I peered around the tree trunk, the bucket's handle held tightly in my grasp as I stared at the two familiar figures before me.
I took a small careful step forward hoping that this movement would allow me to hear their forbidden conversation more clearly.
"When are you going to tell her Leo?"
"Soon babe, I just gotta figure out when"
"Well hurry, I can't keep pretending any more"
"I know, I know, but I will sort it out I promise"
My heart twisted at their words, betrayal, hatred and despair flooding through me.
Before I could intrude on their discussions the rancid scent of death crawled up my nostrils causing my breath to hitch in my throat. I felt a grimy hand latch onto my shoulder spinning me around and the sight before me caused me to let out a loud squeal.
A female corpse with dingy blonde hair and a half melted face stared at me with lifeless eyes, it's jaw itching to bite into my flesh.
I jolted up gasping for breath, my body sticky with heat and perspiration. I flinched against the wall at the sight of a silhouette towering over me, a scowl present on their features.
Hard blue eyes stared me down and I blinked rapidly my mind remembering who those blue eyes belonged to and the memory of the day before coursed through me.
"Thought you'd never shut up" Daryl growled, crossing his arms over his chest, eyeing my frame suspiciously.
"How long have I been out for?" I choked ignoring his comment, running a hand down my face. My eyes quickly flickered to the now half open cell door and a million strings of opportunities entered my mind.
This could be my chance.
"For a while, you'd think a walker was in with ya with all the screaming"
"You could say that" I mumbled inwardly cringing at the memory of those dull eyes that once had held so much joy and life. I would never get over the concept of the apocalypse.
"You get em a lot?" Daryl asked the hostility dimming in his voice ever so slightly.
"Get what?" I raised a brow, surprised that he had asked me a question. I half expected him to go back to sharpening his tools like a caveman and ignoring my entire existence.
"Get Nightmares" He said impatiently, clearly wanting to end the conversation quickly. He didn't seem the type to enjoy socialising.
I shrugged in answer, not wanting to let on that most of my nights were spent fighting the demons in my mind.
"I hope ya don't, can't deal with ya screaming, thought I was gonna have'ta wake ya up myself"
I opened my mouth to come out with a snarky response when the loud vicious growl erupting from my stomach stopped me in my tracks.
"Ya should eat" He nodded towards the plate still on the floor and I quickly shook my head in response.
He sighed furiously "You got a death wish or something?"
"I just don't want anything from you" I snapped back, wrapping my arms around my stomach in hope it would ease the ache of hunger.
"You sure are a pain in the arse ain't cha?" He flexed his jaw, his hard eyes boring into my face.
I noticed his crossed arms illuminated the bulge in his biceps and I knew in order to get past him it would have to be due to speed rather than strength.
He could easily over power me with those arms.
"I could say the same about you" I snapped irritated with everything about this southerner. I couldn't wait to get past him and never look back.
"You always a bitch?"
"Only around Redneck dickweeds"
"Whatever man" He muttered annoyed with my comment and ending the conversation, turning on his heel to head out of the cell.
The alarms rang in my head, telling me it was now or never.
I quickly jumped off the bed, crouching forward before launching into a sprint. I charge past his tall frame, my heart beating rapidly in my chest and the blood pumping fast in my ears.
My bare feet pounded against the stone floor and out of the corner of my eye I could see the blur of passing cells.
I heard from a distance Daryl curse aggressively at the realisation I was escaping and I increased my speed when I heard the sound of him charging after me.
"I'll shoot yer girl if you don't stop" Daryl threatened rage evident in his tone.
Panicking at his words, I pushed open a large door and gasped at the wash of cold air sinking into my skin.
"You better get back ere' girl" I heard Daryl yell closer than before and I spent no time hesitating as I ran outside into what seemed to be a courtyard.
I didn't pay attention to my surroundings as I ran towards the barb wired fence stretched around the grounds. I inwardly cursed knowing I'd have to climb it.
As I got closer my breathing sped up and I thought for a moment my lack of nutrients would cause me to sink but I managed to keep going.
A faint whooshing sound and a sharp pain in my thigh caused me to fall to the ground. I impacted hard on the stone and let out a loud gasp of breath clutching onto what seemed to be a arrow embedded into my thigh.
"I told yer not to run" I heard Daryl bellow quite a distance away, his voice rough and full of anger.
I used his distance to my advantage hoping he wouldn't shoot me again and desperately gripped hold of the arrow gritting my teeth as I yanked it out of my flesh, crimson blood oozing from the wound. Ignoring the unbearable jolt of pain, I shakily brought myself to my feet and half dragged myself towards the fence.
The grass being so much greener on the other side.
When I could almost touch the mental I felt a rough hand grip hold of my shoulder, yanking me backwards until I fell onto the floor landing onto my injured thigh.
I let out a gargled scream withering on the ground. A dark shadow covered the patch in which I lay and I felt angry hands yank me to my feet before lifting me up and slinging me over their shoulder.
"Put me down" I screeched, pounding my fists onto the angel wings. I tried to ignore the sting caused from my wound rubbing on his clothing.
"Ain't gonna happen" Daryl said through his teeth as he marched back to my cell.
"You fucking tried to kill me"
"I ain't tried to kill ya, I hit ya thigh, I told yer to stop running, I had no choice"
"A polite, please stop, would have been effective"
He snorted "Like you'd have listened"
I heard the sound of a door opening and steps rushing towards us, a furious growl escaping someone's throat.
"What the hell has just happened?" I heard Rick yell, matching Daryl's strides.
"This arsehole shot me" I screeched my voice cracking at the end from exhaustion and pain.
"You better shut your mouth Woman, you ain't in nobody's good books" Daryl's grip on me tightened and I narrowed my eyes at his back, hoping to burn holes through his clothing.
"Why did you shoot her?" Rick asked urgently and I flinched when I felt a large hand touch my wound.
"Cus she was tryin to escape, I warned er to stop"
"How did she manage to escape?"
"Thought there was something wrong with er cus she was screaming, but she was havin a nightmare, so I went to check it out and then she ran past when I weren't looking, she's fast for a small thing"
"I was trying to escape because I'm being fucking kidnapped! Why can't any of you understand that?" I slammed my fist hard into Daryl's back and wanted to scream when he didn't even flinch.
Was he made of fucking stone or something?
"We told you we'd let you out when we gained our trust, you aren't building a good case here Aria" Rick sighed as he opened my cell door allowing Daryl to walk past him.
"You ain't either, having your henchmen shoot me down like a dog"
"We do what we can to protect our group"
"Screw your group! I just wanna go and never come back"
"You know why we can't let that happen, I have a family to protect"
I felt Daryl stop and before I could respond to Rick's words, my body impacted hard onto the soft mattress knocking all the air out of my chest. I coughed vigorously clutching onto my wound.
By the time I regained my breath the cell door was locked, with both Daryl and Rick on the other side. I stared at the two of their frames with pure hatred seeping in my features.
Rick turned to Daryl and they both silently shared a look in which I did not understand before looking back at me.
"What are we gonna do with you?"
So everyone what do you think of this chapter? Daryl and Aria really hate each other don't they?
Also what do you guys think Rick will do with Aria?
Please give me some feedback in the comments! It would really help me move forward!
Oh and by the way, I'm kinda playing Daryl how he was in Season 1&2 cause I ain't following the show really!