In The Bird Song | TWD

chapter 18 - beneath the surface

Harlow pov

My eyes open once more and I find that I am still indeed buried alive. My breaths come in sharp bursts and my entire body is aching with the weight of rubble above me.

The paedophiles body is on top of me trapping one of my arms between his back and my chest. however, my right arm is above my head trapped underneath a large slab of heavy concreate and with enough force I think I could possibly yank my arm free. If I can successfully free my right arm I think I can shift some of the debris on my right side backwards with would create enough room for me to slide out from under the man's body. From there I should be able to worm my way out of the rubble but I would have to be insanely careful because one wrong move and my head will be crushed by a falling piece of rubble from above me.

The plan is a bit of a long shot but if I've learnt anything in life, I've learnt that sheer stubbornness and willpower can take you further that one would think. I grit my teeth and begin to count myself down preparing to yank my arm free. 3...2...1 with a forceful yank my arm is free but I don't get a chance to bask in my small victory because horrific searing stinking pain erupts in my arm instantly bring tears to my eyes as I scream. In the prosses of pulling my arm free the stone seems to have acted like sandpaper ripping away who knows how much skin from my arm leaving it bleeding and raw.

It takes minutes for my body to stop violently trembling from the shock rushing through my body. My arm is dripping blood but I'm not able to turn my head to see the damage and even if I could look at it I probably wouldn't be able to make anything out in the darkness.

I wince as I continue with my plan and start pushing the rubble to my right backwards. I feel as though I'm trapped in a deadly came of Jenga as I begin to wiggle my body out from underneath the man and into the space I just created for myself. From there I have the use of both my arms and I start to shift more pieces of debris out my way and I slowly begin to worm my way out of the collapsed building.

In the process of freeing myself I scrape up my entire body and keep catching my flesh on sharp pieces of debris creating deep gashes all over me. the smell of blood is thick in the air and I gag on the all too familiar metallic sent.

After what feels like at least an hour I begin to see cracks of light through the debris. I use all my strength to lift a particularly large piece of concrete from above me and I'm rewarded with blinding daylight that burns my eyes causing them to water profusely.

Once my body is completely free I try and stand but my legs give out beneath me sending me to the ground. I lay on my back staring at the blue sky above me. for a minute I wonder if I made the right decision when I chose to fight for my life because now in faced with the daunting world around me it hits me all over again just how alone I am.

Once again my only companions left are the birds chirping around me but they are no replacement for Michonne's hugs or Daryl's hunting lessons or carls hesitant attempts at holding my hand as we walk. The birds are no true replacement for the companions I've lost but in there song I can almost hear echoes of those I love. The birds are all I have left of my sister and possibly off the rest of my family if I dont find them.

I take a shaky breath and use all my strength to sit up, as tempting as it is to just lie down and sleep for a while I must not give in to the temptation. If I rest now without finding water first, I would likely slip away in my sleep and my eyes would never open again.

I stagger to my feet and this time the successfully support my weight. I look around terminus and find it devoid of life entirely, in the distance I see smoke billowing into the sky singling that something is on fire. The walkers that should be around must have all been drawn to the flames.