Chapter 6 – She's Always Known
Beth stood frozen in the door way, her eyes taking in the ransacked apartment, before moving over to the intruder that knelt over Scud's box. Her insides tightened at the size of him. His wide shoulder's and overly large arms. The buzz cut on top of his head along with the tattoos across his shoulder screamed either military, prison, or both. Either way, Beth knew she wouldn't last in a fight with him. The man would over power her and she'd be a goner.
Still couldn't find it in her to just turn and leave. Go down the front and pretend that she didn't see any thing. Not like there was a whole lot of value in that apartment. Sure in the past year she managed to fix the place up. Nothing over the top, just some curtains, posters and even bed frame and bedding so she wasn't sleeping on the floor in the cold. With what money she made at the music store, she managed to not only make the place liveable but also make it look and feel like a home. Now this guy was here screwing all that up as he threw the box to the side and stood to grab another one.
Sure, the smart thing to do would be to turn around and walk away, but Maggie always told her she wasn't very bright when it came to choosing her battles; being shot in the head being exhibit number one. So, Beth reached in to her front pocket as she licked her lips to relieve her dryness, and pulled out the small pocket knife she kept on her. Snapping it open, she stepped into the apartment and hollered "hey!"
The man froze, looking back at her over his shoulder before raising his hands up in surrender. A grin spread across his face when his eyes glanced over the weapon in her hand. His eyes lighting up even more his stare roamed over her small body, sending a shiver down Beth's spine before she stuck her chin out and pointed her little knife at him.
"Well, what do we got here?" he asked, tilting his head side ways. The draw on his words, along with the beady eyes and wide grin made Beth frown. She knew that face, thought it'd been a little over a year ago, but it wasn't a face you'd forget anytime soon.
Taking in a deep breath, her fingers shook as she pointed the knife at him. "What do you want?" she asked, making her face look as hard as she could. Just because he looked familiar didn't mean he was a friend. Especially now. She should really be turning and running away, not facing him down with only a pocket knife.
"Ya gonna take me on, Blondie. Teach me a lesson?" He crossed his arms. Amusement spreading across his face as he took in the little blonde that refused to back down from him. It was her place after all.
"Just get whattcha want and get out."
The man smiled, looking around at the mess he managed to create in who knew what kind of time span.
"Just lookin for my baby brother is all," he said, looking back at her with his beady eyes. The amusement was gone, though the smile remained. Beth took in a deep breath. Her eyes going over to the boxes that Scud left behind. Her chest tightening as she vaguely remembered him mentioning a brother, just didn't think it was this brother. Not this brother, because that would mean. Beth refused to name the obvious. Shaking her head, she looked back at the tall man standing in front of her.
"Scud's not here" she said, lowering her knife a little. Not putting it away, just lowering it to show the man in front of her that she was willing to cooperate.
"Scud?" he asked, laughing as he leaned against the wall across the room. "Scud the stud? Is that what he's going by now?" The man continued laughing, the sound echoing into the hallway as Beth stood there frozen. Her heart thumping against her rib cage as she wondered what she was thinking stepping into the room.
When his laughter died down, he looked at the ground again for a moment, his fingers coming up to pinch at his lips in thought before glancing back at her. "If he's not here then where is he, huh, little girl?"
Shaking her head, she said, "he's out of town at the moment."
She didn't know how much to tell him. Scud obviously didn't say anything about going out of the country, and if Scud didn't mention that to his own brother, Beth was thinking she shouldn't either. The man looked away, his eyes roaming over the place another time before he came at her. He took only two steps, his back straightening as he titled his head to the side, leering at her now.
"Where?" The man asked, looking her over again. Beth felt her stomach twisting into knots. The cold look he was giving her now making her shift even as she locked eyes with him. "I don't know."
His eyes narrowed, fists clenching as his long legs took him across the room. Beth moved as well, hitting her back on the counter as the man loomed over her She brought the knife up, placing it in front of her. The man stopped short, his eyes taking in the small blade before he smacked it out of her hands and grabbed her shirt. With his knuckles digging into her shoulder blades, he yanked her forward, shaking her as he said, "don't you lie to me."
"I'm not," Beth gasped, clutching his wrists, pulling at them so that he would release her. "He doesn't tell me where he is."
Beth trembled under the man's grip. Her eye staying connected with his even as his grip tightened, pulling her closer to him for a second before shoving her back against the counter, cackling at her.
"Must stick it to ya good if he's able to come and go as he pleases without a bitch like you tailin him," he said, turning away from her to dig through the boxes again still chuckling at his own joke.
"There's nothing going on between us," Beth muttered, creeping toward the drawers a second time. She got to the last one, her hands sliding it open and slipping inside without taking her eyes off the bigger man.
The cold metal felt familiar, calming her in a way that it shouldn't. Pulling the gun from the drawer, Beth tucked it into the back of her pants, sighing as she pulled her shirt down to conceal the weapon from sight. A feeling of relief washing over her knowing she wouldn't be caught helpless twice, that the second time he came at her she'd be more then prepared.
"Why else would he be lettin ya stay here?" the man asked, turning to face her, as he did so his spread wide to indicate the whole apartment.
"He's a nice guy," Beth responded, her eyes following his movements.
"Fuckin pussy is what he is." Letting his arms drop as he dug into his pockets to pull out a cigarette and lights. Beth took in the familiar form, her gut still wrenching that she missed it. That she stared at Scud so many times and didn't allow herself to see the obvious. Denied herself the obvious was more like it. Didn't want to face the fact that the young man staring at her was her Daryl, but not. He didn't carry the same memories. Didn't have the same worries about the family she'd lost. She could tell him a hundred times about the family he would one day have, but it wouldn't mean anything to him. She wouldn't even know where to begin to start explaining. Calming her nerves, she slapped her thigh a couple of times, waiting for him to leave, or say something, or both.
When he knelt to go through more of Scud's stuff, Beth hitched her hip to the side. "Look, when he calls I'll tell him you came by."
Another chuckle."Who says I'm leavin?"
Beth gaped at him. "Because I'm already stayin here." the indignation in her voice was a little louder then she wanted it to be though it helped to get the big man's attention.
He turned to her, smirking as he looked her up and down. "What? Don't wanna share a bed with lil ol' me."
"No." The scowl on her face must have turned the tables on his amusement because he straightened up. A scowl of his own forming as he held his arms up. "Well then, Blondie, you're going t' have to find another place to crash."
Beth gawked at him, her mouth hanging open, ready to argue that she didn't have anywhere to go. That this was her only refuge before she remembered who she was dealing with and what he would do to find his brother. Running a hand through her hair, Beth looked over the mess again. "I need time to get my stuff. To find another place to stay."
The man nodded. "Alright, alright. I can be reasonable." He held his hands as he said this ,walking toward the door. Beth narrowed her gaze at him, barely listening as he said. "I got other contacts I gotta look up anyways."
Beth cocked her head to the side, her brows raising up at the words as he looked her up and down. Suppressing the chill that threatened to take over from the glare, she met his gaze. Staring him down until he smiled at her and walked out of the place.
Beth let out a sigh of relief, her head falling forward as she thought about how well that went. How it could have gone ten time worse. Another shudder ran through her spine as she thought about the way Maggie and Glen returned after not telling him where his brother was. 'He didn't have any one else,' she thought, surveying the damage one more time. The boxes were torn out of the closet, one them dumped along with the clothes that been strewn across the floor. Her eyes locked on a small jewelery box that lock been broken open and carelessly discarded.
Beth groaned as she headed back out the door, her mind focusing on one task as she pulled the gun from the back of her jeans. As she found the stairs, she contemplated actually using the weapon. Wondering she would actually have to use it and how horrible she would feel afterward. When she found the stairs, she knew she couldn't actually harm the man, just scare him in to giving back what was hers. She found him half way down, leaning on the rail counting the money that he found locked away.
"Give it back," she said, holding the gun up to the man's face and cocking it. The man turned slowly, amusement in his eyes as he looked from the barrel of the gun to the girl holding it.
"Sure that's a smart thing to do?" he asked, cocking his head at her.
"You take that money and I can't get out of your place." Beth shrugged, doing her best to keep her hands from shaking. There was a slight movement as she raised the gun closer to the man and he let out a short laugh.
"Keep the shit hole, I'll find something better." He waved the money in the air and turned to leave. Beth lowered the gun, her eyes going wide as she watched the retreating man.
"What about your brother?" she hollered, leaning over the bannister.
"Just tell him Merle said hi. I'll find him when he get's home." He waved at her in dismissal. Beth clicked the safety back on the gun as she turned ready to forget this insanity.
"Oh, and Blondie," Merle shouted up at her. Beth stopped, looking down at the man a second time. "you hold a gun to my head again, you best pull that trigger." He pointed at her, his eyes narrowing in all seriousness.
Beth rolled her eyes at him, noting that he gaped at her reaction before turning away. Just as she reached the top of her stairs that led to her hallway she could have sworn she heard Merle mutter. "Well, I'll be. Girl's got some balls."
That alone brought a smile on her lips, even as she looked at the mess left in the man's wake. Pushing up the sleeves on her shirt, Beth decided on starting with the boxes on the floor. Being as there really wasn't anything torn out of them, except a metal box that was flipped on it's side. Kneeling, Beth picked up the box, watching as photos, papers and a wallet fell from the inside of it.
Picking up the wallet first, she flipped it open. Noting the driver's license with the familiar scowl staring up at her and the name. 'Daryl Dixon' in bold letters next to it. Beth scanned over the rest. Noting the Georgia address, birthdate and everything she ever wondered about the man. Her thumb slide absently across his picture a couple of times before she flipped through the rest of it. More pictures were shoved into it. One of a woman that Beth assumed to be his mother, one of two boys holding fishing poles and a couple of fishes that Beth assumed this to be him and Merle. At the back there was a Social Security card and some random business cards. Nothing more that would tell her more of the man she once knew.
Tears slipped down her face, only now feeling her gut wrench at the truth. Understanding why her brain refused to acknowledge what was standing in front of her the whole time. How could she stare into Scud's eyes and not want him to know everything they'd been through. Wish that he remembered the prison, the funeral home and the countless times he saved her life.
'None of it's happened for him yet,' she reminded herself. "May not happen," she said, a sob breaking her words apart as she thought about that. He'd never see her as the Beth Greene that held him up as he fell apart, or the girl that could take care of herself. Instead she'd always be Crazy Beth. Zombie girl that just appeared in his life and demanded that she stay.
Taking a shuddering breath to calm her nerves, Beth looked over the drivers license one more time before tossing it back into the metal container. Doing her best to control the urge not to toss the container out the window, but instead place it back in the box it came from and shove it into the back of the closet. Where she could bury her own memories of an old hunter that gave her moonshine, and serious piggybacks.
'None of it happened,' Beth again thought. "May not happen," she muttered shoving more stuff in front of the boxes so they could remain forgotten and buried. Slamming the door shut, she leaned against it, wiping the tears from her eyes before moving on to the rest of the apartment.
Picking up the broken dishes, she moved to throw them in the trash. A knock on the door made her jump, causing her to drop the dishes all over again. "Ow," Beth muttered as one of the glass shards sliced into her thumb, making her flinch again as she watched the red drip from her finger to the floor.
Another knock sounded at the door, more hasty this time and Beth muttered "dang it" as she ran a hand through her hair. Opening the door, she was somewhat surprised to see her quiet neighbor, Mac, standing the door way. His eyes surveying the damage behind her before looking her up and down.
"Just wanted to make sure you're okay," he said, looking at her still bleeding thumb. Beth nodded, giving him a lop sided smile as she moved to the side. "I'm fine," she said, shuffling to the side so that Mac could get a better view. "My apartment on the other hand."
The man took a good look inside, before limping to stand in the door way. "Would have called the cops, but they wouldn't have made it in time. Plus, from the sounds of it, you had it covered."
Beth smiled at him, placing a hand on his arm in a silent thank you.
"The man's pretty harmless," she muttered, moving away from him to begin picking up some of the papers that Merle scattered about.
"You've met him before?" Mac asked. Beth nodded her eyes, going over the closet again as she thought about Daryl's argument for Merle to stay in the prisons. Remembered him defending him pretty adamantly with, 'his an asshole but got more bark then bite.'
"Yeah," she replied, giving him a half smile. The man gave her a lop sided smile back before patting her on the back and looking at the mess. His eyes lingered on the broken pieces of glass shattered in the kitchen before moving toward her thumb that was just now clotting.
"Let's get this place cleaned," he moved to help.
Beth took in his limp and shook her head. Holding him back. "I got it. It's not that bad, really."
She shrugged as he looked at her. She knew her face was still red from the sobbing she did moments ago, not to mention the rush to start cleaning the place up, and could only imagine what the man saw as he stared her down. Beth met his gaze, giving him the best "I got this" look she could muster before he nodded in defeat.
"Why don't call some friend's to help out, cheer you up and all," he suggested, smiling at her as he clapped a hand on her shoulder. Beth found that wasn't such a bad idea. She needed something to distract her from her own wondering thought's.
"Yeah," she agreed, heading toward her phone. "Thanks," she said, turning to Mac as the man made his way out the door. He waved at her as well, stopping for a moment to say, "don't forget. I'm next door if ya need anything."
"Thanks, I won't forget." Beth waved at him one more time, giving him a genuine smile before the man shut the door behind her and Beth picked up the phone. Calling the only real friends she had round town. Which was how she found herself still sitting at her counter in the late evening, staring down at the cup filled with brown liquid. The first time she drank it, it burned going down. Causing her to grimace, though it didn't stop her from taking a second and third until Christina refilled the cup.
"Thanks," Beth muttered, taking another drink. "For comin over and everything." She explained, looking from the older girl to her girlfriend Misha, with something like a smile on her face. She couldn't take the silence in the house after Merle left. Not after looking over the wallet, and finally having to face the truth. She didn't tell any of this to Christina or Misha, but she wasn't alone. Misha stood, gathering up some of the left over food scattered across the counter and throwing it in the trash as she looked around the place.
"You sure you wanna stay here?" she asked. Beth didn't miss the way her face scrunched up when she looked at the couch in particular.
Shrugging, she said, "he's got enough money to stay high for a week. He's not coming back tonight."
"And what happens when he comes back for more money?" Christina asked, squeezing Beth's arms to get her to see reason. Beth shrugged, not that concerned about the man. It was the who his younger brother was that kept her silent. The thought that he might never realize just who she was ached inside of her chest, making her miss Georgia more and more.
The girls must have thought Beth's silence was due to silent agreement because Misha said, "it's settled then. You're staying at our place." She turned toward the closet, looking for clothes as Beth jumped from her stool and slammed the door shut before she could even open it up.
"Don't," she said, leaning against the door to keep it closed. Misha held her hands up in frustration as she looked toward Christina for an explanation. "I'll stay at your place if it makes you feel better. Just let me get my stuff."
Beth moved to grab a bag from the closet, barely looking inside of it before slamming it shut a second time and moving toward the dresser. Just then the phone went off and all three girls froze as they stared at the contraption.
Beth knew who it was. Aside from Christian, Scud was the only one that ever called her for an update. Looking at the caller Id though didn't make it any easier, and she swallowed knowing who's voice she was going to hear on the other end.
"We'll be outside," Christina said, giving her a half smile. Beth returned it in kind before sucking up her fear and grabbing the phone.
Taking a deep breath, she released it before saying, "hey."
"Hey yourself," he replied, taking a deep in hale. Beth could almost see the cigarette smoke leaving his lips as he breathed out. Remaining silent for a moment as they both seemed to be looking for the words to speak.
"So," she said, leaning forward. She could hear movement on the other end and imagined him doing the same thing.
"B's located the old man. Got the information just a couple of hours ago."
"Oh," Beth said, not knowing what else to say. She didn't know anything about the man Blade been looking for. Something else that Scud kept from her so she fidgeted with a piece of paper in front of her.
"Yep," Scud continued, taking another inhale. "Shit should be done in a week or so."
Beth nodded, knowing full well he couldn't see her, still didn't mean she said anything. She was hearing him. Listening to every little sound that filtered through the phone and still imagining an older version of the man on the other end.
"Mean's they'll let you go right. Debt cleared?" she asked, the strain evident in her voice.
"Supposedly. Could even mean a bonus if I follow all the way through." Scud scoffed at the last bit as he inhaled another breath of smoke.
"You gonna accept it?" Beth held her breath. Her movements freezing as she waited for his answer. They talked about this in length before. Scud's desire to become one of them. One of the reason's why he agreed to work for them. Up until that night a year ago anyways.
"Dunno," he replied, again another exhale of breath and Beth closed her eyes.
"Don't-" she started to say, ready to voice her opinion on the whole matter again.
Scud broke her off however. "I got an address that you need to give them. Tell them over night flight might not be a bad idea."
Beth nodded, her hands going over to the paper and pen that she refused to pack up just in case. Already writing down some random numbers that didn't make any sense to her. She had no doubt the Vampires would understand it easily enough. More silence filled the line, and Beth took a deep breath as Scud said, "alright, I'll call you next week."
"I might be at Chrissy's," Beth said, thinking about the girl's offer to give her a place to stay. She didn't want to admit that being alone in the apartment scared her. Especially knowing Merle was out around town. Scud remained silent on the other end for longer then necessary. The sound of him exhaling a heavy breath told her he was waiting for an explanation. When none came, he asked, "what happened?"
"Nothing serious," Beth began, her voice quivering as she tried to sound calm. Not wanting to alert the man before she could even explain.
"Don't lie to me, Z."
"I'm not-"
"Z." Scud practically growled out. His voice going so low that Beth felt a shiver run down her spine despite the knowledge he was thousands of miles away. Forcing the lump down her throat, Beth said, "there was a break in today."
She could hear the sharp in take of breath and before she could utter another word Scud asked, "were you hurt?"
Beth shook her head. "It was your brother." Her breath stopped when his did. The silence stretching over the phone before there was the sound of a lighter and then a slow exhale. "Were you hurt?"
Beth closed her eyes, rubbing at the sore spot on her shoulder blade. "No," she said, looking around the room until her eyes fell on the closet. "He just wanted to know where you were. Told him you were on a job."
Beth could almost see him nodding, leaning both arms over his bent knees as he thought something through. "Didn't go into detail?"
Beth shrugged even though he couldn't see it. "Figured if you didn't, why should I." Again there was silence and she could see him taking another puff on his cigarette, maybe something stronger at this point.
"Suppose that means you'll be movin?" he asked. Beth looked around at the apartment. A year's worth of work put into the place and still she could up and leave if she wanted to. 'Or could have.' She amended as she glanced up at the now empty cabinet.
"Nah, I'll be fine," she said, her shoulders hunching over in defeat. She didn't want to think about how much money he took. Didn't want to think about what he was doing with said money.
"I'll send some money you're way so you can find another place," Scud said. Beth gaped at the phone, her eyes going wide even as she shook her head. "You don't have to do that."
"Of course I do," he shot back, sounding surprised himself that she would argue with him.
"Da-Josh, I'll be fine, you don't have to save me every time I'm in trouble," she said, grimacing at what she was about to say. If he heard her, he didn't acknowledge it.
"It ain't savin ya, Z" he snapped at her. "It's me paying you back for whatever my asshole of a brother took."
Beth sighed, running a hand over her eyes as she let out a deep breath. Frustrated that she couldn't even hide something so trivial from him...over the phone.
"Just do me a favor," he said, his own voice straining at this point. Beth caught on to the sound, her eyes opening as she looked toward the phone like she could see him on the other end.
"Anything," she muttered, almost whispering it.
"Just grab the stuff out of the closet when you do move."
"Of course," she replied, frowning as she tried to understand the man on the other end. "You don't even have to ask. I would do it anyways."
"Thanks," he muttered, "God knows what that asshole would pawn or throw out if he got a hold of them."
Beth looked shocked, her brows furrowing together. "So you're going to continue paying for this place for him?"
"He's eventually going to need a place to crash, right?" Beth could hear the defeat in his tone. The way he knew he'd wind up being the one to take care of his brother despite being the younger one.
"Yeah, I guess," she replied, going back to picking a paper apart. She didn't know what else to say to him. Maybe if she told him that she knew who he was, that she knew Merle, it would help. She couldn't find the words to tell him, though. Coudn't even think about how much she should tell him. It was like a nightmare in her head at the moment. One that she relived on a nightly basis and still she didn't know where to start. For him it was some crazy story that she came up with. Something that formed with the scar on her head, though she never told him about the name of the man that saved her life. Nor about his brother that sacrificed his life for theirs, or any of those things that would make her wild story even wilder.
"Look, B will be back soon. Just get that address to the suckers and I'll over night that money to ya," he said, sounding tired all of a sudden. Beth nodded, still knowing full well he couldn't see her but not bothering to respond just the same as she said, "Alright. Bye."
"Bye." There was another long exhale and Beth looked at the closet again. Her heart hammering, demanding that she say something.
"Dar-" she started, her voice catching in her throat as she flinched from the sound of his name coming out after so long. There was silence on the other end, she could hear him breathing and she closed her eyes before fixing her mistake. "Scud, just wanted to say be careful. I want ya back in one piece."
Scud snorted, making his smile almost visible as he said, "Ya got it, Z. I'll call yeah when this done."
Beth's grin spread across her face as the phone line went dead. The conversation didn't go nearly as bad as she thought it would, and she felt a little better after today's events.
Shaking her head, she grabbed up her over night bag to join her two friends waiting down stairs.
Sleeping at their place wasn't so bad. She curled up on the couch, listening to some movie that the girls put on to keep the silence from getting too much .They talked, more liquor was poured, and Beth was starting to feel like this was just another night out with the girls. Something she sorely needed after everything that went on that day. After a few more drinks, Beth found her eyes drooping until she dropped off. Only waking enough to notice Christina placing a blanket over her and muttering "night."
When she woke in the morning, it took her a moment to remember where she was. The white furniture and swinging chair brought it all back and Beth let her head fall on to the arm of the couch, one arm coming up to cover her eyes from the light seeping in. Thinking about her next move was the hard part. She vaguely remembered a "For Rent" sign on the front of their building and wondered which apartment was for rent. It wouldn't be a bad thing to live so close to Christina and Misha. Definitely wouldn't hurt in that Scud already knew where they lived, so he wouldn't have trouble finding her again.
Not that she thought he would, it was just a thought after all. Opening her eyes, she looked toward the clock on the wall above their couch, noting that it was a little after seven and time to head into work. Mr. Kelter, the old man that ran the music shop, opened up early. Kept his shop open from day break til late evening. Sometimes letting her leave early when she mentioned she had 'family business' but otherwise preferred her to stick around. Beth thought he was just lonely, something that was confirmed when the old man would insist she stay after closing hours so they could do 'inventory.' more often then was necessary.
Beth was ringing up a customer that day when the shops phone went off. Mr. Kelter answered it, his kindly face smiling as he nodded his head before turning toward Beth.
"Zelda," the man hollered, motioning for her to head back. Beth looked over her shoulder, curious what the man could want this time before heading toward the back. When she got there, he held up the phone.
"Hello," Beth answered, unsure of who would be calling her at work. A woman on the other end replied, asking to confirm her identity before informing her she had money awaiting. Beth sighed, shaking her head as she thought about Scud. Mumbling a quick "Thank you." she hung up the phone and looked toward Mr. Kelter.
"Just letting me know the money my cousin sent is waiting," she explained when he looked up at her expectantly.
"Oh, you about ready for your lunch break then?" he asked, looking back toward his papers. He added a few numbers to his old time calculator before rifling through the papers some more. Beth chewed on the inside of her lip as she looked toward the empty shop and then back to the old man.
"If you don't mind," she said, shrugging like it wouldn't hurt her either way.
"Go on, I can hold down the fort until you get back." The man smiled up at her for a second before turning back to his papers. Beth returned the smile before moving to grab her jacket and bag. Stepping outside, she curled into her jacket ,taking in the gray sky as the wind nipped at her nose. Shivering, she wrapped the jacket tighter around her and headed in toward the closest western union.
The streets were packed, per usual in the busy city, though Beth learned to maneuver through them now. Keeping her head bowed, she managed to barely bump anyone as she hastened through the crowd. Some part of her still couldn't look at the crowds of people and not see rotted flesh coming at her. Something that she expected would always be part of her nightmares. Especially when she thought how close that reality could be. 'What? Eight years?' she'd ask herself whenever she noted something that thrilled her and she wondered how long she had to enjoy it.
She knew she should be soaking everything up, enjoying every minute of normal human interaction that she could. Didn't stop her from looking at the cop on the corner with a narrowed gaze, or look at the clean cut insurance guy with a raised eye brow as he sat behind his desk, sipping on a cup of coffee and laughing at something someone said. No, she couldn't look at the world the same. Not after everything she lived through, though she did make a conscious choice to enjoy the things she knew she could. Like calling Christina up a month after first meeting her to invite the girl and her partner out to a movie. Offering to pay for it all with her first pay check in hopes to repay them for the clothes. Christina agreed and Beth found that despite her hasty departure that day, Christina didn't hold it against her.
"I remember being in a new town with new faces, it's scary at first, but you get over it." Christina confessed. Beth smiled, glad she could understand. She'd enjoyed her time out with the two girls. Almost feeling normal as they gushed over the actor's on the screen and talked about the latest trends.
Beth knew then she was going to put effort into enjoying this life. Into using whatever time she had to be normal before the world went to shit. 'If it went to shit' she thought for the hundredth time.
Beth opened the door to the western union, taking a moment to shake off the cold and warm her hands up before stepping toward the window and giving the woman the name, Zelda May Forger.
The woman smiled at her, amusement spreading across her face as she said, "you know Robin Williams named his daughter the same thing."
"yeah," Beth muttered, putting on the most indulgent smile. The woman took that as her cue to end the conversation and began typing in her info. Before long she was handing over a rather large envelope and Beth was signing over some papers. Turning to leave, she peeked into the envelope and almost gasped. Some how Scud managed to not only send back the amount that was stolen and then some.
Flipping through the money, she came across a folded piece of paper and pulled it out to read 'Working for the biters does have some perks. Just think of this as your cut.'
Beth flipped through the money a second time, this time making a quick calculation before looking up at the sign above the window reading 'Western Union/UPS'
"Hey," Beth said, shuffling back up to the window. The woman looked at her expectantly. "How mush would it be to send a box of Krispy Kremes over night to this address?"
She held up the letter with the address that Scud sent the money from and the woman raised an eyebrow before replying, "depends on the size of the box."
Beth was walking down the street, still glancing at the envelope with a smile on her face as she imagined Scud's reaction to the donuts. It was probably a silly idea, and they wouldn't be nearly as good as when you first bought them, but it was the thought that counted right. Beth giggled, shaking her head at her own absurdness when something sharp slammed into the side of her neck. She looked up, noticing that she wondered on to an empty side street -one that she took daily to get to the music shop- before a bag was slide over her head and her legs grew weak.
When she woke again, she found herself lying on a cold hard floor staring up at overly bright artificial light.
Beth groaned, covering her eyes for a moment as she tried to assess the situation. The sound of heels clicking across the metal flooring caught her attention and she looked up to into a pair of brown eyes. The woman's expression was pinched. That's all Beth could think to call it. Her lips were held tightly together, eyes narrowed and aside from the eye brows being raised, the woman's face was pinched.
"You know there are these fascinating little devices that allow you to push a couple of numbers and it connects you to the person your seeking. I believe their called phones." Beth pointed at the woman. Her frown only deepening as she looked up to someone standing on the other side. Beth titled her head up, taking in another over sized goon – nothing like the Reinhardt character she met the first time – but still just as imposing when he reached down and yanked her up by her arms.
"Ouch," Beth muttered, pulling away from the man and nearly falling over before glaring at the woman that yet to speak. "I'm serious. I've had an extremely long day, what with my apartment being broken into, threatened, robbed, and now when things are lookin up, you come and kidnap me!" She waved her arms, huffing at the end of her rant only to look up and find that the woman's face didn't change.
"Sorry, we'll remember to sync our calendars next time," she said, crossing her arms.
It was Beth's turn to scowl as she glared daggers at the woman. "You have a message from Scud?" The woman asked, no longer feeling the need for pleasantries.
"Yeah," Beth muttered, digging into her pocket for the piece of paper with the address on it. "Was comin to see ya after work, but seein as you have no patience."
The woman snatched it from her hands before she could even flatten it out and the woman raised an eyebrow for more of an explanation. "He said they found the old man, and that's where you can find them. Said it would be best if you over-nighted."
"Hmm," the woman mumbled, turning away from her. With a wave of her hand the woman seemed to dismiss her. The goon behind her moved to grab her arm again and
Beth tuned, glaring at him as she pointed her finger in his face. "I can walk myself out."
The man scowled at her, his hands clenching into fists before he turned and headed toward another door. Beth followed along, shoving her hands into her pockets and wondering if Mr. Kelter would allow her the rest of the evening off. She sorely needed the rest of the evening off.
So I was rewatching TWD and was on Season 3 where we come across old Merle again and this kind of formed in my head. It's more of a filler chapter, but felt it was needed to kind of give you an idea of what Beth's been doing in the past year while Scud was away. Also the discovering the wallet scene was something I always wanted to do but couldn't figure out how to do it. Started out with her just moving, and then a burglar coming in and scaring off and then I started watching Merle and was like "What if?" and you got that. Hoped you enjoyed it, and don't find it to far out of character for Beth to hold a gun to Merle's head.
and plus, a small Bethyl moment. I know it was short lived because he was over but I actually liked it. More Bethyl is coming, I promise but this is a slow burner.
Thanks again for following along with this story.
Oh and OMG Did ya'll see the premiere for Season 6...if you haven't I promise I won't say anything but it was insane. Looks to be very promising. That's all. Good day!
