Beau found the chainsaw in an old shed behind one the houses in town. He couldn't help but grin like a kid in a candy shop as he brought it home with him. What a perfect find. He brought it down to the cellar with him. It was a bit rusted and it would need some work done to it but he should be able to get it running. As he slowly took it apart he heard a gasp of fear from behind him. He had almost forgotten about her. She had been down there for awhile. He had slowed down on the kidnappings a bit. Annalise's fear made him feel bad about it, so he decided to use the people he did have for a longer time. She was the last one he had left. He had spent the past week raping her rather than cutting her up or torturing her. It was time to move on and get a new person to toy with. He saw her looking at the chainsaw with terrified eyes.

"Relax darling, I won't have this running in time to use on you." He placed it down on his worktable and pulled open the drawer and took out a scalpel. He advanced towards the girl holding it in his hand. He watched her turn her neck at an odd angle, managing to get the gag he had tied around her head out of her mouth. She spoke up and said

"You're the one who's been taking women!" He laughed and said

"I'm the last person you would have expected?"

"You're a sick bastard! People think you're so great! That you're gonna protect the town and be the next leader but I knew there was always something off about you! You can't hide forever!" His anger bubbled over the edge and he lunged at her and grabbed the back of her head roughly. He took the scalpel and jobbed it at her lips.

"OPEN YOUR MOUTH!" The girl shoke her head. "Alrighty then have it your way." She struggled against him but he held her tightly in a headlock. He stuck it at the edge of her lips and cut upward. She screamed out in pain as he carved her face into a permanent smile. When he stepped back to see what he had down the girl was hunched over in pain. She could no longer properly speak and she was bleeding all over the floor. The broken skin weirdly hung down and he could see her jaw muscles. He went in again. He pulled her back by her hair so she was facing him. He pulled her lips apart and stuck the scalpel inside. He found the bass of her tongue and cleanly cut it off. She screamed again a huge gush of blood streamed out from the stump inside her mouth. He considered making her swallow her severed tongue but decided against it when he heard the door upstairs open.

"Shit!" He threw the scalpel down on the table and ran up the stairs. When he opened the door he was happy to see Vince standing there instead of his mom or Annalise. "Oh it's just you."

"What are you doing?" He smirked and said

"Oh you know just playing."

"I came to talk to you."

"About?"

"I've been seeing you around lately with that new girl. I thought maybe you just wanted to trap her, especially when I saw you bring her here a few days ago. But then I saw her leaving with your mother."

"So?"

"So remember what I told you about not getting attached. All that matters is us. Everyone else is used for our pleasure."

"Well you seem to be attached to my mom."

"Your mom can be used for other things. Killing her would be a complete waste." He didn't question Vince any further, not sure if he wanted to hear what he was referring too. "That new girl is just like any other, she can be disposed of and nobody would blink an eye." Beau looked away, not wanting to hear any more of what he had to say. "I heard her mom beats her. Do you think she'd actually miss her? She's a perfect target Beau. Nobody cares about her and nobody ever will." Beau clenched his fists, digging his fingernails into his palm. He wanted to yell and scream at him but instead just said

"I do."

"Well don't," said Vince, "Let her go. You'll thank me later when you've got her decapitated head on your dick." He then turned and stalked out of the house, leaving Beau still seething. Ready to take out his full rage on the girl downstairs he went back down only to find that she had bled to death and was now a walker. Still chained to the wall, she hissed at him, reaching out and snapping her jaws. Fuck it; he was not having a good day. Now that she had turned there'd be no eating any part of her.

When Irving stopped to give the horse a drink of water Georgette's legs were killing her. Back when she and her sister rode the horses, she had had thick jeans on so her legs wouldn't cramp. Now with the warmth she'd switched to a pair of capris. He slid off the horse and she remained on, the pain tight in her legs.

"You comin' down?"

"I can't, my legs are killing me." He smirked at her and said

"You didn't seem like much of a pussy." She scowled at him and said

"I am not!"

"Then slide on down." Slowly and carefully she tried to get her leg on the others side of the horse. She felt herself sliding too far to the right. She would have hit the ground if Irving had not caught her and set her back on her feet.

"Thanks," she said, stretching her legs out. He led the horse over to a stream to drink, the dog following along. "So have you always been alone?" He seemed to stiffen at the question and said

"For a long time."

"Well how come you don't go out and find a new group?"

"Would loveta," he said, "But if you get close to people you'll get burned. That's how it works." Not knowing what to say back she walked over to the other side of the clearing. She spotted a bush of blueberries a little further in the trees and decided to go for it. She hadn't had them in a long time and they were her favorite. Angela had grown a bush right outside the house for them. She took as many as she good, shoveling them into her mouth. As she was doing so, she didn't hear the walker approaching from behind. Only when she heard Irving yell did she realize she was in danger. She whipped around just in time to see him dash in and stab the walker in the head. She was immediately mad at herself for not being more careful. With another devilish smirk he said

"You owe me missy, that's the second time I've saved you." She rolled her eyes and said

"I can handle myself. You don't even know me." He put his knife back in his belt and said

"Let's get back on the road." She followed him out of the woods and back into the clearing. As they were getting ready to get back on the horse they heard rustling from somewhere in the woods ahead. They met each others gaze and Irving nodded once at her before taking out his knife again. She saw the dog raise his head at the noise and start to growl, his sharp white teeth bared. The rustling was clearly footsteps. It wasn't a walker but a person judging from how

"Hold him back," said Irving, "Once they come out let him lose." They held their breath as the rustling got closer. She grabbed onto the dog's collar, digging her heels into the dirt to hold onto him. Suddenly three people came out of the brush. The dog started to full out bark and it took all of her strength to hold onto him. She recognized Candice, Athena and Odilia.

"What you doin' girl!" Irving turned to her, "Let him go!" She heard her sister calling to her.

"Georgette!" Irving realized the recognition and quickly relieved Georgette of the dog, taking his collar into his hands and letting her run to her sister. They pulled each other into a tight hug, he impact almost knocking Candice off of her feet. She saw Athena and Odilia advancing on Irving with their knives.

"Stop!" She turned to look at them. "He saved me!" Candice turned her around to face her again and said

"You're face! Are you ok?"

"Ya," she said, "I wouldn't be though if it wasn't for him." Irving had managed to calm down the dog and let him go. He understood there was no danger and instead went and sniffed curiously at Odilia. "Irving this is my sister Candice and our two friends, Athena and Odilia." He stood back and cautiously raised a hand and said

"Hey."

"Irving found me in the road and patched me up." She lifted her shirt up to reveal the other stitched up wounds she had acquired. "Brought me back to his base camp."

"I saw that cougar in the road," said Candice, "Thought you were dead until I saw the hoof prints."

"I thought I was dead," she said, looking over at Irving.

"Well come on let's go!" Candice grabbed onto her arm and attempted to pull her back the way they had came. "Ares is waiting at the house. We can't lose anymore time!" Georgette kept her feet firmly on the ground and turned to look at Irving again. His head down as he petted his dog. She couldn't help but feel bad for him. He was all alone and from what she had heard he was a pretty lonely guy. He'd saved her life and she remembered his words. She did owe him. She pulled her wrist out of Candice's grip and walked over to him.

"Being with a large group is safer. You don't have to get attached to any of us but you don't have to be completely alone either." He looked up at her, his ice blue eyes staring into her own. "Please," she said, "You helped me now let me help you." He stood there considering it for a few seconds and then said

"Alright." She smiled and said

"Just alright?" You're not even gonna ask where we're headed?"

"Nope," he said, "It don't matter much."

"Alright," she said, grinning, "Well we're gonna head back to the place we're staying in. We'll stay there till tomorrow and wait for you. You can go back and get your stuff. Once you get to the road you found me on continue into the woods on the other side and you'll find the house." He nodded and said

"Thanks."

Georgette and the three other girls walked along the path back to the house. She heard Candice say

"Do you think that was such a good idea? Inviting him into the group?"

"He saved my life," said Georgette, "He's a good guy. I know he might not look it but he is, trust me."

"I think it's a terrible idea." She turned to see Athena scowling at her. "You've only known him for two days." Georgette knew this girl was going to be a problem. They both were headstrong leaders and no doubt they were going to clash.

"Well it's not your decision to make," said Georgette smartly, "I'd be dead if he didn't help me. I trust him and he's coming with us tomorrow when we leave." Athena stayed quiet the rest of the way. By the time they got back it was sunset. When they walked in Ares jumped to his feet.

"Are you alright?"

"Ya," she said, "I'm gonna be fine." She heard Odilia say

"Thanks to her new sexy stranger friend." Georgette turned and gave her a dirty look and she just smirked back.

"What? Who?"

"A man saved me, brought me back to his place and healed me up. He's gonna get here tomorrow and come with us." She could see the hesitation and doubt in Ares eyes but unlike his sister he just said

"That's good, another person to add."

Irving returned to the warehouse, killing the few biters lurking around the gate. He dismounted and quickly shut them tight. He whistled to Thor and the big dog lumbered over to his side, looking up at him with hungry eyes. He untacked the horse and closed up the stable for the night. Then he went down into his main room. He found the meat from the deer he'd cut up before he left. Never having to worry about food quantity, he tossed Thor the entire leg of the deer. The big dog dashed forward and tore into it right away. He sat down on the couch and began to start a fire to cook himself some dinner.

What the hell was he doing? He had told himself a long time ago that he'd never get attached to people ever again. Now he was running off to follow around some pretty face to God knew where. He'd saved her, stitched her up and did what he could, there was no reason for him to continue to be involved. He could stand them up tomorrow and not go. But then he'd be left wondering for the rest of his solitary life. Where could he end up if he did go with them? He'd been there so long it was hard to imagine leaving. He looked over at his empty bags in the corner. After a few minutes of mentally battling with himself he got to his feet. He went over and pulled all the bags out onto the couch. He had to go. He couldn't turn her down.

As he set a piece of venison to cook over the fire he started to pack his things. He didn't have much. A few plates and utensils to eat with, cups, Thor's bowls, all of his weapons and a few old maps. He would also pack up the rest of the deer meat, knowing if he really wanted to make a good impression he'd offer it to them tomorrow. Thor lay on the carpet, his droopy eyes watching Irving's every move. Once he was done he sat down to eat. Thor hopped up onto the couch next to him and placed his big, heavy head into his lap. Thor had become the only thing he was truly attached too. The dog had saved him numerous times from walkers and people. It was always a fear at the back of his mind that Thor would get bitten someday but the dog was quick despite his huge size and weight, and Irving never let him attack a group of walkers without taking down most of them with his machete first.

When he had finished with his meal he blew out the candles he had lighting up the room. He climbed into his bed and let himself relax into the pillow. Tomorrow was gonna be a long day.

Georgette half expected and hoped that Irving would have already arrived by the time she woke up but he hadn't. She busied herself with helping pack the trailer up again, keeping an eye on the woods. She hoped he hadn't gotten lost. But when she heard the whinny of his horse coming close all the doubts left her mind. A moment later he came out of the woods. His horse was packed with his bags and the dog was running alongside him. Smiling she said

"You came!"

"Course I did," he said, dismounting. "You didn't think I would?" Before she could answer she heard the front door open and close. Candice walked out holding one of their duffle bags. She smiled and walked over to them.

"Hey," she said, "So you decided to join us?" He nodded and said

"How many of you are there?"

"I'll show you." He followed her into the house. Athena and Odilia were sitting in the living room when they walked in. Odilia smiled at him but Athena kept her stone cold gaze. "You remember Athena and Odilia from yesterday." Ares walked in from the hallway and looked a bit surprise at seeing a new face. "And this is Ares, he's Athena's brother." Ares said

"Nice to meet you uh…..?"

"Irving," he said, "But you can call me Irv." He looked around the living room and said "It's just you five?"

"For now," said Georgette, "But we're hoping to meet up with some people in Georgia." He just nodded, not asking any questions. After an awkward silence Ares said

"Well are we ready to go?"

"Ya," she said Georgette. They walked back outside and Georgette found Candice already sitting on the back of the ATV waiting for Odilia. With a playful smirk Georgette said'

"Who said you got to ride on the back huh?" Candice just laughed at her as she passed by to head to the trailer. She watched Irving get onto his horse. Teasing him she said "Try and keep up." He smiled at her and reached into his bag. He pulled out the same bundle of bandages he'd give her yesterday and tossed them to her.

"Make sure you keep changin' those, wanna make sure you don' get infected." She saw the genuine concern in his eyes and said

"Thanks." She tucked it into her back pocket and then swung herself into the trailer next to Athena and Ares

Thanks electrickpanda, DarylDixon'sLover, K. Lynn Perks, daywalker28, Caitiann, Eliza, Diana and all the guests for commenting :) So the beginning with Beau was to remind everyone that while he has a soft spot for Annalise he's still a cold-blooded killer. Obviously Vince doesn't like what he sees happening between the two and tries to get Beau to put an end to it.

Also as I said the girls will be headed straight to Georgia now :) Athena's and Ares' banners are posted in my profile..

For all of you Bethyl fans there's a new forum out for anybody who wants to discuss it in a place other than Tumblr. http(:) boards Bethyl_forum/ index/Obviously take the parentheses and spaces out and it will direct you there. I'm an admin on there so if you have questions you can message me :)

Thanks for reading,

Wanderlustt