Chapter 33

Eveleen liked Anthony a lot. This much was clear as well as the fact he liked her. She only ever talked to him or myself. Every time Shane looked in her direction Anthony would give him a death glare and lead her away. Hershel was allowing us to move into the house for the winter.

The only problem our group still faced was Randall. He was still thought to be a threat. That morning Daryl went into the shed. I silently crept around to the door and listened. I heard Daryl punch him.

"I didn't touch those girls! I'm not like that man! You gotta believe me!"

My eyes widened and I kicked the door open.

"Prue go back….."

"No Daryl I wish to speak with this one here." I said firmly.

He looked at me with pleading eyes but that never worked on me.

"You and your group raped a couple of girls!?" I asked.

"No I didn't!"

I slapped him. Memories of my own rape were flooding back and anger boiled in my blood and coursed through me.

"I think you are a liar! I know about guys like you!" I snarled.

I kicked him and Daryl grabbed his crossbow and grabbed me and then dragged me out.

"Prue calm down!" He said.

"No! I know about shitheads like him!" I snarled.

"Prue I get it! I know what happened to ya!" he said.

This made me stop.

"You were asleep…"

"No I wasn't. I heard everything ya said. I know what that fucker did to ya! If he's alive and I meet em…..he'll wish he was dead! How ya were different before I met ya. I heard all of it. That was when I knew I loved ya. I knew ya were mine. Ya don't know how pissed I am from hearing this shit's story!"

"Shhhh"

I put my arms around him.

"I am sorry. I meant not to upset you. I knew not that you had even heard me. I never would have been able to tell you if you had been awake. I have never forgotten, no matter how hard I try nothing works." I whispered.

He put his arms around me and kissed my head.

"I ain't gonna let no one touch ya."

I smiled and looked up at him.

"You are so good to me Daryl. Where were you all my life?" I asked.

He smirked and chuckled.

"I should be asking that. Ya gave me a reason to change. Te try and understand. Ye always believe in me and gave me a chance even when I was a dick." He said.

I smiled and closed my eyes as I rested my head against his chest. He kicked the shed door shut and then he locked it. We walked back to the others and I noticed the blood on his hands. I was about to ask him if it was his or Randall's but Rick spoke first.

"Well?"

"He's got a group of about 30 guys with guns. If they find us our men will be dead and out women…..well they'll wish they were." he said.

"What do you mean?" Lori asked.

He looked at Sophia and Carl.

"They need to hear as well." Rick said.

Daryl nodded.

"His group raped a couple of teenaged girls. He says he didn't do anything but…."

"He is a filthy liar." I said.

Everyone looked at me and I shut my mouth. I wrapped my arms around Daryl's waist and he held me tight. Rick looked at me.

"Prue how do you know he's lying?" he asked slowly.

I looked into Daryl's eyes with a pleading look. He nodded and looked at Rick.

"She was raped." He said.

As I looked at everyone their faces showed emotions from sadness for me and fear of this new group. I took a deep breath and looked at all of them.

"It is true what he says. Before the outbreak I knew a man whom I thought to be my friend. I trusted him with everything I ever had. And then one night…he took advantage of me in every way possible. I never told anyone about it." I said.

Daryl squeezed me and I hid my face in his shoulder.

"I'm sorry you had to tell us that. I know you probably wanted to forget. I think this about sums everything up." Rick said.

"Wait! We don't know if Prue was right!" Dale said.

I looked at him dumbstruck.

"I mean….he's just a kid."

"And I was only 16 years old." I said.

"But that wasn't Randall. He's just a kid and we don't really know." Dale said.

I did not wish to hear this. I walked away and Daryl followed.

"Prue wait!"

I turned and looked at him. I saw his hands and took one of them in mine. There were a few cuts on him but the majority of the blood was Randall's. I sighed and led him back to our tent. I reached for my bag and found the things I was looking for.

"Where'd ye learn all that?" He asked.

I smiled.

"I have always been very accident prone. It helps if you know how to take care of yourself. You learn fast." I said.

He chuckled and I wiped the blood from his hands and then applied the correct herbs so his hands would not become infected. When I was finished I held his hands in mine and looked at him.

"Please say nothing to Dale. He only wishes to preserve the life of a human. He truly means well." I said.

He sighed and nodded. I smiled and kissed him. As I pulled away he looked at me.

"That it?" He asked.

I smiled.

"What you want more?" I asked.

He pushed me back and looked at me.

"I ain't never gonna get enough of ya." He said.

I smiled and pulled his lips back to mine.