Authors notes

Thankyou to everyone that had viewed, favourites and reviewed so far keep 'em coming. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far. Here is the latest update, written in Beth's POV

My life before all of this happened was a simple one, I woke up early and went to high school – I spent time with my friends and studied hard to get into college. At the weekends I'd help my mom and daddy with the farm, I'd go shopping with Maggie and spend time with Jimmy.

I'd always heard stories of zombies and the end of the world, the sky catching fire and civilisation turning to ask, the dead rising and filling with earth with disease, destroying humanity and bringing the world to it's knees. I never thought it would happen though.

Today I woke up in my cell – prison cell – and began an 'ordinary' day in the new world, not that you'd really call it that. I wasn't sure of what the time was exactly, my body clock seemed to adjust to the routine here, it couldn't have been that late or Judith would have been screaming by now – that's Rick and Lori's little girl, but I look after her whilst her daddy looks after us, I'm not too good at fighting so I'm just the glorified baby sitter now really. I don't mind though, Judith's cute and all, and Carol helps me out with her regularly.

After I'd gotten myself and the baby dressed and ready, we headed downstairs to the living quarters of the prison, everyone was already up and ready to begin the day, I handed Judith to a cooing Carol and sat down next to her. Sasha and Maggie were sharpening their knives on a large rock they'd brought in, Michonne was stood next to them, an air of impatience was drawn across her hard features. The three of them were on fence patrol today, or 'pest control' as Michonne called it Tyreese and Glenn were going out on a supply run, and Carol was looking after Judith for the afternoon whilst Carl and I helped Rick with the crops.

It was a beautiful day, the summer climate burning across the sparse Georgia landscape, the nights were shorter and the warm weather allowed for more refurbishments and crop growth, the conditions would make life considerably easier, at least for the time being. It was around midday when the group began their work for the day, everyone had parted ways as Carl and I headed towards the allotment with Rick to help plant the seeds that Daryl had salvaged on a previous trip out. Carl was squinting in the sunlight, even with his oversized cowboy hat nearly dropping over his eyes. He was grumbling to himself as he trudged along beside me, Rick was ahead of us – talking expressively about his plans for a pumpkin patch and maybe some pigs, he'd spotted a small farm-hold a few miles north and wanted to investigate and salvage whatever was left after he'd set up pens here. Once we'd arrived he started to draw squares in the dry dirt with a long stick, animatedly explaining to Carl and I what he wanted in each of them, a bundle of crumpled seed packets lay on the floor waiting to be planted, I'd noticed lettuce, carrots and cucumber amongst the mix. The whole world had become blood thirsty savages and we had become their herbivorous prey. Brilliant.

My concentration lacked today, I turned away from the conversation to give my watering eyes a break from the heavy sun rays. I scanned around the courtyard, I could spot the three women on walker patrol, their shouts echoed through the air as their blades pummelled into the walker's skulls, digging deep and sending the dead back to where they had came from. I watched them for a few moments, admiring their skill and courage, before glancing over at the guard towers, Andrea was in one of them, by the looks of it she was cleaning the guns fervently. She'd been different since Michonne had brought her back to the prison, it was a cold and miserable day when Carol had shouted that there was a hooded figure at the gates with armless walkers at her side, the men had thrown themselves into action, marching towards the gates. Astonishment had swept across the prison folk as Rick carried a sobbing Andrea through the doors, she was hysterical to be around those she had thought she lost. The hooded figure had revealed herself afterwards, she'd left her 'pet walkers' tied to a fence outside, she didn't speak much at first but after she explained what had happened with Andrea, and had proved herself to be a deadly aim with her prized katana, she was soon considered a strong ally to the prison group. Andrea however had taken a while to readjust, nowadays she kept her emotions hidden as she slowly recovered from her ordeal. Alone and weapon-less.

The other guard tower was occupied by Daryl, it had been two weeks since the incident on my birthday, I fingered the silver locket that hung around my neck gently as I thought about that night. He'd seemed so gentle, if only for a few moments but it was enough to let me know that he cared. We hadn't spoke much since then, it was almost if he was avoiding me; any eye contact was broken immediately and he gave the impression of being deeply uncomfortable whenever he was around me, but it was days like these when I spent time working outside that I felt his eyes bore into me from afar. I'd glanced over on occasion, his subtle observations of me had become more frequent and he'd nearly always turn sharply on his heel and moved to the other side of the tower if he'd seen me catch him staring. The heat of his gaze was ever intensifying, but he only ever watched from a distance, it was if he feared he'd get burnt if he got too close. I didn't look over to him this time though, I let him watch my every move as I worked in the scorching sunlight. I was glad I had some suitable attire for this weather, a short pair of white shorts and a baggy white vest was all I needed, and even then I could feel my skin peeling under the sun rays – my long hair tied in a loose ponytail, falling down my back.

That night Glenn and Tyreese had returned with a large stash of essentials, a vast array of tinned goods as well as some new bedding and clothing for us all. Glenn had squeezed through a small window in the side of a boarded-up shop and had retrieved bountiful and untouched goods from inside – the owner had obviously taken measures to ensure that his property wasn't touched by survivors or walkers, Glenn had said that the dust that had amounted on the inside indicated that the shop keeper hadn't returned. While everyone was sorting through the large pile of belongings, I noticed that one member of the group wasn't present. Daryl. I'd seen him come in, he must have stalked away into the darkness while everyone was distracted.

I changed Judith into some clean clothes, a long-sleeved white baby grow and some comfortable pink trousers. She'd began to fuss when I tried putting her into her crib so I stayed up for a few hours to try and settle her, but to no avail. Carol was outside with Sasha on guard duty and everyone else had gone to sleep, I was on my own with this one. Scrunching up her pretty little face she'd snuffled into my hair, I thought that a little walk around the prison might calm her down a bit. I clutched her to my chest and padded around the deserted halls and rooms, humming softly to her, it hadn't taken as long as expected before I felt her breathing regulate and her whimpering cease. I smiled and pressed a kiss into her silky brown hair.

As I began my ascent up the flight of stairs that separated the floor my bedroom was on, from ground floor I heard a soft cry. There was only a few people that stayed in cells on this level, I turned back and glanced through the nearest cell door – Tyreese's room. He was out on guard duty tonight though... I heard the noise again, this time slightly louder and with a hint of distress. I frowned and walked Judith back to our room, I placed her down in the crib gently and grabbed my cardigan, wrapping it around my suddenly chilled body, goose flesh prickling against my skin. I walked quietly down the walkway and stood silently, a few minutes had passed and the noise did not return. Maybe it was just an animal outside the window, a bat or something, I turned to leave but the noise broke the silence again, this time there was no denying the origin of it. I padded softly over to the other side of the narrow corridor and peeked my head around the wall – curiosity and concern had overwhelmed my initial reluctance. Grasping the handle of the door I edged it open slightly, there were soft strands of moonlight slipping through the barred window at the top of the room, settling across the tense body that lay in the bunk beneath. It was Daryl. His hardened body was wrapped up in the thin grey blanket, a sheen of sweat glistened over his skin – the moonlight illuminating the contours of his muscles. His arm jerked from under the pillow, grasping at the sheet. He looked trapped, his face was far from peaceful – his expression was distressed, his breathing heavy and rapid, the rise and fall of his chest growing ever quicker. Daryl's face contorted and he cried out again, a heart wrenching sob that shook his tense form.

I couldn't watch him like that, he looked so defenceless and scared – like a young child enduring a terrifying night terror. I couldn't abandon Daryl to suffer when he was in this state, gently I moved over to his side, lifting his heavy crossbow away from the edge of the bunk, I didn't want to startle him and cause an accident if he woke up. I reached out and brushed the strands of dark hair off his face gently, they felt thick and surprisingly soft as the strands ran through my fingers. I whispered his name, running a finger along the rough stubble that lined his cheek bones, I turned to listen for any noise from downstairs – concerned that Judith may have awoken when Daryl cried out again, this time it was loud and took me by surprise - I jumped, knocking against his chest with my elbow. Immediately his arms flung out and grabbed my shoulders in shock, calloused fingers digging into my flesh painfully. I looked down into his panic stricken eyes, confused and vulnerable.

A side of Daryl Dixon I had never seen before, and it broke my heart.