Safe.

What really defines being safe, one without danger? Locked up where no harm will come to you? I can't breathe here; I haven't seen the sunshine in days it seems and no matter where they take me, no matter what I tell them, "You left my partner! We have to go back!" They don't listen to me, they say I'm "safe" and I never have to worry again. I tell them I can take care of myself, I'm not a child, they can't keep me like this, kidnapped is what I am. They say I should thank them, they showed up just in time, the house was swarmed by feeders. Feeders are what they call them, I say Daryl took care of me, but they say he's gone now. He will turn. But I don't believe them, he's alive and he will come for me. They say I am blessed. I don't feel blessed, I feel trapped.

"Good morning, Beth," My captor said to me as he walked into my own bedroom that morning, I can't even remember his name. He's not that bad of a guy, along with his wife, I know they mean well, they see me a child, a child that needs saving from this big bad world, but they don't know me at all.

"Morning," I spoke back to him as cheery as I could.

"I hope you slept well, I was up all night boarding the windows and doors so we could keep out the feeders,"

"Oh yes, I was actually wanting to move on so I could find my guide,"

"Oh Beth, I really don't think it would be a good idea, he may not still be alive," he said stepping closer into my room.

"Well I need to find out; we were together for a while and did fine until we found your shelter,"

"I'm glad you did, that's why we leave houses like that so people can live on, I want to help everyone,"

"But I don't need help, I have to find Daryl, I need to leave, I'm very grateful for what you are doing but I can't stay with you," I was off my bed now, standing tall, my voice getting louder and my hands getting sweaty. I felt like I could run right through this man who thought he was playing father, but my father was gone, I lost him just like I lost Daryl.

"All due in time dear, now let's eat," And he walked away, just like that. I couldn't believe this man did not know what he was doing to me, I was not happy, I did not want to be safe, I wanted to live.

I walked down the stairs in what used to be a nice home into the bare kitchen with only a kitchen table and four chairs seeing his strawberry blonde wife cook at the gas stove. She had gotten eggs from outside at the chicken coop and there was even some bread, I would have died for some sausage. Rick had made some back at the prison and it was delicious.

"Morning," I called as I stepped closed to the table and took a seat.

"Morning dear, I am so glad that I have another little girl to cook for," She smiled at me so great like shed known me forever.

And that's how I knew I was there, they must have had a daughter and lost her, and I was there to fill the emptiness. But I didn't want to play family, with these people at least, I wanted my sister, I wanted Daryl, I wanted Rick and Carl, I wanted MY family. The people who were like brothers and sisters to me, I wanted Daryl back to teach me and share stories with me, and hold my hand when I felt lonely. I felt like he was part of me, we were connected and we gave each other strength to get up every day. I missed him taking care of me.

I just smiled at the older woman and told her I loved farm fresh eggs, and that I was raised on them, and she said she had been too.

I tried for the next few days to go outside to try and get away, but it was always an excuse, "Too many feeders out today," "Don't have enough nails to board back the wood," "Ma needs your help." So I decided I would get out of that house just like any other mothers daughter could leave home, I'd tell her I was in love.

"He has the most beautiful eyes," I grinned looking down at the living room floor while we sat on the only couch in that room.

"Was he good to you?" She asked, putting her hand on mine.

"Oh yes," I snapped my head back up. "Yes, he took care of me when I hurt my ankle, taught me how to hunt and protect myself, told me things he told never told a living soul, he cared about me,"

"He sounds like a good man,"

"He is we were going to stay in that house until you guys…" Beth had to take a moment before she said anything hurtful. "Saved me."

"Well we showed up at the house after being out for supplies and saw that it was covered until I saw you, and I was said Martin, there's a little girl, we have to save her, and he went and picked you up, and honey it was for the best. You could have died,"

"He would have never let anything hurt me,"

Then she went quiet for a second and looked over to an old chest over by the wall, and looked back at me. She took both my hands into hers and looked at me like she never would again, pushed the hair out of my face and sighed.

"My husband Martin, he means well, but this virus has gotten him wanting to save everyone, and he doesn't understand there's no one left to save,"

I saw a lonely tear in the corner of her eye as she told me she had something for me.

We walked over to the old chest and she took off the heavy lock and opened it wide, inside was knifes, short swords, grenades, an axe, and a couple of guns.

"What?" I looked at her in shock, and back into the chest, I had never seen so many weapons at once. I wasn't sure as to where she was getting at, but I was hoping she was going to let me free.

"Take anything you need, we found this when we arrived and were just an old married couple, we can't use these,"

"Oh my," my lungs let out all the air they were holding and I hugged her, so tight and long I had hoped she knew how grateful I was.

"I'll let you out, hurry up now," She said as she got up and walked away.

There was also a backpack, and a belt holster, I could also put knifes in, I took as many as I could comfortably carry, because I had no idea how long it would take to find Daryl.

I walked through the house trying to be as quiet as I went to find where she went and keep looking around corners but couldn't find her. I went back towards the kitchen and there she was by the back door which had only one board on it, she already had it off. "Martin always uses this one to go out so it was the fastest one to get open."

"Thank you so much," I could feel myself about to cry but she put her hand on my cheek and I felt better.

"Do you want to go with me?" I whispered.

"Oh no honey, you go. Find your boyfriend,"

I didn't want to correct her so I just nodded my head, opened the wooden door and stepped out onto the stone steps.