The boot popped open with a click, the full force of the sun hitting me leaving me momentarily blinded. When my blurred vision slowly returned I was relieved to see a clear road ahead of me, I allowed myself to breath a small sigh of relief. We had made it through the night. I swung my legs out of the boot stretching feeling my muscles yawn and bones click. Daryl did the same, placing his bow to one side he stretched his arms interlocking his fingers above his head he groaned as he pulled himself out of the boot and offering me his hand, which I took standing on shacking legs. I was still feeling shacked from the night before I stood froze in the middle of the road as I thought of all those hungry mouths crying out for flesh, the hands of the twisted mangled corps clawing franticly at the metal shell trying to crack it open to feast on meat inside. I had had close calls before but this time was different the confined space made me feel trapped, there was no way to fight back.
"Hay" Daryl called over to me from where he stood still by the boot of the car.
"I'm okay" I said turning back to face Daryl taking a deep breath, I had been through worse I told myself as I pulled myself together walking back to the car. Daryl didn't look completely convinced I could feel his eyes on me as I looked at the car trying to avoid eye contact. The car we had sheltered ourselves in had clearly been scavenged a long time ago however there were still plenty of useful items attached to the car.
I walked round to the front of the car there were a few empty bottles in the passenger side of the car I took them placing them in my bag Daryl joined me picking pieces off the car that could be used.
I picked up one of the discarded wing mirror along with some pieces of a broken headlight. I turned to see Daryl picking up one of the cars hub caps, he stood looking at me before throwing his bag over his shoulder.
"Com'on" Daryl said in almost a whisper before turning and walking forward.
I stood froze looked down at my feet not understanding, I turned back to face the road we had run down and the track we had slept on.
"Wait" I called after Daryl he stopped turning to face me.
"What" he asked dropping the bag from his shoulder.
"So where are we goin" I asked
"That way" Daryl said pointing at the open road
"But how do you know that's the right way"
"Right way to what?"
"To Beth" I said raising my voice, shocked at Daryl's reaction
"Marcy, Beth she's... She's just... She's gone" Daryl said hanging his head.
"Yeah and we gotta go find her" I said my voice raising Daryl stepped forward closing the space between us.
"Marcy" Daryl spoke as though trying to reason with me, which I wasn't taking.
"So that's it your just going to turn your back on her, just like that" I paused Daryl's eyes squinted.
"You can do what you want but I'm gonna go find her" I said turning to walk away.
"You can't go alone" Daryl grumbled after me.
"Really!" I said turning back to face him "Well I was doing just fine before you came along" Daryl walked forward grabbing my upper arm.
"I can't let you go"
"Let go of me right now" I demanded pulling my arm, but his grip was too strong.
"It's not safe" Daryl said letting my arm go.
"Yeah I'm a big girl I can take care of myself" I said turning to storm off in the opposite direction.
Daryl grumbled under his breath as he started to follow me back to the cross road.
I stopped back at the cross road, not knowing where to really start
"We got nowhere to go, what's the harm in trying"
"I just know what it's like to chase shadows" Daryl almost whispered, catching me off guard.
I looked down at my feet before looking back up at Daryl, maybe he was right. I'm sure he could see the pain in my eyes because he stepped closer placing a hand on my shoulder in an attempt to calm me, I looked away towards the open road taking a deep breath maybe I would have to learn to let go.
And just like that everything was lost, that sweet innocent girl, gone. I didn't want to let go I wasn't sure I knew how to not anymore. I'd lost so much in the last years that the little I had left I had clung to for life itself, when I lost my friend so long ago I never wanted to admit she was really gone I always held on to the hope that id find her stumble across her path somehow find her and tell her I was sorry. Now I had to let her go say goodbye to that girl I used to know, along with Beth. Tears hot and heavy fell down my cheeks I felt the hand on my shoulder squeeze and I let my cheek fall to rest on it just for a moment before looking up my silent tears drying slowly. I looked over to Daryl he looked just as hurt as I did although he managed to hold his emotions together. It occurred to me that Id had it easy compared to him I'd had someone by my side from the beginning, yes I had lost her and I was still coming to terms with that after months of suffering, but I hadn't suffered as much as the man who stood before me the stories he'd shared with me would haunt most, although who nowadays didn't have a horror story of a life of their own. In truth we had both suffered in different ways completely.
"Let's keep going" Daryl started wiping his brow with the back of his hand. I nodded watching Daryl movements, he seemed a little on edge. His eyes narrower and his head turned as he scanned the surroundings I watched as Daryl's muscles tensed and at that moment knew we were not alone.
"How many" I whispered not moving a muscle.
"Five" there was a pause "Six" Daryl corrected himself as he began weighing up his options in his mind I could see the though process on his face. He looked uneasy unsure. I moved to ready my bow but Daryl stopped me with a deadly look. He shook his head slowly. Outnumbered yes but we had faced worse I thought to myself but Daryl seemed uneasy beginning to shift from foot to foot.
"Well lookie here" a voice called from somewhere behind me, I quickly turned to face the voice.
Six men emerged from the shadows circling us all of them watching us, figuring out our weaknesses maybe?, not that it mattered me and Daryl would have them sussed much quicker. The man who had spoke was tall with whirly greying hair and beard to matched, he had thick dark circles under his grey cold eyes. Next to me stood a tall slim shifty looking man he stood licking his lips a smug thin smile stretched across his face. The grey haired man stepped forward towards me he seemed to be the leader of the group as the rest of the men fell back and watched his every move. These men were not to be trusted the way there eyes followed us like vultures ready to pick their prey apart. Well they didn't know who they were messing with we would not go down without a fight.
"Nice to meet you mama" The leader said as he continued his confident approach ignoring Daryl completely focusing his unwanted attention on me. He began to raise a hand and I watched carefully clearly uncomfortable with his approach He was inches away from me now reaching out to touch me I tensed but before he could touch me Daryl stepped between us raising his fist an slamming it into his face. The man stumbled backwards falling clutching his bloodied nose. All the men surrounding us raised their weapons I quickly readied my bow Daryl raising his alongside me.
"Hold up" the man on the floor called wiping his nose and chuckling to himself. He looked up at me and Daryl and chucked some more this time louder. Me and Daryl watched him both of us uneasy as the man stumbled to his feet Daryl's bow followed him locked on its target I kept my eyes on the other me primarily the shifty looking tall guy. The man began to speak directly to Daryl about being a bow man and his respect for that I didn't pay much attention to the conversation instead I watched the men surrounding us all of them only waiting for an order from their leader to take us down.
"Sorry if I startled you girly" The man directed at me this time, I looked at him and hoped my disgust was evident in my expression. It must of been because he chuckled to himself, Daryl stepped between us again.
"Very protective of you isn't he" the man continued. "Now listen you pull that trigger and your killing yourself then who will protect your pretty lady friend"
I watched Daryl's upper arm tense his finger resting on the trigger ready to squeeze.
"Why hurt yourself when you can hurt someone else" the man hissed a slimy grin spread across his wide face his pearling grey eyes watching me and Daryl watching our reactions
"The names Joe" the man continued to grin.
Daryl dropped his crossbow I followed lowering my bow keeping it by my side my grip on it not loosening.
"Daryl" I looked up at Daryl he looked down at me.
"Marcy" I said not taking my eyes from Daryl's.
The men surrounding us lowered their weapons.
"Well.." The man chuckled "..welcome to our little family" the grey man smiled "So here are the rules of the house, we don't have many, but one we choose to live by."
Daryl stepped a little closer to me, we were both still on guard.
"If ever you see something you want something you like, you shout 'Claimed' and then it's yours no other man can touch" Joe finished.
I felt a thousand eyes burn my flesh, I peered around to confirm, all eyes were on me. I grabbed Daryl's hand he had noticed the eyes too.
Joes laughter rang in my ears followed by the sniggers of the surrounding men.
"Anything" joe confirmed his chuckle dying down.
Daryl reacted quicker than the time it took for my thoughts to process.
Daryl wrapped his arm around my waist pulling me towards him forcefully so I was pressed against his chest his hand held my hip, his grip tight. He looked down at me his eyes speaking for him, I relaxed into his grasp. Daryl looked up glaring at the surrounding faces.
"Claimed" Daryl growled like a predator protecting its prey, my knees went weak as I leaned further into Daryl for support. I watched as Joe stopped laughing followed by the other men, Joe gave a warning glance to his men before looking back at me and Daryl.
"Glad your getting the hang of it" Joe announced before signalling to his men to move. I watched as the circle of men disbanded and begin to walk down the road ahead, Daryl's grip loosed and we began to follow Joe learning behind us.
"Stay close" Daryl whispered to me I nodded back walking shoulder to shoulder with Daryl down the open road, one of Joes men looked back Daryl quickly grabbed my hand holding it tight. These men were not to be trusted.
We walked for what had felt like hours, following the long deserted stretch of road. In all that time the men had hardly spoke a few exchanges here or there the odd attempt at conversation but over all I got a feeling that this group was anything but harmonious a group of men living by a single rule forced together for survival. These were the type of men you wouldn't want to run into in a dark ally, they were a band of thrives living by their own rules not letting anyone stand in their way willing to do whatever it would take, there was no honour amounts these men. Me and Daryl were clearly in no condition to defend ourselves against them, in a fight we could never win not with the six of them against the two of us, I mean yes we would put up a fight take a few of them out but all of them, the odds were not in our favour. They must have seen something in us however some purpose we must serve them or something they wanted from us it wasn't clear perhaps they had considered us as valuable editions to their group maybe they just though they could have some fun with us before they kill us. One thing was clear though I was not letting my guard down and neither was Daryl because they hadn't killed us yet and they had had the perfect opportunity, no they wanted us for something it was only a matter of time before we found out.
"We make camp here" Joe called out.
We had made a detour laving the road heading into the surrounding woodland, the woods were dense here we would have more cover. I watched as the men dropped their bags a couple of them taking out cans with string attached some others had bits barbed wire which they unravelled and strung around the surrounding trees. Daryl stayed by my side as the men settled down on the ground making themselves comfortable. The tallest of the men, the one who creped me out the most, disappeared returning after a few moments later with arms full of firewood and a dirty grin on his face every time he looked at me I shuddered which hadn't gone unnoticed by Daryl.
"Cum' on" Daryl nodded towards a tree within the parameters of our fence, are enough away from the group for me to feel comfortable but still close enough to feel the heat from the fire. Daryl sat leaning up against the tree I sat next to him legs crossed with my back to the creepy guy. The men talked amongst themselves quietly as Daryl pulled out a arrow he had been making himself back at the house, he offered me another and we sat in silence carving the wooden arrows, I watched closely as Daryl pointed the tip of the arrow, he showed me and i nodded acknowledging the way the blade had carved the tip into a perfect point.
The night grew colder the fire dying down my eyelids becoming heavy I let out a small stretch and yawn catching not only Daryl's attention but every other member of the camp.
"You sleepy sweetie, there's room for two over here" The slimy tall man called out.
Daryl went to stand I placed a hand on his leg warning him not to move, the men as chuckled to themselves one wolf whistled but it soon died down. Daryls hand encased mine, I hadn't realised it had been shaking.
"I aint gonna let them hurt you." Daryl whispered to me as he moved closed.
"I know... I just.. After what happened I don't know if I can handle you know groups of people, people like this anyways" Daryl lent back against the tree and opened his arms.
"Cum ' here" He gestured I frowned for a moment 'Physical contact' with Daryl always came in short bursts and here he was offering a 'cuddle'.
"We both need to rest, this way I can keep an eye on you too" I nestled myself between Daryl's legs leaning my back against his chest his arms immediately wrapped around me I could feel the heat radiating from his body and I immediately felt at ease.
"What are we still doing here Daryl" I whispered turning my head towards him, Daryl leaned forward resting his chin on my right shoulder.
"We had no choice, we'll leave in the morning as soon as we can, for now there is safety in numbers"
I nodded turning my head more towards Daryl I tucked my head under his chin and closed my eyes Daryl body stiffened for a moment adjusting to my closeness, he let out a small groan and I felt his muscles relax slightly, although the muscles in his arms remained wrapped tightly around me, he then resting the side of his cheek on my head. I couldn't help but think back to the time me and Daryl had met I wouldn't have pictured him ever being so protective especially not over me. I suddenly counted my blessing for having stumbled across the stranger in the woods that day. I closed my eyes feeling Daryl's chest slowly rise and fall and I drifted off not for the first time feeling safe knowing Daryl had me back.