Exodus in America

The ferry he was on was only reserved for the rich folks. It was large, at least three stories adorned with bars and poker tables on each floor. But he stood by the ropes, avoiding the men in suits and the women with fancy hats. He knew these types of people well, hell these sort of people is who he stole from, the sort of people he had killed in cold blood. It was the days he took the west without a care in the world, the days when he thought his cause was a good one. Now though, it was his old ways that got him into this sort of trouble.

The two government agents behind him gave him a push when the ferry docked. Agent Walsh and his desk man, Zachery escorted him off the boat and into the bustling town of Blackwater. The sounds of the town filled his ears, mostly calls from the men selling newspapers. "Extra, extra, Merle Dixon and his gang cause bloodshed in New Austin, read all about it!"

The headline made the cowboy scoff and the two agents ushering him along chuckle. "What'chu laughin' at, your brother is causin' fear and havoc and you think it's some sorta joke?" Zachary sneered, causing the cowboy to roll his eyes. It wasn't too long until they got to the train station and the agents pushed him on board. "Now remember," Agent Walsh spoke up. "The faster you take care of your brother, Merle the faster you get your son and that shitty ranch back."

The threat itself sounded like nothing, but his ten year old son, being held by government agents put the fear of god in him. The cowboy just gave a grunt of understanding, but that didn't seem enough for Shane Walsh. "Daryl, do you understand me? There will be a man in Armadillo waitin' for you arrival. You even think about runnin' and well- I don't think you wanna know what'll happen to sweet little ol' Tommy."

Daryl Dixon glared at the two men. "Of course, officers." He spat before boarding the train and finding a seat. Once the train's bell rung, it lurched to a start and once again, Daryl felt out of place on the manmade way of travel.

"Well, I for one am grateful, Mrs. Bush, that they are finally bringing salvation to this savage land." And elderly woman dressed in a fancy purple get up said. Daryl listened in on their conversation quietly as he watched the country side turn to desert as the train drove on. "I could not agree with you more, my dear." The woman, who had to be Mrs. Bush responded. "My daddy settled this land, and I know he'll be lookin' down on us, pleased on how we helped the natives." The woman, Mrs. Bush spoke with a sort of arrogance in her voice, obviously greed was clouding what was really going on in not just the west, but the whole country. "Yes, the lost their land." The woman in purple said. "But they've gained access to heaven."

Daryl hadn't been around people in a long time, he almost forgot how dimwitted they could be. It had been him and Tommy for the past ten years, livin' on the land and huntin'. As the two women behind him stopped their conversation, a younger woman started talking to the priest in front of him. "But father." The young woman's voice was full of wonder. "Do you mean unless an innocent receives communion, they're destined to go to hell?" Daryl let out a chuckle at the way the priest's eyes went wide. "I hardly think that's fair." The young women added. "What I mean to say, Jenny, that there is a great deal of difference between an innocent and a savage." Daryl shook his head as he listened and the young woman, Jenny nodded her head in understanding. "Oh, I see now."

Letting out a sigh, Daryl sat back on the wooden bench and closed his eyes, maybe he'd get some sleep. But from all the talking, he already knew he wasn't. He was doing his best to ignore these ignorant people when a passenger took a seat next to him. She had her long blonde hair pulled back into a braid and wore ranchers clothes. She too gave odd looks to the people around them. "They're so ignorant." She spoke softly which made Daryl look over at her. "Savages," She shook her head. "People need a reality check, ya know? Then they'd see that they are the real savages."

"Well here we are, Mrs. Bush." The purple lady spoke. "Armadillo."

"See you around," blonde girl said as she stood up from her spot and excited the train cart and made her way to a man with a cart full of sacks and hay. Daryl, however took the instructions he had been given and made his way to the saloon, not knowing what to expect next.

XXX

"Mr. Dixon!" A man that had clearly been missing a few baths. "Mr. Dixon." The man yelled again, this elderly fellow looked pretty drunk and the prostitute entertaining him looked pretty well off too. "Over here!" Daryl took a deep breath before walking over to the drunkard, This was who the government hired to help him, were they serious about this or now. "Names Joe, Mr. Dixon. You're friends in Blackwater hired me to take ya to Fort Mercer- though why'd a fella wanna go out there's beyond me." He chuckled a drunken laugh. "I gots two horses outside for us, why dontcha join me and we'll get this done and over with once and for all."

Daryl couldn't agree more, he for one wanted to get this mission done once and for all, but of course, the man Joe did nothing but talk. Asking him why he used one of the native's weapons- claiming the bow and arrow had lost it's touch after guns become more power full. Yes, Daryl had his bow, but he carried a high arsenal of weapons, from his hunting knife to the shot gun, to the revolver, He made sure he was ready for anything. "Marshall Grimes was not happy to hear that an ex-criminal was comin' up in these parts. We havin' our own problems, the gangs 'round here? They causin'nothin' but trouble."

As they got closer to the fort, Joe started slowing down and Daryl glanced over at the man. "Well, here ya are, Fort Mercer. They built it during the Alamo, but now it's just a house for wanted criminals. Good luck to you, friend." He laughed before galloping off.

Well it was now or never. Daryl dismounted his horse and started to the large, crumbling war building. "Merle!" He hollered. "Merle Dixon!"

"What the fuck!" Someone shouted within the walls of the fort, wasn't long till the voice looked over the wall and laughed. "Well shit, it's mah baby brother. The fuck you want?"

"What I want is for you to come with me!" Daryl flat out said. "Some agents, they've got Tommy, Merle and they wanted me to come and get you."

Merle scoffed. "Are you fuckin'serious, I ain't going to no jail for that bastard son of yers, you god damn traitor." He yelled.

Now that made Daryl snap, his brother should have known that he'd at least have a plan to get Merle away from the lawmen after he got his son back. "Merle, yer comin'with! Dead or alive!"

Before Daryl could even think he heard the sound of a gun and a piercing pain rush through his shoulder. He staggered back for a moment before everything went black.

"We just gonna leave 'em out there?"

"Pft,he's wolf food for all I care."

XXX

Daryl wasn't quite sure how long he was laying there on the ground, but he could feel himself coming in and out of conciseness. He didn't picture it ending like this, being shot down by his stupid ass brother. The archer thought he was done for, until a heavenly like voice filled his ears. "Jimmy! Pull over the wagon! Pull it over, I say." Then he could have sworn an angel was standing over him, blond hair, blue eyes and the most beautiful face he'd ever seen- it looked a lot like the woman on the train. "Shit, he's been shot, help him on the wagon- and be careful not to hurt 'em even more."

He could feel himself being lifted from the ground and placed on a higher surface. "C'mon, let's get him to the ranch, Bob'll patch 'em up in no time." There was a pause before the angelic face looked back down at him. "You're gonna be okay, sir."