Here it is everyone the next chapter! Bum bum BUM! Thanks again to those who've reviewed, followed and favorited my story. Thanks to my Betas Aidan and Sallie (she's started reading and decided to point out all my mistakes but hey what are best friends for right?). Tell me what you all think. Enjoy XX
Chapter Thirteen
She knew they talked about her, since Rick's return four days ago she hadn't done much but sulk around the prison, Roxie walked into her cell, "get up, you're on guard," her voice was stern and Joelle knew she had to get her act together, Daryl wasn't coming back, she knew that now.
The prison was quiet as she walked her rounds stabbing the occasional walker through eye, her riot gear heavy but Glenn had insisted that those on watch at least wore it. A deep feeling of dread sat heavy in her stomach and she couldn't work out why but something bad was coming. She kept moving her eyes peeled for all movement outside the prison. After four rounds done and the dread growing Joelle still couldn't work out what was wrong. Until the shot was fired.
The force of the bullet knocked her on her back and Joelle had never been so glad that she wore the riot gear; she could feel a nasty bruise forming along her sternum, her breath coming in short gasps as it was knocked out of her.
Gunshots devastated the silence, screams of shock and distress crying out. Pushing herself to her knees Joelle sat up, rifle automatically aiming at the nearest threat, they fired erratically most bullets missing their targets completely but Jo was in her element, all shots calculated. She took down three men before a van slammed through the jail gates crashing them open.
Someone clad in armor went to the back opening it to reveal dozens of walkers which then stumbled into the open yard. Joelle saw a flash of white hair, Hershel. In the yard full of walkers. Not thinking she stood and sprinted for the yard, shots were fired but nothing hit her. She fired at the armored enemy before they drove off. Jo saw Michonne and together they started clearing a path to get Hershel to safety, Glenn came to their rescue in one of the cars quickly gathering Hershel before making their escape. They drove to the second gate where Carl opened to let them in before slamming the gate shut.
Maggie came running to check up on Hershel as they exited the car, Joelle winced as she stepped out and immediately concern was etched on everyone's faces, she struggled out of the gear and pulled up her shirt to reveal a monstrous bruise spreading from the middle of her chest outwards. The group gasped before Roxie and Carol led her inside Hershel following while Lucas, Michonne and Glenn went to retrieve Rick who was still outside the fence.
Joelle was walking around the cellblock clad only in her jeans and sports bra as the shirt was making an uncomfortable amount of pressure on the bruise. With a glass of water in hand she leant against the concrete wall Lucas, Glenn and Rick entered with grins covering their faces, Jo rose an eyebrow in question but before they could answer there he was. Her mean redneck looking like he'd never left.
Daryl's ice blue eyes caught hers an apology in his, begging for forgiveness, she returned the gaze with a cold stare. She saw his eyes glance at the bruise before widening slightly. There was movement behind him and Joelle was shocked to see Merle step out behind his little brother.
"Merle? MERLE!" everyone was shocked at her voice and even more so when she put the glass down and ran into his waiting arms.
"Firecracker! I shoulda known it was you who caught my little brother," smiled Merle as her swung her round.
"I was already falling for him when I found out he was your brother, I kept my promise he was safe, until he left and broke his promise," the last part was a whisper. Everyone was astounded when Merle's eyes softened as he looked at Joelle. No one had ever seen him like this not even Daryl.
"So you've fucked Merle then!" Daryl's voice was harsh and the others looked on mouths hanging open gaping like fish, before looking at each other and leaving the room.
"Don't make her angry little brother, we've done no such thing and you know it," Merle's voice was harsh, "You broke your promise to her? You know how she is!"
"It was for you Merle, for blood!" shouted Daryl, he turned to Joelle eyes blazing before moving his accusing gaze at Merle, "how would I know? She flinches around men like Glenn but ya tough as nails Merle? She just jumps righ' into yer fuckin' arms!"
"You know when I got cut from the Army for punching that Sergeant? Guess what I had stopped him and his mates doing?" said Merle his voice low, Daryl paled his eye shooting to Jo who shivered at the unwelcome memory.
"No," Daryl whispered his voice nearly inaudible.
"It was the second time, Merle couldn't save me from the first," Joelle said quietly before wrapping her arms protectively around herself and with those words she walked into her cell. As she did she passed everyone who's faces were pale and shocked, making it obvious they had heard every word. Rick and Lucas looked like they were about to speak when she shook her head, shutting the curtain and laying down on the bunk.
Daryl POV
Daryl tried to follow but was stopped by Lucas who then proceeded to drag him into the prison yard Rick and Merle following. Lucas pushed, shoving hard so he staggered, Daryl straightened to look into the harsh eyes of a very angry Lucas Grimes, "how dare you show your face around here after what you did to her!"
Pulling his fist back Lucas let it lash forward to hit Daryl in the face; making his head snap back with a crack. The force of the punch sent him stumbling back a few steps and to both Lucas and Rick's surprise Merle did nothing. In fact he looked like he wanted to hit Daryl too, Daryl didn't stop the attack as Lucas swung a few more hits. "Why aren't you defending yourself?" asked Rick clearly confused by Daryl's complete lack of reaction.
He spat out a mouthful of blood, "because I deserve every hit, every bruise an' every hurt for what I did ta her. For leavin' her like I did," Daryl said quietly.
Lucas nodded pleased with his answer before walking off to the tower to take watch. Daryl walked slowly back into the cell block, the others gave him a look of sympathy as they saw the bruise starting to bloom along his jaw. He ignored them and kept walking until her came to her cell, their cell.
Daryl moved the curtain aside to see Elle curled up into a ball, fast asleep and terrified. She was shaking dangerously, sweat pouring from her brow but unlike the previous time he had witnessed her nightmare she was silent. She had taught herself not to scream, he noticed her biting her lip hard making sure to stop any whimper to escape her lips.
Daryl quickly moved to her side lifted her into his arms and cradled her. One of his hands moving in soothing circles on her back, the other smoothing her hair and as he whispered soft words in her ear, he felt her calm considerably. The shaking stopped and her almost silent whimpers ceased to be heard, he tried to lay her back on the bed but she had unconsciously gripped onto his shirt.
Moments later her grip relaxed enough for him to tucked her in and leave her to her rest. He walked out of the cell and straight to the group who were all eating, "How long has she been dreaming like tha'?!" Daryl demanded as soon as he entered.
The group looked up totally confused, "what dreams Daryl, Jo's always silent, she sleeps like the dead," said Carol; the others nodding in agreement.
Roxie stepped forward, "actually I saw her this morning she looked horrible, she said it was dreams but I didn't really get what she meant," the others looked up, shocked.
"You mean ta tell me yous never noticed her sweatin' through her sheets and shakin' more than a fuckin' Chihuahua?" he said, voice low and deadly. He glared at them all before taking his crossbow and stalking into the yard.
He fired bolt after bolt hoping to release his anger, not just towards the group but also at himself. He couldn't believe he had left her like that, what the hell had he been thinking to do that to her. Daryl was so caught up in venting his anger and frustration that he didn't even notice someone was watching him until they cleared their throat.
He turned to see a very tired looking Roxie, "Daryl, I just wanted to say thank you, for coming back to her. She wasn't the same after you left."
"I shoudn' of left her," Daryl said dropping his aimed crossbow and turning to face Roxanne" I shoulda come back like I knew was righ' but Merle he's blood an' I couldn't leave him again" he sounded tired and it was obvious to Roxie that he felt horrible for leaving Jo like he did.
"Dinner is ready if you like Daryl," and with those words she walked back into the cell block. He sighed heavily before retrieving his bolt and walking with deliberately dragged steps back to the cell block.
He didn't make a sound as he entered and no one seemed to notice not even Elle; she was in a deep conversation with Merle. He got his food and sat down. He ate slowly wincing at the pain in his jaw, he could feel her eyes on him and as much as he wanted to go to her, he just sat waiting to see if she would make a move.
She didn't. All Elle did was chat away with Merle, ignoring him. Whatever, t' hell with her. He was hurt but didn't let it show. Getting up he cleaned his plate before walking to the cells and laying down on the bunk he shared with Elle, if she wanted to sleep it was either with him or somewhere else.
Joelle POV
It was late when she decided to go to bed, she wasn't on watch tonight so that wasn't a problem. Walking into her cell she stopped short. There he was sleeping. He looked so much younger as he slept, none of the tension, anger or worry marred his features. He looked innocent, calm and happy, it made her heart tug painfully she wanted to lay with him, for things to be the same. But he had left her alone and broken. She wanted him to feel the hurt that she had, so instead of sleeping she went to find Beth.
Beth was sleeping when Jo walked in she called out gently, "Beth," after a second her eyes opened.
"Jo what's wrong?" Beth asked groggily.
"Nothing's wrong I just wanted to ask if I could sleep with you," Beth's eyes widened before she pulled back her covers to let her in. She laid down and in minutes she was fast asleep.
Her jaw stung from the punch and her eyes struggled to focus on the figure in front of her. Heartless brown eyes stared back at her, the triumph glowing in his eyes like a beacon. She spat a mixture of blood and saliva onto his face, his eyes darkened with hate as he wiped it away. He backhanded her hard, her skull slamming into the concrete wall behind them. The warm trickle of blood alerted her to the new wound on the back of her head.
"Not getting away this time Grimes, you're mine," his voice was harsh and grating.
Her hands struggled to deflect his as he undid her pants his already down. She thrashed frantically but he was stronger and she could to nothing against him.
He thrust into her hard and she couldn't help the scream of pain that erupted from her lips. This man was tearing her apart from the inside and she could do nothing. The thrusts were hard, rough, painful. Joelle could feel the ripping of her dry flesh and the sting of pain that followed, hot blood seeped down her thighs.
Her mind begged her to be release from this nightmare and with the torture of losing her innocence to a man not deserving of it. She blacked out to the safety of unconsciousness, her mindless body becoming unresponsive at the hands of the monster.
Daryl POV
His hand caught the wrist just as it was about to shake him, he met the childlike eyes of Beth, "D-Daryl sorry to wake you but it's Jo, she's dreaming and it's scaring me," her voice was anxious and fearful.
Daryl jumped out of bed at the first mention of Joelle and ran to Beth's cell. She was pale and shaking badly without a second thought he gathered her into his arms and took her back to the cell they shared. His presences barely calmed her this time. He stroked her hair gently before deciding that she needed to wake up.
"Elle, please Angel wake up," he spoke softly not wanting to startle her.
She stirred in her sleep and after a few more attempts he was successful, her silver eyes fluttered open. Joelle smiled before realizing what she was doing, the smiled melted away and she unsteadily got out of Daryl's arms. Hesitantly she moved away and walked towards where Merle was sleeping and woke him up. He took one look at her face before gathering her in his arms and whispered comforting things in her ear.
She didn't see the pain in Daryl's eyes as she took comfort with his brother. She didn't see the hurt, the betrayal. She didn't see his walls coming back up. Daryl turned away from the sight, his heart slowly becoming encased in its walls once more.