AN: I do apologize for the slight delay in updating. Since I started this story, I've generally been pretty fast at spewing out the chapters but the past few days have been too manic to even think about writing. Anyway, just so you all know... My updates are never consistent. Really I try to update stories as often as I can but if the inspiration isn't there I'd rather wait instead of forcing out a half hearted chap that nobody wants to read. Anyway I had a whole Saturday to myself and managed to get quite a bit done, let me tell you... the next few chapters are going to be very interesting. While writing this I listened to "I Miss You" by Blink 182 a lot. I'm probably going to post a song list once this story is finished also. :) -CSM
Chapter 7
Charlotte
Daryl woke suddenly, his body attacked and now becoming aware of the freezing cold that had set in during early morning. Immediately after opening his eyes, he felt a shiver run thought his body. Up until now, they had experienced nothing but nice weather and clear skies. However, today they would experience the onslaught of torrential rain.
Daryl turned onto his back, he expected to be laying on wet muddy ground due to the rain, however he was surprised to find that he was bone dry. As he looked up, he noticed what looked like the a black inseam of a tent. It was stretched out, and tied around five consecutive trees. Gareth must have done that while he'd been sleeping, Daryl thought. The rain fell heavily onto the waterproof material and ran to the edges.
As Daryl sat up, he noticed Gareth poking at a small fire with a long branch. He sat with his legs crossed, looking rather bored. Every few seconds he had been looking out and watching the rain fall. At this point, only a small portion of Charlotte could be seen. The rest was covered in thick fog which drenched the city along with the rain. He noticed Daryl moving out of the corner of his eye and looked over at his prisoner.
"Finally, you're up." Gareth smiled. He quickly stood, almost with a hop in his step. The events of the previous day seemed to have been evaporated from his memory. "Let's go, daylight is burning."
Daryl looked around slowly, taking in the miserable weather before he shot Gareth a curious look.
"But it's raining." He replied sleepily. It took Gareth a moment to consider what Daryl had said, at which point his smile widened slightly.
"It's a figure of speech." Gareth shook his head, a sarcastic tone complimenting his voice. He quickly kicked the fire out using the heel of his boot and grabbed his backpack. He slung it over his shoulder and held a hand out for Daryl. The redneck took his captors hand and allowed Gareth to pull him to his feet. He adjusted his jacket slightly and gave Gareth a look as if to say, 'lead the way'.
They made their way from cover out into the pouring rain, the cold biting their skin worse than it had previously. Daryl tried not to show it, but he would have much rather just stayed under cover for the remainder of this horrible weather. As they followed the trail back down the mountain, towards civilization, a loud clap of thunder roared above them, followed by a flash of lightening.
"That's a good thing." Gareth said to Daryl over the sound of torrential rain, referring to the weather overhead. "The sound and light will hopefully confuse whatever is down there. It might make our job a little easier."
"Whatever you say, boss." Daryl replied sheepishly. He hated to admit it, but over the past few days he found himself less and less interested in surviving. He was not depressed, nor suicidal. He just found that he no longer had the energy to look for food, shelter and safety. He no longer wanted to fight or argue, he just wanted to live again. Although he knew that life was long gone. He found it easier, in that frame of mind, to then do whatever Gareth told him to do.
Of course he wanted to find his group again. He wanted to be reunited with Rick and the others, but as far as he could see. That was a long way off, just yet. So instead, he would stay pliant and silent. He would do whatever Gareth said and follow his captor, because Gareth was Daryl's only form of shelter available, for the time being. It would not be long term, but it was acceptable for the time being.
After what seemed like an endless walk, the two men found themselves entering the town which they had overlooked for the past night. The fog seemed to have gotten a lot denser since they'd made it down from the hilltop. Amidst the battering rain and occasional thunder, they could both clearly hear the sounds of walkers nearby. Disturbing moans of hunger would surround them every few seconds. Before they decided to go any further, they stopped just short of a liquor store. Gareth took it upon himself to kick down the door to a small store that seemed to be self run at one point. They entered quickly, shutting the door behind them.
"It'll probably be safer to work from store to store." Gareth stated. "The door to this one was boarded up, so I doubt there'll be anything in here that we can't handle."
Just as Gareth finished his sentence, they both heard the low growl of a walker, hunched over a desk just to the left of them. Gareth sighed and walked swiftly over to her, stabbing her in the back of the head with a sharp knife, leaving just a lifeless corpse.
"There ain't nothing in here that we need." Daryl replied, looking around at the scented candles and soaps which lined the walls. "Unless you wanna light up some candles, have a nice bubble bath?"
"Very funny." Gareth replied, although his stern face said otherwise. Gareth knew exactly what he was doing. Along this street, rows of stores would line the streets, however it would be much safer to exit through the back of this boutique and walk through the alley, instead of out in the open. He didn't consult with Daryl, instead he simply headed to the back of the store. Finding the fire exit, he gave it one quick push and found himself in the alley. Daryl followed his captor, as they made their way down the small passageway. Almost immediately, Gareth stopped again. He used a crowbar that was lodged into a nearby walkers head to pry open the next door.
"That's a liquor store." Daryl said. "Waste of time, they ain't gonna have anything."
"Daryl, liquor store's have guns." Gareth sighed. "How did you not know that?"
The redneck did not answer, instead he followed his captor, again saying nothing. Soon the door had been pried open, and almost immediately a walker came into their field of vision. It's hands grabbed at Gareth, who quickly managed to dodge the attack, caving in the man's skull with the crowbar he had just liberated. Daryl did nothing but watch, he liked that he didn't have to worry about every walker he came across. He had someone else to help him. he wasn't entirely self dependent, and that was what the redneck craved.
Gareth quickly made his way inside, scoping out the store with his pistol positioned so that he could easily shoot anything that came between him and his objective. When he found that the store was empty. He began his search. He quickly jumped behind the cash register and started rummaging through every drawer. Daryl simply stood, looking at the shelves which were almost bare. He found what looked like an empty bag on the floor. He quickly turned it upside down, making sure nothing was in there. Before he made his way to the kiosk.
"Stupid right? How people immediately go and steal cigarettes when shit goes to hell." He commented, looking at the empty shelves where packs of Marlboro and American Spirit would have been stocked. He found two packs of Marlboro light on the floor, both unopened. More than likely dropped during the ransack. He quickly picked them up and stowed them away in his bag. "You smoke?"
"I gave up." Gareth replied, still searching. He had found a nice handgun, which was fully loaded in the back of a drawer, hidden beneath other objects. He wondered why it was still there, and how nobody had taken it yet.
Daryl walked along, and tried to scavenge whatever else he could from the kiosk. Of course most of it had already been taken.
"I'm gonna check the basement." Gareth commented, he gave Daryl a quick look. "You stay here, keep looking for anything that might be useful."
Daryl nodded in response. Gareth quickly made his exit, returning to where they had just come from. But instead of heading outside, he went down a set of old wooden steps just opposite the emergency exit door. It was dark in the basement, so dark that he had to retrieve his torch from his backpack and light it up. He had no idea what he might be looking for, but really anything could be useful to them at the time being.
Meanwhile, Daryl continued his search, hoping to find something remotely helpful. He managed to find a few bags of beef jerky (never his favorite, but it would suffice), a pack of batteries, a few bottles of water and gum. After giving the store a once over, he decided to stow away a few bottles of alcohol, just for safe measure. At least if they didn't eat, they could get drunk and forget about being hungry. After packing a few bottles of whiskey and vodka into the bag, he perched himself on the check-out desk and pulled out a cigarette from the pack. Using the battery and a wrapper from a piece of gum, he created a makeshift lighter. Using the battery charge to set the metallic wrapping on fire, he lit the cigarette and took a long drag. It felt liberating.
As he waited for Gareth, he enjoyed the blissful ignorance of smoking. Soon after, he heard shuffling and noises coming from the basement. Deciding to ignore it, he continued his cigarette. A few moments later, yet more noises, and this time he was sure he could hear Gareth shouting something. Without thinking, he threw the cigarette to the ground and grabbed his knife. The one Gareth had entrusted on him. Perhaps there were other survivors? Holding out in the basement... it seemed likely.
Daryl made for the basement, taking the steps two at a time, he expected to find Gareth at an awkward stand off with his next meal. Instead, he turned and found his captor pinned to a wall by no less than five walkers. They must have been lurking in the shadows when Gareth went down there. The supplies Gareth kept with him, the guns, ammunition and food lay on the floor next to Daryl, abandoned. He could have easily taken it and ran, left Gareth to deal with his fate. But instead, something kicked in that told Daryl to help.
He ran over to Gareth, grabbing one of the walkers by the throat, he quickly stabbed the back of his head.
"Help me." Gareth shouted, almost as a order.
"I'm tryin'!" Daryl replied, a harsh bite in his voice. He managed to take down yet another walker with a swift blow to the head. Soon, the other three had turned their attention to the new person who had just arrived. As they shuffled towards Daryl, bodies deformed and ragged, Daryl managed to take a swing and kill yet another one.
As he backed up, he tripped on an electrical wire, falling to the floor, he hand nothing but a blade to protect him. Just as one of the walkers was about to fall on top of him, and end everything for the redneck. An almighty crack filled the air, and the woman fell lifeless next to Daryl. Another crack, followed by the death of yet another walker. As Daryl looked up, he noticed Gareth stood, holding what looked like a fire extinguisher.
Daryl quickly pulled himself up and caught his breath. Gareth walked towards to the other side of the room, dropping the fire extinguisher as he went. He grabbed his things he gave Daryl a quick nod of the head, as if nothing had happened.
"Thank you." He said, simply. Although those few words had a large impact of Daryl. He had never expected that he'd actually save Gareth's life, and he had never expected Gareth to thank him for anything.
"Don't mention it." He replied coolly.
"We better get out of here." Gareth said, slightly shaken up. He had noticed that it was not the smartest idea to head into a main city at the break of dawn. They hadn't managed to get much, but Gareth decided that it would be safer to stow away and search a smaller town. When confronted with this idea, Daryl simply nodded and agreed.
