Login with:

Facebook

Twitter

Tumblr

Google

Yahoo

Aol.

Mibba

Your info will not be visible on the site. After logging in for the first time you'll be able to choose your display name.

The Hunter Within

Internment

Sophie worked at threading her staff through the chain links of the outer fence, the blade piercing another decaying eye socket. Taking a quick break to wipe her forehead, she looked up to the sky. Late afternoon, she groaned, her thoughts not with Daryl for once, but with Rick and Carol. They had left early that morning for a nearby town, in search of any supplies that they could find. She couldn’t let herself think about Daryl and the fact that he and the others had been due back early that morning.
As she gripped at the wood with two hands once more, Sophie shot the empty space where Maggie had previously been a side-eye glance. The two of them had been left to watch over the fences while Rick went on the run, and Hershel refused to let Sophie in while he was gone. So now, instead of helping with either supply run, or caring for the ill, she was forced watch the field with Maggie, and it was slowly driving her crazy. She had visited Hershel earlier, practically begging to be let in, desperate for some kind of distraction from her thoughts. Stabbing at rotters through the fence was enough to keep her hands busy, but it in no way occupied her mind enough to keep herself from thinking about her fight with Daryl. From thinking about what happened before he left. From thinking about how he should be home by now.
Anything can go wrong, she worked at convincing herself, you know that. The problem with anything, though, was it really meant just that. Anything didn’t exclude fatal accidents, and it didn’t make Daryl exempt. For the hundredth time, Sophie kicked herself for everything that had happened. For choosing to stay, for kissing him at the completely wrong time, for not saying goodbye… Shaking her head, she worked at pushing regrets from her mind. Regrets had the ability to eat you alive in this new world, she knew that, she had seen it. Regret usually resided in Rick’s icy blue eyes, every time someone mentioned Lori, even sometimes when he looked at Judith. Sophie had seen it there, and she knew that if he weren’t a stronger man, it would have completely destroyed him by now.
The sound of boots crunching against the ground up the run provided Sophie with the distraction she needed, turning to find Maggie moving towards her, lips pressed into a hard line. “How are they looking?”
“Just saw daddy.” Maggie looked up, an almost surprised look on her face. “He said Glenn was resting, that he had been helping out all morning.”
“Did you ask if I can come in?” Sophie paused to shove her blade through the brittle skull of a rotter before turning to look at the other girl once more. She just nodded, and Sophie didn’t really need to hear the answer. It would have been the same one the old vet had given her over and over again. “This sucks.”
Maggie grabbed at a fire poker that hung from the fence and turned her attention to the dead that continued to pile up along the chain, the ones at the front being pushed against the wire hard enough that their rotten flesh had begun to split under the pressure. Sophie stepped back as diamond-shaped chunks of flesh fell from bone to decorate the dirt at her feet. She turned to Maggie to see if the other girl had seen, biting back a poor attempt to hide her amused laugh.
“Now I’ve seen everything.” The brown haired girl laughed, her eyes darting between the rotten flesh and the rotter with a missing face. Sophie nodded in agreement, shoving her blade through the empty eye socket. “Look who it is.”
Sophie turned to look at the main gate eagerly, expecting to find either Rick or Daryl, but instead finding a familiar motorbike moving towards the prison. Now understanding the almost groan in Maggie’s voice, Sophie couldn’t help but laugh as she turned to get the gate for the older Dixon. She pulled at the rope with all her strength, opening the outer gate just enough for the bike to be walked through.
“What’s going on, little sister?” Merle pressed as soon as he was within yelling distance of her, Sophie letting the gate close to approach him quickly. “Been waiting for Michonne, thought something must of happened.”
So are we, she huffed, looking over his shoulder and into the forest for any sign of anyone else. Moving closer to the older man, Sophie drew back her right fist to punch him softly in the side, a single eyebrow raised as he half-heartedly whinged at impact. “You know exactly what that’s for.” Merle just laughed, throwing his head back as his amusement fell from his mouth, earning himself an eye roll. “And something did happen. There’s a flu going around, we’ve lost some people, everyone from D is in isolation.”
“My baby brother –”
“Is on a run, looking for the antibiotics we need.”
“What are you doing here, then, little sister?”
Sophie paused for a moment, chewing at her lip as she considered the notion. “Good question.”
“Was beginning to think you two need some sorta surgery to separate y’all at the hip. You actually look different…” Merle laughed once more, pushing his motorbike to the side. He never brought it through the second gate, as if doing so would mean that he was committing to staying any longer than necessary. “You smell better, too.”
“Very funny.”
“So you didn’t like my present?”
“Shut up.” Sophie sighed, her cheeks threatening to turn bright red as she once again thought back to how she had kissed Daryl, to how he had kissed her back, no matter how hesitant. Her embarrassment made way for amusement as she couldn’t help but remember the younger Dixon’s feigned indifference at the gift. “Should have seen his face, though, it was almost worth it.”
“Any other man would count himself lucky.” Merle shook his head, the comment enough to stall Sophie. She had heard similar – although probably with less sexual intention – from her parents, relatives and even friends a number of times, but it wasn’t something that Daryl seemed to agree on. There was no denying that he cared for her, that they counted on each other more than anyone else, that on some level they loved each other, but he had denied wanting her. He had never said the words, but by not saying anything, he had unintentionally said everything. Sophie had just assumed that he was scared, sure that he had to feel the same way because she hadn’t stopped to consider any other possibility. They were so in sync usually, that it had almost seemed impossible that he wasn’t actually pretending, that he didn’t actually want her, that he didn’t actually count himself lucky.
Sophie turned to the expecting expression on Merle’s face, his eyebrows raised and eyes impatient as she collected her thoughts. “What?”
“Just asked if there was anything that needed doing, now that I’m here, rode too far to just turn around and leave.”
“Oh.” She paused for a moment, scanning the field before them. There wasn’t much to do, and through past experience, they had learnt that it was important to keep Merle busy. He was like a toddler in that sense. “Maggie and I could use some help along the fence. The build up’s have been getting worse, and happening every day now.”
“I’ll show you both how it’s done.” Merle huffed, not needing to grab at one of the weapons, he just moved down the run towards Maggie as Sophie checked the gate one last time. She bit back a laugh at the awkward way the other girl greeted Merle, keeping her distance as if he had been exposed to the virus going around. The older Dixon was working at shoving his knifed arm through the chains as the low rumble of an engine ripped Sophie’s gaze away from the ever building herd.
Her heart swelled at the sight of a familiar car, rushing back to pull open the gate for Rick to slip through just as seamlessly as Merle had only moments earlier. Something nagged at her desperately, despite her unrelenting fight, trying to turn her thoughts to Daryl and the fact that he wasn’t back yet. The thought was squashed as the car pulled passed her, the passenger seat too empty. Dread filled her entire being as Maggie came to stand by her side, her smile making way for the same confusion that Sophie felt at the sight before them.
“Carl, Judith… Are they okay?”
Sophie just nodded, eyebrows pulling together as Rick seemed to relax a little at the confirmation. “Carol?”
“Glenn, Hershel, Sasha?”
“Yeah, it’s bad, but they’re fighting it.” Maggie crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze brushing over Sophie ever so quickly. “Daryl isn’t back yet.”
Ignoring the other girl’s words, Sophie took a step forward to Rick. The man seemed shakier than usual; his eyes restless as he nodded in acknowledgement of the information Maggie had given. “Where’s Carol?”
“It was her, she killed Karen and David. She was trying to stop it from spreading. Tyreese is gonna be back here soon, so I didn’t think she should be here, not after what happened the other day. And… And I couldn’t have her here.” Rick’s hurried words made way for a contemplating silence, neither girl speaking as they considered his words. Sophie chewed at her lip, torn between mourning the woman’s absence and the disgust that welled in the pit of her stomach. She had killed before, she had killed many times – for mercy, for her own life, for those she loved – but she had never, and would never, kill someone on a maybe. “She has a car, supplies… She’ll figure it out. I’m going to tell Hershel, but I don’t think we should tell anyone else just yet.”
“Okay.” Maggie nodded, her tone unsure.
“Would you have brought her back?”
“No,” Sophie spoke surely as the other girl asked if Carol had outright said she had done it. Rick’s eyes brushed over Maggie to meet Sophie’s, reading the genuine intent that resided there. What Hershel was doing, was helping. What Daryl was doing, was helping. Even what she was doing, was helping. What Carol did, it was unnecessary, it was for nothing, it was fearful and it was almost cowardly.
Rick’s gaze moved back to Maggie, the man dipping his head slightly. “She did.”
“Then you were right to send her away. I don’t know if I could have, but it was the right thing to do.”
“You could have done it.” Sophie nodded surely, as if it was a compliment, and she supposed that it was. In this new world, believing in someone’s strength to do things that others might not, seemed to be the ultimate compliment. “You’ve done harder things before.”
“Don’t doubt yourself.” Rick agreed, stepping back towards the car, eyes raking over where Merle worked. “We don’t get to anymore.”
Sophie hesitated at his words, realising that all she had been doing all morning was doubting herself, doubting her choices, and doubting Daryl. She doubted his ability to get back to her, to the prison. She doubted his feelings. She doubted that they would work it out. She even doubted her own feelings. She didn’t get to do that anymore, she didn’t get to dwell on the choices she had made. She didn’t get to have regrets. She had to take ownership of what had happened and why it had. Taking in a deep breath, Sophie started with taking ownership of her own thoughts, of her own feelings. It was there, stepping forward to follow Rick as he drove up towards the top gate, finishing the conversation with Maggie, that Sophie found herself admitting that is was possible that she was in love with Daryl Dixon, that she had been this whole time.
It wasn’t that Sophie had never been in love, she had, or up until now, she thought she had. At seventeen, love was all-consuming, it was scary and filled with uncertainty, it was insecurity and pretending to be someone she wasn’t. At seventeen, it was possible that love was really just lust. Being in love with Daryl was different, it was slow burning, like embers rather than wildfire, it was safety and sanctuary, it was acceptance, and it was liberating. Being in love with Daryl wasn't just about being his, and he being hers, it was about just being. It was as natural as breathing.
Don’t be silly, something scolded, it’s different because you don’t love him. He is your best friend, and that is all. He’ll be back soon and you’ll realise that you’re just scared. Straightening herself up and shoving her moment of ridiculousness aside, Sophie made a beeline for A block, eager to have a distraction from her increasingly fear induced, unprecedented thoughts. She almost laughed as she pushed through the outer door, she loved Daryl, yes, but she wasn’t in love with Daryl. There was no way.
“You have a job to do.” She worked at convincing herself, her voice shakier than she would like to admit as she moved towards the thick sheet of glass that worked to cover the entire left side of the wall. Taking in a deep breath, she thumped against the glass almost impatiently. Her heart swelled at the sound of footsteps, sinking as she realised that they were on the wrong side of the glass.
“I was surprised to see you out there,” Rick whispered as Sophie rapped her knuckles against the glass once more, stepping closer to peer into the darkness.
“You and me, both,” she mumbled, shifting her weight anxiously as Hershel’s figure seemed to move closer towards them. He wasn’t alone, the old man working at pulling a stretcher in behind him. Rick and Sophie watched curiously as Hershel seemed to pause, his back to them.
Neither of the pair flinched as he drove a knife down through bone after a moment of hesitation. Silence settled over them, Sophie feeling almost guilty for what she had observed. It was Rick that spoke first, the older man recoiling from the sound of his name. Sophie couldn’t help but linger on his almost exhausted posture, the weariness within his eyes and the bloody knife he gripped in wrinkled, unsteady hands.
“Third one we’ve lost.” Hershel gestured to the body after a moment of silence, his eyes on Rick. “We’re burning them behind the blocks. Burning them. That’s what this has come to.”
“Are you okay?” Sophie almost whispered, unsure of what else she could say.
“I talked to him yesterday about Steinbeck. He told me a quote… A sad soul can kill quicker than a germ.” The old man paused, his eyes on the cover body that lay still beside him, ignoring Sophie’s question in a way that actually answered it. “That’s exactly why I didn’t want them all to see what happens. I know they know, but I didn’t want them to see right now.”
“They’re seeing you, Hershel. They see you keep going, even after all the choices keep getting taken away.” Rick paused for a moment, his eyes dropping to his boots ever so briefly. “When we get past this thing… It’s not gonna be like how it was, is it?”
“No.” It could be, Sophie silently counteracted Hershel’s single word, her thoughts on the angry blue sea that had resided in Daryl’s eyes rather than the more generalised intent of Rick's question. It has to be.
“Was that denial? Not seeing things how they were?”
“No,” Sophie repeated Hershel’s previous answer almost inaudibly, Rick’s question serving as her own, willing for it to be true. The men looked at her almost curiously, she had given the right answer, it was just her tone that was all off. “You just needed some time, and you got some.”
Hershel’s eyes lingered on Sophie for a moment before turning his attention back to Rick. “I still think there’s a plan, I still believe there’s a reason.”
“You think it’s all a test?”
“Life was always a test, Rick.”
Sophie looked to Rick as he seemed to consider Hershel’s words. For the first time in a long time, she found herself reminded of the similarities the older man shared with her late father, not just in how they looked, but also in what they said. Her father had been a man with morals no different to Hershel, the only difference was that his weren’t driven by belief. Sophie had grown up under the roof that her father had worked tirelessly for, that even though it had been her mothers wish to move from the city, without complaint. He welcomed any challenge life provided him with, believing that it only made them stronger. The only test he had ever resented was the one that Josh had bestowed on them the night he had died.
“I need to talk to you about Carol,” Rick spoke slowly, as if he was treading in dangerous waters. Daryl and Sophie had long been someone that he had turned to for counsel, but Hershel was always the one he turned for when he was looking for approval, and the older man’s agreement in this was of utmost importance, Sophie knew that Rick couldn’t afford to be wrong this time. “It was her, she killed Karen and David. I asked her and she admitted it. That’s where I went this morning, I took her into town and told her it was best that she didn’t come back.”
Sophie studied Hershel’s face as it smoothed in contemplation, Rick words having become quicker and quicker as he spoke. Silence consumed the trio as Hershel dipped his head ever so slowly, eyes calculating. “We can’t have someone like that here, not with what we’re trying to build.”
“I don't think that she would have wanted someone like that living with Sophia...” Sophie spoke carefully; unsure of the last time someone had spoken of Carol’s daughter. “She would understand why you couldn’t have her around Judith and Carl. Their safety... That is what’s important.”
“All of our safety.” Rick urged, smiling at Sophie softly, reaching out to squeeze her shoulder just as gently as he spoke. She stayed rooted in her place as the man took his leave, turning to Hershel with a silent goodbye before the darkness threatened to swallow him whole. Instead of following suit, Sophie looked to the older man herself, her eyebrow raised expectantly.
“Letting you in here, is almost as hard as letting Maggie or Beth in.” Hershel sighed, moving towards the door anyway. Sophie followed his movements, almost sighing in relief as the door clicked open.
“Why?”
“I told you before you remind me of my daughters.” The old vet smiled as Sophie slipped in, pushing the door shut behind her. They moved towards the cells, her instincts almost begging her to turn around. The closed space lingered with death, the smell consuming the stagnate air around them. “You’ve become somewhat like my daughter over the past year, to let you risk your life like this, it isn’t easy.”
“I risk my life every day, Hershel, that’s just how it is.”
“Yeah…” He stopped to smile at her, his weary eyes filled with a sense of warmth. A desperate cough filled the silence that ensured as Hershel paused to touch at her shoulder. “But what I don’t know, can’t hurt me.”
“It’s probably for that best that you don’t know, then,” Sophie smirked teasingly, hovering beside the man almost awkwardly. Coughs echoed through the dimly lit room, the sick stumbling around as if they were already dead.
“Probably.” Hershel almost laughed, despite the solemn world around him. Sophie watched in a sense of awe as the old man hobbled off towards one of the closest cells, talking softly to one of his patients.
Unsure with herself, Sophie went in search of Glenn, knowing that Maggie would probably strangle her if she didn’t. She found him leant up against the wall of his cell at the top of the stairs, face pale and sweaty as he worked at squeezing the respirator for someone else despite his own suffering. Kneeling down beside him, Sophie wiped the hair from his eyes, watching as they fluttered open ever so slowly.
“Maggie’s not in here, is she?” He barely groaned, sending a disbelieving chuckle slipping from Sophie’s lips. Of course, even in his state, the man’s first thought would be of Maggie. How are you and Daryl any different?
“No, it’s just me.” She whispered back, lifting a nearby cup of tea to his lips, eyebrows raised expectantly. It was cold, but it would do the job. Glenn took in a weak sip, his body rejecting the liquid, coughing it up in Sophie’s face. He looked at her with all the guilt his body could manage. She unfolded herself from his side ever so careful, touching at his hair once more before turning to the run. “You need me to do that?”
He barely managed a groan for an answer, shaking his head as he turned back to his patient dutifully, eyes drifting closed once again. Stealing a glance over her shoulder, Sophie’s heart sunk at the sight of him. It was one thing to lose the people they already had to the flu, but Glenn was different. He had been through too much, been with her for too long now, for it to hold anywhere near the same weight as the others. He was a fighter, he was determined, and he wasn’t about to give up on Maggie, she knew that. Still, the sight of him so weak filled her bones with fear. This is worse, but we’ve been through worse still, she had told Maggie, her voice filled with a little too much confidence.
“Are you sick now, too?” A childish voice pulled Sophie’s gaze back over her shoulder and onto a head of light brown hair and big, curious eyes.
She shook her head at Lizzie, reaching out almost cautiously to touch at the young girl’s head. Before Carl and Judith, Sophie hadn’t really had much to do with children, they made her nervous at the best of times, but Lizzie, she never failed to give her the creeps. “I’m fine. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay.” She nodded surely, her big eyes still on Sophie. “Has Carol come back yet? She said she was going on a run.”
“No.” Sophie forced a smile onto her face, touching at the girl’s forehead once more in a poor attempt to distract her from the question. “She’ll be okay, though, you don’t have to worry about her. Just stay in your cell.”
“Hershel wants me to read this book.”
“Great.” She smiled, eye moving over the front cover without seeing. Offering the girl one last smile, Sophie moved back down the run towards the stairs, stopping to check on Glenn once more. He coughed as she moved passed, dark eyes not really meeting hers as he worked at pumping the respirator slowly.
Her footsteps echoed through the cellblock as she moved down the stairs, pausing at the bottom before turning to the occupied cells. As she moved through the different rooms, familiar faces regarded her with little resignation, some looking up at her with eyes that seemed to cry blood. Some were better than others, some well enough to offer some sort of discussion, a break from reality. Out in the field, stabbing the rotters, it was easy to believe that they were all just in here sleeping it off, sipping at Hershel’s home made tea. In there, it was a different story, these people were dying, and they were dying horribly. More than ever, Sophie welcomed the thought of Daryl coming home, her heart slamming against her ribcage as she moved away from one weak body, for the next.
In the changing of cells and patients, Sophie’s eyes raked over a familiar pair of boots, lying limply just within one of the cells. “Hershel!” She called, gaining the old man’s attention before rushing to Sasha, dropping to her knees, her fingers searching for a pulse. Lowering her head, Sophie was looking for any sign of breathing when Hershel moved in beside her, unshouldering his backpack in search of a respirator as she started compressions. “Come on, Sasha. Haven’t seen you give up a fight yet.”
Hershel was ready to deliver the needed rescue breaths through the respirator by the time Sophie had counted to twenty, sitting back on her knees to let the vet fill Sasha’s lungs with oxygen before she started at her chest once more. Sophie’s eyes were on the closed eyelids of the woman before her as she worked, her own heart pounding desperately as she tried to restart Sasha’s. By the time Hershel was working to provide her with her fourth set of breaths, the muscles in Sophie’s shoulders aching, the woman spluttered and coughed. Rolling her over, Sophie worked to make sure Sasha’s airways were clear before moving her onto her back, Hershel propping her head up onto a pillow that he had collected from the bed adjacent to them.
The woman was beginning to stir as Hershel worked at readying the IV, holding out the needle for Sophie to push through the soft skin in the nook of Sasha’s elbow. The darkness made if difficult, Sophie having to squint under the soft light of Hershel’s torch. It was only when she was confident that she had gotten the vein that she worked at taping the tubing in place, making sure it stuck as the old vet raised the bag to shoulder level.
The pair celebrated in the form of an exchanged gaze as Sasha’s eyes fluttered open weakly, taking in the ceiling above her almost curiously. Hershel reached out to touch her arm, gaining her attention before smiling. “Welcome back.”
“I passed out?”
“You were dehydrated.”
“Being a hero takes a lot out of you.” Hershel added warmly.
“You should know.” Sasha managed a soft laugh, shaking her head ever so slowly. “I thought you were an idiot to come in here. I mean, I was sure you were just gonna be a dead foolish man…”
Sophie laughed at the sentiment, glancing over Sasha at Hershel, her eyes shining with amusement. “I think that’s a compliment?”
“I don’t know what I’m saying, I must have hit my head.” Sasha continued, her voice slow and almost slurred as if she were drunk. “I don’t believe in magic or luck, I do the math and I don’t gamble. Sophie knows that, she's seen it… But I don’t know if I’d be here right now if either of you weren’t so damn stupid.”
“You know what?” Hershel almost smirked, touching at the woman’s hair softly, his eyes genuine. “I think I’m gonna take that as a compliment.”
Sasha just smiled, closing her eyes to rest without another word. Sophie stood from her side slowly, touching at Hershel’s shoulder before whispering ever so softly, trying not to disturb her. “I’m going to keep doing the rounds.”
“Okay.” He nodded, voice just as low as her own, an almost shaky hand coming to touch at the one she had on his shoulder. “Make sure you close the cell doors.”
“Will do, doc.”
The old man stood as she moved from the cell and into the next one, raising an eyebrow as she met Allison’s gaze. The red head was sitting up against the back wall, her eyes closed and skin sweat free. “I keep offering to help.” She spoke without looking before opening her eyes to stare at Sophie. "Hershel keeps saying no, but he keeps letting Sasha and Glenn help.”
“He doesn’t want you getting sick if he can help it, they are both already in a bad way.”
“No.” She laughed, leaning back to close her eyes once more. In all Sophie’s time at the prison, no one had ever looked like they were actually locked up more than Allison did right now. “It’s because even now, even after all this time, you’re people only trust your people. Sure... you care for us, feed us, you live amongst us, even friends with some of us, but none of you completely trust us.”
Sophie’s eyebrows pulled together as she considered the notion. Trust wasn’t something that had come easily to her in a long time, not with meeting new people, not since what had happened with the Governor. It went without saying that she trusted her group, the occupants of C block, with her life, but was Allison right? Was that as far as her trust went? As any of their trust went? “That’s not true.”
“Just lock me in and go help someone who needs it.” Allison waved her off, peering out from under a half raised eyelid as Sophie did as she was told, almost as if she had been defeated.
She moved along the cells, poking her head in briefly to check on those who needed it before shutting the barred door behind her. The entire cellblock had seemed to grow still, the smell of death lingering on her skin think enough to raise goosebumps. As if on instinct, Sophie looked to where her staff was propped up against the doorway, her hands suddenly feeling a little too empty for her liking.
Her gaze was ripped away from the length of wood as a childish voice filled the silence around them, calling out for Hershel almost desperately. Sophie looked around in time to watch one of the now-dead stumble out of the next cell along from where the old man was standing. A warning caught in her throat, it no longer having any need as she watched the familiar-faced rotter trip over its feet and topple over Hershel. Turning, Sophie rushed back towards her staff, fingers lacing around the comforting wood, hands automatically finding their place. As she spun back to face the chaos before her, the man Hershel had been speaking to only moments before stepped out of his cell, gun raised.
“No!” Sophie screamed, charging forward as the boy sized rotter moved out behind him, grabbing at his fathers raised arm and biting down on the flesh. In his moment of all-consuming pain, the man accidently squeezed at the trigger he held, sending the bullet from its chamber and into the stomach of a woman that rushed to help. By the time she reached the pair, the rotter had already bitten into his neck, leaving Sophie with no way to save him.
“I’m okay.” Hershel worked at trying to convince Allison as she lifted him up off the floor, Sophie grabbing at his other hand to offer assistance. The trio stood to observe the carnage for a moment before Sophie’s eye caught on the perch above.
“Oh my god.” She whispered, abandoning the sight of the rotter stalking the little girl as she moved towards the stairs, a pair of footsteps following close behind. Her eyes instantly went to the figures as she climbed up onto the perch, rushing forward as Lizzie seemed to lose her footing, the rotter pinning her down. Grabbing at the material that covered its back, Sophie kicked the rotter from its position before skewering it through the eyeball. “You okay?”
“He didn’t scratch Glenn.” Lizzie’s voice was rushed, her breathing laboured as Sophie lifted her up off the ground, checking the visible skin for any bites or scratches. “I thought maybe he would listen.”
“Wha –”
“Lizzie, where’s Glenn?” Hershel spoke over her shoulder, Sophie pulling her mind from the young girl’s bizarre words. She is scared, she doesn’t know what she was saying, Sophie forced herself to consider before pausing ever so briefly and somewhat smugly, just like you were.
“His cell.”
“You go to him.” Sophie nodded back at Hershel, reaching out to grip at the girl’s shoulder as gently as she could in her panicked state. “Where is the other kid? The little boy? I think I saw him earlier.”
“Down there.” Lizzie spoke shakily as Hershel rushed off, her gaze following him down the run.
Sophie just pulled the girl – maybe a little too roughly – towards the middle of the perch, finding the young boy looking up at her with wide eyes. Pulling open the barred door, she paused to make eye contact with both children before securing them inside. “You two stay here, don’t come out not matter what, okay?”
Moving back towards the cell Glenn was in earlier, Sophie leant over the edge to find rotters emerging from cells on the lower level, sick people trying to escape the desperate fingers and hungry jaws that chased them. “Hershel!”
“Caleb, he has a gun!” The man’s gruff voice filled the darkness before he appeared from the end cell, eyes panicked as he moved to the body between them, shaky hands grabbing at the respirator that Glenn had been using earlier, looped around the rotters bloody face. “He is in the cell at the end.”
Sophie just nodded, pausing as her eyes went to the cell at the top of the stairs, her bones filling with dread as she realised the respirator would be for Glenn. We’ve all got jobs to do, she worked at telling herself, taking in a deep breath to move down the run. “Caleb! Caleb! We need that gun! Hershel says you’ve got a –”
Her heart froze in her chest as Caleb lunged at the barred door, his hands reaching out for Sophie desperately as he regarded her with empty eyes, blood streaks running down his face. Grabbing at the railings to pull herself back from his arm range, she sucked in a sharp breath at the sight. Tears pricked at her eyes as she regarded the man before her, lip quivering as realisation set in. Without looking, Sophie adjusted her grip on the wood in her hands, thrusting the bladed end of her staff up through the soft skin under his chin, and up into the brain that had once worked to share as much knowledge and experience with her as it possibly could have in the time that they had known each other.
Refusing to look at the body, she pulled at her staff, letting the body fall to the ground limply before pulling open the barred door. Moans filled the lower section of the cellblock as she rummaged through the cell for the rifle, finding it tucked under the mattress like it was contraband. Her heart slammed against her chest, her lungs desperate for air as she stepped over the body that consumed the floor space around her and rushed back to the top of the stairs, breathing rushed and shallow.
Leaning her staff up against the railing, Sophie worked at loading the too heavy weapon, her body shying away from the weight. She spared Hershel a quick glance, her eyes brushing over Glenn’s limp figure, over the tubing that his father in law worked at coaxing down his throat. Sophie forced her eyes to the sight, her aim trailing on a rotter that struggled with the first step. A single gunshot rang through the small space before she even touched the safety, causing Sophie to flinch as she searched for the source.
Allison nodded sharply as their eyes met from her secure position in one of the cells, the tiny, bloody pistol that the father had earlier was clutched in her hands as she worked at putting down the rotters that swarmed the space before her. Returning her nod, Sophie turned her attention back to the rotter before her, squeezing the trigger. Blood soaked the stairs as the skull fell to connect with the metal surface with an audible thump. Moving down the steps, Sophie found herself gripped at the rifle tighter, peering through the darkness as she came to stand before Allison’s cell. Both girls scanned the area before them cautiously, spinning to face the sound of footsteps, arms raised as Sophie took in Maggie’s wide eyes.
“Where’s daddy? Where’s Glenn?”
“Upstairs.” Sophie huffed, dropping the weapon to lead Maggie up onto the perch, sparing Allison a quick, silent thank you as she went. The pair paused at the top for a moment, taking in the bloody sight before them. The other girl’s breath seemed to catch as she took in the pale nature of Glenn’s face, the blood that stained his mouth and the way her father worked at fixing the respirator.
“Oh, Glenn.” Maggie sighed, dropping to her knees and taking his head into her lap to stroke his hair gently. “Stay with us… Stay with us. You’re gonna be okay, we’re gonna be okay… Just stay with us.”
“I didn’t want you in here.” Hershel whispered as he squeezed at the bag, eyes on the way his daughter cried over her partner before coming to rest on where Sophie stood anchored in her spot. “Either of you.”
“We know, but we had to.” Maggie smiled, wiping at her damp eyes. “We’ve got jobs to do, daddy, just like you.”
Sophie didn’t have the words to say, so instead, she turned back to the stairs. She was working at replacing the rifle in her hands with her staff as Lizzie passed her in search of Hershel. She considered saying something, considered reminding the young girl about where she should be, before realising that she wasn’t where she should be either. So instead, she moved down the stairs to take in the bodies that littered the ground, blood pooling on the cement. Allison was already at work, checking to make sure that none of them were going to come back as Sophie lowered herself down onto the lowest, cleanest step she could find.
She was still working at composing herself when the supposedly locked door directly before her swung open, Bob rushing through, calling out for Hershel, a heavy looking bag swung over his arm. Sophie tried to stand as he moved passed her, but her legs were like jelly. It was only seconds later – despite the lifetime that they had felt like – that Daryl moved through the door as it threatened to close. His eyes scanned the death before him, panic residing in the vast blue of them before they brushed over where she sat. Sophie’s own raked over his messy head of hair, the tight grip he still had on his crossbow and dirty clothes, almost smiling as she found him just as he had left, just as he always was after a run.
They both seemed to simultaneously sigh with relief, Sophie working at biting back the tears, both sad and happy, that stung her own eyes. He didn't move towards her, and she couldn't bring herself to do the same. It was in that moment, looking at Daryl alive and well, she realised that the angry voice deep inside had been right earlier. She was just scared. However, at the same time, it was also wrong. She hadn’t been scared of death, what she was really scared of is just how totally, completely, unarguably in love with Daryl Dixon she was, even if he didn’t feel the same.




Notes

Mid-season coming up next, and we all know what that means. Share your predictions below! Would love to hear them x

Comments

Who's here on 2020 for a re-read? :D

Tee- Tee-
4/17/20

@QueenUchi

New readers make my heart sing, especially when they start this journey ten months after I ended it (abit abruptly but we won’t get into that because it’ll make me sad again).

Thank you you so much for leaving a comment. Nothing is more motivating for the unmotivated than a little bit of love. Whenever I get a comment from someone new all I find myself wanting to sit down and grill them with a million different questions.

If youre chasing updates about any eventual stories I write, please follow me on instagram @ sophyl_

Thanks a million again!! xx

aryaaa aryaaa
11/28/18

thank you @sanders151 for recomending me this fanfic

Your fanfic has been in the center of my life for the whole month November. Let me just tell you that im in love with everything about this story. Im even at loss of words about how amazing this journey has been.

There have been moments when i actually had to get up and calm down from all the feelings may they be joy sadness or just extreme suffering. Ive been cheering, i've been crying to the point of ugly sobbing, ive been screaming while reading this all.

I dont even know how to tell you how i feel about this fanfic there arent any words for it so ima just AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH about it cause thats the closets that i can think off "insert all the feelings i cant express here"

I am just so thank full for all your time and effort and everything youve put into this story. Cause WOW youre an amazing writer and when you do make your original story please do know that I WOULD LOVE TO READ THAT TOO.

This journey has ended but it will forever be in my heart.

QueenUchi QueenUchi
11/27/18

@Sanders151

I was so surprised to see a new notification on this story after all these months. Thank you so much for taking the time
to comment, I hope you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read since. Please feel free to leave me updated on your thoughts xx

aryaaa aryaaa
11/25/18

Hello,

It's been a looong time since i've read this story. Life got busy and i totally forgot to finish it.

SO i decided to reread everything and lemme tell you...I STILL LOVE IT AS MUCH AS THE FIRST TIME.
Im currently at chapter 62 (right after fort hill) and i can't wait for what is to come.


Sanders151 Sanders151
11/15/18