The Ties That Bind
Chapter 10
Daryl woke up right at dawn. He got up and walked over to the window. His mind immediately went to Jade. He looked towards the recreation hall at the box. Walter was now standing guard. Daryl figured Merle wasn't taking any chances with him even if he had told him he was on his side. Daryl walked over to the stove and made a pot of coffee. He was starving. He looked around in the kitchen cabinets for something to eat but didn't find anything. He would check with Merle in a bit but for now he was going to sit down and attempt to come up with some type of plan to free Jade. The problem was, he had no idea what to do.
Michael and Jade entered their house dragging their suitcases. "Babe, I love our yearly trip to the beach but does the flight home get longer every year or is it just me?" Michael dropped his suitcase in the front hallway by the door. "Michael, I swear if you leave that suitcase out for a month I'm going to hurt you!" Michael put his arms around Jade's waist and pulled her close to his chest. "Promise?" he leaned in and kissed her. Jade pulled away "Don't even try it" Jade laughed "That won't work, take your damn suitcase upstairs!"
Jade woke up from the daylight shining in the hole in the box. Her body ached all over. Her legs were beginning to cramp from being so confined. Her reoccurring dreams of her life with Michael were almost overwhelming. What she wouldn't give to have his arms around her one more time. She wondered how long Merle would keep her in there this time. It was only morning but it was sweltering inside the box. All Jade could think about was how thirsty she was.
Daryl stepped out onto the porch just as Merle was approaching the cabin. "Well I was just about to wake you little brother."
"What's for breakfast Merle, I'm starving" Daryl asked. "Follow me, we'll go get some grub."
Daryl followed Merle back over to the recreation hall. Daryl couldn't help but look in the direction of the box wondering how Jade was doing. Upon entering the rec. hall Daryl could smell something cooking. His stomach began to hurt from hunger pangs. On the opposite side of the room further away from the smaller rooms where he and Jade were held, was a small open kitchen area. Daryl hadn't noticed it the day before. Merle and Daryl sat at one of the small tables next to the kitchen. A woman, one of the women from the garden the day before, came out bringing them both coffee. She quickly went back into the kitchen and brought them each a bowl and spoon. Daryl looked down and noticed it was a bowl of grits. He thought this was going to be the best bowl of grits he had ever had.
"Grits? Where on earth did you get grits?" Daryl asked the woman. The woman didn't respond and just stood there with her head down. Merle waved the woman away and she returned into the kitchen.
"There is a whole pantry full of stuff to eat, grits, oatmeal, canned food, all sorts of stuff. I'm telling you, it's like this place was just sitting here waiting for someone to find it."
They both began to eat, Daryl wolfed his down since he hadn't eaten in days. Merle took his time. Two men Daryl hadn't seen before entered the hall and stood a short distance away from their table. Merle took his time looking up at them.
"Sheriff…..John and Robert are keeping watch on the north and west side of the camp and Earl is on the east….Walter is covering the south and the box." one of the men advised.
"Alright then, I guess you can eat. After you're done, relieve Walter and Earl, then they can relieve John and Robert. Once all you men are done eating, you can allow the workers to eat." Merle turned his focus back to his bowl.
"Thank you Sheriff, thank you sir" both men went and sat at a table nearby. The woman came from the kitchen as soon as they sat down and served them as she had Daryl and Merle.
"Who are all these people?" Daryl asked Merle. Daryl tried to count back to how many people he saw yesterday as well as adding these new people today. He came to about 20 but wasn't sure that was right either.
"Well…. You met Walter and Earl. Both are dumb as rocks but I met up with them in the city, shortly after your friend handcuffed me to a rooftop. You should have seen them both, scared to death! Can you imagine the look on their face when they see me stumbling by, missing a hand and my stump still smoking?" Merle laughed out loud as if he was even proud of it. " I knew I'd never have any trouble with them. They are like lost hungry dogs, all they need is a little attention and food and they are loyal to you for life. As far as those two over there (Merle gestured to the two men that had sat down) I'd say we ran into them on one of our runs for supplies, they were beating the crap out of a walker. I liked their drive, thought they had potential with a little guidance. The other two out watching the perimeter were old buddies of Walter and Earl. We ran into them just outside of the city. They are slightly smarter versions of Walter and Earl."
Merle continued eating as if he was done talking. Daryl waited a moment to see if he would continue on but Merle just kept on eating. "Merle….and the others…."
"Oh yeah them, well they are just people we've picked up along the way. About once a week we will go out and search the surrounding areas here. Making sure not too many people are coming through. We don't want to be over run here. Whoever we come across, we take out the young, strong men first and decide if anyone left can be of use. If they can be, then we bring them here and introduce them to one of those rooms. (Merle gestured toward the opposite side of the hall where the smaller rooms were) They have what I'd call-time to think. To think about whether they want to survive or be put out of their misery. If they want to survive then they need to be disciplined….I believe you've already seen a glimpse of what goes on in those rooms. I have very little tolerance for people who disobey me. They learn that real fast. Even good ole faithful Walter and Earl had a turn in those rooms, nobody gets a pass. That way there is no doubt in anyone's mind what I'm capable of."
Daryl just stared in silence at Merle. He couldn't help but notice how casual Merle was when referring to those people. People that he no doubt had spent time torturing. He wondered if he chained everyone up they way he did Jade. He already admitted to raping Jade, was this something he did with all the women? Daryl's stomach started to turn with the thought of it. He was also beginning to regret eating so fast. He took a deep breath to keep his food down.
"Come on Daryl, let's go, we've got better things to do than just sit here and chat like two women."