Hello! I'm so surprised by how many people are liking this story! Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope you enjoy the nest chapter. Without further adieu, here is Daryl's perspective a few days after Beth's kidnapping. Enjoy!(:
It was night time and the ragtag group of men had finally settled in their makeshift camp. A peaceful silence finally settled as the men fell asleep, and Daryl was finally able to think of everything that had happened. The other men had been hollering and making too much noise, not giving a damn if walkers heard them. The leader, Joe, informed Daryl that there were no rules in the apocalypse. You just did whatever the hell you wanted. Now it was just Daryl and one other man staying up to keep watch. Rules or not, safety was obviously still important enough to these men that they made two men take watch. Daryl knew they didn't want him to keep watch alone. He was the newest member. They were still smart enough to be hesitant to trust Daryl had an advantage. As unruly as the rag tag group of men were, Daryl seemed just as ragged as they did. He had a dangerous glint in his eyes and they knew he would try to kill them all if they did something to upset him. He fit it more than he wished. All his life he thought he was dirt and now those thoughts were keeping him alive.
Daryl was interrupted from his thoughts when the other man, Daryl didn't know or care what his name was, stood up from the other side of the fire. Not bothering to grab his bow, he walked over to a nearby tree and proceeded to take a piss, mumbling to himself something about it not being fair that he couldn't the two of them,all of the other men were all asleep, the majority snoring and having sweet dreams. Daryl knew he could escape if he really wanted to. The other man on watch bumbled around the fire, obviously half asleep. He can suffer one night without sleep Daryl thought to himself. He was used to the lack of sleep when he was alone with Beth. He knew damn well she couldn't defend them both as well as he could. He would often take the night shift and allow himself a few hours when the sky began to lighten up.
Daryl wanted nothing more than to find Beth. He had failed her, letting himself have his guard down. Well look what happens when you aren't careful. Those fucking walkers had been planted. He knew damn well that it was a trap, but he wanted to believe in hope for Beth, she was so innocently good and he had wanted to let himself believe in wholesome good people like her. But now she was gone, and despite him running as fast as he could, he had lost her. She was gone. And now Daryl was with a group of fucking Merles. Just great.
Daryl watched the men all sound asleep. They didn't have a damn clue as to what had happened to him. And they let him know they honestly didn't care.
"The past is the past, bowman." Joe grinned looking at him. "We all have fucked up pasts, don't mean we can't move on."
Daryl stared at him, never letting himself relax. his hands clenching and unclenching around the crossbow. He walked alongside the leader on the train tracks. He felt defeated, any thought of hope had vanished when that black car had driven away, leaving him alone in this God forsaken world.
"I'm sure you had a life before us. Maybe a home, nice automobile. Hell, maybe you even had a nice piece of meat to lie down next to after a long day." Joe looked at him, seeing if he could crack the code to the wild man next to him. "But all that shit? It's gone. You ain't never gonna have that again. None of us are."
Daryl had grown up shutting people out of his life. His old man had scarred Daryl, both physically and emotionally. Too many memories of his father coming home drunk off his ass and taking out all his frustration on Daryl. He was just a small boy, but he quickly adjusted to the pain. he knew hiding places and eventually learned how to protect himself. It took a long time to overcome those demons. He hadn't really gotten over it. Over time his scars had healed, but the pain of his past would haunt him for the rest of his life. Beth had been one of the first to really force him out of that dark place in his mind. Rick's group gave him a sense of security, something he didn't grow up with. They slowly chipped away at the walls he had spent years to build up. He had become more comfortable, more accepted at the prison...but the sonofabitch came and destroyed everything they had worked so hard on in an instant.
When Beth and Daryl had gotten separated from the rest of the group he had regressed back to the redneck asshole he was. He shut down, not letting himself feel anything. It was his childhood all over again. Beth, on the other hand, was having none of that. She was determined to make something of her life. Sure the past hurt like hell, but they had to move forward or be lost in the darkness. He still tried to shut her and the pain out. It wasn't until Beth stirred something up from his past that he unleashed all the hurt and anger out on her. For looking so fragile, she could equally match his strength. She had an abundance of love to give, despite losing everyone she loved. He screamed and blamed himself. Because of him, he father was gone. He could have done something. His rage turned to tears and he was reduced to a young child again, yearning for compassion. She never judged him, just held him while he broke down. Daryl was broken. It wasn't until she hugged him as he cried, letting him know she was there, not saying a word that Daryl saw her as something more. She was a beacon of hope. The light at the end of the tunnel. She was joy and strength and everything Daryl couldn't be at that moment.
Daryl stood up from cold ground, his bones aching from the lack of movement and colder temperature. He looked at the group, everyone was asleep, even the other watchman. Daryl scoffed. Maybe he was like them at one point in time,unconcerned about what would come of tomorrow, but now he had a purpose. Daryl grabbed Beth's bookbag, his crossbow, and his own bag and turned away from the snoring men. He walked into the dark wooded area, not looking back at what could have been his new home. The moon was bright and as Daryl ventured deeper into the woods, his head was cleared of his past and his scars. The sound of wildlife and wind brought him peace. He quickly put several miles between him and Joe's group. As the sky began to lighten, he was fueled with the thoughts of the past week. He was prepared to fight tooth and nail for a chance to redeem himself. Daryl was a good man. He was a fighter and a believer. There was only one person who made him think that, and now his mind swirled with thoughts of that person. His mind was only focused on one thing.
He had to find Beth.
End Chapter 2