Note: So this is my first story, and I kinda had this idea for a while. Some friends of mine convinced me into writing this, I caved and decided that I should.
It wasn't until I started writing that I realized there is a similar story :( I wasn't going to publish it at first, but since my story is going to be different I decided it couldn't hurt, my friends agreed.
Morning came quicker than they both expected, when it felt as if they had just settled down for the night. The air was cool and crisp, the sky was still dark but it was starting to get bright. Fall was upon them.
Daryl was adamant on leaving before the sun rose, as he expressed repeatedly the night before. Beth didn't know why and she didn't question it. After all, he obviously had more knowledge about the outdoors than she did.
Beth shrugged the backpack on to her shoulders, her ankle was throbbing from her recent incident with a bear trap. She couldn't walk much, which slowed them down tremendously. But, surprisingly, Daryl wasn't angry about it, he was rather caring.
"Where do we go now?" She asked.
He shrugged."I'unno, guess we walk."
She sighed and took a step, her ankle protested of course, but she pushed on; limping and hissing through the pain. Daryl walked up beside her and wrapped his arm around her waist, she looked over a bit startled.
"What're you doin?"
"Walkin' too slow."
She faintly smiled."Uh, thanks." she slung an arm over his shoulder.
They searched a while for a place to lay low in, before Beth had to take a break. She took a seat on a tree stump, as Daryl riffled through the bag for a bottle of water. She eyed his bow that was laying down next to him, wondering if he'd ever let her use it again. But after the fiasco yesterday, she was sure he'd say no.
He found a water bottle and a bottle of aspirin and handed it to her, she took it and watched as he continued riffling around in his bag. Her brow furrowed as she untwisted the cap to the bottle.
"What're you lookin' for now?"
"Some crackers, can't take them on an empty stomach. Bound t'get sick."
Beth smiled and took a quick sip, he was acting different than she remembered from the prison. She never saw him act so caring towards anyone. He tossed her some goldfish crackers and they landed in her lap. She appreciated his concern, as it was the last thing on her mind.
"Eat up." He motioned towards the crackers.
She held out the bag."Want some?"
He shook his head."Nah, I'm good, they're for you."
"Are you sure? I haven't seen you eat in a while."
"Don't get hungry much." He gathered their things and shoved them back into the bag."Eat up."
Beth ate a few goldfish as requested, they were so good - like a delicacy, when only two years ago they were a common snack.
As she ate, out of the corner of her eye she saw Daryl reaching for his crossbow, she slowly turned afraid that it might be a walker. She watched as he raised his bow, setting his sights on something off in the brush. She reached for her knife on her hip.
"Don't move Blondie."
She closed her eyes as the cool metal pressed into the back of her head, her eyes shot over to Daryl - he stared at her in disbelief, unable to make a move for fear he'd shoot her. A single tear fell down her cheek.
"What do ya want?" Daryl snapped.
"We've been watchin' you two for a few days now-"
"Who's we?" Daryl interjected.
The man's eyes diverted just above Daryl's head, as a man wearing a baseball cap came stumbling out.
"Me and my colleague, Skylar."
"Let her go!" Daryl demanded, his voice becoming shaky."Ya don't wanna do something stupid."
The man laughed."What're you gonna do?"
Daryl bit the inside of his cheek. The only thing stopping him was Beth's look of shear panic, her blue eyes begging him to help her. And the gun pressing into her head.
"You might wanna keep your mouth shut, Redneck. John doesn't play around, he'll hurt your girl."
Daryl stared at the man with the gun to Beth's head, now known as John. He stared at him for a good long time, memorizing everything about him - just in case. Eventually, the man behind him pushed him to his feet, he fought the man's hand off of his shoulder, while mumbling obscenities under his breath. The man didn't take offence, he merely laughed it off.
"What're your names?"
"Fuck off!" Daryl spat.
Skylar raised his gun and hit him over the head, Daryl's body went limp and fell to the ground; Beth choked as tears spilled out of her eyes.
"What's your name, Blondie?"
Beth shook her head."Screw you."
John leaned in close."I'm sorry, what was that?"
Beth slowly turned, eyes red and puffy. She managed to work up enough saliva in her mouth and spat in his face.
"I said, screw you."
The man laughed deviously."Is that so?"
Beth stared at him as he looked to the other man, Skylar. Her heart thudded against her chest, her palms beginning to sweat. The man turned back to her with a casual smirk, and with one swift motion he whipped out his hand gun and struck her across the face.
Everything immediately went black but she could still hear their voices.
Beth's eyes slowly opened, her vision was slightly blurred, but after blinking a few times it cleared. She was in a room, in a hospital bed, in a hospital gown. She quickly looked around hoping to find Daryl, but all she found was an empty room with a single chair in the corner.
She slowly moved out of bed and walked to the door, she tried the knob but it was locked. It felt as if the wind was knocked out of her, she clutched her chest and took slow deep breaths. She raised her hand and pounded her fist against the wooden door.
"Daryl!" She yelled."Daryl, I'm in here!"
Heavy footsteps barreled down the hall and stopped just in front of the door, she jumped back as they unlocked the door. She ripped the IV out of her arm and held it protectively, as if it were a weapon. The door opened and a Doctor and Officer entered the room.
"Drop it!" The Officer commanded.
Beth swallowed and let the needle drop."Where am I?"
"Glenview estates."
"Where's the man I was with?" She demanded.
"He's here, we had to sedate him, he was being extremely violent with our staff." She explained.
Beth's lips pursed, she looked behind her out the window and saw the building overlooked a town. Her brow furrowed as she neared the pane glass window.
"This is a town?"
"Yes." Dawn began."We have well over 150 people currently residing here, including children and animals."
"There's children?"
She nodded."That's what this town is all about."
Doctor Edwards cleared his throat."Are you feeling any pain in your face?"
She shook her head."No, why?"
"You have a gash in your cheek, I had to stitch it up - twelve to be exact."
Beth reached up and touched her cheek, it felt rough and bumpy and painful to touch. She pulled her hand away and saw crimson residue on her fingers, she frowned and wiped her hand off on her gown.
"Could I see Daryl?" She asked."The man I was with?"
"Not right now, he's still pretty out of it. But you can get dressed if you'd like, or you could rest some more. Your choice." Doctor Edwards offered.
She nodded and walked over to her clothes, neatly folded on the chair in the corner. She glanced behind her and watched as the Doctor left, leaving the female officer behind. Beth slowly turned around and locked eyes with her. The woman stared at her like she was a villain, it scared her so much that she wanted to hide.
"We saved you, when could've left you behind for the biters." Her jaw clenched slightly."You owe us."
"Owe you? You didn't save us, your men kidnapped us!" Beth yelled.
She shook her head."We found you!"
Beth stared in disbelief. She was trying to tell her she was wrong, but she clearly remembered everything that happened.
"When Daryl wakes up, I'll need to speak with both of you. For right now, you'll need to have a complete physical."
"Why?"
She snorted."Because, its our policy. Stop asking questions and just do as you're told!" She yelled.
Beth bit her lip as the woman stormed out of the room, slamming the wooden door behind her. Dawn hurried out of the room and cut everyone who stared a look, she turned the corner and pushed open Doctor Edward's office door. He jumped slightly from behind his desk, then laughed nervously and adjusted his glasses.
"Oh, it's just you."
She rolled her eyes."She's perfect, him - not so much."
He nodded."Well, he is capable."
"And so is she, that doesn't mean he's perfect."
He sighed and placed his pen on the table."Let them at least get some food and rest, before you bombard them with your policies."
She laughed."Oh, my policies? We made this policy back in Grady, you had no problems with it."
He stared at her speechless.
"So why now?"
He shrugged."Maybe because Skylar and John didn't find them, maybe because they did take them."
She shook her head."We help people, you know that Steven. We always have."
"I know."
She stood up and smoothed her hair back with her hands."So, you'll give them a physical when he wakes up?"
He nodded, clearly annoyed."Yes, Dawn."
"Good."
Beth sat in a chair next to Daryl's bed, he was still out of it. It was sad to see him like this, so helpless and unaware. She reached out and touched his hand, he flinched and she looked up hoping to see his eyes open. But they didn't.
There was a soft knock on the door, she turned and saw the Doctor from earlier, standing there watching them. She turned back to Daryl.
"He'll be out of it for a little while longer."
"I know." Beth replied, rather dryly.
He walked over to the foot of the bed."I'm Doctor Steven Edwards, we didn't exactly have a proper introduction."
"Beth Greene."
"The loud one was Dawn Lerner, she runs our little town." He sounded unhappy as he spoke of her.
"Why're we here!?" She snapped.
He sighed."We need you."
"For what?"
"I-I can't specify on that, you'll learn later on."
Her brow furrowed."Why can't you just tell me?"
"It's not my place." he cleared his throat.
"It's not your place?"
He ignored her question as he left the room. Beth sunk back down in the chair; defeated, and folded her arms over her chest. This was confusing, scary and upsetting, making her stomach knot.
She happened to look over at Daryl just as his eyes began twitching, like he was waking up or dreaming. She leaned in close and grabbed his hand, hoping for a response. But all she got was light snoring instead. She kissed the back of his hand and closed her eyes.
I hope I kept them in character as much as possible, there's always room for improving as I like to say.
I already have a few chapters written out, I will try to post every two to three days (depending on how quickly I write)
Anyways, I sincerely hope you enjoyed the first chapter, and will be willing to continue to read!