Chapter 8

Daryl

In an instant, Beth collapsed to the ground in pain. I stood in horror as everything processed. I grabbed my crossbow. and prepared an arrow. Suddenly, a familiar raspy voice spoke from behind me, "Hello, Daryl.". I rolled my eyes and, using my peripheral vision, spotted Joe with a pistol pointing at my head. Without a word I threw my crossbow across the tile.

"Ya know, we just couldn't let you leave without knowing that you wouldn't come back to take our supplies… I'm sorry we have to do this to you." I continued to stand quietly. I looked around to see if I could use anything to help me. Unsuccessful, I glanced down at Beth. Dan approached her, with his bat dragging across the ground. I began to struggle as he lifted it up. Joe grabbed my shoulder and I could now feel his breath against my neck, "First, we'll kill the girl, then you… it'll be fast, I promise."

I looked down at my feet and saw that Joe's was right beside mine. Risking Beth's life, I lifted my foot and used all the strength that I had left in me to break at least, two of his toes. He shrieked in pain and toppled over onto the ground. I grabbed my crossbow and shot an arrow into Dan's leg. He screamed and quickly pulled it out. The others surrounded me, maniacally laughing. Joe stood up, a scowl on his face. I looked over at Beth to see her lying on the ground with Dan over her. I practically growled as I took aim at her forehead.

My crossbow was suddenly thrown across the room by Joe. I tried to go around him to get to Beth, but he punched my jaw, definitely leaving a mark. "Teach 'em both men. Teach 'em all the way." Joe kicked my shin first, sending me to the ground. I struggled to stand, but someone else delivered a blow to my gut, making me clutch it and groan. Somewhere between the sounds of pain and the grunting of the men beating me, I could hear Dan's hideous laughing and Beth's horrifying screams.

"Beth!" I yelled. If he hurts her, I'll kill him. "Daryl!" She sobs. She's still alive. Another blow to my eye. I notice the screams start to stop. Is she dead? No. She can't be. "Beth!" I hoarsely yell. A kick to my throat. I see dark spots in my vision now. Suddenly, it stops. I hear a zoom of an arrow, then it flying into flesh. I slightly lifted my head up at see Beth holding my crossbow in front of her, aiming it at Joe and the other men. Then I look beside her. Dan lies on the ground, dead, a knife through his eye.

She shoots another man next to me and he falls to the ground. I grab his pistol out of his waistband and shoot it at Joe, putting lead right in between his eyebrows. Beth drops my crossbow and falls to the ground, sobbing. I want to reach out to her, but I take out the other men with the pistol. I'm surprised I still have good aim with my vision practically gone. When they're all dead, I hear Beth crawl over to me before I pass out and see complete black.

When I wake, I'm greeted with a stinging pain just above my eyebrow. My eyes slowly open as I hiss under my breath from the sharp pain. I'm faced with Beth, about half a foot away from my face with a damp washcloth in her hand, dabbing at my forehead. She smiles when she sees me. "Good. You're awake." "Yeah. How long have I been out." She shrugs. "About half a day. The sun just rose."

I try to sit up, but my rib cage aches, so Beth has to help me. "Why don't we stay here for the day. You need to rest." I look around at my surroundings. The other guys are all gone. Well, their bodies are. She must've had to drag them out. Right before I fell asleep, I remember her breaking down and crying. The red rims around her eyes are my proof. I'm almost afraid to ask, but I do anyway.

"Why'd you break down earlier?" I try to make my voice as soft as possible, but it still doesn't work. She sighs before replying. "I haven't taken the time to cry since… you know." I do know, Since they night she was taken. I wait a while to say something. "I'm sorry." I finally say. I am sorry. I'm sorry for not getting to her soon enough. I'm sorry I stopped looking. I'm sorry I lost hope… "You have nothin' to be sorry 'bout." I scoff. "I got ya' kidnapped." She flinches. "And I got out, You saved me. I probably would've been walker food if you didn't distract them." Now I flinch. The thought of her being walker food disturbs me more than it should.

Before I can argue with her, she says, "Rest. You need it if we're going to keep moving tomorrow." I take a while to consider it, then finally lean back and fall into another deep sleep on the cold concrete floor.