AN- Thank you so much to everyone who read and reviewed my first story, Abolesco. It was only ever going to be a short story but hopefully this story should get over 50k words. I hope to write a monster of a story, anyway and I hope everyone who reads this enjoys it! As always, reviews only help me write faster! Each chapter will be in either Daryl or Beth's point of view and they will alternate (with a few exceptions) every chapter. Enjoy!
Hot summer days like this made me miss the farm like crazy. Gone are the times where I could step into the field barefoot and feel the grass tickling the bottom of my feet and enjoy tangy lemonade with Jimmy. It's strange how we took those things for granted … How superficial we all were back then.
The prison made me feel like my blood was boiling and burning me from the inside so I sat outside in the shade with baby Judith for a while. It seems as though the dead rising and eating the living had given me a morbid sense of humour. It's not long before Carol joined me outside, wearing her bandana to keep her head from burning. I like Carol, other than Maggie she's the prettiest woman I've ever seen. Her hair's gray and cut short, but her eyes are a piercing blue and she has a smile that reaches all the way to her eyes and makes you feel warm inside.
When Judith was about two weeks old Carol and I were inseparable because we were always looking after her. I've always wanted a baby and I think Carol misses her little girl, Sophia an awful lot, so I guess that's how we bonded.
"How's the weather treating you, honey?" Carol sits next to me and holds out her arms for Judith and it seems as though Judith has been missing Carol a lot lately. She's been keeping guard with Daryl most of the time, so I'm usually the one with the baby and I suppose Judith's getting real bored of me.
"Well, I guess I'll get a suntan, right?" I chuckled slightly as I shielded my eyes from the glaring sun with one hand and held Judith in the crook of my arm with the other.
"Hold on a second." Carol smiled gently, took off a bandana from her waist and tied up my hair with it. It was one of my favorites; a pink background with white stars dotted about. She reminds me of my mother…
"How's Lil Ass Kicker doin'" A drawl from my right brought me out of my reverie and Daryl Dixon walked into view. His boots were dirty and covered in the guts of some walker as well as being marked with scuffs and dust, his trousers had traces of food, sweat and a smear of blood that was probably obtained from wiping his knife on them. On his torso was a long sleeved plaid shirt that'd been raggedly cut at the arms in order to resemble a vest and from his mouth hung a lopsided cigarette which he probably rolled himself.
"No smokin' near the baby." I held Judith protectively to me in an attempt to shield her from the toxic fumes he was puffing our way.
I could almost hear Carol tsk at my response to Daryl. I don't like him, it's a simple fact. I don't like him, I didn't like his brother Merle and I certainly don't like the way everyone worships him like he's a hero. Yes, he does a lot for the group in the sense he goes out hunting and scavenging for us, but we've got a lot of other people who can do that now, Tyreese, Rick, Glenn even Carl.
"She's just teasing, Daryl." Carol shot me a glance and I held Judith slightly closer. I stroked the small tufts of hair on her head as Carol got up and wandered to the far side of the wall with Daryl. Judith really looks like Lori, maybe that's why Rick can never look after her for a long period of time …
There's no point in dwelling upon why Rick spends the least amount of time with Judith in the world, he's a good leader and I enjoy looking after Judith and on occasion, keeping an eye out for Carl. My attention was somewhat stolen by Carol and Daryl's discussion … I can't hear what's being said but it's full of Carol tilting her head and Daryl rolling his eyes so I presumed Carol was persuading Daryl into doing something for her.
Judith's started crying due to the sun so I cautiously stood and took her inside the dull cell block. I remember the time Rick said he would colour the walls of Judith's room so she wouldn't wake up looking at walls as bleak as our future, and for some reason those words stuck with me. What are our chances of survival in a world like this? Most of the people here have it pretty good, they know what to do if they were swarmed but what about the young, the old, the injured, the people like me? I don't fit into any of the stereotypical useless survivors categories except maybe 'dumb blonde'.
I spent the rest of the day caring for Judith, playing with her and making sure she's well fed when Zach sat on the floor next to me.
"Hey Bethy." He leant forward and kissed my cheek as I refrained from cringing. Daddy calls me 'Bethy' and as much as I like Zach … It's creepy. He came here a few weeks ago with a group of college friends and they held their own in a world like this so I guess it's only fair they get their time of solace in the prison.
"Hey …" I smile softly and glance down at Judith. "Any' planned today?" In all honesty I never really cared. It would be nice if he stayed to keep me company, or nice for him if he went with his friends.
"That redneck, Daryl, is it? He's going on a run today, he's asking for volunteers and I think I'm gonna go with him." I had to admit, he has a gorgeous smile.
"Oh? I guess that'll be fun for you." I tried my best to be supportive, but apparently supportive wasn't exactly what Zach wanted from me.
"You could at least pretend to care, Beth." I didn't even look at him as he stood up. He stroked Judith's head gently and she gurgled in delight.
"I do care, I'm just sayin' that you'll have fun." I shrugged and pretended to preoccupy myself with some of Judith's toys.
"You're meant to be worried about me." Zach crouched in front of me and tucked my hair behind my ear as he talked. "You're supposed to beg me to stay." He chuckled softly and waits for my answer.
"It'll be nice to get you out of my hair for an hour or so." I smirked up at him and leaned in to kiss his lips once, and thankfully he gladly responded.
"I've gotta get my bag ready, I'll see you at dinner?"
"See you at dinner."
I was only given seconds to focus on Judith before my attention was taken up by a less worthy individual.
"Aw, young love. 'Aint it sweet?" As I looked up I saw Daryl leaning against the wall of my cell. He'd been the one who demanded taking the cell doors off due to not wanting to 'sleep in a cage'. Must have reminded him from all those times he was in jail.
"Hm." I murmured in response, I wasn't going to make this easy for him. Maybe if he had made more of an effort with me I might have been more welcoming. He spent all this time getting close to everyone apart from me; even the people from Woodbury had a better understanding of him.
I heard him sigh and the sound of his boots shuffle as he sat on my bed, I had to fight the urge to tell him to get off of it.
"Somethin' about you says you don't like me." I glanced over at him, he was sat on my bed with his elbows resting on his knees and his face in his hands, as though bored of the conversation before it had even begun.
"I like everyone, sir." Just because I didn't like him didn't mean I had to lose my manners and besides he was the reason I slept safely at night.
"You got a funny way of showin' it." He chuckled and sat up, intrigued. I noticed that he was dirtier than the rest of us despite the showers Glenn had managed to fix up. The water was sharp and cold, but a shower was a shower and 8 months with only a limited supply of water made me appreciate them even more. His face was stained with dirt and sweat which he'd probably gathered from spending the previous day on a run, so surely there was no need for him to make a run today.
"Maybe you just didn't make an effort." I shrugged and sat with Judith on my lap, I nuzzled her gently and kissed her head but to my horror Judith was reaching for him. Traitor.
"I 'aint ever seen you comin' to talk to me." He raised an eyebrow and flashed a smile at Judith, she squealed in delight and plucked her from my arms.
"You're the adult. You're the one who's meant to be makin' an effort." I shrugged and got up, but then I realised how out of place it was that Daryl had come to talk to me. "What do you want, anyway."
"Me? Oh, the pleasure of your company, of course." He beamed at me before the grin slid from his face. "I spoke to Carol."
I forced a breath from my lungs and turned to face him, hands on my hips. "So?"
He stood up too, Judith still in his arms, he towered over me and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand. Daryl was an intimidating person and his broad shoulders and thick, muscled arms only reinforced the fact that if he wanted he could snap me like a twig.
"She suggested I train you." He cocked his head and I saw the hint of a smirk creep upon his lips.
"Thanks, but no thanks." I smiled slightly, trying to dismiss the idea as kindly as possible but apparently Daryl Dixon had other ideas.
"Ah, ah, ah. Hold on a minute there, Greene." He put his free arm out across the entrance of my cell to stop me from leaving. I hadn't even tried to escape, but apparently as well as being lethal with a bow he was expertly trained in telepathy.
"Yes, sir?" I slowly turned to face him, rolling my eyes and puffing a sigh as I did so.
"I care about Carol an' she made a fair point." He bobbed a restless Judith and she was instantly silenced. Take note, Beth. "We're the only two people in this prison who don't talk." He glanced from Judith to me and raised an eyebrow.
"We're always too busy." I shrugged slightly and he just snorted with laughter.
"Quit makin' excuses. You're trainin' with me. You're probably the only one apart from the kids who can't look after herself."
"Excuse me?" One hand slid from my hip as I pointed it at him. "I can look after myself just fine! If I'm gettin' trained it's gonna be Maggie or Carl teachin' me!" And with that I stormed from the sweltering cell block, leaving Judith in the protection of her favourite babysitter.
Fuming, I made my way to the watch tower where I knew Maggie had been posted. As I made my way up the stairs Glenn made his way down them, nearly knocking into me as I walked. He smiled apologetically to which I responded with a glare. I like Glenn, but that day was not going well for me. HE grimaced and hurried his way down.
"Maggie, will you train me?" I sat down in the small box as she sat on the rusted railing, binoculars in hand.
"Hello Maggie, nice to see you Maggie," She grinned, before realising what I said. "What do you need training for?"
"Carol asked Daryl to train me, he says I can't look after myself." I watched as she slowly lowered the binoculars and sighed.
"Well, there's no one to blame for that. You just-" She began, but it was too late. She had agreed with him. My own flesh and blood had decided I was useless too.
"I know how to defend myself, Maggie! Why is everyone doubtin' me all the time?!" My arms flew from my sides as I argued my case, apparently Maggie wasn't having any of it today.
"Calm down, Beth. Listen, calm down. You've never killed a walker before …" I opened my mouth to retort, but she held up her finger to silence me. "I'm not sayin' you can't look after yourself, but let's face it, you need to learn how to use a gun."
Defeated, I looked at her. She was looking intently at me, waiting for my response. I didn't even know what to say … If Maggie thought I couldn't look after myself, then who would?
"Well, why can't you train me?" I sighed and folded my arms, my voice twisted with dejection.
"Because Daryl's the best we got." She placed her finger under my chin so I looked at her. Her smile made me feel slightly better, but I still wasn't satisfied.
"I want to raise it at the next group meetin'." I tightened my folded arms in defiance. At least I get to postpone the impending doom of training for at least a week.
"Lucky for you, the next meetin's tonight." She smirked at my look of horror.
My blood ran cold as I gulped, trying to sputter a response yet nothing came. I licked my lips as my eyes darted around the cosy square raised above the courtyard that served as a watch tower and I shifted my weight from foot to foot as I tried to talk my way out of this.
"I suggest you make a case." Was all Maggie said before raising the binoculars to her eyes again.
Apart from Rick and my Dad I was the only person in the library, waiting for the meeting. I watched as familiar faces poured in, settling themselves around the oak table. It was a wonder how the table had managed to be spared during an outbreak, yet living people hadn't. The meeting was mainly about supply runs and fixing the problem of the walkers forcing their way through the fence, but it was also the first meeting I had attended. Then finally, Rick asked if anyone had anything to say.
"Um, I do." I took a deep breath and stood up, heart thumping so loud I was certain everyone could hear. "I've been told that, uh, Daryl would like to train me and … I don't see any reason for it." My face was on fire and if I could have seen it I'm sure it was the colour of a tomato.
The room was silent and Rick looked to my Father, who just sighed and nodded.
"Listen, Beth … It's nothing against you, but … It's come to our attention that you don't know how to handle a weapon properly …" He licked his lips and dug his hands into his pockets as he averted my glare.
"I know how to use those long guns." I clenched my fists to emphasise my opposition to the idea. "I just haven't ever been given the chance."
"Beth, listen to Rick." I turned my head as my Father spoke, the whole room was captivated by him. "A little training can't hurt … Can it? Think about the responsibility you'd have." I knew he was patronising me, but my mind raced back through time to when Rick had amputated my Father's lower leg … Perhaps if I had been there I could have helped him, prevented it from happening.
There was no way I was letting the world know I didn't want Daryl to train me so I stayed silent, just nodding as Rick decided I was going to be subjected to hours of torment at the hands of Daryl Dixon.
"Where is Daryl, now that we're speaking of him?" Glenn piped up, still hiding from my gaze.
"He's on a run for things for Judith." Carol smiled in response, how she could like that man I'd never know. Well, apart from the obvious of looking for her daughter when she went missing, but other than that? There wasn't anything to them really.
"With who?" One of the women from Woodbury stood, I couldn't for the life of me remember her name, but she was a Mother and her son was probably out with Daryl.
The response was cut short by Carl sprinting into the room, panting heavily.
"They're back, it's not good."
I helped my Father to his feet, well, foot and walked outside with him. Only two had returned. Daryl and another boy, someone from Woodbury. There was no sign of Zach.
"Some pricks jumped us." Spluttered Daryl. He lay on the floor, covered in blood and wheezing yet his crossbow remained in his hand. Typical.
The other boy lay there unmoving apart from the slight rise and fall of his chest. My Father made his way to the boy, shouting instructions to people to get him the things he needed.
"This was planned." Daryl sat up slowly, wincing as he did so. "It was too organised to be a random jump." He spat on the ground next to me and I grimaced.
"Looks like you're gonna need that training after all." Maggie whispered, hand on my shoulder as we stared out at the darkness full of terrors that stretched beyond our sacred safe haven.