Red River Blue
Chapter 57
"River is gonna kill me when she finds out about this shit," Merle grumbled. He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck as he watched his older daughter limping down the street. One of her arms was slung around Noah's waist. His arm was around her back, pretending that Harley needed his help to walk. Merle turned to the small group of people behind him and added, "You fuckers betta never tell River about this!"
Merle's eyes lingered on Daryl, the person he thought seemed most likely to turn tattletail. Daryl gave Merle a tick of his chin. He knew better than anyone that River would not be impressed about the shit that was about to go down. But Harley was going to do whatever Harley wanted to do. She didn't listen to him or Merle any better than she listened to her mother. Or to anyone else. And this was the best plan they had. The only one that would ensure they got Beth and Carol back safe. Harley and Noah were going to get themselves captured by the hospital guards. That way they were inside the hospital and could make sure that none of their people would be caught in the crossfire when Harley let everyone else inside to attack the place.
Daryl watched the girl. She waited until she was a few blocks away from the parking garage the rest of them were hiding in before she pulled out her handgun and fired a few shots off into the air. Then both she and Noah started screaming for help. Harley was doing a decent job of pretending she was hurt. She even stood with one foot up like a flamingo when a couple walkers came at her and she had to let go of Noah to kill them.
It didn't take long before a car with a cross on the back came flying around the corner, heading towards the loud ass noise Harley was making on purpose. Daryl questioned what they were doing when two men in uniform hopped out. But it was too late to turn back now. Harley moved quickly. She pretended to stumble and fall, tossing herself right into the guard that was closest to her. The man put his arm around her, helping her gently into the back of the car. Noah was handled a little more roughly by the other man. Daryl saw the man twist Noah's arm behind his back, making him yelp before he stuffed him into the backseat with Harley.
Beth was mopping the floor inside Carol's room when she heard the screaming. She dropped the mop, the wooden handle hitting the floor with a slap. She rushed out into the hall. But nothing could have prepared her for the scene she walked into. Her mouth dropped open. And it was lucky for her that the guards in the hall were focused on the girl they were supporting between them. Because Beth felt the laughter bubbling up into her throat before she could stop it. She had to turn her back and bite down hard on her lower lip to control herself.
First off, Harley was here. Which meant her dad and uncle and probably a lot more of their people were close by. Beth guessed they were right outside the hospital somewhere. And second, the girl was howling like a cat in heat. Back at the prison, Beth saw Harley break her pinky finger shutting it in a cell door. The girl yanked it back into place without even flinching. There was no way she would be carrying on in such a ridiculous way over a twisted ankle. Beth was certain the girl wasn't even hurt.
Harley piped down for a minute, while the doctor pulled her boots off. But as soon as his fingers even grazed her ankle, she started up screaming again like she was being axe murdered. Beth could only shake her head. Harley's acting was a little over the top. But the guards and the doctor seemed to buy it. Her ankle was carefully wrapped in an ace bandage and she was given tylenol for the pain. Dawn went in and gave Harley the same speech she gave Beth when she woke up with a cast on her arm.
"After I work off my debt I have to leave?," Harley asked, like the very thought of leaving this place terrified her, "...Can't I stay here longer?"
Beth had to admit. That was a nice touch. Maybe Harley's acting wasn't so bad after all.
The two girls didn't have to even try hard in order to be left alone together. Dawn barked out orders in her usual rude way, telling Beth to get the new girl some scrubs and show her to an empty room. Harley followed Beth down the hall on crutches, holding the foot with the bandage up until the door clicked shut behind them. Harley quickly abandoned the crutches, leaning them against the side of the bed. She darted towards the window and pulled a small metal cylinder out of her bra. When she flicked a switch on the side of it, Beth could see it was a laser pointer.
"Is Carol okay?," Harley asked. Beth nodded, joining Harley at the window while the girl waved the small red light back and forth horizontally in front of her body. "Are you okay?," Harley asked. Beth nodded again. Her face was torn up. But she could still walk. And she could still fight.
"Where are they?," Beth asked.
"Second from the top floor of the parking garage across the street," Harley informed her, pointing her finger at the area she was watching. Beth felt the hope and relief surge inside her when she saw a small red light waving at them from the spot Harley indicated.
"Who's over there?," Beth asked, trying to keep herself from getting too excited yet. Harley got in. But they still had to get out again.
"My dad, Uncle D, Rick, Michonne, and Sasha. My mom and Tyreese stayed back with the kids. Glenn and yer sister took off with Abraham."
"Who's Abraham?," Beth asked. She was happy to hear that Maggie made it out of the prison safe. But confused when Harley mentioned her taking off with some man whose name Beth didn't recognize.
"This big loud ginger that says he's on a mission to save the world," Harley told Beth with a laugh, "he seems alright. Rick has a map to wherever they're going so we can meet up with them later. Maggie left before Uncle D got back, so she didn't know we were coming for ya."
Beth nodded. She stared hopefully out the window while Harley pulled her clothes off and put on the scrubs that had been provided for her. She quietly filled Beth in on the rest of the plan, which didn't take long since it wasn't very involved. They were waiting for dark. They were going to let the rest of their people in. Then they were going to take this place. All Harley needed from Beth was the key to the door downstairs. Harley assured her they would shoot the door open if they had to. But they would lose the element of surprise if they did that. Harley said she would rather they opened it quietly. Especially since Beth wasn't sure if Carol was going to be able to walk.
"I can get the key from Dawn's office," Beth whispered. Harley nodded and picked her crutches back up. Just as Beth's hand was closing on the doorknob to swing the door open, Harley grabbed Beth by the back of her scrub top and yanked her back. Before Beth realized what was happening Harley's arms were wrapped around her. Harley had a funny rough way of hugging. Beth had seen it before, when the other girl hugged her mom. It always seemed like Harley enjoyed the physical contact but also wanted to get it over with as fast as possible. This time she held onto Beth a little longer than usual as she whispered into her ear.
"You and me 're about ta give these fuckers hell."