Chapter 2

Daryl

"Beth!" I yell at her. She's being held against the wall by that son of a- "Daryl! Help me!" She screams at me. I grunt and growl as I try to get free. Arms hold me back as drag me backwards. "Daryl!" She screams. I dig my heels into the dirt as the sky starts going black. Another man comes out of the forest behind the small blonde. Then he holds the barrel of his gun against her head, and shoots. I go limp as I stare at the sight in front of me. The girl is lying on the ground. Not moving. I half-expect her hand to come up and brush her bangs out of her face. But she just lies there. Dead. Her dull eyes stare into mine as I fall to the ground on my knees.

I look back up at the person that… killed Beth. He's holding a gun up in between my eyebrows now. Before I can do anything against him, he pulls the trigger.

I inhale a sharp breath as I my head flies up off of the trash bag I had used. I'm still at the camp with Joe's group. They found me stupidly chasing the car that took Beth. I was really dumb to think that I could outrun a car. I feel around to the side for my crossbow and unclench my free fist when I grip the camouflage on it.

I hesitantly stand. Everyone else around me is sleeping the morning away. Well, more meat for me. I grip my crossbow in my hand and quietly step out of the sucky security system without making any noise. The sun hasn't risen yet, so it's still gloomy. Especially in the woods.

As I search for something to eat, my mind drifts back to Joe's group. Should I trust these guys? I think I've made it pretty clear that when the time comes, I'm leaving them. I'm not staying with them forever. I don't think I should.

Something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. A rabbit moves and sniffs part of the ground with it's tiny nose. I point my crossbow at it and get ready to press the trigger, when suddenly, another arrow is sticking out of it's thigh right after mine hit it. I spin around and face Len.

"This rabbit's mine." I tell him. I turn back around and grab the rabbit, pulling out my bolt and throwing his other arrow to the side. His eyes follow it for a second then he focuses back on me. "That rabbit is claimed." He says back, pointing at my rabbit. "Claimed?" I scoff. "My bolt hit it first." I start to walk away from him, but he blocks my way. "You what I think?" He drawls out. I ignore him and try to get around him again. He blocks my way again. "I think… this bi**h... got you all messed up." He continues. Man, he really wants to get hurt.

I go around him again and he lets me get through. "Must've been a good 'n. Musta' lost yourself a piece 'a tail " I stop in my tracks. He ain't gonna talk about Beth like that. My hand hovers over my knife that's currently in the holster at my side. "Was it one of the small n's? 'Cause they… they don't last long." That's it. Screw humanity. This guy really wants to die. I draw my knife and lift it up, preparing to strike, when someone grabs my arm from the side. Joe. "What's the problem, fellas?" Len starts forward, pointing to my game.

"Daryl here, took my rabbit. And I claimed it." What is it with this claimin' crap? It's bull. "My arrow touched it first." I argue. Joe loosens his grip on my upper arm and looks back and forth between Len and I, then he stops at Len. "Did you explain to Daryl about what the rules were?" Len starts to stammer, and I scoff. Joe looks at me and holds out his hands. " See, Daryl, the rules of the hunt, is that if you see somethin' you want, all you have to say is 'claimed,' and it's yours." I grunt. "Ain't no rules no more." "When men like us follow rules like these, the world is ours." I don't say anything back. I just turn and walk away, swallowing all my protests down my throat.

Joe stops me by grabbing the other half of the rabbit. "Hey!" I argue. "Hang on, Daryl. See, you didn't know the rules." Then he sends a sharp look in Len's direction and pulls out his machete. The next thing I know, my rabbit is being chopped in half and it's butt is hanging from my hands. Joe tosses the other half to Len and he barely catches it. Ha. How has he survived this long?

Joe looks at me again and gives me a sort of innocent look. I almost snort. This man is nowhere near innocent. "Just speak the word. Claimed." Then he shrugs, as if it's no big deal.I grunt again and walk away, finally, back to the camp.

A/N: Hi! Yeah, I know, 2 CHAPTERS IN A DAY! I was so surprised that I got that many favorites/follows/views (I know it's not that many, BUT STILL!) in 4 hours that I decided to put this chapter up! I was really pleased with the feedback that I got on the last chapter! Thx so much to anyone that decided to follow along with it and read it! You have no clue how much that really means to me! Thx so much! Please keep reading the future chapters! Let's try to get 3 more follows or favorites or (if I'm lucky) reviews before the next chapter tomorrow! If we can't I'll still post a new chapter tomorrow! Thx! :)