryl's hands grab the reins and we finally set off.

We move away from the farm quickly, reaching the highest point from which we could have a better view of the area.

The slow and steady pace makes us sway so I try to stay as still as possible without rubbing too much against the archer's surprisingly welcoming body.

His breath on the back of my neck confuses my thoughts, often making me lose clarity.

His arms touch my hips in an almost hypnotic way.

So I try to focus all my thoughts on Sophia.

It's for her that I'm here.

I have to focus.

Everything seems calm around us.

No sign of walkers at the moment.

Only the rustling of leaves and the clatter of hooves on the ground.

I let my gaze wander everywhere trying to grasp even just the slightest detail that could lead us back to the little girl we are desperately looking for.

I snort impatiently.

"Wha' happens?"

Daryl's voice makes me jump.

I was so focused that for a moment I forgot who I was with.

“We've been wandering for a while now” I confess, letting defeat show in my voice.

“We just have to move forward.We'll find somethin'”

I nod at his words, returning to observe the river below us.

Suddenly my gaze is caught by a small object.

An object that shouldn't even be here.

“Daryl!Look!” I call him with an excited voice.

“Whoa” he exclaims.

The man pulls the reins towards himself, causing the horse's pace to stop.

“What?”

“Look over there!”

Here we are.

Maybe a clue.

I turn my head looking over my shoulder.

His gaze is focused on the point I am pointing to.

His head is tilted slightly to the side and his eyes are carefully scanning the bank of the river below and when he sees it too his eyes dilate in amazement.

“Shit!” he exclaims, immediately dismounting from the horse's back and grabbing a rope, tying it to the nearest tree.

“Let's go” he whispers, stretching his arms towards me to help me.

His hands grab my hips and I, holding on to his biceps, turn my torso in his direction, descending quickly.

His face grazes my breast as I descend, making me vibrate like a violin string.

I'm trying to regain some clarity, now is not the time to let myself be distracted like this.

Holding on to the trunks of the trees surrounding us, we quickly descend towards the river bank.

“Be careful” he murmurs and I nod in response.

Daryl is the first to reach our destination.

"What is this?" I ask reaching him and peeking from behind his arm.

Daryl leans forward, grabbing what appears to be a rag doll.

“Is it Sophia's?” I ask with a heart full of hope.

Please God let it be Sophia's.

The archer nods slightly, turning his face in my direction.

I can't help but smile brightly.

Thanks God!

Daryl looks around scanning the entire area.

I mimic his gestures.

“Sophia!” I scream followed immediately by him.

If she made it this far there's a big chance she's still alive.

Poor little girl, she will be terrified.

I think back to when I was alone, lost in these woods.

Instinctively my eyes fill with tears.

Behind me I hear Daryl's heavy footsteps approaching me.

“Let's go!She can't be far away” he says grabbing my hand.

Together we return to the horse and resume our search.

My heart beats wildly, the emotion of finally being so close to Sophia gives me a sweet sensation that I haven't felt for a long time.

Hope.

Birds squawk in front of us, making the horse nervous.

“Whoa.Easy, easy” Daryl gently hushes the horse.

I hold on tightly to the saddle to keep my balance.

“Sophia!” I call again but the little girl's name dies in my throat.

Suddenly the horse whinnies and fidgets nervously.

It seems that something has frightened the horse causing it to step back dangerously.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa” Daryl mutters under his breath as he grips and pulls the reins hard.

But in vain.

The horse rears up on its legs, throwing us violently.

Everything happens quickly.

Daryl falls, dragging me with him.

We both roll to the ground and fall down the cliff.

I can't understand anything.

All I feel is my head hitting something fucking hard.

On impact I bite my tongue between my teeth, blood filling my mouth as my vision blurs.

My fall stops and I find myself inside the river.

Wet and panting, I remain still, trying to catch my breath and waiting for my vision to return to normal.

Not far from me I can hear grunts of pain.

Daryl.

Slowly I get on all fours and with my vision still blurry I look for my partner.

I spit out the blood that continues to pour from my mouth, putting my hand to my forehead.

When I look at my fingers they are covered in blood.

Damn.

I'll think about it later.

Now I have to make sure Daryl is okay.

Trembling and scared I try to get back on my feet, my knees are shaking but I can't stop.

Not now.

A few steps away from me Daryl is dragging himself towards the riverbank.

He looks hurt.

The water around him is turning a worryingly intense crimson.

He is injured.

Suddenly I no longer feel any pain, any fear.

I'm only focused on him.

Every bit of my strength is concentrated in my muscles, thus finding the strength necessary to support the man.

Daryl lies on his back with his hands pressed to the left side of his body.

An arrow comes out of his side.

I feel panic crawling in my stomach but I force myself not to freak out, I can't let fear take over me.

I have to help him.

“Hey!Hey!Hey!” I cough, spitting out a few drops of blood.

My hands roam frantically over his face.

His features are contorted in a grimace of pain.

“It's going to be okay, Daryl.I'm here” I whine running a hand over his face.

The blood that continues to flow from the wound on my forehead prevents me from seeing clearly.

“Ya good?” the man pants, touching my wounded forehead with the tips of his fingers.

“Ya are bleeding”

I shake my head vigorously dismissing his concern for me.

“Forget about it.Now we have to think about getting out of this mess, okay?”

My voice trembles even though I forced myself to remain calm.

I must be strong.

I have to do it for him.

“You have already taken care of me.Now it's my turn to save your ass” I giggle through the tears.

I can't let anything happen to him.

Not to him.

Not Daryl.

I help him sit down again.

He's bleeding too much.

I take off my shirt, tearing off one end and tying the rest around my waist.

The tank top I'm wearing is soaked in water and the light breeze blowing on the riverbank makes me shiver.

“This is going to hurt” I warn him, wrapping the piece of cloth around his waist.

He nods, clenching his jaw and with all my strength I pull, knotting the fabric around his body.

Daryl hisses.

“I know, I know.I'm sorry”

Tears mix with blood.

“I'm so sorry” I repeat, sniffling.

Daryl brings a hand to my upper arm, squeezing it weakly.

“It's ok.Everythin' will be fine” he grunts trying to reassure me.

I nod energetically even as a sob violently shakes my chest.

Our gazes meet, linking each other.

“I know, I know” I whine.

My bloody hands cup his face and for no logical reason I place my lips on his.

It's a short contact.

Just a few moments.

His soft, wet lips are still against mine.

I pull his face away from me finding his eyes wide open.

“I won't let you die.I won't allow it” I state with absolute conviction.

I'll die trying if I have to.

Daryl won't die.

Even though my head is spinning I stand up again trying to think of a way to get us out of this mess.

We have to get back to the farm.

And quickly.

I grab a stick not far from my feet and bending down on my knees again I offer it to the archer.

“Ok, now you have to get back on your feet.Do you think you can do it?”

His blue eyes stare at me intently.

I know what he's thinking.

It's the same thought I'm trying to repress with all my strength.

The kiss.

Maybe I did it to console him.

Or maybe because I needed to be reassured.

Why the hell I did it, I don't even know...and I don't intend to think about it at the moment.

It was irrational, I know, but I couldn't contain myself.

With extreme caution Daryl grabs the stick and with my support he finally gets up.

I wrap my arm around his hips being careful not to touch the injured side.

A rustling in the bushes attracts our attention.

I try to sharpen my hearing to understand if it is a threat.

“Ma’ crossbow”

“I'll take care of it” I immediately interrupt him by letting go of my grip on him and immersing myself in the water.

The water's river laps my body up to my waist while I feel the bottom with my hands to find the weapon.

After a few minutes I feel the object of my search between my fingers and with great difficulty I bring it back to the shore.

This gives me proof of the unprecedented strength of this man.

This thing weighs a lot.

With a nod of my head I indicate the cliff, carefully and with considerable effort placing the crossbow on my back.

“We have to use the roots and trunks as handholds, okay?” I suggest staying at his side and paying every bit of attention to his movements.

Daryl seems to think about it for a few moments then nods.

Our heavy breaths accompany our every step.

I focus my attention on Daryl, on his pale face.

I am afraid.

With every grunt from him my heart skips a beat.

One step after another we reach the halfway point.

I'm a few steps ahead.

“Come on Daryl, we're halfway.Hold on" I pant, turning slightly towards him who stopped I think to catch his breath.

I watch him as with a big sigh he lifts himself up again, grabbing a root in his hands but suddenly his feet slip, losing his grip on the ground.

I watch him helplessly and horrified as he falls again.

No.

No, no, no.

Being careful not to slip, I also quickly go down, reaching him.

I kneel next to him, brushing his hair out of his eyes.

“Daryl!Daryl!” I shake him hard but his eyes don't open.

Shit!

I free myself from the weight of the crossbow by placing it next to his body and I place my ear on his chest, even if it is faint I can perceive his heartbeat.

I look around lost and scared.

I could go back to the farm to get help but the mere thought of leaving him alone and defenseless makes me shudder.

No.

I have to find another solution.

I look at his wound which, despite my clumsy bandaging, continues to bleed.

His eyes move quickly under his closed eyelids and distorted, slurred words that I can't make out come from his lips.

It's like he's talking to someone.

I have no other choice, the situation is getting worse by the minute.

I have to take out the arrow and bandage him up properly.

I take a deep breath and grab the arrow with both hands and start pulling with all my strength.

At first Daryl remains still but then his barely audible moans turn into an actual scream.

He wiggles his hands trying to push me away, I move backwards and away from his hands while continuing to pull.

I pull until the arrow comes out of his body with a sloppy pop, knocking me onto my back in the water.

Daryl complains, coughing violently, and when I lift my head to make sure he's okay I see a walker coming towards us.

I try to grab my knife but immediately remember I don't have it with me.

It must have remained in Daryl's possession after he slipped it out of my hand back at the farm.

The archer is still lying on the ground so I'll have to take care of it.

I sit up, with slow and uncoordinated movements I grab a sharp stone and wait for him to come closer.

The walker limps closer until he reaches my feet where he bends forward to try to grab my ankle.

I bend my knee towards my chest and with all my strength I drive the sole of my boot into the center of his chest sending him to the ground.

Quickly I get up and position myself astride him, I hit him straight in the head with the stone I had found shortly before.

I hit him until his skull cracks under my fury.

I pant heavily as I drop my improvised weapon but a moment later something falls on me.

I find myself immersed in the water with another walker's jaw a few inches from my face.

I didn't even hear him coming.

I put my arm between us, pressing it against his throat, keeping him from reaching my face.

His breath, which smells of death, makes me retch a little.

His face is grey, one of his eye sockets is empty revealing his putrid interior to me.

His teeth click convulsively as he bites the air waiting to grasp my flesh.

I have nothing to defend myself with.

If I let go of him I'll end up getting bitten.

My arms begin to give out, I feel my strength fading.

I try desperately to push him away by pressing my head back to avoid his rotten teeth.

Then a hiss cutting the air and the tip of an arrow coming out of the walker's forehead.

His rotten body falls heavy onto mine finally giving me the chance to push him and roll away.

I find myself on all fours when two hands grab me by the shoulders.

I struggle screaming until I hear his voice.

“It's me.It's me.It's over” Daryl gasps as he helps me up.

Instinctively I hug him, burying my head in his chest.

His hands caress my back reassuringly.

“Ya good?” he asks me worried.

In response I nod, rubbing my face on his broad chest, losing myself in the warmth of his embrace.

Daryl grabs me by the shoulders, moving me away from his body, his hands lift to my face, wandering over it, brushing my hair aside and then moving down towards my arms, perhaps looking for some wound or bite.

“How are you?I'm sorry about the arrow” I whisper, feeling guilty for causing him more pain by removing the arrow from his body.

"It's a bolt. Not an arrow” he smiles weakly.

I grab his hands, thus interrupting his search all over my body.

He looks horrible, even though he is covered in blood and mud, the paleness on his face is too visible.

We need to find help.

I grab what's left of my shirt and make another bandage for his wound, then I grab his crossbow again and place it on my back.

He is too weak and I can't let him waste his strength.

Daryl's eyes don't leave me even for a moment, following my every gesture.

“Let's go” I tell him softly, wrapping my arm around his waist again and putting his weight on my side.

Slowly we start climbing the cliff again until we reach the top sweaty and exhausted.

“Rest for a moment” I pant, resting my shoulder against a tree without ever letting go of my grip on him.

“Why didn't ya leave me here?Ya could have run away”

My head snapped in his direction so violently that for a moment I thought my neck might break.

Daryl looks down.

I snort impatiently looking at the beautiful profile of the archer.

His eyes immediately find mine, intrigued by my reaction.

“I will take you to the farm even if it is the last thing I do in my life”

“Why?”

“Don't be ridiculous, please.Now save your breath and move your ass.We have a long journey ahead of us"

I smile at him trying to reassure him.

Why the hell does he think these things?

Does he really think I could ever leave him here to die?

In silence and with a shuffling step we start to walk.

“Thanks” Daryl murmurs after a while.

I smile shaking my head.

“You don't have to thank me for anything.I...I care about you.And I'll have your back forever.I want you to know this”

Embarrassed I look for his gaze.

His eyes, the same shade as the summer sky, stare at me in disbelief.

I feel the urgent need to reassure him.

It's absurd that a rough and brave man like him needs reassurance.

“I'm deadly serious.I always have your back”

Daryl nods as if he's fighting his own mind.

“I will always have yer back too, pretty eyes”

I raise a corner of my lips trying to contain the explosion of joy that his words bring to me.

The sun is behind us when in the distance we can make out the outlines of the farm.

I'm so happy I could cry.

I am tired.

My head is pounding.

The crossbow strap cuts into the skin of my neck.

And as much as Daryl tries not to weigh too much on me, I can barely hold him up anymore.

Dragging ourselves for the last steps we see someone running towards us.

Thank God!

Finally someone who can help us.

“Hold on Daryl” I reassure him, tightening my grip around his waist and putting his weight on my hip once again.

The archer grunts, his head almost lolling on his chest and Sophia's doll clutched in one hand.

I didn't even realize he still had it until we got back on the trail.

The first to reach us is Rick, followed by Shane, T-dog and Glenn.

I suddenly stop walking, struck by the officer's weird gesture.

I let go of Daryl and stand protectively in front of his body.

Rick is pointing his gun at us.

“They're Daryl and Summer” Glenn exclaims.

His eyes scan me from head to toe, a worried frown creases his gentle face.

Daryl raises an arm, pointing a finger at Rick.

“That's the third time ya've pointed tha' thin' at my head.Ya gonna pull the trigger or wha'?”

Rick lowers his gun with a half smile on his face as everyone else relaxes.

Glenn rests his hands on his knees sighing in relief.

We exchange a smile.

I turn away from the others to reach Daryl's side and help him take the last steps towards our safety.

But all of a sudden something hits me.

A searing pain takes my breath away, causing me to collapse to my knees.

It's like a deja vu.

Me arriving at the farm, kneeling in front of Daryl.

I put my hand to my right collarbone and when I look down all I see is blood.

Behind me I hear the confused shouts of Rick and Glenn.

I look up in front of me away from all that blood.

The first thing I see is Daryl's face.

His big blue eyes are wide and full of horror.

“Daryl”

Mine is a strangled whisper.

In my head I see everything going in slow motion.

The blood.

Daryl's eyes.

And then the pain.

A pain so fierce that it forced me onto all fours.

When I open my eyes again I am lying on the ground and my head lies on the archer's lap.

His arms hold me against his body.

“Stay with me, sunshine.Stay with me”

His voice is full of panic.

I would like to talk.

Tell him something.

Tell him I would do anything in the world to stay here with him.

I am also willing to fight against this pain that takes my breath away.

But the words don't come out.

I look up and Shane's face is right in front of mine, his arms are stretched out towards me as if he wants to take me into his arms.

I know he has no bad intentions but I squirm impercelessly.

Daryl tightens his grip on me, pushing Shane away roughly.

“Don't fuckin' touch her” he shouts with anger.

Shane raises his hands in front of him in surrender, looking worriedly over his shoulder.

I feel like I'm about to lose consciousness.

“Daryl” I murmur scared.

Rick approaches us.

“Brother you have to let her go.I'll take care of her.We need to get her to Hersel right away.Trust me” the former officer speaks slowly without however managing to hide his agitated look.

Daryl nods slightly as he loosens his grip on my body.

Rick scoops me in his arms.

Other voices add to the chaos around me but now I can no longer understand who them belong to.

I only hear Rick's voice whispering encouraging words in my ear.

“Hold on Summer.Please.Please don't die”

And then the darkness.

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