It happened all too fast. One second he was watching the once naive girl he had taught to use a crossbow develop into what he had missed during their separated time. The confident, strong and no longer weak Beth, but then it all just stopped within one breath. The sound of the gun shot, her fragile blonde head snapping back and Rick dodging the blood shooting at him.
For not even half a second the world stopped for him. The officer with a small scissor impaling the top of chest looked up in horror.
"I didn't mean too-"
Daryl Dixon didn't have to hear the rest of it. His fingers grasped the gun laying on his side and he gritted his teeth before pulling the trigger and letting the bullet go straight into Dawns brain.
Everybody brought up their guns, daring to get a headshot on somebody else.
"Hold your fire!"
Daryl could see Rick shaking, his eyes wide.
"Its over!"
The officer put her hands out, emphasizing her words.
"It was just about her!"
He didn't need to look in order to know, nobody hadn't put their weapons down.
"Stand down," the officer exclaimed through gritted teeth.
Daryl kept his gun up, his bottom lip trembling and feet rocking back and forth. Carols icy hands grasped his shoulder. He gasped, tears slipping out of his eyes, looking down at the blurred vision of his shaking hand. He could see the blood ooze from her small head and on to the white tile floor. It was all over.
Words were exchanged, but Daryl couldn't hear. All he focused on was Beth's body just laying there. Her casted arm spread out and her legs awkwardly bent.
When they walked out of the hospital room, he knew what to expect. He saw Tyreese and Carol who held on to each other for dear life, and through the crack of their crying heads together, he saw Maggie's hopeful face, holding the large gun.
That all changed when they both moved out of the way. Maggie's smile faded and the gun she had been holding fell to the floor, along with her body. Sobs and screamed racked her body as she saw Daryl holding her limp sister. Beth's cow-boy boots swung back and forth, her head laying right on top of his chest.
Glenn goes down with her, trying to control her and Michonne shakes her head and closes her eyes in disbelief. Rosita covers her mouth in shock.
It had hit Daryl the girl he had lit up a house with and chased after for days was no longer there. He wouldn't never hear one more song, one more cry, one more inspirational Hershel quote ever again. Beth Greene was gone forever.