AN: ok, I said this would get darker, and this chapter will explain why. Major trigger for kidnapping and murder. I want to say one thing. This chapter has nothing to do with Beth hate due to the fact that she was the victim of a crime. My own personal belief, is that a major part of Daryl's characterization on the show, is the fact that he has PTSD and survivors guilt due to what happened to him as a child. I believe he feels this need to protect kids, because of that. We joke sometimes in the fandom about "man pain" but I think that Daryl is empathetic to a fault and his failures as far as children go, affect him because he has not dealt with his own issues. I personally do not feel "Bethyl" was a thing. I just don't think someone who champions kids would engage in that type of relationship with a teen. Personally i don't agree with such a large age gap relationship. Especially when the younger of the two is a teenager.(the argument that no rules apply in the za is terrible in my opinion, because I feel like the protagonist of the show, the good guys, should not Devolve they should struggle to maintain their humanity, otherwise the concept of the show would well...suck ass) I know some of you may not agree, and that's fine. I'm not trying to press my beliefs on others or judge. I feel like sometimes this fandom likes to tear each other apart. I don't know you, you may have reasons for believing the way you do, just like I have very personal reasons for believing the way I do and I first and foremost wrote for me. And I will always characterize Beth as a kid. I'm writing this not to ignite negative feelings but because everytime I write Beth I get nasty anons. I'm saying how I feel upfront. I won't address anons. I have made that mistake in the past.

I do not own or profit from The Walking Dead

Chapter 15

He was trapped in his dream. Nightmare may have been a more appropriate term. He was swimming, through the ocean. Watching a scene unfold below him. Like a diver exploring a coral reef he watched the moments spread before him, but there was no joy in this discovery. He'd been here before. He thought it was over. He didn't want to come back here. Not again. Not now.

He tried to lift his head to the surface. To turn away, but he could not. Every direction he turned their was infinite water. If observed what was happening he could breath. If he turned away he would drown. Just like before it was happening again.

There were two kids on the floor of a room. It was dingy and dusty, with no light. It looked like a basement. Every detail. His mind told, remember everything. They were girls, there was a bed and that was about it in the room.

"I want to go home Lizzie." The little one was saying to the older. The older one turned, "You have to be strong Mika, I know he's scary. But you have to pretend."

Lizzie sat down in front of Mika. "Is that why you pretend? To be...Penny?"Mika said in a small voice.

"He won't hurt us if we play along. Someone will find us." Lizzie said assuredly.

"What if they don't?" Mika said putting her head on her knees.

"Look Mika, he didn't take us very far. I just pretended to be asleep., I bet mom and dad have the police looking for us." She paused" and if they don't find us soon...I'll find a way to escape."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Daryl awoke with a gasp. Panting he was straight up in bed trying to catch his breath.

Carol was on her knees in a moment beside him. Her hand on his shoulder, her mind filled with concern.

"Daryl?" She asked in concern.

He turned to her, still unable to speak. Burying his face in her neck he clung to her. Still panting as though he had spent the duration of the dream holding his breath. He pulled her sideways on to his lap, and clung to her like a teddy ear, as she rubbed his back in confusion.

"Daryl" she said tentatively a few minutes later when his breathing calmed. "You have me at a disadvantage. I can't read your mind." She whispered.

"Do you remember, about a year ago. It was in the news. A girl, Beth Greene, disappeared? Right out of her bedroom?" He asked.

"Vaguely...I wasn't paying much attention to the news then. Things were pretty bad at home." She said, he squeezed, hugging her to him again.

"I dreamed of her." He said and heard her gasp. "It was random dreams. She was just a kid. Some asshole was holding her in a room. As long as she played along. Pretended to be his kid. She was ok. But she tried to escape. And he caught her. I saw it all happen, in my dreams." He pressed the palms of his hands to his eyes. " I even tried to call in an anonymous tip...it was too late. Two days after I had the dream, about Beth escaping and him catching her...it was in the newspaper, they found her body."

"Oh god." Carol whispered her hand covering her mouth.

"I just dreamt of two little girls, sisters. One of them said they would be okay if they pretended to be Penny."