Chapter four: Run
Beth POV
Daryl's silence is starting to piss me off. He's mad or sad or something about well..The way we connected and then we both didn't realize how it would affect other things, like how we interacted with each-other. I wish I could see through his thick mask. I wish I could pin what's upsetting him so I could help but instead he just shut down. I know that's what upsetting me but him? I have no idea. I twist my wet hair between my fingers nervously. I feel awkward and embarrassed as my memories of our um...incident in the river plays through my mind. I drop my hands.
Why? Just why? Why can't we move forward, why can't we gain more in our friendship. Or are we just supposed to be frozen in time. I look to Daryl winged back. Is that what he wants? Does he not want to have more than just acquaintances with each-other. And then the walker, what's Daryl freaking out about. I'm okay, that's all that matters. I sigh and my hands go back to twisting my hair. Daryl stalks ahead of me without any sign of stopping. A distance snarl draws my attention. I jerk around along with Daryl. His thickly calloused hand grasps my shoulder and pulls me back behind him protectively. I want to scowl at him but I have to be good. I watch stand back to back to Daryl. We scan the tree line, I grasp my knife hard. "Clear" Daryl rasps. He instantly breaks the light brushing touch of our backs. I sigh in frustration. Damn he is difficult. A ripping snarl breaks through the barren trees. I wait as Daryl investigates. A mutilated walker comes stumbling through the tree line. A bolt finds its head in an instant. Daryl tears the bolt out of its nasty head. I continue walking, knowing I'll need the head start. Another growl reaches our ears. Daryl whips around. Then another snarl, another gurgle, another growl. An entire chorus of the sick music. Walkers emerge out of the trees. Daryl snatches my wrist and we run. They are slow, but that won't stop them in numbers.
The road behind us is crowded to the brim with walkers. Hunger drives them. Survival drives me. I heave, in sync with Daryl. Our hands are intertwined, like a tether between us.
We fight for our lives. Sweat pours down my neck, my ankle is exploding pain up my leg but I can't give in. He leads me, I cover him. We are not fighting we are running. I don't know where, but I know one thing for sure: We need shelter. We can't run forever. He turns his head constantly toward me, making sure I'm okay. Fear leaks past my barriers. I try to push it down but it surfaces in a grand finale when a decaying hand grasps my shoulder. Its icy grip sends me shaking. The snarls enclose me in a blanket of hysteria. I act on pure instinct; I thrust myself forward to free myself from the grip. All I know is that I can't fall. If I do then it's all over. I try to run but I start to fast so I stumble forward. The hoard creeps closer. Fear grips me when a rotting hand pulls me to its awaiting mouth. I shriek in pure horror. Another barely living creature grasps my shoulder. I try to loosen the angry hands grasping me. I claw at my hip, trying to find my knife. I don't have time to think rationally but I am lead by one goal; survival. The walkers behind me sing a chorus of hunger. My heart pulls me towards safety.
"DARYL!" I scream! I am going to die. I wildly thrash and scream my throat raw. I inch forward despite the forces holding me back. I have lost my bags and maybe my knife, lost in the undead. I scream with the same passion that pulls me forward. My foot catches on a fallen walker. I catch a glimpse of a green tipped bolt. I fall over and panic rages through my body. The walker's sickly faces block out the sunlight. They all crowd around before I can even register that I should get up. Survival doesn't pull me forward but the will to save Daryl. I might die but I can at least lesson the amount of walkers. I finally grip my knife and slash the deadly creatures. I am saving Daryl. I can almost swear that I hear his roars of battle over the gurgling growls. My desire to save Daryl strengthens. "BETH!" Daryl yells. "I'M COMING!" Hope fills my heart but I can't have that. There is no way we are both getting out alive. Daryl should escape without me. I push the hope down and fill it with purpose; I am going to die fighting…For Daryl. "LEAVE ME!" I scream trying to sound confident despite my shaking breaths. "GO! YOU CAN'T SAVE ME! SAVE YOURSELF!" I shriek in terror….I don't want him to die because of me. "NO!" He roars. I concentrate on slicing walkers to try to convince Daryl I'm already dead. The walkers pack tight around me in a snarling circle. "BETH!" Daryl cries. He sounds desperate. "LEAVE!" My voice breaks. "NO!" He says with such determination I almost want to run into his open arms. Tears rain from my eyes. I don't want to die. Not anymore, but I have too. I don't want Daryl to die. If he lives it'll be worth it. The walkers burst to the side as Daryl's thickly toned arms pull them away. His eyes drain of panic and fear; they replenish with victory and triumph. He pulls me forward through the crowd of monsters. I want to yank back into the walkers but hope takes over. What if Daryl just saved me? What if we both live? We reach the front of the herd, we run ahead in a blur of determination. Before my wishes come true my ankle twists to the side, I feel cracking, I scream out in pain. I can't do this. I lay splayed out on the asphalt.
"Go" I barely wheeze out. Daryl scowls. "Go! Leave me! I can't do this" Oh please I couldn't handle if Daryl died because of me. I would never forgive myself. He deserves to live. "PLEASE!" He looks at me with such emotion, tears twinkling in his eyes. "I ain't leavin' you." Daryl whispers huskily. He lifts me into his arms, the walkers feet away. Panic takes over. He can't die, not because of anybody. He needs to live.
I struggle trying to get out and distract the walkers with my flesh. He clutches to me tighter. "Beth" He heaves, and any strength to fight him dissipates. I feel his chest lift up and down up and down, it soothes me. I will myself to be lighter. I can't believe Daryl is doing this. He is sacrificing his life for me.
He could die... The walkers chase us relentlessly. I feel our hearts beating rapidly together. Maybe our last beats. The walker's growls call after us. I close my eyes. Please God let us live! I pray. I've never prayed harder in my life. My thoughts unite in one purpose: Prayer. The walkers are so close. Daryl is getting slower. I open my eyes and my prayer comes true. *;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*;*