Well then, the holidays are over and a New Year has started. Time to get back down to business; this story is actually turning out the exact way I wanted it to, which makes me so extremely happy. However, I do wish It could earn itself some more reviews (Especially on this chapter cause it's one of my favs). So please, be the amazing people I know you are and send some love 3
Disclaimer: I don't own The Walking dead...
REVIEW. MESSAGE. SUBSCRIBE. FAVORITE.
The sun beat down with an intense heat, burning up Daryl's left arm as it rested out the window of the truck as it sped down the highway. The pavement giving off the illusion of bodies of water resting in their path until they disappeared as you drove past them, the truck engine rumbling with life as they passed over bumps and indents in the path.
Warm wind blew up into his face ruffling his dark brown hair reminding him of the hours he would spend driving around to get away from his house. Taking multiple back roads and usually getting lost trying to find his way back home. The freedom he felt in those moments were his favourite memories of his childhood. The feeling of getting away, throwing out all your problems and just enjoying the little things.
The sudden sound of a small grumbling broke him from his musings and he turned to the occupant of the passenger side of his truck. Her black hair pulled into a ponytail; that Lori had lent to her, whipping around as the wind hit it. She was looking down at her stomach covered only in a tight white tank top; the black DC sweater she always wore folded beside her. An embarrassed look etched her face as her hand covered over her tummy rubbing over the bump a small piercing would make.
Daryl smirked as he reached down into the bag beside the gearshift and pulled out a plastic wrapped stick of jerky from his hidden stash, ripping an opening in it with his teeth he passed it to her.
"Here, eat" he said placing it in her hand. She looked confused as she moved the food around in her hand staring at it like a foreign object she had found in the dirt.
"Its beef jerky" he said rolling his eyes, but he couldn't blame her for being cautious, she however seemed to have trusted his words and that he wasn't trying to poison her as she took her first bite.
"Thanks" she said, still embarrassed about the whole ordeal. Daryl's blue eyes left the road for a second and stared at the bandage around his arm, he owed her for what she had done for him and he was sticking to that excuse for why he suddenly decided to be nice to her.
It was a curious thing to everyone around them why Kayla remained in the truck with the Dixon when on the road. She had bluntly refused to go anywhere else but the passenger side of the truck, even Daryl himself found it odd; no one ever liked his company 'so what made her so different' was his exact thoughts.
In spite of this, he never asked her to leave or tell her she couldn't stay, that was another strange occurrence to the other zombie world survivors' Daryl didn't like people and that was that, yet he let her stay. No one dared question it though as that was an argument they didn't want to get into.
Ever since they lost Merle in Atlanta Daryl had become more and more distant from the group, not that he was really part of it before but he remained distant from the people around him only helping when it benefited himself as well.
Nevertheless, only three days had passed since they met Kayla and she still remained in that truck with him, never seeming bothered by the hot tempered, loud mouth, redneck Dixon.
Kayla finished the last bites of the snack food in her hand, crumbling it up and putting it in the bag hanging by the door where he put all his garbage. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she winced as they hit another bump in the road big enough to rattle the truck; the wound in her stomach was healing at a slow pace and every sharp move it caused her pain.
Daryl watched her as he reminded himself to reframe from hitting every indent in the highway. One of the only small side effects of having her with him; no offroading.
"You'll right?" Daryl asked, he remembered the sight of her sitting against that RV in the scorching heat, blood pooled to her side. He had felt anger in that moment, anger at the person that had done it, anger at the world around them, that this was the sight they got to see. The thoughts that must of ran through her head as she held that gun to her forehead, her hope of survival gone before they showed up.
"Ya, fine, just hurts"
"How did it happen?" he cut to the chase, asked it point blank once again proving he didn't seem to care for peoples personal bubble. The question struck a nerve, a sensitive spot, as she verbally winced as if he had physically hurt her.
"Whose Merle?" she countered quickly, firing back at him taking him off guard. "How th'hell-" she motioning her hand towards the leather jacket on the floor by her feet resting in a cardboard box. "Though't you couldn't see" Daryl grumbled tightening his grip on the steering wheel at her divergence of his question and her counter attack. "I'm not completely blind, I can still read if I try" she snapped.
They were obviously getting on each other's nerves.
"We're coming up to the city of Charleston" Dales voice crackled form the police scanner duck taped to the dashboard. Signalling they would be stopping soon to decide there next course of action. Sometime last night they had passed the Georgian boarder and crossed into Virginia running into a bit of trouble with state guard walker police as Shane had so humorously called them as he shot them dead from his car.
Following the lead of the large motor home Dale drove Daryl eased down on the breaks as they all rolled into a stop. Turning the engine off the rumbling muted as they all moved to get out of there vehicles. Off in the distance they could see the tops of the large building to the city of Charleston looming with a foreboding doom of the unknown.
"I think it would be best if we sent out a small group of people to collect supplies and see if this city is anything like Atlanta" Dale informed them as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. If they went into the city and were ambushed they would have slim to no chance of survival. This was the only way they could make it, "I'll see if there's a way around the city that we can travel safely" he added pulling out the map from the back pocket to his Capri pants.
"Dales right, I'll go with Glenn and Shane, Daryl you stay here and back up the camp" Rick said having, of course, planned out the perfect plan of attack, they couldn't leave the others with Dale and his shot gun, they needed someone that knew their way around the weapons that could protect them while they left.
Everyone called, nodded at their assigned duty and moved to pack up.
"Hey Kayla" Glenn said finally notching the quiet girl leaning against the RV wall listening to the men plan and the woman talk. She wasn't really what you'd call paying attention more so, observing the people she would be stuck with. She smiled kindly at the Asian man wearing his dirty beaten up red hat and offered a small wave at his attempt to include her.
"I don't understand how she can stand that man" T-Dog whispered to the thin Korean boy beside him, staring at Kayla with a curious look and back to the Dixon who was cleaning the arrow's to his beloved weapon of choice. "She must have the patience of a saint" Glenn agreed, even he couldn't stand Daryl's attitude for long periods of time and he was a pizza boy, who was very use to arrogant people.
"He doesn't have the insufferable need to fill in every silence with unnecessary small talk…just irritation" Kayla said from her spot whispering the last two words to herself. Everyone within hearing distance turned to look at Kayla when as she spoke , Glenn and T-Dog looking sheepishly at Daryl who cocked an eyebrow at them. Laughing nervously Glenn slipped out of view to get ready for his departure leaving T-dog to stand their awkwardly.
Daryl smirked, a small sort of pride filling his ego at her makeshift apology for their argument in the truck as Rick and Shane stared at him suspiciously.
The group leaving to the city had packed up their necessary gear and headed out in Shane's car; being the quietest vehicle they owned, about an hour ago. Leaving the rest of the group behind to plan their next course of action in their journey.
Kayla sat there on the steps of the Winnebago feeling less then useless with nothing to do and nothing to offer. It was times like these Kayla despised who she was, what burden she had to carry out. Never able to help when she wanted to or be apart of something fun or important. Always looking in from the outside on a life she could never get back, never have again, only able to watch as other people live it.
"Is there anything I can do?"
Lori looked up from her wash bin and smiled kindly at the girl who looked away shyly with an irritated expression. She was obviously not use to many kind gestures and the thought saddened Lori a bit. "Well I'm almost done here but you can ask Dale or Daryl if they need help" Lori offered placing the last few shirts underneath the soapy water.
Kayla sighed, 'of course' she thought but left without another word, following the edge of the Winnebago she continued towards her previously memorized path way to the truck where she could already hear Daryl shuffling around in the tool box placed in the pan of the vehicle.
"Can I help?" she asked impatiently when she was close enough for him to hear without having to raise her voice.
The sounds of metal clashing stopped as Daryl looked at her standing there in the shade of the canopy. A small hopeful look in her eyes like a kid asking for a toy at the store but hidden cause she didn't want to intrude.
"Guess' so, know how'ta work' a crossbow?" he asked already knowing the likelihood of her saying yes was slim to none. She didn't exactly look like the weapon wielding time, even if they did find her with a gun to her forehead. "Ya, of course, do it all the time" she answered, sarcasm soaking each word as she rolled her eyes at him. Smirking he moved to set his crossbow down on the wooden log his freshly cleaned arrows now laid across.
"Can you teach me?" Kayla asked cocking her head to the side slightly, a habit she had when asking a question. "It can be your apology" she said smiling innocently at him earning herself a grunt and a chuckle from the stoic man.
Moaning, thrashing, cry's of the dead sounded all around them as they stepped quietly through the streets of the abandoned city. Building were blown up, smashed and stained with blood and bullet holes while walkers scattered around walked aimlessly around hunting out their next living prey.
Controlled breathing and silent footsteps gracefully walked the pathway they had directed through the city to their destination. Walking under brown walls and through aisles of stores, hoping over fences and killing off anything in it's path as silently as possible.
"Brad wait up, I need a break"
One of the men, clothing torn and falling apart, stained with blood and dirt slowed his walking and tried to catch his breath. He wasn't use to this much physical exertion like the man in front of him, he wasn't built for it; not even in high school did he participate in gym activities or join sports.
"We can't take breaks, we need to keep moving" his voice uncaring and harsh, like it had always been, his whole life he was use to that voice.
"I need a break" he said raising his voice only slightly to try and sound intimidating against the ex military, weapon specialist. "Fine, take your break Jason, but im leaving, breaks are what cost us everyone else, even Kayla" Brad yelled looking around making sure their arguments wasn't attracting unnecessary attention. Jason's blue eyes widened at the mention of the black haired, blue eyes girl and his heart constricted as well as his breathing.
"Don't talk about her, don't you dare talk about her" he freaked. "After everything you did, don't you dare speak her name like you care she's gone".
Brad remained quiet, no emotions on his face or in his mind, he had turned himself off from caring a long time ago and this argument wasn't about to faze him.
"Whatever, let's go".
His hands were rough, calloused from many long days working and hunting, however, as his fingers pressed softly into her skin, they sent warm, electric impulses through her body, making her feel safe, like nothing could hurt her again. It was a foreign feeling that she hadn't felt before, no one in her life was worthy of such a bold, strong emotion and she didn't know or understand why it was happening now.
"Jus' pull it bac' till it snaps" his breath smelled like stale cigars and the long stem of straw he chewed on while he worked.
Kayla pulled with all the strength she had, the arrow pulling back with her as she leaned back with it into Daryl's chest as he helped her hold it steady and not let it snap back and hit her. Finally the trigger snapped into place and it was no longer fighting against her. She let out a held in breath as she felt accomplished with what she had done.
"Good work" Daryl said inspecting the placement of the arrow and what level she had clicked it into place.
She felt his large hand ruffle her hair as he stood from the ground, "I'm not a kid" she pouted flattening her hair back down earning another chuckle from the man. "How old'yer anyways, 17?" he asked tossing the weapon in the back of the pan along with the cleaning stuff and toolbox.
"I'm 21". Daryl grunted, she was older then he thought she was, her young looks and height was deceiving.
Suddenly they were interrupted by the sounds of gunshots and tires screeching to a sudden stop on the pavement floor. Daryl looked up and could just see the top of the Winnebago were Dale had dropped to his stomach and was aiming his gun towards the ground, firing off another shot.
The must be under another attack, grabbing his crossbow once again and hitching it over his shoulder her opened the door to the truck and helped Kayla into the driver passenger seat.
"Stay here" he said before slamming it shut and leaving her there.
Hurrying over the broken car parts and hiding behind the abandoned cars on the road Daryl made his way to the RV where he could see the door had been closed and locked. The swerve of tires and a high pitched screeching sounded across the pavement as the small silver SUV knocked into one of the wandering walkers that had attacked the camp.
Multiple, maybe 6 more were headed towards them, moaning and thrashing their broken body parts and following the sight and smell of their living flesh ready to chomp at it on any given chance.
"How many more?" Shane hollered as him and Grimes jumped form the confines of the car leaving Glenn behind stricken with terror. "Bout' five" Daryl answered sneering at the former cop who had a superior hero at the last minute smirk.
Two shots went off dropping the bloody bodies of each walker they cam across, their blood and guts splattering against the pavement or car it hit.
"Is everyone Okay Dale?" Rick yelled up to the top of the large motor home.
"Everyone's fine" he yelled back down as he shot again another walker running towards them form the highway trees. Daryl shot the last walker that was in the camp following him to retrieve the fallen arrow form the corpse's skull.
"Seems we came just in time" Rick said lowering his weapon and letting Glenn from the vehicle, "What happened?". Dale returned back to the floor and let out the others form the locked Winnebago, "they came from the trees, we didn't see them until they right there".
"All that matter's is that you're safe" Rick said embracing his wife and kid in his arms letting out a sigh a the danger they were constantly in. Finally the camp was safe for at least another few minutes or so, enough time to grab and pack up their things, reload their supplies which consisted of a duffel bag of canned food and drinks, medicine, bandages and a few randomly grabbed articles of clothing and other bodily needs.
"Thank you God" Lori praised as Rick handed her a large bottle of Herbal Essences hair shampoo and conditioner. "God had nothing to do with it" Rick grumbled as Lori laughed giving the pouting cop a kiss on the lips and a hug for remembering to grab something for the girls in the camp. Shane rolled his eyes in the background, a permanent smear on his lips at the sight of his best friend and wife.
"So, the city?"
It was Dale who asked, after everyone was back and situated around their vehicle ready to get in after they talked. Kayla stood beside the little ones who had grown fond of the small thin girl. Rick sighed, wiping the sweat form his forehead on the back of his arm and fixing his hat.
"Not good, blown to bits, walker's everywhere, probably worse then Atlanta, the government obviously paid extra attention into bombing the city" Rick explained. "Yeah and if it wasn't for those God damn other's we would of gotten out without a problem" Shane added spitting on the ground with a sick sneer.
"Other's?" Andrea asked before the others had a chance, any word of other survivors sparked the groups interest. "Yeah, two men, one dressed in military gear; they had spotted us by the gas station and started shooting at us to draw attention to us an away from them" Shane explained as he reloaded his gun pocketing it in his holster by his belt.
Kayla swallowed a sharp breath and looked to the ground her hands balling in too fists at her side, going un noticed by the others in the group. It can't be, it had to be a coincidence, they couldn't be alive. If they were alive It meant they had left her, left her to die on the side of the road.
Food For Thought: I really liked this chapter, I really wanted to add a cute part with Daryl and Kayla to help improve their friendship. How did you guys like it? What do you think is going to happen know that Kayla's figured out who might still be alive? Pleas etell me your thoughts and Leave a review. Even if it's just an 'UPDATE!' or a full blwon paragraph. Anything is appreciated. Thank you!
Preview: "I think we deserve a few answers" his tone was threatening and his stance only intensified his words. "Shane leave her alone, she doesn't owe us anything". But Rick's plea fell on deaf ears, Shane was drunk and he was angry; he was going to get some answers if it was the last thing he did.
"What are you hiding girl?"