Chapter 15 – Run and Hide

The horn blared as Beth shoved it down, the sound barely drowning out the woman's screams that continued echoing in her mind. She looked back just long enough to see the woman's husband ripping her throat out before two bullets were fired off, putting them both down and an officer raising his gun in the air to quiet the crowd. They barely heard him holler out, "everyone remain calm..." before she and Miranda were out the door and heading back to the hotel room.

Miranda remained silent next to her. Her eyes wide and haunted and Beth could only imagine that the image was being replayed over and over again in her mind. Much like the time it was her mother being bitten. When it was her mother snapping at her. It's not something you easily forget. Closing her eyes, she focused her attention back on the non-moving vehicles in front of her and honked her horn again. This time stepping out of the car to look in front of them and say, "what is the damn hold up?" to no one in particular. The buildings rose up around her, leaving a small area for the sun to shine as the evening came upon them. The middle of the city streets swarming with people, vehicles and an overwhelming feeling of impatience as it seemed everyone decided to leave at the same time. Leaving a mass of cars lining up from one end of the street to another, and nothing but a long row of emptiness toward the front that Beth could only imagine what the problem would be.

"You weren't lyin were you?" Miranda asked, catching Beth's attention as she stood outside the car with her hand over her head to block out the sun.

Beth gave the woman a quick glance before looking over the hoard of cars, still trying to see over them as she asked, "what?"

"About the dead," she said, finally looking at Beth. That far away look was gone, left with only confusion now. "How did you know?"

Beth licked her lips, still unsure if she wanted to have this conversation, but knowing it was a little late now. "Because, I've lived it."

The words came out in a whisper, barely audible to her own ears. Miranda heard her, though. Her brows furrowing together as she shook her head. Ready to deny that it wasn't possible when Beth let out a heavy sigh and sat in the car. "I know it sounds crazy, but I have and..." she didn't know what else to say as her head hung. Her gaze focusing on her fingers wrapped around the steering wheel.

"I'm sorry," Miranda mumbled, getting Beth's attention. "For not listening."

Beth shrugged, reaching out to grab the woman's hand and give it a quick squeeze. "No one ever does."

With that, Beth focused on the front of the traffic jam, once again sitting forward to see what was going on. Screams were coming from the front now, people shouting at one another just as a row of police dressed in full riot gear pushed through way up the traffic jam.

"This isn't good," Beth said, stepping out of her car to follow their progress. A few other people were doing the same and Beth took the chance to step forward, cautious at first as she approached a much taller man several cars in front of her to ask, "what's going on?"

"Rioters," he said, glancing at her for a brief moment before turning back around. "Blocking the whole damn street."

Beth nodded, looking back to the row of cars that blocked in her own and to the front where the riot could be heard in full force now, just over the man holding a blow horn asking people to head home. To go back to their homes. "Trying to," Beth muttered, whipping around again as she brushed her hands through her hair.

"Don't look like this is letting..." A string of gunshots followed by someones holler being cut off mid-scream cut off the man's words and they both stared up front for a moment before looking at each other.

"You got a family?" Beth asked, doing her best to sound calm even though her entire body was shaking. The exact thing she was wanting to avoid happening before her eyes and the only thing that she could think of was to make conversation with a strange man.

The man raised an eyebrow as he replied, "wife and two kids. Why?"

Beth nodded, swallowing the lump that was forming in her throat. "Think it's about time you abandon your car and head home to your family."

More gunshots rang out as the a crowd of people stormed forward, their screams being heard even over the police using brute force to control the man looked at the chaos ensuing, his head spinning around to encompass the other people getting in their cars and moving forward to get a better view.

"Thinking you might be right," the man said, nodding his head as he ducked into his own car to grab for something. Beth nodded, still shaking as she forced her legs back to Miranda and the mustang. Miranda looked at her, wide eyes frightened as no doubt she heard the same thing.

"We gotta leave the car, " Beth explained, getting into the back to grab their bags. Miranda shook her head, getting out of the car to stand next to Beth. Grabbing her bag from Beth's hands.

"We can't leave the car. Merle will throw a fit."

"Merle will be glad you are alive after all this," Beth said, doing her best to keep from screaming at the older woman. "We gotta go. If we get the chance. We will come back for the car."

Miranda shook her head, looking like she was wanting to argue some more, her hands shaking as she opened her mouth, ready to spew her mind. "Miranda, trust me. It's not safe to wait here any longer."

More gun shots could be heard from up front, the shouts getting louder as a helicopter flew over their heads. People flew by them, finally getting the same idea and Beth looked up to see a camera woman standing among the rioter's. Just doing her job, telling their story even as one could see her shaking. Her head darting left and right, doing her best to remain calm for her viewers.

A man staggered toward her, looking drunk or high as she took him in. She mouthed something, Beth too far away to really hear her, though she did notice her hand coming up, signaling for him to stop. The first set of fear settling on the woman as the man continued coming closer, her screams coming louder as she begged him to stop until the man lunged for her arm, biting into the flesh as the woman screamed in terror. The camera man dropped the camera, just standing there as he watched the scene play out until an officer came forward to shoot the man. Hitting his head until he went down, leaving the woman standing there, crying as she clutched her arm. Miranda was watching with Beth now, staring onward as the officer looked to another man. A captain or someone that was hollering him to do something. The man looked to the ground, then to the pleading woman who looked to be begging him for help. Instead the officer, raised his gun, watching as the woman's pleas became louder until the gunshot rang out and the woman fell over. A bullet hole in her forehead. Miranda flinched, as did Beth. Both looking away as they tried to swallow what just happened.

"Miranda," Beth said, almost whispering as she pulled a small handgun from her bag. Checking to make sure it was loaded, and then checking to make sure the extra bullets were in the side pocket before looking up at the older woman standing next to her. "We have to run."

Miranda nodded, tears sliding down her cheeks as the real possibility that they might not make it out of this started to dawn on her. Beth grabbed her hand, pulling her down the row of cars. The man she spoke to moments ago followed behind, keeping close in an unspoken companionship. Beth breathed a little easier at that. She could fight, yes, but the man was bigger. The extra muscle going to be a welcome relief as they fought their way through the crowd. Reaching the end of the traffic jam only took a few moments, and Beth paused as she took in the row of police cars lining up. Each one going from front end to back end until the entire street was cut off.

Beth took in a deep breath, looking toward Miranda and their new friend before all three decided to step forward and attempt to push through. One of the officer's came up to them, an automatic rifle in his arms as he stood in front of their exit.

"Head back to your cars," he said, nodding in the other direction.

Beth shook her head, looking at the direction he was motioning. "No, we're heading back to our hotel. It's not safe."

She glanced at Miranda, the woman looking ready to argue as Beth shook her head for her not to argue. The man nodded, again motioning toward the cars. "Go back to the car. We'll have this cleared up in an hour tops."

"Don't lie to me," Beth said, the response automatic as she shifted her feet. Staring the man down. He shifted as well, his hand adjusting on the rifle so that it rested better on the trigger. Beth's own finger flexed. Wishing she could grab a hold of her own gun, but knowing at this stage it would be a stupid move.

"Ma'am," The man said, swallowing as he looked to her. "Please." Beth stiffened, noticing the silent plea for her not force his hand. Closing her eyes, she nodded her head as she took a step back. Pulling on Miranda's arm to get her to follow. Their new friend did as well, and Beth turned to the sidewalk, turning every so often to see the officer watching her. Keeping an eye on her, but not actually doing anything as they turned into an alley. Their eyes met. The man still looking sad as if he knew that this could very well be the end. For the world. For him. Beth nodded her head, a silent thank you to the man knowingly sacrificing his life for duty before disappearing behind the wall. Focusing on finding a way out of the riot area. When they were far enough from the street to go unnoticed for the time being, they stopped.

"Know your way around here?" Beth asked the man, looking at him as he glanced around the area.

"Know the streets, not the back alleys," he admitted, shrugging as he looked one way and then another. Beth nodded, doing her best to shove down the fear that wanted to well up. Beth looked at him. Really looked at him, taking in his brown hair that was brushed back in some popular hair style, with his trimmed beard, buttoned up shirt that was tucked into his matching slacks. The man was an uptown, city boy. Through and through. Yes, he was slim and fit, and his muscles bulged through his shirt, though Beth doubted he ever had reason to really use them outside of a gym. 'Well, he will now' Beth thought as she looked around her.

"Come on," she mumbled, pulling on a still silent Miranda to head further into the alley. Their steps echoing off the building as they kept it slow. Not wanting to alert anyone that might be searching the area. She knew the police was cutting the streets off. Doing their best to keep the situation contained, though inadvertently killing everyone in the process. As the rioting got further, so did the sounds. A strange quiet coming over them that unsettled her more than the actual screams and gunshots. Like the calm before the storm. The one that shook the earth and forced you to re-center yourself around the chaos. She focused on getting out of the alley. Getting home her and Miranda home to their husbands, that no doubt heard about the riots. Wondered if they were okay. She didn't take the moment to check her phone, but she would. When they were safe and she could breathe a little easier. For now, she wrapped her hand around her pistol and made her way down the street. The familiar acting of moving slowly and silently, soothing her in a way she didn't think it were possible.

The man – Beth had yet to learn his name – stepped forward, taking the lead as the sight of more people on the other end of the alley appeared. Their shadows running past them in a hurry and Miranda fell back, sticking close to Beth as her own grip tightened around her pistol. They stopped at the edge. Listening for any sounds that it might be time to turn back and find another way, but there was nothing. People bustled past them, some of them looking fearful, but Beth had to remind herself that was a riot on the other side of the block. Something that could easily leak on to this side of the street, but there was no screaming or gun shots and they took that as a good sign as they stepped out. Taking in the swarming crowd coming from around the corner and heading in their direction. Beth took a step back, keeping her back turned for only a moment as Miranda and the man did the same. Neither paying attention to where they were going until Miranda screamed out, her body hunching over as someone latched their mouth onto the back of her neck. The ripping of skin came next, freezing the man as he watched on in horror. Beth's arm raised automatically, the pistol aimed at the woman chewing on Miranda's neck as she squeezed the trigger. Barely missing Miranda, but hitting the woman as her grip lessened and she slumped to the ground, almost taking Miranda with her until the man stepped forward and yanked her away from the dead being.

Tears were streaming down Miranda's cheeks now, her hand going to the back of her neck to come back covered in blood. Beth's own eye watered at the sight, unsure of what to do now. Miranda looked at her, to the woman and then the pistol and Beth tucked it away. Not ready to do that yet. Not knowing if she actually could.

"Z?" Miranda whispered, her whole body trembling now as the blood continued flowing down her neck to the front of her top. Their new friend looked from one woman to the other, his mouth gaping open in shock as he waited for a response. A police officer rounding the corner, caught their attention and made Beth's mind up as she rushed over to wrap an arm around Miranda's middle and pull her forward. Already shock and blood loss was settling into her, and she leaned heavily on Beth as the young girl looked for a safe place to hide.

"Got to keep movin," Beth mumbled, shifting Miranda's weight as they made their way down the street. Other people were coming past them, some looking at them oddly, others with fearful glares as they took in Miranda's bloody appearance. Finally, Beth noticed a door on the side of a building that was slightly ajar and she pulled them toward it. Hurriedly pushing it open to the meet the eyes of a young man, staring first at her then to the Miranda and the man behind her.

"Please, we won't cause any trouble," Beth said, begging the man with her eyes to let her pass.

He looked toward Miranda, nodding toward the blood slipping down her shirt. "What happened?"

Beth held up her own pistol, showing it to the man as she said, "I'll take care of it. Just not here." The man looked at her. His darting back and forth for a moment before he opened the door wider and let them pass. Beth wasn't surprised when he ushered down a set of stairs, leading her further into the building until they came to another door that he opened and allowed her inside.

A small group of people huddled inside. Some of them leaning along the wall, frightened by what was going on outside. One of them knelt, with their rosary out their lips going a million miles a minute as a man stood over her. Beth's hair on the back of her neck raised up when she noticed him, but didn't say anything as she led Miranda to a corner, helping her to sit down against the wall and following suit. Taking the moment, to pull her sister-in-law's shirt back to take in the wound. It was deep, like Beth guessed from the amount of blood, not to mention bad. The dead woman managed to tear away a whole chunk of flesh. Leaving meat and some bone exposed to the outside.

"Shit," Beth muttered, closing her eyes as her fingers traced the outside of the wound. Miranda hissed, attempting to pull her neck away from Beth's fingers only to holler out in pain.

"Stop," Beth whispered, grabbing Miranda's head and pulling it back. "You'll make it worse." She grabbed for her bag, digging through the clothes until she came across the small scarf at the bottom. Rolling it up, she moved to wrap it around Miranda's neck when she grabbed her hand and pulled it away. "Don't. It's your favorite-"

Beth cut her off with, "it don't matter." With that, she wrapped it around the wound, tying it off in the front with a small smile as she flicked at the ends of it. "Besides, at least you can say you went out in style."

Miranda attempted to smile, laugh even until she flinched, her eyes closing in pain for a moment before it passed. Beth gave her a faint smile, before her eyes moved over to the group of people surrounding them. All staring at the two girls, even as the man that came in with them glowered back.

The man in the corner, the one that gave Beth goose bumps every time she looked at him, took a step forward. His hand swinging out to indicate Miranda as he asked, "she bitten?"

Beth's smile turned to a frown, her eyes meeting his without answering. "You need to take care of her. I've seen what happens when people are bitten."

"Yeah," Beth said, meeting his hard stare with one of her own. "So have I. I promise I'll take care of her."

"I don't buy it. You'll hesitate. They all do." The man pulled a knife from his back pocket, taking a step forward and Beth's gun came out, aiming at his forehead and making him pause.

"Take another step, and I swear to god, you'll meet your maker before she does."

The man faltered, his gaze darting back to the people behind him who were watching, somewhat fearful of the stand off happening before them. None of them looked to step forward. Just remained against the wall as Beth took them in. "That goes for all of you. One small move toward my sister, and I swear," she turned the go toward them. Meeting each one with a hard stare before turning back to the man standing closest to her. His knife still out even as he held his hands up in surrender.

The woman kneeling in prayer, stood up then, her hand coming out to pull on the man with the knife. Whispering something to him that he turned to listen to. His eyes darted from her to Beth for a moment before his jaw tightened and he backed off. Beth held her stance for a moment longer, watching as he slid down the wall next to the girl that sat with him, wrapping his arm around her shoulder's and curling herself into him.

When they were settled, the man not looking to be moving anywhere and the others remained on the floor across from them, she took a step back and sat next to Miranda, keeping her pistol out in full view in case the others decided to get another idea.

The man that followed them this whole time, looked around the small group. Taking in the people before kneeling next to Beth and asking, "You gonna be okay here?"

Beth looked with him at the others, swallowing as her eyes rested on the man still glaring at her, flipping his own knife haphazardly before swallowing what bile wanted to rise up to say, "yeah. I got this."

He nodded, his gaze going to Miranda, who gave him a brief smile. "Alright, I got to go. Find my family."

Beth smiled at him, resting her hand on his arm to give it a quick squeeze in understanding. "Be safe," she said. Doing her best to hope for the best for the man she still didn't know the name to.

His gaze drifted over to Miranda, taking in her already pale appearance and the blood. "You too," he whispered, saying the words to Beth before squeezing Miranda's leg. "You too."

With that, he left, slipping out the door and back up the stairs. Beth sat against the wall, her eyes darting from one person to the next as they eyed them warily. The man standing in the corner never stopped staring at her, and Beth swallowed the lump forming in her throat as she pulled out her phone. Three missed calls from Daryl and she wondered if he'd heard what was going on in New York.

'More than likely.'

Pressing the call button, she listened to the rings on the other end until Daryl all but shouted, "Beth?" On the other end. Beth released a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding until that moment as she said, "we're fine, Daryl."

Miranda glanced at her, her eyes narrowing as Beth shook her head for her to keep quiet.

"Where are you?" His voice shook, and she could almost imagine him leaning against something, a wall or his car, as he tried to contain it.

"Still in the city," she admitted, closing her eyes to the curses coming from the other end. "We tried to get out, but there was a riot and... It was getting bad, Daryl. We're looking for another way out once it quiets down a bit."

"And if it don't?"

Beth shrugged, swallowing those words as she looked again to the man across from her. Making sure he was still in one place. "We'll get out Daryl. I promised remember."

Daryl let out a shaky breath. Beth imagined he was doing his best to be optimistic. "How are you guys?"

"We're good. For now," he said, letting out a heavy breath. Beth wondered how good was good, and realized her situation might not be much better. "You two?" he asked.

Beth froze, her eyes going to Miranda, who heard the question. The woman gave a half smile as she closed her eyes. Already knowing what Beth's answer was going to be. "I'm fine... Miranda though..." she let the words trail off as she bit her lip. She could hear Daryl cursing and she took in a deep breath. "I tried, Daryl. I did. The woman came out of no where."

"I know, Z." Silence fell on the other end and she wondered where Merle was. If he was anywhere near his brother at the moment. The answer must have been no because Daryl spoke up a moment later with, "Get back here. We'll tell Merle together. Just get home."

Beth nodded, closing her eyes as the first set of tears slipped out. Holding her breath for a moment she tried to contain it. Tried to keep it bottled up because she had to be strong now. For Miranda and Daryl. She couldn't feel sorry for herself now. "I will," she whispered, feeling Miranda's hand linking with hers to give it a squeeze. Beth glanced at her, noted her sister-in-law was also crying and she squeezed back. Not sure of what else to say.

"Look, the military's setting up safe zones throughout the city. Merle's thinking we should head in the opposite direction. North maybe, I don't know."

"Merle would be right. The cities aren't going to be safe. They're going to lose control and they'll be using napalm next."

She heard Daryl let out a heavy sigh, his head hitting against something, and Beth looked at the reaction of the others. Some of them confused on how she knew this, others down right scared at the aspect. 'They should be scared,' Beth thought, focusing on Daryl again. Closing her eyes, she let out a shaky breath, unsure of where she was going with this. "Head North, Daryl. I'll try to meet you somewhere half way. Just head north."

"Alright," he said, his voice shaking. Beth felt herself trembling, her whole life hanging on the line as she realized she could very well be saying goodbye to Daryl Dixon. That she could never see him again. Well, not her thirty year old self anyways. Her sixteen year old self might be seeing him soon, but there was no guarantee in that still playing out.

"Just come back to me, Beth."

Beth nodded, more tears pouring out as she nodded her head, doing her best to control the sobbing so that he wouldn't hear her. Her voice still shook as she said, "I will."

Daryl heard it. She knew he did, but he didn't comment as he whispered, "love you." and Beth answered automatically. "Love you too."

Beth's head fell back, resting against the cement wall as anxiety, fear and the inevitable came crashing down on her. Making her feel more exhausted than she had in a long time. Her eyes drifted close with the feeling of Miranda, slumping next to her. Her head resting on her shoulder. Beth continued running her finger across the back of Miranda's hand. Moving it in soothing circles that was helping to calm her as well as their new reality settled over them. As everything she worked for. That she ever wanted came crashing down and she began wondering what the point was. Why she put herself through it all just to lose it all a second time.

She could feel that overwhelming sense of hopelessness washing over her, taking over her emotions to swallow her into that pit that she fell into all those years ago. Closing her eyes, she pulled her hand from Miranda's feeling the woman curl closer as she did so to rest her head on her shoulder. Beth sighed, fighting her own demons as she ran a finger across her scar. A small reminder she couldn't give up. That it wasn't the answer. Beth opened her eyes, focusing on the small infinity tattoo placed over the scar, another reminder to keep going before movement caught her attention.

She looked up to see Miranda reaching out for her, her hand brushing on top of the one lingering on her tattoo. She looked at it, seeing the tattoo first and then the scar. Her gaze lingering there before meeting her gaze. She didn't need to say anything. There was nothing to say. The scar was old, almost faded and there wasn't another one. Sighing, Miranda said, "you'll get out of here. Find him again."

"We'll..." she started to say but the older woman shook her off . "Don't give me false hope. I know my fate. Just tell Merle I love him."

"He knows that," Beth said, leaning her head against the woman's shoulder.

"Tell him anyways. He needs to be reminded sometimes."

Beth nodded, realizing that she'd never get to tell Merle her message. She would never even be able to see the man she now called brother again. "Okay." she muttered, feeling Miranda rest her head against hers as her breathing slowly evened out.

The man from the corner of the room slide down next to her, his hands in the air to show that he was now unarmed. Beth grabbed her gun, holding it close to her as the man shook his head. "Not gonna hurt ya," he said, shrugging one of his shoulders. "I'll just give you a benefit of a doubt, and if you die along with her...Well..." he didn't say anything else, just let his eyes fall to the ground as Beth caught his meaning.

"I don't plan on dying." Beth gave him a hard look for just a moment before looking away, barely hearing him as he muttered. "None of us ever do."

She didn't say anything, just let the words hang in the air between them. She looked over to the woman that was with him, noting how her eyes slide over him to glare at her and again she looked to the floor. Focusing on her wrists for a moment. "What do you want?"

"Just wanted to say you should rest. Look like you need it." Beth narrowed her gaze at him, almost rolling her eyes at the man as she rested her head against the wall without answering. "I'm not going to hurt your sister," he said, nodding toward Miranda. "I swear. I'll even wake you if anything changes with her."

Beth stared at him, her gaze searching his for any lie that he might be telling. When she noticed nothing, she held her hand out to him. "Beth, that there's Miranda."

The man grinned, his teeth showing for the first time and Beth wasn't surprised when his hand took her to find that it was freezing cold. "Jackson."

He watched her, waiting for that initial reaction when people noticed something different, but Beth didn't move. Her mind to tired to really comprehend that she might have just befriended a vampire, and if he wanted to kill Miranda and her while they slept there wasn't much she could do. So, she leaned her head back, a lopsided grin on her face, muttering, "nice to meet ya," before drifting off to sleep.


Okay, I'm well aware that these chapter is shorter. Things are getting a bit hectic around here, so it'll either be shorter chapters or longer updates between chapters. Or both. Especially with Thanksgiving around the corner. Besides that, I hope you enjoyed these chapter. Thanks again for the reading and reviewing. It's always appreciated.