Summary: Daryl and the others have successfully saved Beth from the hospital but not without heavy losses, now travelling to the supposed safe Alexandria Safe Zone to find Maggie and Glenn, the group meet Riley Brooks a young woman with a mysterious past and the ability to see the dead both as walkers and spirits as they fight to survive and the terrifying mysteries surrounding Briarcliff Asylum as they battle living and dead. Daryl/OC, Beth/OC, Rick/Michonne, Tyresse/OC, Beth/OC friendship. Co – Written with WalkingPotterGirl14. Rated M for violence, graphic language, graphic and eventual sexual scenes. Carol, Glenn and Maggie bashing.

Special Thanks To: Hermione and Marcus, Kima Wolfwood, Monarchslayer, Caity6991 and missy7293.

Ghost Orchid

Chapter 10

The next morning was a bit dreadful. People were being sent off to go back to the hell hole they had just escaped. Nobody wanted to willingly go back, and the tensions were high. Riley, being one of the people going back, had gotten up early, as she couldn't sleep at all, and she decided the best way was to just get ready.

She had gotten a little though. Barely any, but a little. It had been with Daryl, and he had his arms around her, but once she woke up, she had realized it was useless to even try going back to sleep. Her nerves were too damn high.

As she got ready, she looked back at the bed, seeing a peacefully sleeping Daryl and Lily, both out cold. She smiles slightly. She wished she could sleep that well. She had too many nightmares in her mind. All the time. It was never ending. Only when she was with Daryl did they ever stop.
She looks down at her bandaged leg and sighs. They needed to be changed severely, or else they would give her an infection. Maybe they could sneak more medical supplies when they went back. That would definitely help.

She removes her vest and takes off her shirt, unaware of the movement on the bed behind her. Daryl had woken up at the sound of her getting up, opening his eyes and rubbing the sleep slightly away. For a moment he was able to see a slight outline, and then Riley's body shows slowly, her skin shining in the morning daylight.

And then he saw her shirt was off.

Her back was to him as she looked for a shirt and he saw scars marring her back. Some of them looked recent from being tortured in the asylum but the others looked old. There were scars from having knives thrown at her along with scissors being flung at her as he saw that she was wearing a black lace bra and it clung to her body.

She looked beautiful, like a warrior angel ready to fight for her family as she turned around and pulled on a black tank top before pulling on a checked shirt that looked like it was very old.

Riley saw he was awake and smiled at him softly, her blue eyes glowing in the winter sunlight that shone through the curtains as she went to sit down next to him.

"This shirt belonged to my momma. I call it my lucky shirt because whenever I wear it, it gives me luck," she explained, kissing him gently as she started changing her bandages on her left leg.

The bandages didn't look so bad as she redressed them and rubbed some cream into the stiches that Beth had done as Daryl kissed her back and got ready as well and pulled on a clean shirt. They both looked at Lily who was awake and looking at them curiously as she cooed at them happily, her little feet kicking in the air.

"Hey there lili one. Mommy and daddy will be leaving soon so you need to be good for Uncle Carl and Aunt Michonne? Ok?" Riley asked her softly as she changed her diaper and Daryl warmed up a bottle of formula.

Lily cooed as if she understood what Riley was saying.

Daryl strapped his crossbow across his right shoulder while Riley made sure she had her knives, her grandfather's black revolver in a black holster and that her hair was tied up so it wouldn't fall in her face.

"I hope we can find Murphy and Connor. Those two hated Dr. Harper with a burning passion," Riley said as she and Daryl took Lily and Pirate went into the reception area where the others were.

Remy and Beth were there and had a map lain out on the table with a compass so they could see how to break into Briarcliff. Carl and Emma were looking through the weapons while Tyreese and Kristi talked quietly.

The kids were being watched over by Kyle and Zoe, with Tate and Violet talking to Michael and Jeffrey. They seemed be talking about the plan and the pregnant women were tending to Johnny who was asleep like a rock.

"Alright here's the plan. Kristi and Tyresse will hold down the fort with Michonne, Eugene, Michelle, Louise and Anna. While me, Daryl, Riley, Beth, Remy, Tate, Violet, Kyle, Zoe and Carol go to look for Murphy and Connor and break out Maggie, Rosita, Sister Eugene and Sister Bernadette. Does anyone disagree?" Rick asked, looking at the group calmly.

"I do, Rick!" Carol said sharply as her once friendly blue eyes were now cold and indifferent towards them.

"Why?" Rick asked calmly.

"This is a suicide mission! We're walking into a hospital of maniacs just to save Maggie, Rosita and two nuns? This will kill us all and we don't even know if these so called Saint Brothers are alive!" Carol said sarcastically as they heard bells tolling from a church, making Remy and the others share a knowing look.

"That's the Saint Brothers alright. They usually toll the bells before going out on a mission," he said as they heard the roar of two motorcycles and saw two people drive out of the woods.

"That's them! We gotta find them!" Remy said as they all hurried out. He jumped on the bike with his scythe on his shoulder as Beth got on behind him.

"GO! WE'LL BE HERE!" Rick yelled, urging him to move quickly.

Remy nodded and slammed on the gas as they followed after the two men on the bikes.

Maggie felt cold. She was shivering as she had been forced out of her jeans, boots and shirt and now wearing a dress with a cardigan and was sitting next to a dark haired young woman, a woman who looked to be in her mid-forties and another young woman in her mid-twenties as she looked for Rosita but couldn't see her.

"Are you ok, honey?" the older woman asked checking her over. Maggie shivered again.

"No. I don't feel very good," she said, feeling sick as she suddenly collapsed and the three women helped her up as she started crying in pain as she felt cramps, and that was when blood showed on her dress.

"Gemma, Wendy, I need towels and water!" the dark haired woman ordered and the two women nodded as they went to get the supplies and Maggie cringed in pain.

"I'm losing my baby, aren't I?" Maggie sobbed heavily.

"No, no, honey. It's just stress," Tara Teller comforted her as the two women came back.

"Ok, drink this," Gemma said giving her some water that Maggie drank greedily, her lips gasping for the cool water.

"Thank you," Maggie said, breathing heavily. One of the woman laid a hand on her shoulder, squeezing it tightly.

"You better now, sweetie?" she asks quietly. Maggie nods, looking around the room curiously, her brow furrowing.

"Where am I?" She croaks out. "Where's my friend? And why am I in a dress?" She attempts to get up, but two of the women hold her down, preventing her from even moving a muscle.

"You're where Roman and Dr. Harper had brought you. Here you'll be safe, okay? You and your baby. Everything's going to be okay." Maggie doesn't stop from trying to move.

"If it's so safe, where the hell is my friend? Why am I dressed like this?" She still attempts to get up, but feels something pierce her skin, and she looks down to find a shot put into her flesh. Not even a moment later, she feels her vision beginning to fade away.

Trying to fight it, she attempts to keep her eyes open, but sooner or later they close. All she hears is the same woman saying that this place was safe, before her whole world turned black.

It had been nearly an hour that Remy and Beth had left to find the brothers, and the rest of the group waited anxiously. Riley sat near the door of the motel, holding a fidgety Lily in her arms, who was playing with a stuffed teddy bear they had found in one of the other rooms.

Riley sighs and looks down at the floor, feeling her nerves coming back. Lily giggled above her, hugging her bear closer to her chest. She was nervous about Beth and Remy. What if they didn't bring them back? What if they didn't make it back at all? She shakes her head and looks up as she feels Daryl sit next to her.

"They'll find them, don't worry," Daryl assured her as he looked through the window and she nodded, sighing as Lily cooed softly at all of them and laid on Riley's lap contently.

"I know they will. I just worry that something bad will happen to Maggie or Beth," she said, sighing as they saw Kyle hurrying into the reception area, looking breathless but alert.

"A truck's here. Looks like Roman sent more men along with Dr. Harper," he whispered urgently as they all got into position and Riley gently sat Lily down next to Adam before pulling out her sniper rifle.

One of the men came to the door and with any hesitation, Daryl stabbed the man in the back of the head, putting a hand to his mouth so he wouldn't cry out as they dragged him into the reception area as three more men came out.

"Where the fuck would a group of crazy people escape to?" the leader asked the two men dryly.

"Dunno boss," the other man said confused.

"In the woods," he said chuckling.

"Damnit, where the fuck is Trent?" The leader asked, annoyed as he tried to use his radio to contact Trent.

Daryl pressed a hand to his lips as they opened fire on the three men. They let out yelps of shock as they tried to flee for cover but Daryl, Rick and Tate took them down quickly.

One of the men was still alive as Rick dragged him back into the motel and pressed his knife against the man's throat.

"Where did you take the people from Alexandria?!" he growls at the man. The captive squirms in the man's grasp, trying to get away, but Riley realizes that even if he did somehow escape Rick's arms, he would get shot somehow.

"I don't know shit, man!" the guy complains, still struggling to break free. "I didn't even know there was a safe zone!" Rick takes out his gun and aims it right at the guy's head this time. The man stops moving instantly.

"You gonna tell us now?" Rick asks, this time quieter and calmer. The man takes a deep breath before looking at the group.

"I'll talk, okay? Just don't shoot," he replies quietly. "We took them…" He looks to the right and sees Riley with her gun pointed at him as well, her eyes narrowed. Daryl stood a few feet away. He smirks, and before Riley could react, the man had elbowed Rick in the stomach and ran over to Riley.

Everyone aimed their guns angrily at the man, but didn't shoot, as he took out his own and aimed it at Riley's head, holding her hands behind her back. She stills in the grip, her body frozen.

"Don't come any closer, or else she gets a bullet right through her head," the man behind her growls. Daryl looked absolutely furious.

"Yer gonna let her go right fuckin' now," Daryl hisses at him. The man smirks.

"Or what? You'll shoot me?"

"I'll feed ya to the walkers," he confirms, still keeping his gun aimed at the man's head. The man's grip tightens on her hands.

"I'm not telling you guys any-"

"Ah, fuck this!" Riley exclaims, moving her head away from the gun. She stomps on the man's foot harshly, and his gun goes off, sending a bullet into the wall next to him. She elbows him in the stomach and he falls to the ground in pain with a loud groan, but not before she knees him in the groin.

He cries out in pain as she takes her own gun and shoots him in the leg. He yelps at the pain, backing up against the wall. Her eyes were narrowed, and her heart was pounding, but she was done. She was done being the hostage, the person everyone uses for a bargain. She was gonna be her.

And she was fine with this.

"Tell us where they are," she grinds out. He keeps one hand on his bullet wound and one near his head, as if it would protect him from her rifle.

"They took 'em back to the asylum! They're there! Man I don't even like them that much!" He cries out. Riley rolls her eyes. He was just trying to save himself. "I wish I could kill them too! Fuck those assholes! We could go there and kill them together!" Riley glares at him, pointing her gun officially at his head.

"That is a stupid idea."

A shot rings out and the bullet goes through the man's head, spraying blood onto the ground. She looks down at the man and realizes something.

She had just killed someone.

Not a walker, not an animal. A man.

"Oh my God," she whispers to herself, holding her gun tighter to her body. She turns around and looks at the group in shock. "I didn't-" She didn't even get to finish her sentence, as Daryl's arms had taken her away from the body and wrapped around her shaking body. "I just killed someone. Oh my God, I'm just as bad as Roman."

"No, listen to me Riley. Ya ain't a bad person. Ya did what ta had to do to protect us and protect the kids," Daryl said gently but firmly. Riley nodded, taking a deep breath as Carol glared behind them and muttered.

"Weak, you're weak," she snapped before storming off back into her room as they watched in shock.

"God, what a bitch," Zoe muttered annoyed and the others nodded as the prison group shared a concerned look.

Carol was getting dangerous.

Remy and Beth had been following the bikes for two hours when they saw them stop outside an abandoned church that was overgrown with weeds and flowers. The two brothers got off the bikes and were about to head inside when Remy and Beth showed themselves.

"Hey, wait up!" Remy yelled loudly at them and they both stopped as they looked at him and Beth.

"Can we help ya?" Connor asked gruffly while Murphy remained silent as he looked at them suspiciously.

"We need your help to rescue Maggie Greene, my sister," Beth said confidently and Murphy stilled but his face turned cold at the mention of his lost love.

"We don't know anyone by that name, sorry," Murphy said coldly and was about to leave when Beth spoke again.

"You met my sister at the local bar, Hatlands. You were hunting down the gang that killed your dad and you met Maggie when she found you bleeding nearly to death in the barn. You and your brother worked as farm hands. I know Connor loves someone in Briarcliff Asylum, Trinity Belmonte," Beth said knowingly.

Murphy stilled as he stared at Beth in surprise at the fact that she knew he had been involved with Maggie.

"Doesn't matter. She never loved me," he said bitterly.

"That's a lie, son," Hershel said quietly but firmly, causing all of them to look in surprise.

"Mr Greene?" Murphy asked stunned at seeing his ghost.

"In the flesh, son. I know you blame yourself for what happened to Maggie, that you feel you couldn't save her and Malcolm, the son you lost before knowing, meeting him," Hershel said gently.

Murphy looked pained at the mention of his son that he and Maggie had lost. It was all his fault.

"I shouldn't have fallen for that bitch's tricks. I wasn't there for Maggie when she went into labour on her own..." he said his voice cracking.

"And gave birth to a still born son named Malcom Noah McManus?" Hershel asked gently. Murphy nods numbly. "Son, that wasn't your fault in the slightest. Life was complicated back then. Now, you take what you want, or else you might lose it soon. Maggie needs your help, as well as your brother. It's the only way she'll be free from what she's in right now. You need to help her."

For a second, no one said anything, and Beth waited anxiously for his answer. After a moment, he looks up, looks at his brother, and then nods. Beth feels a sigh of relief escape her as Remy smiles.

"We'll help," Connor says tiredly.

"But don't expect us to be stayin' or anythin'," Murphy snaps. Beth places her hands up in defense, a smile on her face.

"Fine with me. I just want my sister back!" She looks around for her father's spirit, but finds he was gone. She frowns, following Remy back to his bike, before feeling a force on her shoulder, and she smiles, knowing it was her father.

"We're staying in an old motel about two hours away from here. Just follow us on the road and we'll be there as soon as we can." The brothers nod and get onto their own vehicles as Remy started up the bike. Beth wrapped her arms around his waist and smiles into his back.

They were getting closer and closer.

Sooner or later, Riley had taken a passed out Lily into her room again, taking her away from the line of fire if any more guys showed up. Her mind was still on the shot she put into that man's head. She felt terrible about it, horrible. She had never killed a man, and now that she did she felt absolutely guilty.

What if that man had a family?

She just killed him without knowing anything, and her nerves were on fire. She was pacing around her room, trying to convince herself that it was okay to do, that she was just protecting her family, but the words 'you're a monster' and 'you're weak' kept repeating in her head. Even if Daryl said it wasn't her fault, it still felt terrible.

Lily was happily asleep on her bed, her head dozing off a bit to the side as Riley pressed, her head in her hands. She hears the door open and looks up painfully, seeing Daryl walk in. She looks back down at the ground, crossing her arms, standing still where she was.

Daryl wordlessly pulled her into him and held her tightly. He gently pulled her hands away from her face and saw she looked pale before pulling her into him as she shuddered against him, letting out the emotions.

"It's alright, it's alright. This weren't yer fault," Daryl assured her and Riley nodded, feeling better as she wiped her damp eyes as Daryl wiped her tears away with his red bandana and she smiled softly.

"I needed that," she whispered quietly and he nodded as he held her tightly. She felt so delicate against his strong body, like a fragile bird about to break. She looked up at him and Daryl kissed her tenderly, cupping her face.

Riley kissed him back. Being with Daryl made her feel safe, loved and not alone in the cold, cruel world. They kissed each other passionately and pulled away for air before simply holding each other as they heard Remy's motorcycle and two others.

They were back.

"They must have found them," Daryl said, taking her hand as she picked up Lily and they walked to the reception area where they saw Beth and Remy come in with two older men around their earlier to late thirties.

The man leaning against the wall must be Murphy. He looked at all of them wearily before lighting up a cigarette and started smoking heavily as Carol glared in annoyance.

"Do you mind? Not all of us want to die by choking on shitty cigarettes," Carol spat harshly.

Murphy gave her the bird as he turned to the others.

"So when do we rescue Maggie and the others?" He asked gruffly as he exhaled some smoke and it blew in the air.

"Now. We move out now," Rick said firmly and they all nodded as they started saying goodbye.

"Look after yourself, Riley," Kristy said softly as she hugged her and Beth tightly as the babies were in a play mat, safely playing with Michael and Jeffrey while the dogs kept watch. Salem looked happy just sitting on Emma's lap while Michonne stroked her.

"I will. Don't worry Kris," she promised her friend.

Kristy nodded and hugged Beth next. It went like this for a little while. Not that much time, but a bit. Riley couldn't help but think that maybe this was goodbye for someone, but she decided not to dwell on it. She was going to come back in one piece, and she was going to come back with the people. She was going to survive this.

Riley offers Kristi and the others one last smile before exiting outside. She watches Beth climb onto the back of Remy's motorcycle as Riley looked at the truck that Daryl had claimed a while ago. He climbs into the driver's seat and she sort of reluctantly gets into the passenger seat, looking out the window.

Seeing that she was nervous, Daryl gently takes her hand in his, and she looks over at him.

"Were gonna make it through this," he says quietly. She nods, leaning over and pecking his lips quickly. When she pulls back, he smiles slightly. "Didn't know ya would do that," he murmurs. She smiles brightly.

"Might as well, right?" She places her seatbelt on and turns to him. "Start up the car. Let's get 'em back." Daryl smirks at her sudden braveness, starting up the car and feeling the engine roar to life. Riley looks at the motel as it disappears out of sight.

She prayed they would be okay.

When they had gotten to the asylum, the sun had set once again, and the place looked even more senile than it did before they left. As she looked at it, Riley felt all her past memories coming back to her, but she shakes them off, thinking about what they had been through, and where she was now.

She wasn't their slave anymore. She was free. And she was here to free others too.

She grasped the sniper rifle that Rick had given her as they all silently climbed over the fence and walked to the back exit, being careful of any guards or walkers as they walked silently and Remy found the fire exit.

He opened it as they saw Pepper walking past them and kept out of her sight before continuing on when they saw Maggie being placed on a stretcher before being taken to the maternity ward for expectant mothers. Two other women were being led there.

"Murphy, you go get Maggie with Beth and Remy," Rick instructed and the three nodded before hurrying off as they continued to look around when Violet felt something sticky on her hand and looked to see blood smeared all over the walls as if someone had gone crazy with the paint.

"That is messed up shit," Tate muttered repulsed as they kept on walking when they found the fire alarm and Daryl broke the glass before pressing the button so it could cause a distraction.

Immediately the fire alarm starts ringing as they search for Rosita and Riley found Sister Eunice and the others tied up and gagged. She quickly started untying them as she pulled off Sister Eunice's gag.

"Riley look out!" The woman yelled in alarm and she looked in time to see Sally run at her with a gun in her hands. She tried to shoot her but she kicked it out of her hands as Daryl ran to help, while Connor looked for Trinity.

Riley kicked her in the face, causing Sally to snarl rabidly as she tried to shoot her again but Riley moved her hand as the young woman ended up shooting herself in the stomach, a look of shock on her face.

She dragged herself up before stabbing her in the head so she wouldn't turn and Daryl ran to help her untie the others as Connor searched for Trinity.

Trinity knew she was going to die. She just knew she was going to die as two men dragged her into the chapel. She felt her eyes burn as she thought of Connor. Oh god, was he safe.

One of the men started praying from the bible as someone poured petrol over her and lit up a lighter as the priest walked over to her slowly as she took a deep breath.

"God is going to send you to hell, Father Howard," She said calmly as she grasped her rosary beads.

"You'll be there first my dear," Father Howard said smiling cruelly as the door was kicked open and they looked up to see...

Connor?! He was here?

"Connor!" Trinity cried overjoyed. Before the priest could even think of a response, Connor shot him in the head, sending him flying to the floor. He runs over and unties Trinity's bounds on her hands, setting them free. She smiles up at him. "I knew you were alive."

Connor leans in and captures her lips with his quickly, hearing the gunshots going off. He grasps her hand and pulls her up, giving her a quick hug.

"Course I'm alive. I wasn't about to leave you in this hell." He pulls her towards the door and she furrows her brow.

"Where on earth are we going?" Connor smiles at her.

"Someplace safe." He hands her a pistol. "Keep that close to you. We're going in."

The room they were in had the fire lights blazing on and off as Riley helped Sister Eunice and Rosita to her feet. She turns to Sister Eunice, who had been hurt and had a black eye with a cut up lip.

"Where's Sister Bernadette?" She asks hurriedly. Sister Eunice shakes her head gravely, telling Riley all she needed to know. She sighs angrily and turns to Rosita. "You. You're Rosita, right?" The woman nods her head. "Where's Maggie? They went off to go and find her." Rosita shrugs.

"I have no idea! They knocked me out and took me away before I could even see where we are! The only hint they gave me was that this place had screaming left and right!" Riley turns to Daryl, who was standing guarded near the door.

"We need to get them out of here and to the truck. Then we can help them find Maggie. We can't have them get hurt anymore." Daryl nods and walks away from the door to help, but not before Riley saw one of the women from before, one of them she hated, coming at him with an axe. "DUCK!"

He didn't even hesitate as he went down and to the side, nearly missing the woman's swing. Riley pushes Sister Eunice and Rosita towards Daryl.

"Go! I'll handle her!"