Survival Isn't An Option | By : Pilgrim Category: S through Z > The Walking Dead Views: 6774 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1 |
Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead or any of the characters from the series. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
*AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for the lovely review Josi, I hope you continue to love my story! x*
The forest, dark and dank pressed in on her. The moon was full again, although the foliage was that dense hardly any light came through. She had a knife in her hands and she felt calm despite having so little knowledge of what to do with it. The first walker was easy, it lunged and she sank the blade into its head. The ones that followed were harder, their teeth missing her skin by millimetres as she turned and ran. It didn’t take long for her escape them. Sure enough the familiar fire appeared in the distance and the dread returned. Isabelle turned and started walking in the opposite direction but within minutes the fire was there again in front of her. She wasn’t going to escape it and sure enough hands grasped around her wrists and dragged her closer. Hands pressed on her back, her hips and her butt, they squeezed and stroked. Some grasped and pinched and her breath started to catch as the bodies pressed in and the hands got more insistent. Once again they were forcing their way inside her clothes, pushing aside her outer layers and roughly pulling at her underwear.
Hands pawed at her breasts and pinched her nipples, disembodied hands, cruel faces and laughter in the distance. Someone grabbed her hand and pressed it around a dick, forcing her to stroke him. Desperately she tried to snatch her hand away as someone grabbed her face and shoved their lips onto hers. Rancid breath invaded her senses and she bit the tongue that was trying to force its way into her mouth. A fist cuffed her around the temples repeatedly until she couldn’t see and the world span as blood filled her mouth. She felt cold grass against the backs of her legs and butt and realised her jeans had been pulled down. Hands were ripping her panties away, nails tearing into her skin. A hand wrapped about her throat, pinning her to the ground as a body landed heavily on top of hers and forced her legs apart as others grabbed her wrists and ankles. If she’d had the air to breathe she would have screamed as heavy hips pushed into hers, forcing her thighs wider despite her resistance.
“I want to hear you scream,” A vicious voice hissed in her ear as the hand was lifted from her throat.
Isabelle gasped for breath, clearing the stars from her vision before genuinely screaming as hot pain ripped her open. The flames of agony screeching through her body from where he drove into her.
Isabelle surged upright in the bunk bed. Her fingers wrapped into her sweat drenched hair as she gasped for breath, her throat was raw from screaming. Heart in her mouth she felt tears race from her eyes, streaking to mix with the sweat covering her entire body as she shivered uncontrollably. A hand landed heavily on her shoulder and she smacked it away viciously, backing into the wall before feeling too trapped. Moving faster than she ever thought she would again Isabelle pushed away from the bed and the wall, leaping over the outstretched arm as she ran for the open space of the field. Slamming through the cell door, she almost fell down the stairs before flinging herself past the casually abandoned camping lanterns. Pushing through the cell block door she ran into the hallway and dodged around the table. Without pause she sprinted desperately the short distance to the outer cell door and crashed into it. She fell backwards on her butt in shock, landing heavily, she’d forgotten that the outer doors were locked at night. Scrambling backwards her back collided hard with the table but she couldn’t stop now, there was too much fear running through her. Stumbling she made her way back onto her feet, she needed to hide, she turned sharply and smacked straight into a solid human chest.
Isabelle screamed in fear as hands pressed against her back and held her against a firm chest. Arms wrapped about her and refused to let her go. He was speaking but the words were lost on her. She balled her fists against his chest and pushed but there was no escape, there was barely room to move in the vice like grip as a second scream of terror ripped from her. She struggled, trying to fight her way free from the constriction, on finally realising there was no escape her efforts stopped as she gasped and shuddered for breath. With no warning she burst into tears and went limp, the horror pressing in on her overwhelmed senses were finally overbearing. Slowly whoever was holding her lowered to the floor, the man taking her entire weight as she leaned into him. Her knees met the concrete as he sank down slowly with her. Her whole body ached as the tears continued to fall, her breath catching painfully as her heart throbbed almost fit to bursting.
The world started to darken around her after some time had passed. His hands still pressed against her, holding her safe, safer than she had ever felt but still the fear tore through her. Her tears were already dried on her cheeks but he hadn’t made her move away. Slowly Isabelle exhaled shakily and pushed once more to lean away from Daryl, his scent having finally allowed her to recognise him. This time he let her move away without any resistance as she hiccupped for breath. He watched her carefully, his hands still on her arms as if afraid she would just topple backwards and shatter on the concrete. She couldn’t look him in the eye and dropped her gaze to where her hands rested on his forearms. Fingers brushed stray strands of hair from her face and once again pressed under her chin forcing her to look him in the eye. He didn’t say a word, instead just nodding and standing. His hands took hers and dragged her up right but she was too far gone to stand and silently he swept her up once more, her arms hanging limply and head lolling backwards.
“I need some help here! She’s in shock, Hershel,” She heard Daryl call out and the sound of crutches approach as the backs of her legs knocked against the table.
The world was a million miles away, voices just distant buzzing noises as she lay on the table, not seeing, not knowing. Fingers prised her eyelids wider and a torch flashed into her vision as someone measured her reactiveness. Others pressed to her wrists to feel for a pulse and she knew her breathing had gone shallow as the world started to darken further at the edges of her vision yet her heart was racing. It beat like a butterfly against her ribs, leaping into her throat. She couldn’t stop it, she was trapped, and although aware of her surroundings she was held immobile by her own mind as it reeled. Warmth slowly spread through her body as blankets were wrapped about her and it was only then that she realised she was shivering uncontrollably. It was strange this sensation, knowing she still had a body but it was disappearing from her senses as her eyes blinked closed into a darkness that encompassed all.
“Thank you,” Isabelle smiled at Beth gratefully as she helped her drink from a cup of water. “Where is everyone?”
“They’ve gone out to meet with the Governor… the man who attacked us with the van. Apparently he wants to talk now,” Beth informed her. “My dad’s gone with them. You’ve been barely with us all week, do you remember anything?”
Isabelle swallowed the water slowly before easing herself upright and shaking her head slowly. She was in Daryl’s bed again, clearly it had been easier to drop her here than try to get her into the upper bunk. She watched the teenager carefully, she’d been without her parents for a long time and no longer really missed them. Although now for the briefest of moments she wondered what had happened to them. Were they still alive? It wasn’t as if she would ever see them again, how was she supposed to get across the ocean and then find them god knows where in the wilds of northern England where the family home nestled in a rustic valley. Her sister too, she hadn’t seen her for almost a decade and sorrow pierced her heart for a moment at the loss. She knew Beth was watching her so she smiled reassuringly and pushed the thoughts aside.
“I’m sure your dad will be fine. I’m sure the Governor won’t hurt them, not if he wants to talk,” Isabelle pressed her hand over Beth’s reassuringly.
“I hope so,” Beth smiled and offered to help her up.
The clattering of the outer door heralded the group’s return. Beth assisted her back onto her feet and together they made their way to the entrance where the group stood. They looked concerned and sure enough there was plenty to worry about. Whoever the Governor was, he wanted them dead and Rick was making a speech about war. Isabelle couldn’t follow the conversation, her head already swirling with the effort of walking. Beth pushed water to her as they listened to the plans Rick proposed. They were going to hole up in the prison and fight to stand their ground. He turned cold, distant eyes to her.
“You’re going to have to learn how to fight pretty damn quickly,” Rick snapped, Isabelle nodded at him and gritted her teeth in determination.
“You can count on me,” She whispered in a broken voice.
The morning air was bracing as Isabelle stepped outside, she felt physically strong today even if her mind still bore cracks from the mental breakdown. Daryl was right behind her holding a pistol and a rifle for her to learn with. They made their way carefully down to the perimeter fence and stepped into the walkway that ran between the two fences. The makeshift gate was holding most of the walkers at bay. He handed her the pistol first and explained various components gruffly, she removed the clip, checked the bullets, learned to load, refitted it into position and swallowed her nerves more times than she cared to acknowledge. Quietly he stepped up behind her and rested his hands over hers as she aimed at a walker straight in front of them. She tensed at his touch and forced the thoughts of rougher hands away.
“It’ll give a bit of a kick, keep the sight down as best you can, whenever you’re ready pull the trigger,” His voice was soft as she tightened her grip about the pistol.
Daryl’s arms dropped from hers, letting her find the sight again on her own as she waited for the walker to stop moving. Realising it wasn’t going to stop lumbering she bit her lip and pulled the trigger, the gun bouncing up with the release and the bullet doing nothing more than graze its throat. The walker groaned in annoyance and thrashed its arms through the fence. Without prompting Isabelle primed it again and took aim. She thought hard about the few movies she’d seen that had involved guns. Breathing, she remembered breathing was important and she followed the movements slowly until she let a long breath out. This time the gun didn’t bounce as badly and the walkers head exploded. Isabelle smiled flushed with success as Daryl urged her to try again.
Again she breathed slowly, followed the movements of another walker that had replaced the first. It followed a similar fate and fell in a crumpled heap. The pistol primed again Isabelle aimed for one further away, it was harder at a distance, the movements more erratic as it wasn’t pressed up against the fence for support. Carefully she aimed, let her breath out and fired but missed as it tripped in the long grasses. Daryl was growling at her to get her act together. She only had this clip to go through before the bullets would start being too precious. The pressure mounted but she was used to pressure, it helped as a calm came over her. It was only like dancing, she just had to keep her eyes locked on a point and let the movements flow through her body. This time it wasn’t her moving, it was something external to her but the skill was transferable. In quick succession she shot three walkers dead cleanly and crowed in success.
Daryl replaced the pistol with the rifle and once again guided her through holding it. He simulated the harder jerk of the rifle against her shoulder, bringing her back flush to his chest with the force he put into the gun. Without thinking she dropped her hands from it and ducked away shaking. Daryl stared at her dumbly, not understanding as she pulled at her hair and took a shuddering breath before banishing the cold thoughts and taking back the rifle. He moved back to stand behind her as he corrected her feet once more and pushed her arms into a better position before letting her loose. The familiar weight of the rifle wasn’t as concerning to her anymore and she rested her eye to look cleanly down the sight. She was moving too much, nervous energy surging through her and she dropped to one knee to gain better stability. Her finger twitched against the trigger and she only hesitated as the walker stumbled before she pressed and watched its skull explode. Daryl patted her on the shoulder with a smile.
“You’ll be fine, you’ve got good aim,” He took the rifle back and looked down at the pistol. “Don’t tell Rick.”
Isabelle looked down at the offered pistol and took it from him. She slid the safety into place and tucked it into her belt at the base of her spine where it would be concealed by the mass flaps of fabric from the oversized shirt. Nodding her agreement at the secret.
“Daryl, I need a favour,” Isabelle whispered, feeling the bile rise in her stomach as he turned to look at her once more. “I need to know how to protect myself if I don’t have a gun and how to end it if I have no other option.”
“Is that what the dream was about?” Daryl questioned as they headed back into the field, he was watching her curiously as she let out a shaky breath and nodded carefully. “Want to talk about it?”
“It’s in the past,” Isabelle stated firmly but his raised eyebrow told her she wasn’t getting anyway with saying that little. “I trusted someone that I shouldn’t have and they took advantage,” She turned her eyes from him. “I thought I was over it. Can you teach me or not?”
He watched her for a moment longer before nodding. He lowered the rifle to the floor and motioned for her to put the pistol with it. Carefully Isabelle dropped it alongside. Daryl’s gaze was intense as if he was assessing her and she realised that he was, he was summing her up and breaking her down into strengths and weaknesses. Slowly he dropped into a ready position with bent knees and raised his fists. Quietly Isabelle mimicked him, copying his position perfectly as without warning he threw a lazy punch and she ducked just in time, feeling the air stir above her head. He’d paused again observing her movement before he set himself with fists raised and motioned for her to take a swing at him. She settled back into the easy position.
“I’ve still got a broken wrist,” Isabelle pointed out raising her still bandaged left wrist.
“So, think a walker, think a human will care? Think a man would care?” Daryl snapped and motioned for her to swing again.
Isabelle stared at him for a moment longer disbelieving that he had gone for that phrasing. She almost lowered her fists before realising he wasn’t going to let up. She’d asked for this after all.
“You think a broken wrist will stop someone from attacking you? Alive or dead? It just makes you a target,” Daryl declared clearly as if he was having to state the obvious to someone stupid. “When the governor’s men come here who do you think they’re going to be aiming for? The ones hard to hit or the ones that are easy. Stop being such a lady about it, you’re a target and a damn easy one.”
He smirked as she glowered at him and raised her fists, her left far clumsier than her right. What if she hurt him? Isabelle laughed out loud at her own thought, Daryl less amused as he watched her. She apologised before thinking through how his own fist had flown through the air moments before. Flexing her slowly returning muscles she imagined the movement twice before actually trying, she deliberately aimed for his shoulder. As she predicted she didn’t even come close as he stepped smoother than a viper away from her, Isabelle followed smoothly keeping him at the same distance even as he changed direction.
Her feet moved instinctively in the same pattern as his. It was a dance, nothing more! She turned her body slightly and threw a second punch, this one grazing his forearm as he misinterpreted her movements and she smiled as he sent one her way, slow and intended not to hit and she parried with her forearm. Remembering how he had moved when she had tried to kick him all those weeks ago. Movement she could duplicate, movement she was trained it and her body sang with the rhythm.
“Ok you can move, which means you’ll be a natural at dodging. I’m not going to dodge this time, hit me with everything you’ve got,” Daryl patted his upper arm, but barely braced it.
Disgruntled at his assumption of her weakness she threw a punch and hit his hard muscle squarely. He barely blinked and Isabelle knew she looked deflated.
“Let’s face it, I can’t put any muscle behind it. I weigh less than I ever have in my life, which is saying something! The movements are fine, it’s like dancing but I can’t punch to save my life,” Isabelle lowered her hands.
“It might come to that, to save your life or worse. You can dodge as much as you like but if they can keep up with you, if you’re cornered… you need to be able to get them away,” Daryl pointed out. “Thinking you can’t do something you might as well just lie on your back and let them do whatever they want.”
Isabelle shouted at him and punched hard into his chest, he looked amused and she swung again as he dodged. Her anger fuelled her aggression until he pinned her, grabbing both of her arms and pinning them behind her. She had never wanted to hurt anyone so much and he knew it. He pushed her onto her knees and pressed his face against her cheek to whisper in her ear.
“You want to survive you got to think you’re already dead,” He released her hands and pushed her forwards onto all fours.
“Tell me how to escape from that,” Biting back the tears of fear she glared at him over her shoulder.
Slowly Daryl pinned her arms again and talked her through it. Carefully she flexed her muscles through the motions before attempting them. He was too heavy for her to flick over her shoulder even when she was in the correct position. They worked through another way to do it until she managed a full sequence of the moves and landed Daryl on his back, quicker than he had anticipated. Dropping into the ready position again she looked down at him, he was smiling as he rubbed his chin where she’d elbowed him harder than she meant to.
For the next hour they sparred lightly, Daryl coaching her through where to hit and how. More often than not his hands moving her body and hands into better positions to suit her build. As the time passed she could see the growing frustration with her lack of strength despite his innate patience. They’d mastered that one defence movement and none others. Isabelle snapped at his latest exasperated glare and threw another uppercut punch to his jaw, expecting him to catch it like every time before that. She yelped as her knuckles made a hard contact and Daryl stumbled backwards with a similar shout of surprise. Isabelle dropped her curled fists in shock and spluttered an apology out.
“I am so, so sorry. I got annoyed, I didn’t think I’d actually hit you,” Isabelle spluttered as she moved forwards to help him back onto his feet.
“About time!” Daryl rubbed the slightly pink area of his jaw as he stood back up. “Ain’t no strength there but hell of a surprise,” He batted her hands away. “Stop being so British, it didn’t hurt, was just a shock,” Daryl muttered as he stumbled back onto his feet and picked the rifle up once more. He passed her the pistol casually before turning back to the prison where Rick was waiting for them.
“Wait, I need to know how to end my life…” Isabelle called out before catching up and placing a hand on his arm.
Daryl paused and glanced back at her. He spent too long looking at her, his eyes shielded after a moment of something she couldn’t interpret but there had been a glimpse of something.
“You’ll never need to do that,” Daryl whispered before continuing on up the slope. “She’s a good shot,” Daryl informed Rick as he handed the rifle back over. “No good at hand to hand but she’s real quick, might learn enough to keep herself safe at least.”
“I can’t find Michonne,” Rick whispered, trying to pull Daryl out of earshot of Isabelle.
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