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thyme-in-a-bubble · 2 years

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ophiocordyceps unilateralis

summary: on a supply run gone bad, the group split up and you got stuck with Steve.

warnings: Steve Harrington/reader, zombie apocalypse au, smut, hurt/comfort, kinda angst, patching up each other's wounds (in an unsterile, apocalyptic way... don't do this at home kids), tw weapons and violence, unprotected sex, dirty talk, pull out method, squirting, blowjob (kinda, a little), kinda in the realm of perv!Steve (mainly because of the dirty talk), tiny bit of impact play (beloved pussy slaps)

word count: 2637

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“I think that building over there should be safe enough for tonight,” you pointed to the seemingly abandoned structure ways down the road, “what do you think?”

“I think we should keep moving,” Steve kept his gaze fixed forward, not even looking at the house in question for one second, “find the others.”

“We need a break,” you fiddled with the straps of your worn backpack, eyeing his blood-soaked shirt, “you need a break.”

“I’m fine,” he clenched his jaw tightly, clearly attempting to swallow the pain that merely walking was causing him to endure.

“No, you’re not. You’re hurt.”

“I’m fine.”

“Those guys back there got a lot of hits in, and you haven’t even stopped to take a breath.”

“What, it’s not like they pulled their punches just because you’re a girl.”

“True, but I look better than you,” you smiled, thankful that you got out of it with more bruises than cuts. Stopping dead in your tracks, you tried once more, “Steve, please. I don’t want one of those things to take a bite out of you just because you’re in too much pain to put up a fight.”

“…fine,” he agreed begrudgingly, “but we leave at first light, alright?”

Just as you were about to yell out the all-clear to Steve, a few guttural growls coming from the room you’d presume he was inspecting found your ears.

“Steve?” you whirled around the corner just in time to see him hovering over a now motionless rotting corps, yanking back his nail-clad baseball bat that had gotten slightly stuck in its cranium, “you good?”

“Yeah,” he breathed heavy, the swings apparently took more out of him than expected, “all good.”

Fearing that he’d perhaps faint, you rushed towards him and grabbed his elbow. Standing this close to him, you got a better look at just how gruesome the gashes on his abdomen alone were. “Steve,” you sighed quietly, making him turn more towards you, “that does not look all good.”

“It’s better than it looks,” he carefully shrugged off his heavy backpack, “trust me.”

“Really? Because it looks pretty bad to me,” you grabbed his bag before he could place it on the floor, “will you at least just let me help you?”

Letting out a long exhale, he agreed, “sure,” and visibly let his shoulders relax more, dropping his weapon and walking over to the nearby table.

“Take your shirt off,” you rolled your eyes at the smirk those words conjured on his face. When he began to just carelessly tug off his layers, “slowly!” practically exploded out of you and you restrained your palm from slapping him clear across the face, “oh god.”

It had been too long a day and your patience for Steve had run out. You had nearly been killed by not only the undead but also the group of people that had followed you all from the previous town you stayed in.

Reaching into the side pocket of your bag, you pulled out the small med kit that you’d scavenged a while back. Motioning for Steve to take a seat on the table, you stepped closer and took a good look.

“Okay,” you breathed out, trying your best not to ogle at his fuzzy bare chest and instead focus on the several injuries that decorated his skin. “Good news, I don’t think you need stitches,” you crouched down, ending up on your knees in order to be at eye level with the worst one. Blinking up at him, it hit you the position you’d put yourself in. The angle… “I, um,” you looked down and fished out a small travel-sized vodka bottle, as well as some bandages, “do you want a warning first or the element of surprise?” you unscrewed the bottle with one hand.

“Just fucking do it, just-,” you didn’t hesitate, downing the gash on his abdomen with alcohol, effectively punching all of the air out of his lungs at the very first drop, “holy- fuck!” he growled, squeezing his eyes shut and instinctively slammed his fist down to meet the tabletop. Setting the bottle down on the dirty floor, you began to wrap him up, hearing a small muttering of gratitude as you tied it off.

“Any more bad ones?” you didn’t dare to look up and see the way he was melting against the table, trying to regain the ability to breathe.

“I don’t know, I don’t think so,” he exhaled, “one of them got my leg pretty good, so that hurts like a motherfucker, but I don’t think it’s that bad.”

You craned your neck to search for the aforementioned wound and found it high on the side of his thigh, cargo pants ripped giving you a good view of it, “oof, yeah,” you hissed, pulling back some of the fabric with your fingers, “it’ll be okay, I think. It will properly scar, but you’ll live.”

“That’s fine,” he breathed out a small chuckle, “chicks dig scars.” That they fucking do… okay, okay, just take a breath, think about something else, anything else. Anything that didn’t make you throb… “Thanks, doc,” you blinked up to find him to be already looking down at you, “what about you?”

“I’m okay,” you shifted in your seat, tugging one of your feet under you more and almost letting out a small gasp when it felt like pure electricity brushing against your covered core. “I, um, yeah… ten fingers, ten toes…” your words didn’t work to unfurrow his worried brow, so then you huffed out, “what, do you not believe me? What do you want, strip search me?”

It had been a joke, but judging by Steve’s facial expression, that was not how he took it.

Quickly you clarified, averting your gaze, “it was a joke…”

Hearing him let out a long, calm exhale, he asked you softly, “was it?”

Shaking your head lightly, “Steve…”

“Yeah?” you felt one of his fingers move some hair out of your face.

Blinking up at him, you bit your lip and then uttered slowly, “thanks for having my back, back there.”

“You’re welcome,” he kneeled down to be at your level, “thank you for having mine.”

His hands came up to cradle the sides of your face, eyes flickering down towards your bitten lip.

As he pushed closer, you rested a hand on his wrist, “please tell me that we’re not just doing this because of the kind of day we’ve had.”

“We’re not,” he said simply in a sure tone.

“We’re not?”

“I’m not,” he averted his gaze briefly, brow furrowing softly.

“Me neither,” was all you managed to whisper before he kissed you. “Fuck,” you whimpered against his lips, instantly clinging onto him for dear life, “I didn’t think you noticed me.”

That only managed to make him chuckle and therefore halt the long-awaited kiss, “seriously? I can’t take my eyes off of you. I thought it was obvious. Literally everyone knows, they tease me about it and everything.”

“Really?”

“I think we should find some glasses for you because you are blind.”

“Shut up,” you giggled, shoving his firm chest playfully.

“Can you even see me right now?” he teased.

“Oh my god,” you shook your head and stood up.

“Hey, you’d look so cute!” he caught your hand, preventing you from straying any further away, “and you would finally be able to notice me.”

“I do notice you,” you exclaimed, “my vision is fine!”

Getting back up onto his feet, he squinted his eyes, “you sure about that?”

“Yes! Now shut up and kiss me again!” a request that he happily obliged to fulfil.

Draping your arms around his neck, it didn’t take long before he scooped you up and onto the table behind you.

“Fuck,” he hummed, grabbing your hips, and sliding them forward to meet his own for some form of relief. You weren’t really sure which one of you was the one that took off your clothes since all four hands were ripping at the fabric in order for you to be on the same playing field as Steve was.

The wiry hairs on his chest pressed up against your now exposed tits, smooching them against him in desperate need of contact.

“Don’t you fucking dare cum inside me,” you warned as he unzipped your pants, making room for his fingers to slip down them, “I swear I will kill.”

Finding your panties ruined, soaked with anticipation, he groaned against your lips, “I’ll pull out.”

“Good,” you gasped, eyes fluttering as he rubbed your clit through the thin cotton, “this world is hard enough to survive as it is. You are not knocking me up.”

“I know, I know, I won’t do that, I promise,” his words vowed, but his tone sounded more like there was nothing else in this whole world he’d wish for than to fill your aching pussy up to the brim with his cum.

Wrapping your legs up around his hips, you were practically clawing like a kitten for more. Reaching down, between your close bodies, you palmed his painfully obvious bulge through his dark pants.

Wandering down to kiss his neck, you left little love marks all along his rapid pulse, “Steve…”

“Yeah?” it felt like the barrier underneath his fingers might break from the intoxicating friction he caused.

“Please fuck me before infected break in here and burst our bubble.”

Getting his face right in front of yours, he breathed out slowly, “then lie down.”

Lowering yourself down on the table, feeling the cold surface meet your bare back, Steve used the hand that was already down your pants to yank them down and off your body.

Quickly pulling your underwear down as well, he took a step back to admire the state you were in. Palming himself for a bit, it didn’t take long before he got equally exposed, keeping his eyes locked on your body as he rid himself of the last bits of clothes that covered him.

Propping yourself up onto your elbows, half out of impatience and half to get a better view of the show, you lifted your knees up, letting one fall, granting him better access to the embarrassingly wet mess between your thighs.

Taking a step forward, Steve’s hand started at your knee then slowly slid down, closer and closer to your throbbing cunt. But to your disappointment, you never felt the contact of his hand, instead, he had spread you open and successfully sent a bolt of lightning through your body as his heavy cock fell down upon your swollen clit.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this,” he slid his shaft along your pussy, parting your plump lips for him and making him shimmer and shine within seconds, “you’re so fucking wet, shit…”

With light fingers around the base, he slapped the angry head against your clit, making your hips buckle. “You sure you want it?”

“Yes, yes, fuck, yes, please,” you cried.

“You want my cock, huh?”

“Please, I need it.”

“Oh really? You need my big dick to stretch you out, is that it?” he stated to linger every time he came down towards your entrance, “need me to ruin this little hole, huh?”

Sinking just the essence of his tip in, he came back up to tease your clit, repeating the motion multiple times till you were scared that you might actually cry.

“Steve, please.”

Bowing down to place a soft kiss upon your lips, you felt his hips snap and fill you up in one fell swoop.

Disconnecting from the peck, your arms gave out and sent you tumbling down towards the table. Luckily, Steve’s quick reflexes caught your head before you could get a concussion.

Chuckling lightly, he mocked just to stroke his own ego, “what’s wrong? Can’t take it? Is it too much?”

You wanted to laugh, but all that could escape your lips were whimpering moans.

Leaning back, his mouth hung agape as he studied the magic trick of him disappearing inside of you.

“Jesus christ, baby,” he bucked his hips wildly, “you feel so good.”

“Steve,” you breathed out shakily, as you reached down to circle your clit, already being dangerously close to the edge.

“What?” his palm found your left boob, playing with it lightly, “what is it, huh?

“I’m-, shit, keep doing that,” you struggled to keep your eyes locked with his, releasing shaky profanities as your walls fluttered around him.

Cursing, he fucked you through your orgasm, only giving you a second or so to recover before he began to move again, fearing that your cunt might choke him to death.

“Who knew you had those pretty sounds in you?” he grinned, bending down to bury his face in your tits.

“Sorry,” the reflex rushed out of you.

“Oh no, don’t you dare,” he blinked up to look at you through his long lashes, “we’re all alone, please be as loud as you can. I swear, from now on, you will have to wrestle me not to take you somewhere far away from the group just so I can hear them again. Or do you think you’d even be able to keep them at bay if I just fucked you while we’re on watch and everyone else is asleep? You think you’d be able to keep quiet for me? Hiding behind a tree or even sneakily take you from behind when everyone else thinks we’re just spooning for warmth? Because I don’t want you to. I want them to know. I want them to hear you fucking scream. To hear how much of a little slut you become when my cock is inside of you.”

“Fuck, don’t stop,” your thighs shook, “you’re gonna make me cum again!”

“Yeah?” his lips let go of the pebble-like nipple he was successfully turning a deep purple, to lean back, driving into you harder, angling his hips so that he repeatedly hit that spot that almost made you scream out loud. “Be a good girl and cum again,” his hand came down to tap your puffy pussy, repeating it with increased force every time till it stung in the best way possible.

You didn’t even hear the lewd squelching sounds as you came again, too busy sobbing out desperately, “don’t stop, don't stop, don't stop-,“ trembling as you squirted all over your partner.

Writhing on the table, you heard Steve laugh, actually laugh, “holy shit,” he played with your cunt, repeatedly plunging his dick in just to rip it out again in order to see how many times he could make it gush like his own little fountain. “Just like that, baby, keep cumming for me, fuck.”

Somewhere in the haze, you felt Steve disappear with a guttural moan, only to quickly reappear right by your face, furiously stroking his cock. Caressing one palm over your cheek, bringing you back to him, you lulled your head to the side and drunkenly opened your mouth, presenting your soft tongue to him.

Jumping at the offer, he only managed to breach the entrance of your lips before he spilt his hot load all over your tongue. A pure moaning mess, he ran his fingers through your hair as you closed your mouth around him, sucking just the tip to get every last drop.

“Atta girl,” he choked out, pulling you off of him with a small pop, placing his thumb on your chin to part your lips and let him see the mess, “swallow it.”

Happily doing so, you beamed up at him through your heavy lids. Kneeling down, he grabbed your face softly and gave you a needy kiss, swiping his tongue against yours, moaning as he tasted himself.

“Fuck, you’re amazing,” he swooned, melting his forehead against yours.

#lea’s writing #steve harrington x fem!reader #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington smut #stranger things smut #zombie apocalypse!steve harrington #stranger things imagine #stranger things x reader #perv!steve #perv!steve harrington #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x y/n #zombie apocalypse au #zombie au #apocalypse au #halloween smut #steve harrington au #stranger things au

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greeenchrysanthemums · 3 months

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@thatlesbainmushroom and @jjlovesgoodies (hope you don't mind the tags, I was not sure how else to make sure you seen this<3) both said yes to hearing about my roomies zombie au, so here it is!! Though, I must admit that it is more of a half-baked idea than a fully thought out au. I'm not sure if I will ever actually write it, so it's free game with credit.

I suppose a TW is required before you read any further. It is a zombie au, so it is pretty grim. Mentions of death, blood, injury, and other apocalypse typical things.

Etho and Cleo were college roommates before everything went to shit. Cleo was a graphic design and arts student in her fourth year, while Etho was an engineering student in his second year. They have been together since the start, and were actually in their dorm room when the chaos started. Bdubs used to be with them, but they lost track of him (and his horse) months ago. They assume he is dead.

Grian was a first year architect student from a few towns over. His group consisted of his roommates, Jimmy and Joel, along with his work friend, Scar.

None of them had ever used a gun before the apocalypse, so it is none of their preferred weapon. Cleo has a baseball bat, Grian has a knife, and Etho has a machete. Etho and Grian both carry handguns but rarely use them. Cleo knows how to use a gun but does not carry one and would have to be in mortal danger to be convinced to use it.

Cleo is immune to the bite, something they found out at the beginning because a classmate had bitten her and she never turned. Though, this immunity would not hold any narrative weight. The world has fallen apart, there wouldn't be anyone left to try to find a cure from her anyway. They are just focused on surviving and trying to keep each other safe.

However, because of her immunity, she does take risks that Etho doesn't/can't. She used to be a real softy, not much a fighter who was all bark no bite, but she would do anything to protect Etho. She has many scars, from bites and scratches, because of this reckless behavior.

It would start with Grian having just been separated from his group and he's been wandering around the remains of a big city looking for them. He eventually gets overwhelmed by a hoard and ends up cornered in an alley, where he is then saved by Etho, who kills the zombies and offers to bring him back to his camp.

Grian says no and tells him he has to keep looking for his group, but Etho is persistent. Grian caves and agrees to go with him when Etho offers to help look for his missing friends; no strings attached.

The group traverses the remains of the burning world together for several months looking for Grian's group and slowly getting to know each other. Etho and Cleo share information freely, but Grian is more reserved. He only answers simple questions about his past. They barley know anything about this group they are trying to find. Instead of opening up as the months' pass by, he actually becomes more and more reserved.

He keeps asking why they keep helping him when they have no obligation to do so, especially since he's given them next to no information or reason to trust him, and they say why not? They don't have anything better to do than lend him a helping hand.

Grian leads them more and more northwest as time goes on, telling them that he was told to head in this direction to meet back up with his group, but still, they find no trace of them.

Around 6-7 months into traveling together, the group do a supply run in a mall that they thought was safe and end up getting trapped inside with no way out after Grian brings some kind of a display/structure down on top of himself on accident and it attracts a hoard that was hidden away out of sight.

They are very low on ammo, Etho was bit while getting Grian out from under the display, Grian was injured by the accident, and they're all too exhausted and malnourished to fight. They make it into a staff area, but there's no exit that they see, so they barricade the door. It is only a matter of time before the hoard breaks through.

Sitting inside of the small room, Grian admits to them that his group was already dead and had been for a while. He tells them that he had actually been ready to die that day Etho found him. He felt bad letting Etho's kindness (which was a rarity in this dying world) go to waste, so he went along with it.

He was just along for the ride at first, leading them on a wild goose chase while waiting for a chance to leave them, but then he grew to care for them. He never thought he would find friends again in a world like this, but, somehow, he did. They gave him a purpose, a reason to keep going. They made him want to live again. They made him happy. They made him laugh; something so simple and yet so important.

He didn't want them to leave him behind once they found out the truth, so he'd kept lying to them and pretending like he was still searching so that they would have a reason to keep helping him, a reason to have him around.

He was closing himself off all that time in an attempt to hold onto the one good thing in his life. He tells them that he's sorry, that he loves them, and that he's scared.

Cleo and Etho say they don't care that he's been lying, and that he's just as important to them as they are to him. They say that whatever happens next, they'll do it together.

And then in my mind it would end somewhat ambiguously/open ended as the zombie's break through.

#grian #zombiecleo #ethoslab #the roomies #secret life roomies #secret life #hermitcraft #I had it in my mind that they would call the zombies “boogies” as a reference to the boogie man curse #but i was worried people might find too silly XD #in my mind bdubs is still alive somewhere #found and taken in by the mounders I imagine #and they eventually meet back up with him if the ending is a good one #cw: death #implied death #zombie apocalypse #apocalypse au #if you want a happy ending then they use the rest of their ammo to hold off the zombies #and are able to find a way out in time and it turns out that etho is also immune #or if you want sad but not too sad they make it out but etho is not immune so he grows sick #and he dies after a heartfelt goodbye and grian + Cleo burry him somewhere nice #or a more realistic ending to the situation they ended up in they die in each others arms #really it can go any way that you want #tell me if i should tag this as anything else!#oh also as for the “display” I wasn't sure how to explain it #I am imagining some sort of gazebo/stall that he kicks the support beam of thinking it is secure #and it comes down on top of him #but my words are not the best

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buckrecs · 1 year

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heyyy !!! can i get multiple recs for bucky x reader but it's set during an apocalypse :P

Apocalypse AU

masterlist | req masterlist

Awake My Soul by @foreverindreamlandd

It's been five years since zombies first started walking the Earth, destroying anything and everything in their wake. Now, in this apocalyptic world, fighting for survival comes as naturally as breathing. The one thing you've learned ever since they arrived, though, is that the living can be so much more dangerous than the undead. When you stumble across two young, scared boys lost in the woods and being chased by walkers, you go against your better judgment and help them to safety. Little did you know that helping them would lead you to Bucky - an angry, grumpy, distrusting member of the camp Shield. Bucky has zero interest in having you enter his life. He's been hurt before and lost too many people to risk experiencing that kind of pain again, and he knows that there are secrets you aren't telling the group. Yet, when push comes to shove, and you're put at risk, he'll stop at nothing to keep you safe.

Long Enough by @urvenicebtch

living in a tent with him was risky from the start, but you never expected tonight to be the night.

Time (D)rift by @darkficsyouneveraskedfor

The end has come and gone as you keep waiting for your own.

It’s A Cruel World by @revengingbarnes

In the destroyed post apocalyptic world, the reader saves a group from getting eaten alive by the undead. In turn, they offer her to join them. She would have said no, but the blue, trusting eyes of a certain brunette were too hard to resist.

Imagine by @vanderlustwords

reader gets bit and they either must find a cure quickly or accept what they have to do.

#bucky barnes fic rec #bucky barnes x reader #bucky barnes x y/n #bucky barnes x you #bucky barnes x f!reader #bucky barnes smut #winter soldier x reader #bucky barnes series #bucky barnes oneshot #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes apocalypse au #bucky barnes zombie au #dark!bucky #soft dark!bucky #bucky barnes angst #bucky barnes fluff #bucky barnes x agent!reader

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daryldixonfanfiction · 7 months

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What You Fight For pt.1 -Suck-ass camp!

masterlist

Summary: with no hope of saving the prison against the Governor, Daryl has to resume the fight for survival. Protecting Julia (a 20-year-old woodberry-girl) bak into the cruel world of the walking dead.

Warnings: age gape, twd stuff, swearing, angst, Daryl losing his sh!t, mentions of underage drinking.

wc: 9,8k

The blazing midday sun shone upon the fears battlefield.

Daryl fiers upon walkers, killing one with the but of his rifle. Approaching the tank he drops a hand grenade swiftly into it, single handedly taking it down.

"Grinade!" The man yells, jumping down.

The tank explodes, flames erupt through the top. Holding out one of his hands, silent, the man pleads for mercy. Only a cold stare with darkening blue eyes bore into him. Swishing sound of the bolt is released, piercing his heart, making him fall to the ground. Daryl holds his gaze on the body, blankly staring as his home crumbles before his eyes.

How did it all go so wrong

"Daryl"! A woman's voice yells from behind, heridly with a girl close on her heel.

"Marlene...You good"? Daryl questions, gaze falling on the bleeding wound on her side.

"I was gonna take her myself but I won't make it anywhere like this, not for a while anyway. So now I'm asking you to do it." Marlene said with pained breaths.

The girl's eyes widened at her words.

"Take her?...where...?" Daryl questions.

"There's a team of French scientists waiting for her. I know what you're capable of, Daryl."

Daryl's face drops slightly.

What is he capable of?

"You'll keep her safe. Take this map, bring her to this facility". Marlene hands Daryl a map with the location already marked.

Dr. Jenner's words flashes, "It was the French. They thought they were close to a solution".

Daryl glansess at the girl, trying to comprehend the odd information. It didn't make much sense to him. Why hasn't she said anything about this before? What's the reason for not sharing it to the council?

...

They had never talked, but Daryl knew who she was.

How could't he.

All the men were nuts for her. Daryl didn't pay the girl any attention, just cast a few glances to see what the fuss was about. Not liking girls was not the case, he just never really thought about them in that way. Always busy with keeping people 'safe and fed,' he told himself. Really Daryl was just insecure, afraid only believing people couldn't like him or were scared of him. Making himself think girls were just a bother.

She never really stood out, keeping to herself, only close to Marlene or that guy he wasn't sure was a friend or boyfriend. Often she was surrounded by children, playing, reading and telling stories they loved. The children adored the girl. In their eyes she was their sun, giving light this world had taken from them. They made her smile, that radiant smile, making her dimples show. And her voice. Don't forget about that damned siren voice of hers. Perhaps that was why all the men got nuts? Daryl didn't really know anything about singing, he often heard Beth or Magi sing. It was nothing compared to hers, hers was angellike. She could make babies fall asleep, soothe them instantly and lure men to their deaths if so desired.

Not Daryl, he never got distracted.

If not with the children she did landrie, washing and hanging them on those sunny days before most had woken up. Perhaps she did it on purpose, not wanting to interact with others. Daryl always went out hunting in the early mornings, he could hear her hum those soothing melodies. He often listened, in secret passing by the laundry, hanging like curtains, shielding her from view. Only hums of melodic tunes could be heard. Daryl was quick about it only passing through careful not to be notist. That one time he stayed just a bit longer, he drifted away in the melodies, warm as a summer breeze, captivating like the deepest sunseat. It made Daryl feel soothed, just like those children did. He knocks over a barrel scaring the girl away, almost blowing his cover.

...

As she stood before him close to Marlene, Daryl couldn't help but notice the frightened look in her eyes. As if seeing this world for the first time, the raw reality of it all, not fully comprehending the prison was no more. Maybe she had been shielded from it back in Woodbury?

Daryl shifts his gaze back to Marlene.

"Rick and the others would have wanted this and you know it". Marlene pleads as her hand squeezes her side (She was desperate).

There was nothing left for him here. They're all gone. Just gone.

"What about the kids"? The girl frantically asks Marlene.

"Beth and the others know to take the bus if things go south, they'll make it". Marlene reassured her.

"Things go south, everyone heads for that bus. Let everybody know". Daryl remembered telling Sasha and Tyrese just moments ago.

They were gone too.

"I know you're thinking it through but please remember i'm bleeding out", Marlene urges, sensing his hesitation.

But then..Daryl nods and Marlene nods bak. It was settled.

"Really that fast?", the girl looks between them, confused and scared at the same time. Making Daryl glans at her again.

"I can't leave you!" She pleaded with Marlene.

Never had she experienced this world outside woodbury or the prison. The news of Marlene not going with her like she said she wolde, frightened her terribly. Daryl was someone she didn't really know. Could she trust him? If Marlene did, perhaps she should too?

" Julia. You are all that matters. Remember what I told you"? Marlene answered with a firm gaze.

"Yes' ', Julia answers, nodding with tears in her eyes, warning to fall down her cheeks. Because she knew, knew she would have to leave Marlene behind. She was the only one Julia really thrusted, (the one who knew her secret).

Marlene; You cannot tell anyone of this. Because if you do... I assure you.. You will die...

"Now both of you go. Now. I'll cover you", Marlene hurriedly says urging her forward to Daryl. Hesitantly Julia moves next to him, sharing a lingering look with Marlene who holds out her gun, taking out walkers coming their way.

"Daryl." "One more thing". "You protect her with your life". "You hear me. " Marlene tells him with her firm, serious voice. Daryl only stares back with a stern face.

Julia's eyes drift up towards Daryl's face as he urges her.

"C'mon." "We got to go."

Daryl proceeds when she doesn't answer, grabbing her wrist and drags her away.

She struggles in his grip shouting as her feet drag along the ground.

"No, no!" "We are not leaving her! Get off me.. please!" "I'm not going with You!"

But seeing Marlene gaze after them she gives in, meeting her gaze one last time, a woman she would like to call a friend. She wasn't worth it she thought, but Marlene did, Marlene thought she was worth something.

They sprint as hard as they can into the woods ahead, escaping, leaving the prison in ruins, the undead comes in every angel, snarling and groaning after their flesh. She follows his every move and turn, avoiding the reaching hands trying to pull them in. Never before had she experienced such horror. Truly she was terrified.

Suddenly the undead were everywhere, surrounding her, giving her no way of escape. Not long goes by before a swishing sound sings in the air, a bolt hits bullseye in the walkers head, then hitting the next one with the body of the crossbow, the third walker approaching snarls, Daryl kicks it in it's abdomen making it stumble bak, giving him just the nick of time to direct her for the gape.

"Don't look back!" "Just keep going, I'll cover you!" Dary yells, pushing her ahed before him as they keep on running deeper into the woods. Heart pounding against their rib cages, breaths panting, as the feeling of adrenaline moves through their veins. Leaves crunch beneath their feet, the wind shifts whistling thru trees, taking away the foul stench from the walkers.

Upon a field, cutting off the forest behind them, Daryl keeps on glancing back, making sure they've lost them. The undead were nowhere to be seen. Pushing through the thick greenery scratching their skin they stop for just a moment, catching their breaths before hurriedly looking back continuing to grow their distance from the dead.

"She's shore is fast for someone with short legs like hers '', Daryl thought, appreciating the pace.

Finally they stop, throwing themselves on the ground, exhausted, gasping for air. Laying upon the dry grass next to one another, Daryl with his hand holding a bolt resting against his forehead and the other spread out to the side with his crossbow next to him, he closed his eyes, cashing his breath. She laid with both of her arms spread out from her sides, staring into the sky not really believing she was really out here. The evening sun cast long shadows on the ground. The slanting rays of the sun gave a warm orange tint upon the overgrown greenery while birds above decorated the sky.

Julias Diary:

Hey. I know it's been awhile. I'm gonna be honest, I forgot about you.

After the turn, It was as if the world crumbled beneath my feet. But something happened. something good. Finally,

Marlene thinks the prison can become our new home after woodberry.

I can't believe I got my own bed. My own bed in my own room. And I've been keeping the scar hidden. Haven't told a soul.

I've been afraid to get my hopes up, thinkin we can actually stay here.

The thing is, I've been starting to get afraid that it's easier just to be afraid. But this morning Marlene said something. "If you don't have hope, what's the point of living?"

And I'm gonna write this down now, because you should write down wishes to make them come true.

We can live here. We can live here for the rest of our lives.

...

They never went to sleep that night -They couldn't. Orange hue glowed from the small fire between them, being the only source of light in the forest, dancing against their skin. Sounds of insects hummed as crackling snapped. For a long time they were quiet, thinking of what was lost.

Staring into the flames the light of hope within her still sparked. When all seems lost the optimistic trait often took over, not allowing her to lose hope. The hope some have survived.

It couldn't be just them.

But when she looked upon him across the fire, he was sitting there, blankly staring, body slouching, heavy arms resting on his knees -And she wondered what haunted his mind. Like contemplating the edge of the universe. Something told her what he was truly thinking. The prison -She did too. But they had to do something.

His chest felt hollowed out, body heavy, staring into the fire as he drifted away- Tired from being tired, tired from running all day, no food, no sleep. He wished it did not feel so painful inside of himself. Wished he did not feel so lost believing they others were gone. But now the quiet was the loudest thing of all, as if he nearly melted into the dancing flames of the fire, drifting away with the current of sorrows. He had failed them, letting it all happen, he should have done something differently.

Maybe they would be alive then.

Losing them made the world lose its color. Everything felt dull, meningles, leaving a bad taste on his tongue. Nothing could fill that void within his heart, instead filling it with numbness, fading into the same nothingness as night itself.

We can't just sit here.

"We should do something", Julia croaked, speaking her mind, looking ahead towards Daryl. It falls on deaf ears. Just sitting there in his own thoughts.

Please don't tell me he's given up.

"We should do something", she repeated with more strength in her tone, finally getting his attention.

Daryl lifted his head, slowly.

He meets her desperate eyes, as she gauges him after any sign of hope, it's all gone, making her desperate to keep on. She had to.

"We aren't the only survivors." "We can't be.'' "Rick and Michonne". "They could be out here." "Maggie and Glenn could have made it out of A block." She spoke with optimism.

He lowered his gaze upon his hands resting against his knees with the same doleful face.

"they could've", she insisted, shaking her head heavily in disbelief of the thought they didn't make it.

She knew he wasn't going to answer her with his eyes set on the fire. Staring and staring.

...Silence...then...

"You're a tracker." "You can track." Julia insisted, standing on her feet, still looking at him.

Daryl said nothing.

"Come on." her voice higher pitched, becoming desperate with his no response.

"The sun will be up soon." "If we head out now, we can.." She stops mid sentence, frustration growing before she throws a mini temper, responding to his silence.

He seemed to ignore her so easily, as if she wasn't even there.

"Fine!" "If you won't track, I will!" She exclaimed, walking forward, taking his hunting knife beside him, turning on her heel, stomping away to the opposite direction further in the forest.

Daryl ignored her pleads, hoping she would just give up. She had to realize all hope was lost, and it would be stupid, dangerous to track in the dark. Looking up as Julia disappears into the dark forest, he knows he has to follow. That girl was blinded by her innocence of the world, so sure they could find them. But could he blame her for thinking so?

Her innocence would do more harm than good, Daryl believed, putting the fire out with his bot, going after her as he breathed a deep sigh.

This girl is going to be the death of me.

....

Dawn brings light into the forest, welcoming another day. The morning sun ignites the green colors with such life. Rays of gold shone between nut-brown tree trunks, birds sang their morning songs and insects hummed, filling their silence with its life.

Daryl knells down, brushing dried leaves of some muddied footprints, studying it. He knew it to be of someone but no hope was rising within. Manny walker tracks could be seen making the person's survival slim. It felt pointless to track for people who would probably be dead and likely walkers by now. Regardless, he did it anyway. And why? Daryl didn't really know. Blowing the last leaves away, revealing the footprints, bigger ones: adult. And a smaller one: most likely child.

"Could be Luke's. Or Molly's." "whoever they are, it means they're alive." Julia said, locking behind his shoulder.

"No..". "This means they were alive four or five hours ago." Daryl answers bitterly. Sleep deprived as he was, his voice sounded more deep and rougher than usual.

When can this man stop being so grumpy

"There alive,'' Julia snaps back, stomping ahead, following the tracks.

Daryl watched her walk away as he tiredly stood to full height, leaving a deep sigh going after her, agin.

A dirt road leads them on. Walking a few feet in front of Daryl, Julia looks desperately for any signs for more tracks. Julia wasn't much of a tracker herself, therefore finding it difficult. That didn't stop her from trying. How hard could it be? She keeps on looking, knife tight in her hand. Julia felt silly caring such a big weapon, really she had never used one before, never needed to. But it made her feel safe. Daryl never asked for it bak, as if wanting her to keep it. He could hold his own with his crossbow, she was safer that way, he believed.

Slowly studying the ground a faint trace of someone feeding on wild grapes from the bushes beside the dirt road could be seen, with more tracks following it. Daryl stops, pointing it out to Julia.

"They picked up the pace right here." Daryl Moshend with his hand, towards it. "Got out in a hurry. "Things went bad..." He trails off, as if thinking the rest in his head. Perhaps learning from earlier, (her dislike for his no-support approach).

"Wouldn't kill you to have a little faith." Julia spoke as she felt his stubernes, to think like she did. They would find them if they just tried hard enough. She hoped so.

"Yeah, faith..." "Faith ain't done shit for us."Sure as hell didn't do nothing for that friend of yours." Daryl spoke bluntly.

When that last sentence left his mouth Daryl immediately was filled with regret. Fuck, he shoulde never have spoken. Daryl couldn't help it, he was not good with words.

Julia flinched, visibly, eyes widened and round as she whirls facing him of the mentioning of Marlene.

Her chest tensed to such bluntness. Julia glares at him with 'I can't believe you said that', look. Her lips stretch in a straight line swallowing down the rising hurt and frustration.

He must have noticed her look in her eyes, because he looked at her with eyes that decisive his cruel words. He did not apologize, she didn't expect him to, knowing somewhere within, he was herting to. So she averted her eyes, facing away from him, breaking that awkward silence between them, holstering the knife in her belt. Acting like they never had spoken, busying herself with picking wild grapes opposite to where he stands still at the trace he pointed out.

Daryl didn't dare to say another word, afraid to cause more harm.

Silence.. then

"They'll be hungry when we find them", voice strained, she was obviously hurt.

Julia didn't wanna think of such a possibility, that Marlene died saving her that day , the hope of no one surviving hurt even more. She desired for it to be different. Holding onto hope and denying any other beliefs. And she was frightened. Frightened of a life which entails the world was cruel and unsparing for any good to exist.

Daryl pondered on what to do, he knew he went too far. Apologizing... He didn't really know how to. Thinking of what she just said, he pulls out his black bandana out of his back pocket, gently tapping her arm with it. Perhaps an attempt at an apology?

Like a scolded child he looked down, ashamed, not daring to make eye contact. Feeling undeserving to do so. She takes it from his outstretched arm, meeting his gaze awkwardly then looks down on the bandana, filling it with the grapes. Daryl watched her for a moment before ending it with a quick node.

Daryl sighs, relieved the tense moment had passed.

Motioning with his crossbow to keep on, she hesitates at first, washing him scan the trees with his back towards her a couple feet ahead. Seeing her approach he leads them on.

A snaky path leads them further. Daryl scans the ground like it's second nature; he stops, observing a leaf covered in something. It didn't seem like a good sign by the face he made. Notesting his quietnes, Julia asks.

"what"?

Daryl shakes his head,"That ain't walker blood", In knowing, but he held back, not sounding blunt nor cruel as before.

Inexperienced as she was, the optimism didn't budge. It was just blood, didn't mean they were gone. Meaby she thought if no bodies were found, they would still be alive somewhere.

Two killed walkers laid on the ground. The undead gave her chills down her spine, not used to such terrifying monster yeat. Walking past the walkers she said optimistically.

"The trail keeps going". "They fought them off-.

"No". "Got walker tracks all up and down here". "At least a dozen of them", Daryl casually answered, pointing to the killed walkers on the ground, meaning these two were not the only ones chasing them.

The realization more walkers could be close lurking somewhere, her stomach drops, fear pricks her chest, anxiety burns like a lump stuck in her throat. With wide round eyes she looks for any signs of danger. Daryl turns around facing the opposite direction, eyes still fixed on the walkers tracks, unfazed, as if such horror did not frighten him.

silence ...

A twig snaps

She turns hastily, unsheathing the knife in a death grip. Hair wipes in the air, feeling something -something lurking, but can't pinpoint where. As her eyes darted around in panic, her heart drums hundred miles per hour, hair stands up in the nap of her neck, sensing a horror drawing near.

Without them knowing, a walker sneks towards them. Daryl never heard that twig snap, unknowing, too far to notice. Its decaying body slowly stumbles, dragging its rotten feet forward on the leaf covered ground.

Cold hands grab from behind, startling her. Yelps leave Julia as she struggles in its hold. With its spitty hiss and painful snarls and its teeth close, almost biting into her soft flesh. Werling around panicked, struggling profusely to get out from its painful grip, holding onto her arms. Daryl didn't even flinch. Perfectly responsive as ever with both the mindspace of precision and focus. Acting upon pure instinct Daryl engages with fast feet, aiming his crossbow swiftly, for a good shot to its brain. But the walker was terribly close to biting her now. Throwing the crossbow to the ground with haste, he reaches for his hunting knife, no longer there on his hipe. Right. She has it. Grabbing the walker by the fabric on its back. Daryl yanks it to the ground with a grunt, pining it, with him on top, holding it there with his body weight. She stumbles back a bit off the release from the monster's iron hold. Daryl's arms flex in the struggle, with know weapon in hand to finish it off. Julia looks towards Daryl, seeing the struggle there. Picking up the knife she dropped just a moment ago Julia hurriedly passed it to him from behind, shakingly. Daryl nods quickly in approval, taking it and stabs the walker.

With the knife embedded in its skull the walker turns limp under him. He pushes it away, as if feeling disgusted by it while painting heavily. Reshoring her of the quick thinking he gives a nod, 'you did good'. Standing to full height he gives the walker a quick glance, reshoring its dead before picking up his crossbow.

He breathes a heavy breath of relief as adrenaline pumps through him, awakening every cell in his body, giving the aftertaste of an adrenaline rush. As if this was something that happens, a normal thing.

Still in shock Julia couldn't speak a word. After all, this was the second time a walker came this close, grabbing her like that, and its teeth so terrifying close to her skin. Really, she thought she was about to die. Julia knew she was immune, but being eaten alive would still kill her. Baby hairs were all over, some longer strands falling in her face, others sticking to her neck while some moved against her breaths. Looking upon Daryl reaching down for his crossbow, Julia only stares, uneasy on her feet, waiting for him to make the next move.

Stepping over the walker with the crossbow in one hand the other swinging to his side as he jerked his head to the side, making strands of hair move from his eyes as he told her.

"Come on", in a grunt-like way. Walking past her with long strides, following the trail. His voice always sounded like that. Deep and rumbling, low in his chest.

Without hesitation Julia follows close, leaving now three dead walkers behind.

....

The edge of the forest was behind them, standing along a railroad, close beside one another. The afternoon sun cast its soft light, shadows outstretched upon the ground setting the scene. Julia would have said it looked beautiful, but the walkers feasting upon fresh corpse in the distance, the sight only felt sorrowful. For a moment, their eyes were set, staring and staring, hearing the undead devourer on the railroad tracks, in knowing. A pained look in Daryls face takes in the sight, knowing the ugly truth he knew all along. It hurt more seeing it, a hard pill to swallow.

Sounds of bolts swish in the air, one after another. Daryl takes care of the walkers, ending the last one with his bare hands, piercing its head then pulls it out, retrieving the bolt. Bones and ripped flesh remain, organs no longer where they belong, ripped out. A cruel sight for eyes like hers. It didn't feel real, nothing really did anymore. Never had Julia seen such horror, such gore. Shifting on her feet, frozen in place, rocking slightly, feeling nauseous, slowly taking it in.

And then she sees it....Judith shoe. Daryl ses it too -He knows, walking past her onto the tracks.

Pain burns her chest leading up her throat, tightening it. She tries to inhale - tries to breathe. Hoping for the air to simply stay in her chest. It doesn't. She can't move, can't believe it all. Her feet are uneasy. She tries to hold it in, she fails. Trying to press back the tears burning her eyes but they refuse to obey. They're falling one by one, making her cheeks wetter and wetter, silver lining them. And they keep on cuming as she weeps. It was all too much.

Daryl hears Julias sobs. It pains him deeply, to see the truth crush such a pure soul as hers. It wasn't right, nothing was anymore, she was too young for this world. Looking back he knows the pain she feels, but Daryl doesnt cry, he never really did. Onely moshens with his head to keep on. She doesn't follow. He knew she wouldn't, he couldn't really expect her to. As he stands ahead, upon the train tracks, shoulders hanging like he carried the world and his head hangs in a melancholy manner.

Her heart must be crushed.

He knew that feeling all too well. His, has been all along.

Looking back on her again he sees her there, crying, standing before the bodies. Daryl couldn't do anything, he just let her cry. He wasn't really ok, believing he would never see them again.

People from Woodbury were never going to make it outside the prison walls. They weren't capable of defending nor taking care of themselve. Sume of them were sick and the children were too little. They were never meant to survive.

He knew, he knew.

Dragging her feet along the tracks, close behind, stepping on the planks, one after another. She kept her head low, staring down. They didn't speak, It was better that way. No words felt right anyway.

She understood now.

Surviving is never beautiful, it's not heroic like they tell you in fairytales or movies. It's dirty, it's tears streaming down your face and sobbing in a dark corner. It's filth and blood on your hands and in your face as fear and numbness consumes you.

....

Night had fallen, black clouds covered the sky-not a star to be seen. The trees shook their leaves, dancing with the wind. The breeze had become colder, chilling her a bit, making goosebumps cover the skin. Julia had no idea what she was doing here, in the middle of the woods, with a man she had no choice but to trust. But she did, in the hopes of bringing her to these people that would somehow make a cure. They haven't really spoken about it, not at all in fact. Too much had happened neither did he aske. Was he even gonna help her? She didn't know, didn't have the courage to do so. He had kept her safe this far making it feel too much to ask such a thing.

Sorrowful silence consumed them, flames of red, transitioning to orange and yellow flickers. Dying branches and twigs gasped for their last breaths before tumbling into the ashes. Julia wondered what he thought about when he looked into the fire that way. With somber eyes, holding the motion of the ocean, dark circles under them with slanting inner eyebrows as if in deep thought. His face was solid and drained. She knows he must have felt more than words could say.

The quiet was loud again, torturing him inside as he fed the hungry flames, tosing sticks into it. Sitting opposite to her across the fire, legs crossed with one arm holding his weight, hand flat on the ground behind him. The gaze in the midst of fire and flames, but his mind was far away.

Anyone he gets close to always dies. What did he expect? He did not deserve such luxury, he never did and never will. They had not slept for almost 2 nights, Daryl felt the toll it took on them. No food except a handful of grapes, no water, only sleep deprived and drained. Nothing could fill the void in his chest, filling him to the brim with its numbness. Rick and the others were more of a family he ever had growing up, without them he lost his way. Daryl needed to feel needed, have people depend on him, something worth coming back to, to fight for. The sense of belonging, the sense of worth was all something he craved. Once again he was nothing, nobody. But then he had promised Marlene to keep her safe, he would, he always keeps his word, always. He did feel doubtful, he was nothing like Rick, a born leader, good with all the things he wasn't. Maybe that was why he admired him so, always there calling the shots, going wherever he did. Rick was the big brother he never had, the brother he could look up to, really seeing the man he was supposed to become. Those days are gone, he knows. Daryl felt he had to protect her for the others, they would have wanted him to, Rick would have. Daryl tells him selfe as she rips pages from her diary into the fire, keeping the small flames alive.

Julia's: diary

I'm not gonna die. I believe now. I Believe for humanity. If this doesn't work, I don't know how I could keep going.

...

Further into the night the somber moon lit up the darkness as thunder rumbled in the distance. Upon an dusty road covered in dried leaves and an abandoned car, the forest ends.

Trees shook their branches, leaves rustled as they pushed through, halting their escape from an incoming herd. Upon the road, painting beside one another, cashing their breaths for just a second.

"Come on'', he taps her back as he hurries around the car, keeping a lookout, crossbow out, tens in his hold.

Thunder rumbles above.

Julia tries to start the engine, rotating the key, nothing but empty clicking from it was made. She felt terribly frightened. Running wasn't an option anymore; a car would be the only way of ascap now.

And...suddenly.

Leaves resulted as growling of the herd made them flinch making them share a look of knowing. Fast on his feet, he motioned, beckoning with his hand towards her, guiding her back towards the trunk.

"Come on", quietly, not to attract the walkers.

Yanking the trunk open he makes sure she gets in, looking back before squeezing in across from her, closing it holding a finger to his lips.

Her eyes on his hands, watching him secure the door, knotting the red cloth with haste. Her mouth parted slightly, as shallow breaths sounded, short and unsteady. Knife ready in a deathgrip making knuckles turn white. Walkers crossing the road could be seen through the door crack, as a small spring of light illuminates their faces. Shuffling feet dragged on the dusty road, one after another until a whole herd passed true. Unsettling growls and moans become intense, numbing to her ears. Heavy pounding rocks the car, making her so terribly scared, shivering to the horrifying thought they could be eaten alive. Julia couldn't help but shift her weight trying to ground herself somehow. She tried to inhale -tried to breathe, licking her lips in a soothing manner, nothing worked. Her shallow breath became short, blinkin with round eyes becoming wide with fear. The growls, the moans, the car rocking, it was all so overwhelming, making her squeeze her eyes shut. Thunder booms, its flickering light reflects on Daryl's face, eyes narrow with the crossbow aiming towards the opening. He was calm, leaning back, steady with his hands and breath, holding the crossbow, unmoving. Like nothing faced him, as if this wasn't frightening to him at all. Not like herself, scared out of her mind, freaking out, panicked as wave after wave of walkers passed the road.

Dawn followed as the storm had passed. Walkers were still passing the road, pounding against the car, making it squeak by the impact. Mons had calmed down, not to the same extent as before. Julia's eyes follow the walkers outside then shift to Daryl. Noticing the way she glanced worriedly with eyebrows coming together. He made a reshoring gesture towards her, holding their gaze, nodding in a calming manner, 'it's going to be ok'. Julia nodded heavily. His calm face made the tense feeling dissipate.

As the day wore on, humid heat filled the trunk, making clothes damp and skin glistening with beds of sweat. Julia longed for fresh air, longed for the feeling of it. Heat exhaustion, both of them likely had by now. Dragging sweat off her face, glancing towards Daryl. She didn't miss the way his eyes were narrowed, never leaving his sight from the small gap of the truck dorr, still holding his crossbow steady. No sounds of walkers had been maid for an hour or more, it was hard to tell. So she leaned over tying up the opening of the trunk. With a crank it swung open, fresh air filled their lungs, expanding as if on automatic refill. Eyes Squinting, adjusting to the bright light as piercing rays of the sun fall on the ground, making waves of heat rise off the road.

Filing a plastic bag each gathering a few supplies from the wreckage, she presumed doing whatever he did.

Hanging the black bag over his shoulder with his crossbow in the other hand, he stood in front of her with the country rod ahead of them. For a moment he was looking at her, as if saying he knew she was tired but they had to keep on. Julia was. Shoulders sloughing, face drained of emotion as eyelids were hanging heavily. The weight of two sleepless nights had taken a toll on her.

His gaze shifted as he moved down the country road. Julia stared blankly before trudging after.

....

The mud snake slithered silently, moving in a wave-like motion, its scaly skin shimmers in the sunlight as its tongue occasionally flickers out. Daryl stalks behind, knife deadly in his right and a stick in his left. Approaching stealthily with calculated steps with eyes set on its every move. When the prey within range; he traps its head steadily with the stick, diverting its attention to bite, followed by the killing strike of the knife.

Meanwhile Daryl was out hunting; Julia made up camp using what they had gathered, nothing big just a place to sleep and rest your head. Collecting small droplets of dew of some leaves she fills the plastic bottle with drinkable water. She stops, admiring a ladybug on a leaf, letting it climb up her index finger. It's been a while since seeing one, being behind walls.

Then preparing campfire digging with her hands making a fire pit, filling it with dry leaves and grass scrunched together. Then holds a shard of glass reflecting light with the car mirror from the wreckage, pointing onto the dry material facing the sun, making the focal point as small and round as possible, holding it there until smoke rises. She blows, making fire leap to life (A trick her grandaddy had taught her).

She gazed in awe behind him. With curious eyes, as Daryl skinned the snake. The motion looked so smooth, how he pulled the skin off, holding end up with one outstretched arm while pulling skin with the other. His arms looked strong, flexing the toned muscles there, making his skin look as if it was carved out of marble.

He snapped his head towards her, feeling her gaze there.

Julia did not flinch, didn't move, just kept staring in awe a few feet away. Perhaps he felt somewhat annoyed by her gaze, breaking his concentration from the dressed carcass hanging in his hold, as drops of blood dripped onto the ground.

Julia couldn't help it, finding it fascinating how his skillful hands worked, dressing the animal with the utmost precision and knowledge she had only seen once before. She did not think hunting was a cruel act. Skillful hunters as Daryl killed and ate their game, not just killing and wasting like some douchebag.

The meat was good, filling the hunger but not the aik in her chest. She tried pushing it away, tried to work past it -The alluring thought of numbing it somehow, even if stupid or even reckless, was all Julia could think about. Perched on her knees, digging into the ground picking on the cooked meat in her lap, Julia looks to Daryl munching on his peas, she puts hers down.

"I need a drink."

His only response was leasely tossing a water bottle, not looking at her. It landed before her knees, making Julia toss it to the side.

"No, I mean a real drink...As in alcohol"

Silence ...Julia continues.

"I've never had one, 'Cause I'm under 21...But laws are not exactly around anymore so... She trails off "...I thought we could go find some."

The silence was loud, he was ignoring her.

Julia gauges him, waiting for a response. Nothing as Daryl proceeds to act unresponsive, digging deep into his snake.

letting out a disappointed sigh before speaking in a sing-song voice.

"Okay...Well, enjoy your snake jerky."

Hurt by his silence, her mouth stretched in a line as she rose to her feet, walking away from the camp, taking the knife with her.

Julia found him so odd when he would ignore her like that, as if she wasn't there trying to get his attention. Just munching on that damned snake, like it was the most interesting thing he'd ever seen or as if the people' they'd lost never meant anything to him.

He was really starting to get on her nerves as she stomped through the woods, speaking under her breath.

"Jerk", looking back towards the camp.

Growling

A gasp escapes her, head snapping towards walkers engaging. Quickly hiding, pushing herself against a tree, the bark digs its rough fibers into her skin, probably will make a mark but she was too frightened to notice. Careful not making a sound she grasps a stone slowly before tossing it in the hopes of making the walkers change direction. With a thud it lands on the ground as her back is pushed against the bark, waiting for them to get interested in the stone. A walker approached terribly close, making her uncheat the knife. Her heart was pumping, chest was screaming, mind was running, breaths became shallow, making her squeeze the knife in a deathgrip. When the walker came so close she thought it would all be over, it stumbled in the other direction, taking the bait heading towards the rock.

Tens and uneasy behind the tree, Julia's gaze darts with eyes in wide circles, too anxious to move.

A twig snapped, making her flinch. It was Daryl, ready to interfere if extra protection was needed. Jumpines quickly turned into embarrassment, making Julia divert her gaze, realizing her stupidity of walking off on her own. Daryl did not say a word, only glaring with eyes off disproving of such reckless behavior. He did not seem angry, perhaps annoyed, as he turned and walked ahead. She follows.

Breaking their silence. She begins.

"I think we made it away. I'm pretty sure we got to go that way to find the booze."

Stumbling into the cord connected to metal clangs, making her step back.

"What the hell?!... You brought me back...I'm not staying in this suck-ass camp!" Julia snaps, whirling around to walk off.

Daryl on the opposite side of the cord shoots forward, grabbing her by the wrist almost harshly, yanking her towards him. ...and even a man of few words he ordered - voice deep and rough.

"Hey!" "You had your fun."

Fun?

Julia flinched in the slightest of the touch of his skin, and she truly believed -He could break her wrist then and there if he really wanted to. Stumbling back, jerking her wrist away, glaring upon his taller frame. Her eyes were on flames, but not angry. No, Julia was desperate, so desperate for Daryl to listen, to show her he felt something.

Daryl didn't miss how small, how delicate Julia was in his hand neither how her round eyes widened when she spoke.

"What the hell is wrong with you?...Do you feel anything?" She questions desperately.

Do you feel anything...Daryl felt a whole lot. He felt more than he would let himself ever believe.

With eyes blue as emeralds, deeper than the ocean itself stairs down on her. It was not cruel nor angry towards her inusating words. His gaze seemed hard, almost pained, as if holding back.

Just beneath where Julia reached his chin, she spoke further with eyes wide and round staring up at him.

"Yeah, you think everything's 'screwed'...I guess that's a feeling." She breathes. "So you want to spend the rest of our lives staring into a fire and 'eating mud snakes'?...Screw that... I'm gonna get to those scientists and cure this thing, if it's the last thing I'll do!.. And..." She breathes, gaze lowering as if reminiscing before looking at him"... we might as well do something."

She was so determined to not give up when she finally had a purpose, she wanted to fight, fight for a better future.

The look on Daryl's face became pind by the words, as if Julia's voice held such force. But no words could leave his mouth. Because Daryl didn't have the courage to say the things he felt. Of his thugs about there being a cure, that Julia could fix it somehow. He could only stand there, as she ends with.

"I can take care of myself and I'm gonna get a damn drink." Leaving him stunned, unable to argue, with back towards the camp.

With one deep sigh he drags his feet, not letting the girl's stubbornness do anything reckless again, on the search for booze -Julia's first ever drink.

....

Julia leads them to a golf club.

"Golfers like to booze it up, right?" Julia asks, as walkers approach in a distance upon the golf course. Daryl looks back pondering, as she urges him on.

"Com on.", Julia takes the lead, (the one who's unfazed this time).

Tapping the crossbow in his hands, fidgeting as if thinking it through one last time, he gives in to this ever so determined girl, following closely behind Julias urging steps.

Passing the "Pine Vista Country Club" sign, standing alongside one another towards the entrance of the building Julia notes.

"Might be people inside"

Or walkers, he notes to himself.

A growing posse of walkers are on their tails. Making Daryl lead them on, urging them to the back entrance. Hurrying up the steps with a golf club in his hands, Julia keeps close on his heel, depending on his protection. Gesturing with his index finger against his lips, motioning her to remember there could be walkers inside, she stays bak as he peaks inside the building, then nods, looking back at her.

"Come on," he urges her, as the cost is clear.

Closing the door after Julia takes a few slow steps entering the lobby, he secures it with the golf club thru the door handles, Daryl gets in front of her, reddy's himself with his crossbow leading the way thru the snarling remaining walkers of the club, bothe dead and undead corpses, three of which gurgle and moan as they hang from the ceiling.

Something bad has happened here.. Then again when hasn't something bad happened to a camp, sins the turn? Daryl notes.

Julia's eyes go wide as she gazes upon the hanging walkers, almost stepping on his heel, seeing such a dark and cruel sight. Could this really be the world now?

Surveying through the remnants of the makeshift camp, they pick up a flashlight each. Swallowing thickly, as a chill sent down her spine, Julia restrains herself from grabbing his arm for comfort, making her grab her hands instead, soothing herself.

Pointing her flashlight upon the table filled with junk and dusty dishes, as if someone had had their last meal. Daryl grabs a backpack and fills it with cash and jewelry, making Julia wrinkle her eyebrows in confusion.

Would he not know that money is useless by now?..Perhaps he thought he could trade it for food or weapons? Julia thinks as she questions his odd behavior.

"Why are you keeping all that stuff?"

He lifted his head, looking up at her from his kneeling position, continuing his hunt for treasures.

Before he can answer Julia's question, their Walker posse catches up with them, knocking on the club's door. Making Daryl swing the backpack on his back as he urges her on.

"Come on", Daryl then slams the club's doors leading them further in, exiting the strange camp and leaving the hanging walkers behind.

Looking through the reaments in the kitchen area, filled with junk, empty food packaging and jars spread out all over the counters, down to the floor, as water drips from a broken pipe above making a wet dripping sound. It was dark with no windows making them depend on their flashlights as they looked through the remains in different parts of the kitchen area.

Most of the wine and liquor bottles are empty, except for a dusty bottle of red wine placed on a ridiculously high shelf in the walk-in. The only way to reach it was to climb. Grabbing it as Julia awkwardly stretched by all her might, tip toeing on the lower shelf, making pans cling against metal in her struggle.

Daryl halts his scavenging, listening in. As no more sound was made he continued looking through stuff in the main kitchen area.

Finally grabbing the bottle Julia steps down, slowly and steady, careful to not make herself trip in the darkness. Exiting the walk-in, satisfied with her find of the red wine, reading the blue label "Maid in 198...

Gasping in sheer horror, a Walker attacks from behind, grabbing Julia with its cold hands. Breaking skin with its filthy nails, she struggles frantically to break free. She couldn't breathe, couldn't think, coldent escape. Heart almost pumps out from her chest. Its monstrous snarls reeked of decay, making her stomach curl in repulsion. All alone, in a dark corridor, with only a flashlight and wine bottle in hand. She could feel walls narrowing in, air becoming ice cold as if trapping her with this monster. Think! Smashing the wine bottle with all her might, bashing its head, closing her eyes off the impact. Glass breaks as the wine spills everywhere. Pushed against the wall frightened, unreadable pleads for Daryl leaves her lips. Inches shrink to centimeters as its rotten teeth starve for her flesh. She Pushes back the walker with her back trapped against the wall. Julia doesn't dare to look anymore, holding her breath, turning her head, grimarsing painfully, knowing how this will end.

Time stops...then... a bolt pears its head, it falls limp to the floor.

Daryl stands there panting, lowering the crossbow looking at her as if hes just been sprinting moments ago.

Notesting the dead Walker now on the floor Julia looks at him, out of breath relieved but still shakenabout after the close call. Not accusing but scared she questions.

"Where were you?"

Her eyes were ever so expressive. Pupils are dilated and round, making them appear larger, eyebrows coming together, making Daryl feel the need to assure her somehow.

A breath... then.

"You held on long enuff for me to get to you..shout next time". Meaby not the most reasoring answer but it made her calm down somewhat.

The unsettling altercation leaves only a shattered wine bottle and disappointment, as Julia looks back discovering another room full of corpses in sleeping bags beside one another, with an ominous writing 'WELCOME TO THE DOGTROT' written on the wall. Onely disturbed by sight, Julia catches up to Daryl, leading them down a dark stairway, with flashlights dancing around the corridor blocked by a trophy case and a slanting grandfather clock, making Daryl put the crossbow on top reaching under, carefully moving the clock off the trophy case making it come to a stand, its melody chimes in a dinging way.

This piece of dust is a damn time bomb, Daryl notes.

Shining the flashlight upon the grandfather clock Daryl reads. "Tempus Fugit ''('time flies' in latin), he didn't know latin, but what he could tell was the time, 2:50pm. Seeing she had already headed through the door ending the corridor, he follows.

"This girl was on a mission", Daryl notes, and he was not taking any more chances after that to close call from upstairs.

The gift shop is filled with clean, untouched golf clothes. As if the turn never happened. Seeing a lovely white sweater Julia approche it but gasps, nearly stumbling over a manikin part lying on the floor. Letting out a relieved sigh she prosedes, putting it on, a trace of a smile covers her lips. Meanwhile, Daryl is still on the hunt for cash and expensive trinkets, pocketing whatever he can find.

Julia still thought his behavior was odd.

Displayed in the store, a top half of a woman's corpse impaled onto the bottom half of a mannequin, dressed in a bra, sweater, and pearls label with a sign written in lipstick reading "RICH BITCH."

Daryl stares, not really thinking anything of it. Perhaps seeing such things had made him num?

Never had Julia seen such a cruel way of making art. That someone made this, probably thinking it was fun, made her sympathize with the dead women, thinking it could have been someone she once loved or cared for. As she struggles to remove the corpes-statue Julia pleads looking towards Daryl.

"Help me take her down",she tilts her head.

Softly he answers. "It doesn't matter, she's dead".

"It does matter", Julia insisted softly.

Daryl thinks deeply off her words. Perhaps her due eyes, her big heart to sympathize for someone she never knew but still cared for maid him care, because Julia did.

Seeing Julia struggle to take it down, Daryl helps her by covering the corpse display with a blue sheet.

"Here", he grunts, draping over the cheat ending their visit in the chope back into the corridor.

The grandfather clock goes off, making them flinch. Daryl urges her on, tapping her bake.

"Come on".

"Okay," she oblige.

Just when they were about to enter towards another hallway, they stumbled upon incoming walkers, the dam ticking time bomb/clock attracted the attention of the no longer dormant Walkers residing in the country club.

"Move", Daryl urges her, tapping Julia like before, making her take the lead.

Cornering them in every turn through their escape in the dark hallways leads them further in the country club. As Daryl hurries around the corner opening up to a room, he slows down to a halt.

Fuck it...Might as well take care of it.

Daryl can't take it anymore, all that's happened, he doesn't do feelings, the only thing he knows is using his fists. Anger consumes his senses, all he sees is red. Shooting the first walker with a bolt, persing its head, pushing the other back to the wall with the crossbow. Taking a nearby golf club bashing its head in with a big swing, it falls limp to the floor, as the third walker growls he swings the club with such force it gets stuck in its skull, making him rips it out as it brakes making the end more like the end of a spear. Using it to his advantage he spears the fourth walker through the brain. Kicking back the fifth walker making it stumble back. Daryl unchets his hunting knife from his belt, stabbing the sixth walker agonizingly slow through its eye socket, as if anger had consumed him to the point he found satisfaction in the killing.

Julia watches, disturbed by his sudden rage, looking upon with worry. She wasn't scared, no, not of him but of the anger blinding him. Julia knew he felt sad about what had happened, but it was much worse than she thought. There was just so much rage within his heart. It made her worry of what had plagued his mind to make him like this. But she knew this was not all he was. Just moments ago in the gift chope he showed her otherwise.

Sheathing the knife as the walker he kicked before the last one snarls towards him, he picks up another golf club, pummeling it, grunting heavily with every swing harder than the other, with a last big swing the bloody reaments of the walker sprays all over her new white sweater. She gasps, startled by the gore now all over her, making her glare upon him. He meets her gaze, panting heavily with long strands of hair falling over his eyes. A flash of realization he might have gone too far, seeing her wight sweater covered in gore, but it was done and he needed to get it out of his system.

Seeing Julia exit into another hallway, leaving the sweater behind, he grabs his crossbow and follows still out of breath.

...

Julia leads them to a brighter hallway, opening up to the club bar ahead.

Finely.

"We made it", Julia speaks with a sad tone.

Daryl sees her slow down standing to a halt meeting her gaze as she turns around.

"I know you think this is stupid...And it probably is", she shakes her head. A breath, then. "But... I don't care...All I wanted to do today was lay down and cry, but we don't get to do that". Her eyes turn glassy. "So.." she averts her gaze, shaking her head before continuing. "...Beat up walkers if that makes you feel better." She tried to sound nonchalant, despite her voice trembling.

"I need to do this", ever so determined to get her first drink Julia turns on her heel, continuing towards the club bare. Daryl is taken back by her honesty and bluntness still standing there dumbfounded, before heading towards the bar.

The club bar is ransacked but Walker-free. Julia searches the bar area for anything to drink, meanwhile Daryl continues his pillaging.

Daryl smashes a random framed document then puts it into his pack making her flinch as she walks around the bar counter with a bottle in her hand.

"Did you have to break the glass?"

"No." "You had your drink yet?" He answers.

"No." "But I found this...Peach schnapps". She places it on the bar counter sitting on one of the chers. "Is it good?"

"No", he answers bluntly. Because even at the end, the club members didn't want to inflict more torture onto themselves by drinking "peach schnapps".

passing behind her Daryl proceeds to busy himself playing darts, using the photo of former club presidents as his targets.

"Well, it's the only thing left.", Julia answers with disappointment, gazing towards him.

Giving up finding a clean glass she lets her fingers drum on the counter.

"Who needs a glass?" she sighs sarcastically.

Doleful eyes become glassy, gaze set on the bottle, grabbing it hesitating for a moment, she rocks slightly trying to ground herself.

Glancing back at her as he slows down his game of darts, checking in on her rocking form. He could see the struggle there. How her eyes looked so far away holding the bottle. Fidgeting before throwing another dart her sobbing breaks the silence making him glans again.

Having maintained her resolve throughout their journey, Julia finally breaks down, like a wave washing over her. One tear breaks free running down her cheek. Finely having the real drink in her hands only makes sobs keep on coming. She swallows, brushing the tears away, trying to restrain herself but it makes the pain worse. As if something is stuck in her throat, like a big rock. Julia tried to swallow it down but she couldn't. The more she cried the more difficult it was to breathe, making breaths short and shaky.

It felt unbearable standing there while she cried. Making him clench his jaw. She was simply too good of a person to feel such sadness, she deserved better than this. Slamming the last dart ending his game, he couldn't help but to interfere.

To Julia's surprise Daryl snatches the bottle, throws it on the ground, snapping her fixed attention to him.

Heading towards the exit grabbing the crossbow of the pool table -Daryl turns towards her.

"Ain't gonna have your first drink. Be no damned peach schnapps", he growled, swinging his arm emphasizing his irritation towards the not good enuff peach schnapps on the floor.

Swinging the exit door wide open, demanding but with the intention to make her feel better, Daryl orders.

"Come on".

Her lips quiver a bit, but she does what she is told. Leaving the peach schnapps untouched, wiping her tear stained cheeks...

Pt.2

#apocalypse #beth x daryl #daryl dixion imagine #daryl dixon #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon smut #daryl dixon x reader #daryl x reader #fanfics #daryl x y/n #zombie #twd fanfiction #fanfiction #daddy issues

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ficclings · 5 months

Text

Lost - Chapter Five

Previous Chapter

Taglist: if you would like to be tagged or I forgot to tag you, let me know! @laymegentlytorest@im-sinking-in-mud @hydroyaksha @hehe-24-hehe @neohyxn

Minho and Felix’s relationship was a quietly sweet one and it had very quickly become one of her favorite things to observe as they had decided it was a good idea to stay inside for a few days after just being reunited.

Though Minho would be quite stoic with her, put on a harsher front, with Felix, he seemed to hold that back a lot and often made sure to smile at the other man and choose lighter jokes rather than the dry humor he often used with her.

Felix liked physical contact and even though it was quite evident that Minho wasn’t the biggest fan of such a thing, he made sure to put an arm around Felix’s waist, hand on his shoulder or even play with his hair.

She wanted to coo at them but held that back very quickly once she locked eyes with Minho, who somehow sensed that she wanted to do such a thing.

When she was a small child, back with her adopted parents, she also had a friend who was very gentle with her; often being a tall wall of don’t you dare bully her.

She frowned to herself as she thought about him, lips slimming as she bit them.

She genuinely hoped that he was okay as they had been friends right up until the middle of high school; before he had to move schools due to his family moving away from the city.

He was also a hybrid and one of the few hybrids that she had ever come across, friendship-wise at least.

A ridiculously tall Bullmastiff hybrid that had already started to develop broad shoulders and a shy but confident demeanor which only made him more protective of her.

Grabbing a hold of her soft left ear, she began to stroke it sadly as she remembered how they used to hold hands and compare their tails whenever they were in a ‘random mood’; he often taught her about hybrid customs as she wasn’t familiar.

He came from a whole pack of hybrids, whereas she was brought up by humans; very kind humans.

She was often flustered that he seemed so excited about the fact she was a Dalmatian and had to hide her face in her hands whenever he fawned over her.

“Your spots are so pretty, you shouldn’t be ashamed of them,” he smiled brightly at her as he knelt before her, trying to get a look at her face which was all red and itchy from crying.

Children were cruel; especially to those who were different.

“But they cover my skin,” she whispered as she touched her face where a large black patch sat around her eye; she then waved her legs around, pulling the leg of her trousers up, “I look like I’ve been beaten,” she stuttered and quickly hid in her arms as she broke down in tears again.

The Mastiff paused as he eyes her leg, breath catching as he noticed that she had tried to use something to hide her spots, his ears and tail falling sadly.

“Please look at me,” he urged with a gentle nudge of her elbow, “Hey, c’mon I know you like looking at me,” he grinned as she laughed at his joke and soon her eyes met his once again.

“Your spots are a part of you and you, are great,” he buried his hand in his school blazer pocket to find his pack of tissues, handing one to her, “if they can’t accept that then that is their problem; you don’t need everybody to like you and I know it hurts when somebody doesn’t,” he offered another gentle smile, “but you can’t please everybody and your time is much better spent on those who you know like and love you,” he arched his eyebrow when his tail wagged ever so slightly, but ignored it.

“I guess,” she whispered with a sad smile, “I’m just fed up with being picked on,” she added as the Mastiff got to his feet, groaning at the strain on his legs from the awkward position he had been in.

“I’ll come with you if you’re ready to report them,” he rubbed the back of his neck, “Nobody should have to put up with that shit,” he smiled as she giggled again at his swearing, a habit that she had started to pick up on.

“I don’t want to get people in trouble,” she waved her hand a bit and jumped when he gently caught it and held her hand.

“They did something wrong; they shouldn’t get away with it,” he squeezed her hand watching her carefully as she fell into silent thoughts, “only when you’re ready,”

It didn’t take her long to nod at him; making their way to their homeroom.

“Thanks, Yunho,”

Felix stretched as he finished making some food for them (instant noodles with boiled bottled water), pausing as he noticed the Dalmatian hybrid deep in thought; a sad expression on her face.

Sharing a quick look with Minho, who was currently trying to improve the few weapons they had by gluing or taping cutlery to them, he gently put his hand on her shoulder; making her jump.

“You okay?” he tilted his head with a soft expression, and she felt her face heat up under his gaze.

“Yeah, just thinking about things,” she answered quietly, fingers picking at her tail now.

Loud scratching sounds and moaning echoed from above, clearly, Miss Lorn and her boyfriend had turned.

It was a shame, Miss Lorn had been routing for her and Felix to finally get together.

“I should make a trip back to the building soon,” Minho yawned before slurping up some noodles, making her cringe a bit, “the vending machines have so many things in them, and we have fruit vending machines too, so it isn’t all crap,” he waved his chopsticks around in the air as he spoke and the action made Felix grin.

“Hyung,” Felix started with a sigh, “if you are going back to that building, then we are all going back to that building,” he pointed out with a firm tone and then looked to the Hybrid, “No splitting up this time either, I can’t handle that again,” he admitted and flushed a deep red when his free hand was grabbed by her.

“I don’t think any of us can,” Minho explained, and the admission seemed to catch Felix by surprise as his eyes widened, teeth soon showing in an affection smile which only made Minho regret speaking as he suddenly became a bit shy under the gaze of his younger friend.

“Shut up,” he muttered making the other two laugh.

“Let’s save the trip for a few more days, we have enough food and enough bottled water to last until then,” she flinched at the spiciness of her noodles and immediately felt her nose start to run as she tried to calm her body down, “honestly, I think the only things we are low on are toilet paper and,” she cleared her throat feeling a bit awkward, “ladies things,” she sniffed loudly as she began to pant quietly at the spiciness still coursing through her mouth.

“Ladies things,” Minho nodded his head as if he was keeping that information, “right,” he added making Felix shake his head.

“Hyung, you don’t have sisters, do you even know what she means by that?” Felix asked with genuine curiosity before yelping when Minho flicked the side of his head.

“I have a mother and a brain,” Minho looked at her with a determined look on his face, “I’ll make sure to look in the women’s restroom, I know that they have those machines in there,” he noticed that she became more relaxed at the information despite currently looking incredibly uncomfortable with the noodles.

“Why do you have spicy noodles when you clearly can’t handle them?” he laughed when she let out a puppy whine in between her panting and she quickly rushed to the water bottles, downing half of it.

“She doesn’t like the fact that she can’t have spicy food; she knows that it’s tasty and that makes her eat it,” Felix explained with an eye roll.

“Shut up,” she pouted and nudged the back of his head with hers, “not my fault that you and Minho have iron tongues,” she grinned at the laughter that came from them, and she could almost mistake this for a normal day.

One without creatures from horror media running around the place with their flesh falling off.

“But seriously,” Minho started, and she immediately felt the light-hearted atmosphere die, “we need to go back to the building, get the supplies, women’s bathroom,” he pointed at her, “we also need to figure out how to find the others,” he looked to Felix who nodded with a melancholy expression.

“I am pretty sure that we can find Changbin and Hyunjin close by,” swirling his noodles in thought, Minho puffed out his cheeks in frustration as he tried to remember when he had last met up with them, “the only issue is getting to their part of town,”

“Why is that?” she asked taking her seat once more and braving the spice.

“Usually, we need to take a train to get to them,” Felix answered with a very worried tone, “the easiest way to get there would be to go through the train tunnel because it just leads right there without having to jump over fences and ducking and diving into hiding spots,” he added, taking a small sip of his water.

“It’s super dark in the tunnels though and the electricity isn’t exactly reliable at the moment,” Minho groaned slumping in his chair.

“We have the lights on our phones though?” Felix noted, “The internet is down but our phones can still function without the internet,” he explained but then paused as he checked his phone, just to see how little battery he had left.

“Do you guys have any flashlights?” Minho asked watching as the hybrid got to her feet and searched the cupboard under the kitchen sink.

“We do,” she answered with a slight cheer and tested the switch just to make sure, her face falling a bit as the light was quite dimmed due to the old batteries and she continued her search for the jar of charged batteries she and Felix had kept.

“Here,” she smiled as she showed them how bright it now was with new batteries before switching it off, “I can also help,” she pointed to her eyes, “My eyes are a lot more dog-like than human and they can see well in the dark; so any area that isn’t lit by a light, I can see for all of us,” she beamed at the smiles that were now looking at her.

“You hybrids are honestly, a gift,” Minho slurped up some victory noodles, eyeing Felix as his younger friends' gaze stayed on the hybrid girl.

“I wouldn’t say that,” she replied with a quiet voice, clearly quite flustered at the comment, “I’d just thank biology,”

“You’re amazing,” Felix insisted quickly and gently nudged her leg with his foot, “take the compliment,”

She simply nodded bashfully as they settled down to finally finish their food.

----------------

“Don’t,” she whispered as she noticed Minho’s hands coming close to opening the front door; her finger pressed to her lips and her ear firmed against the door as she listened for danger.

“I think somebody has broken out of their apartment,” she kept her voice low, “I can hear so many footsteps out in the corridor, but I can’t fully tell what floor the noise is on,” she chewed her bottom lip and Felix placed a comforting hand on her shoulder when she knelt back down to listen more.

“If you think it’s unsafe, we stay,” Felix reassured her and he looked to Minho who just nodded in agreement, clearly staying quiet to try and listen as well.

“Wait,” she waved her hand at them both to silence them.

Her eyes closed as she tried to focus on the small, whining noise from a few apartments down, the voice was very familiar to her and they were crying out for help.

“Somebody is asking for help,” she let out a response whine to let the other know they had been heard.

“I can’t hear anybody?” Minho frowned as he tried to arch his head in a different direction to try and hear better.

“Me either,” Felix agreed.

“No, no,” she shook her head, “it’s another dog,”

“Another hybrid lives on this floor?” Felix said with a surprised, wide-eyed expression.

“It’s Pepie,” she stated with another whine, “he’s on his own,” she looked to the two men currently staring down at her.

“Wait, Pepie as in Pepie the Yorkshire Terrier, Pepie?” Felix finally connected the dots and then smiled in disbelief, “you can communicate with full dogs?” he asked with a small laugh and she nodded.

“You never told me that!”

“It never came up!”

“Guys,” Minho hissed and pushed his hand down as a signal to keep their voices down, “are we saving this dog?” he asked with a look on his face that told everyone he had already decided that they were.

“I’m doing this by myself, they’re only a couple of doors down,” she stated and got to her feet, looking at Felix when he grabbed her wrist.

“Together or you stay here,” he stated firmly and although she wanted to argue, she knew there wasn’t much point; especially when she looked at Minho and found that he shared the same expression as Felix.

“Okay, but please,” she sighed, “let me go out first so I can try and pinpoint where these arseholes are,”

Slowly opening the front door, she peered her head out, baton now in her hand a squeaky toy for a distraction in the other.

Nothing moved in the corridor, but she knew that they could easily hide in the shadows.

The lights had been flickering on and off for several days now and the sound had been getting on her nerves but during the small window when the lights were on, she could see silhouettes wandering around outside the double doors that led to their corridor.

“Right side, clear,” she whispered and noted the hums that answered her back.

Looking to the left had never been so anxiety inducing as she could already smell a significant amount of blood and something coming from that direction.

She could see a few small piles of remains littering the corridor, chunks of grey-ish flesh drying out as they had been left by the zombies, clearly even zombies had a desired taste.

“Left isn’t” she noted upon finally being able to see two zombies staring at the wall together, heads snapping backward and forwards as if they were glitching, the clunk of their teeth making her shrink into herself.

“How many?” came Minho’s voice.

“Two,” she replied, “if we sneak, we could take them down quietly,” she suggested and all three of them came out of the apartment crouching; Felix made sure to close the front door but left it unlocked so they could hurry back if anything went wrong.

“Out of the way,” Minho pushed them behind him protectively as he practically crawled towards the two zombies, barbed wire bat twirling in his strong hands.

Both Felix and her held their breath as they watched Minho bravely trudge forward, a mess of blood smearing against his shoes and up his trousers.

The smell of the gunk he was sneaking through made him stop; having to swallow down his vomit as he pushed himself forward and as soon as he got to the zombies, he lunged at them.

The bat made a satisfying clunk as they smashed into the heads of the creatures, black blood and melted skin sticking to the walls as their bodies fell.

“Go, go,” Felix patted her back before hurrying forward to where Minho was staring at the bodies, “you good?” he touched Minho’s arm and the other man looked to him with a tired smile.

“Yeah,”

Peering behind them, they noticed that she had been pressing her ear to each door she went passed, clearly not sure where Pepie lived, exactly.

“Pep?” she whispered and let out the quietest whine she could muster, hoping she wouldn’t draw the attention of the zombies on the other side.

“Hybrid Lady?”

She gasped as she heard the whimpering coming from apartment 8J and placed her hand on the handle, testing it to see if it was unlocked, and to her disbelief, it was.

“Pepie, it’s Hybrid Lady and two friends,” she made sure to make that known as she knew he’d most likely panic and start barking and that was the last thing that they needed right now.

When she got the door open, she nearly let out a shriek when a small brown and grey bundle charged at her and landed in her arms, shaking and licking her face in gratitude.

“You came to get me, thank you!” he whimpered, and she shared a sad but comforting whine with him, “my mum and dad didn’t come home, I’ve been stuck in there with my brother, Harvey,”

This piqued her interest, and she tilted her head to the side.

“Harvey?” she looked to Felix and Minho who were watching the two of them with utter confusion on their faces.

“He’s a bunny,” Pepie let out a mumph as he spoke, “in a cage,”

“There’s a rabbit in there,” she informed them, and Felix immediately went in with Minho quickly following.

“Do you guys have food in there?” she asked and this time, Pepie was the one to til his head to the side.

“In the cupboard above the toaster,” he informed her, and she slowly made her way in, struggling a bit with the weight of the dog.

Pepie was a bigger Yorkshire Terrier, being just slightly smaller than a fully grown Cocker Spaniel.

“Guys, they have food in that cupboard!” she pointed to the one Pepie had told her about and Minho ordered Felix to go, clearly quite enamored with the bunny in the cage that he was holding.

It didn’t take that long to finally, get back inside their apartment and they piled their usual barricade up against the front door.

Pepie was currently nosing at the cage, making sure his brother was okay and his soft chuffs made her look over with a warm feeling in her heart at the sight.

There was still much more life out there, that wasn’t just humans and hybrids, but that were just as important.

“So,” Felix grunted as he offloaded the dog and rabbit food onto the kitchen counter, his hands on his hips, “you can talk to dogs?” he chuckled feeling quite exhausted.

“Well...those who speak the language!” she pointed out with a slight annoyance in her tone as she remembered the time she had gone to France and couldn’t understand a very lost Poodle, who was asking for help.

“Is it all animals?” Minho asked as he knelt by the rabbit cage and wiggled his finger at the lionhead, who hopped over, and both nibbled and licked at him.

“Just dogs,” she replied with melancholy as she also looked at the rabbit, wondering what he was saying.

“Hyung is in love,” Felix whispered with a giggle, and she shared that thought, also giggling, catching Minho’s murderous gaze.

“I’ll lock you two outside, I swear,”

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