Existing hearts
Chapter 12
Why hello there people :D Hasn't it been a long two months ahh? Well I'm back and more excited than ever because this means my withdrawals can stop (: I have so many ideas for this half of my story and I can't wait to share them with you through this story! Anything else? Oh yeah guess what you beautiful people? NORMAN REEDUS FOLLOWED ME ON TWITTER :D IT WAS THE BEST DAY EVER! Okay fangirl moment over... On with Existing hearts. Please enjoy!
The screaming for their deaths didn't seem to stop, Layla would steel glances at Daryl, his face was nothing like it had ever been, it mirrored her own. Terrified. Layla looked around at the crowed and she spotted a girl with her belt strapped around her, pretending to be her. She would have to get that back when she was out of this mess. She wanted to kill the governor and Merle, they had both tried to kill her, one right now, one barely a week ago. She wanted revenge.
''This is what you get for being stupid!'' The governor taunts at the three of them, causing Layla to pull on the restraints wrapped around her hands. ''I asked you where your loyalties lie! Well prove it to me! Brother against brother, fight to the death!'' The governor shouts at the crowd causing them all to scream in glee.
Layla looks at Daryl the horror clear in her eyes, but her eyes are torn away from his as she feels a hand grip firmly into her wrist.
''And you get to watch the man you love die... This is what you get for betraying me!'' The governor hisses into her ear before shoving her into the firm grasp of one of the guards.
Layla's gaze then meets with Andrea's ''See what he's doing! Can you not see now! Open your eyes Andrea, he's an evil piece of shit!'' Layla screams at her.
The guard shoves his hand over her face. ''Now woman you best shut ya mouth bad mouthing the governor.'' He hisses.
Layla smirks to herself and bites hard into the mans hand causing him to yelp. She then pushes herself away from him before another pair of arms wraps themselves around her, causing Layla to scream bloody murder.
''Shut up will you! It's just Chris.'' She hears her best friend say.
Layla instantly relaxes and watches at Merle begins to speak to the crowd.
''Ya'll know me, I'm gonna do what I gotta do to prove my loyalty to this town!'' He shouts causing the crowed to scream. Then he punches Daryl clean in the face causing him to drop to the floor. Layla struggles in Chris' arms pushing and kicking but he won't let her go.
Layla watches in horror as Merle connects his fist with Daryl's face again.
''Merle stop it!'' She screams.
Daryl looks at her then and Layla kicks Chris in the shin, he lets go of her straight away. Then Andrea grabs her this time as walkers begin to enter the arena.
''Get the hell of me you traitor!'' Layla screams.
''Layla stop screaming!'' She hisses.
''Why should I when Merle's beating the shit out of his brother like it's some game, you forgetting that me and Daryl are a pair. I protect him, he protects me, that's how it works.'' Layla growls.
The walkers then get to close to Daryl then Layla can bear and she breaks out of Andrea's grip and begins to run for him before guns begin to go off around them.
''Daddy!'' Layla wales at the top of her lungs before a smoke grenade lands at her feet.
''Layla!'' She hears her father's voice scream back.
She runs towards the voice, on her way she tackles the girl wearing her belt to the floor and pulls it off her.
''That's mine bitch!'' She exclaims punching her in the face.
Layla then continues running, then she sees her fathers shadow and she runs directly into his arms. She squeezes him tight not wanting to let him go.
''Oh daddy.'' She breathes.
Then she looks over her shoulder to see Daryl and Merle running in their direction and Layla smiles. Wanting to hug and touch Daryl's body, but wanting to destroy Merle's.
''All out the arena.'' Rick suddenly orders pulling away from Layla.
Layla runs behind her dad her pistol out and ready to fire, since the girl holding it had been stupid enough to reload it. Layla's benefit not hers. Layla doesn't hear anything as Daryl places his hand on the small of her back.
''You're tough you know that.'' He whispers into her ear.
''I am when it means I could lose the ones I love.'' She whispers back.
She turns around and smiles at him rubbing her nose against his before Rick's voice fills their ears.
''You're not coming with us!'' He screams at Merle.
''You really wanna discuss this now?'' Merle hisses back.
Daryl takes a firm grip on Layla's arm. ''Rick come on let's go.'' He says before pulling Layla through the hole in the fence.
''A little help would be nice!'' Merle shouts.
Layla's eyes then meet with walkers and she take two out quickly with her pistol.
''We ain't got time for this!'' She shouts.
Daryl nods at her. ''Let's go.''
They all run towards the woods, Layla keeping herself close to Daryl, but when they enter the woods everyone begins to walk. It's silent so Layla pulls Daryl back a few steps.
''Baby talk to me.'' She whispers.
''Little lady I don't think we have much time for talking.'' He says firmly.
''Please.'' She says caressing his face. ''You could hardly look at me back there.'' She says.
''You think I wanted to look at ya, ya face all scared and helpless!'' He booms before catching up with the group.
Layla sighs and runs to catch up with them, walking next to Rick when she reaches them. They make it back to Glenn and Michonne, hell breaks lose about Merle and the group become like a pack of wolves. Layla misses most of it but she hears one like very clearly.
''Get that thing out of my face!'' She hears Daryl shout and when she looks, she sees Glenn has a gun pointed on him.
She rushes in front of him glaring at Glenn. ''Put that down now Glenn!'' She screeches.
Glenn doesn't flinch. ''Now Glenn!'' Layla shouts.
She hears Merle beginning to run his mouth off and Daryl's voice screaming. ''Merle shut up!''
Then her father plants his fist hard in Merle's face knocking him to the floor. Layla smirks at her fathers work and walks over to Michonne.
''You alright?'' She asks.
''Yes now he's on the floor not talking.'' She says.
Layla smiles. ''Serves him right, bastard tried to kill us.'' Layla says.
Daryl looks at her then a glare planted on his face. ''What did ya just say?'' He asks getting close to her so his body shadows hers.
''He tried to kill me; I was with Michonne when she got shot... I told you all this!'' Layla hisses.
''He wouldn't...'' Daryl starts.
Layla looks up at him. ''Well he did!'' She nearly shouts.
Layla can see Daryl is about to blow up so she follows Michonne over to the car and leans against the bonnet. Watching as Daryl, Glenn, Maggie and her father gather in a debate. She and Michonne watch as it becomes heated, then Layla hears her name.
''What about Layla you can't do this to her.'' She hears her father say meeting her eyes.
Layla approaches slowly. ''Do what to me?'' She asks coming up to Daryl's side.
Daryl sighs and takes Layla away from the group.
''Daryl what's going on?'' She asks the worry clear in her voice.
''I'm going out on the road with Merle... Alone!'' He says.
''What! No, you can't do that! If you leave I leave, I'm not having another eight months like I did wondering if you are dead or alive!'' She says tensely.
''He's blood Layla, I'm not letting him go out on his own!'' He hisses.
''Yeah and those people standing over there are your blood too! We are a family!'' She hisses back.
''My bloods over there.'' He points to Merle. ''Your blood is over there'' he points to Rick. ''And back at the prison. You are not coming with us!'' He says harshly.
''But...'' Layla starts before Daryl places a finger on her lips.
''You aren't coming, you are going to go back to that prison and look after Carl and little ass kicker, you hear me?'' He asks.
Layla nods. ''I hear you.'' She says a hard expression crossing her face. ''Be careful.'' She squeaks accepting defeat that she isn't going to change his mind.
''Always am, it was always me and Merle before this. We will be fine.'' He says trying to reassure her.
''Is there still a you and me?'' She stutters.
Daryl guides his index finger down her face. ''Always, it will always be me and you.''
Layla smiles and takes his hands in hers. ''Come back to me, please.'' She lifts her head so blue connects with blue. ''You better come back to me Daryl Dixon or I will get my mama to kick ya ass up there!'' She says.
Daryl smiles at her and brings his lips to hers; the kiss is soft and meaningful. Once he pulls away, he kisses her forehead and rubs his forehead against hers. ''I love you.'' He whispers.
Then his touch is gone, Layla watches him, she can feel herself breaking apart but somehow she holds herself together watching as Daryl has one last word with her father. Then he begins to walk towards Merle.
''I love you too.'' Layla whispers as she sees a smirk appear on Merle's face as Daryl approaches him.
Then everything around her goes quiet, she sees her feet moving, but can't feel who's guiding her to the car. Rick puts Layla in the seat next to him and moves the hair out of her face that has managed to come lose from behind her ears. He knows what happening to her; he'd seen it when Carl had got shot and many times throughout her childhood when something bad had happened, she was shutting down.
They drive for a few miles everyone watching Layla closely; she hadn't moved only stares at the front window with blank eyes and a blank expression on her face. They come to a stop and Rick, Glenn and Maggie leave the car. Leaving Michonne and Layla alone. Maggie opens Layla's door and guides her out so she can stretch her legs.
''Daryl's gone.'' She stutters.
Maggie just rubs her back, watching as Glenn and Rick get into a heated discussion. Then Maggie listens as Layla begins to talk again.
''He will come home.'' Layla mumbles.
''Mama will bring him home.''
''I love you.''
''Daryl left me.''
''His blood is more important than his love.''
''God has taken him away from me again.''
''I've lost him again.''
''He's just gone, with Merle.'' Layla finishes.
Maggie squeezes Layla's hand. ''Come on honey let's get you back in the car.'' Maggie says as she puts her back in the front seat.
Layla knows the numbness is all over her body, as she knew it was Maggie guiding her out the car, but she couldn't control the words that were coming out her mouth. She was mumbling. Her limbs were still working but she didn't know how much longer they would support her numbing body. Without Daryl with her, she was becoming a ghost.
The next thing she registered was two small arms wrapping around her neck and her shoulder becoming wet.
''Layla?'' Carl asks.
''Daryl's gone. He's not dead but he went off with Merle on the road.'' Rick says to Carol and Carl.
''Is she okay?'' Carol asks.
''I don't know, she's been out of it since, Daryl's touch left her body.'' Rick says worriedly.
''Just like with you and Carl.'' Carol whispers.
Layla feels arms wrap around her and she begins to walk up to the prison. Once inside the gates, she sees Beth approach and wrap her arms her arms around on. Upon instinct Layla wraps her arms around her, but she knows Beth knows something is wrong.
''Layla you okay?'' Beth asks her.
Layla just shakes her head. ''Let's get you inside.'' Beth says guiding her towards the cell block. She places her on top of Daryl's mattress and then brings Judith over and places her in Layla's lap.
''See Judith I told you your sister would come home.'' Beth says sweetly to the baby.
Layla looks down at the baby placed in her lap and smiles. ''Hey there little ass kicker.'' She says holding her fingers out so Judith can grip onto them. When Judith does, Layla feels something within her heart. Unconditional love.
However, as soon as Judith's hands leave her fingers, the feeling was gone and she becomes numb again. She lies herself down on Daryl's mattress and inhales his scent from his pillow feeling like his arms are wrapped around her.
The next thing she hears is Beth's voice.
''We are weak without him. Layla's weak without him.'' She says.
''Layla will be fine, I promise. Daryl's her light, she just needs time to adjust to him not being around again.'' She hears Carol say which surprises her.
She didn't know how much time had passed but next thing she knows, Carl is sat next to her cuddling into her side.
''Layla?'' He whispers.
''Yes.'' Layla answers looking at him.
''Come down and see everyone, they are worried about you.'' He says.
''Nothing to be worried about, I'm fine right here lying with Daryl.'' She says smiling down at her brother.
''But Daryl's gone? Remember with Merle? Dad told me.'' He says looking at his sister confused.
Layla laughs. ''No he didn't he chose me. He's lying next to me, I can smell him.'' Layla says.
''Layla?'' Carl asks.
''Yes?'' Layla asks him confused.
''You aren't making any sense. Daryl's gone.'' Carl says cuddling more into his sister.
Layla looks down at him with shock. ''What?'' She asks a horrified look on his face.
That's when Carl knew that his sister wasn't with him anymore. In her grief, she had convinced herself that Daryl had never left her and he was right there beside her.
''Oh Layla come back.'' Carl whispers as he walks away.
Layla watches him walk away, moments later she hears her father screaming for someone to leave and get away. Finally, Layla curls up into herself and allows herself to cry.
Well there you go my beautiful people (: I hope you liked it and please don't hate me! I hope you liked the way Layla was with her grief! I hope you enjoyed this story being back! Love you all see you next week! Much love and hugs, Vmk-xx.