Picked Up

Reeduslover3

I had been walking for some time and it had been dark since about two hours ago. I was making good time and it seemed that I was finally gone from the group but I had a sudden wave of sadness. Daryl. I would never see him again and if I did, he probably wouldn't want to talk to me at all. I had to leave though, the people there, they judged me and made me feel like a worthless piece of shit. Stopping for a break I let out a sob and tears finally gave way down my face, dripping onto the pavement. I needed to find a place to rest, I was at risk since I didn't have another pair of eyes with me. Truly, I felt alone for the first time since last summer. I hadn't been resting long when the roar of an engine came from the way the house was located and I felt some hope that Daryl was coming for me. I had told Maggie to tell him not to follow me but knowing him he had. Turning to see what the truck looked like my heart dropped when I saw a large black truck that didn't belong to the group. Shit. I swiveled around to grab my things and hide but I was too late. The headlights gave my spot away and the truck slowed down next to me.. My heart pounded loudly as I waited to see who was in the truck.

"Are you bit?" A hard, yet gentle voice asked.

"N-no." I stated, still terrified.

"What are you doing out here alone?"

"I.. My group was k-killed." I lied, I had to, I didn't know these people. "I'm alone." The sound of a car door slamming made me jolt and a tall man came in my vision. He had blonde hair that was gelled on his head, deep blue eyes and a strong jaw. He was handsome in the business type way, he wasn't rough looking like Daryl was- he was clean cut.

"Philip Blake." He held his hand out to me and I took it with hesitation.

"Elizabeth Parrish." He gave a small smile.

"I know you just met me and you must be scared but I can't leave you out here alone." Philip dropped my hand and looked around. "It isn't safe."

"I know."

"Come with me, back to my town."

"Your town?"

"Woodbury. Myself and some other survivors found the town and secured it, we have flourished since then."

"I-"

"Please.. I don't want to leave you." I nodded and Philip opened the truck door for me so I could get in. He proceeded to get into the driver's side and we rode silently.

3rd Person POV

Daryl and T-Dog went off in the direction Maggie told them and stopped to search some areas of the woods. Daryl was frustrated and panicked that Elizabeth was out on her own, sure she could handle herself but he was worried. T-Dog hadn't said a word during their search until he saw something on the side of the road.

"Stop!" T-Dog shouted and Daryl slammed on the breaks, making them fly forward.

"What the hell, man!?" Daryl snarled but T-Dog was too interested in the arrow that lay on the side of the road.

"Is this hers?" T-Dog held it up and Daryl shined a light on it.

"Sure as hell that is. She had tons of these in her sheath."

"Where do you think she went?"

"No idea.. Not far." Daryl looked in the mud around the road for footprints and found a few but they stopped and a tire track was slightly visible. "She was picked up." His worst fear came true and he punched a tree, angry. "Someone found her and she went with 'em.."

"She isn't that stupid.. She wouldn't go with anyone, Daryl."

"But she did.. She must have trusted 'em."

"Maybe she did." T-Dog muttered. "They can't be far, we can search all of the towns and houses nearby tomorrow."

"Tomorrow!? I can't wait till tomorrow.. She is out there with some stranger! She is in danger!"

"We don't know that.. She could be with nice people."

"Fuck!"

Woodbury wasn't far, only a twenty minute drive from where Philip had picked me up. I was amazed at the sight of the town, it was surrounded by large walls that were reinforced and in was all closed in. Philip pulled up to the gates and stuck his head out of the window.

"It's me. Open up!" The gates swung open and Philip maneuvered the truck into a space before exiting the truck. He opened my door for me and helped me from his truck before putting his hand on my shoulder and leading me to some others. "Hey!" They all looked up at him and walked closer to us. "This is Elizabeth.. He group was killed and she was wandering around, scared." The men all nodded at me. "Elizabeth, this is Tim," he pointed at a short Asian man, "Crowley," he pointed to a taller white man with an auburn beard and hair, "That's Shumpert." Philip motioned towards a large black man who had a miniature afro and full beard. "This is Martinez." He then pointed at the last man who was Hispanic with short hair and dark eyes.

"You alright?" Martinez questioned me, his scrutinizing eyes watched as tears formed in my eyes.

"N-no." I muttered and Philip ran a hand down my arm to comfort me, it only made me nervous.

"Take her to the doctor to get her checked out for injuries and then show her to an extra room." Philip ordered Martinez who nodded and held his hand out for me to take. Slowly gripping his hand in mine he led me towards a small building.

"No one is gonna hurt you, Elizabeth." Martinez said to me, his hand giving mine a small squeeze and I knew he meant it. After getting all my cuts checked out and making sure I had no bites from walkers, Martinez led me out of the building and towards another one. "There isn't much housing left, we still have to build more so I will let you stay in my house for awhile." His house was tiny with two bedrooms and a small kitchen and living room. "I'm not here much except for when I sleep but feel free to use anything in here." I nodded and he showed me the guest room which had a dresser, a full sized bed and a mirror on the back of the door. "I have to go back to watch so just holler if you need anything or go next door. Mrs. Finnegan lives next door and she is always willing to help if needed."

"Thank you.. Martinez." He went to leave but I stopped him. "Is that your real name?"

"No, it's Caesar." And with that he left the house with a quiet shut of the door and that was when I started crying. My tears were endless and sobs wracked my body, making me shake and make pained noises. I had made a bad decision.. A really bad one.

3rd Person Pov

"You couldn't find her?" Rick asked Daryl and T-Dog as they entered the house.

"She was picked up by someone." T-Dog muttered and Daryl just pushed past everyone and slammed his bedroom door shut. In the confines of his room he began crying, his head in his hands as he leaned against the door. She had left him.. Would he ever find her? Daryl began throwing things that were in reach and made a mess of stuff on the ground.

"Is he alright?" Beth, the younger one, asked the rest of the group.

"No, he isn't." Maggie stated with a hard tone. "Why would she go with someone she didn't know?"

"Probably because she needed safety.. She was all alone out there and she must have trusted that person. She can't be far." Rick told everyone.

"Are you going out tomorrow?" Maggie asked.

"I am, Daryl too."

"I want to go." Glenn stood up and stared at the group. "We need her back." Lori let out a scoff which made everyone turn to glance at her. "Got a problem?"

"We don't need her, we did perfectly fine without her." Lori stated. "Let her come back when she wants."

"That's the thing, she won't. You drove her away with your ignorant attitude!" Maggie hissed at the pregnant woman. "I wouldn't come back if that happened. How would you like it if we all blamed you for Shane's death, or Andrea's? You did tell T-Dog to drive when you saw the walkers go up to Andrea. For all we know she could be out there alive because you decided she was dead."

"Shut your mouth!" Lori stood up in outrage. "I will not be talked to like that!"

"Let's calm down." Hershel held up a hand, worried. "All we can do is pray for her." Loud smashing came from down the hall and cries of anguish from Daryl from behind the bedroom door. Everyone looked at their feet, guilty.

"Look what you've done." Maggie snarled and strode away to her room with Glenn at her heels. Lori looked around to see everyone watching her with glares and looks of disappointment. Turning around, Lori went to her bedroom, shut the door and stared out the window. It was all her fault.