Not Supposed to Happen
"We gotta go Beth," Daryl grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him as they snuck their way out of the prison, avoiding people and walkers alike. The obvious way out was blocked. He huffed and looked around, looking for another way out. He looked down to the fence, where the walkers were coming in. they were nearly all clear of the gates. He pulled Beth towards them, needing to get her out, needing to keep her safe. They fought their way through whatever walkers they needed to as they ran out.
She gasped and stopped, jerking her hand away from his. He turned and looked at her, about to yell at her for stopping when he saw it. She was staring down at the ground; at her father's head…he'd already turned. He sensed they were there and opened his mouth, groaning, his eyes looking for the source of food. Beth just stared at him, not moving, and he could see her starting to shut down.
Daryl pulled an arrow from his bow and stabbed Hershel's head, his heart breaking when he did it. He'd loved Hershel, looking up to him like a father. He slowly pulled his arrow out, trying to respect the man by not stepping on his decapitated head. He put his arrow back as Beth finally started to break down. She hit the ground, her knees unable to hold her up as tears streamed down her face. Daryl knelt beside her and pulled her into his arms, letting her cry. He wasn't going to berate her for this, wasn't going to force her to leave. The walkers were too preoccupied with everything going on inside the prison to notice them. He was going to let her take however long she needed.
She turned her head away from the sight of her father and buried it in his chest, her fingers curling into his shirt. Daryl pulled her close, kissed her hair. "I'm sorry," he whispered.