Chapter 98 The Past Catches Up to the Present
Daryl had been traveling with Maggie's group; their mission to overtake Meridian, and reclaim food and supplies for Alexandria was well underway. They would have to go up against the Reapers, an extreme group of marauders who stole the community as well as it's sustainable items from Maggie and her people. Daryl had already seen how dangerous they could be. Not just dangerous, but suicidal, willing to sacrifice their own lives if it meant taking out the opposition. Maggie had informed Daryl that the Reapers' numbers were small, but that they were smart and cunning and had the firepower. Well, Daryl thought, they hadn't gone up against his group, people who had seen and done it all since the very beginning. Thinking back on all the enemies they'd come up against, the Reapers certainly couldn't be any more of a nuisance than the Governor. They couldn't be more militarized than the Saviors. And they most definitely couldn't be any sicker or depraved than the Whisperers. He held a certain confidence that they would be successful going up against this new enemy, and return home with their carts fully loaded with much needed supplies.
And when he returned home, he would finally sit down with Aaron and fix their relationship. It was what he wanted most over everything, to set their lives back on track, and get everything out in the open. Will was no longer a concern. That chapter had closed a long time ago. The man was gone, and whatever feelings Daryl had for him were left behind under the floorboards of the cabin they once shared. Aaron was his yesterday, his today and his tomorrow. That's all that mattered.
They had been traveling through the abandoned subway system in order to avoid being detected by the Reapers. Maggie told them how they were masters of the ambush, and how you didn't know they were there until it was too late. She had lost quite a few of her group to the Reapers in that fashion, and she hoped to avoid losing more. However, tensions were always running high with Maggie and Negan working for the same team. She especially didn't like having to depend on him to guide them through the tunnels, but he was chosen because he was familiar with the underground system. At one time, Negan lived around this area. This had been his original home.
Daryl and a few of the others weren't too keen on navigating the tunnels, Negan especially. Daryl agreed with him to a point that there was no telling what they might come up against in a dark deserted place that probably hadn't been explored since the Fall. But a vote had been put to Maggie to lead this expedition, and ultimately it was her decision.
As they moved along the damp, dark tunnel, they heard the sound of water rushing through the pipes that traveled along the subway. The storm of the century was raging above ground with heavy rain and devastating winds. It would have been impossible to move topside in that kind of weather while trying to keep a watch out for Reapers. When the walls began to moan, Daryl started to have second thoughts. Alden tried to ease everyone's minds, but it was Negan who pointed out the watermark high up on the subway walls. This place could flood, and it probably did often.
The group was split between those who wanted to continue on and those who wanted to turn back. Negan supported the latter, and he ended up in an argument with Maggie. It wasn't until Daryl stepped in, flashing his knife at the man, that Negan gave up and that they should keep moving forward and get out of the tunnels sooner rather than later. "We know this place floods, but what have the waters carried with it?" he pointed out to the group. It wasn't long after when they found out the answer to that question.
What little light they had uncovered a strange sight. There was a sea of body bags laid before them. Some started wiggling like larvae in a white plastic cocoon. Daryl went to one and watched it. Something odd occurred to him. "Why is there no growling?"
Maggie moved in and slit the bag open with her knife, revealing a walker with its throat slashed. "What the–"
"Something's not right," Daryl mentioned. "Looks like foul play."
"You think the Reapers are responsible for this?" Alden wondered, as he peeked over Maggie's shoulder. Some of the other group members moved forward to see for themselves.
Maggie shook her head as she looked further down the tunnel. Alden's flashlight illuminated the dark, and revealed the massive grave. "There's too many. It couldn't have been them."
Negan went to a different body bag and opened it up. He flinched as the horrid smell released into the air. "From the looks of it and the amount of decomposition, I'd say this happened a long time ago."
Maggie turned to Negan, clearly wishing to disagree with him, but she knew he was right. "We move forward," she concluded. "Take them out as you pass by." As she spoke, the pipes moaned like a giant waking from his nap. It made the hair rise on the back of Daryl's neck.
Negan stood up from the crouched position he'd been in. "Maggie, I don't think it's safe to stay down here."
"Then you can leave," she told him.
Gage, the twenty-something kid who came along with them, stood up for Negan. "He's the one who knows this system better than any of us. We can't let him–"
"He's gotten us this far. I'll figure it out from here," Maggie interrupted. "We're not turning back. This is the best course of action for now. There's a storm raging above us, and we can't go out there. Most importantly, we have an entire community depending on us to bring back food and supplies. We push through."
Everyone listened to Maggie, and, whether they agreed or not, no one left the group. They took out their weapons and moved on, stabbing the writhing body bags as they went. Daryl concentrated on what he was doing, and didn't see when Gage came upon a loose walker slumped against the tunnel wall. The bulky corpse grabbed Gage, who screamed as he tried to get away. Negan was closest and moved in to save the kid, pushing him out of the way. As he did, the walker overtook him. Negan struggled against the obese walker, killing it after a long, exhausting battle. He stopped to catch his breath, and turned to find the group watching him. A part of Daryl wished to see the man finally meet his end, the part of him that still remembered his time as a prisoner at the Sanctuary.
"Next time pay attention," Maggie told Negan. That set off an argument between them. Not just an argument, but a confession to the concerns Negan had about this supply run they were risking their lives for. He didn't like how Maggie was handling the mission. Neither did he like the fact that he was forced to participate, and called Maggie out for having ulterior motives. Maggie argued that she was out here because she was trying to do good by the townspeople, inject a little hope back into their lives with the gift of knowing they wouldn't starve. Daryl stood by and listened to the bickering until Negan took it too far, and referred to her plan as a way to put him down the way her husband was put down … like a dog.
At the mention of the animal, Dog lifted his lip at Negan and started to growl. Daryl moved toward the man, and before anyone knew what was happening, Negan was on the ground testing his jaw. Dog stood close, snarling and ready to pounce if the command was given. The punch hurt Daryl's knuckles. It had been a while since he hit someone, but he wouldn't let his pain show.
"Daryl, no," Maggie said after the punch. "He isn't worth it."
Daryl whistled for Dog to stand down and readied his knife. "I've come to learn that the only way to make him shut up is to knock him one. Let's go. We're wasting time."
It was cold, dark, wet, and it smelled like death, Daryl noted as he navigated the subway graveyard. Dog remained at his side since the scuffle with Negan. Tensions were running high, and everyone was nervous about the creaking pipes. No one knew exactly what would happen, and if the tunnels flooded, they could do so at any moment. They had made their way through the body bags, but now Daryl saw something up ahead.
"Hey Alden, shine a light up that way," Daryl pointed.
"Sure thing," answered Alden from behind. "Ah shit. My light's going out." He banged the flashlight on his knee and tried it again. The light flickered and went out again. "Gage, hand me another light," Alden called over his shoulder, but when he turned, there was no sign of Gage or the older man Roy, for that matter. "Where's the kid?"
No one had seen either one disappear, but someone pointed out that Gage took their bag of supplies with him. Alden cursed quietly while Frost, one of Maggie's people, threw the blame toward Negan for scaring them off after his last rant.
Daryl ignored the bickering when he heard growling coming from the dark behind them. "Everyone shut up!" he yelled. In the quiet, they all heard the walkers coming toward them. "Hurry up! Move it!" he commanded, but they didn't get far. Ahead of them was a train car and it blocked the tunnel. "Fuck," Daryl said to himself.
Alden and Negan ran ahead to check the car out. The rest stayed behind and fought off walkers. Daryl had no time to use his crossbow, and took out his knife. The group killed the first stragglers that moved in, giving Alden and Negan a few more seconds to get the train car opened.
"The damn thing's locked!" Alden called to the group.
Maggie ran to the train and tried it for herself. Then she looked up. "We'll have to climb on top."
Members of the group, with the help of Maggie, Daryl and Negan, climbed up the back of the car. Everyone had gone up and Maggie demanded that Daryl be next. He whistled for Dog, and bent down to pick him up. But just as he did, Dog heard something past the car. He barked and took off running, finding a space beneath the car to fit through. Daryl yelled several times for Dog to stop and come back, but he was gone. Daryl wouldn't leave Dog behind. He looked to Maggie. "Ya'll go on and I'll meet you at the next platform."
"No," Maggie disagreed. "We have to stay together."
Daryl didn't listen, but took off running in the direction Dog went. He heard Maggie calling after him, but that wouldn't keep him from following man's best friend. Daryl trusted Dog's instincts more than most humans, Aaron being one of the few he trusted with his life. Maggie would be okay, he told himself. They would meet up in a few.
There was a hole in the concrete wall just beneath the train car, and Daryl heard Dog barking on the other side. He crawled through and found another tunnel. Dog was there, sniffing the ground as though he was on someone's trail. "What'd you find, boy?" he said as he approached the canine. Right away he spotted the piles of people's belongings, clothes and trash. Daryl aimed his flashlight around the area. People were living here, but it had been years ago. His guess was that it was back in the beginning when everyone was still trying to figure things out.
Though he was separated from the group, Daryl's mission was still the same, to find food for his people. It was a longshot, but he searched lightly through the debris. Chances of finding anything edible were pretty slim, but you never knew what you'd find, especially in a place that hadn't been ransacked already.
Up ahead, something caught his eye. It was a television on a crate, a candle and a plastic sandwich bag lying beside it. Daryl picked up the baggie, opened it, and took out a candy bar. It was old, but probably still edible … barely. But desperate times and all, he decided to slip it into his pack. He thought of Gracie, Judith and R.J. back home, hungry and weak. He hoped that wasn't the case, but he had no way of knowing. The fact was, there was hardly any food left. Maybe Aaron and Gabriel found something.
Aaron … he couldn't wait to get home to his husband. He hoped all was well, especially after having to leave before Aaron returned. Daryl didn't like not seeing him before heading out with Maggie. He had no way of knowing how long this mission would take, and had no way of getting word to Aaron to let him know he was okay.
His flashlight revealed something else, a hundred-dollar bill with writing on it. It was a note, left behind for someone to find. A father gone off to find help. A mother who left when he hadn't returned. And a brother who promised to take care of his younger sister until the family reunited. It was the typical scenario after the Fall. Most never made it back together, and out of those who did, not many were still alive to talk about it.
Again, Daryl aimed his light around the area, and found a decomposed body, a bullet hole in its head, its arm chopped off, and a briefcase full of money still handcuffed to the wrist. "Ack, disgusting," Daryl complained.
Behind the pile of junk, there was writing on the wall that said, 'It comes for us all'. Daryl found it interesting and searched more of the wall. Some artist, or artists, had been busy with a disturbing mural that depicted a royal family wearing crowns, and being attacked by a crowd. The capitol building was close to where they stood, but it was on fire, and the writing said 'Your crown for your life'. Daryl wasn't sure what any of it meant, but it looked like some kind of uprising. Maybe that's what happened here, but it looked like no one won.
Out of nowhere came the sound of a man crying out in distress. Dog took off at a full run, and entered another hole in the wall. Daryl tried to call him back, but the canine was already gone, running his own mission. "Dammit!" Daryl yelled in frustration, and then he followed. The hole in the wall turned out to be some kind of concrete sewer. It was a tight fit, but Daryl managed to keep moving forward, crawling along on stomach and elbows. "When I catch up to that damn dog–" he complained when he heard growling behind him. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth in frustration. "Fuck!"
Even though he moved non-stop, he was going slower than the walker chasing behind him. The growls were getting louder, and he knew there wasn't much time left. Dog was barking again, but the sound was coming from further ahead. He flashed his light and could finally see the end of the sewer, but there were more walker sounds coming from that direction. The one behind was closing in. Daryl would have to be smart about this. Always deal with the closest threat he thought to himself. He stopped where he was and maneuvered around in the tight space, trying to roll onto his back. He hadn't known how close the walker was until he felt its bony fingers grabbing at his boots. "Shit!" he complained, real fear and panic rushing over him. "Stay calm," he told himself. "You got this."
Now on his back, he started kicking at the walker who had a tight grasp on his boot. "Let go you motherfucking piece of shit!" he yelled. As he kicked, he struggled to bring his crossbow around so he could use it. There was hardly enough space, and he wasn't sure he would be able to pull it off, but he spread his legs as far as he could, shoved the bow between them and awkwardly nocked an arrow. The walker's face was right by his feet, and it was about to try and take a chunk out of his leg. "I ain't going down like this," he said aloud, and took his shot. Right between the eyes. Daryl kicked his feet until the cold dead hand released its grip. Then he scooted backwards on his back to gain some distance from it.
Dog was barking frantically, and more walkers growled from the direction he needed to go. The end of the sewer wasn't far, maybe another six feet. Again, Daryl wiggled around until he was on his stomach again, making sure his bow was out in front of him. Luckily, the end of the tunnel was clear of walkers, but by the time he was birthed from the sewer, the walkers had already seen him and were coming his way. He brought his bow up, but there wasn't enough time to ready an arrow, making this form of defense useless. Daryl dropped his bow, and quickly opened his pack and retrieved his sturdy flail. With all his might, he began swinging it around, the spiked ball traveling in circles above his head. He brought it down in time to make contact with the first walker, and then the second, killing them instantly. Daryl took a moment to see if there were more, but it seemed there were just the two. He slouched and took the time to catch his breath. Just then, Dog started barking again, further into the dark subway tunnel. Daryl tried his flashlight, but it wasn't turning on. He smacked it in his hand a few times, and it lit up the ground, revealing a fresh trail of blood. Going to the left in the tunnel, Daryl followed the gruesome trail and came upon two more walkers. He dropped his flail and raised his bow, using it to quickly take them down.
"Dog! Come on, boy!" he called, and then whistled through his fingers as he peered into the darkness ahead of him. Daryl moved forward and saw another shape. He readied his bow and aimed. What light he was getting from the flashlight revealed not a walker, but a man. Daryl thought, Whisperer, for a split second, but soon realized it was Roy, one of Maggie's people who had run away with the boy, Gage.
"Daryl?" Roy called out. "Help me."
As Daryl started toward the man, Dog seemed to come out of nowhere, and ran towards Roy. He was afraid his companion would mistake Roy for a walker, until he spied a real walker right behind Roy. "Move!" he shouted, and Roy hurried as much as he could toward Daryl. Now, Dog was attacking the walker, but he was having trouble taking it down. Daryl lifted his bow and traced the walker's movements, waiting for one good shot. He saw his opening and took it. The walker collapsed and stopped moving. Dog barked in victory, grabbed at the walker's sleeve, and shook it violently as his reward. But it wasn't over just yet. Two more walkers came out of the darkness. Daryl raised his bow again, but he was out of arrows. He dropped his crossbow and removed his two knives from his belt. With heavy footsteps, Daryl marched into battle, and quickly took out the two threats. Roy stood to the side, using the tunnel wall to hold himself up.
Daryl could tell by the amount of blood running down Roy's face and his shirt that he was severely hurt. "How bad is it?" he asked.
Roy was slumped forward and shook his head. "It ain't good," he answered. He lifted his head enough to see Daryl. "Where are the others?"
"We got separated. It's just me and Dog right now. I'm trying to make it to the next platform, and hopefully meet back up with the group." Daryl gazed at the blood on the side of Roy's head. "We need to get you out of here. You been topside?" Daryl asked.
Roy nodded. "Yeah. Bad idea. I lost Gage." Roy tried to stand without support and started to fall.
Daryl rushed in and saved the man from falling by grabbing him around the waist. Roy threw an arm over Daryl's shoulders, and they prepared to leave. "Where's the ammo bag?" Daryl asked.
"I lost that too," Roy said.
What a waste, Daryl thought. He could have used that right about now. But this was no time to berate Roy for his mistakes. Instead, he took out his rag and tried to clean up Roy's headwound. Roy pushed Daryl's hand away. "Don't waste your supplies on me. Here," Roy said, and he handed Daryl his gun and a hand grenade. "It's all I have," he said.
Daryl shook his head and started to refuse, but Roy pushed the weapons toward him. "Take them. Please. And tell my kids I didn't die a coward."
Reluctantly, Daryl took the weapons, and then resituated himself to help Roy. "You can tell them yourself. I'm getting you out of here."
They made it back to the original tunnel, but they were at the other end of the subway cars. In the distance, Daryl could hear a heard of walkers growling. That meant they were after something living. It had to be the group, he thought to himself. Daryl found a place to leave Roy, and told him to stay hidden. "I'm going in."
Daryl entered the train with Dog at his side. As he started to move through the car, he raised Roy's gun and told Dog to stay. At the other end were walkers, but they hadn't seen Daryl yet. One by one, he took them out, each precious bullet finding its target. When the car was clear, Daryl rushed to the opposite end and peered through the glass. He could see Duncan in the next car. There was a broken seat blocking the doorway, trapping Duncan and the others inside. That's when they saw Daryl and rushed to the door on their side. Daryl removed the seat and opened the door. Instantly, Duncan, Frost, Cole, Maggie, Negan, Agatha, Alden and Elijah emptied into Daryl's car.
Maggie looked back. "We can't hold them off. We need to go."
Daryl pulled the grenade from his pack and told everyone to get down. The group moved away as far as they could and hid behind the subway seats. One of the walkers was coming through the door. Daryl pulled the pin and shoved the grenade into its mouth. He grabbed the seat nearest to him for leverage, and kicked the walker with all his might, shoving it back into the other car as far as he could manage. He slammed the door shut, and took cover, pulling Dog along with him. There was a terrible explosion, and when everything calmed, there was no more noise from the approaching walkers. The glass door and windows of the other car were covered in red gore, like some bloody horror movie, but the walkers were dead. One by one, people stood up and gazed at the unimaginable scene. It took Maggie speaking to get everyone's attention.
"We need to move … now," she said. The reunited group exited the subway train, and made their way through the tunnel once more.
Negan had done as he promised and got the group out of the subway system and back into open air. Daryl took a quick headcount to make sure no one was left behind. Then he checked on Roy. He was doing better, but Daryl still worried about his head wound. The bleeding slowed, which was good, but he needed medical attention. Unfortunately, they were a long way from finding any, and it was too dangerous to send someone with Roy back to Alexandria. Roy wouldn't have agreed with that either. He knew the mission was more important than his injury, and had made peace with his decision to keep going with the group. Afterall, he had family depending on him too.
After a brief rest, Agatha, one of Maggie's people, asked if they were moving out. She seemed anxious to stay in one spot for too long.
"We're taking a detour," Maggie informed. She nodded to Agatha. "To Arbor Hills. It's a hidden supply depot that Georgie had set up. She had several scattered around in case we ran into trouble and needed supplies. There's ammo, food and weapons, enough for us to restock. We'll rest up and then head to Meridian."
"And you know where this place is?" Daryl asked.
"There's a radio tower that marks the neighborhood," she said, turning to Negan as she spoke. "You know where that is?"
Negan nodded in compliance. "Yeah. Let's go."
Daryl waited and watched everyone fall in line and follow Negan. Then he moved in beside Maggie, heading up the back of the group.
"Thanks for finding Roy," Maggie mentioned.
"What about Gage?" Daryl wondered.
"He came back, but . . ." She cut her words off as Alden glanced at her over his shoulder. "He got trapped in the other car. We couldn't get the door open in time."
Daryl watched the silent exchange between Maggie and Alden, and he knew there was more to the story that she wasn't telling, but Alden obviously had see for himself.
"What happened to you?" Maggie asked, speaking quietly and changing the subject. "How'd you find Roy?"
"Dog did, actually," he said. "Found quite a bit back there in the tunnel."
"Like what?" Maggie asked curiously.
"People were living down there, not recently though. Looked like it went back to the beginning. It was strange. There were drawings on the wall of a hierarchy, a family wearing crowns, and people below them yelling in anger, calling for their deaths. And behind all of them, Washington was on fire. Found a body too. Its arm cut off, still handcuffed to a briefcase full of money, and a hole in his head. Reminded me of something me and Beth stumbled across at the golf course we found. Money and jewelry still being held in possession of the rich, though it had no value after the fall. The people who clung to the old ways died first, just like the people I found in the subway tunnel."
"Beth," Maggie whispered, a slight smile curving the corners of her mouth. "I haven't thought about her in a while. I hate that."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, I don't think about my brother much anymore either. I guess that's just how it is as time passes by. What's important is to think of the people still with us," he said.
"This entire mission is done with them in mind," she told him as they walked along the road they were following.
"Yeah," Daryl said with a rare smile.
"You're going to be okay, you and Aaron," she commented.
"I know we are. I just wish we were already past it. He was so hurt when he learned about Will. I hate being the one doing the hurting, especially when I thought I was doing the right thing by not talking about it. I should have known better." Daryl fell silent as his guilt resurfaced. Maggie moved up through the group to give him his privacy.
Traveling along the road, some complained that they thought it would be safer to navigate the nearby forest. Traversing the pavement made them feel vulnerable. Maggie argued that the woods were full of dangers, Reapers as well as walkers. "We stay on course until–"
"What the hell is that?" someone interrupted.
Daryl's head came up and he peered ahead through the haze. Something hung from a tree, a body strapped by its feet, arms seemingly stretched toward the ground. He hurried to the front of the group and produced his bow, just in case.
"Jesus," he heard Negan say, and Daryl strained to see further ahead.
There must have been fifty bodies all strung up in the trees that lined the road. The group stopped as a whole and observed silently. Dog growled and started to move forward, but Daryl commanded him to stay.
"The neighborhood has really gone to shit since I was here last," Negan commented.
"Everyone be on the lookout," Maggie said to the group.
"You don't really want to continue going this way, do you?" Agatha asked.
"We need those supplies," Maggie insisted.
"I think we should double back," Negan said, earning him a hard glare from Maggie. "And find a safer route," he continued.
Daryl found himself agreeing with Negan again. This was definitely a warning to stay away, which meant someone probably already found Georgie's emergency stash. Daryl was about to make his case to Maggie when he heard a thunk sound and Roy moaned. When he turned to see what was happening, Roy collapsed to the ground with an arrow protruding from his head. Before anyone could respond, more arrows flew by.
"Take cover!" Maggie yelled, and everyone scattered and ran toward the trees.
As Daryl ran, he heard people getting hit with weapons. Cole was hit in the thigh by a knife. Alden received an arrow in his shoulder. Duncan was hit and went down behind a tree. Maggie, who was ahead of Daryl, dashed off into some thicker underbrush and disappeared. Negan cried out as an arrow caught him in the leg. And then a group of Reapers revealed themselves, marching toward the scattered group. It was an ambush.
Daryl's first instinct was to follow Maggie into the bushes and close growing trees, but his attention deflected to a Reaper running toward Cole, who was down on one knee because of his injury. The Reaper slashed Cole's neck as they ran by, not slowing or stopping. Daryl whistled and commanded Dog to attack the Reaper, and then followed them into the woods.
Somehow, the Reaper bested them and got away, but Dog was hot on the trail. Daryl ran as fast as he could, following the sound of Dog's barking. It was nighttime and difficult to see. He knew it was a bad idea, but he had just seen one of Maggie's people get slaughtered. Who knew how many more had been killed? He needed to capture this Reaper and force information from them.
The trail led them to some kind of brick industrial building. Daryl wondered if this was the place Maggie was leading them to. If it was, maybe he could find Maggie here also. Dog started barking erratically, and Daryl closed in. The Reaper was close. Daryl commanded Dog to stay, and eventually, the barking drew out the Reaper. They started to run again, but Dog dashed forward, grabbing the Reaper by the leg. The enemy cried out in pain as Dog clamped down on their thigh. Daryl watched in horror as the Reaper overcame the attack, picked Dog up from the ground and threw him. Dog yelped and Daryl screamed, "NO!"
As he kept an eye on the Reaper, he heard the rustling of the dry leaves on the ground. Someone approached. Actually, there was more than one person coming up from behind, and he was all alone. He was about to go up against three, maybe four Reapers, and had no idea where Dog was. Daryl had to move fast, so he released his knife as he turned and threw it at the approaching threat. He had been right in his assumption. There were three Reapers, and they moved just as fast, ducking from Daryl's knife. He used the diversion to his own advantage and disappeared. When the Reapers stood, they would find Daryl was gone. He moved quickly and as quietly as possible, all the while feeling a stab in his heart from not knowing what happened to Dog, and fearing the worst. He couldn't just leave the area, though. He had to find his canine partner. Using the building and the nearby trees, Daryl managed to stay undetected. He crouched down behind the corner of the building, and started to peer around the metal edge, when something bumped him. He brought up his second knife as he turned, and stopped short of stabbing Dog. Quickly, Daryl put the knife away and ruffed up the hair of the shepherd, as he checked him over for injuries. When he found none, he hugged Dog, stood, and gave the hand signal to make him stay put. Daryl listened for the sound of movement, but after a while, determined that whoever was following him had gone in another direction. Now was the time to make his escape, and they dashed away from the brick building, using the trees and the dark of night as cover.
Morning came and there had been no sign of Reapers. Daryl felt he had outsmarted them. Now, he needed to double back and find members of his group, mainly Maggie. But there were more walkers roaming the area, drawn in from the sound of the previous fighting and the smell of blood. He needed to mask himself, and had killed a walker to use to his advantage by opening it up and rubbing its innards on himself. As he worked to cover his arms and legs with gore, he got the feeling he was being watched. He looked around the area as he continued covering his body, but didn't see anyone. The feeling was still there, though, and he wouldn't let his guard down. It was time to get going. He whistled for Dog and made his way through the forest until the trees gave way to a field dotted with small shed-like wooden buildings. They were overgrown by shrubs and other vegetation. Daryl wondered what they might have been used for, but he couldn't tell. Dog ran on ahead, checking out the structures, but Daryl moved on cautiously. He couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched.
Suddenly, in the distance, Dog began barking erratically. He'd found something or someone. Daryl hurried ahead, following the sound. When he came around the corner of one of the sheds, he found Dog, but he wasn't alone. He was standing with a Reaper in front of one of the small buildings. The Reaper was dressed from head to toe so as to hide their identity. Daryl thought he recognized the suit. They'd been at the attack site where Maggie's group had scattered.
"Let him go," said Daryl as he pulled his knife from his belt. He held it at his side and glared at the enemy. "I said, let him go," he repeated, and flashed the silver edge of his weapon to show he was serious.
The Reaper reached up and removed their mask, and Daryl's heart leapt to his throat. The man's hair was cut short and there was a scar running around the base of his neck, but Daryl could never forget the face.
"Will?" Daryl whispered in disbelief.
"Hello, Daryl," Will said in return. He looked on longer than felt comfortable before speaking again. "I never thought I'd see you again."
Daryl could almost hear the compassion in the man's voice, but it was miniscule compared to the harshness of his eyes. "I thought the same thing."
"What are you doing out here?" Will asked with authority. "You alone?"
"You see anybody with me?" was Daryl's snarky answer.
Will's eyes narrowed to slits as he glared at him. It seemed this wouldn't be a happy reunion. "I saw you out there on the road … with the others. Who are they?"
Daryl wouldn't answer. He knew right away that he had to separate himself from Maggie and the rest of her group, and protect them as best he could. He had never been completely open with Will, even back when they were together. As far as Will knew, Daryl was a loner who would rather be on his own than stuck with a group.
While Daryl pondered his answer, Will raised his shotgun toward Daryl. "You one of them?" he asked, still wanting an answer.
"I crossed them on the road," Daryl lied. "Naw, I ain't one of them. I travel light like always." What he wished to know was why Will was with the Reapers, but he couldn't let it be known that he knew about them. The best thing would be to leave, but here was a man Daryl had history with. That was something he couldn't just run away from. And if he was being honest with himself, he wasn't so sure he wanted to. They still had some unfinished business to attend to.
"Still searching for your brother?" Will asked.
Daryl shrugged. "Never found him. I moved on. Wasn't anything left to stay there for."
"Hmm," Will mumbled. He must have thought better than to say anything more.
"Well, we're gonna go," said Daryl, cutting the conversation short. "Come on, boy," he called to Dog, but the shepherd ignored the command and stayed where he was.
"Isn't that funny," said Will with a chuckle.
"What's funny?"
"I always thought he liked you better," answered Will, a smirk on his face.
Daryl sensed a change in Will. This wasn't the man he'd met all those years ago. Or perhaps this was the real Will, the one who ran away from the man Daryl had once loved. "Look, I don't know who you're with or who you're looking for, but I'm not a part of it. We're going. Dog, come on!" he demanded. Daryl turned to leave, but two more Reapers came out and blocked his path. He glared at them, his eyes darting from one to the other. Well, he thought to himself, maybe it was better if he went with them. It would buy Maggie and the others some time. And he might be able to learn more about this new group, and why Will was with them now. He looked over his shoulder to Will. "What's this?"
"I'm afraid I can't just let you leave," said Will.
"Can't or won't?" Daryl commented, but Will ignored him.
"Tie him up. We're taking him back to base," Will commanded. The other two Reapers bound Daryl's wrists and ankles with rope, which instantly began cutting into his skin. He put up little resistance, so as not to make matters worse. Then they put a burlap sack over his head. That was unexpected, but nothing to do about it now. The two Reapers each took an arm and began dragging him along. Daryl could hear Will walking out front, and concluded that he was leader for now, but he probably reported to someone else. He suspected that's where they would take him for further questioning.
As he was dragged back to their camp, Daryl came up with his story. He already knew where they were going, Meridian. If Maggie survived the attack, she would gather the rest of the group, as many as she could find, and head for the same place. Daryl would have an advantage with the Reapers if he could sweettalk his way into their group. He could find out how many there were, and what kind of weapons they had. If he could get this information to Maggie, then they would know how to fight the Reapers.
It took a while to get there, but they finally reached Meridian. Daryl couldn't help notice how quiet it was, not like in Alexandria where there was the sound of people talking or working, or children playing. Here, he smelled wood burning and gasoline. He smelled oil and dirt, industrial scents. This place was a militarized community of soldiers, not a family friendly group of survivors trying to make a wholesome living condition.
He heard the squeak of metal hinges as a door opened and he was dragged inside. From the sound of their scuffling feet, Daryl came to the conclusion that this was a storage area with a dirt floor, not part of a building like the one's Maggie had described. He stayed aware and alert, even though he could hardly see through the burlap bag. He was roughly pushed down onto a wooden chair, and then strapped to it. Daryl's expert hearing caught the sound of two people leaving the room, and he assumed Will stayed behind.
The sack was ripped from his head, and when his eyes adjusted to the light, Will came into focus. Daryl stared up at him from the chair he was tied to. Their eyes caught, and neither man would look away first. Will was still very handsome, but he looked older for the amount of time that had passed since they last saw each other. Daryl remembered that day. They had an argument about Daryl leaving again to look for Rick. Will asked him to make a different choice and stay. He wanted to move on in their relationship, but Daryl wasn't ready for that yet. He was still obsessed with finding anything that would give him a clue as to what happened to Rick after he disappeared in the explosion on the bridge. Will gave him an ultimatum … stay or Will would be gone by the time Daryl returned from his two weeks journey up river. Daryl had tunnel vision, and his mind was made up. As he left, the last thing he saw was the disappointment on Will's face. But by the end of the day, Daryl had a change of heart, and he chose Will. He had plenty of time to think about where the future might lead him, and he wanted Will by his side. It was then that Daryl realized he loved Will, and he was finally ready. Whether he found Rick or not, it was a dead miserable end. When Daryl returned to their cabin, Will and most of his belongings were gone. Hope made Daryl write that note, the one Aaron eventually found which caused their most recent troubling argument. He placed it beneath the floorboard with the other personal affects Will hid there, in hopes that he would come back and they would be together again. And looking at Will now, Daryl still felt the beat of his heart race slightly, just like it used to when they were together.
"I came back for you," Daryl confessed, now that they were alone. "I wished everyday that you'd come back to me, and when you did, I looked everywhere for you."
"But you still walked out first," Will whispered, reminiscing as Daryl had just done.
"I know I did. I should have stayed, but–"
"Your ghosts were more important than what we had," Will finished for him.
Daryl forced himself to look away from Will. He glanced around the room they were in, and he didn't like what he saw. This place was reserved for those they caught. It looked like a storage building, but Daryl saw items that could easily be used as torture devices to draw information from weak individuals. Maggie said they would find a community, destroy it, and take their supplies for themselves. But with Maggie's group, they stole her entire compound as well as the goods.
"I'm sorry you ended up with these people," Daryl said with sincerity.
"These people are my family. These people never stopped looking for me. And when they found me, I came home," Will answered dryly.
"So you were with them before?" Daryl thought aloud. He was right about Will coming from another place, or running away.
"What about your family, Daryl, the one's you told me about? Is that who you were with on the road?"
This wasn't a reunion like Daryl had hoped. This was an interrogation. He should be thankful Will and him had history together, or it might be an uncomfortable situation to be in. Still, he couldn't let Will know about his connection to Maggie or any of his people.
"My people picked a fight with the wrong group a long time ago. It's like I said, I'm alone."
Will turned his back and mumbled. "You didn't have to be." He thought he spoke low enough, but Daryl had heard him. So, there were still unresolved feelings for Will too. "Listen, can we just talk a moment before you bring the others back in here?"
Will turned back to Daryl, looking him up and down, but not answering his question. "You're filthy."
Daryl watched Will retrieve a metal bucket full of water, and bring it over to where he sat. It seemed like an odd time for a sponge bath, but he didn't complain. Will took a rag from the water, and squeezed some of the water out. He moved around and knelt before Daryl. They made eye contact again, and Daryl remembered waking to those same eyes beside him in their bed. It had been another time, when Daryl had no one else. It was just the two of them, living off the land, comfy and cozy in their little cabin. They shared everything, chores, food, drink, bodies. Aaron had been long gone from his life, and settled in with Jesus. Daryl had been alone for several years by then, and to find companionship felt like a breath of fresh air. They could have made something of it, he thought, if only he'd given up on finding Rick. It was unfortunate back then that Daryl wasn't ready to make that sacrifice.
Will lifted the wet rag to Daryl's face and started gently rubbing the dirt and grime from forehead and cheek. Will's eyes focused on his job, but eventually they settled on Daryl's. If he wasn't tied up, he would have taken up Will's hand, the same hand that had gently loved him once upon a time. His heart still reached out, even after all these years, even though Aaron was his life now. Was this why Aaron got so upset from finding that note? Was this why he felt threatened by someone who had disappeared years ago?
"Will … I–"
"Shh," Will interrupted as he stood once again. He moved behind Daryl, and dipped the rag in the water again.
Daryl waited to see what he would say when Will put his hand on Daryl's forehead. His grip tightened suspiciously. Then he covered Daryl's mouth and nose with the rag and pushed. Daryl couldn't breathe. He was suffocating, and he thrashed in his chair. It wasn't enough. Will held him too tight, cut off his air supply, and stayed silent. Was this how it would end, suffocated at the hands of a jilted lover? Aaron would never know what happened to him. Would he look for him? Would the Reapers capture and torture him too? Or would he think Daryl ran away again? These were some of Daryl's last thoughts as his world darkened.
"Come get him," he heard Will say, as though he was speaking underwater, and everything faded to black.