VPOV
I woke up alone. Daryl had gone to stay in his tent last night. After Maggie had seen us she couldn't stop grinning at me. I guess Daryl noticed, and he kept his distance after that.
I decided then and there that I would tell Hershel that I was fine and that I'd be staying with the rest of my group from then on. I didn't exactly like the idea of being in the house when the people I cared about were outside in the cold...
I headed for the camp area, where I saw a few people huddled around the hood of Carol's Cherokee. Daryl was one of them.
Walking towards them he looked up and I could see him trying to hide his smile. I stopped next to him turning to the group. "What are you guys talking about?"
"We're heading out. We've set areas where teams can search. Try and get this more organised." dad told me.
"You wanna join?" Andrea asked, grabbing her gun off the hood of the car. "Could use more eyes."
Dad looked me up and down before shaking his head. "I think you should stay here. Don't work yourself too hard. You can help keep an eye out for walkers here at camp."
I nodded, turning to walk away. I took a few steps before I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I didn't even need to turn to know it was Daryl.
"Stay on the farm this time." he said, his southern accent giving me butterflies.
I nodded, turning around. "No problem." I smiled.
He looked around before taking a step closer. "You staying in the house again tonight?" I shook my head and he nodded, biting his thumb nail. "Well if you can sneak away, you can join me in my tent." he shrugged. "If you want."
I grinned, a small laugh escaping. "You sound a bit confident there, Mr Dixon." I took a step closer and noticed the way his eyes searched for other's watching, holding his breath. "I'll see you there." I smiled before turning on my heels.
I noticed mum and Carol folding clothes, both of them looking in our direction. Carol smiling knowingly, while mum just shook her head and looked back down at the clothes.
DPOV
I was riding on the horse, looking out for Sophia, when all I could think about was Victoria. The way she felt in my arms. The way her moans filled my ears. Her lips so soft. Her hands gentle one moment, rough the next as she pushed me against her. The way she rubbed herself against me as I kissed her, grinding against my groin.
Jeez, the thought alone was enough to get me hard again.
I stopped, seeing something down in the creek. I jumped off the horse moving towards it. It was Sophia's doll...
"Sophia!" I called, though there was no response.
I moved back to the horse jumping back on before continuing looking for Sophia. I didn't see the snake on the ground, but the horse did. And before I knew it I was flying off it and rolling down a hill.
When I landed I groaned in pain, one of my arrows had gone through my side. "Son of a bitch."
I crawled out of the water, holding on to my side. The pain was bad, but I wasn't going to just sit there. Once I was out of the water I ripped my sleeves off, tying them around my waist to help with the bleeding.
There was rustling behind me, coming from the bushes and I gathered it was a walker. Unfortunately my crossbow was still in the water, so I quietly moved, grabbing a stick, before using it to dig around in the water to find my crossbow. Once I had it I used the stick to help me walk before moving to the steep hill and pulling myself up. There was no way I was going to die here.
VPOV
I stood on the top of the RV with Dale, waiting for the others to come back. I had asked everyone if there was anything I could do to help, but all of them had told me to go rest. I was starting to feel like a cripple.
"Do you know how to shoot?" Dale asked, noticing how I held the rifle.
I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, but my parents don't know." I shrugged.
He grinned. "Who taught you?"
My smile fell then. "Shane."
"Oh." he nodded, his grin disappearing. "Do your parents know about him?"
I turned to him, not believing what I just heard. "Is it that obvious?"
He just shook his head. "But I notice these things. Like the way Daryl watches over you. The way you two act around each other. I'm guessing you haven't told your parents about him either?"
I shook my head. "But there's not much to tell. I mean sure we're close, but we haven't really done anything." I shrugged. "I told him how I feel and he kissed me. But we haven't done anything." I assured him. "Sorry." I sighed. "You probably don't want to hear this."
Instead he asked. "And you and Shane?" he gave me a pointed look.
I just shook my head. "I've done nothing with him that I haven't done with Daryl." I said, looking away.
"Room for another up there?" Andrea asked as she walked towards the RV.
"Come on up." I called, offering her a hand as she climbed the ladder. I gave her the rifle, knowing she'd want it, before sitting down.
DPOV
I was lying on the ground, listening to my brother go on. I knew I was hallucinating, but I still couldn't help but feel agitated at how he spoke to me.
"You really think you belong?" Merle asked, crouching down beside me. "None of them care 'bout you."
"That's not true." I mumbled.
He laughed. "Yeah and who cares, hm? Asian boy? The cop? Hm?"
"Vic." I mumbled, squinting my eyes at the sun.
"Vic?"
I nodded. "Rick's daughter."
That just made Merle laugh again. "You screwin' the sheriff's daughter? Why, I never thought you had it in ya. But this? When are you gonna tell the cop? Bet he'll be real mad when he finds out." Merle laughed harder.
"It's not like tha'." I groaned.
"What, you feel somethin' for 'er?" Merle shook his head. "Girl's good fo' nothin' but screwin'."
"Screw you. She's more than that." I growled.
Merle stood up, kicking my foot. "Well better get up then. Go get your girl. Tell her you love 'er." he shook his head, kicking my foot again. "Let's go."
I looked up, hearing snarling, to see a walker chewing my boot. I got up, trying to crawl away as he moved towards me. But I wasn't going to let it kill me. I needed to get back. I needed to find Sophia. They needed me. Victoria needed me...
VPOV
We stayed there in silence, Dale getting down to go get some water. Andrea and I weren't friends exactly, but we weren't enemy's either. Amy and I had been somewhat close, so I enjoyed Andrea's company sometimes... just as long as she didn't complain about anything.
She looked through the scope, searching the area.
Dad had insisted that we didn't deal with any of the walkers, but I could see how Andrea and Shane thought we shouldn't leave our safety in the hands of strangers. I didn't mind Hershel, Maggie and the others; if anything I trusted them. But I understood where Andrea and Shane stood.
"Walker. Walker!" Andrea called.
"Just the one?" dad asked, on the ground, trying to look for it.
"I bet I can nail it from here." Andrea said, getting the gun more comfortable as she got ready to shoot.
"No, Andrea, no." dad yelled, knowing how Hershel would react.
I didn't give another thought before I jumped off the roof, taking Daryl's knife out of my pocket before following T-Dog and Glenn as they ran towards the walker. Shane and my dad running with us, each person with a weapon in hand.
When we got closer I swear my heart stopped.
"Is that Daryl?" Glenn asked.
Dad had his gun pointing at Daryl. "That's the third time you've pointed that thing at my head. You gonna pull the trigger or what?" he snapped at dad.
He looked... like a walker. Blood around his mouth, his clothes dirty and ripped. He even limped like a walker, and I noticed how he was bleeding. But I was so relieved to see he was still... Daryl.
I smiled, taking a step forward when the sound of a gun went off and he fell to the ground.
"No!" I screamed, falling to his side. "Daryl? Daryl?!"
He brushed his head, where the bullet grazed and looked up at me. "I'm fine." he mumbled before my dad and I helped him up. "I was kidding, man." he groaned at my dad once we had him up, one arm draped over dad's shoulder, the other draped over mine.
Shane moved forward, offering to help and dad told me to move, knowing I wouldn't be able to move as fast with how heavy he was.
"Oh my god. Oh my god, is he dead?" Andrea asked as she ran up to us with Dale close behind.
"Back off." I snapped.
Dad just gave me a pointed look before turning back to her. "Unconscious. You just grazed him."
"But look at him. What the hell happened? He's wearing ears." Glenn pointed out. Sure enough, around his neck was a rope with ears on it.
Dad ripped it off, handing it to me. "Let keep that to ourselves." he mumbled and I nodded before shoving them in my pocket.
"Hey guys, isn't this Sophia's?"
We all turned to see T-Dog holding Sophia's doll. And it was like a I was punched in the face with a tidal wave of emotions. Relief that we have a sign she's out there. Horror that Daryl came back the way he is, with just a doll. And wonder, that maybe all hope isn't lost...
I hope you enjoyed, don't forget to review :):)
Love and miss you all xox
BaMbY
