A/N
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to review, follow or favourite this story, it's really appreciated. This chapter is just setting the scene, getting people where they need to be, chapter two will be up in the next day or so and the whumping will begin.-
Chapter 1
Daryl and Glenn exchanged disbelieving glances, wondering how the hell the people of Alexandria had survived as long as they had. The run to the small town 30 or so miles from the safe zone was the first time any of their group had been out with the sheltered survivors. The three men had driven straight into the centre of the town with no thought of danger. They marched into the abandoned stores without checking for walkers first and used their guns indiscriminately, scoffing when Glenn used a knife to take out a walker silently, mocking when Daryl had to stop to retrieve his bolts from the corpses.
"Could've shot six more in the time it took you to get them back" one of them fired into the skull of a walker no more than three feet away from him.
"Wouldn't of been six more if you assholes weren't callin' them in with all the noise you're makin'" Daryl snarled, getting in the man's face.
Glenn stepped between them before it became a problem.
"Let's just get what we need and get out of here" he reasoned " before more of them arrive"
With a final glare Daryl stomped off, heading into the pharmacy. He and Glenn had already checked the rear exit, making sure it was clear and unlocked in case they needed an alternative way out. The five men picked their way through the already heavily looted store, finding few items of use.
They had reached the far end of the store when the sound of the door opening stopped them. Peering cautiously round the shelves Daryl saw a group of about eight heavily armed, rough looking men milling around the entrance.
Using hand signals he indicated that they retreat to the rear exit. Glenn pushed on the door, opening it a few inches before the chains now wrapped around the handles stopped it.
"You thinkin' 'bout using that back door, don't bother" a taunting voice called "we locked it up good and tight. Only way you lot are getting' out is if we say so and I don't see that happening"
The Alexandria residents looked at each other in panic.
"What we going to do?" one of them whispered "They're going to kill us"
Daryl and Glenn exchanged looks again, as they moved away from the door, instinctively looking for another way out. A door behind the counter opened into a small store room, light filtering in through a dirty skylight.
"We'll go out through there, down the roof and make a run for the car" Glenn explained to the frightened men as Daryl pulled a table under the skylight, scrambling up and forcing it open.
"Get your asses up here" he ordered. The men hurried to obey, desperate to save their own skins. Linking his hands together Daryl gave each man a boost until they were outside, leaving just him and Glenn in the small room.
"Now you, Korean boy" Daryl waited for Glenn to put his foot in his cupped hands so he could hoist him up.
Glenn hesitated "If I go, how you going to get up there, it's too far to jump?"
Daryl shrugged "Don't worry 'bout me, I'll find a way. Get your butt up there, someone's gotta watch out for them Alexandria jerks"
They could hear the men laughing as they made their way through the pharmacy, searching for their prey.
"Come out, come out wherever you are" one of them called in a sing song voice "we're gonna find you, there's no point prolonging it"
"Get the hell outta here now!" Daryl grabbed Glenn's foot and shoved him up, towards the skylight, forcing the younger man to scramble out.
"I don't get back, you don't come find me. Don't want any of you risking yourselves for me, not now you all got a safe place" Before Glenn could say anything Daryl had jumped down from the table. Shooting a last look at Glenn's anguished face as he peered down, the hunter notched a bolt in his crossbow.
"Go" he snarled "aint no point you getting caught too. Won't help anyone"
"We'll come for you, you're part of our family. You don't come back we will find you" Glenn promised as he reluctantly slipped away.
Daryl braced his back against the wall facing the entrance, crossbow raised as he waited for the men to find the door. He heard the voices draw closer, then there was a brief silence.
Suddenly there was a blast of noise and the wooden door was riddled with holes. Daryl managed to throw himself to the floor as the bullets from the automatic rifles tore into the wall he'd been leaning on. He gave a yelp as one of the bullets grazed his shoulder, another ripping into his leg. He pulled himself into a sitting position, aiming the crossbow again as what was left of the door was kicked open.
"Anyone left alive in there?" a voice sneered. When they received no reply one of the men cautiously poked his head into the room. The bolt caught him in the throat and he was dead before he hit the ground. At once the others rushed the room. The crossbow was ripped from his hands and Daryl was dragged to his feet. The men pulled him into the store, throwing him against the shelves. They formed a semicircle around him, trapping him in place.
"Where's the rest of your group?" one of them demanded, fists clenched as he bounced on his toes, itching to lash out.
"Aint no group, S'just me" Daryl lied, trying to stare the man down. A fist flashed out but Daryl dodged it and the man swore as his hand made contract with the edge of a metal shelf.
"Hold the bastard still" he instructed. At once hands reached for Daryl, digging into the flesh of his upper arms as they tried to restrain him. He fought and struggled but he was out numbered and injured. Once he was held in place the man approached him, leaning close into his face.
"Where's the rest of your group?" he repeated.
Daryl held his gaze "Already told yer, aint no group" He managed to contain the yell as the man's fist hit him hard in the stomach.
"You telling me you managed to drive two cars here on your own?" he asked quietly.
"Drove one car, other one was already here" Daryl kept eye contact, not wanting to show weakness.
The man grabbed a handful of Daryl's hair and yanked his head back violently, causing his skull to bounce against the edge of the shelves.
"Be easier on you if you tell us what we want to know" he was standing close, getting into Daryl's space, trying to be intimidating. Daryl had no problem with fighting dirty and bought his knee up hard, making contact with the man's crotch, causing him to fold in half, wheezing in pain.
"Get the hell outta my face" he snarled as he braced himself for the retaliation.
The man rose, trying to compose himself.
"Take him to the car. We'll take him back to the others"
Glenn froze when he heard the gunfire. He turned back towards the building they had just fled from.
"Come on. We got to get out of here before they come looking for us" The other men were already pulling away from him, heading into the surrounding streets. They had been unable to return to the cars, two armed men were hanging around outside, guarding the vehicles and they'd been forced to head in the opposite direction.
"Come on" the man called again "There's no point risking yourself for a dead man"
Glenn ignored him, swallowing back the angry retort at his callous words, taking a few more steps back the way he'd come. Peering around the edge of a building he saw Daryl being pulled outside, struggling in the grip of two burly men. He noticed the blood on the hunters' shirt and the way he was dragging his leg and realised he'd been hurt. Glenn pulled out his gun, checking the magazine. He sighed when he saw only four rounds left. Four rounds and at least eight men, this was going to be difficult. He took aim, not wanting to waste a single shot. Before his finger could tighten on the trigger his wrist was grabbed and his hand forced down.
"What the hell?" he exclaimed as he faced the man from the safe zone, Aiden. He was the leader Deanna's son and, in his own words, a douchebag.
"You fire that and they'll be on us like a rash" Aiden hissed, not letting go of Glenn's arm "It's not worth it. He's as good as dead already"
Twisting round Glenn managed to get a satisfying punch to the mans' face, causing him to stagger back and lose his grip. He span round raising the gun again but it was too late. The men had claimed the cars from the safe zone and were already speeding out of the town. Glenn watched helplessly as a captive Daryl was driven away and there was nothing he could do about it.
Thanks for reading.
Mistyeye
