Chapter 2.

Beth was very quiet.

She was wearing her jeans now and a sweat shirt she had found from the wardrobe. It was a bit big for her but otherwise ok.

Daryl was relieved to see her wearing more clothes. He heated some canned beans for them on the gas cooker and boiled some water too.

He felt awkward for being a bit rude to her, so he tried to cheer her up. He had found instant coffee and canned milk from one of the lockers.

"Hey, look what I found. It smells like coffee… it tastes like coffee… yeah, it's definitely some kind of coffee", he joked and handed a big mug to Beth.

She gave him a little smile and took it.

"Thank you", she said silently.

After the breakfast Daryl was lucky again. He found car keys on the sun visor. He grinned at Beth and rattled the keys in the air.

"This must be the day of miracles", he said.

Beth was confused. These mixed signals were hard to read. First Daryl was so reserved, almost rude to her, then he suddenly joked like this. Beth just didn't get it. So she just nodded.

After few attempts Daryl managed to start the car. He was happy to see that the tank was filled with gasoline. Soon the big engine was running steadily, and they headed west, towards the prison. With the car it was a quick trip.

They saw just a couple of walkers on the way. Probably because they all swarmed in the ruins of the prison now, Daryl realized when they finally reached the destination. He stopped the car and they both stared at the place stunned.

It was a ghastly sight.

The place they once considered home had become a graveyard. And even worse - most of the dead had risen now. The prison truly belonged to walkers now.

"There's nothing we can do here anymore", the hunter said and prepared to leave.

It was at that moment when Beth saw something familiar quite near.

"Stop the car, Daryl. Look - that's Maggie on the ground I'm sure. Right there", she shouted, opened the door and jumped down.

The hunter cursed and stopped the car. The nearest walkers were already turning to Beth, empty eyes staring at her, decomposed arms swinging in the air.

Daryl evaded the car quickly and reached Beth in seconds.

"No, no! We gotta go. You can't help her anymore!" he shouted seizing her by the arm.

But all Beth could think about now was Maggie.

"Let me go, I have to go to her!" she shouted, tears running down her cheeks, trying to break free from Daryl.

The hunter glanced around. The walkers were almost upon them. He had no choice. He picked Beth up and carried her back to the car. Fortunately it was just few yards away. He pushed Beth inside, closed the door and ran to the other side. He returned to the car at the very last minute, he had to drive over one walker in order to escape.

He drove over a mile before he stopped the car again. They both were pale and shocked now, but for different reasons.

- I almost lost her, Daryl thought when he turned to Beth.

He couldn't restrain his Dixon temperature anymore.

"That was stupid, Beth", he shouted at her.

"There was nothing for us, just death. You've seen it thousand times, you should know better", he snapped angrily.

Beth wept openly in front of him.

"Oh my God, Daryl. Daddy is gone and so is Maggie. I'm all alone", she said voice trembling.

"You should have let me go to her", she cried.

"No, Beth. I didn't and I will not", Daryl replied harshly trying to calm down.

"Don't ya ever try anything like that again, hear me?"

Beth turned her back on him still sobbing.

They drove forward in silence.

Daryl tried to lighten the atmosphere by talking about something else.

"Let's drive around a bit. We have a good chance to find the others", he said.

But after several hours they had to face the truth. No one else was around.

Just deserted lands, abandoned buildings and some walkers here and there. The world of the apocalypse.

When evening came, Daryl stopped the car and glanced at Beth.

"C'mon, let's camp. This is as good place as any to spent a night I guess. We have to eat something too", he noted.

After that he looked at the young woman gently.

"I'm sorry...'bout dragging you. And 'bout yer daddy and sister too", he said and got out of the car.

Beth looked after him. She could think about one thing only.

- He hates me.

xxx

AN:

How do you like this story so far? I'd appreciate some reviews now. They encourage me to continue soon. :-)