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Forever Rising Phoenix	By : ImagineLayla131 Category: S through Z > The Walking Dead Views: 7147 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NOR HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH THE WALKING DEAD FRANCHISE. ALL PROPERTIES OWNED BY FRANK DARABONT, AMC, ROBERT KIRKMAN AND TONY MOORE. NO MONEY/PROFIT IS BEING MADE OFF OF THIS FANFICTION!

Chapter List
- 11
- 12
- 13
Hello world and my wonderful readers! How is everybody doing? It ties in with the whole Phoenix theme, as does the title of this chapter "Beauty in the Breakdown" from the song "Let Go" by Frou Frou, as many of you will recognize from either the end of Garden State or the pub scene from The Holiday. The episode of TWD was very intriguing and powerful, definitely didn't see that one coming.
AGAIN, What would be the point of FanFiction if some of the characters always resembled how they were on the shows? If you don't like my story or have a problem with my writing style, then don't bother reading it.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN NOR HAVE ANY AFFILIATIONS WITH THE WALKING DEAD FRANCHISE, JELLY BELLY, OR LET GO. ALL PROPERTIES OWNED BY FRANK DARABONT AND AMC (TELEVISION SERIES), ROBERT KIRKMAN AND TONY MOORE (COMIC BOOK SERIES), DAVID KLEIN AND THE JELLY BELLY COMPANY, FROU FROU, RESPECTIVELY. I ONLY OWN MY OWN ORIGINAL IDEAS AND CHARACTERS.
WARNING: VERY STRONG LANGUAGE!
Chapter Twelve: Beauty in the Breakdown
For as long as they had known each other, Rick had always been a truthful and perceptive person, she trusted and valued his opinions greatly. If Delilah had gotten the majority of the group together so far, then she was already trustworthy to be doing such an unselfish deed for strangers like them. Plus, that spiked baton performance with the mini group of walkers had left her impressed. Michonne slowly stuck her hand in Delilah's and shook it. She sighed, thankful that Michonne came around, and exchanged a smile with Rick.
AN HOUR LATER
The car ride back had been pretty silent apart from the stereo playing and Rick filling Michonne in on Jellbany. Delilah never dealt with quiet people very well. They were such a contrast from her gregariously extroverted persona that it made any introverts a challenge to get them to talk.
"So, Michonne, Rick tells me you used to be a lawyer. What kind of law did you practice?" No answer. "I bet you weren't like Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad. You know, "Better Call Saul!"" Delilah started timidly laughing while Michonne was unfazed, which only made her ramble on more. "I used to be so obsessed with that show and True Blood. It kind of makes you wonder where all the famous people are now. Like President Obama and Taylor Swift and Queen Elizabeth and Larry King and Matthew McConaughey and Meryl Streep and the cast of The Big Bang Theory. Where the heck are they?" She kept laughing nervously, and Rick knew nothing would come of this, in spite of her efforts.
"Uh, Delilah, Michonne isn't much of a talker until she gets to know you better."
Delilah looked over at him. "Sorry, I get kind of nervous with quiet people." She mumbled, gripping the steering wheel tightly before looking up in the rearview window. "If there's anything you want to know, ask away."
Rick really admired Delilah for trying, but he had known Michonne for the past year and knew she was a hard nut to crack. After a long uncomfortable silence for a few miles, she finally spoke up.
"How'd you survive that balcony fall?"
Delilah almost didn't hear her, she had spoken so gruffly. This question almost always followed whenever the story was told of how she was deserted. If telling the story was hard, this part was the hardest of all, because it was when everything came back and set in. Delilah hesitated and heavily exhaled, her mind flashing back as she spoke. "Well, my sister threw my hands off the ladder knobs and I went stumbling back. The last thing I heard her say was…"
"Sweet dreams, baby sister." Christine said in a Minnie Mouse esque tone before climbing down the ladder. Delilah had stumbled all the way against the balcony, the creepy sounds of the zombies rang through her ears. A huge crash of lightning burst through the sky and shook the ground. The balcony and the railings she was up against broke with a loud snapping sound. Delilah went plummeting from the second story, screaming for her life, as she went down, down, down, but stopped somehow.
Delilah opened her eyes to find that she was dangling in mid air, the hood of her Juicy jacket was caught in one of the balusters. She was saved for the moment, but it didn't stop the nombies. They were still making that disgusting noise, reaching out to grab and turn her into nourishment for the dead. Delilah kicked them away as best as she could until losing one of her Ugg slippers, making her bare foot an open target. She screamed and lifted her knees as she tried to lift herself up onto the second floor, but to no avail. This was it, she really was going to die, until she looked down and saw a few balusters that fell when the balcony broke, they were sticking in a few nombie heads, officially killing them.
THAT'S IT! THE BALUSTERS ARE BROKEN AND ARE ALREADY LOOSE. I FELL OFF THE FAR END OF THE BALCONY. ALL I HAVE TO DO IS SWING, PULL THEM OFF, IMPALE THESE FREAKS IN THE HEAD, AND SWING TO THE NEXT ONE UNTIL I GET TO THE STEPS. JUST LIKE THE MONKEY BARS! YOU CAN DO THIS, DELILAH. YOU HAVE TO SURVIVE!
She took a deep breath and swung her body forward, with her hands grabbing either one of the balusters, pulling one out and trying to jab it through a walker head, but her arms couldn't read that far.
MY FEET! I DO PRACTICALLY EVERYTHING WITH THEM.
Briefly mourning the loss of her favorite UGG slippers, Delilah flung the other one off and put the baluster between her feet, driving it into a zombie head. She smiled as it slumped to the floor and repeated the action, baluster by baluster, grunting all the while, until finally getting to the steps. With all the strength she could muster, Delilah moved back and forth a couple times before lifting herself up onto the steps and impaling the last of the deadly freaks.
THAT REALLY WAS LIKE THE MONKEY BARS.
Delilah rolled over onto the top of the steps and laid on her stomach, panting heavily as she looked down at the pile up of bodies, it was like a mosh pit.
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
There was no time to allow thought process, she had to leave this house immediately. Rising to her feet, she walked into the room she shared with Billy. All traces of him were completely gone, but Delilah couldn't get stuck on that and started packing everything she owned into the Voltaic Array Solar Charger backpack that he had given her. Inside there was an ACR Electronics Microfix Personal Beacon that could find anybody, a couple headlamps and LED flashlights, a pair of night vision goggles, an ETON American Red Cross Solarlink FR360 Radio, a Jetboil Personal Cooking System, a LIFESAVER water bottle, a solar concept tent, and an Iridium Extreme phone. Her clothes just fit in there.
After throwing on a pair of socks and sneakers and dragging her backpack, she made her way into Christine's room, finding all of her belongings packed as well.
THEY HAD THIS PLANNED ALL ALONG, TO GET RID OF ME AND BE TOGETHER.
Delilah felt her eyes brimming with tears, but stopped herself from crying and went into Mamie and Papie Steverson's room. Dim paisley walls, dark wood furniture, antique decorations, the room looked fit for grandparents. Delilah surveyed everything until landing on a picture of her and Billy that was on the dresser. She picked it up, thinking back to the day. It was taken the year before, when they announced their engagement at the ranch, some time before the outbreak. Billy had his arm wrapped around her waist, they were looking at each other and laughing. It was a happier time, they had been so in love… Delilah was so in love… Billy wanted Christine, not her…
"BASTARD!"
In a fit of rage, she threw the picture against the wall, the frame shattered upon impact, but she didn't even care. They abandoned her, Christine tried to kill her! That evil smirk on her face…
Without even a second thought, Delilah swept up Mamie and Papie's elaborate jewelry and watch collection into the backpack until it was stuffed to the brim. Whenever there was a problem, apart from writing and because they had the money, Delilah was a heavy activist in retail therapy. There was nothing like a pair of Christian Louboutins or a Chanel purse or a new book to put a smile on her face and lift her spirits.
I'M IN TEXAS, THERE'S SOME GREAT SHOPPING HERE. THANKS FOR MAKING THE FIVE FINGER DISCOUNT LEGAL, ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE!
Besides, since Billy was the favorite grandchild, these personal effects were guaranteed to her.
MAYBE THAT'S HOW HE AND CHRISTINE BONDED, FROM BEING THE FAVORITE ONE. I WAS A FAVORITE, TOO, JUST NOT A GRANDPARENT'S FAVORITE…
She slung the backpack over her shoulders and walked out of the room. As she was about to walk down the stairs, something shiny caught the corner of her eye, making her walk over to the window. Lying on the floor were the keys to the semi-truck, the one that held Billy's immense stockpile. Delilah snatched up the keys and smiled.
THEY MUST BE GOING CRAZY WITHOUT THESE! I'LL BE ABLE TO SURVIVE FOR A LONG TIME, NOW. EXCEPT I'LL BE ALONE. I CAN ALWAYS USE THE BEACON AND THE IRIDIUM PHONE TO FIND THEM, BUT WHAT'S THE POINT? THIS WAS WHAT THEY WANTED, A LIFE WITHOUT ME, AND IT'S WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO GET.
Delilah looked around one last time, the house was so warm and cozy at one point, filled with so many fond memories. Now, it was a hellhole that reeked of death, and she couldn't stay. There was nothing nor anybody left for her. She made her way down the stairs when a walker hand grabbed her leg and started gurgling, trying to take a bite. Delilah screamed and snatched one of the loose side balusters, impaling the walker. After she was sure it was dead, she sprinted down the stairs and was surprised to see a dead bloody deer with it's insides pouring out. The sight brought her to tears and made her stomach churn, the poor helpless animal. Covering her mouth, she leapt over the deer and threw up in the nearest rose bush, not even noticing the rain. It was usually sunny in the Lone Star State, especially during the spring, not cloudy and rainy like it was today. The thunder seemed pretty low but the rain was pouring and the X5 was nowhere to be found.
IT'S TIME TO GO, DELILAH.
She sighed, proceeding to the truck and was about to get inside when rain stopped and something else started falling from the sky… hail. Fatal little white balls sheeted down like no tomorrow. Delilah screamed and bolted under the truck, worried that the windshield and windows would break. The hail didn't stop for almost twenty minutes and the rain resumed immediately after. She crawled out from under the truck to hear a loud creaking sound, looking over to witness the house that she was inside not thirty minutes prior, caving in and crumbling. Delilah gasped, watching it collapse to the ground while the rain poured down even harder. A cold, harsh reality dawned on her, she truly was all alone and no longer had anybody. Not her mom or Christine or Billy or her dog Motley or even Angelo. Delilah burst into tears and started banging her fist against the truck, the panic closing in with the rain, and that's when she realized what date it was…
"The first of April."
Michonne had the same stoic look on her face, but her eyes had saddened a bit upon hearing this story. It reminded her a little of the moment she became truly alone, one that would stick with her forever, no matter how much things improved. It was probably harder because Delilah had no confirmation on whether or not her sister and fiancé were still alive and most likely, she never would know.
Rick looked over to see Delilah's eyes shinning. This was the first time he had heard this portion of the story and he understood why, it was clearly troubling for her. He wanted nothing more than to grab her hand, to wipe her tears away and hold her tight in his arms like he did only hours before, but knowing he couldn't right now because of Michonne. They had to keep things under wraps, not for much longer, hopefully.
"It was the worst April Fool's of my life, and it wasn't even a prank. Lost a $120 pair of UGG Australia slippers because of those two." She sniffled, trying everything to hold herself together but knew that it was only a matter of seconds before she broke. Delilah flipped on the right turn signal and slowly pulled off the side of the road, the tears already leaving her sockets and not caring that Rick and Michonne were watching.
"Are you ok?" Rick reached out to touch her shoulder, not too worried because it would only come off as being part of his compassionate nature.
Delilah flung off her seat belt. "I'm fine." She couldn't even look at him or else she'd start crying harder, seeing the pity in his eyes. "I'll be right back." They watched as she slammed the car door shut and bolted out to a field off the road. Delilah kept running until she was in the middle of the field, not too far from the truck but far enough that nothing could be heard. The weather was similar to that day, but with a less heavy rainfall and without the hail. She was glad to be on her own, even if it was brief. The memories were flooding back and taunting her, she had started hyperventilating as more tears streamed down her face.
"I didn't deserve this… I DIDN'T DESERVE IT!" Delilah screamed loudly before moving on from saying sentences and just screamed. They didn't love her like she had loved them. Billy and Christine were selfish and heartless and only cared about each other, they had probably never cared or loved Delilah. The signs were there, she was just hoping they weren't real, but they had been, and things turned out to be worse than she ever imagined. Life had already been hard enough, why was she served such a cruel fate? Delilah was practically wailing, she hadn't cried like this in a very long time.
"I LOVED YOU! I WOULD HAVE DONE ANYTHING FOR YOU, BUT YOU LEFT ME, JUST LIKE THAT FUCKING DEER IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE! YOU TRIED TO KILL ME! IT WAS ALL A SET UP! WHAT DID I EVER DO TO MERIT THIS?! I'VE HAD ENOUGH PROBLEMS IN MY LIFE, I DIDN'T NEED TO BE ALONE! MOTHERFUCKING TWO-TIMING ASSHOLE BASTARD PRICK AND AN UNGRATEFUL BACKSTABBING JEALOUS FUCKING CUNT! THAT'S WHAT THE TWO OF YOU ARE! FUCK YOU!"
What Delilah didn't know was that despite how far away she was, Rick and Michonne were able to hear and see everything, how she was jumping up and down and kicking the grass whilst shouting. In all honesty, Delilah looked like a five year old, and Rick understood what she meant earlier when she mentioned "outbursts". The spectacle that Delilah had made of herself in such a short time was heartbreaking, she really was in a lot of pain. Perhaps this was the best thing for her, to let it all out.
"Do you think you should go talk to her?" Michonne's question broke Rick's concentration. Should he go talk to her and would it help? It was worth a try.
"Yeah, I think I should. I'll be back." He got out of the car and walked through the field to Delilah, who had finally stopped screaming and crying, just panting heavily. She looked up at the sky and watched the rain fall, it was so loud that she hadn't even heard Rick call out to her.
"Delilah!" She turned around to see him walking up. Had he heard her ranting and raving? "Are you ok? I was worried about you." Rick looked at her and she could see the genuine concern. His gaze made her become conscious of something, something that should have set in a long time ago, maybe she was avoiding it or maybe now it finally hit her. What Billy and Christine did was inexcusable and vindictive, but if it hadn't been for them, she wouldn't have gone to Georgia and found Javier and Matt or Ivan and Brandi through the Iridium phone. They never would have gotten together and found Jellbany or brought in other survivors, including Madison. Delilah never would have become best friends with Madison and Javier if it weren't for being abandoned, she wouldn't have come across Maggie, and that meant that she wouldn't have met Rick and Carl either. Rick, the man standing right in front of her, not Billy, the boy that left her behind.
The past is in the past, this is your life now. Remember that Gandhi quote from high school? "We must become the change we want to see"? You have grown and changed so much in this last year. Look at all the good things you've done, the people you've helped, the lives you've saved. The world may be dead, but your world is still living on and living on strong.
"I'm fine, I will be. They were the ones dragging me down the whole time, now I'm liberated. I have friendships and love all around me, I am a survivor. I will carry on without them. It doesn't matter about Billy and Christine, the only person I needed to prove anything to was myself, and I have prevailed in the face of adversity."
Everybody has their moments of doubt and weakness, it's only human, but they both knew what she was capable of, especially overcoming said moments. Delilah was one of the strongest people that Rick had ever met, her immense courage was admirable and something that was potentially envied by others.
"You have, you can't let yourself forget it, either. Most people would have surrendered under pressure, because it seemed like the easy thing to do, but you fought the battle, Delilah. Not many people have that kind of fortitude."
He was right, she could have very easily given up, possibly taken her own life, but she didn't. Instead, she made the best of it and turned things around to how she wanted them to be.
"I'm sorry for scaring you, I needed to let it out, but now I'm embarrassed that Michonne heard me."
Rick shook his head. "Don't worry about it. Michonne is no stranger to traumatic events. We all have a past, but it's long gone at this point. Yours and mine."
Delilah smiled. She may have cracked a bit, but she wasn't entirely broken. Through the emotional breakdown, she had found a clarifying beauty and it was time to return to that. "You're so incredible, Rick. Why couldn't I have met you first instead of Billy? I know that sounds naïve, but I can't help but think it. Maybe things would have turned out differently, for everybody."
It was naïve, but at the same time such a sweet and innocent question, one that he didn't have an answer for at all.
"I don't know. We can't keep thinking about what could have been, but you have me now, and nothing counts like the present."
I have him. He's mine. He is mine. "I know, you're right."
"Ready to leave? Everybody's waiting on us."
"Yes, I am. Let's go." Delilah wiped her eyes and walked back to the truck behind Rick, with a smile on her face. Michonne looked at her as she stepped inside and shut the door, glad to see Delilah had stopped crying, but still kept the same expression on her face. Delilah was about to start the car when she looked out the window. "Oh, my gosh! Look, it's a rainbow!" She pointed outwards. There, in the rainy fog in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, was a beautiful pale rainbow. They all smiled, seeing it as a little sign of peace in hell.
"What do you know? See, things are already looking up." Rick smiled affectionately at Delilah, he had all the hope in the world for her, just like she had with him.
"Looks like they are." Delilah started the truck and skipped a couple songs on the CD until it landed on "Let Go" by Frou Frou. She smiled and drove off as the song played. The tension was still a little awkward, but there was some calmness in the mix, the rest of the ride would be smooth sailing.
"Why Georgia?" Michonne asked. That was the second most asked question Delilah received whenever telling her story. She looked over at Rick and they exchanged a secret smirk, one that Michonne immediately noticed and made her mind wander.
"Besides the Center for Disease Control? For the shopping, I had to replace those slippers."
AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER, 1:00 PM, JELLBANY
Michonne looked around curiously as they pulled into Jellbany. It was the Taj Mahal of the apocalypse, and it certainly sounded like it from what she had been told, it was a refuge for all of them, but would they stay long? The trio got out of the car, being sprinkled with light rain.
"I'll gather everybody up, then come back and get you. Shouldn't be longer than a couple minutes." Delilah smiled and walked inside, feeling much better since her cry and excited to introduce Michonne to the others. As Rick was about to follow, Michonne got in front of him, her expression never changing, which made him shoot her a puzzled look.
"Is there something going on with you and Miss California Teen Dream?"
Rick had a feeling she knew something was up, she had always been very intuitive. He couldn't lie to her, even if he had agreed with Delilah to keep things under wraps, but he trusted Michonne enough to know that she wouldn't repeat it.
"Yes, for almost two months." In a way, it felt like kind of a relief to confide in somebody. Michonne smirked.
"I knew that smile was over more than a damn rainbow."
He chuckled. "You're the only one that's caught on. Not even Carl knows yet. I know I can trust you to keep it between us. Things are getting serious, we want to tell him privately first before anybody else."
She nodded. "You have my word, that's the best thing to do. However, if I was able to figure it out, I think others might have a clue as well. The question is, are you happy?"
The thought of the rest of the group having a hint of their relationship left him a little panicked, but that didn't deflect the question at hand, and knew he didn't have to think twice. "I am, actually, and it's all because of Delilah. She pulled me out of the miserable funk I was in."
Michonne smiled. Rick had been thrown repeatedly into the ringer for the past year, he not only deserved to be happy, but he needed it. If it was from his relationship with Delilah, then it was the best thing for him. She had done so much for him and their group, Michonne could tell that she cared about all of them a great deal. "Then that's the only thing that matters."
UH-OH! MICHONNE CAUGHT ON! DID ANYBODY SEE THAT COMING? POOR DELILAH! DO YOU SEE A DIFFERENCE FROM HOW SHE USED TO BE TO HOW SHE IS NOW? CHAPTER THIRTEEN, SOMEWHERE OUT THERE, WILL BE COMING SOON, WHERE A SHOCKING TURN OF EVENTS WILL HAPPEN! THINGS ARE ABOUT TO GET INTENSE, SO BRACE YOURSELVES!
BE SURE TO FOLLOW THE STORY FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER!
PLEASE READ AND REVIEW AND SPREAD THE WORD! NO FLAMES!
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Forever Rising Phoenix