Chapter 36
It was late afternoon when we all gathered in Hershel's living room. Daryl walked in after the discussion began. He walked over to me and I took his hand.
"Let's just take a minute to consider this. This is a man's life!" Dale said.
"He shot at them." Lori said.
"Out of fear maybe!" Dale argued.
"Ye wanna keep arguing! Just gonna keep going around in circles all day." Daryl said.
"Come on Glenn back me up." Dale pleaded.
Glenn remained silent. I saw him look at Maggie and then he looked at Dale.
"I agree with you on a lot of things Dale…but not on this." He said.
Dale looked around and the walked out. On his way he put his hand on Daryl's shoulder.
"You were right. This group is broken." He said.
His words hit me hard. Then as I thought about it…..I knew it to be true. Shane had once been my friend…..Carl used to have a heart. All these things were swimming through my mind as the group left to do what they would. I walked outside and stood on the porch. Eveleen walked out and stood next to me.
"Do you really agree with this?" She asked softly.
I nodded.
"The world looks different when you go through something like I have." I said.
"Maybe so…but he is still a human being. Living and breathing." She said.
I looked at her. She was looking out towards the shed. The sun was going down and I knew that Randall's execution was fast approaching. I approached the shed and Daryl, Rick, and Shane brought him out. They were going to do it in the barn. I followed them inside and I stood behind Rick as Shane and Daryl held Randall up.
"Would you like to stand or kneel?" Rick asked.
"Please! Please don't!" Randall begged.
Daryl kicked his legs and he kneeled down.
"Do you have any last words?" he asked.
He just sort of cried and begged for his life. Something in my heart began to make itself known. As I was about to tell Rick to stop Carl appeared in the doorway.
"Do it dad." He said.
We all looked at him. I walked over and grabbed his arm.
"Carl why are you here?" I asked sternly.
"I wanted to watch."
This child had some serious problems. Rick came out and took his son back to the house while Shane and Rick dragged Randall back to the shed. As I started to walk back to the house I heard a shout. I turned towards the field and saw what appeared to be two objects fighting. I ran forward. There was a walker on Dale.
"NO! DALE!" I screamed.
An arrow flew into the walker's head and I knew Daryl was behind me. I dropped to my knees beside Dale and found his chest ripped open.
"Oh goddess! Please Dale hold on!" I said.
He was suffering that much was clear. Rick was shouting for Hershel and Andrea appeared at my side.
"He's suffering! Do something!" Andrea begged.
Rick walked forward with a gun. However Daryl took it from his hands. And walked over to Dale.
"I'm sorry brother." He said.
I held onto Andrea and squeezed my eyes shut as Daryl pulled the trigger. Andrea cried out in pain and sorrow. I held her close and then Brandon came for her. I stood up and looked to Daryl. Tears sprang forward and Daryl enveloped me in his strong arms. I cried for what seemed like hours. Daryl never let me go and he never said a word. He let me cry and when I finally stopped he took me back to our tent and sat me down. I could not move nor could I speak. Daryl unhooked my sword from my belt along with my dagger and he took my quiver from my back. I finally found the will to speak.
"I should have been on guard." I said.
"Don'tcha dare start blaming yerself!" He said.
"Daryl he need not have died if I had…if I had…."
The tears came once more and he took me in his arms.
"This ain't yer fault. Ain't no one's fault. Well maybe this shithole of a world. But don'tcha dare blame yerself. Yer a good woman. Yer my woman." He said.
I knew he was only trying to cheer me up…but I could still see Dale's torn body in my mind. I clutched his shirt and squeezed my eyes shut.
"I still see him. I still his face. I want for it to go away! I know not how to rid myself of it." I said.
"Wish I could make it go away. But I can't." He said.
I said nothing.
"But I might know someone who can take some of it." He whispered.
I opened my eyes and looked up at him. He took my hand and led me to the house. He walked me up to Chris's room and inside. He was asleep but Daryl did not care.
"Yo dipshit wake yer ass up!" He hissed.
He shook his leg and he woke with a start.
"What?!" He snapped.
He looked at me and then his face softened.
"Prue what happened?" he asked.
I shut my eyes and lowered my head.
"Dale…..he's gone." I whispered.