Chapter 9-Hunting them
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl heard the whip crack once again before he felt the pain in his back. "15 boy. How many can you go? Dillon says as he walks around to Daryl's whose head was lowered. He grabs Daryl by the chin and lifts his face. "No sleeping. No, I want you to feel all of this," Daryl spits in his face. Dillon smiles as he steps back. He brings the whip down on Daryl's shoulder, making him grunt in pain. "You aren't going to break, are you? Daryl doesn't say anything. "I guess regardless, in the end, you die. Whether it is by me after you break or you starve to death. I could really care less,"
"Dillon, come eat!" A woman yells.
"Oh, dinner. Stay here," Dillon says as he leaves the room. Daryl watches him leave. He could feel the blood going down his back and arm. Daryl lowers his head as he passes out.
Merle's P.O.V
The group stood around the cars. "We don't know where they could even be. They could be miles from here," Andrea says.
"They're in a cabin," Carl says.
"How do you know?" Beth asks him.
"When Daryl and I were hiding, they mentioned a cabin," Carl says. "They live around here,"
"I saw a sign for a small campground when we were coming through," Lexie says.
"Those have cabins for rending," T-dog says.
"How far?" Merle asks.
"The turn-off should be ten to fifteen minutes from us," Lexie says.
"Let's go," Merle says.
"Wait," Shane says. "We need a plan, or we might as well let them kill us,"
"We find this cabin, kill these fuckers, and save my brother. We walk there, so they don't know we are coming," Merle says. "You don't want to help get in your truck and go. I already lost my brother once. I ain't doing it again,"
"I'm okay with that plan," T-dog says. "Daryl saved me on the highway. I owe him,"
"Nobody is saying that we leave him. We are going to kill these bastards, but someone needs to stay here," Glenn says.
"We'll stay," Andrea says as she looks at Michonne. "Michonne, Lori, Carl, Carol, and I can protect the cars while you guys get Daryl,"
"Are you sure you want to come?" Hershel asks Beth, who nods.
"Yeah, I can help," Beth says.
"Get the guns," Merle says as he walks towards Shane's car.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl wakes up with a gasp when Dillon throws a bucket of water at him. "You got yourself a good nap, didn't you?" Dillon asks.
"What are you doing with me?" Daryl asks him. "Why not just kill me?"
"First time you have spoken, and that is what you ask," Dillon says. "We'll kill you when we need you,"
"Need me? Need me for what?" Daryl asks.
"How many people do you think we have done this to?" Dillon asks.
"I don't know," Daryl says.
"We've been doing this since before the fall. People going missing around these parts. Well, that was us. It was easier back then," Dillon says.
"What do you need them for?" Daryl asks.
"We need food," Dillon says.
"You eat 'em," Daryl says.
"Bingo," Dillon says. "We were going to try and eat the dead, but we decided against that. Better safe than sorry, right. So well we ate what we had. We had to save it, and just as we are running out of what we have. You guys show up. It's a sign. God sent you here for us,"
"So why am I still alive?" Daryl asks.
"Might as well have our fun with you until we need you. You'll stay alive until we need you, or you'll die from blood loss. I don't care how you die. But you will," Dillon says to him. "Let's see how long you can stay up if you stay up until I come back. I'll give you some water. If not, I'll whip you. Have fun," Dillon says before he leaves. Daryl stares at the door and starts to look around the room.
"Good luck getting out," Daryl hears someone say behind him.
"Who are you?" Daryl asks.
"An unlucky bastard. That just like you according to him I was given to them by God," The man says. Daryl turned his body so he was facing the man. The man was bloody and beaten.
"Have you tried to get out?" Daryl asks.
"He broke my legs. I'm a dead man. But you might not be," The man says. The man was sitting on the ground with his hand and feet tied. He points towards a table near Daryl with a knife on it. "He didn't tie your feet. You will be able to grab that.
"I can't get that knife to my hand," Daryl says. Daryl looks around the room and sees the rope was tied to metal holding him up. "Can you crawl?"
"Yeah," The man says.
"I'll kick the knife over to you. You cut yourself free and cut me down," Daryl says to the man who nods.
"Okay, only if you promise to kill me after. Put me out of my misery," He says.
"I promise I will," Daryl says. The man nods as Daryl starts to swing his body.
Merle's P.O.V
Merle walks through the woods. They were on the path towards the house. Shane walks up beside him. "Keep your head on straight. We don't know how many of these people there are," Shane says. Merle nods as they see the first cabin. Merle motions for everybody to get down. Merle gets behind a tree and looks through his scope. He looks at the cabin and sees a woman come outside.
"Well?" Glenn asks.
"This is it," Merle says. "Glenn, take Maggie and T-dog and go around the back. If any of them try to leave through the back, kill them," Merle says to Glenn, who nods as he leaves. "Lexie, Hershel, Beth, take the left side. Shane and I will take the front and right side," They nod as they walk away. Merle and Shane move closer to the house and give the group a few minutes. Merle brings the scope up to his eye and shoots the woman through the head. She falls to the ground, and another man comes out with a gun a few moments later, followed by more.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl kicks the knife over to the man just as the first gunshot goes off. "What the hell?" The man asks.
"Go," Daryl tells the man who starts to cut the ropes at his feet. Daryl watches the door as he hears the knife. He hears the man start to crawl. About two minutes later, as the gunshots continue, Daryl falls to the ground with a grunt. The man slides the knife over to him. Daryl grabs it with his hands and starts to cut the rope. He finishes just as the door opens and one of the men comes in. Daryl brings the knife into the man's legs and takes him to the ground. He pulls the knife out and stabs the man in the neck. Daryl pulls the knife out and goes over to the man. "What's your name?" Daryl asks.
"Finn Daniels," Finn says.
"Thank you, Finn," Daryl says. Daryl goes over to the man and grabs his handgun. He walks back over to Finn and shoots him in the head. Daryl turns his gun on the door as Dillon runs in. He shoots the gun, sending a bullet through Dillon's chest. Dillon falls to the ground as Daryl goes up to him. "You fucked with the wrong people," Daryl says before he leaves the room, shutting the door behind him and locking it. Daryl moves to the wall and shoots a woman from behind. Another man turns and looks at Daryl. He shoots the man in the neck, killing him. Daryl listens as someone comes up the porch.
"Daryl!" Merle shouts.
"In here," Daryl says as he lets out a breath and slides down the wall. Merle comes into the house, followed by Shane. "Only Merle,"
"Go outside," Merle tells Shane, who nods as he goes outside. Merle goes over to him. Merle looks at Daryl and sees his shoulder. Daryl lets out a shaky breath.
"Find my vest and shirt," Daryl tells his brother, who nods as he walks away. Daryl sat there. A few minutes later, Merle returned and handed Daryl his boots, shirt, knife, gun, and vest. "Carl?"
"He's fine. He's got your crossbow," Merle says. Daryl nods as he puts his clothes back on. "Daryl-,"
"Leave it alone," Daryl says as he walks outside. "Let's go," Daryl says.
"They could have supplies," Shane says.
"Then you take it. Their food is people, so don't eat it," Daryl says.
"Let's go," Glenn says. "A small group of us can come back before we leave tomorrow and get the supplies," Shane nods as they walk away from the cabin.
The cars
The group walks towards the cars. Carl runs up to Daryl and hugs him. Daryl wraps his arms around the child. "Are you okay?" Carl asks.
"I'm fine, kid," Daryl says. "Good job getting back here," Carl nods as Carol walks up and hugs Daryl.
"You should get some sleep," Shane says. "Use Merle's car," Daryl nods as he walks away. They watch as Daryl climbs into the cab and lays down.
"Did you see what they did to him?" Lori asks.
"There was a whip mark on his shoulder. It was deep. He was hiding his back from me. I think you can fill in the rest," Merle says.
"Jesus Christ," Lori says.
"We are taking the cars and getting the supplies now. We'll take the truck and mine. Merle, T-dog, Hershel, get some sleep. We'll be back before dark," Shane says. They nod as Shane gets in the car, and Glenn gets in the other one and drives away.
Night
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl sat on the hood of the truck when Merle came over to him. He holds out a pack of cigarettes to Daryl, who grabs them and pulls out a cigarette. He puts the pack in his pocket and lights the cigarette. "You should have Hershel look at you," Merle says. "I'm glad you're okay, Daryl," Merle tells his brother before he walks away. Daryl sits there in silence as he smokes the cigarette. Lori sits by him a few minutes later.
"I'm sorry about what happened to you," Lori says.
"Ain't nothing I haven't felt before," Daryl says. "He hit harder than my Pa did, though,"
"Carl told me what you did. Thank you," Lori says. She kisses Daryl's cheek before she goes to bed. Daryl looks at T-dog, who is on watch.
"Go to sleep. You have to drive the bike tomorrow," T-dog says. Daryl nods as he goes to bed.
Thanks for reading. In the next chapter, we will most likely be with Madison again, and then we will return to the group. This was an idea given to me by a reader and friend. So if you have any ideas, let me know, and I might do 'em. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.