Chasing Amy (Daryl Dixon/The Walking Dead)

Chapter 24 - Goodness

I tried not to let sleep consume me as I clung tightly onto Daryl. The wind was blowing my already unruly hair everywhere, the tips whipping at my cheeks and eyes, but I still couldn't stay awake.

We had been on the road for a while now, the sun showing its first signs of rising.

It was strange, how so much could change in the space of a day. This morning I had hopes of fitting in, and proving to everyone that I was different to what they assumed. I had thought that finally there might have been a chance for me to live safely, to not be afraid of going to sleep.

And now, everything was gone.

I had seen two people die in front of my eyes, and that was something I couldn't quite shake off. The sheer brutality of their deaths was something I'd never witnessed before, after being ushered away from the death of others since this had all started. I felt the loss for people I barely knew.

My grip around Daryl's chest had unintentionally loosened, my eyes faintly shut as my shoulders slumped. I was so tired, I felt like if I fell from the motorcycle I would barely feel it.

"What are ya doing?" Daryl shouted over the engine. He must've noticed my suddenly limp grip on him, after clinging for dear life for so long.

"M'tired..." I mumbled, knowing that he couldn't hear me, but hoping all the same.

"Hey! Are you fallin' asleep back there?" His voice was harsh.

"Mmm..." I couldn't manage words at that moment, other than the odd incomprehensible mumble. I was on the brink of sleep, ready to pass out.

"You're gonna fall off the damn bike if you don't pull yourself together!" He shouted again. "Look, we're almost there!" Daryl growled, maintaining his rough persona.

"You don't... scare me, Daryl," I said against his vest. I had to pause midway through the sentence, taking a sleepy breath. He still couldn't hear, but my delusional self was convinced he could.

"Jesus... Keep your eyes open!" He sounded panicked, which somehow made me smile a little.

The sun had now fully risen, I could tell because the inside of my eyelids were a much brighter shade of red. There was no way in hell I was going to open them.

Daryl's chest was heaving with frustration, which also made me smile.

Th next few minutes ticked by, with me struggling to stay awake as the motorcycle continued on, and Daryl growling under his breath.

The faint sound of a new engine had emerged from behind us, barely audible over the monster that was Daryl's motorbike. I reluctantly lifted my head from its position against his back, my eyes opening to see what looked to be the grey car, where Glenn's head could easily be seen from the windshield.

"Daryl!" I shouted, my voice sounding rough and croaky.

He didn't seem to hear me yet again, as the motorbike swerved to the side, onto another road. He did this to avoid a group of abandoned cars that had clogged up the road. I could feel the whole bike lower to the side slightly.

Ignoring the awful lurching feeling in my stomach, I moved my face so my lips were closer to his ear. It was about the only chance he'd hear my weak voice.

"Glenn and Maggie are right behind us!" I raised my voice, ensuring I was close enough for him to hear. He pulled back from the sound, his eyes lifting from the road to send me a poisonous glare. I noticed some of the pressure that had been building in his shoulders had been loosened, as a hint of relief crossed his sharp features. He quickly glanced to the car behind us, before turning back to face the road.