Chapter 1

She lay on her back, fully clothed, floating in the crystal clear water. The gentle, sparkling waves caused by the slow-moving current earned a small smile from the girl as she floated along. It seemed as if the small lake hadn't even been touched by the current goings-on in the world and for that she was grateful. Sighing softly, she closed her eyes and listened to the natural sounds around her as the water softly slapped against the quarry walls and the tiny blackbirds sang overhead as they flew away from the direction of the city.

The night before was awful and she was sure that she was shirking what little responsibilities she had by being out in the lake. It was likely that she was supposed to be helping with the pack-up. Their camp had been infiltrated and destroyed by the walking dead and she was sure that after all of the bodies had been buried or burned her assistance would be needed. But she didn't care. This was nice and also necessary.

She felt weightless. The world couldn't touch her here. She opened her eyes again taking in the clear blue sky above her, almost cursing herself for being so flippant about all that was happening. Amy, a girl shed'd become close with, was killed the night before and she had yet to shed a tear or even two. What was wrong with her?

Beth lifted her hands above her blocking out the brightness of the sun and she locked her eyes onto the pink, slightly raised line of healed flesh that now permanently scarred her wrist. Suddenly, her mood shifted and guilt started to ebb the edges of her mind.

She was still alive after taking her own life for granted. She was alive, still, after somehow managing to escape the dead-laden hospital she was in for recovery's sake over the last two months. Luck? Or did God decide to punish her by keeping her alive.

Sighing once more, Beth turned over and started to swim back over to the rocky shore. She didn't have much to pack up at the camp. All she had was a backpack she'd grabbed off of a corpse to shove peanut butter crackers, random medications, and Jello cups into as she left the hospital. The bag in question was on shore right next to her cowboy boots. She didn't trust to leave her bag laying around with those moody Dixon brothers, particularly Merle, trudging around the camp. But he hadn't made it back either.

She now sat on the rocky shore and stared at her bag, wishing she had clothes to change into. When she'd gotten into the water, she didn't spare a thought towards her dress becoming waterlogged. The blonde woman reached up, locking her hands around her wet hair, darkened by the water, to wring it out before securing it in one long braid on the side.

If she wanted, she could just leave. None would be the wiser. No one in the camp owed her anything and she didn't owe anything to any of them. Sure, they offered her camaraderie and she welcomed it. But not when they kept dying. Maybe she'd be better off if she were left alone to deal with her punishment. No, she needed to help. To redeem herself. Not only for her higher power but for herself.

Collecting her boots and her bag into her arms, she started her way back to camp, hoping that they hadn't left yet.

XXXX

Finding herself back at camp, Beth had come upon the scene of one family driving away from the group and the others prepared to travel to the CDC or Fort Benning. Rick and Shane, the group's new, self-appointed leaders were arguing on which was best.

What happened while she was gone?

"The hell you been? Gon' get blisters and catch your death. All wet and you ain't got shoes on, especially in these times," Beth heard as she stepped past Daryl Dixon's old beat-up truck. She glanced over at the younger Dixon brother. He was leaning against the tailgate of his blue truck, a cigarette between his fingers, eyes narrowed at her. Yes, he was talking to her, or at her.

Beth shrugged, looked back towards the lake, and commented lightly, "It ain't killed me yet." And she stopped her trek to the RV when Daryl snorted.

"Why are you still here?" Beth asked. She didn't mean to ask him this question, and she was sure that it hadn't even fully formulated in her mind before she spoke. She chanced a look at him to see him regarding her with a look of guarded contemplation, blue eyes still narrow. And she could see right through him. He didn't know. His brother had been in Atlanta and he'd made it out. What obligation did Daryl have to the group?

They stared at one another for at least thirty seconds before Daryl blinked. He took another drag from his cigarette before dropping the butt into the dirt and crushing it with his boot. He walked around to the door of his truck and opened it, getting in, their conversation forgotten.

Still standing there, feet bare, Beth looked towards the RV to see Dale, the RV's owner, and Glenn, a college student just a couple years her senior, leaning against the RV, their caps in hand looking towards the tree that Rick and Shane had moved to. She followed their stares quizzically.

Oh.

Rick was speaking to Jim, who rested against the tree. He'd been bitten in the chaos from the night before and he made the decision to stay at the campsite for one of the holes he'd dug, he dug for himself. It was sad, Beth thought. Jim was a nice guy. He didn't deserve this and neither did Amy.

"Why am I still here," Beth whispered to herself. She jumped slightly when she felt a light touch on her arm. She turned to see Lori Grimes smiling at her.

"We thought you left," Lori states, brown eyes curious as she took in Beth's mostly wet hair and clothing. Beth shook her head and gave Lori a small smile for reassurance. "I needed some peace," Beth offered and Lori nodded in understanding.

"We're goin' to the CDC to see if there's anythin' there. Beyond that, we don't know. Did you plan on stickin' with us or movin' on?" Lori questioned, eyes hopeful.

And almost as if it were the first time, Beth thought of her family. She grimaced. They were the ones who'd initially dropped her off at the hospital and she'd refused to see them though they traveled once a week those two months to visit with her. They were worried for her and hadn't been acting out of malice but she was selfish.

"You really think there's something at the CDC?" Beth asked in a quiet whisper.

"I don't know. Rick seems pretty sure about it and I'm willin' to take that gamble. It's up to everyone here if they want to do the same. You're more than welcome to come with us if you'd like," Lori offered placing a gentle hand onto Beth's shoulder. The blonde girl watched as Mrs. Grimes walked back over to her family's car.

A loud rumble started up beside her, and she nearly flinched, almost expecting it. Daryl had started up his truck. She'd almost forgotten that he was there. He was leaning against his steering wheel waiting for the call to start moving.

"Use your lights if you need somethin'!" Shane called out before the caravan started to pull away. Beth stood there, not knowing what to do. On one hand, the CDC might be promising but on the other, this whole mess may have even started there. And what of her family?

"Come on." This time, Beth did flinch. Blue-grey eyes wide, she stared at Daryl, bewildered.

"Once I start movin', I ain't stoppin. Get in or don't," Daryl spoke, almost muttering. In that split-second Beth fully realized what was happening. She rushed over to the rusty old passenger door of his to climb into the cab of the truck.

The floor of the pickup looked dirty; the small rug at her feet was stained with years worth of dirt, life. Beth didn't care as she curled her toes relishing in the soft fibers of the carpet. It felt a hell of a lot better than jagged quarry rocks.

When she felt the truck start moving, the blonde woman looked up, a small smile on her face.

"My daddy has a truck like this. It was supposed to be mine after my first year of college..."Beth trailed off and looked towards the blurring woods. Daryl wasn't responding or making any sort of indication that he was even listening. For some reason, this prompted her to continue. It was nice, just having someone there, other than her therapist, to listen, or not listen. Whatever. Amy was a sweet girl but she was the one who was always talking. And now she was dead. Beth knew that her words were probably just going straight out the window but she didn't care.

"He let me drive it to town a few times on my own. To visit the outdoor market or library but he didn't completely trust me with it. Probably because I'd driven it straight into the racin' tree on our property one night," Beth giggled sweetly at her memory, "The racin' tree was like a mile marker for us kids. We'd have wheelbarrow races with the neighbor kids to see who could make it there faster…They're all probably dead now."

Beth hummed and pushed her bag onto the floor, tucking her feet beneath it.

"Thank you, Daryl." Beth glanced up at him quickly to see if anything would register on the moody man's face. He was stoic as usual and probably irritated that she was running her mouth. That small smile was still on her face though and she leaned on her arm out the open window, face towards the wind, relaxed.

"Yeah." So he had been listening. Or maybe he just hoped she'd shut up.

"I don't think that we should go to the CDC."

Daryl cut his eyes towards the girl. If she noticed the quick swivel of his head, she didn't let on that she had.

"Ain't we almost there?" Daryl spoke, "Where the hell else we goin'?"

"Somewhere in the woods would be good. Away from everything. Somewhere quiet and off the grid?" Beth was still staring out the window as she wistfully mused the possibilities. She missed the farm. She missed her family.

Daryl stared ahead towards the other cars from their group. Damn it if this girl didn't make a bit of sense. He didn't think there'd be anything at the CDC either, if he were honest. He and Merle had stumbled upon the camp in the woods because they were trying to be off the grid and trying to reach higher ground.

Impulsively, he flashed his lights to signal the other cars. They all coasted to a stop. Fuck.