AN:
Hi folks!
I thought I was finished with this story. It turned out that I wasn't. Please follow and review! Special thanks to pen names DarylDixon'sLover and Jessie33.
xoxoxo,
SandyBell
PART 5.
The Coup
Two men were standing in the darkness.
"Are you sure about this?" the first one wanted to know.
"Sure I'm sure. Many people of the Zone are tired of the old man. General Cox is so bossy, so old school, you know. He and his rules, blah blah", the second one replied.
"The disgruntled will join our rebellion easily enough. They just need a reason to do so", he continued.
The first man smiled.
"Good. They will get the reason soon. I just need a bit more time to finalize the plan", he said ominously.
"A little bit help from the outside of the camp … from you and your men … is all we need really. After the general is gone the Zone will be ours", the second one replied merrily.
The first man nodded.
"The Zone… the weapons, the supplies… and the women", he said.
"Yes. Especially the women. Many men are dissatisfied with the fact that all beautiful, fertile women are allowed to choose their partners freely. That's one of general's stupid rules, and it's just not fair for the rest of the men. The women should be shared equally", the second one said vigorously.
"They will be… soon", the first one said firmly.
They shook hands on the agreement.
After that their ways parted. The first one turned around and took a path across the forest. He and his men had a secret hiding place nearby.
The second man walked down the slope. The morning was at hand already.
Soon he reached the edge of the Safety Zone. He looked at the tents and the cabins on the other side of the fence and smiled. It wasn't a nice smile.
Those poor bastards thought that he was guarding their sleep at the moment. He wasn't.
He was conspiring with the enemy.
xxxx
Inside the fence Daryl Dixon was startled awake.
He didn't know what woke him up - maybe it was his instinct, a hint of danger in the air. Or maybe it was just one of those times when you wake up in the middle of the night not knowing exactly why.
Daryl rubbed his forehead and turned to look at his loved ones in the darkness.
He and Beth had their own cabin now. Their son, a two and a half years old Dylan, was sleeping on the mattress on the floor. Daryl smiled when he saw Dylan's small, calm face and his fluffy hair.
Then he glanced at Beth, who was sleeping on the narrow bed right next to him.
Even in her sleep Beth seemed tired. Her face was pale and she had dark circles around her eyes.
Daryl looked at her with worried eyes.
Beth was five months pregnant now, and she wasn't feeling very well. They didn't know why, neither did doctor Green. Daryl remembered clearly that when Beth was pregnant with Dylan she was very healthy, full of life. But not this time.
Daryl was happy about her pregnancy but worried about her condition at the same time.
He loved her so much.
The hunter stretched out his hand and caressed Beth's head. Very lightly and very tenderly since he didn't want to disturb her in her sleep.
Daryl was still amazed of all this. Serenity and happiness. Things were so good here in the Zone. People worked together, followed the same rules. General Cox kept different kind of people together by his strong charisma and skillful leadership.
Daryl liked that. This little, thriving community had a common purpose, a meaning. To keep people alive, to maintain what was left of the civilization. So far they were doing an excellent job, Daryl figured.
Things were good for their original group too. Maggie and Glenn had their own cabin now. Their little girl, Ellen, was a year and a half old, and also Maggie was pregnant again.
Rick and Michonne were together now and seemed happy somehow. Carl had grown to be a nice young man - he even had a girlfriend. The girl, Amber, was a bit older than him, eighteen already, but they were a good match, Daryl thought.
Candyman and Renee were still together. Their daughter, little Aimee, was three years old now and they also had a baby boy, Trey.
Daryl yawned and stretched himself. It was dawn already, he noticed and realized that he wasn't sleepy anymore. He decided to use these early hours wisely and check his traps near the camp. So he got up from the bed and dressed himself quickly and silently. Then he leaned over the bed and kissed Beth's bare shoulder for goodbye.
It was at that moment when Dylan woke up. He opened his piercing blue eyes and smiled at his father sleepily.
"Where are you going, daddy?" he said in a whisper.
"To check my traps. Go back to sleep, little man", Daryl replied gently and ruffled Dylan's hair lightly.
The boy smiled again and did as he was told.
Daryl opened the door and stepped outside. The sun was just rising and the fresh, cool air felt good. He walked flexibly and silently to the wicket of the camp. A heavily built, middle-aged man called William was standing on the guard just outside the gate.
Daryl frowned.
Why is he standing outside, not inside the gate?, he wondered.
Something in William's body language got his attention too. He was moving furtively somehow.
"Mornin', William. What are ya doing out there?" the hunter asked sharply through the gate.
William was startled and looked at the hunter surprised.
"I was just… I just wanted to take a closer look on … something", he mumbled uncomfortably.
He is obviously lying, Daryl realized surprised.
He was suspicious by nature, and now his instinct told him that everything wasn't right here. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, so he just stared at the older man without a word.
William moved awkwardly.
That fucking hunter is a way too clever, he realized and decided quickly to act as normally as possible.
"Going out at this early hour, I guess", he said lightly and begin to open the gate with his keys.
Daryl nodded and waited, still staring at William quietly.
It was at that moment when he heard light, rapid footsteps behind him.
"Daryl! Daryl! Wait", a female voice called him.
Daryl turned around surprised and saw Amber, Carl's girlfriend, who was running to the gate with a basket under her arm.
She gave him a dashing smile and stopped in front of him out of breath.
"I guess you're going out to check your traps. I'd like to go with you, since I know a good place for mushrooms nearby. Because of the walkers I can't go alone - can I come with you?" a young woman asked merrily.
Daryl would have wanted to go alone, but he was too polite to say no to such an innocent request. So he just nodded and they stepped outside the gate together.
William followed them with his eyes. He looked at the Amber approvingly. She was a beautiful, tiny blonde. Her young body was curvy and firm.
After the coup… I want her to be mine, William decided.
Amber was walking right behind Daryl. She looked at his strong back and wide shoulders intently.
A moment alone with him… finally, she thought.
She had waited for a chance like this for a long time.
