A Place for the Night

Premise: Set a few years after the zombie apocalypse. AU where the Dixon brothers weren't part of the group. You'll get it once you read.

Genre: Suspense/Angst


A loud crash came from the living room and the two girls were on high alert. The little one started to whimper.

"Mama..."

"It's okay, baby." Beth listened and it was as she feared. Someone or something was breaking into the shelter. Man...walker... It didn't matter. Both were considered dangerous in this new world.

"Mama...woker."

Beth turned to the little girl. "I know, Judith. I know. I'm gonna make the wokers go away okay?" She put her finger to her lips, their universal language. The child knew she had to be quiet so her 'mother' would make the 'wokers' go away. But Beth's ammunition had run horribly low. A dull knife and a gun with maybe two shots were all she had left.

She opened the door that led from the bedroom into the living room. In the darkness, she could see a shadow of a being crawling into the cabin from the now broken window. The movement of the figure was too fluid for it to be a walker. Plus the intruder was tossing something into the room (what seemed like a crossbow) as he climbed his way in. The figure, however, ended up losing his balance and fell on his side to the floor muttering a few curse words inbetween breaths.

With a flashlight in one hand, the gun in the other, Beth cautiously opened the door further making her way towards the intruder. When the rugged worn stranger finally caught sight of the light, Beth had her gun pointed and ready. "Don't move!"

The man just groaned as he looked over at her. It was difficult to see much of the his face because of all the dirt and blood that covered him.

"I mean it! Don't come any closer!"

He just stared at her then in a heavy redneck accent muttered, "Don't want no trouble."

"Then take what you want and leave." Beth tried to hold her grip on the gun hoping it was enough to threaten him. But he was still lying there against the wall struggling to catch his breath, rarely making eye contact with her.

"Mama..."

Beth wouldn't turn her head. She devoted every moment of her life to not succumb to any distraction that would cost her or Judith their lives. But she also didn't want to leave the child alone and terrified. "I'm coming, Judith." The gun was still pointed in the direction of the man as she slowly step back until she was back in the bedroom. Once she was in the room, the child calmed down. But Beth would remain by the door keeping watch on the man in the hopes that he would eventually leave. She would let him take whatever food or supplies he wanted just as long as he let them be.

...

Thumping sounds and the seeping sunlight, made Beth realized that she had fallen asleep sometime in the night. She scrambled around. Judith was asleep on the bed, thank God. The sounds had to come from the intruder. Beth peaked through the door and could see the man crawling over to the supply of food in the far corner. He reached over to the cooler to pull out a bottled water.

Beth was going to cautiously make her way into the room, but Judith's crying caused the man to turn and glare at her. "Keep yer kid quiet."

"She's not mine."

"Don't matter. Just get 'er to shuddup."

Beth rushed over and picked up Judith. She calmed down in her embrace but it was clear she was hungry. A risk would have to be taken to get the food where the man was. As she started to feed her, Judith was just making eye contact with the man who had made little effort to lift himself from the floor since his arrival. Beth could tell it was making him feel uncomfortable and that made her feel good. "Are there others with you?"

The man looked down. "Was just me and my brother. Dumbass got 'imself killed."

"So the blood..."

"Would I be wasting my time here if I was bit?"

Beth gently put Judith down and grabbed the first aid kit. Not knowing exactly what his injuries were, she just handed the kit over to him. She watched him take some alcoholic wipes to clean himself and chug some pain killers, nothing more.

"I'm Beth."

"...Daryl." He looked over at the kid. "If she ain't yours, why she call you mama?"

"I was part of a group. Her mom died giving birth to her and I sorta took over baby duty. Her dad and brother..." Beth didn't realize that she had trailed off until Daryl spoke up. "What?"

"We were in a prison. We were having trouble with this other group and they came and attacked us. There was a meeting place just in case we ever were attacked. My sister told me to take Judith and go there. I got there and I could see the prison, the smoke...the fire... I waited there for two whole months...two months and no-one else came...nobody..." She couldn't pull the tough girl act infront of Daryl anymore. Not when it was clear that tears were coming from her eyes with every memory she had to relive of that day.

"That weren't wrong. You had to look after that kid."

Beth nodded. "I know..."

"How long you been out here?"

"Found this cabin a couple weeks ago. I know it's not safe to stay. I was thinking of moving on soon."

"What about before?"

"When I left the meeting place? I can't remember. Maybe 10 months."

Daryl was shocked. Ten months? How was that even possible that Beth in her condition was somehow able to survive on her own with a baby in tow for so long? She clearly was not physically fit, definitely scrawny and pale. People like her and Judith, were the most vulnerable kind of people in this world. On their own, they would not have lasted a week. But perhaps he had underestimated her. Beth had been driven by her need to protect Judith. That had been strong enough to keep them both alive. And Daryl was willing to admit that anyone who could survive for that long just on will alone earned his respect and admiration.

"Whatcha been eatin'?"

"Mushrooms...berries...whatever I could find that's not poison."

That would definitely explain why Beth looked so physically weak. It probably had been an eternity since she had eaten any thing of true substance. Upon closer inspection, he could see her ribs were slightly poking out. Even standing seemed like a chore for her.

"Sorry but I'm not feeling to well. I'm going to go lie down. When you're better, I think you know your way out." Beth took Judith and they went back into the bedroom. "Goodbye, Daryl."

After another hour, Daryl found his strength again. His legs and back were still sore as he struggled to pick up his crossbow. There had been furniture blocking the front door to keep the walkers at bay. So he opted for climbing the window again.

...

Beth and Judith were still fast asleep in their bedroom when they awoke to a strange aroma. Beth struggled her way into the living room. For the first time, she saw Daryl standing there on his two feet. He was slouched over by the fireplace heating something. From the fire he pulled out a large piece of red meat.

"You hadn't had meat in a long time, have you?"

Beth looked confused. "I thought you'd be gone."

He placed the meat infront of her. "That's good stuff. Don't let it go to waste. I think I've bothered ye enough." Beth looked at Daryl as he pointed to the now boarded up window. "Fix that up for ya, sorry." Daryl then moved the furniture out of the way of the door and headed out, this time with the intention of leaving for good. Beth could barely let out a thank you as she watched him leave.

...

When nighttime came, Beth was putting Judith to bed when she heard knocking at the door. As she did the night before, she armed herself. There was no mistaking that it would be an intruder this time. She waited in the dark, hoping the intruder wouldn't see her. Until she heard a familiar voice from the boarded window.

"...Beth..."

She rushed over and could see Daryl's eyes from inbetween the boards. "What are you...you came back again?"

"Lemme in. Quick."

Beth hurried to remove the furniture blocking the door and let Daryl in. "There's a group of guys, about a dozen of them. Not the nice type. They're camped out about 2 miles from here. But they'll find this place...come mornin' they will."

"You came back to warn me?"

"You wanna be here when they find you?"

Beth shook her head.

"Then you better get Judith."

She hurried to pack only the necessities in one bag while carrying Judith. To her surprise Daryl was still there volunteering to help her with her things. "So...where do I go?"

"Dunno," said Daryl. "Ain't too familiar with this area. But I'm sure we'll find a safe place."

"We?"

Daryl sighed. "Not like I got anywhere else to be."

Beth seemed very unwary at this point. For the past year she never had to rely on anyone but Judith for company. But she couldn't help but take advantage of how confident Daryl was as he led them through the woods, his crossbow at hand. She wasn't asking for his services but Daryl felt like he owed her and that was enough for him.