I hate math. I sincerely hate math. Take home tests take up too much time. But I'm writing this chapter now, but don't expect it to be as long as the last one. I don't know how that happened. But I will try my hardest to make it long. I want to get as much info in one chapter as possible, and I think I have been doing a good job of chat. So here's chapter 9.
Aria was always a person to open up to people. She was someone who was optimistic about anyone, no matter what they did or said. She gave weird people a chance, mean people she was nice to, and anyone else she was ok with.
So why did Carol feel so unnerving to her?
There was something about that woman that just made shivers go up Aria's spine. She saw the way she looked at her mother, her intense glare whenever she was around Daryl. Even though she knew the lady would never have a chance with Daryl, there was something unstable about her. Something that was bound the explode ay any second.
And Aria really wanted it to end.
She wanted to walk up to her and say to back the hell off and leave her mother alone. But she couldn't do that unless she was heated. She was a coward when it came to speaking up. Only around her friends did she really say what she felt. But when it comes to women threatening her mom's happiness….
Right now, she couldn't worry about that. She was happy for once, and so was her mother.
Thw two had kept their relationship under wraps for the last two weeks, very discreetly meeting and stealing kisses in the darkness so no one would find out. "The daughters were very secretive and stayed true to their words of keeping their relationship a secret. The only person Aria had told was Carl, because she knew he would have found out sooner or later. Scarlett only called Daryl 'daddy' in private so no one would question it.
At least not yet.
The two were usually on watch together, which gave them time to talk…and other things.
That Aria would rather not think about.
She loved her mom and Daryl…but by God that image scarred her.
For LIFE.
But surprisingly, no one had found out yet about their relationship. No one questions them, asks 'What were you doing in there?' Not even Ms. Bitchy-Pants questioned it and she practically saw through everyone. But thank God she hadn't found out yet. Like her mom said, she would be after her with a knives to her throat.
But her mother would so beat her ass.
She was just that badass. After all, Daryl had trained her in practically everything.
The three girls had developed a routine in the prison, blending in with life of the survivors. Scarlett was usually with the other kids or in the small library practicing her reading. Her mother went on raids and helped defend the prison from the walkers. She also went with Daryl out into the woods to hunt for some food.
Yet again, did not want to think about that.
'FOCUS ON SOMETHING ELSE!' Aria thought. Aria had been helping out in the garden with Carl often and helped with some defending, but mostly had a lot of free time. She had washed clothes with Beth a few times, but that was the women's work she did. The rest of the time, she was usually up the ladder in the guard tower.
Whether it was rain or shine, and it had rained a little, Aria climbed the tower's steps everyday and sketched in her notebook. Daryl had even found some colored pencils for her and now her pictures had color. It was the only way she could still be her old self in this screwed up mess. The only way to really express her dreams and feelings.
The other day she had drawn some pretty nasty stuff from what she dreamed.
The first one was kind of nice, but kind of mysterious. It was a girl that seemed to be around her age, same dark brown hair, same slender body. But she was standing in a field of flowers, all of them being white, swaying in the wind. She was wearing a white gown that reached her knees. No shoes were on her feet, her toes feeling the dirt under her skin. A few strands blew.
Her arms were slightly sit, and a white Lilly dangled from her hand, so close to falling to the ground. But she was facing away from Aria. Her face wasn't visible at all. No emotion.
So she called it 'No-face.'
The next one she drew was more scary than anything else. The prison had been taken over and attacked. The fences had been knocked down and lurkers now littered the yard. A baby seat sat by itself. A tank was on fire. The whole entire building was on fire, the heat rippling through the sky and creating smoke that could last for days.
Every little detail she created. The scratches on the people's arms. The bloodmarks on the walls. The gated fence being run over.
Even though the girls had only been there for two weeks, one of her worst fears was to lose the prison. This place was a safe haven for her mother and sister. As for herself as well. The prison being destroyed.
So she called it 'Miedo,' the Spanish word for fear. Yeah, it was a little different, but she wanted to give it more of a meaning then just plain terror. This was her worst nightmare. It was truly fear.
The last one scared herself a little. She was scared to even draw it at first because the image in her dream pained her enough. It was a forest, all black and gloomy, not a speck of sunshine for miles on end. An older woman, probably a teenager or a young adult, was cradling a small body that was a child. More precisely, a girl.
The way the woman held the dead child with so much regret and sorrow scared the shit out of Aria. It was so real. It felt like it would happen. Her heart beat faster just thinking about that picture.
So she called it 'Terrifiant,' which was the french word for terrifying.
Oh, she loved Europe. One of her dreams was to go there and see the sights. She was fluent in Spanish and French, and wanted to go to Paris and Spain so badly. They were her life dreams.
Now they were probably just ruins.
She had started to decorate the cell she and her sister had with all the drawings they made. Scarlett was a little artist, and she insisted that Aria hang up hers as well. It was only fair. Now, a quarter of the wall was covered in drawings, the girl with flower in the middle.
She always questioned who that girl was, because she knew that it wasn't just some random girl. This had meaning and she was going to find out.
But now it was a few days later and she was lying on her bed while reading one of her favorite books,' The Hunger Games.' She loved this book.
It had actually helped her in this world. Sure, it was very different from the actual storyline in the book, as in they were being chased by waling corpses and not kids. The people were trying to eat them, and they don't care if they kill you or not.
She had always wanted to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow. Katniss was so badass with it. She wanted to be just like her, but all she needed to do was learn how to use one of those. She places the book down and thinks for a second.
'Maybe Daryl knows how to use one…I wonder how different a crossbow is from a bow and arrow…that would be cool to learn just as much.'
She walks over to one of the corners and raids through the boxes she had. They had been collecting stuff from around and from stores that they could use to entertain. She takes out a giant sketchpad and opens it up, examining the paintings inside. One was a watercolor lily, another was a pastel night scene, and one other was an acrylic tree being struck by lightening.
She goes deeper and pulls out a bag that has a brush inside and paints, all sorts of colors. She had found them the other day in one of the old drawers. Maybe they were for investigation purposes before all this.
A piece of cardboard was in her hands and she placed some paint on it, mixing some together to make a different kind of color. She leans the sketchpad against the desk and dips the brush into the paint. Thinking for a moment, she places the brush on the canvas and begins her creation.
She had wanted to paint this ever since she started to read the trilogy. She loved the Hunger Games books and this was what she wanted to do one day.
She didn't know how long she sat there, painting her scene, but when she was done, she was positive that her face was covered in paint and her hair was gone from its ponytail, hanging on the sides of her face. When she's done, she leans back and examines the painting, smiling slightly.
It wasn't even that amazing. It was a blue sky that peeked through a canopy or trees, a few white clouds popping out. She had imagined this when Katniss was lying down with Rue when she was killed. Even though it was a sad day, it was at least still pretty outside.
That was more or less how she felt half the time.
She wipes her face again, sighing. She had wanted so many things. She was on her way, to being this big star, the next artist, maybe the next big time woman director. She wanted to make people look at her and say 'Wow, she is pretty good with that painting. She'll be the next big Picasso. Only the female version.'
She wanted that so badly.
Now, all she wanted was to stay alive.
"Aria?" she hears from the doorway. Ari looks up and finds Daryl leaning against the cell door. When he sees her face, he snickers slightly. "Ya got something on your face, there," he says, pointing to his cheek. She rolls her eyes and looks back at the painting.
"Ha, ha," she says sarcastically. He steps in and stops at the sight of the sketches on the walls.
"Forgot ya knew how to draw like this," he says. She shrugs.
"I just took lessons." He snorts.
"Ya draw better than any kid I have ever met. Better then a grown man. Lord knows that I can't draw for shit." She chuckles.
"Do have like a rag or something? I could really use it." He takes out one from his pocket and hands one to her. She takes it gratefully and wipes her face. When she takes it off, it's covered in red paint, cauding her cheeks to turn red. "Sorry about that," she mumbles. He shakes his head.
"Keep it. I see ya paint and ya always get it on your face. Ya need it." She nods.
"Thanks." She places the painting on her desk as he continues to look at the sketches.
"These are really good, Ari," he says. She smiles, embarrassed slightly. "If the world wasn't like this, I'm pretty sure these would be famous."
"Well, I doubt that," she says, facing him. "I'm only 15, but maybe in a few years I could somehow get it in a museum. That would be amazing." He nods and looks at her.
"Came here to tell ya your Mom went out on a quick raid with Maggie. They found this clothes shop a few days ago and wanted to get some new clothes. Girls day out, I guess," he says, snickering slightly at the end.
There was a six year age gap between the two girls, but both had become close in the past two weeks. Anna was like the older sister Maggie never had. That means Anna drove her crazy slightly, but it was usually just for fun. Both bonded over one thing: Harry Potter.
"Probably to pick up a Gryffindor t-shirt," Aria laughs. He smiles.
"She was obsessed with that series. Still loves it?" Aria snorts.
"With a passion." She's silent for a second before asking something that was on her mind. "Daryl, if I was to find a crossbow would you teach me how to use it?" He looks at her, surprise written all over his face. He raises an eyebrow.
"Ya want to learn how to use a crossbow? Are ya sure your arms can handle that much weight?" She scoffs, rolling her eyes.
"If I can carry my 50 pound sister, I can carry a crossbow. I'm a dancer. The muscles are in my legs." He chuckles.
"Ya are just like your mom," he snickers. She nods.
"Yeah," she laughs. "It's scary." She sits down on the bed and takes a deep breath. "Hey, can I ask you a question?" she asks.
"Ya just did," he says. She rolls her eyes and continues on.
"Now don't be quick to judge because I've seen this way before all of this so don't interrupt me." He nods slightly and chuckles.
"What's so important?" She takes another deep breath and looks up at him.
"Before you were called down to help your brother, were you going to ask my mom to marry you?" He's silent for a second, looking down at the ground, before nodding, looking back up.
"Don't tell her," he says quickly. She chuckles.
"I won't. But tell me everything, please? I'm DYING to know!" He rolls his eyes.
"Ya are such a girl," he mumbles. "I was…had the ring and everything." He sits down next to her on the bed. "And I really wanted to. But then he called and I had to come down to help, and I still regret it so much. Now, it's just so complicated." She thinks for a second.
"You basically are married now, you know that, right?" she says. He raises an eyebrow at her.
"What do ya mean by that?" She shrugs.
"Just from what I've seen. You two share a cell now, discreetly of course, but it's still something. You are always together when she's here, and you've already had a kid together, who loves both of you very much. Scarlett calls you 'daddy.' Who needs a ring?" she says. He chuckles. She leans against his side. "You were basically my dad, always around when I was a kid. And if you were to somehow get married in this world, I'd be happy, and so would Scarlett, and obviously my mother."
"Ya really think that?" he says, looking down at her. She smiles.
"Why wouldn't I?" She moves her head to look at him fully. "Plus, if you teach me how to use a crossbow, you'll have extra brownie points from me." He chuckles again. "Really, Daryl. I mean it. My mother loves you, and so do Scarlett and I. Especially when you always brought back a dirty water dog to the apartment when my mother didn't know. I'd give anything for one of those now," she mumbles.
"Maybe I'll find some and we can boil 'em over some water. How does that sound?" he says. She smiles at him.
"Sounds like a plan."
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Anna stares at the stuff she had picked up from the department store, specifically a DVD that made her smile. It brought back some good memories to her.
"No, I am not seeing a horror movie tonight," Anna laughs, shaking her head. Daryl comes on front of her, a pleading look on his face.
"Come on, Anna. Ya haven't gone out in forever, and I heard this movie is good." She shakes her head.
"I have a rehearsal tomorrow morning, Daryl. I have to get to sleep tonight. And seeing Paranormal Activity will completely scare the shit out of me." He rolls his eyes.
"Anna, no demon is going to get ya, as long as I'm there." She snorts.
"That's probably what the main dude says in the film! Before he gets possessed and kills his girlfriend!" She takes her book and places it back in the bookcase, walking over to the kitchen. "This is just an excuse for you to put your arms around me."
"Nevermind that," he says, waving his hand, causing Anna to roll her eyes. "Aria could watch Scarlett while we go out. Come on…ya know ya want to," he says, poking her side, knowing she'd squirm. She jumps back glaring at him.
"No means n-" He stops her mid sentence and places his lips on her, effectively silencing her. She sighs into the kiss and kisses back, her arms going around his neck. Maybe she did need a day to relax.
When he pulls back, he's waiting for an answer, but basically already knew. She sighs. "Fine! We'll go see the movie," she grumbles. He smiles and pecks her on the lips one more time before pulling back. "But If I'm like the demon in the morning from the movie, I'm coming after you," she growls. He chuckles.
"Come and get me, princess," he says, winking at her. Her face reddens and she looks down.
"Why do you always have to make things so sexual?" she mumbles. He chuckles.
"Because it's fun to see you squirm, in a cute way, of course." She sticks her tongue out at him and he grins. "Better put that away before I take over." She growls, throwing her hands up in the air.
"You're impossible, Dixon." He laughs, taking her hand.
"But ya love me." She rolls her eyes.
"Yeah, I do," and she leans in and kisses him again on the lips, smiling a little.
She chuckles slightly at the memory, picking up the DVD case. She wished she had a DVD played to watch it. This movie was one of the very few they saw that year. She had been so busy. That asshole was fired, so now they had a new director. SHE was so much nicer, and thank God it was a girl, but just as hard working, if not, more.
But, that director really did it just to piss her off sometimes. After all, the director was her life long friend, Lily.
She wondered if she was still alive. She knew Daryl was ok, and she had a feeling Joey and Shane were surviving. But Lily was a different story. She might be ok, but if she was, she was probably hiding out in a house with her girl, Dana.
Yeah, she was gay, too.
But that's what you get when you become friends with a bunch of theater geeks. Anna seemed to be the only person who didn't head in that direction. She still remembered when she told her, and she was AMAZED. She had dated so many guys, but it was just something to cover up the gayness. But Anna didn't care. She still loved her none-the-less.
All of them were gay. Lily, Joey, Marcus and Tyler were together, then there was Ian and Anthony. They were all gay.
And she still wondered if they were still alive.
She shook her head and put the DVD down, then picked up the t-shirt she had picked up when she hears Carol behind her.
"You having fun?" she hisses. Anna turns around and glares at the woman.
"What the hell is your problem with me?" she says. "I can't help it if Daryl cares about me, so just shut up and go away!" She turns back to the bed to unload the rest of her clothes but Carol comes in front of her, stopping her in her tracks. "What do you want?" Anna growls.
"Rick shouldn't have let you in. I knew you were nothing but trouble when you came. Now, everyone's off track because of you, and Daryl is-"
"You know what? SHUT UP!" she yells at Carol, who steps back slightly at the loudness in her voice. Anna glares at her, devils eyes. If it was a cartoon, her eyes would be a dark red. "I get it. You wanted Daryl all for yourself because he looked the hardest for your child. But that's not what's happening now. You may have thought you could be with him because of 'everything you've been through,'" she mocks. "But guess what? I'VE been through a shit ton more of stuff with that man then you," she says, poking her in the chest.
"You think you're some tough bitch, don't you?" she hisses. Anna smirks evilly.
"Yeah, I am. I was taught by Daryl. And you know what? We're together. WE. ARE. TOGETHER. We are happy. He is happy. Let him go! He is mine and not yours. He. Never. Will. Be. So just shut that ungodly, lopsided mouth of yours and leave us the fuck alone!"
"He loves me," she hisses back. Anna snorts.
"NO HE DOESN'T!" she yells, all up in her face now. "And you want to know why? You know Scarlett? Yeah, that's his kid. He and I did it and made her." Her eyes wide at that, backing away slightly. "Yeah, that's right. He's mine. Not yours. Now get the hell out of my cell," she growls.
Carol glares at her for a minute before pushing her up into the wall, surprising Anna. Her back hits a bump in the wall and she groans in pain, but Carol come forward and attempts to take the knife on the table and hurt her.
"GET AWAY FROM MY MAMA!" someone screamed from the doorway. Carol gets distracted and Anna pushes her off. Scarlett was standing at the doorway, a gun in fumbling in her hand, tears streaming down her face.
"It's ok, sweetie. Just stay there," Anna says, glaring at Carol. A moment later Daryl comes with his crossbow pointed, but stops when he sees's Scarlett with a gun. He leans down next to her and takes the gun and notices the tears streaming down her face. He looks to the two woman, first Anna, then Carol.
He sees the dirt and the few cuts Carol had managed to get on Anna, and then sees Carol with the knife. His eyes narrow. "What the hell happened, Anna?"
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"Daryl, what did you do that caused her to want you so much?" Anna says later in the night, putting on a long sleeve shirt to cover up her now bandaged cuts. He sighs.
"Her kid got lost in the woods and I was one of the only people looking for her, but the only reason why I looked was because I felt bad. Also, the memory of losin' Scarlett in Central Park came back to me," he says, cringing slightly. She chuckles.
"Only for like a few minutes though…did you look really hard or something?" she asks. He nods.
"Harder than anyone else, all because I felt bad. I mean, this was a twelve year old kid alone in an apocalypse and she wouldn't last a day by herself. But I never looked for her because I was madly in love with her or something like that." He places his head in his hands. "She was my friend. She was the first person in this group to even give a shit about me. Now…"
"She's stalking you and watching you in your sleep?" He looks at her confused. "She's probably done that, and you know it." He groans. "What're we gonna do with her?" she asks.
"I don't know…I'll talk with Rick in the morning…but right now-" She closes him off with a kiss, to which he replies happily. When she pulls back, she sighs.
"I kind of let it go that Scarlett was our daughter," she sighs. He rolls his eyes.
"So? She tells the whole prison. I think they've all guessed by now." She chuckles, nodding, but a yawn comes out a moment later. "Tired?" She nods, her eyes dropping slightly. He snickers. "Head to sleep," he says, letting her fall down on the mattress.
"Are you sure?" she says. He smiles and kisses her lightly.
"I'll be fine. Get to sleep. Yer no use when yer tired," he jokes. She snorts and turns over.
"Classy," she mumbles, before falling into a deep slumber.
Meanwhile, in a not too far away, Scarlett hops out of her bed and walks over to Carol's cell. She knocks on the door, sweetly. The woman wakes up suddenly, hitting her head on the bed above her. She stares at the young girl for a second before saying anything.
"Scarlett?" she questions. The girls nods, coming closer, her hands behind her back.
"Why did you hurt my mommy?" she asks, stepping up on a chair to be at her eyelevel. Carol looks down.
"I was just mad, ok? It happens to everyone every once and while. No hard feelings, right?" The little girl is silent for a second before nodding. "Ok, then go back to your cell." The girl stays put, hands behind her back. "Scarlett, go back to your cell."
She suddenly latches out her hand and covers Carol's mouth with her hand, scaring Carol. And suddenly, the girl takes out a gun from the back of her pants, pointing it at the woman. She falls silent, eyes wide, staring at the gun.
"Look at me," the girl says. The woman slowly looks over, scared for her life. This was a six year old with her hand on the trigger. "Mommy and daddy are together now and we are very happy. You hurt my mama one more time and I will kill you in your sleep, got it?" she whispers evilly. The woman nods.
The little girl smiles and takes her hand off. "Good. Sleep tight! Don't let the bed bugs bight!" She skips out of the cell, scaring the hell out of the woman. Scarlett smiles wider. Her mommy and daddy would be happy. And no one was going to get in the way of it.
SCARLETTS A MINI BADASS! XD She's learned well from her father, hasn't she? I thought that Scarlett needed to say something, because these were her parents she's talking about. She didn't want Carol as a stepmom. Who does? XD Definitely not me. Hope you enjoyed! Review!
~Ali