The Same Sky
Joe fell into step beside Beth, a wolfish smile spreading across his weatherbeaten face, making her wonder all over again at what she'd done in agreeing to join his company. But then again, what else could she have done? She was alone and outnumbered six to one. The instinct that had led her to lower the crossbow, was the same one that had led her to join Joe's group. She needed to buy time for herself, so she could get away and continue her search for Daryl and the others. So she'd agreed to Joe's offer, knowing she was playing with fire as she did so.
"You know, I know you ain't a bow-man," Joe said in an undertone, startling her. "An' I know that ain't your crossbow neither. A 150 pound draw-weight? No chance in hell would a lil thing like you be able to handle somethin' like that."
Beth didn't say anything, staring at the dappled light striking the leaf-strewn ground instead.
"Don't worry though, it'll be our little secret," Joe winked, making her feel sick to the stomach.
Beth forced herself to smile at him, a smile that didn't reach her eyes. But her simper seemed to satisfy Joe, who nodded, chucking her under her chin before striding ahead, squaring his shoulders as he went, hatred filling Beth's heart as she watched him go.
Two hours later
"She's slowin' us down, Joe," Len hissed, throwing Beth a filthy look. Any appeal she held for him was being eroded by her general uselessness. If Joe wasn't going to share, Len didn't see the point in keeping her alive. She was deadweight, and they always ditched deadweight. It was how they'd made it so far, survival of the fittest and all that shit.
"Shut your trap," Joe said as the others slowed down to a halt. "Where's your sense of chivalry, eh?"
Len held his tongue, not wanting another beating. The last one had happened up at Macon, after he'd dared to pass judgement on Joe's new shirt, a fabric monstrosity embroidered with grinning skulls and crimson roses, some sort of sartorial tribute to the El Día de los Muertos.
"We'll stop here for the night," Joe then said, looking round them all, almost challenging them to oppose him. But they just nodded, setting their bags and weapons on the ground. Joe turned away from them, his attention returning to Beth again, his gaze lingering on her pale face, his scrutiny making her shift awkwardly on the spot.
Joe smiled to himself, enjoying her discomfort. It was rare to find innocence out on the road; that unspoiled freshness that was of the old world, and not the new. She hadn't been tainted, tarnished. That was why he was protecting her from the others, claiming her as his own. She was his to destroy, no one else's, and he'd take great pleasure in the breaking. But not yet. He liked to play with his food before eating it.
"Y'alright, sweetheart?" he asked her, feigning concern.
"It's... it's just my ankle," Beth said unwillingly.
"Didcha sprain it or somethin'?"
"I think so."
"Well, a good night's rest will do the trick," he said, sitting down on the ground, letting his men do the legwork of setting up camp.
Beth just stared at him, swallowing hard. She'd rapidly realised Joe was the leader; that it was important to humour him, as to earn his disfavour would be disastrous. But she also knew she was walking a dangerous tightrope. Joe was just toying with her like a cat did with a mouse before the kill. She interested and intrigued him, so he shielded her from the others, hoarding her to himself. But when he'd grow bored with playing games, he would strike, leaving what was left of her for the others to scrap over.
"Sit down, sweetheart," he said, patting the ground beside him. "Doctor's orders."
Biting her lip, Beth limped over to him, setting the crossbow down between them, before finally deigning to sit down.
"There, that wasn't so hard, was it?" Joe said, scratching his bristly chin.
Beth shook her head, forcing a smile again.
"So, tell me somethin' about yourself, Beth," Joe said, coughing harshly.
"There's nothin' to say," Beth tried to say lightly, "I'm actually really... borin'." She winced at how hokey that sounded.
"Well, who were you with before?" Joe pressed. "Did the crossbow belong to your boyfriend?"
Beth blushed hotly, shaking her head vehemently. After they'd burned the house down, something had sprung up between her and Daryl, a strange bond of sorts, something that went beyond what Joe was implying, something that had been consecrated in that candle-lit moment in the kitchen of the funeral home, when Daryl had just looked at her, his silence saying what words couldn't.
"I sing," Beth said in a rush, trying to close the door on the painful past.
"You sing?" Joe said, raising his eyebrows.
Beth nodded, biting her lip again.
"You hear that, boys?" Joe called to the others. "We found ourselves a lil songbird!"
"Give us a number, then," Len heckled. "Maybe a lil dance-routine as well, so we can get our money's worth."
"That's enough," Joe said, making Len fall silent. He turned back to Beth, studying her for a moment before leaning over and tucking a tendril of blonde hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing her skin, lingering too long. "Well, go on an' sing us a song," he said gently, the softness of his voice sitting at odds with the avaricious expression in his eyes.
"What about the Walkers?" Beth said, stalling.
"We're here," Joe said, "we'll keep you safe, don't worry."
The very thought of them keeping her safe made Beth's blood run cold. But she forced herself to focus, before clearing her throat and straightening her spine, the proud tilt of her ponytailed head making Joe's heart speed up, his palms sweating at the prospect of corrupting such purity. This was what made life on the road so worthwhile; you never knew what would cross your path next.
Beth glanced upwards, thinking of Daryl and her family, that wherever he and they were, they shared the same sky; that no matter what happened, nothing could take that away from her. And so she began to sing, the heavens high above, sheltering her.
It's so black
Your kingdom's turned me black
I'm paper and I'm snow
I'm yours but I go slow
I'm lost but not alone
It's so light
The dark burns my eyes
My bones they used to glow
But now I'm throwing stones
I'm losing where to go?
Shadows on my back
Are moving slow
They twist behind like white leaves in the wind
And as I ride these horses will take flight
Falling high, falling high, do you love?
Shadows in my head
Don't need no light
They still through the night
I found you
My lips are turning blue
The water pulls me down
I'm drown under your sound
This silence brings alive
I look up, your kingdom's like a drug
The chains are made of glass
I'm breaking through the glass
Our memory is not enough
Shadows on my back
Are moving slow
They twist behind like white leaves in the wind
And as I ride these horses will take flight
Falling high, falling high, do you love?
Shadows in my head
Don't need no light
They still through the night
To every rose with bloody thorn
It lift you up, and lets you fall
To rivers flowing under factory holes
Your kingdom's coming, it's waiting still
This space between you'll never fill
I tried but I could not change your mind
I dance around, and I, lost you now
I breathe you out
I gets you out
But if I could I'd turn back around