Chapter 8...
I awoke with a start, feeling like I was falling. Getting my baring's, I looked over to check on Daryl. I gave him a small smile when I noticed he was awake and staring at me.
"What?" I asked shifting in my seat, he had this look about him that seemed like he was looking right through you.
"You know you talk in Irish when your asleep." he said tilting his head to the side.
"Huh?" I asked confused, stretching a bit the chair was not the most comfortable place at the moment.
"Who hit you?" he suddenly demanded sitting up more once he got a better look at my face. I spotted the scars on his chest that my Grandfather had given him as a child, before he pulled the blankets up. Although I knew about the abuse, my Uncle and Father were careful to keep their scars covered. I never got to meet my bastard of a grandfather, both Merle and Daryl said it was for the best.
I just shook my head," Leave it Uncle, I deserved it." I said looking out the window, trying to ignore his stare.
"Look at me Itsy." he said in a voice that I hadn't heard since I was seventeen and he caught me with his forty-year-old mechanic buddy. I looked at him, "What happened?" he demanded again.
Shrugging I said, "I punched Andrea for shooting you, then she slapped me for calling her out on being a stupid gun happy bitch." looking at him straight in the eye.
His response was a snort followed by a chuckle. "You are definitely a Dixon." he said shaking his head, but stops and grabs his head.
I laughed, "Was there ever any doubt? Don't do that, you might loosen more rocks in that head of yours."
"Nope, Merle always said you came into this world like a Dixon and you'll prolly leave this world like a Dixon." he said ignoring my other comment.
"What raising hell and making the devil jealous?" I laughed feeling less pissed off, but I still needed to release some pent up frustration. "I'm going for a walk before it gets too dark. I'll be back. Don't go anywhere Holy Man." I teased ducking a flying pillow. "Getting slow there, old man." I said throwing the pillow back, hitting him in the face.
"Shut it Itsy." was his only reply before I shut the door.
Laughing to myself I headed down stairs, stopping long enough to slip on my boots and put my mp3 player in my pocket. Stepping on to the porch, I turn my music on and put in my headphones, Pink blaring in my ears. The one fun thing about being a struggling musician, was tormenting my Uncle with my weird musical taste.
Stepping off the porch, I stretched before I started heading toward the large pond at a slow pace, enjoying the sunset, a smile on my face. I wave and smiled at Lori and Carl who were sitting at the picnic, table they waved back. I stopped by the RV when Dale waved me over. Taking a deep breath, I removed my earplugs, "What's up, Dale." I asked from the base of the RV.
"Come up here and sit with me a moment and watch the sun set. It's beautiful." Dale called down to me. I climbed the ladder to the RV and took a seat next to him wondering if I was gonna get lectured for hitting Andrea.
"How's Daryl?" He asked taking off his hat before wiping his face and head with a rag.
I looked out over the field, I closed my eyes feeling the warm sun on my face. "He's gonna survive. Stubborn ass, my Uncle." I joked opening my eyes and smiling at Dale. "The wound in his side missed all of his major organs and will heal fine. The bullet to his head grazed his scalp. If it had just been a few more inches to the left, I'd be the last Dixon on earth." I said with my jaw clenched.
"You have to forgive her." Dale said looking at me with pleading eyes. "Andrea's been through a lot since the outbreak."
I shook my head, "Excuse me? I need to forgive her because she's been through a lot? Bullshit!" I stated offended, "She almost killed my Uncle!"
"She didn't mean to. She means well and is very focused on keeping this group safe." Dale explained putting his hat back on.
"Focused my ass! How can I forgive someone who is gun happy and willing not to listen to Rick or anyone else for that matter?" I look at Dale full in the face before I go on, "Has anyone taken the time to even bother to get to know me or to ask me what my life was like since the outbreak? No, they keep their distance because I'm Merle's daughter, afraid I'm gonna go off like I do with Daryl. He's my family, he's the only one I can go off on! Well I got news for you, Dale, I'm not my old man! Sure Rick, Lori and Carl talk to me but that was before they found out who I was and as for Carol, she needs someone to take care of to keep herself from going cnonna. Nuts. But does anyone else? NO! " I feel the tears start to slip, "All everyone cares about is each other and their own survival." I feel myself getting pissed off. I get up and climb down the ladder and move away from the RV without another word.
Putting my earplugs in once more I take off at a dead run, for the far side of the field, too angry and hurt to deal with anyone's shit. I reach the pond and slow down, wiping the tears from my face. As I'm rounding the small boat house, I'm suddenly slammed into the siding, Shane standing before me, his shirt unbuttoned.
He had a smirk on his face and lust in his eyes. "What the fuck Shane!?" I demand as he steps closer. A bottle of R&R in his hand.
"Back off Shane." I demand pushing him back, "I'm not in the mood for your shit!"
Anger blazes in his eyes before Shane grabs my hair and slams the back of my head into the siding, stars appearing in my eyesight.
"Shane get off of me!"
"Your just like her; walking around teasing me." He wraps a hand around my throat, while the other slides up my shirt groping my breast through my sports bra. "Your Uncle can't save you now." He whispers trying to kiss me. He moved his hand from my breast to the hem of my shorts. He watches as his hand slid into my underwear, an evil smirk on his face.
"Stop Shane!' I gasp before jamming my thumb in his eye.
"Fucking cunt!" He groaned releasing my throat enough so I could breathe again. As he rubbed his eye, I brought my knee up and connected with his groin.
"Fucking douchebag!" I exclaimed punching him across the face before slamming his face into the side of the boat shed. "If you ever and I mean ever touch me or anyone like this again; I will fucking kill you." Before he could say anything I pushed him to the ground and ran into the woods.
I ran until it felt like lungs were going to burst. I finally collapsed against a tree, my arms wrapped around me, tears streaming down my face.
Later that evening…
I return to the house from my hiding spot and I'm greeted by a kitchen full of women and the smell of food, my stomach dropped. I try to sneak past as Beth looks over from the dining room table.
"Bella!" she exclaims a smile on her face, "Where have you been?" she asked as she continues setting the table.
I look around the room before I state, "Needed to blow off some steam so I went for a run around the farm." I give Beth a small smile, "I'm gonna take a quick shower. I'll be down shortly." I explain backing out of the room and running up the stairs to my room. I grab a fresh par of clothes and my spare sports bra before heading to the bathroom, locking the door.
I quickly washed every inch of my body, trying to rid myself of Shane's touch. I wash and rinse my hair wincing from the cut on the back of my head; before I get out and started getting dressed. I slipped into stretch pants, clean underwear, my sports bra and a large grey and black stripped tank top. I quickly pulled my hair into a ponytail before heading downstairs.
I followed the sound of clinking and chatting. Everyone turned and looked when I walked into the dining room. "What?" I ask defensively," Is there a booger on my face?" causing a few to giggle.
"Your covered in scratches and bruises. Are you ok?" Lori asked from her seat next to Rick. "Did you get attacked?"
I looked down, willing myself not to cry before I looked up again, "Oh no, I'm fine. Had a close encounter with a briar bush when a rabbit scared the shit out of me when I went for a run along the path that runs around the farm in the woods." I explained sitting down between Glenn and Beth. "It's all good, thanks for the concern." I caught Lori staring at me, a hand on her heart as is if she knew. She raises an eyebrow causing me to look away.
"Ah big bad Bella got scared by lil bugs bunny." Rick teased a grin on his face, taking a drink.
"Yup lil bastards gonna pay cause I'm going bow hunting in the morning, I'm gonna be Elmer Fudd and get me that pesky wabbit." I joked back, turning to Carl I put my finger to my lips, "Shhh I'm hunting wabbit!" Causing him to grin.
"Think I can go with you?" he asks hope in his eyes. He looks towards his mom and dad.
"I don't see a problem, but you gotta clear it with your folks." I said with a shrug taking drink of my ice water.
Rick looked at Lori who shrugged. "We don't see a problem." He said with a smile.
'YES!" Carl exclaimed with a smile on his face.
"Nice! I'll teach ya to skin and gut." I promised as the food started to get passed around. Soon everyone was quietly eating.
Gratefully Shane was a no show for dinner.
After dinner…
I'm sitting cross legged on mine and Maggie's bed trying to get my bow ready for in the morning but I'm filled with anger and humiliation 'Motherfucker!' Anger because I couldn't fight Shane and humiliation because he got as far as he did.
Suddenly Maggie walks in, anger in her eyes. "Jerk." She mumbles before flopping down in the chair next to the bed. "Men are jerk" she sighs.
"You have no idea…" I whisper willing the tears not to fall, but they come anyway.
"Bella, what's wrong?" Maggie jumps up and sits down on the bed next to me.
I turned to her as my vision got blurry. "You gotta swear not to say a word. Please Maggie." I beg grabbing her hand.
"I promise." She said squeezing my hand.
"I didn't fall in a briar bush." I whisper looking down. With a deep breath I tell her everything that had happened from the moment I left my uncle's room up until just before dinner…