=:: CHAPTER FOUR ::=
Behind them, the front door banged open and two more men stepped into the house. Daryl swung around, pushing Beth further into the wall.
"Ya'll stay back!" He glanced from the front door to the sitting room, a venomous look flashing across his features. They were trapped in the middle with no way out; not unless he made one. Paying no mind to his warning, the man with the gray feathered hair stepped out of the door frame and three more men poured into the hallway behind him.
Daryl cursed under his breath, there were at least six of them and his crossbow lay useless against the wall, obscured from view by a rotund, swine of a man. Another of the thugs began to creep closer, craning his neck for a better look at Beth.
"Hot damn, boss! Look at that purty young thang!"
"Don't get too excited, Dan, I done claimed her."
"Well, shit."
Daryl gripped his hunting knife and used his other arm to hold Beth back against the wall.
"Ain't none of your fuckers layin' one goddamned hand on her!"
The seeming "leader" of the group threw his hands up in a defensive gesture.
"Now hold on there, Brother! No need for namecallin'. I'm not the type to yank a fresh young doe out from under another man. But me and the boys, see, we ain't had a piece o' pie in a looooong while. 'Specially not one a sweet as what you got."
A murmur of agreement rose up amongst the group. Behind him, Beth clutched tightly to the back of Daryl's jeans.
Joe continued rambling on, "I'm a man who knows how to share, see, and I can appreciate that you got here first. So as long as you can share your toys, there ain't no need for us to have a problem. I don't see any reason why every one of us men can't leave here happy. Each of us in his proper turn, of course…" He flashed Daryl a relaxed, convincing smile as if they had been friends for years.
"I done told you, ASSHOLE. None of you is laying one GODDAMNED hand on her." Daryl shot the gang-leader a deadly look. He could feel the vibrations of Beth's trembling hands creeping up his spine.
The reality of what was about to happen was sinking in and she was absolutely certain that she would rather die. There were too many of them and Daryl didn't even have his crossbow. He might kill two, even three, before they put him down, but that wouldn't save Beth.
"Sounds like he don't mean to be reasonable, Joe."
Joe. Daryl would remember that name when he castrated the fucker. His thoughts were violent as he scoped each of them out. The fat one, with his piggy eyes fixed on Beth- he would spill that one's innards across the floor like a slaughterhouse hog.
Joe sighed; he had moved well into the hallway now. The rest of his band started to pull out their guns save for one, who had a crossbow of his own. Daryl's mind raced. If he could just take one of them down and get himself a gun, they might have a chance. The odds still weren't good, but it was something. The only problem was, he couldn't protect Beth if he made a move. Joe or one of his lackeys could easily grab her.
"Come on now, Brother. Surely sharing is better than the alternative?"
"I ain't your brother." Daryl growled.
Joe looked down at his boots and chuckled. "A'ight then. Have it your way." Joe whipped out his pistol and pointed it at Daryl's head. "Now you come on out from behind your friend there, sweetheart."
Daryl snatched at Beth's wrist behind him. "Don't listen to him, Beth."
"You can mind him, girl, stay where you are and I'll just shoot 'im in the head in the next five seconds, or you can march your sweet little ass on over here and maybe you and I can conduct our business without any bloodshed."
Behind Daryl, Beth's eyes were wide and fearful; a gentle creature surrounded by a pack of wolves. She had, had her knife in hand, prepared to take her own life if necessary, but Joe had seen through that. He had taken away any choice she might have in the matter by turning his gun on Daryl; and Daryl had saved her so many times; she couldn't just let him die.
Joe began to count. "One…two…three… FOUR…."
"Alright!" Beth wiped away the tears that burned at the corners of her eyes and pulled out of Daryl's grip. "Just don't shoot him… please."
Joe grinned. "Told you she was a sweet one, boys! So polite…"
Daryl lunged forward then, taking Beth by the shoulders. "Don't you fucking dare, Beth. Not for me. I'll die before they lay a hand on you."
Joe rocked back on his heels, bored with the drama. "Dead or no, Brother, either way, blondie's gettin' fucked."
A blind rage welled up within Daryl then. Before he could act on it, however, two of Joe's men grabbed him from behind, pinning his arms behind his back. He had been too distracted in trying to stop Beth to notice their approach. His knife clattered to the floor leaving him defenseless. Even so, the men were having a visibly difficult time in restraining him. He fought like a wild animal to free his arms and threw his head back, breaking one of the men's noses on impact.
Blood sprayed onto the floor. "JESUS, FUCK!"
The injured thug reeled backwards, grabbing at his face. Daryl had almost broken free from his other captor when he was swept into a suffocating headlock. The hallway, Beth and Joe all began to swim around him.
"Don't hurt him!" Beth pleaded, unable to contain her tears any longer.
"God damn! He's a fighter! You alright Len?" Joe laughed slapping a hand against his thigh. Len groaned miserably in response. "You'll be fine." He looked then to the man who was restraining Daryl. "Don't let him pass out now, Harley. I want him to watch his little lady take one for the team." Harley loosened his arm a bit and Daryl's senses came flooding back.
Joe grabbed at Beth suddenly, pulling her up against himself. A choked sob escaped her and she turned her face away from him, eyes squeezed tightly shut. "I'll be takin' this for the time being." Joe said, procuring her knife. She hadn't dared use it in fear of what they'd do to Daryl.
"I like 'em young." Joe said then, stroking her face. "Bet she's still nice and tight, huh Brother?" Joe taunted Daryl.
"I'LL KILL EVERY DAMN ONE OF YOU!" Daryl spat, still fighting against Harley.
Joe grabbed Beth's face and forced it toward his own. "How many young bucks have you had, sweetheart? Not too many, I hope?" Beth kept her eyes shut tight, weeping silently. Joe's brow furrowed and he leaned back a bit to study her face. "Hold on now… don't tell me you're still ripe for the pickin'?" He looked at Daryl. "Shit, man! You tellin' me I plucked a fresh cherry right out of yer mouth?" His men whooped and laughed. "Hell, I'd be pissed, too!" Joe looked back down at Beth. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I won't be too hard on you."
Joe turned around, taking Beth with him and shoving her towards the kitchen. "Bring Loverboy on in here," he called over his shoulder.
Daryl bucked and twisted in Harley's grip. "BETH!"
Harley pushed him, with some difficulty, into the kitchen. Once inside he saw that Joe had Beth backed into the countertop, his gun pressed deeply into the soft skin beneath her jaw.
"YOU KEEP YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF OF HER YOU SICK FUCK!" Daryl shouted. Harley's face was glistening with sweat, as he struggled to keep him restrained.
But Joe wasn't paying either of them any mind now; he had his eyes on the prize. Running a hand down her neck, Joe easily pushed the oversized vest from Beth's shoulders. It slipped down to the floor, leaving her naked from the waist up. She quickly wrapped her arms around herself, shielding her breasts from view. There was a tense silence in the room as the rest of the group looked on eagerly.
"Ah-ah, now. Don't be coverin' up the good bits, sweetheart. How bout' you step outta them jeans for me?"
Beth opened her eyes then and looked at Joe. "Please…" she pleaded.
"I'm not a patient man, dear. Cooperate, or your friend here gets a bullet in the head."
Beth looked at Daryl. The expression on his face told the lot of them that Harley had best not falter in his hold for even an instant. "Don't do it, Beth." He demanded.
But Beth followed Joe's orders. She couldn't watch Daryl die. When she had stepped out of her jeans, Joe spun her around so that she was facing away from him and slammed her face and torso down on top of the kitchen counter. Stars danced in front of her eyes for several seconds and a trickle of blood ran down her forehead. Joe pressed his hips against her and pinned one of her arms behind her back so she couldn't move. A sharp pain shot up through her shoulder and she cried out.
"That's nothing,' girl." Joe laughed, cruelly. "I don't know if anyone ever told you this, but the first time hurts like hell for the ladies, so you best buck up."
"Beth." Daryl called out to her from across the kitchen. "Beth, you look at me."
She turned her head, laying the opposite cheek against the cold counter so she could see Daryl. Her eyes, filled with tears, left him a blur, but she knew he was there.
"You look at me and nothing else, Beth. I'm right here."
Joe began to fiddle with the front of his jeans.
"Daryl." Beth choked. Her eyes pleaded with him, but she he could do nothing. He had felt such a violent swell of emotions. Every finger Joe placed on Beth was unbearable. All he could do for her in this moment was to be a source of strength for her to draw from. He looked into her eyes, unwavering and his face read a thousand promises of revenge.
This can't happen… I can't let them-
A sudden clattering of aluminum pans and hub caps shattered the silence. Daryl's mind snapped to attention and Joe and his men whipped their heads around, searching for the source. They had all seen the tripwire on their way in, but had long since forgotten about it. A single moment of confusion was all Daryl needed. Harley's hold had loosened by a fraction, and Daryl slipped straight down and out, swiping his gun along the way.
In an instant, Harley lay dead on the floor with a bullet in his brain. He took down two others before the remaining three could start firing.
Joe released Beth and spun around, aiming his pistol at Daryl. He fired a round but missed when Daryl ducked beneath the dining table. Beth, now free from Joe's vile hands, saw her chance and yanked her knife out of the back of his jeans. Without a moment's hesitation, she plunged the blade deep into his shoulder.
Joe yelled, dropping his gun and clutching at his back. "You fucking BITCH!" He seethed through clenched teeth.
Beth scrambled to get at Joe's gun, but Daryl was already on him, having taken care of the others.
He ripped the knife mercilessly from Joe's shoulder, resulting in a satisfying howl of pain.
"STOP!" Joe fell to his knees, trying to cover the wound with his hand and holding out his other to ward off Daryl. "Come on, now... she's drawn her blood, just let me walk out of here and you'll never see me again, I promise."
"Oh, no, BROTHER. You ain't going anywhere." Daryl snarled, pacing back and forth in front of Joe like a mountain cat, his tongue running over his lips.
With one swift motion, he nailed Joe in the face with the heel of his boot, propelling him onto his back. Blood oozed out of the thug's nose and down the side of his face.
Beth clutched the side of the counter and her voice shook. "Daryl?"
"You stay back, Beth." Daryl lowered himself down, straddling Joe. For a moment, Joe tried to fight him off, but Daryl took the hand that was grasping for his throat and drove Beth's knife straight through, nailing it to the floor.
Joe screamed. "Shut your fucking mouth." Daryl spat, punching him square in the jaw and knocking his head back against the linoleum.
Once he started he couldn't stop. The skin on Daryl's knuckles split open and a searing pain shot up his arm, but he didn't pay it any mind. All he wanted was to make Joe pay. Pay for intruding on them, pay for being a vile fuck, pay for putting his hands on Beth.
Daryl hit him again and again and again .
Beth stood to the side shaking. "Daryl, please…"
But he didn't hear her. Joe wasn't making any noise anymore, and his body twitched horribly beneath Daryl. He must have hit him fifty times, and Beth could see where Joe's forehead had begun to cave in near the temple.
"Jesus, Daryl, stop!" Beth sobbed, coming up behind him and pulling him upwards. Daryl fell back against her for a moment before lunging forward again. This time he started stomping at Joe's face with his boot until only clumps of bloody tissue remained where Joe's head had been.
Beth threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his waist, pulling him back. "He's dead, Daryl!"
Daryl's breath came in ragged gasps as he stumbled backwards. He collapsed onto the floor falling against the lower cupboards and taking Beth with him. She kept her arms wrapped tightly around him so he wouldn't go back to wailing on Joe's corpse.
They both leaned heavily against the wooden doors, trying to catch their breath. Daryl's eyes, still dangerous, flicked to Beth's suddenly.
"Did he hurt you?"
Beth shook her head then, unable to speak for fear of losing it. Daryl took her face in his hands, smearing Joe's blood across her cheek and made her look him straight in the eye.
"You tell it to me straight. Did he hurt you?"
Beth took a deep breath before answering him with forced calm, "He didn't do anything to me. You saw it all. You stopped him before he could."
"The hell he didn't." Daryl countered, still furious. "He put his filthy hands on you."
Caving in Joe's face hadn't been enough to release the unbridled rage that had built up inside him.
Beth turned her face into Daryl's shoulder and squeezed her eyes shut. She wanted to let go; to break down and give in to the swirling, suffocating emotions that filled her heart and soul. It was so tempting; she was hanging by the very last thread on the very end of her rope, but she clung on, as always, searching desperately in the dark for that glimmer of hope.
Daryl turned his head then and kissed her roughly on the temple. The coarse hair on his chin prickled her skin and brought her unwillingly back to the corpse riddled scene before them.
"We'll leave tomorrow, like we planned. This place's no good for us."
When Beth didn't respond he added in a gentler tone, "If any of our folks made it, we'll find em'."
Beth glanced up at him then, the sincerity in his voice was what she needed to hear. "You mean it?"
"Course I do. We'll find em', Beth."
Daryl stood up slowly and helped Beth to her feet. Her eyes settled back on the floor and she covered her chest with her arms.
"If we're gonna be on foot tomorrow, we'll need some rest" Daryl said, watching Beth closely. He didn't like the look in her eye.
Beth looked around the kitchen, avoiding his burning stare; Daryl could still see her trembling. "What about the bodies?"
"You go on in the living room, I'll make sure none of em' will be wakin' back up, at least. Don't think I'll take the bodies outside, it's like to attract Walkers."
Beth didn't have the strength to debate this point with him and turned toward the hallway door. Before she reached it, however, she paused. Looking to her right, she saw Daryl's vest, the one Joe had taken off of her, lying on the floor next to his body. She hesitated a few moments more before stepping over to cautiously pick it up. Daryl watched intently from across the kitchen. He didn't know how she was holding it together. As far as days went, this one had been somewhere between horse piss and the deepest level of hell. In the very least, he had been able to stop Joe before he had done what he meant to do. Even Beth wouldn't have come back from that.
When she had left the room, Daryl made his rounds, checking all of the men. He had gotten a head shot on all but one, who he found in the corner pretending to be dead. He covered the thug's mouth quickly so Beth wouldn't hear him scream.
Beth, now wrapped in a thin blanket, had begun to wonder what was taking Daryl so long when he finally stepped into the doorway. He was holding his crossbow, her jeans, and a bag filled with guns. The darkness in his eyes had faded and he almost looked pleased with himself.
"I got somethin' for you."
Beth tried to muster a small smile. "Oh yeah?"
She couldn't imagine what he could have acquired in a kitchen full of dead bodies. It was in the midst of that thought that she recalled the necklace he had made himself some time ago. A necklace of Walker ears. Beth cringed internally and prayed he hadn't crafted something similar from the men who had tried to violate her.
Daryl leaned his head back out into the hall and whistled. Beth only had a moment to wonder when a happy mutt came bounding into the living room, his tail wagging furiously.
"Oh my gosh! Daryl! You caught him!" Despite everything that happened that day, Beth's face broke into a huge grin and she laughed out loud as the dog showered her with kisses, it's tail wagging furiously.
"He's the one who sounded the wire." Daryl said. "Fucking dog saved our asses. Figured the least we could do is give him a good meal."
Beth had coaxed the wiry haired animal into her lap and was examining him more closely.
"He's missin' an eye…" she lamented, kissing the top of his head.
"Must be a tough'n." Daryl replied, approvingly.
He was relieved to see her smile. They had pulled through the experience at the lake, maybe they could pull through this too.
He retreated back to the kitchen to find something suitable for the dog to eat. When he returned to the living room he called it over to the corner.
"Hope you like Spam, buddy." Daryl gave the dog a pat as it came to inspect his offering. "I sure as hell don't," he added under his breath.
Leaving him to his meal, Daryl collapsed onto the area rug next to Beth. She had lit several candles in the room to keep the darkness at bay.
"I figured since it's our last night, it couldn't hurt." She shrugged. She was still smiling at the dog, but there was something behind her eyes, a haunted dullness that had replaced her happy, confident gleam.
Daryl said nothing. They would keep the candles lit. He would let her cope however she needed to. Beth turned her face towards him then, searching his eyes.
"You alright?" He asked. She could hear the concern in his voice.
"Yeah. I think so." She said quickly, brushing off the question. Her eyes drifted to his lips.
She began to lean in, when he stopped her. "What are you doin'?" He asked, his brow furrowing.
"I want you to kiss me, Daryl."
He shifted uneasily. "I don't think… I mean, after tonight-"
Beth placed her fingertips lightly against his mouth, cutting him off. "Dammit, Daryl… kiss me."
