Chapter 50: Rescue
KPOV
~5 years ago~
I was home alone, Carl was spending the night at a friends house, mom was at a meal with a friend and dad was doing a night shift. Wanting to relax while no one was home, I sat on the couch and watched TV. Falling asleep, I had woken up to the sound of a knock on the door. Opening it, I saw it was none other than Ella. "Ella, what are you doing here?" I asked her, shocked and curious as to why she was here.
Her wide brown eyes were filled with worry, her long brown hair was stuck to the sides of her face from the tears that ran down her cheeks. She looked no worse for wear, her clothes pulled tightly around her body and she looked like she had ran her way here. "I can't take it anymore, can I stay here with you?" she asked as she went to enter my house. "I don't want to be with my dad anymore, he's been drunk again for the last few months and I can't take it anymore," she said as I tried to stop her from coming in.
Instead of stopping her, I attempted to but, she had pushed her way through. "Rehab didn't work this time, just like all those other times he's been alcohol free," I mumbled mostly to myself. "He always falls back to the same pattern," I told her. "You need to do something, tell the authorities," I suggested, knowing that anything was better than being abused by her father.
Her eyes were wide in panic and sad surprise. Shaking her head, she began to hiccup as she cried. Eyes as red as tomatoes, I didn't like how she looked and how her skin was flamed from the tears that flowed like a never ending waterfall. "I can't-" she hiccuped. "I can't be there," she cried. "Please let me stay," she begged.
Knowing that her father was stubborn and uncontrollable, once her father was drunk, he wasn't afraid of anyone. Not even of the consequences, especially when he was being violent to anyone he'd find on the street. "We can't, your dad will come looking here first," I told her, worried for the safety of my family. "I won't put my family in danger Ella," I stated firmly, not allowing my family to get hurt in order to protect a friend.
She wouldn't stop crying, her eyes would squint shut and more tears would flow. It was never ending and exhausting to watch. Her mouth wide as her cries would escape her. "I need to be out of there," she sobbed. "Please Kat," she begged again and clung to me.
Her fingers wrapped around me in a vice grip, holding onto my arms and making me stare at her. Gently, I pushed her away from me and made her let me go. "Fine," I agreed after a sad sigh. "But let me pack some things," I told her. "We're not going to be here, we're going to go to Atlanta," I compromised, thankful I had done the research and saw the perfect place for us to stay, in confidential and without anyone knowing, except for my parents.
Present day...KPOV
We had driven in silence, I didn't know what to say and didn't know who to worry about more. About those we had left at the church, Beth, or myself and Daryl. Forgetting about my worry, I needed to make conversation and stop the silence we lingered in. It was driving me insane. "So it was just you and Beth after?" I asked him, refering to the time after the prison fell.
Daryl was silent, he'd chew on his inner lip and follow the car closely enough. Enough to know where they'd turn to and in what direction they were going to go. Curious, I felt the need to talk about him and Beth, to see if there was anything they shared and why he'd had such a desire to find her. "Yeah," he grumbled.
Knowing I'd ask stupid questions, I understood that Beth was a smart and kind girl. But, what she mostly did was sing songs and play nanny while I was away. Which, was a shame for if she had potential to survive in this world without us as a group. "You save her?" I questioned as I glanced to him.
Daryl was covered in dirt, sweat and blood of those I wasn't sure of. Is that walker blood, his blood or someone elses? "She's tough. She saved herself," Daryl corrected me and pulled me out of my thoughts effectively. Daryl had also grown his hair out more, gained even more muscles and grown more stubble on his chin. "We were out there for a while. We got cornered, she got out in front of me and...I don't know, she was gone. I came out and a car's pulling out with a white cross on the window," he told me the whole story as he kept his eyes on the road.
Randomly, he'd hit walkers and make them fall onto the side of the road. Bumping into them, they'd stare at our car and reach up for us. But, Daryl would simply drive futher, reverse and smash their skulls in using the tires. "Just like that one?" I asked him as I glanced back and saw that the walker, was in fact, no longer moving or what we'd even consider as alive.
Staring ahead, we were going up a small hill and we could see the car perfectly. "Yep," he answered me and kept driving. His eyes glued to the car with determination. "Rick's gonna wonder where we went," he spoke of my father, which was true, but I knew that Carol had it all under control. "Tank's runnin' low," he informed me.
Glancing around, I knew that the car was going to need gas, especially if we wanted to make it back with Beth. But, I knew that there weren't many options to be made when it came to what was happening. "Can't we stop and get gas somewhere?" I asked him, knowing it was stupid to ask, but I had to.
His eyes flickered to check the gas, but he then kept his eyes glued to the car we were trailing. "Nah, we're good for a bit," he answered me and kept driving. "Can't risk them getting away," he told me. "I've already done that once," he grumbled mostly to himself.
Something told me he was determined to find Beth, especially after what had occured after the prison was destroyed. After whatever happened between Beth and Daryl. "We could end this quick, run him off the road," I suggested i a questioning tone. "Wherever they're holding her, we could get it out of the driver," I spoke as I kept my eyes on the car, but something told me that this plan wouldn't work.
It felt foreign to suggest, as I had never believed in threatening people to get information. Yet, this was what the world was like. This is how I had to be, if I wanted the chance to survive it for those I loved. "Yeah, but if he don't talk, we're back to square one," he spoke truthfully. "Right now we got the advantage," he pointed out. "We'll see who they are. If they're a group, see what they can do. And then we'll do what we gotta do to get her back," he suggested the decent plan, one that could work, if we weren't spotted.
Staring up at the signs, I saw where we were heading and glimpsed at the city. A city I hadn't been to, since we went in search for Merle together, met those from the residential home and found them all dead. Which, then lead to me finding heads of those who looked out for them, in fish tanks, where the Governor hid behind the Woodbury walls. Everything comes full circle. "They're heading north, I-85," I told him. "Back to Atlanta..." I mumbled as I felt my heart pounding and sweat cover my skin.
DPOV
We kept driving, into the city and had stopped by a main road. I stopped and watched as the car stayed where it was. "What the hell's he waiting for?" I questioned the driver as we watched. "There's two of 'em," I stated once I saw the passenger door open and someone dressed in uniform step out. "Is that a cop?" I asked Kat.
Knowing that Kat knew what cops looked like, she had seen her father dressed as one and I wondered if she may have known this specific cop. "Was a cop..." Kat told me numbly. Noticing that the cop glanced our way, Kat pulled out her gun and kept it close. "They might've seen us," she made up an excuse for her sudden reaction.
The cop had then moved, disappearing down the road and behind the buildings. Waiting, I felt my heart race for any possibility. The sound of footsteps came closer, Kat had her gun clutched tightly to her and the sound of snarling and thumping against the glass made her jump. Sighing, she allowed the thudding and snarling continue. When the cop returned, he stared at the walker and the cop began to push things to one side, moving objects out of their way and clearing the path.
When the car started, I wanted to get mine alive as quick as possible. But, as I tried to start the engine, it began to sputter. "Aw, shit!" I cussed when it wouldn't move or even start. "Tank's tapped," I informed her when I gave up trying, knowing that the sound would simply draw more walkers towards us.
Kat glanced around, watching as the car drove into the city and didn't take any bypass. "They'd have taken the bypass and they didn't," she informed me, but there was a stiffness about her, one I had noticed since we had escaped Terminus. "They must be holed up in the city somewhere," she stated, proving to me once again, that she was the smart one from our group. Well, we're all smart in our own way. But Kat knows things.
Hearing the sounds of distant walkers snarling, made me glance around and away from my numb staring at Kat. Admiring her like some, love sick, stupid fool. "We gotta move," I encouraged, knowing it wasn't safe for us here. "Find someplace to hole up till sunlight," I told her, knowing that this was the best option and a place where we could take rest.
Glancing behind us, we saw some walkers come out from the shadows, which were many to know we'd have no chance killing them all and saving ourselves at the same time. I wasn't going to risk her life. "I know a place just a couple of blocks from here," Kat told me. "We can make it," she assured me, making me a little surprised as to how she'd know Atlanta this way, but I then remembered that she had a life before the world went to shit. Kat then rolled down the window and struck the walker in the head, using her knife and effectively killed it.
KPOV
The sound of rapid tapping came from beside me, Daryl was trying to get us inside the building. A building I knew was secure and would keep us safe from the walkers. "Two more," I told Daryl when I heard the walkers following us, getting closer and I felt slight panic rise in me.
"I almost got it," Daryl growled as he worked away in trying to get us inside. Walkers snarled and I wandered over to see if they came any closer. Preparing my bow and arrow, I glanced into the shadows and saw the figures move in the light. "Come on," Daryl called after me, watching my hesitation as I pulled myself back into reality and away from my fear. Wandering inside, the place was empty and I found it to look the same it had, only with corpses on the ground and papers everywhere, while a few stains covered the walls and floor. "You used to work here or something?" Daryl asked me.
Stepping into an office, I remembered it was a secret reception. This was a sanctuary, where I had once stayed and wished to have encouraged her to stay longer. "Something," I mumbled, not feeling like telling him the story behind this place. The doorknob rattles as Daryl tried to get us in, but he had thankfully found keys and took them from one of the corpses in the hall.
Removing the swivel chair, I pushed the desk to keep the door closed and Daryl helped me push the table. He kept the flashlight between his lips and teeth, the way he'd usually carry it whenever he was too busy using his hands. Moving to pick up my things and the rifle Carol had given me, I saw Daryl took a moment to sit against the desk. Remembering that the other door lead to a hidden hall, filled with rooms, I moved to open it and couldn't. Damn, I need a key. "Oh, here," Daryl said as he handed me the keys he had taken. "What's this place?" Daryl asked me as he looked around curiously.
His flashlight shone around the room, illuminating dark objects and landing on one that I knew he had spotted. A book. Treating Survivors of Childhood Abuse. It made me want to scoff, as Daryl was a survivor of childhood abuse, but now, he was mostly the toughest survivor I knew. "It's temporary housing," I stated as I moved to place my things onto the ground or the beds.
I could feel Daryl's questioning gaze on me, I could sense he had multiple questions he wanted to ask me. But, I wasn't in the mood to answer any questions, especially not to how I knew about this place. Although, I could sense him dying to ask me questions. "You came here?" he asked me, going for the more kind and sneaky approach towards the subject.
Feeling like this was an acceptable question, I knew I could never lie to him and that the truth, was nothing for me to be ashamed of. Except, I couldn't help but feel pain and regret. "We didn't stay for long," I answered quickly. "I'll take the top bunk," I told him and took my claim. "I think that one's more your style," I smiled and pointed to the bottom bunk. Remembering how I'd sometimes catch him in the prison, using a bottom bunk and he too remembered, causing him to chuckle softly.
The pair of us made eye contact, I was silently staring at him and realized how special Daryl was. Not only to me, but to who he was. He had escaped an abusive home, survived, lost his family and yet, he still carried on. He had more strength than I could, if I was in his position. "You should sleep," I suggested after I looked away from the intensity of his gaze and cleared my throat. "I'll take first watch," I told him confidently as I moved towards the window.
Daryl had then took off his crossbow, his jacket and placed them on top of the drawers. Glancing at him quickly, we exchanged a gaze and it quickly disappeared once I took a step away from him. "This is locked up pretty tight," Dary commented, trying to tell me that we were safe enough to relax and get some sleep.
I knew he cared for my health, how he cared for me in general, but I would sometimes get myself confused. Believing that he cared for me, more than he should, when I knew that nothing would happen between us. "I know," I told him.
Before moving to the window, I had palced all my belongings either on the floor, or on my bunk. Staring out the window, there were hardly any walkers around, those that were on the street, wandered around aimlessly. "So we're good, then," Daryl spoke, trying to encourage me to get some rest and that we'd be perfectly fine here.
Something inside me, didn't want to sleep and I knew, it had everything to do with my mind. Between thoughts, beliefs, memories and my feelings, I was on a train of intensity. I knew that when I was intense, I would never be able to get to sleep. Unless, I spoke about what I felt and what I thought. "I'll keep first watch," I spoke stubbornly. "I don't mind," I told Daryl kindly as I turned my torso to look at him.
Offering him a kind smile, I didn't want him to question me further, but thankfully, he got the hint. I need time, to calm myself and to stop over thinking everything. "Suit yourself," Daryl grumbled after a few moments of the pair of us staring at one another. He didn't look like he'd argue back any further, but I sensed he was worried for me and trusted me enough to know what I was doing.
DPOV
Grunting, I took a seat on my bunk bed and stared at Kat. Her skin illuminated softly from the moon's light and her bright blue eyes looked ice cold. Her expression firm, but her soul seemed lost, the way I'd glimpse in her eyes and question if she was okay. Glancing around the room, I was still trying to figure out how this place could be connected to Kat. Her father didn't hurt her, nor did her brother and mother. So, why would she come here?
Suddenly, Kat spoke and made my head stop trying to figure out the mystery about Kat. Her head was bowed and her eyes were hidden by her eyelids, her eyes staring down at the window pane. "You said to Carol that...we all get to start over," Kat sighed out and spoke in a sad tone.
Her head turned to glance at me, her eyes were light and her features smooth. It was too smooth, which made me question internally what was wrong with her. Wondering if she was fine and if she was mentally healthy. Something has changed in her. "Yeah," I agreed as our eyes were connected.
Even with this, dark side of her, she still looked beautiful. I had hope that she'd get passed whatever was going on in her head, like the time she had lost Andrea and her mother. They were both hard times for Kat. "Did you?" she asked me calmly and curiously.
After all we had been through, I had hope that we'd come back from whatever we'd been going through. Had hope that she'd come back, if not for the ones she cared about, then for the family she cherished. "I'm tryin'," I told her, knowing it would show her it took attempts to get a new start. She was silent for a moment, her head had turned back to stare out of the window. Her body tense and her arms crossed tightly around her chest. "Why don't you say what's really on your mind?" I questioned her.
Somehow, she relaxed slightly when I questioned her. I knew I was pushing her, but I was only encouraging her not to be afraid to tell me anything. What she felt, what she thought, it was all something I wanted to hear. "After everything that's happened...I'm not sure what to think anymore, Daryl," she confessed with a shake of her head.
There was something in her voice, it was as though she was sad to confess this, sad to even have thought it. But, I knew that doubt was only happening because of the hopes she had. The hope that everyone was only temporarily lost, but that they'd find their ways back. "Like what?" I asked her. "Tell me what's on your mind, you know you don't have to keep secrets from me," I encouraged her gently.
Kat's head turned to look at me, her eyes connecting to mine. Blue against blue, but I knew that she was more depressed recently, with all the events that had happened to her over the past few years. "I don't think we get to save people anymore, Daryl," Kat told me, her tone plain and flat, her lips pursed slightly as she pondered over her own thoughts.
Not being able to contain myself, I knew I needed to ask her a question that would make her remember what it felt to have hope. "Then why are you here?" I questioned her, knowing that she'd been changing as the world became less of what she expected. But, something in the way she spoke coldly and doubted what she had believed, had me question her motives in coming with me, rather then let Carol take her place.
"I'm trying," she replied, repeating my words and shrugging her shoulders.
Understanding her situation, I didn't want her to harden the way her father did, simply because she was confused as to where her thoughts were meant to be. "When Joe surrounded Michonne and Rick, while you and Carl were in the car...what if I didn't show up?" I asked her, getting to the roots of it all. "Would you still have done what you did? Would you of done something different?" I questioned her. "Kat, you did what you had to survive, to save your family," I told her, trying to convince her that what she had done, was the only thing that could of been done. It was inevitable. "Are you sure if I hadn't turned up, things would have been any different, from how you're feeling and thinking right now?" I challenged.
Kat glanced towards me, but she then looked towards the window once more and made her way towards my bunker. "I don't know how to answer those questions," she told me as she went to sit beside me. "All I know, is I have done so much and gained so little," she voiced her thoughts as she leaned to rest on her back. "I don't know how long I can keep trying to be strong, to keep trying to survive," she spoke with pain, with something I didn't like hearing in her tone. "My mom always told me to do what I felt was right, but the problem is...I don't know what's right anymore," she confessed as I laid beside her.
KPOV
Remembering my mom, we laid on the bed for a few seconds and then, there was a sudden distant banging. Instantly, we got up and picked up our weapons. The sound of banging continued as we wandered down a hall. Daryl took the lead, gripping his crossbow tightly. The sound of snarling then proved it was walkers. Walkers locked in a room. Except, I felt my heart pound and a small gasp rise out of me.
The ones banging, were a young child and a mother. It was as though they had heard me discussing my mother and found it was the perfect cue to remind me more of the mother I missed. Gulping down my fear and sadness, I reached for the door handle and went to open it. "You don't have to," Daryl told me as he took hold of my hand, stopping me from opening the door. "You don't," he spoke firmly, staring at me and never leaving his gaze from mine.
With a deep breath, I gave a nod and pused my lips. Wandering down the hall once more, I moved to lay in my bed and felt relieved to tell Daryl exactly what I felt. What I thought. Shutting my eyes, only for a moment, ended up being for a long enough time. The sounds of birds chirping woke me, making me open my eyes and climb out of bed. Noticing that there were flames outside, I looked outside the window and saw that a body had been wrapped in bed clothing and was burning in a fire.
It was as though he understood my pain, understood the memory of my mom and how I knew about this place. Even if it wasn't for my mother, it had meaning to me and seeing the mother and child, reminded me of the mother I spoke of only moments ago. He had killed the walkers for me, wrapped them up and burned them in a respectful manner. "Thank you," I thanked him quietly as I came closer to him and we watched the burning fire. Taking hold of his hand gently, he curled his fingers around mine and we watched the flames turn the bodies into ashes.
DPOV
Returning back inside, I saw Kat shove a few things into her backpack and moved towards me. Watching the bodies get eaten in the flames, I felt pleased that I was the one to do it, for Kat. Kat loved with a fire, but when she lost those that she loved, she'd always seem to die a little more inside. I had to do it for her, so she could somehow move on and get past her grief over her mother. "That car was headed downtown. I say we get up in one of the tall ones, get ourselves a view, see what we see," I suggested a plan.
Kat looked to me kindly, she had seemed to be more free towards me, like she trusted me more than ever before. "We can stay close to the buildings and keep quiet, but sooner or later, we're gonna be drawing them," she informed me, reminding me that there was danger everywhere we went. That no matter where we went, there was going to be some type of danger.
Slipping into the streets, we kept to the areas that looked safe and kept moving. Kat stayed close behind and we stopped by a small road. Peeking from the corner of the wall, I saw walkers surrounding us, but I knew I could distract them and then, I noticed the bridge we could get through to the higher ground. "All right, we can get up there. There's a bridge," I informed Kat as I lit a book on fire and threw it, distracting walkers to wander towards it.
Wandering past the distracted walkers, we found ourselves entering the building, passing things around that may have gotten heavy as we ran quietly. But, when we reached the bridge, the floor was surrounded by walkers in sleeping bags. One by one, we killed the walkers and I began to search them for anything useful. "Some days, I don't know what the hell to think," I said as I noticed a walker was trapped inside the tent. Making our way down to the doors, it was chained and we had to squeeze ourselves through the gap. "Good thing we skipped breakfast," I commented as we would place our things down, push them out the door and slip through after.
Wandering around, I then found another door and slowly opened it. Whistling, it indicated that it was safe for Kat to follow. Wandering in, it looked like a wide office that may of been from a man who worked a few hard ours, to get a shit load of cash. "How did we get back here?" Kat asked me as she looked out the window and stared out at Atlanta's tall buildings.
Humming, I stared out and stood beside her. Her blue eyes glued to the view of the city and her face stayed cold, hard and yet, calm. Remembering the time we came here, for Merle, the bag of guns, Glenn with the elderly and then looking for shelter. I then remembered what Kat told me she had seen in the Governor's tanks. "We just did," I replied to her, surprised that this would be the place we'd be brought back to.
Kat ran her fingers along the string of her bow, kept her eyes on what we were both staring at, but I had turned my head to watch her. Her own head turned, so our eyes could meet and lock onto one another. "You still haven't asked me what happened," she pointed out softly. "Back at the place we slept. My regrets," she hinted what it was all about, why she had been strange since we arrived.
Staring into Kat's eyes, I kept my eyes glued to hers, until I could no longer handle the tensity she would watch me with. Moving my head, I stared out the window once more. "You know I don't ask you anything, I let you tell me when you're ready," I stated what I did, reminding her that I wasn't pushy like others were. I always let her come to me, not the other way around.
Sighing, she licked her lips and looked away. Her eyes glued to the ground as she deliberated on telling me or not. "My biggest regret," she began. "It was my friend, Ella," she said with a glance in my direction. "She was the reason I went to that place. Her father, he was a sick and twisted man. He abused her, every way possible," she told me why she went to that building and spent some time there in the past.
Realizing what had happened, I kept my gaze glued to her as she told me the story. "Hurt her, make her feel worthless and rape her. I got her out of there, to make sure she was safe," she informed me of what happened with her friend, Ella. "But, eventually she went back and I hadn't heard from her in years," she explained sadly, licking her lips once again and there was a shameful tone I noticed in her voice. "I gave up, because she'd distanced herself from me," she confessed.
Noticing how she was ashamed of herself, how the regret was simply because she allowed her friend to pull away, rather than try to make sure they pulled together. It made me feel more for her, respect her and fall for her more. She tried to save her friend. "I should have done more. Got her out of there permanently, but they always blamed it on the alcohol abuse," she spat and shook her head. "Its why I understand what you've been through," she told me as her head moved and eyes met with mine. Blue colliding with blue.
Feeling my heart beat harder, I knew what it meant and I respected her for understanding. I respected her for simply doing what she did. She was an incredible woman, a woman who I was falling more in love with by the minute, yet, I never knew what love felt like, but I imagined it to be that. "You tried, its all that matters," I told her. "She saw that," I assured her that what she had done, wasn't unnoticed or that her friend didn't care about her for doing that.
Kat then turned her body to face me, her eyes staring into my face and eyes ice cold. She resembled her father so much in that very moment. "Just like my mom and Andrea?" she questioned me. "Like Hershel, Sophia and everyone else we've lost?" she listed those she felt she had done wrong to, for 'not trying hard enough.' "I try so hard to keep everyone safe, but I still had hope that not everyone was like the Governor," she spat, ashamed of herself.
I didn't want her to blame herself for everything that happened, because I had learned through my time with Beth, that it was fate and that there was nothing we could have done differently. "I even had hope the Governor would change. But he didn't," she pointed out with a small laugh and shook her head, with disbelief that she'd even considered that someone could change. "Instead he killed Hershel and destroyed our home. Made me believe my sister was dead, but thankfully Tyreese and Carol saved her," she listed all the things that had been going on.
Kat then met my gaze, her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes were scrutinizing. "Was I really that foolish?" she asked me. "I mean, I had my doubts after what happened with Joe," she confessed. "But Terminus, that was the cherry on top," she laughed and shook her head. Suddenly, she stopped her laughter, looked to the ceiling and her expression was no longer of false laughter, it was one of coldness and anger. "That was when I realized that not everyone was good anymore," she told me as she looked out the window once more.
Turning my body enough to face hers, I stared at her and watched her keep her eyes away from me. "Kat, you shouldn't change what you think," I suggested. "It's good that you're weary, but there are good people out there," I paraphrased what Beth told me. "You're a good person and so is everyone else we care about," I stated. "Those you've mentioned, Andrea and your mom...they ain't here," I told her in a leveled and rough voice. "The reason I said we get to start over...is because we gotta. The way it was..." I mumbled, hoping she'd understand what I was telling her.
Somehow, she understood and kept her eyes glued to the window. Yet, I sensed she understood exactly what I had meant. That we all had a chance to be ourselves again, that we all can come back from whatever we've been through. "Yeah," Kat agreed with a small nod of her head. Glancing out the window again, I kept staring and suddenly noticed something. Leaning closer, I began to squint and tried to see clearer what I imagined to see. "You see something?" Kat asked me.
In a weird, unexpected way, I thought I could see a car tipping off the side of a bridge. It was a white van and it looked like it had a cross on the back door windows. Needing a close up, I knew the rifle would do the trick. "I don't know," I told Kat honestly. "Hand me that rifle," I ordered kindly, in a suggestive tone. As she gave it to me, our fingertips lightly brushed one anothers and I tried to ignore the sensation it gave me. Using the scope, I looked around and spotted the van. White. Tipping and a white cross. "Right there," I pointed towards the area where I saw the van.
Handing it back to Kat, she raised it and checked through the scope. Curious, I wondered if she knew how to use it and if she was as good of a shot, as she was at using her bow. "It's been there a while," she said once she too, spotted it. "Definitely one of them," she assured me as she lowered the rifle and slipped it over her body.
"It's definitely some kind of lead," I agreed.
Looking around, I realized that we would need to find a route to get there safely and quickly. "We should fill up," Kat told me as she moved to fill her flask with water. Agreeing, I squinted out the window and had hope that I'd find Beth, save her and do something right. For once. I need to do this, because I've failed too many people, too many times. I don't want to fail Beth again. Or Kat.
KPOV
Filling up my flask, I felt a little more comfortable with Daryl. He seemed to understand me, to understand my problems and comfort me in anyway he could. I respected him for that, the way he'd encourage me, made me fall a little more for him. "Hmm," I mumbled as I took a sip from the flask and turned to look at him. He was staring up at a painting on the wall, as though he was trying to figure out what it symbolised and how much it cost. "What?" I asked him.
Walking up beside him, I stared at the painting and smiled to myself. It reminded me of the time myself, Carl and Ella would make paintings like this together. Painting anything we felt like, it was a way for Ella to express her thoughts and emotions freely. So, it was something I would do with her, to give her some support and fun whilst doing it. "I bet this cost some rich prick a lot of money," Daryl grumbled. "Looks like a dog sat in paint, wiped its ass all over the place," Daryl complained as he would point to where he believed the dog would of wiped its ass all over it.
Laughing, I couldn't control his interpretation of it and I swore I could see the side of his lip curve upwards. Is he wanting to make me laugh? To make me not think about what happened? "Really?" I giggled and composed myself, glancing at the painting and noticing how it used colors to symbolise anger. "I kinda like it," I lied slightly.
Keeping a straight face, I didn't love it, but it was fine, for what it was meant to symbolize, at least, what I thought it symbolized. Daryl glanced at me, he stared and then laughed softly. "Stop," he ordered, making me smirk and let out a soft giggle. He's adorable when he laughs.
Staring at the painting, I smiled and looked at Daryl, our eyes meeting and his gaze was shy. His eyes on me, but he'd look away and smile. "I'm serious," I told him with all seriousness in my voice. "You don't know me," I stated teasingly. He knew enough, but he didn't know my tastes in music, pictures, clothing and other things.
Handing him my flask, he took a long gulp and filled it again. Moving to pick up the rifle and my things, he stood there, staring at the painting once more. "Yep, you keep tellin' yourself that," he mumbled and made me smile to myself. He knows me well enough, we respect one another and...I can't help but fall for him more each day.
DPOV
Making our way back to the bridge, Kat went first, getting on her hands and knees. Which, was in all truth a lovely view of her behind, but I focused more on her safety and I was worried that there could be walkers on the other side. Placing her bow, arrows and the rifle to the ground first. Crawling through, it was next my turn and I went to place my crossbow down first. "Daryl, don't," Kat called to me.
After sliding out, I held onto my crossbow and turned my head to look at Kat. She had her hands up, no weapons on her, other than her machete, gun and her knife. Peeking up, I slowly raised my body to stand up straight. "Get up. Hands up, both of you," a boy ordered as he cocked the rifle at Kat. "Lay down your crossbow and give me your machete," he spoke to both myself and Kat. "Do it, now!" the boy ordered.
Glaring at the kid, he looked at least a few years younger than Kat, but he didn't look any older than 18. "You got some sack on you," I growled, not liking the fact we were basically being threatened by a child. By some kid, who we didn't know and was pointing a gun at our heads. I ain't letting anything happen to Kat.
Keeping my eyes locked on the kid, I watched Kat from the corner of my eye lower her machete to the ground. "Look, nobody has to get hurt. I just need weapons, that's it," the boy tried to convince us. "So, please, lay down your crossbow," he asked politely. Doing as he said, I raised my hands and kept my glare glued to him. "Back up," he ordered after he slowly took our weapons, the rifle still pointing towards us and his eyes focused on us.
Feeling anger, I knew he was only doing what he had to, in order to survive, but I still wanted my bow back. Not to mention, he had taken Kat's bow, the one her father had given her many years ago. It was made for her. Yet, this boy had taken it from her. "Sorry about this," the boy apologized as he used Kat's machete to cut open the tents. A walker climbed out, snarling as he began his way towards us. "You look tough. You'll be all right," the boy was certain as he'd open another tent and then another.
Pulling out my knife, Kat did the same and pulled out her gun at the same time. Killing one walker using my knife, I saw Kat use her knife on one and raise her gun at the boy. Aiming, I saw her line of sight, it was to the boy. I wasn't sure where she was aiming, but I knew that wherever she was aiming, it wasn't going to be safe for any of us. Just as she shot, I knocked her hand out of the way and stopped her from possibly hurting the kid. Her eyes darted to me and they looked angered, evil, as though she hated me for stopping her.
KPOV
Running after the boy, he had locked and chained the door shut. Neither myself or Daryl get the door opened. He had taken our weapons, taken my bow that my father had given me all those years ago. Designed for only me. "Three bullets," I growled as myself and Daryl found another way out. "We're in the middle of a city. He was stealing our weapons," I stated what was wrong about the whole situation. "Did you think I was gonna kill him?" I asked Daryl curiously, surprised he'd think I was capable of killing a young boy. "I was only going to scare him," I argued. "Could that have killed him? No, but he was stealing our weapons," I told him.
Daryl glanced at me, he went to open a door as I followed him closely. Truthfully, I felt naked without my bow and quiver. I wanted it back, but I wanted to keep myself, Daryl and Beth safe. I needed to make sure we'd make it out alive. "He's a damn kid," Daryl snarled.
Surprised by Daryl's reaction, I felt a little insulted that he'd point something out that was obvious. I knew he was a kid, I wasn't going to kill him, but we needed those weapons to keep ourselves safe. "Without weapons we could die," I pointed out. "Beth could die," I stated what could happen if we didn't keep ourselves safe.
Crouching slightly, Daryl had started using his knife on the door, trying to pry it open anyway he could. Hopeful he could unlock it, I knew Daryl was skilled with opening such things. "We'll find more weapons," Daryl grumbled and kept his eyes on the task. Staying focused and brushing my argument to one side.
Deciding to tell him how I felt, it was only because I was getting angry and more anxious by the minute. I had lost too many people before, I didn't want to lose anyone else that I cared about. "I don't want Beth to die," I began. "I don't want anybody at the church to die, but I can't stand around and watch it happen either," I told him how I felt.
There was an anger and sadness that was bubbling up inside me. I didn't know if it was panic or if it was all the emotions I had been bottling up over time. All of it close to overflowing. "I can't and I won't," I spoke firmly, through gritted teeth and with anger in my voice. "I don't want to lose anyone else again Daryl," I told him as I paced around. Stopping, I moved closer to him and looked him directly in the eyes. "I can't lose you. I can't and I won't. I'd rather die than lose anyone else," I confessed, somehow, I showed a part of my emotions towards him.
I was showing him the most vulnerable part of myself. My ability to love, to care for him and the fact I worried for him. Daryl caught my words, his eyes connecting and meeting mine. He had stopped his work on the door to stare at me. "Well, I ain't gonna die; you ain't either," he told me firmly. "No one is," he assured me. "We're here and we're tryin'," he repeated what we were doing, trying to save people and trying to save ourselves at the same time.
Unsure if it was heat of the moment, but I felt as though I had to clear everything up in the moment with him. To reveal almost everything, but in a subtle manner. "Look, you're not who you were and neither am I," I began to argue. Sighing, I shut my eyes and took a moment to collect myself. "All I know, is that both of us are different and we've both become stronger," I told him what I had observed.
Truthfully, I could feel my heart beat faster and my heart rising up my throat. In that moment, I realized I loved him, that he was the only one I felt this way for. The thought of being without him, made me want to cry my heart out, to break my heart and tare it to pieces. "What I've noticed, is that I'm stronger, only when I'm around people I love and I don't want to lose anyone else," I told him confidently with a lick of my lips.
Daryl kept his gaze on me, his body haunched a little, but he slowly relaxed and stood straight. His cheek was being chewed, but his eyes were glued to me and I couldn't help but reveal everything to him. All without it being too obvious. "Not because I'm afraid of losing them, but because I have before and lost myself too," I confessed what had happened to me, what could happen again if I lost someone. "I can't go through that again, not with anyone and definately not with you," I cried slightly, feeling tears brim around the corners of my eyes and a few fell.
Without another word, Daryl kept his eyes on mine and chewed the inside of his cheek. His eyes glanced down at the floor and his head began to nod. He was processing what I was saying, possibly trying to find some type of meaning towards it and I wasn't sure if he noticed that he was someone I loved. That I was hinting that I loved him. Instead, he looked up and kept nodding vigorously before he turned to the door and continued his work on it. Opening it, we wandered inside and made our way out.
DPOV
Unsure of what Kat meant, I knew she cared about me and about my wellbeing. Kat had always been the caring person, even for those who didn't deserve it, such as myself and even my brother. Escaping the building, we made our way quietly and luckily, didn't come into contact with many walkers. Reaching the bridge with the van, I opened up the back doors and knew it was going to be risky to go in while it was tipping. "All right, let's get this done," I ordered as I looked inside.
Glimpsing inside, Kat noticed the tilt and how it would fall if there was too much weight pushing down on it. Knowing I wouldn't put Kat's life in danger like that, I had already decided I'd go first. "It's not stable. I'm lighter," Kat told me, insinuating that she should be the one to check inside. Grunting, I made my way inside and made sure it was stable enough balance everything out. We both began searching inside, looking for any information that could lead us to where they were holding Beth.
Looking to the side, Kat noticed walkers were getting closer, beginning to surround us and instantly, I knew there was no way we'd survive if we tried to fight them all. "There's more coming," Kat warned me. "We're gonna have to fight through," she told me, already giving me instruction and made me look around.
Seeing the amount, I knew there was going to be hassle, but there had to be something we could do. We needed to find a way out, but we also needed enough time to figure out where Beth could be held. "Yeah, I see 'em," I told her and moved to get up and out the back.
Touching her shoulder gently, I moved out and saw something that made me examin it. It looked like a hospital bed, but it made me wonder why there was a hospital bed in a van such as this. "We have to go," Kat warned me as I read a strange word stuck to the side of the bed. GMH.
Deciding to ask her, I had hope she'd know what it meant and it if had any meaning to us. If it was another lead to where Beth could be. "GMH, what's that?" I questioned Kat as I glanced at her over my shoulder. "A hospital?" I asked her, certain it could be a possible hospital, where Beth would be safe and with enough medicine to possibly bring with her.
Coming to conclusion with a hospital, it had to be where Beth was. As it was all starting to make sense. "Grady Memorial, maybe?" Kat suggested, remembering the hospital name and the fact it was the only logical place, name and city she could be in.
After establishing it, it made me wonder and collect all the information we had gathered. "Grady, the white crosses-" I figured it out. Where they took Beth, must have been Grady Memorial Hospital. A white cross, a medical bed and the initials on it. "it might be where they're holing up," I concluded, knowing that this was the clearest lead we needed, all in order to find Beth and return her to us and the others.
Kat had jumped out before me, raising her knife and gun, she struck one walker down. Shot another, then another and knifed the next. Taking my knife out, I sliced the walker with it as I pulled it closer and dumped him on the ground. Then...bang. It was Kat's final bullet. "Daryl!" Kat screamed my name as she watched the walker began to slowly circle her.
Grabbing hold of another walker, I made sure it didn't get too close to me or Kat. Keeping them at a distance, so I could knife them. She tried to keep as many away as possible too, but she began to panic. "Go, go, go, go!" I ordered as I lead us back into the van.
Jumping in after Kat, I had kicked a walker back and saw how they all began to surround us. Closing us into the van, I heard the snarling and the slamming of hands against the van. Pushing the van and making it slowly rock. "Anything we can use?" Kat asked me loudly, there was fear in her voice as the van began to be more unstable.
Kat was panting, clutching to the seats and I kept myself seated at the end. Hopeful that my weight would hold off any violent shakes of the van. This isn't the best plan. "Nothin' but what we got," I told her. Coming up with the best plan in this situation, I climbed into the drivers seat and looked to Kat, who followed my lead. "All right, buckle up," I ordered. Buckling up, we both sat with our backs straight and I could feel the fear coming off of Kat.
Glancing towards her, she was panting, tears in her eyes and her heart was making her breathing quicken. The rise and fall of her chest was indicator enough, she was scared and this was a vulnerable situation that came out of a last resort. "You hold on," I encouraged her with my own pants. I was too concentrated to realize I had tensed up, began to sweat more than usual and felt my own heart race in my chest.
Kat placed her hand over mine, clutching it tightly as her nails dug into my skin. Turning my eyes to look at her, I laced my fingers with hers and gripped the surface of the car tightly that I had subconsciously placed my hands on. With a few more slams, rocking and growling, we eventually fell face forward down. It was a mighty drop.
Groaning, I had fallen forward and landed against the airbag, that luckily still worked. The glass had cracked, but we were still alive and well. Which was all that mattered to me. "We're okay. We're okay," Kat whispered with a smile and relieved look on her face. The sound of bodies thudding against the metal, made us look at the window and soon enough, bodies splattered against the roof of the car. "God," Kat grumbled. When it was over, I climbed out slowly and felt some pains along my body. But it was mostly from the shock intensity.
Something told me, that maybe Kat wasn't doing as great as I thought she was. Kat slowly wandered out of the van, holding onto her side and grunting. "Ow," she muttered as she wandered over to me. Taking hold of the backpack, I offered myself for her to wrap an arm around me, my own arm slithered around her waist. Walkers snarled above us and on the ground, but we ignored them and made our way towards a safer spot to rest.
KPOV
On our way to a safe spot to rest, I kept my hand pressed against my side, where the Governor had tried to slice me open. Since the fall, my side was in pain and I felt like the blood was beginning to spill out from the cut I had patched up and sown up. "Here," Daryl offered me the flask of water as he stayed stood. I needed a break, to gather my breath and let the stinging pain settle enough for me to walk without assistance. I tried to decline him kindly, telling him I was fine. "Prove it," Daryl challenged.
Glancing up at him, his eyes were glued to me and I could see how he stared down at me. Concern coloring his expression and his eyes glued to my face. Knowing there was no way of attempting to make him convinced without some kind of proof, I took the flask and drank a long sip. "How bad is it?" Daryl asked me cautiously. His eyes flashing down to look at my side, where the Governor had dug his knife into me.
Hoping to make him stop being concered for me, I shrugged and smiled at him falsely. "I've had worse," I assured him. Remembering the time at the farm, when he had gone out and returned with a bolt hole in his side, a shot to the side of his head and walker ears around his neck. Daryl had also claimed he ate a squirrel raw, to get blood back into his body from the loss and I didn't believe him in that time. But, I admired his strength to get up the hill he fell down and returned back to us with evidence that Sophia wasn't far.
Deciding to show him, I rolled up my shirt a little and showed him the bandage I had wrapped around my waist. Where the cut was, there was blood seeping through it, but from what I could tell, it was getting dry and I hoped that it would stop bleeding enough, for us to save Beth. "Damn, that was stupid," Daryl grumbled when he saw my cut and the blood that came out of it.
The way Daryl spoke, it was as though he was blaming himself over what had happened. I wasn't sure what made the cut begin to bleed, maybe it was the heavy breathing, maybe it was the fall, or maybe it was the tightening pressure the seatbelt did to my side whilst we fell face first into the ground. "We made good time down," I told him, hoping to make sure he knew that we were still alive and not walker meals in this very moment.
Scoffing, Daryl didn't seem to want to continue that conversation, but I chose to speak of another subject. Of the task we had at hand, the search for Beth and to rescue her. "There's only three blocks between us and Grady," I informed him of the distance that the building was. Remembering times going to Grady with Ella, it may not have been good memories, but it was something that stayed with me. Reminded me that bad things happened, both in the past and still in the present.
Daryl took a seat beside me, his thigh brushed lightly against mine and made me hold back a small gasp. This was the closest he ever sat beside me, both of us quite close together and I had to stare at another direction. To control whatever was happening to myself in that moment. "We need to find a place nearby, scope it out, see what we can see," Daryl said.
Handing him the flask after another sip, I checked my wound again and knew that whatever we could gather, I may of needed to get another bandage to cover up my wound. That I may need to clean it and possibly add some new stitches. "You really think we're gonna find out what we need to know just by watching?" I asked him as I rolled my shirt down again, turning my head to look at Daryl.
Taking another sip, he finished his gulp and got to his feet. "It's where we start," he spoke confidently as he looked to me. His eyes were kind and he offered me his hand. "Come on," he encouraged me, taking his hand, I gently got to my feet without hurting my side any further and we left. He's always so kind and gentle with me. Was he like this with Beth too?
DPOV
Feeling guilty for what happened to Kat, I allowed her to take the backpack, after a minor discussion, attemtpting to make sure she wasn't adding any weight onto her side. But, she told me that while she took the backpack, I could keep her safe and make sure no walker got too close to her. Agreeing, I entered the building first and kept my knife close.
Walkers had been killed all around, except one that held onto a machete. One that looked very familiar. That was when I knew, it was Kat's machete that the boy had taken. Kat placed a hand over my chest when she noticed I was going to pick up her machete and kill the walker. Ducking down, she took her machete and sliced the walker perfectly. Staring at the machete, it was as though Kat cherished this weapon and, truthfully, it was one of her lucky weapons. At least, that's what I believed.
Wandering further in, Kat had placed her machete back to where she'd keep it on her belt and walked more confidently, now that she had regained her machete. But, it did give us a sign that the boy was near. Picking up food that had been dropped or left on the ground, I had a plastic bag filled with food that we were gathering up. "It's them," Kat mumbled as she wandered towards a window and squinted into the distance.
Stepping closer to Kat, I moved to look out the window and I saw the building that was the hospital. The hospital that kept Beth inside it. "All right," I grumbled as I shoved a packet of chips into the bag. "Let's see what we see," I encouraged as I took out one of the chips and another for myself. We began to sit there, eating the food and watching the hospital. Wondering what could be happening inside, but it was all too silent and nothing moved.
Crunching filled the air as we watched vigilantly the hospital. I hope Beth is all right. Conversations began to echo inside my head, reminding me of small things each person had said. But, I then remembered a question I had been keeping to myself since Kat spoke to me. "You said I ain't like how I was before?" I asked her as I turned my head to look at her. Kat then mumbled a calm and quiet 'Yeah.' "How was I?" I questioned, curious to see what she thought I was like and what I had become. In what way have I changed?
Kat laughed, her eyes glanced up to mine and she showed me the smile I had come to love so much. Except, it looked as though she was thinking over something and remembered a time, one she was keeping to herself. "It's like you were a kid," she told me. "Now you're a man," she spoke and met her eyes with mine. This left me further curious. Is this a good thing? Or a bad thing? Does she want me to be a man? I'm confused...
Remembering another part of the conversation, she had said that she'd changed too. That we both weren't like how we were before. For me, I may have changed as I came to know people, care about them and grow as a person. But Kat seemed the same to me, except she was turning colder with how the world was treating us all. "What about you?" I asked her, chosing to go with one that was based on her and not myself, feeling slightly shy about asking her anything else that involved her thoughts about me.
Her expression changed the moment I focused on her, rather than myself. "Before, I always used to come home and trust only my family. Along with Ella," Kat began to tell me her story. "Mom told me to do what was right, while my dad said to always have hope," she told me the lections she had been told to do, which she kept living to this very day. "Andrea died, I lost a part of me. But my mom...no one can replace her," Kat said as she looked directly into my eyes, shaking her head and there was a sadness in her tone as she spoke.
I couldn't help but listen carefully, listen to her story and her views about the world. "No matter what she was like or what she did," she stated her mother and what she had done, such as sleep with Shane, who was Rick's best friend. "I always thought I was strong whenever I was around my family, but when was with Andrea...that changed," Kat confessed as she hid her eyes from me. "My family wasn't just Carl, my mom and dad," Kat revealed calmly.
Swallowing a lump that was growing in her throat, Kat's blue eyes turned to look outside the window and at the hospital. "Since my mom and Andrea's death...it was all sudden. Their lights, they were bright and now...its burned out," she spoke in a sad, regretful tone. "I felt like a part of me burned out too, made me become more aware of this screwed up world," she confessed sadly.
Turning her gaze to meet mine, I saw the strength that was in her and her face was hard. Just as she always felt she had to be. "It also made me realize that family isn't just about blood or trust. It's about people who you connect with, who you'd happily die for. Its why I don't want anyone else to die," she confessed with a fire inside of her. "Beth is family, everyone else at the church are family," she listed, but she hadn't mentioned me, which made me question what she saw me as. "Everything now just...consumes you," Kat drifted and turned her gaze towards the window once more.
Understanding how she hoped, loved and would defend people. I understood her change, her hope in that this world could be saved. But, it all changed as we kept progressing and survived against those who showed the worst of this world. Feeling her sadness, I knew I had to be her strength and offer her comfort. "Hey..." I called to her, making her look directly into my eyes. "We ain't ashes," I assured her. Telling her that we weren't dead and light carried on. Within us and around us. Things will get better, I have hope it will.
KPOV
The sound of something moving made both myself and Daryl get to our feet. Alert and ready for the unexpected. We had been staring at one another, our eyes glued to one another and I knew that I had bared my soul to him. And, what he had done was comfort me and keep me sane. As he always did. Movement made us get to our feet, made us wander over to where it came from and found a walker pinned to the wall. "Thats yours," I said as I noticed the bolt in its neck.
Daryl stubbornly took the lead, as I had compromised with him, so that I wasn't getting myself in too much danger in my condition. The bolt in the walker's neck was green and white, the bolt itself was exactly Daryl's ammunition for his crossbow. My machete was evidence that the boy was closer than we thought. "Yeah," Daryl growled, taking hold of his knife tightly and slamming it into the walker's head. Hands grabbing no longer moved, snarls turned to silence and Daryl took the stillness as the chance to take his bolt.
Automatic gunfire invaded our ears, alerting us that the boy was closer yet. The sound of a walker snarling made me take hold of my machete and wander over to the sound first. Daryl went to pull me back, but I became stubborn, determined to get our weapons back. Seeing the boy, he was wrestling with the walker and suddenly threw him to me.
Not getting the chance to pull out my machete, or knife, I fell back and laid out on the ground. The walker clawed on top of me, attempting to eat me or rip me to shreds. Feeling the panic, I felt a small piece of pressure against my wound and began to feel winded by the pressure. "Oh, God," I screamed as I tried to push the walker away, with all the strength I could. The boy had run off, leaving me for dead and Daryl moved quick as a flash. Digging the tip of his knife down on the walker's head.
Offering me his hand, I took it and carefully, I was raised to my feet. The pain in my side was worse, I could feel the blood seep out again and knew I needed to keep quiet about it, if I wanted Daryl to keep us moving. So that we could find Beth. "I'm good. I'm good," I assured Daryl, his eyes glued to me in worry and then darting towards where the boy had disappeared to. "You go," I ordered kindly. "God," I whispered when Daryl had left, clutching my side and praying that I could keep going. At least long enough for us to get back to the church.
DPOV
Shocked by almost losing Kat again, I saved her and helped her onto her feet again. She looked out of breath and I knew it could have been from the surprise attack she had from the walker. A walker that had been thrown onto her from the asshole kid. Taking her assurance and orders, I wandered down the hall the kid escaped from and saw him pushing a bookcase to one side. Attempting to push the bookcase to one side.
Feeling anger pump through my veins, I dropped my backpack and ran towards him. He was the reason I had almost lost Kat in that very moment. Deliberately, he threw the walker over her and attempted to kill her. Thinking of Kat, I couldn't help the anger and impulses I had. Running to the kid, I crashed into him and we both fell to the floor. Glancing up, I noticed the bookcase wobble and begin to fall on top of us.
Crawling out from under quickly, the boy had collided with the bookcase and it tumbled over him. Crushing him under it and I had jumped out of it safely. Kat had then jogged her way towards us, stopping and staring at the scene in front of her with wide eyes. "Plea-please," the boy pleaded as a walker clawed at the door, almost out from the room he was closed into. "I had to protect myself," the boy tried to excuse himself.
Picking up my backpack, I then grabbed the bow, quiver filled with arrows, the rifle and my crossbow off the floor. Pleased to have our weapons returned, but angered with the kid for what he had done to Kat. "Why you followin' us?" I questioned him angered.
The boy was panting under the bookcase, his head and arms reaching out for us. Handing Kat her bow, quiver and the rifle, she took them gladly and placed her bow around her torso, as she usually did. "I-I didn't, I swear!" the boy cried. "I thought you followed me," he tried to cover up his lies.
Anger was all I felt for him. Saving him from Kat, allowing him to get away and take our weapons. Then, he had nothing better to do, other than to almost kill the woman I loved and lived for. Did I really just think that? Is she the reason I keep going? "Bullshit," I snarled. The boy kept pleading for help, watching the walker attempt to get out and have his first meal in a long time.
There was a packet of smokes beside the bookcase, picking it up, I pulled out a cigarette and placed it between my lips. Watching the kid beg and plead for my help. "Nah, I already helped you once," I mumbled numbly. "It ain't happenin' again," I spoke stubbornly as I lit the cigarette. My entire body shook in anger and fear. Realization that I'd be lost without Kat, made me feel a little sick in my stomach. Taking a long drag from the cigarette, I huffed out smoke through my nostrils, trying to calm myself from my intense thoughts and feelings. "Have fun with Hoss over there," I joked sarcastically as I picked up my backpack once more and went to leave.
Turning my back from the kid, I went to leave the building and continue our search for Beth. Somehow, Kat didn't decide to follow me and stayed still. Her eyes sad and her body tense as she would glance between myself and the boy. "Daryl. Daryl," Kat called to me. "Stop," she pleaded as the boy repeatedly cried for help, pleading for forgiveness and wanting the help he didn't deserve.
Turning to face her, she was clutching onto the rifle for life and her eyes were filled with fear. A panic inside them that made me wonder what was wrong with her. Is she feeling guilty? Or is she imagining him to be her brother, or something. "You almost died 'cause of him!" I shouted at her, surprised she'd be willing to save his life, after he tried to kill her.
"But I didn't!" Kat argued firmly and took a few steps closer towards me.
Kat could sometimes be as stubborn as her father, but I wasn't sure if I could agree with her decision in that moment. If the boy had been sucessful, Kat could have been torn and killed in a second. I was determined to not allow someone to be saved that had attempted to kill the woman I loved. "Nah, let him be," I snarled after deliberating what to do and glanced between the two.
Turning my back, I went to leave and never return. But, Kat wasn't going to give up on trying to convince me to save him. "Daryl!" Kat called loudly, trying to get me to stop and help him. "He's just a damn kid, remember?!" she yelled as the boy cried and pleaded for mercy. The walker had slid out from the door and fell on top of the bookcase, his hands gripped onto the boy's shirt as the boy screamed. Hearing Kat's words and the screams, I knew she was thinking of her brother in that moment. Turning quickly, I aimed my bow and shot a bolt into the walker's head, effectively saving him before Kat could lower the rifle and pull out a weapon.
KPOV
Daryl then helped me move the bookcase. I had moved the walker body and helped pull the bookcase off of the boy. Daryl had done most of the lifting, but the boy was busy thanking us for what we had done. "You okay?" Daryl had asked faintly as I gathered up my things once more. "You okay?" Daryl asked again as he gently took hold of my arm, making me look at him and his cigarette wiggled as his lips would move.
Smiling, I straightened up and stared into his eyes. Watching the kid, trapped under the bookcase, I didn't like the thought of him being killed like that. Much less without mercy, especially if it had been Carl in his position. The thought of it gave me goosebumps. "I'm still here," I assured him with a nod and a smile.
The boy had wandered over to the window and stared down at whatever he was looking at. Moving to the window, it looked like a car was circling the block repeatedly, possibly from hearing the gunshots. "I gotta go. I gotta go," the boy repeated as he went to leave. "They're gonna come. They probably heard the shot. If they find me..." he mumbled on.
Curious, I watched as they kept circling us, as though they were waiting for us and I knew it must have been for the boy. If not, it could have been for us. But, unsure of who was circling, I didn't want to take the chance. "Who?" Daryl asked.
"Them, people at the hospital," the boy panted as he limped away, trying to leave us behind and get away from whoever he thought was persuing him.
The mention of a hospital made Daryl move closer and take hold of the boy. Eager to know if Beth was there and if the boy knew her. "Wait, wait, wait, just tell us-" Daryl stopped the boy by holding onto him and gripping the boy tightly. "Is there a blonde girl there?" Daryl asked him. "You see a blonde girl?" he questioned.
Staring at Daryl, it seemed the boy was both confused and surprised that we'd know Beth. That the girl we spoke of, knew him and possibly was surprised by how short this world really was. "Beth?" he asked us. "You know her?" he questioned, surprised we'd know young Beth. "She helped me get out, but she's still there," he informed us of the situation.
Turning my head again to look out the window, they continued to circle, but this time, it was closer and it was outside the door. Slow and steady, as though they were circling their prey in a strange way. "They're coming," I warned them.
Daryl looked shocked that Beth was still alive, that this boy knew her and could confirm our suspicions were right. "We gotta go now. We gotta go. We gotta go," the boy encouraged as he lead us out of the room. "The building next door has a basement. It's clear. We'll be safe," he spoke quickly as he rushed ahead of us. "Ah! Ah!" the boy screamed as he slipped and landed on his bad leg.
Something inside me clicked. As though this was a race, something I had to do. I wasn't sure what, but I felt the need to keep pushing forward and moving ahead. "Go, I got him," Daryl ordered as I kept moving. Instinctively, my legs kept forcing me further ahead and I could hear Daryl encourage the boy to get on his feet.
In that moment, I stared outside the door and everything changed. It was slow motion, my choices were appearing into my head and I had to choose. Either go out there and get caught by the people from the hospital, or return to the church without Beth. I wasn't going to allow that. Sweat built as I froze, hearing the car driving closer, I felt my heart pounding in my chest. I wasn't sure if it was fate, or choice.
Suddenly, my feet made me move quicker, dropping all my things and running out as best as I could. Next thing I saw, was the car drove faster and slammed into me. Tumbling my body, I felt like a million rocks as I fell to the ground and blackness suddenly surrounded me. The last sound I heard, was the tires screech, my body colliding with the car and the faint screams of Daryl. I'm coming Beth...
DPOV
Watching Kat dump everything to the ground, I watched her run outside as quick as a flash, slow down and collide with the car. The impact made her body crash into the car, flipping and falling to the ground. Seeing her unconscious, unmoving and possibly dead, made my heart stop. My heart sank, cracked and crumble at the sight of her. Blood seeped out of her side wound, her eyes shut and body limp.
Every instinct inside of me screamed, went to run after her and save her. To hold her in my arms, to do something to save her and stop her from dying. Except, as I went to run and save her, the boy took hold of me. "Wait, wait, wait!" the boy ordered as he pulled me to one side, in a hug and dragged me towards a spot where we hid.
Watching those who collided into Kat, they got out of the car, pulled out a small medical bed and placed her onto it. "Let go of me!" I ordered as I tried to get out of his hold. But, the boy was stronger than he looked and kept my arms locked against my sides.
Heart pounding, I wanted nothing more than to save Kat, to bring her back to the others, safe and with me. Except, not only did I not have Beth, but Kat was captured and injured too. "Wait!" the boy ordered. "They can help her. They're the only ones who can. They have medicine, machines, a doctor," he tried to convince me that these people would save her. "You go out there, you'll have to kill them, okay?" he suggested what I'd have to do if I escaped to get Kat.
Something inside me wanted to save her, to get her back and return her to her family. But, she was in worse enough shape as it was and Kat needed medical attention. Which was a skill I didn't develop, not as she did and not as I should have. "And then she can't get their help," he stated the outcomes. "Is that what you want?" he challenged. "We can get her back. We can get Beth back," the boy spoke assuringly, confident that we could bring them both back in one piece.
Placing her into the back of the car, I felt a piece of myself disappear with Kat as they drove away. All during that time, I struggled against the boy and panted. Sweat forming over my skin as I tried hard to get Kat back. When Kat was gone, the boy let me go. "What's it gonna take?" I asked him.
The boy wasted no time as he answered me. "A lot," he stated as we both stared at the spot where Kat had disappeared from. "They got guns, people," he told me of what I could already gather. But something inside me knew, that what we had, was nothing compared to what those in Grady had.
Staring at the spot, I wandered over to Kat's things and picked them up. Her bow, her quiver, the rifle and the backpack. All things I took, so that I could give it back to Rick, Carl and Michonne. All people I knew cared deeply for Kat. "So do we," I informed the boy coldly. What they don't have, is Rick. Believe me, he's going to be pissed when he finds out that Kat had been taken. And when Rick is pissed, especially about a child, he'll not stop until he gets them back.
Leaving the city, I drove and thought over everything that had happened. Kat, Beth, the boy, who I found out was really called Noah and of the conversations I had with Kat over the time we were on the mission to rescue Beth. My thoughts travelled to the conversations I had with her, as of late and I took comfort from them. Hopeful that I would get them both back and bring them to those who loved them. Back to Rick and Maggie. Back to Carl and Glenn. Back to Michonne and Judith.
After everything that's happened...I'm not sure what to think anymore, Daryl. I don't think we get to save people anymore, Daryl. I don't know how long I can keep trying to be strong, to keep trying to survive. I don't know what's right anymore. I gave up, because she'd distanced herself from me. I should have done more. Its why I understand what you've been through. I realized that not everyone was good anymore.
You don't know me. I don't want anybody at the church to die, but I can't stand around and watch it happen either. I can't lose you. I can't and I won't. I'd rather die than lose anyone else. Not because I'm afraid of losing them, but because I have before and lost myself too. I can't go through that again, not with anyone and definately not with you. Family isn't just about blood or trust. It's about people who you connect with, who you'd happily die for. Its why I don't want anyone else to die.
That was when I promised myself, that I'd get Kat back, whatever it took and would bring both Kat and Beth back. That I'd do whatever it took in order to save them, to bring them back to their families. I will bring them back. Even if it kills me. I won't let Kat's brave act go unnoticed and Beth will return to her family. I promise...
Hope you liked this chapter! Now, the next chapter is in the works and I would like 5 reviews for this insane chapter. Please. It's had it's twists and changes, but it's the reason why I wanted Kat to get hit. Kat did it as a sacrifice, something inside her knew that Daryl would return for her. But, something else inside her makes her want to be with Beth, which you'll find out in the next few chapters. Anyway, you know the drill!
Questions I want answered in the reviews:
1) What did you think of the chapter?
2) Did you like the change between Kat and Carol?
3) Do you think it developed Kat's character?
4) Top 5 moments and why.
5) What would you like to happen in the next few chapters?
Replies to reviews:
sweetkitty: Thank you! 1) I agree. 2) Neither would I, but we'll see! 3) You really don't. 4) I can see your view on that and agree with you. 5) Thank you.
Caity6991: Thank you lovely! 1) Neither do I. Richonne for the win! 2) That seems like the logic death. Bite mark? Any particular way? 3) Well, I see him maturing, strangely. 4) Very good point! If it were me, I would possibly change the script and do that. Like that woman who entered Jessie's home and tried to kill her. It could easily happen to Judith while Carl was outside. Much love to you too lovely! xoxox
sPaRkzZz: Thank you very much for reading! 1) That was exactly what I was thinking. They are too compatible and they really do care for one another. Perfect match. 2) We'll see... 3) You've seen right through my own eyes! He has matured and he's cherishing every moment with his family. He has faith they'll survive and that things will get better. But, he isn't wasting time and he's loving the family he has. 4) It really isn't. 5) Thank you.
Until the next 5 reviews and the upcoming chapter,
Much love!
HeroJustInTime90 xxx
