His Beth

Chapter 1

They took her out of a car and roughly pushed on the floor in some kind of a barn. It was dark inside – the only window was boarded up tight. The smell of a wet hay and dead flesh hit her right in the nose straight away. Beth looked around. The only thing she could see was dark pile of blankets in the farther corner. She took few steps in that direction. The pile moved. Or was it just her imagination? As time passed, her eyes got used to the darkness so she could see those weren't blankets. But she still wasn't sure if it was someone alive or a walker.

- Hello? - Beth asked gingerly. - Who are you?

She stepped closer to the corner and sat down on her knees. Her hand reached to the holster for a knife, but it wasn't there. Apparently her kidnappers managed to take it off. Stranger flinched.

- Do you know where we are? Who are those people?

Couple of minutes there was complete silence. Beth patiently waited for the answer.

- They took you too? - it was a girl. Maybe the same age as Beth was. Or even few years younger.

- Yes. They kidnapped me right from funeral house. The place I thought could become my home. Our... - Suddenly Beth fell silent. She remembered about Daryl. He could've been dead by now. No. She didn't believe that he could die. He's the toughest person she's ever met.

- They found me on the road. I was looking for food and when they've come I assumed they were good at first. But then they locked me in that damn barn.

- How long you've been here?

- I don't really know... Maybe a week. I don't see day's light much here. They take me out on nights.

- What are they doing?

- You still don't understand? They are rapists! Hunters. Killers. - apparently girl bit her lip to not to start crying. Beth remained silent for several minutes trying to realize the whole situation they were in.

- Is there someone looking for you? I mean, did you have a group or something out there?

- No, it's just me. I've lost my friends few days before all of this happened. We were at riverside, trying to catch some fish for dinner when walkers came out of the woods and attacked us. I ran away. Just like that. Was too afraid to do somethin'. Maybe if I wasn't such a coward things would've turned another way. And I wouldn't be here. But I did what I did.. and now... - her voice trembled, she started sobbing.

- Don't worry, I have a friend who will be looking for me. He will rescue both of us. - Beth believed in every word she said. - What's your name?

- Kaitlyn.

- I'm Beth. - she tried to smile, it was more for herself than for Kaitlyn, cause Beth knew it was too dark there to see it. She got to her feet - Maybe we could figure how to get outta here?

- You think I haven't tried that before? There's only one exit. And they' guard it.

Daryl walked behind Joe fighting with a growing desire to stab him in a head. All his thoughts were about Beth. Who knows where she is now and what they've done to his little Beth. His Beth. It was first time Daryl thought about her that way. He needed to get rid of this bunch of bastards and go for her. Whatever it'll take.

- So ar ya a lone ranger or somethin'? - smirked Joe.

Daryl kept walking in quiet. Several thoughts immediately passed through his mind. What if they knew about her? What if they tracked them for some time? It's too dangerous to say anything about Beth, he knew habits of such people like Joe and his pack was. They're too damn similar to his own brother, Merle.

- Cause we think it's easier to survive when you've gotta good company. Right, guys? - hunters lauded behind them approvingly. - Whatcha think 'bout joining us, huh? I'm sure you're a good hunter - you've survived that long. So what d'ya say?

Daryl still kept quiet.

- Ok, maybe when ya see our lil' camp you'll change your mind. - evil smile flashed through Joe's face.

After a few hours of walking they finally reached the place. It's wasn't a camp at all. It was a big farm – two-floor white house with couple of barns around it. They entered the gates, but Daryl stopped right in front of them.

- C'mon in. Be our guest. - Joe only pretended to be nice. It was clear as a day that if Daryl doesn't follow them they'll kill him without a doubt. The question was why they wanted him? Cause it was obvious they didn't need more people – there was enough throats to feed already. He hesitated for a moment and walked in. The gates have been closed behind his back.

Hunters quickly disappeared around the farm and Joe along with Daryl walked right into a house. There was rubbish everywhere – dirty clothes on a couch, empty jars on a floor and some dishes covered with blood on the table. Joe noticed Daryl's gaze, but didn't say anything about it.

- Make yourself at home. Ya can rest now, look around.

- What do you want from me? - Daryl has spoken for the first time since they met on a crossroad. His voice was calm and confident. Joe turned around looking in wonder.

- What d'ya mean?

- You brought me here. You need something.

- We could be friends. - Joe smirked again. - Don't you think so? We ar so similar. You and I. We're hunters. Survivors. I need a man like ya in my company. The hounds are good, but they're nothin' without a leader. You could be the one.

Daryl stared at him with his cold blue eyes with a question.

- I need someone I could trust. Cold-minded hunter with skills. Who will know how ta act when it takes to make a quick decision. Ya know whatta mean? And I know ma hounds too well to let 'em hunting by the,selves. Anyway. Let's think 'bout it later. I gotta stuff to do.

He passed Daryl like nothing happened and went upstairs, leaving him to himself. What now?

Daryl crossed the kitchen right to the back door and went out to the backyard. There was a garden with a couple of apple-trees, small old barn and a car standing not so far – someone was fiddling with the engine. And behind the fence rye fields extended. Redneck took a seat on the porch. Sun's going down when Joe went out and said:

- Here you are! 'was looking for ya. We're gotta little present. What I'd be a host without a surprise? - he chuckled. - Git up yur ass, I'll show ya.

They went along with three more men to the other side of the farm, where was another barn, the biggest one.

- Nilson, c'mon, drag 'em outta here! - commanded Joe. Tall dark-skinned man came up to the barn, opened it and disappeared behind the door. In a few moments two slim silhouettes showed up from the darkness tied up with ropes and gagged. Caught Joe's questioning gaze, Nilson muttered:

- Lil' bitches were kickin' and bitting...

It was getting really dark outside, so Joe's men lighted up few torches. Next second Daryl's eyes spread wide open. He saw Beth. Alive. In all those ropes, in hands of that dirty dickhead Nilson. He opened mouth in a will to shout something to her, but stopped himself. It could've been dangerous. If they knew Daryl knows her they could kill them both right now. His heart was beating so fast he almost didn't hear his own thoughts. It was so hard to keep calm when she was right there in front of him.

- Here you go. - happily said Joe. The bastard was so please by himself it disgusted Daryl even more. - What a pack without some bitches? We gotta new one here. Lads brought her yesterday. Wanna try it out? As our guest ya can choose any of 'em.

Daryl looked up on Joe and nodded to the right, where Beth was standing. She raised her head and saw his figure. It was hard to see anything in a torchlights right in front of her. But that surely was Daryl. She almost screamed, but gag drowned the sound. Only subdued moans broke through the gag.

- Good choice! Don't worry, she won't bite if you keep the gag in her mouth. - Joe approved.

He nodded Nilson and hunter pushed the girl further. Beth almost fell in Daryl's hands. The only thing he wanted now was to hug her tight and do not release until they leave that damn place. But he couldn't - they will understand he knows her. Therefore Daryl roughly grabbed Beth's shoulders and pulled her back to the house. He didn't look in her face, didn't look at her at all, just glared down to the ground and kept walking fast. Joe watched them until couple disappeared behind the door. There were people inside too, so Daryl still couldn't show any emotions towards her.

- Someone's gonna have fun tonite! - scoundrels laughed from the couch.

Daryl didn't pay attention to them, he almost dragged Beth upstairs and found an empty bedroom. Only behind the locked door he sighed with a relief and let Beth off. He was heavily breathing, his shoulders were going up and down. For several moments they were standing still without a move. Daryl stepped to Beth and untied ropes. Beth clung to his hands with her cold fingers. He slowly took out the gag and in the next second covered her mouth with his big palm to prevent her from screaming.

- Shh... They could hear us. They shouldn't find out we know each other.

Finally Daryl took his hand from her lips. Beth immediately wrapped her hands around man's waist. She hugged him with all the powers were left in her tired body and buried her face on his chest. Girl started sobbing quietly. Daryl put hands around her:

- Calm down, it's ok now. We'll get outta here. I promise.

Beth lifted her head up looked right in Daryl's eyes. They didn't need to say anything. All pain, thankfulness, happiness were in their eyes. No words needed to express how much they've missed each other. His chin rested on top of her head, both were breathing calmly. That's all they needed for the moment. One peaceful moment. Finally Beth weakened embrace. Daryl looked around searching for weapons they could use, but there was nothing useful. He took crossbow in hands and carefully looked outside. Joe and four hunters stood in the yard around the second girl. She was crying and screaming in terror. Beth couldn't take it anymore, every squeal was getting under her skin like a long needle.

- I know. I need to return to the barn.

- W.. what?! - Daryl's eyes widened in shock.

- Daryl, we have to help Kaitlyn. Besides, we have no chance to escape alive like that.

- You ain't gonna return there. No way.

- But I have to. C'mon, bring me back to that damn barn.

- Daryl looked at her in wonder and amusement. Those big cornflower-blue eyes full of fear and confidence.

- We should try to run at night, when everyone will be sleeping. There'll be only one guard at the barn.

- I'll take care of him. Think I should tie you up again. - he hesitated.

Beth took ropes from the floor and handled them to Daryl. Slowly and carefully he wrapped the rope around her waist. Then folded Beth's hands behind, tying up her tiny wrists. After that he reached for the gag to put it back in her mouth. When he was done, they looked at each other once again, like asking 'Ready?' without a word. He opened door and they went out. While they were going downstairs, he pretended to zipping his pants up. Hunters chuckled in the living room.