Chapter 12
After a few hours we were finally at a good place to camp. When the bike came to a stop behind the truck I hopped off and went over to scope out the area. There was one walker so I took care of it quickly with my hunting knife. "Perfect." I mumbled as I began cutting into it. "Um..what are you doing?" Maggie asked quietly. "Well we don't have very much shelter so we gotta cover up our scent." I explained to her. "Oh, that makes sense." She said. I used an old rag I found to rub the blood and guts over the outside of the truck. Once that was done Glenn and Maggie set up their tent and I began walking around the area more. I heard a twig snap behind me so I spun around, knife in hand ready to kill, but it was just Daryl. "You scared the shit outta me." I muttered. Daryl shrugged. "Sorry." He said quietly. "Its fine." I said politely. "Look, we need to..talk." Daryl said slowly. "Why?" I asked casually. I'm trying to play it off like there's nothing to talk about. Daryl let out a sigh. "'Cause we ain't ever gonna be okay if we don't." He said quietly. "There's nothing to talk about. I forgive you for being a jack ass, but we aren't gonna be together anymore. You basically ripped my heart out and pissed on it. You don't come back from things like that easily." I said quietly. Daryl took a step forward and opened his mouth to say something, but Glenn appeard and interuptted. I couldn't have been more thankful. "Would you mind playing something for us?" He asked as he held up my guitar. I smiled brightly at him. "You brought it?" I asked happily. "Sure did, I know you better than you know yourself." He said proudly. I walked over and took my gutiar from him. "Alright, I suppose we could all use a little music." I said as I walked over to where Maggie was sitting. Glenn and Daryl began to start a fire while I started playing. "My sister got lucky, married a yuppie. Took him for all he was worth. Now she's a swinger dating a singer. I can't decide which is worse. But not me baby, I've got you to save me. Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had. In a world gone mad, yer so bad. My sister's ex-husband can't get no lovin'. Walks around dog-faced and hurt. Now he's got nothin', head in the oven. I can't decide which is worse. But not me baby, I've got you to save me. Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had. In a world gone mad, yer so bad. But not me baby, I've got you to save me. Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had. In a world gone mad, yer so bad. Oh yer so bad, best thing I ever had. In a world gone mad, yer so bad." I sang.
The song reminded me a lot of Daryl and it made everything between us even more painful. I felt guilty because I knew that song should remind me of Rick, or even just nobody at all, but instead here I am thinking about Daryl. Glenn and Maggie smiled at me and Daryl even seemed slightly happy. "That was amazing." Maggie said happily. "Thank you." I said politely as I gave her a small smile. "I think I'm gonna get some sleep." She said quickly as she got up and walked to the tent. "Uh, yeah. Me too." Glenn added. I gently grabbed his arm and stopped him. "I knew something was up with you two, atta boy Glenn. Tell me everything later." I said happily. He blushed and nodded before heading into the tent. I put my guitar inside the truck and hopped in the back to take watch. "Get some sleep." Daryl muttered from behind me. "Nah, I'll sleep later." I said. Daryl sighed and took a seat beside me. After a very long silence he finally spoke. "That was really good." He said quietly. "What was?" I asked. "Yer singin' and playin' gutiar." He told me. "Thanks." I said barely above a whisper. "I'm such a fuckin' moron." I heard Daryl mutter, it was barely audible and I knew he hadn't meant to say it out loud. "What?" I asked quietly. "Was nothin'." He said. "No it wasn't nothing, tell me." I said nicely. "I was just thinkin' 'bout us and how much I wish I didn't fuck things up. If I had've just not been so damn set on gettin' my vengance on you I wouldn't have lost ya. I fucked everything up for someone that I don't even give a shit about." He muttered. He kept his head down the whole time he spoke. "Daryl, I'm not gonna lie and say you didn't fuck up, but everything happens for a reason. Maybe it was for the best." I said softly. "Like hell it was. Losin' the woman I love ain't for the best." Daryl muttered. He turned to me with the same expression I had. We were both shocked he said that. "Shit." He muttered. "What did you just say?" I asked cautiously. "Um..That it wasn't for the best." He stuttered. "What else?" I asked. Daryl let out a sigh. "That I love ya." He muttered. "Daryl- oh shit herd!" I said quickly. "Over there abut fifty, maybe more." I said quickly. "Shit." He muttered. I ran to Glenn and Maggies tent, but didn't open it. Lord knows what they're doing. "Guys, herd!" I said quickly. "Fuck!" Glenn said as they both ran out. "What are we gonna do? There's no way we can get away from them without leading them right back to the farm." Maggie said with worry in her voice. That's when an idea hit me.
I ran to the truck and went through my bag. I grabbed the Kiss CD and my bag before ran back to everyone. "That's yer plan?" Daryl asked as he pointed to my CD. I rolled my eyes. "I'm gonna hotwire that car over there, blast this CD and drive off in the opposite direction. You guys head back while I distract them and I'll make my way back by tomorrow." I explained. "No." Glenn said with worry filling his voice. "I'm comin' with ya." Daryl said firmly. "Like hell ya are. We won't be able to jump outta the car and get away quick enough. You go, we don't have time to vote. Either we sit here and we all die or you guys go and get back safe. I'm sure I will too don't worry." I said sharply. Glenn ran over to me with tears in his eyes and gave me a hug. "Thank you." He whispered. "No problem mate." I told him. "Yes thank you." Maggie said before hugging me. Finally Daryl came over to me. "Yer fuckin' crazy, but I love ya." He said before pulling me into a hug. I hugged him back and grabbed a huge rock to take to the car with me so that I could place it on the gas pedal when I jump out. I ran over and hotwired the car then put in my Kiss CD. I turned the song to Detroit Rock City. "Alright, come get me ya ugly fuckers!" I yelled before singing along to the song for extra noise. "I feel uptight on a Saturday night. Nine o' clock, the radio's the only light. I hear my song and it pulls me through. Comes on strong, tells me what I got to do. I got to get up . Everybody's gonna move their feet. Get down. Everybody's gonna leave their seat. You gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City. Get up. Everybody's gonna move their feet. Get down. Everybody's gonna leave their seat. Getting late. I just can't wait. Ten o'clock and I know I gotta hit the road. First I drink, then I smoke. Start up the car, and I try to make the midnight show. Get up. Everybody's gonna move their feet. Get down. Everybody's gonna leave their seat. Movin' fast, doin' 95. Hit top speed but I'm still movin' much too slow. I feel so good, I'm so alive. I hear my song playin' on the radio. It goes. Get up. Everybody's gonna move their feet. Get down. Everybody's gonna leave their seat. You gotta lose your mind in Detroit Rock City. Twelve o'clock, I gotta rock. There's a truck ahead, lights starin' at my eyes. Oh my God, no time to turn. I got to laugh 'cause I know I'm gonna die. Why? Get up. Everybody's gonna move their feet. Get down. Get up. Everybody's gonna move their feet. Get down." By the time the song was over I was far enough to ditch the car. I made sure I had everything I needed before placing the rock on the gas pedal and jumping out. It would've gone perfectly if I didn't accidently stab myself in my side when I hit the ground. "Fuck." I mumbled quietly to myself as I crept into a seemingly abandoned buillding. I heard the car crash off in the distance knowing the distration would keep the walkers busy long enough. I need to get something to stop all this blood. I'm losing a lot of it, the bloods soaking through my shirt. Fuck.
Daryl POV
I can't believe I let her do this. I know she can handle herself, but there had to be at least fifty of 'em. What if she runs into more on the way? Or God forbid men like the last ones we ran into? I can't go back for her now, I could end up gettin' both of us killed. I'm so damn worried about her. I know she's smart and she can handle herself, but there was about a hundred of them and she coulda ran into another herd comin' the opposite way too. Shit, what's her brother gonna say? Or Merle? They're both gonna kick my ass for lettin' her go, Luke and Jimmy will too. I drove up beside the truck and yelled to them through the open window. "We need to hurry, drive faster!" I yelled impatiently. Glenn nodded and sped up. He understood what I was feeling more or less. She was his best friend. He needed her almost as much as I did. A few hours past before we came back to the farm. Rick and Shane came running out with guns in their hands and a paniced look on their face. Merle was the only other one out there and he smirked at me. That smirk faded when he realized Emily wasn't with us. "Where the fuck is she little brother?" Merle yelled. "A herd came and she came up with a plan to distract them. Said somethin' 'bout luring them away from us so we could head back to the farm undetected. She said she'd be back tomorrow." I explained, trying to hide the shame in my voice. I noticed Ricks face drop. Shane seemed indifferent, but that's just Shane. Merle looked like he was gonna be sick. "You fuckin' moron! Why would you let her go alone?" Merle yelled. I put my head down and looked at the ground. If he wants to yell he can yell, if he wants to beat the shit outta me I ain't stoppin' him. I deserve this. I let her down. Rick inhaled deeply before speaking. "Merle, look I know you're angry at him, but that won't help things. As much as I hate saying this, it was her choice to make. What she did was very brave and she's a very determined woman. I don't think there's anything any of us could have done to get through to her. That being said we'll head towards where she went at first light. Every one get some sleep." Rick said quietly. I can tell he's just as shaken up as Merle and I are. Merle still looked pissed, but he nodded and walked into our tent. Ems dog Sawyer came running up to me and I took a seat by the empty fire pit. I just sat there for what felt like hours petting Sawyer. I couldn't get what she told me out of my mind. That I tore her heart out and pissed on it? Did I really hurt her that bad? I think I fucked up my only shot at being loved.
