A/N: So I decided to just upload the chapter with the edits of Beth not being taken to the actual story feed; I'm curious to see what people think. I will most likely do this for the next few chapters as I have a plan for Beth in mind; depending on feedback I will either continue to write two versions throughout or go back to the original storyline. Please let me know either way! Thank You. Reviews and/or messages are great I love hearing your thoughts!
Chapter 25: Taken: Side B
Daryl and Beth had walked all night and were now looking for any home, building or store they could hopefully call home for another night or two. Daryl had let Beth take point as well as use his crossbow. He was curious to see if anything Riley taught her stuck
Beth knew she was tracking a Walker; she could tell by the way the tracks dragged across the ground. Some people might think it was a snake but Beth remembered what Riley had told her 'snakes are smooth gentle creatures they leave behind no dust kick off or movement outside of their glide' Beth smiled at the memory her cheeks heating up a bit. Riley had taught her that before pinning her to a tree.
Sure enough after a few more feet they stepped into a clearing where there was a Walker finishing off the remaining meat left behind by a fallen deer. Beth's mind went back to when the same event happened the first time Riley had taken her hunting; and she let the girl down 'not this time' Beth thought. She glanced back to see Daryl nod his head in the direction of the Walker; Beth held the crossbow up aiming just right. As she took another small step forward her foot got caught in a old forgotten bear trap. The noise alerted the Walker who turned standing up and started to move quickly towards the fallen girl. Beth raised the crossbow and released the trigger only for the arrow to hit the Walker in the shoulder. Daryl moved forward grabbing the crossbow and slamming the butt into the head of the decaying man; he then pulled out his knife and jammed it into the skull. Turning around he rushed over to Beth and pried the trap away from her foot
"you okay" he spoke helping Beth get to her feet
Beth made a noise of discomfort but nodded her head, Daryl wrapped and arm around her waist as she wrapped one around his shoulder; with Daryl's support the pair made their slow way out of the clearing heading towards where they hoped there would be a safe resting place
Rick and Carl where walking up ahead as Riley and Michonne hung in the back. Rick looked over at his son as he kicked a pebble with his boot
"how you doing" Rick asked softly
Carl let out a long sigh and stared over at his father "okay" he finally answered. Rick watched as he then glanced back and looked at Riley and Michonne as the two women talked. Carl knew Michonne wanted some time with Riley, the older woman cared greatly for the younger Dixon and wanted to make sure she was truly "fine"
Rick looked back as well "she's okay"
Carl readjusted the bag that was over his shoulder before nodding his head "I know…I…"
Looking ahead he whispered "I'm just worried that if Daryl….Beth…if we never find them if…if their not alive Riley will…she'll…"
Rick cut his rambling son off "their not dead Carl, we can't start thinking like that….and no matter what we'll get through it together"
Carl simply stared at the road in front of them before looking over at his dad "I can't lose her too"
Michonne walked in time with Riley and watched her movements carefully. Riley would occasionally look out into the forest before returning her eyes to either her boots or the pair in front of them. When Riley turned her head Michonne caught sight of the faint scar that lay on her neck. Michonne knew the story behind that scar and the reason Riley had it in the first place; she'd wouldn't allow that to happen again she needed Riley to be here…not just for her and the rest of their small group but for when Daryl and Beth were found….and they would be; Michonne would make sure of that
"how are you" the woman asked concern lacing her words
Riley turned her blue eyes to the black ones of Michonne, letting a small smile sit on her lips
"okay" the girl replied; Michonne noticed how the words nor the smile reached her eyes but nodded her head anyway
Staring at the men in front of them Michonne spoke again
"Terminus….what do you think"
Riley squeezed the strap of her crossbow and clenched her jaw slightly both movements going unnoticed by Michonne
"it's are best bet….I don't…" Riley stopped and focused her eyes on her brother who was talking with her father "trust it"
Michonne saw the hard look flash through Riley's eyes and knew that there was more the girl wanted to say, but she would let her figure it out and express it on her own terms
Daryl and Beth had made it to an open clearing; looking around they saw that they had entered a cemetery and up ahead was the funeral home. Looking at each other they began to move towards it
"wait…" Beth spoke placing a hand over her injured ankle
Daryl stopped and looked down at the girl "can you walk"
Beth glanced up "yeah I just need a minute"
Daryl looked from the girl to the house; he then swung his crossbow to the front of his body and bent over
"come on" he spoke craning his head around to see Beth
Beth smiled at the Dixon "you can't be serious"
"this is a serious piggy back" Daryl voiced with a slight chuckle
Beth bit her lip remembering a similar situation with another Dixon before limping over to Daryl and jumping onto his back
"damn girl you're heavier then you look"
Beth closed her eyes and bit the inside of her cheek she refused to cry; she also didn't want Daryl to ask questions, this story was only for her.
As they walked through the cemetery Beth looked around at all the headstones there were two side by side that caught her eye. She asked Daryl to stop and hopped off of his back. She limped forward a bit and looked at the two faded and broken down tombstones. Daryl walked beside her his eyes also scanning over the two rocks, reading the craved in words
'BELOVED FATHER' read one while the other read 'DARLING WIFE'
Daryl glanced over and saw Beth's eyes locked onto the one that read 'wife' he watched as she bit her lip and looked around. She stepped to the side and ripped out a few wild flowers placing some on either stone. Stepping back Daryl reached out gripping her hand giving it a small squeeze 'we'll find her….I'll get the two of you together again' he thought before having Beth climb back onto his back and continuing the journey towards the large white home
Riley sat leaning against a tree; the small group had made camp for the night; her dad thought it best to call it in a little earlier rather then deal with scrabbling in the dark, they would make up the time by heading out at first light. Riley agreed to go out and see if she could catch anything for them to eat; anything was better then nothing.
Sitting against the tree her mind began to wonder; this was the time she loved and hated. She enjoyed being alone in the quietness of the forest but when no one was around there was no distraction from her thoughts.
Pulling out the small photo a sad smiling gracing her face "I'll find you…" she mumbled turning her head and looking at the setting sun through the trees "still have a few questions to ask ya" with that she brought the picture to her lips before placing it back into her pocket
Riley returned back to the camp throwing a few squirrels onto the ground before sitting on a log and getting to work on skinning them. Rick looked up
"any trouble" he asked; knowing what he was impelling she shook her head, looking away from the squirrels for a moment
"was pretty quiet saw one but took care of it"
Rick nodded his head before looking back down at a few traps he was busy making; Riley looked over and saw Carl with downward eyes, she wasn't stupid she knew he was worried about her and what lay ahead for them all
"hey Woody" she called with a smirk "think you remember anything I taught ya"
Carl looked up and saw that Riley was holding out a squirrel and her knife to him; with a smile he walked forward.
"hey you too Michonne…."
Michonne looked up and over at the girl with a 'are you serious look'
"it's a good skill to master" Riley voiced with a chuckle
Rick watched the three work with a small smile on his face; Riley was helping Carl along the way when needed while Michonne tried and failed to even cut into the small creature shaking his head he went back to work
Daryl and Beth made it to the home, Beth climbed off of Daryl's back and watched as he pushed the unlocked door open, he then proceeded to bang on the threshold and stand back. Once it seemed no one alive or dead was inside they slowly made their way into the entreaty way.
The feeling of the home was eerie; part of it due to the fact that they were in a funeral home, but that wasn't the only off putting factor. Looking at Daryl Beth voiced her concern
"it's too clean" she called out, looking at the dust and dirt free counter tops around her; she opened a cabinet to see it fully stocked with soda, crackers, pigs feet, peanut butter and a few other items. Looking over at the hunter with questioning eyes he quietly replies
"we'll wait to see if they come back…until then I'm gonna secure the front…pull some of that food out….I call the pigs feet" he calls as he disappears back around the corner
Beth makes a face of disgust as she pulls the jar from the shelve. Once she has some of the food set out on the table she turns, holding onto the back of one of the chairs she lowers her head
"where are you Riles" she mumbles
She raises her head and places a hand onto the crossbow pendant that hangs around her neck
'you better be alive…'
Beth wondered from room to room, her eyes light up when she enters a room with a piano sitting against the far wall. Walking over she sits down placing her fingers onto the ivory. She takes a deep breath and starts to play.
Night had fallen and once again Riley took first watch, and once again her father joined her. They sat in the quiet before Riley softly spoke
"I know Herschel told you"
Rick peeked at Riley through the corner of his eye; she had yet to mention the man since everything happened and he didn't want to be the first one to make that move
Rick smiled a bit "yeah….he figured that both fathers should know"
Riley felt a smirk tug at her lips "he was good like that…I remember when I asked him I was so nervous that he basically asked himself" Riley spoke with a small chuckle; she quickly stopped though and lowered her head
"he told me that he was waiting to see how long it would take….that he knew from day one he knew before we did…before we….before I wanted you all to know"
Rick watched as his daughter raised her head eyes red "I never got around it to…with the sickness and the Walkers and the…" Riley stopped and shook her head
"well…" Rick spoke softly "when we find her you can until then start thinking about what you want to say"
Riley's mouth turned into a soft smile "I already know"
Lost in the music Beth didn't hear Daryl enter the room; the hunter heard the soft sounds of a piano and slowly approached the room leaning against the archway he listened as Beth slowly sang along to the melody. Feeling like someone was watching her Beth stopped and turned; seeing Daryl there she gave him a soft smile, before turning back around looking down at the black and white keys.
"I never played for her"
Daryl walked into the room and stopped staring at a coffin that was propped up and opened; he turned to look at the girl as he jumped inside and laid down.
Beth looked over at him "I never played for her…" she softly spoke
Daryl looked at the ceiling placing an arm over his eyes
"keep playing….play what you would have played for her" he replied
Beth looked at the piano and placed her fingers back down; with a shaky breath she started opened her mouth
Daryl listened as the music filled the room, slowly Beth began to sing; he could hear the heartbreak in her voice. He knew that he would find Riley….he had to; he would reunite the two lovers and be with his family again. Deep down he believed that Riley had to be Rick and that meant Carl as well…he knew they were alive…he was starting to believe that now.
As the afternoon wore on Daryl and Beth found themselves sitting around the clean and spotless kitchen eating somebody else's food. Daryl grabbed the pigs feet and opened the jar picking one out and taking a bite. Beth looked on in disgust as she opened one of the jars of peanut butter.
Daryl looked up and smirked "that's exactly what Riley thinks too" he spoke as he swallowed a mouthful "never found the appeal"
Beth looked at the hunter before placing the piece of bread she was holding down on the plate. She absent mindedly fingered the necklace
"I never knew" Beth started eyes that looked right through Daryl
The hunter placed the jar down and wiped his hands on his pants "wasn't something she went around telling people….I'm sure she would have eventually"
Looking at Daryl she nodded "I've seen the scars I just never….she…they didn't matter to me; the thought of her…" Beth's eyes filled with tears and she looked away
Before Daryl could speak a rattling sound was heard from outside the front door. Daryl stood grabbing his crossbow "stay" he told Beth before quickly leaving the room
Daryl approached the front door quietly peeking through the cracks in the boards he slowly pulled it opened and looked around. He heard a soft whimper and looked down seeing a dirty one eyed dog. Daryl shouted back to Beth that it was just a dog before kneeling and trying to get him to come forward. With no luck Daryl stood shutting the door just as Beth walked out of the hallway that connected the two rooms
"I told you to stay"
Beth smiled "but Daryl you said there was a dog"
As the sun set Beth lit some candles and returned to the room with the piano. She sat down but didn't play instead she brought her elbows up resting them gently on the keys and leaned her head into her hands. She hated to admit it but she was lost without Riley, and it had nothing to do with survival. She knew she could do that; Riley had taught her well and instilled enough faith in her for her to know she could handle it. It was the mere fact that her whole being felt empty, her heart hurt, she finally understood what the term soul mate meant.
'Beth watched as Riley slide down the wall beside her. They had just returned from a hunt and once again Beth had let Riley down. Riley looked over at the girl the two hidden behind the stairs "it's okay ya know" Beth looked over at the girl and wiped her face "how can you say that you had to save me again…I should be able to handle this" Riley looked ahead eyes focused on the wall "you can and you will…when the time comes you'll figure it out; but until then I'll always be there to save you" Beth looked over at Riley studying her profile before the Dixon turned staring at back at her "I won't always be around Beth" Beth quickly placed her hands over her ears "don't say that" she hissed. Riley pulled Beth into her making the girl rest her head on Riley's shoulder "….but I know…I believe that when the time comes you'll be able to do what needs to be done; you're a strong girl Beth Greene start believing it" With that Riley leaned down and kissed Beth on the top of the head "you need to give yourself more credit" Beth didn't respond for tears were slowly rolling down her face, so she simply settled with squeezing the girl around the middle.'
Beth never understood how Riley had so much belief in her; but she sure as hell was going to start believing it too. She would find Riley and show her how much stronger she had become….she would find her.
"why don't you go get some sleep"
Beth jerked her head up making her elbows slide and an awful sound erupt from the instrument. Beth stood and walked pass Daryl before she made it out of the room Daryl whispered
"she's out there"
Once again camp was set up for the night and Riley went out looking for food only this time she took Carl along
Riley decided it best to find a location not to far from camp and sit and wait; it was the most logical decision since the weather had cooled down most animals made shelter as the sun set so anything that was still out would have to walk, fly or crawl by at some point. Carl looked over at his sister as she kept her eyes on the forest around them
"you know I love you right?" Carl asked softly as to not disrupt the stillness
Riley glanced over and smiled with a nod of her head she replied "and I love you….I do anything to keep you safe"
Carl looked away for a moment and Riley could sense there was more on the boys mind.
"can I ask something without you getting mad"
Riley didn't care about hunting anymore; she lowered her bow from her knee and looked fully at her brother
"Carl you can always talk to me"
Carl closed his eyes and thought of how to word his question; letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding he turned his eyes back to Riley
"what happens if we don't find Daryl….or Beth"
Riley looked away from the boy, through slightly clenched teeth she replied
"we will"
Quickly Carl rebutted "but…"
"there is no but Carl" Riley cut him off "we will find them; God damn why doesn't anyone have any faith around here"
The quietness grew and Carl adverted his eyes looking at the trees that sat to his left; he heard Riley let out a sigh before she mumbled "sorry" over to him "we just can't give up….sometimes I stop believing that we'll find them….it's the easier choice. In the end though it's the only thing that keeps me going….I need to find them….I need to find her" Riley whispered looking over at Carl
'I promise I'll keep her safe'
Carl looked into Riley's eyes and saw the sadness and the guilt and all the pain she was feeling and holding on to ; he nodded his head "I just can't lose you too" he spoke voice cracking
Riley pulled him into a side hug "and you won't….remember what I told you; I ain't going nowhere, and I will do anything to protect you and make sure that we're together…all of us I promise"
Carl looked up and smiled he believed her words; he knew that when a Dixon made a promise they stuck to it. Riley released Carl when she saw him smile and a little life returnto his eyes; pulling her crossbow back onto her knee she looked back out into the woods
"okay then let's try and catch something cause don't tell dad but his traps suck"
The morning came and went and Daryl and Beth where now sitting by candle light in the kitchen eating some more of the food enjoying the safety that enclosed them at this moment
Daryl watched as Beth pulled out her notebook and started writing
"leaving a thank you note" she replied to his unspoken question.
Daryl nodded his head and was about to ask why when another question a more important question in his mind arose. He remembered back at the shack when Beth spoke about the first time Riley told her she loved her; Beth had stopped unable to or unwilling to continue. Daryl however wanted to hear this story; he would never admit it but the love between his sister and Beth was one he had always wanted as well, and he was happy to see that love…true love could still exist
"when was it"
Beth raised her eyes "when was what" she spoke before finishing off the sentence
"the first time she said she loved ya"
Beth's hand stilled and her eyes locked onto the words she had just written . She slowly put the pen down and looked at the swinging crossbow necklace that hung lose down her chest
'Riley sat with Beth in the watch tower the sun had gone down and the full moon was the only source of light; the two could have lit the candles Glenn had brought and placed in the towers for the night watches but the girls seemed fine sitting in the light of the moon. "I'm proud of you" Riley spoke her words turning to fog as the temperature was much colder once the sun had disappeared "for speaking up back there…they need to see that you're an equal part of this group" Beth looked over and smiled "yeah well I owe a lot of it to you" Riley looked over confused "what the hell have I done" Beth chuckled and watched as a small smirk worked its way onto the Dixon's face "you believe in me" Riley looked away and Beth swore she could see a faint hint of a blush on Riley's cheeks. "you need to believe in yourself; you have what it takes, it doesn't matter if they see it" Riley spoke gesturing down to the prison "you need to see it" Beth loved this girl, slowly she leaned over and placed her lips gently onto Riley's "thank you" she mumbled before pulling away and staring up at the stars. There was a steady quiet between the two before Riley's soft voice broke through "I love you Greene…." Beth looked over shock written all over her face. She was waiting for Riley to say those three words for a long time; she didn't want to be the first one as she was scared of how Riley would react. Riley glanced over and smirked "Jesus you think I just told you I know the reason this whole shit show started" Beth broke out into a laugh which turned into her crying "I love you too" she whispered before crashing her lips onto Riley's "say it again" Beth murmured as she pulled away a bit; Riley chuckled before softly repeating "I love you Beth"'
Daryl looked away from Beth and down at the jar in his hands; raising her damp eyes Beth spoke
"I was waiting for her to say it; I never wanted to push her but after that night I made it a point to say it before she left on a run or a hunt and I made her say it, sometimes it was like pulling teeth…" Beth spoke laughing a bit "…before she left…" Beth froze and Daryl knew what she was talking about "I never said it "later" was my last word to her" Beth spoke voice laced with tears "later" Beth repeated just below a whisper staring up at Daryl
Daryl looked at the girl "well I'm thinking tomorrow we head back out, find her and most likely Rick and Carl, and then you can tell her"
Daryl saw a flicker of a smile cross Beth's face but before she could respond the clanking of the cans Daryl put up as a warning signal vibrated and he stood picking a pig's foot from the jar "gonna give that dog one more chance"
Riley was woken up by Michonne asking if the girl could finish the last half the early morning shift; Riley nodded her head and sat up moving over to where she could sit and have a vantage point of the area around them. She watched as Michonne took her spot on the ground before closing her eyes and sleep overtake her body. Riley let a sigh escape her lips and rubbed her hands together.
Minutes had ticked by before the quietness and soft chirping of the birds was disturbed by the low snarl of something behind her. Standing Riley pulled her crossbow to the front of her body and slowly made her way around the trees; walking a few feet into the thick forest Riley saw a female Walker ambling through the woods. Riley whistled and the Walker turned seeing the girl she started to come forward. Riley held up her bow up and fired; sending the Walker to her knees and then to her face
Riley walked forward to collect her arrow; approaching the Walker she noticed that the woman was wearing what would have once been a white colored dress; flipping the woman over she glanced down her body and saw that the dress the woman wore was indeed a wedding dress. Riley bit her lip and reached down pulling the arrow out "some honeymoon" she mumbled as the arrow was removed. As Riley went to walk away she noticed a glimmer shine through the still semi darkness of the forest; glancing down she saw the wedding ring that graced the dead woman's small finger. Riley lowered her eyes and thought back to her talk with Herschel. Looking back at the Walker she kneeled back down 'for when I find you' she thought
Daryl walked to the door and threw it open; he was overcome by a mass of Walkers pushing themselves into it he quickly tried pushing it closed leaning his back and all his weight into the wood
"BETH" he screamed "BETH"
The girl quickly entered his vision crossbow in hand; he quickly gestured for her to throw it to him and she did. Once in his hand he back away from the door taking off, as he worked his way through the maze of hallways trying to not only get away from the Walkers but also keep them away from Beth he called out
"Beth get your bag and get out"
Daryl was heading towards the basement when Beth replied with her own frantic cry
"I'm not leaving you"
Daryl's mind flashed to Riley and he knew he couldn't let anything happen to that girl
"just go out the window and hide….I'll find you"
Daryl was know fully downstairs having taken out two Walkers on the way. If Beth responded he didn't hear it. Daryl used the tables in the room to block the reach of the outstretched arms; he took out the closest Walkers before ducking and crawling underneath the tables, working his way back out of the room.
Leaving the funeral home Daryl began to run towards the road hoping that Beth was somewhere close and would come out when she heard him. As he neared the end of the property he slowed down as a male Walker approached him, Daryl lifted his bow and smacked the Walker with the butt of the handle before moving on. He made it to the where the road meets the grass and looked around; panic filling his body as his eyes scanned the area around him
"Beth" he half whispered half yelled
His eyes snapped over to his right when he hears a rustling within the dead and dried magnolia bushes
"Daryl" came a quiet voice
Daryl watched as a Beth pulled away the sticks and dead flowers climbing out of the bushes that lined the home. Relief flowed through his body as he walked over to Beth
"you make it out okay" he asks quickly looking her over
Beth nodded her head and made a noise of confirmation before asking Daryl the same question, Daryl simply nods . Both stand on the edge of the road looking at the house that was once the safest place they had been since the prison. Daryl turned and looked at road before deciding on which way they should head. Looking back at Beth he called out that they needed to move; Beth looked over and walked towards the man
"which way"
Daryl and Beth had walked all night and most of the early morning. They were know faced with what would once have been such a simple decision….left or right. Standing at a fork in the road Beth stared down one path while Daryl bit his lip and stared off down the other.
"we should go with our gut…that's what Riley would do" Beth voices hand gripping the necklace as it swung softly on her neck.
Daryl looked over at Beth and smirked; Beth knew Riley to a tee. Riley would often do what her gut told her…..what her heart told her; and because of that she would sometime pay for it ten fold.
"what your gut say" Daryl asked turning to look at her with a raised eyebrow
Beth looked over and grinned "you're the Dixon….you…"
Beth was never able to finish her sentence as a group of men appeared from the woods to their left. Daryl instinctively pulled Beth into his body as the pair watched the men circle around them.
"she yours" one of the greasy men asked looking Beth up and down before staring Daryl in the eye
Without hesitation Daryl gruffly replied "yeah she's mine"
The man that spoke looked above Daryl's shoulder to a another man
"she's already claimed for Len"
Daryl turned and came face to face with a gray haired man, with blue eyes he was wearing a denim vest and a small smirk sat on his lips
"I see you're a bow man" the man says with a smile. Daryl doesn't move nor reply
The man just continues to smirks "see I like bow man, cause they are who they are; you know what your getting. See a guy with a gun could have been a soccer coach before all this, but a bow man is a bow man through and through"
The blue eyed man looked at Daryl and comments on how nice his bow is, how far it shoots and how fast. Daryl could care less what this man thinks, but he has to play this safe with Beth here he won't take any chances on doing or saying something stupid
The leader looks at Beth for a moment and his smirk turns into what looks like a genuine smile
"seems like you and your lady have been through a lot; me and my group are trying to locate a someone who took down one of our friends; I know you don't know us but the two of you are more then welcome to tag along; safety in numbers right…names Joe by the way"
Daryl looks at the man and thinks about what has been said; he glances down to Beth who looks back with eyes that tell him the call is all his.
Daryl knows that it's not the safest choice but the man does have a point and maybe they would somehow stumble across Rick and Riley….and if worse came to worse they could always sneak away in the night.
"Daryl…and this is Beth"
A/N: so hopefully you liked it, it seems a little weird now but the next few chapters should be better and there is a reason I'm trying out the story with Beth being in it and after that point I'll rethink and decide what I want to do; I'll also take input into account. Review and/or message! Let me know what you think also if you think I should post to the actual story feed so everyone can read it. I might focus on Riley's group in the next chapter with little bits of Beth, Daryl and Joe thrown in I was thinking about it and it might be hard to write at least the next chapter with Beth still there. Anyway let me know.
