Burned Into Your Soul
AN: I have no excuses for finally updating this story after almost 2 years. Work and life got in the way. I hope I haven't lost anyone in the long wait. I am truly sorry. Just a note that this won't follow exactly like the show, so don't be surprised if something is different.
Chapter 2
As she gazed out over the farm, Beth felt a shift in the air she didn't understand. She had tingles all over her body and an odd peace was washing over her. She almost felt as if the other half of her soul was nearby.
That's impossible. He's nowhere near here.
The quiet of the day was disturbed by a single gunshot. It's echo startled Beth, causing her to jump. She looked toward the tree lines, her gaze raking over the tops. She saw birds flying upwards, but nothing else out of the ordinary.
Ten minutes later, she saw a man in what looked like some kind of uniform running towards the house with a young child in his arms. He was screaming for help. Beth yelled for her father and ran to the porch. The man stepped onto the bottom step, crying out, "My son's been shot! Help him please!"
By then Hershel had reached the porch. He looked at the child, who Beth realized was a young boy, and told him, "Bring him inside! Beth, get my bag."
She hurried to do what she was told. She heard her daddy direct the man into the guest room on the main floor. She walked into the room as the man was telling her daddy what happened. Otis, their farmhand, had shot the boy by accident when he shot at a deer and the bullet went straight through the deer and into the little boy, who she found out was named Carl. The man was his father Rick Grimes, who had been a Sheriff's deputy before everything happened. He told them that his wife was still with their group, and she needed to be told. Hershel sent Maggie, Beth's older sister, to get her.
Beth worked with her father to stop the bleeding and helped as he removed the bullet. Rick held Carl's hand and Beth could hear him praying under his breath. Her father finished tying off the sutures and dressed the wound.
"He's a strong young man. I've done what I can for now. The next 24 hours will be critical. I must tell you that if he gets an infection, I only have limited supplies," Hershel told Rick.
"Thank you for all your help. I can't tell you how grateful I am," Rick said, his hand ruffling Carl's hair.
Beth heard Maggie run inside, her steps followed by another. A dark haired, skinny woman burst into the room. "Oh my god! My baby!" she cried, racing toward the bed. Rick stood up and gathered her into his arms. He introduced her as his wife Lori. She sobbed into his chest, as Rick assured her that Carl would be alright. Lori collapsed by the side of the bed, and gently grasped Carl's hand. "Mommy's here, baby boy. I'm right here."
Rick and Hershel had been quietly speaking in the corner of the room. Beth overheard her daddy tell Rick that perhaps someone from his group could go with Maggie and get some supplies from town. He explained that Carl might need a blood transfusion, but that he didn't have the necessary tools if that happened. Rick said that there were a couple able bodied men that could go. He mentioned someone named Glenn and also someone named Daryl.
When Beth heard the name Daryl, her gaze automatically went to the soulmark on her arm with the DD and bow and arrow. She knew she had felt a shift earlier. As if her soulmate was within her grasp. She wondered if it could be Daryl. What is his last name?
Hershel wrote a short list of supplies that he would need and sent Maggie back out to Ricks group. She was to take either Glenn or Daryl with her and get the requested items. While they were getting those, Hershel had also told Maggie to invite the rest of the group to the farm. Rick had told him there were about 12 of them total.
A couple hours later, the quiet was once again disturbed by the sound of several engines coming toward the farm. Beth raced out to the porch and watched as a motorcycle pulled into the yard, followed by an RV and 3 other smaller cars. Her breath caught in her throat as her mark began to burn.
My soulmate is in this group…
