Existing hearts
Chapter 11
Hello my dears! Let's get right to it shall we! Here's chapter 11 please enjoy!
The five of them continue to watch the gate; the guards continue to walk the wall. The atmosphere is tense Layla can feel it rippling through her body as her back connects with Daryl's chest every time he breathes out. Suddenly Michonne begins to move and then she disappears.
''Hey! Hey!'' Oscar whispers after her.
''Dammit.'' Layla hears her father say before he orders them to group up.
''All right we need to downsize.'' Rick tells the three of them.
''Ain't no way we're gonna check in all these buildings with all them guards there.'' Daryl says.
''I can take you to where me and Michonne were taken with Andrea, maybe they are keeping them in there.'' Layla whispers.
Rick nods his head at his daughter before handing her a shotgun as Oscar and Daryl grab their guns. She smiles at her dad but is interrupted by a rustle in the bushes behind them. Michonne comes out and instructs them to follow her. Daryl rubs Layla's shoulder and she smiles up at him as they crouch side by side after Michonne. Michonne guides them into a room that Layla automatically recognizes.
''This is where you were held?'' Rick asks them both.
''We were questioned.'' They both whisper.
''Any idea of where else they could be?'' Rick asks.
Layla follows Daryl to the window and when they look out; they see three people walking in the street.
Daryl looks at Layla with a glare. ''Thought you said there was a curfew?'' He says directing his question towards Michonne.
''The street is packed during the day, these are stragglers.'' She spits back.
''If anyone comes in here, sitting ducks, we gotta move.'' Rick orders.
''He could be in his apartment.'' Michonne says.
''Yeah and what if he ain't?'' Daryl challenges moving towards her.
Layla follows him watching his every move. ''Then we'll look somewhere else.'' Michonne hisses, as Daryl gets closer.
''You said you could help us.'' Daryl spits.
''I'm doing what I can.'' Michonne snaps back.
''Then where the hell are they?'' Daryl snaps.
Layla looks at Daryl with her eyebrows raised and her head slightly tilted forward with her eyes wide. He just smirks at her and kisses her hair. Rick then orders Layla, Daryl, and Oscar over towards him.
''If this goes south we're cutting her lose.'' He says.
''But daddy.'' Layla argues before the three men stare her down with glares.
''You think she's leading us into a trap?'' Oscar asks.
''Right now it's a plow meeting a plow, we split up.'' Daryl says.
A knock is heard at the door and they all hide, Daryl shoving Layla behind him as he arms his crossbow. They hear someone walk in and Layla lifts her shotgun over Daryl's shoulder.
''I know you're in here, I saw you moving from the outside. Alright now. You're not supposed to be in here you know it.'' The man says as they hear his footsteps getting closer. ''Who's in here?'' He asks.
Daryl looks back at Layla and she nods at him, then Oscar and Rick tackle the man to the floor while Daryl and Layla come out pointing their guns towards the man who looks at them all in shock.
''Shut up! Get on your knees!'' Rick orders. ''Hands behind your back, tie him.'' He says to Daryl who nods his head and begins to tie the mans hands together. ''Where are our people?'' Rick asks.
''I don't know.'' The man stutters out.
Rick forcefully grabs the mans shirt and stares evilly into his eyes. ''You're holding some of our people where the hell are they?'' Rick demands.
''I don't know.'' The man stutters out again.
''Open your mouth.'' Rick instructs.
He then proceeds to shove a piece of cloth in the mans mouth. Daryl and Layla then exchange a look before the both of them hit him around the head with their guns knocking the man out.
Daryl then pulls Layla with him towards the door as they listen for any noise outside. Suddenly they hear gunshots and Rick orders them all out the door. Daryl shoves Layla in front of him as he brings in the rear. They begin to walk through the street until they hear another gunshot coming from a building. Michonne directs them into the building quickly and they all begin walking along quickly and quietly. Layla swings her gun around at every turn they take making sure nothing will take her or her family off guard. They come up towards a wall and Layla hears Merle's voice on the other side of it.
''Shit.'' She whispers as more voices begin to surface. They know Glenn and Maggie are behind that wall.
''On your feet move.'' Layla hears Merle say.
''Shush.'' Rick orders.
They see shadows and Layla ducks into Daryl's back. Rick then directs them with his fingers and Daryl and Layla throw smoke bombs off and run behind the wall. When they hear them go off, they all run back in with their guns aimed ready to shoot. Layla grabs Maggie and guides her through the smoke as Daryl covers her. Gunshots go off behind her and hit the wall just missing her, Daryl and Maggie.
They begin to run into the street and Michonne quickly guides them into one of the shops. Layla places Maggie next to Glenn and she begins to tend to him as Layla puts herself by Daryl's side checking the back.
''No way out back here.'' Daryl confirms.
''Bet he heard us.'' Rick says as Oscar takes guard at the window.
''Rick how'd you find us?'' Maggie asks.
''Everything alright?'' Rick asks Oscar.
''Where's that woman?'' Maggie asks.
''She was right behind us.'' Rick says.
''Oh Michonne.'' Layla mutters shaking her head.
''Layla?'' Maggie questions.
''Yeah.'' Layla shrugs with a smile.
''How?'' Maggie asks.
''I'll explain later, it's a very long story.'' She says smiling.
Maggie smirks at her. ''I'll bet.'' She says.
Oscar continues to keep guard looking out the window before he turns to Rick. ''Maybe she was spying?'' He asks.
''Shall we go look for her?'' Daryl asks.
''We gotta get them out of here. She's on her own.'' Rick confirms.
Layla touches Daryl's shoulder and lifts herself up to his ear. ''Michonne knows what she is doing.'' She whispers.
Daryl nods his head at her and kisses her quickly. Maggie helps Glenn into a sweatshirt as he begins to talk.
''Daryl this was Merle.'' He says causing Layla to freeze next to Daryl. ''He did this to me. Saw him face to face.'' He pauses. ''He threw a walker at me. He was gonna execute us.'' Glenn says.
Daryl begins to walk forward to look at him and Layla mirrors his movements. ''My brothers this governor?'' He asks.
''No he's somebody else. Your brothers like a lieutenant or something.'' Maggie says as she continues to pull the sweatshirt on Glenn.
''Does he know I'm still with you?'' He asks.
''He does now. Rick I'm sorry we told him where the prison was, we couldn't hold out.'' Glenn says.
Rick crouches down in front of him and touches his shoulder. ''It's alright no need to apologize.'' He says.
Daryl then directs his gaze towards Layla and she smiles at him apologetically.
''You knew he was here the whole time and you didn't tell me?'' He hisses glaring at her whilst invading her space.
Layla takes a step back and looks desperately into his eyes. ''Yes I'm sorry; I knew what it would do to you. I had to keep you focused.'' Layla whispers back harshly.
''You think I give a damn about keeping focused? Layla he's my brother!'' Daryl hisses again.
''Yes I am aware of that Daryl!'' She spits.
''Goddamn woman!'' He growls before walking away from her.
Layla glares at his back and then turns her attention towards her father, Maggie and Glenn.
''They're gonna be looking for us.'' Maggie says.
''We have to get back. Can you walk? We have a car a few miles out.'' Rick says to Glenn.
''I'm good.'' Glenn says as Maggie begins to help him up.
Layla then watches as Rick and Daryl go into a debate.
''If Merle's around I need to see him.'' She hears Daryl say.
''No we're on hostile territory.'' Her father days
''He's my brother, he won't try...'' Daryl starts before her father cuts him off.
''Look what he did!'' Rick hisses. ''We gotta get out of here, we gotta get out of here now!'' Rick screeches.
''Maybe I can talk to him. Talk him out...'' Daryl tries with desperation before Rick interrupts him.
''You're not thinking straight, can't you see they're hurt. Glenn can barely walk. If we get overrun by, walkers or this governor catches up to us. I need you, you with me?'' Rick asks.
Layla places herself at Daryl's side. ''I need you.'' She whispers causing Daryl to look at her with a glare.
''Yeah.'' He whispers answering Ricks question keeping his eyes locked with Layla's.
Layla moves forward until their faces are inches apart. Daryl leans forward and kisses her quickly. ''I need you.'' He whispers.
Layla smiles at him and rubs their noses together. Rick then hands them a smoke bomb each as they all proceed to crouch in front of the door.
''On three.'' Rick whispers to the two of them. ''Stay tight. One. Two. Three.'' He whispers.
Oscar then opens the door slightly and Layla and Daryl both throw a smoke grenade each out the door. They all then sneak out the door and Daryl keeps Layla close to him as they both begin to shoot at the guards taking them down one by one.
Layla takes herself into the zone, loading her shotgun and then aiming at her next victim. She can feel Daryl's arm rubbing against her shoulder, he's keeping her close, and she knows why. He's scared of losing her again but he would never admit that to her.
''Take cover in there!'' Rick orders.
Daryl and Layla run over to Rick where they take cover.
''They're all around us.'' Oscar says.
''Any grenades left?'' Rick asks.
''You guys go ahead, me and Layla are gonna hold out some cover fire.'' He says and Layla nods at him taking his hand.
''No.'' Maggie says before shooting into the distance. ''We have to stay together.'' She finishes.
''It's too heavy. We'll be right behind you.'' Daryl says.
Rick clings to Layla's shoulder. ''I don't need to tell you to be careful, but hell I'm not losing you again!'' Rick says placing a rough kiss on her forehead.
''I'll be careful. Daryl has my back.'' She says smiling at her father.
''Always!'' Daryl confirms.
Rick nods his head. Daryl then sets off the last smoke grenade and they come out from their cover, Layla and Daryl going in the opposite direction to everyone else.
Layla and Daryl shoot back to back at the guards shooting at them. They continue to do this before they take cover behind a bench. Layla see's the smoky figures of people shooting at them so she aims but keeps missing as she shoots at them.
''Baby I'm nearly out.'' She says to Daryl.
''Me too.'' He says as he lifts himself up again and shoots at the people shooting at them.
Layla continues to shoot and when her shotgun is out of juice she pulls out her pistol and goes crazy with the bullets aiming the best she can, she manages to take one down but then Daryl pulls her back behind the bench.
''Daryl!'' They hear Rick shout. ''Layla!'' Rick screams the desperation clear in his voice as he calls out for his daughter.
''Come on we gotta go.'' Daryl says picking her up off the ground.
They walk a few steps before they both feel guns on their backs. '' Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Not so fast there!'' A mans voice says.
Layla and Daryl stiffen. ''Walk forwards.'' He says. They both do as there told.
They are then shoved in a room where they are locked in. It's too dark for them to see each other, Layla quickly stomps her foot into the ground.
''Shit!'' She shouts placing both her hands on her head as she begins to walk around in a circle.
She feels to arms reach for her in the dark and pull her close. ''Layla it will be okay.'' Daryl says.
Layla looks up at Daryl's darkened face. ''Daryl you don't understand. This governor is not a good guy, he could do anything to us!'' She screams.
Daryl covers her mouth with his hand and wraps his free arm tightly around her waist. ''Being loud isn't going to help that.'' He says.
Layla glares up at him for a long moment. ''Last time I might be able to do this.'' She mutters and then she jumps into his arms and connects her lips to his kissing him passionately. Daryl welcomes her lips with ease, but soon pulls away as the door flies open.
''Well isn't this passionate. Shame I have to cut it short.'' He says before three men walk in behind him.
Daryl shoves Layla behind him as he tries to fight the men off, ripping his shirt and getting a punch in the face in the process. The men then cover his head with a bag causing Layla to launch herself at the men. Two of them quickly hold her back but she fights back kicking one of them is his area. This only angers the man and he slaps her clean across the face. Layla glares at him and goes for him again but the other man holds her back ripping her shirt also, leaving her in just her bra.
''Well look at that, she's developed huh boys?'' One of the men say before they shove a bag over her head.
''Don't you touch her!'' Daryl growls from under his bag.
''Can do what I like!'' Layla hears the man spit.
She is then shoved forward, but she continues to struggle as two men grip onto her arms tightly pulling her forward with force. She screams continuously and then she feels it... The heat. She knows they are being led into the arena. They suddenly stop and Layla tries to make out what is around her from inside the bag, but it's useless she can't see anything. Then she hears the governors booming voice before the bag is ripped off her head. Daryl looks at her horrified that she is only standing beside him in her bra and her pair of shorts.
''Here's another two of the terrorists. Merle's own brother and his little girlfriend.'' The governor shouts.
Daryl and Merle both share a long look at one another and then Daryl's attention soon turns to Layla.
''Daryl I'm scared.'' She whispers.
Daryl goes to approach her but a man aims his gun at him and he backs off.
''What shall we do with them huh?'' She governor asks the roaring crowd.
The crowd begin to chant. ''Kill them.'' Layla begins to panic looking around at all the faces and then she meets with the eyes of someone who means the world to her.
Chris looks at his best friend with shock; she's stood in the arena with two tough looking guys in only her bra and shorts. Chris holds back the tears as Layla shakes her head at him and mouths. ''Don't be stupid.'' To him. He only nods his head at her and steps behind the crowd.
Layla's eyes then meet with Andrea's and she glares at her shaking her head. ''She tried tell you.'' She mouths to her and Andrea shakes her head a horrified expression crossing her face.
''What do you want?'' The governor shouts.
The crowd continue to shout the same hateful words at the three hopeless human beings standing in the ring.
''You wanted your brother I got him.'' She hears the governor snarl at Merle.
Layla lets a few tears slip and then her eyes meet with Daryl's. This was the first time she had ever seen him look scared.
I made a promise to myself that I would never split Daryl and Layla up again so here you are they are both stuck in the ring until February when the walking dead decides to come back on our television screams. Thank you all so much for the reception you have given the first half of this story it really means a lot to me! So please leave me a review, follow, and favourite, as they are my motivation! See you all in February, much love and cuddles, Vmk-xx.