I'm back! Sorry it took so long for an update! I've been busy! I hope this chapter makes sense. I started it right after last chapter was posted and just finished it today! Hope you like it. I really like Beth's character and wanted to bring her into the "spotlight" a little more :)
The caravan left at dusk. Jo sat on the stairs leading to the main check-in building, watching the trucks pass through the gate. She hadn't seen, let alone talked, to Daryl all day. He was avoiding her, and rightfully so. She knew this day would come – the day when she'd have to tell him she had known about the baby – she just wished it hadn't been today, when he was heading straight into danger. Now, instead of having a clear head, he was furious at her, and somehow probably himself. She caught a glimpse of him in the back of the last truck sitting on the open tailgate with Rick and Glenn. Her heart leapt and caught in her throat at the site of him. His crossbow lay on his lap and he stared at the pavement passing below him. He looked up and caught site of her, and to her disappointment, he glared at her before looking away as the gate closed behind him.
Jo stared at her hands, fighting the tears from spilling out. She messed up and she knew it. She may have lost Daryl forever and she wouldn't blame him for it. It was her fault. He was right, she was selfish and she deserved whatever happened next. She looked up as Carol slowly sat next to her on the steps. Jo wiped the tears from her eyes and attempted a meek smile.
"I know how much you're hurtin' right now," Carol began, "and I know you understand what keepin' that secret from Daryl means. I don't blame you… that's a scary thing to be going through for the first time. He's steamin' mad right now, but he'll come back around… as long as you want him to." Carol patted her knee and stood.
"Thank you," Jo murmured as she stood. She put her arms around her awkwardly and Carol rested one hand on the back of Jo's head. Jo laid her head on Carol's shoulder, crying.
"Shhh. It's gonna be OK," Carol said. "It's gonna be OK."
After a moment, Jo raised her head from Carol's shoulder and wiped her eyes. Taking Carol's hand in hers, the two women walked back to the barracks. Both were silently praying for their group members to make it back safely with Beth in one piece.
Rafe crossed the small room in three slow steps, stopping in front of Beth, who had pushed her back against the door. Although Rafe was short in stature compared to the other men, he was still a few inches taller than the scared teenager. Rafe smiled down at her, brushing a stray piece of hair out of her eyes. She flinched at his touch.
"Tsk, tsk. Don't be scared," he said. "What have those idiots been sayin' to you?" he asked.
Beth met his eyes, but didn't respond. The man smiled again, showing wine-stained, crooked teeth. His breath smelled like alcohol and onions. Beth's stomach churned with nervousness as he stood over her.
"Come here," he said, taking her hand gently in his and leading her to the bed in the middle of the room. She sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands in her lap, looking at the floor. Rafe finished the rest of his wine in one gulp and placed the empty glass on the dresser nearby. He raised her head with his hand. "You're mighty pretty. How old are you?"
"Seventeen," she whispered.
"Seventeen? That's a good age." He dropped his hand from her chin and pulled up a chair to sit across from her. "What do you like to do? Got any hobbies?"
"Why am I here?" she snapped. She didn't want to play his games.
The man raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I like new friends," he said calmly.
"New friends? If you're gonna rape me, just do it. Why the hell are you draggin' it out?"
His right hand lashed out and slapped her hard in the face. Beth let out a high-pitched scream and her left hand covered her throbbing cheek. "A young lady should never curse at a man," he said. "Treat a man with respect. Do as he says and mind your manners. I won't have an ill-tempered little bitch walking around here. You hear me?" His voice changed from calm and soothing to venomous in an instant.
Beth's eyes were wide with fear as she nodded. "Horses," she said. "I like riding horses."
Rafe smiled and nodded. "You seem like a farm girl. I like that. Anything else?"
Beth shrugged. "Readin', I guess. And being with my family," she said, tears coming to her eyes.
Rafe reached a hand to her face. "Hey now, girl. Don't cry. I'm your family now, you hear me?" She could hear the slight venom in his voice again. She took a deep breath and held back her tears. "Good girl. You want something to eat? Drink? I'll have the boys bring up a nice dinner."
Rafe stood and hollered down the stairs. A moment later, Duke appeared in the doorway. "Duke, bring us up some food and bring more wine and a glass for Beth," Rafe ordered. Duke was gone as quickly as he appeared.
"Sir, I'm not old enough to drink," Beth said.
Rafe laughed. "Honey, I don't think the legal drinking age matters anymore."
Beth allowed a weak smile. She had to keep this man happy or things would turn violent. She could already tell that. "I guess you're right."
Duke returned not long after with a bottle of red wine and a glass for Beth. He placed the bottle and glass on the dresser next to Rafe's empty glass, allowing him to pour the alcohol. Duke shook Rafe's hand and smiled a sly smile at Beth before departing.
Beth's heart was racing. It had been the whole time. Why was he dragging this out? Why wasn't it over with already? This was some kind of sick game for Rafe and all the men here, it had to be. She looked at the closed door as Rafe poured the drinks. She weighed the idea of running for it in her mind. Even if she made it out of the bedroom, there's no way she'd get past all the men in the living room. If she somehow did, she'd be out in the middle of nowhere, just fresh walker bait. It was pointless.
"I propose a toast," Rafe said, turning toward her with the two glasses, handing her one, "to new friends!"
Beth clanked her glass with his and took a sip of the wine. It tasted fruity, but bitter, not like the church wine she was used to. Rafe took a long taste and smiled as he swallowed it.
"Ah, there's nothing like a glass of pinot to end a day," he said. "Do you like it?"
Beth nodded. "It's good."
Once dinner arrived, Beth felt slightly light-headed from the wine. She'd never drank before, but was scared if she didn't drink it, Rafe would hit her again or do something worse. They sat at a small table with a candle for light in the middle of them. They ate thick stew with hard bread and more wine.
"I don't want you to be scared of me or this place, Beth," Rafe said after dipping his bread in the stew. "I have a camp full of men, and men get mean if there's no women around. I can't say what I decided to do was the Christian thing, but it's made living here a lot better, for both the men and women."
Beth furrowed her brow. "I didn't see any women downstairs. Where are the others?"
Rafe pointed outside to a large garage. Beth saw two men walking to the garage with flashlights and guns. "You see, men have certain needs. I know you're young, but I bet you had a boyfriend before all this happened," he said.
Beth nodded, thinking of Jimmy.
"So you understand that in order to keep my men happy and not lashing out at each other, we had to do something in order to keep them occupied."
Beth's eyes widened. "So you kidnapped women for them to have sex with?"
Rafe's nostrils flared. "Beth, I thought we were understandin' each other. I don't like the word 'kidnap' and let's be honest, these women want it as much as the men do."
Beth's mouth hung open in shock, but she quickly changed her expression. Rafe set down his glass in annoyance and stood up. Darkness had completely overtaken the room except for the small amount of flickering light from the candles.
"This is how the world is now. I don't need to explain the ways of the world to you, girl. This is the hand we were dealt, and you're here now, so wipe that expression off your face," Rafe said, filling her glass once more.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled. She let the wine sit in the glass on the table. Her mind felt jumbled and slow. She didn't like what the alcohol was doing to her. She wondered if her family had realized she was gone, and if they were going to come after her. She looked out the window as Rafe walked to the bathroom, closing the door.
As she stared out into the darkness, something caught her eye. She looked closer into the woods surrounding the area and saw another gleam of light bounce off metal. She stood, looking to see if any of Rafe's men were patrolling, when she saw an arrow fly through the air. Seconds later, a large man fell to the ground. An Arrow? That means Daryl. Beth looked back to the woods, and saw him. Daryl had his back to a tree with his crossbow in his hands, and he was looking right at her. Daryl put his finger to his lips and fell back into the shadows.
The bathroom door opened and Rafe's looming shape filled the doorway. She glanced at him and slowly moved away from the window, trying not to give away her rescue team. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she gave him a small smile. "I'm sorry for what I said," she said.
Rafe smiled. "It's OK, girl. I know you're scared." He walked toward her, unbuttoning his flannel shirt. As he reached her, the distinct sound of automatic gunshots rang out over the compound. Rafe looked from her to the window. "You bitch." He threw her to the ground and yelled for Duke to bring his weapons.