The Light in the Dark

Chapter 2: A Familiar Road

Everything that happened was now a constant memory that played on his mind. That very day on the battle field was the biggest part, but it most certainly wasn't the worst. The worst was the horrific pain that shot through his body at the contact of the katana and the medical attention he tried to give himself to save his own life. With no medical knowledge of any sort all he could go by was trial and error, and with that chance also came the risk of infection. Those consequences were known as they were common knowledge.

Philip was now laying unconscious on what used to be Hershel's cell bed. Dark blood was all over the floor, the bed, and Philip as it was left to dry. It didn't matter at this point as the prison was now unable to be used. With the fences down and a horde that had moved into the prison's field along with all of his people as well as any others that didn't make it were now dead turning the whole place into a graveyard. The only thing that the building was good for now, or at least for Philip, was keeping him safely locked in with an attempt at healing.

His body twitched every once in awhile. The pain still real and gripping as he breathed slow yet heavily. The memories still consuming him as the thoughts of the needle piercing through skin in a quick attempt to stop the bleeding as well as rubbing the area clean and bandaging up only made those thoughts even more unwelcome. His own groans of agony rose up above the massive moans of the dead from outside the cement walls. There was no telling if he was doing it right or if there was any organs damaged, but he knew that he had to try. After he was done there wasn't any will to be awake anymore as his mind was consumed by pain. Philip had laid down on the hard bed as he dropped every piece of spare supplies onto the bloody floor just to pass out as soon as he sat down. However long it had been now he wouldn't be able to tell you. It might have been days since it had all happened, but just like the fall of the prison it didn't matter.

However long it had been now had still been a miracle for Philip as for whatever time had passed the man was still breathing. It was low, but it was better than nothing. With a new feeling settling into his system he finally felt the sense of coming to. His mind was pulling back into the focus of reality as he began to try and move. It started with a twitch and twist of his right hand. Extending the fingers to stretch them out only to be repeated by the left. Then came testing the limits of stretching his legs. They were definitely sore, but most certainly not the worst thing he's ever felt. Now it was time to open his eye. It came in stages this time as it started from a very subtle flutter to quick blinks. With his vision now clearing up he was able to focus on the bunk above him.

Still with his mind slightly distant he tried his best to think about a single thing at a time, and everything but the pain. Philip tried to get himself to think about the day and what time it is, or getting himself off of the bed. Allowing his head to loll to the side he could swear that he could now hear things wandering about in the cell block, or at least close by. With a grunt he did his best to sit himself up only to press his back to the wall. Reaching his hand to grab the bed above him he used it to get himself back up onto his feet and to steady himself. Once that was down he felt a cold chill run down his spine as his knees wobbled slightly. He knew that he needed some food and water, but as he shuffled outside of the cell he noticed that something had changed.

Items from the cell block seemed to either have moved or changed their positions. Bags were missing and the abundance of food, water, some clothes, and what was left of the medical supplies seemed to be gone. Wrapping one arm around his midsection he used his free hand to press up against the wall to hold his balance. Wandering around the bottom level there were signs of those that used to live there, but all of the necessities were gone. This sent off the alarm that someone had either made their way back into the prison and took off, or someone was still inside it and made their leave. Feeling a wave of dizziness come over him he paused in his steps as he waited for the moment to pass. Once it did he ascended the metal stairs to see the same thing from the cells above. Glancing over toward the barred windows he could faintly see the sight of the prison yard. It was crowded with the dead as they stumbled around dumbly while bumping into one another. Everything that was there was probably devoured and dead by now.