(AN/ Another long chapter! I've tried to write this out as best as I could. I hope I can get across to you guys all the emotions and feelings here. This, I would say, is our plot twist. Please read, enjoy and review x)

Chapter Thirty Six
Six Hundred Miles to Georgia

The clock in Rick's front room crept past ten. Everybody was gathered in the front room and hall, all trying to listen to Deanna's soft but broken voice after the small coffee break. She looked disheveled and had every reason to be. They had discussed new rotas for the perimeter checks and even Reg's funeral that would take place at the end of the week. She took her place in front of the fireplace and one of the council handed her a folded sheet of paper.

"Now," She began, "It is obvious that our jobs are running scarce among us all. There's only so many positions that can be made. In my hands I have a list of the few people to be... how do I put this?" She paused and looked down at her hands before flicking her look back up to the room with confidence, "Exiled... From the community."

Everybody held their breath. Rick's stare hardened on her. His chest raced; knowing that the group would have no place here by the end of the night. "Now, this list is not a reflection of their hard work but cuts have to be made for this community to thrive. These people I hold in my hand have been a credit to us since their first day of working. It is with a heavy heart that they are exiled," She inhaled deeply and started to unfold the paper. In the corner by the bookcase, Daryl leaned against the wall and watched Rick's strong hand on his holster, slowly clutching it but with the strongest poker-face. Abraham's arms flexed across his chest and closed his eyes slowly when Deanna exhaled.

"First; Eugene Porter of Rick Grimes' group," She said. Abraham's nostrils flared and his eyes widened, an arm dropping to wrap around Eugene's back. His ears fired red and Deanna's voice shook when her eyes moved to the second name, "John Levans of Arthur Simmon's group..." Deanna cleared her throat and looked up to Rick with fear in her eyes, "Maggie Greene Rhee of Rick Grimes' group," Her hands now shook. Daryl's eyes raced to Maggie who had almost fallen into Glenn, her face pale with shock and tears spewing from her eyes. Daryl's heart beat frantically in his chest. Out of rage. Out of fear.

"I'll take her place!" Glenn stated loud into the quiet living area but a soft head-shake from Deanna dragged a sharp sigh from Glenn's chest, "I will! I'll go in her place!"

She ignored his attempts to replace Maggie. Deanna rhymed off three other names; Rosita Espinosa being one, before stopping again and wiping her lips. Her voice was uniform as she spoke.

"I have two final names on this list. When I read them out, I expect the called few to return to their homes, pack their belongings and be gone by sunrise..."

Glenn shook with such raw, concentrated anger as Maggie leaned on him. Daryl let his head fall back down and he leaned into the shadows. He prayed hard. He prayed with every fiber in his body. Deanna took a final breath,

"Beth Greene of Rick Grimes' group,"

The other name was silent to them. Maggie screeched a blood curling cry, her body wrought with agony. They had all been sentenced to death. Daryl stepped out from the book case and his neck almost tore from his shoulders at the speed he turned to Deanna with.

"No." He said plainly with his jaw tight, making his way through the brokenhearted few who were banished from Alexandria. He swung the front door open, the glass almost shattering with the impact on the wall. Carol followed quickly behind with her cardigan flailing after her.

Rick stepped forward past the leaving few, his hand on Maggie's shoulder but she shoved it off and stood in front of Deanna with throbbing red cheeks and burning eyes,"She ain't even here to defend herself!" Maggie screamed at her, "How could you?!" She demanded, "Eugene saved your sons ass after he killed Noah and you kick him out with us?! You... You..." Maggie shook with such sadness and rage that her fist flew into Deanna's jaw, dislodging a tooth and certain crack of bone. With a cry, Deanna fell onto the Persian carpet and held her face, feeling the blood flow over her fingers. Maggie turned and broke down into sobbing. Glenn was too shaken to shed a tear. Rick held his strong stance before leaving Deanna with her council, Michonne coming to his side as he stormed away behind everybody else.

Beth was softly sleeping on the sofa with Judith curled in at her side. Sasha had remained inside with her for company. They had barely exchanged three words between them until they both fell asleep. It was the shouting and calling in the street, the screaming and wailing that roused her. She pushed herself up and held Judith close to her, soothing her back to sleep as she walked to the front porch. The entire community was out at the far end of the street. Beth cradled Judith's head and held her tightly when the shouting grew violent. She watched from the porch bench and heard Maggie's distinct agonised cry. It was the same cry she had given when their father was beheaded before them. Same pitch. Same volume. It made Beth worry and blood run cold many towns over.

With only her pajamas for warmth, Beth climbed down the steps slowly, sleep still in her eyes and the slimy residue of slumber on her tongue. Her feet were soft on the hard tarmac ground and she winced at the icy chill in the wind. The shouting and screaming brought many lights on around the neighbourhood and some elderly stepped out onto their porch or front garden with their dressing robe sheathing the wind. They gave her concerned looks as she walked towards the large crowd with Judith slowly wakening in her hold. Beth quietened her with soft shushes and gentle pecks. She tried to stop a few stray people who were angrily walking away from the crowd but none seemed to stop. She spotted Eugene walking away from the crowd with Abraham and Espinosa at his side. Beth made her way over to the trio and they all looked at her sadly.

"What's going on? What's happening?" She questioned, her eyes darting back and forth from the crowd to the trio. Abraham laughed in disbelief and shrugged,

"Pack your bags, kid. You're outta here." he said and his voice reduced to creaks and tears. Beth stepped back and her jaw fell agape slightly,

"I'm what?" She asked in such shock. Eugene was pouting his bottom lip as Espinosa tried to console Abraham, "Eugene?" Beth prodded. He nodded and tried his best not to cry. Beth took in a deep breath and already tried to piece together a game plan. "Who else?" She asked bravely.
"Y'r big sister!" Abraham scoffed angrilly. Beth's tongue ran over her teeth. With caution, Beth handed Judith to Espinosa and walked barefoot into the heart of the crowd.

"BETH!" Maggie wailed and clung onto her sister when she caught eye of her, "Oh, Beth!" She sobbed but Beth was neutral. She was waiting for this. It was due one day. She held her sister back and rubbed her back, a fire in her heart, pushing her on. She had been dragged through the depths of hell before. They all had. It was the shock that triggered the cries and the tears.

"When does she want us gone?" Beth asked calmly. Maggie fought for breath and pulled away to hold Beth's face in her hands,

"By mornin'."

Beth nodded and returned to hugging her sister,

"We'll be out before then." She said plainly but strongly. Maggie held onto her sister dearly as Beth thought hard. She was terrified. She was everything. Some part of her was thrilled to be back doing what she had been trained to do. Other parts were worried and frightened. But her leadership fought that. It would be fine. There was nothing to think about. They had a group. They had supplies. Some of them would have to be taught how to handle some weapons but once Maggie had straightened her thoughts and Espinosa grabbed hold of reality, there'd be more than just Beth to lead.

Beth pulled away fully and gave Glenn words of confidence aside the crowd. He was left wondering where this Beth had sprung from. She was no longer a frail and easily-upset girl. Her head was on and was ready to bite the bullet. She was given the rest of the exiles names from Michonne who had passed to comfort Maggie and Beth nodded confidently. Glenn had a glimmer of faith in their survival.

On her way to find Daryl, she was given looks of sympathy by the likes of Morgan and Carol who now stood by her side. Rick was trying to diffuse the crowds back home with thin patience. This had pushed him too far.
Walking to the garage, Beth caught up with Daryl who was completely tensed and shaken with anger. She spoke softly to him as though she'd still be there when he woke up. "Daryl..."

"Don't... I jus' got you back... Jus' don't..." He was quiet and remained facing away from her.

"We don't get to be upset, Daryl. Not anymore," She started, "You know that,"

"It ain' like it was before... It ain't! There's things-"

"Tell me. Daryl, help me. Tell me where to take them, tell me what to avoid. I need your help. You've been out there. Tell me,"

This made Daryl turn and his eyes were vacant but he laughed through the sadness,

"You're leadin'?"

"For now... Maggie's scattered and Rosita, she's near enough mute- I gotta find this John guy and tell him who I am-"

"Beth, I-"

"No, Daryl... You tell me where to go. Tell me what you learned. I will listen and I will lead them there." She crossed her arms and looked at him with a tight expression. Daryl was reluctant to say anything other than 'Beth' but he slouched down the wall of the garage and leaned on his knees.

Beth walked over slowly when he started to talk,

"There's people out there. I- I don' know who they are but they're smart... They take walkers, put 'em in these food trucks- it's like they boobytrap places with walkers- invitin' places, safe places," He spoke slowly and Beth knelt down beside him in the mud, "'t's where we foun' Morgan. That's North o' here... Go South... Stay South,"

"Thank you,"

"Don't stray from South. We'll go runs and find you-"

"Daryl, it's fine... We'll make it. We will. Stay South, don't stray-"

"Go right down 'uh Georgia. Go home... Don' turn back... D-Don't let new people join. Whatever you do," Daryl looked up at her bright eyes and had to look away as quick as he started. Beth agreed quietly and Daryl fought around in his pocket to pull out the crumpled, faded and stained note-paper. The same one she had slyly slipped back into his pocket before he reanimated in the back room of Maggie's house. The one she took from his coffin. The very same and it caught her breath. She leaned back from him,

"That's yours. It's all you got-"

"Well, you take it and you bring it back to me." Daryl took her hand from its curled up fist on his shoulder and held it out open. The note was dropped into her soft hand and closed over itself with his tough, rough hand. "Wherever and whenever... you give me that back."

It was this that had made Beth uncomfortable about leaving. She started to doubt her survival without her mentor and best friend behind her. But, from the fall of the prison right up until this moment, Beth confidently remembered all he had taught; tracking, hunting, simple survival. Enough to keep her and her new group alive long enough to see the end of hell. She placed her head on Daryl's shoulder as he encased her hand with both of his.

"You're goin' soft on me, Daryl Dixon!" She laughed quietly and burrowed into his shoulder until her hair fell over her shoulders. Daryl just smiled through the pain of losing her again and gently shrugged,

"I don' care. Might never see yuh again-"

"If you ever needed me-" Beth began to ask but before she could reach her point, Daryl said;

"I'd walk the miles back to Georgia to find you." Daryl looked down at his hands and her lone left hand covered both of his.