Chapter 3 -
Try sleeping with a broken heart -
The much anticipated Daryl POV. I'm going to try my best and keep him in character as his awkward standoffish self - but remember he has a soft spot for Beth! Keep that in mind while reading. Also a bit of fowl language is prominent in this chapter so beware if you are sensitive to cursing and the such!
Thanks for reading! Again please review if you have any constructive criticism.
- kitty
Daryl POV -
Everyone was huddled in a circle. I was standing off to the side looking in as Rick and Michonne formulated the escape plan to get the fuck out of here. My eyes traveled to Carl who was also off too the side. He had his hat hanging low off his head covering most if his facial features. He still seemed a bit traumatized from the incident with Joe's men.
Especially after watching his father rip out Joe's throat with his own teeth; I can't help but think still that's some badass shit right there. Rick would do anything to protect his family.
They were savages though, Joe and his crew, I knew this. Merle used to hang around with folk just like 'em back before the world turned to shit. I was put in a situation where I was damned if I went with 'em and a dead man if I decided to leave 'em. I knew exactly how to get along and that was to temporarily 'follow the rules'.
I planned on hanging around 'em and wanted to wait for a perfect opportunity to hightail it the minute Joe let his guard down.
It was was smooth sailing until his group along with myself ran into to Rick, Michonne and Carl on the road. At that point I didn't have a plan because part of my family was there and their lives were in danger; they were so fixed on killing so it was all or nothing. I had to do something anything to save my family. I desperately sought out reason in Joe and told him thy were good people but it turned out he was the man they were searching for that killed one of his men in the house they looted all along.
It's a small apocalyptic world I guess...
I could feel the anger rising up in my stomach when I witnessed that fat bastard trying to molest Carl while I was getting kicked and punched repeatedly on the ground. Speaking of which I still have the bruises and cuts on my neck and face. I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly as I remembered what happened to us all and looked again ahead staring off to space.
'I couldn't do a damn thing to help them...'.I thought of Beth and that night she was taken from me. My heart sank some more as I recalled finding her bag laying there merely hitting the ground seconds ago.
When I get outta here I'ma go looking again... I would still be on her right now if I hadn't been caught in this mess. I can't give up... Not after what we've been through... She has to be okay... Please be okay. I hope those small survival tests I had trained her for would come in use for her if she escaped her captor... Wherever that may be.
With all the bad people in this world, being with Joes group made me think that Beth was with someone just like them and would have probably been raped and beaten. I winced at the thought... No... There are still good people... Let her be with a good person...
"Daryl...?"
I snapped up looking at the group. Everyone's eyes were on me with questioning looks.
"You alright there brother?" Rick said coming closer to me.
He must have been talking to me but I was too spaced out to even notice.
"I'm al'righ..." I muttered waving my hand out.
"Good. Abraham and Daryl. Y'all are gonna go ahead and talk shit to each other. Bang on the walls a bit an' keep yellin' until they barge in... I need everyone else to stand right next to the shaft way and get ready to jump anyone who comes in and disarm them by punching straight for any sensitive spots; neck, eyes, private parts. Hit 'em like a piñata...and don't stop until they are down". Rick said to everyone making gestures and giving strong glances, he was speeding through the rundown once more I'm assuming.
"Once we get their weapons we bolt straight to the fence and hop the gate...Glenn, Abraham, Daryl, Michonne.. You are gonna help me cover them and shoot at anyone who sees us..." He spoke to is with passion and hope. "Maggie, Sasha; I'd like you both to lead the rest if the group to escape and jump them fences."
"Right!" "Got it" said mostly everyone, even Eugene who was mostly quiet the whole time whilst being here.
"Dad... Let me help you know I'm a good shot!" Says Carl with a hint of defiance in his voice. Not now Carl!
"Carl this ain't no time to be disagreein' with your father" I said to him trying my best to sound easy going. "Once we get out you can bet your ass you gonna be shootin' up these m'fuckers".
"Carl right now I want everyone safely outta here as fast we can... Then I'll let you do all the shootin' okay?" Rick said grabbing hold of his sons shoulder. "We all gotta work together and get out together."
He then looked up at Glenn and nodded.
"Alright guys... Let's do this quickly..." Glenn says. "On the count of three... 1... 2... 3!"
Everyone got into their places. Abraham looked over at me and gave this wicked smile. Immediately busted out saying something along the lines 'the fuck you looking at you redneck bitch' calling me some names and what not saying I didn't have enough balls to step to him blah blah. Even though we were acting I still get the feeling there were some hidden truth and malice behind his insults. This just riled me up further as I yelled back calling him some nasty shit right back. It all was happening so fast. We kicked against the metal walls and cursed and kicked some more.
I could here two men yelling outside. "What the fuuuck is going on in there?!", "That's it I'm going in there!", "Fuck should we let Gareth know they are all riled up?".
Before the first guard could answer the metal door slid open revealing the two men armed with a machine gun, and each had two hand guns strapped to their legs... One of 'em was even holding my cross bow on their back with the strap slung across.
Abraham and me kept it up, I had my hands wrapped around his neck at some point and the men were yelling "Break it up, or I'll shoot!"
It was too late for them though, they carelessly were focused on us fighting the whole time not realizing everyone else was right there and jumped them so fast the men didn't even have time to shoot.
Michonne swiftly grabbed hold of the second man walking behind the first and twisted his neck. He fell to the ground dead. Everyone else piled on top of the other guy and began kicking the shit out if him.
He got knocked out cold and we sprung into action. Abraham patted my shoulder and nodded to me.
"Psh, good actor G.I. Joe." I said sarcastically. He just snickered and ran ahead catching up with The rest of the group keeping watch on all 360 degrees of the yard.
I snatched my crossbow back, and that handgun right off the dead fuckers holster and cocked it ready. Michonne took a machine gun, as well as Abraham. Rick and Glenn both took the other handguns.
Everyone was running so fast to the gates, there was still silence apart from the groan of the man waking up slightly from his knockout in the train car. Not anyone noticed we had escaped the cart yet. Pure luck.
Rick slammed the train cart door shut and looked up at me. I had stayed back a little ways to make sure he was covered. "Just so they think nothing is really amiss, they'll look out here and think someones slacking off, there was no way to escape from the inside so they won't be alarmed right away." He said naturally always wanting to explain. "Then when they do check they'll be Suprised...flesh eating bastards will get a taste of their own medicine and get eaten by them guys in here real fast. I nodded quickly and jerked my neck asking him to follow silently.
We got to the gate and hopped over. Immediately we all crouched low and stayed put. Everyone was catching their breath.
"I can't believe we made it out..." Maggie said holding into Glenn.
Abraham was crouched near Rosita and Eugene as Tara lay flat on the grass holding her chest. "That was nerve wrecking."
"Stupid motherfuckers..." Abraham snorted "Coulda raided them and they wouldn't have seen it coming."
"We needed to get everyone out safe before we go ahead and attack." Said Rick as he ran his shaking hands through his messed hair.
We all been through some shit since we got separated. Hell, we wouldn't been in some deeper shit if we didn't get out of there.
"Daryl." Michonne said catching my attention from the thoughts that raided my mind. "Let's go around and get them weapons we stashed."
I nodded immediately and then to Rick who nodded at me in approval.
Seconds ago we were the to be announced main course of these freak of natures little safe haven. Luring in survivors and promising sanctuary. I scowled thinking what if Beth had seen those signs plastered up everywhere... She would have been a victim too!
I sighed and readjusted the crossbow resting on my shoulder as I held it up keeping a close eye to my surroundings.
"So..." Michonne started up some small talk. "Those first couple weeks on your own... Did you ever think you'd be here with us now or what?"
I shrugged and grunted at her. I don't mean to sound so rude, I wasn't much of a talker anyway. The only one I really had some good conversations with were Rick and occasionally Carol when she'd come around teasing me about my odor at the prison.
Then I thought of Beth, she really got my brain working when she'd talk to me. Her beautiful eyes would shine brightly even when I knew she wanted to break down and give up. She'd challenge me and throw out this sass. Especially that night in the moonshine cabin. The way she handled me when I tried to break her down made me look at her in a new light... Signin' to me like some angel... She was a woman, not some spoiled girl who whined and cried at everything. Not only that but she was mature enough to deal with my crazy ass going off on her... I've never met anyone who'd look me in my eye and tell me straight 'cept for my own brother and of course Rick.
"To be honest." I said suddenly "I had lost all hope in finding y'all ever again. Chances were y'all were dead... That's the likely hood of someone surviving out here on their own. My trail went dry and I lost hope."
She turned to me and casually as ever she asked me. "So what changed your mind?
My eyes shot up to her and had hard time swallowing as I glared into the back of her skull. I remember when Beth asked me that same question only days ago... I could almost feel my pupils readjust.
'Beth Greene.' I whispered in my mind. ' she picked me up from the dark place I was and gave me hope that we could still live on...she was the light at the end of the tunnel'.
Michonne kept up her pace still ahead of me. She always seemed to have this sixth sense; like she could read my damn mind all'a sudden. Out of the silence I had given her what she said next really startled me.
"Y'know when I first met Andrea we didn't get along one bit, stubborn gal. It's surviving with each other that brings you closer. We spend every minute together looking out and learning different views from eachother. I've never told this to anyone but... I fell in love with her... And I know she felt the same for me..." She looked back at me with very serious eyes. "We will find her...Especially if she's been hanging around you... You're a tough son of a bitch..." She chuckled. "It'll be a meaningful reunion... Probably a lot better than the last time I saw Andrea... She never admitted to me her feelings but I knew... I could see it in her eyes." She paused again.
"Luckily with those eyes I see you have for her whenever her name gets brought up I have a feeling she has the same look in her eye when she thinks of you."
I smiled a little at the image of finding Beth alive and safe and just looking into her eyes as she would run up to me and I'd cradle her in my arms as she wept into my chest.
I don't think I'd care what anyone else thought... Not really, not after the things we both been through together.
Once again I grunted again in acknowledgement of her words turning slightly pink as she turned back away.
'I hope so... I really hope so.' I thought.
We came to the tree near the front entrance and began movin' some dirt around and finding our duffle bag of weaponry. I hauled it up and slung it on my shoulder.
"Looks like we ain't gettin' any sleep til all them motherfuckers are dead." I said beginning to turn back around."
"You bet your ass they are gonna be sorry they ever messed with us, I'll slice off their heads one by one the minute I get my hands on my katana." She stuck her hands up I'm front if her moving them around like a karate chop and did some ninja pose. She laughed after catching up to me as I walked off.
That woman sure did have a good sense of humor. I thought of Beth again... She would smile too even when times just didn't seem right to really smile. She did it anyway... Just to be alive.
We were coming back to area we left the group; I could see them overhead. "Na how the hell we gonna run up back in there and kill the fuckers?" I questioned out loud.
Now I was a good shot, hunter, fighter but fighting these guys seemed like new turf. Shit I could get eaten alive by some regular ass people. Hell nah!
"We just need to find their weakness' just like we found the governors..." Michonne began "I'm sure we can all think of something". I nodded as we made it finally back up to Rick I dropped the bag in the middle of everyone.
We all were crouched down together now huddled. Rick was beginning some speech on protecting each other and sticking together. We couldn't afford to be separated, we all needed to chip in and do our part. Main mission being to infiltrate the terminus camp unexpectedly as we had done before.
It would be a lot more difficult now to get in... So that means we can't wait too long. It'll be soon those dead guards will be found undead and some type of trouble will stir.
"There's no way we gettin' back in their Rick. It's too risky" said Abraham crossing his arms across his chest. "We'll just be risking the groups safety and more people are gonna get killed because once they discover we've escaped their guard will be up 24/7."
Even though I wanted to slam his face in for getting smart with Rick...
"Hey what yourself there sergeant; weren't you the one just saying we shoulda raided them?" I said to him in a menacing tone. Though... I couldn't help but agree. When your out hunting and you encounter a violent prey; you need to scout 'em from afar.
"Why don't we jus' keep watch on different corners of the exits and shoot long range to anyone trying to leave Terminus?". Says Bob, who was standing near Abraham.
I nodded agreeing, "It would be better if we can trap them inside... We already left some walkers in there, we also have the advantage of spotting and killing anyone coming near the gates to escape".
Rick looked up and shook his head. "These guys have walls to protect them, two walkers ain't nothing to these folks. Shit they have ammunition... They'll just shoot 'em dead" He sighed rubbing his temple.
"I'll go in." Michonne suddenly offered. "There really aren't that many of them that I couldn't handle with some stealth and agility."
"No!" Carl yelled suddenly after hearing her outburst.
"She ain't going alone..." I said offering myself up as well. If we could get in there while I cover Michonne and she retrieves her sword. These fuckers will be dead upon sight of her, she was a monster with it and damn did she swing fast. We are silent killers. No one would see it coming...
"Alright then, I'm coming too. Eventually guns will be blazing, there's no chance y'all gonna get cornered." Rick said holding up his gun. "Everyone else, I expect y'all to be separating in even groups in every corner of the camp. Shoot anyone who exits..."
Once we kill off this damned sanctuary of death... We'd have somewhere safe and cannibal free to stay locked tight.
"Glenn I'm leaving you in charge while I'm gone. I'd like you to over see too Abraham, I know safety is your first concern before moving into your mission am I wrong?"
They both nodded. And his attention then went to Carl just standing there with the shade covering his eyes.
"Carl... I need you to be strong for me okay. Be strong and protect the group while I'm gone..." They both hugged briefly in silent acceptance and hastily went on with the plan.
We needed to get a move on before nightfall and get into position so we all went off in our separate ways.
It was sad to split up again and shit this was gonna be a rough ride but I'm determined. I need to make sure we succeed this mission and finally I can get to searchin' for Beth...
Wherever you are.
Thanks for being so patient everyone! Been pretty busy at my job lately but I promise to get more time in witting a bit more to those of you who like my story so far. :)