Chapter 28: Slick Roads and Shadows
The morning air hung heavy, thick with the kind of warmth that felt out of place for the season. The frost that had dusted the ground the day before was gone, replaced by damp earth that clung to the soles of their boots. The courtyard of the abbey buzzed with quiet activity as the group prepared to leave.
Daryl stood near the truck, his eyes scanning the gray sky. He inhaled deeply, the familiar scent filling his lungs. "Rain's comin'," he said, his voice low.
Codron, securing one of the tarps over the supplies in the truck bed, paused and glanced over. "How do you know?" he asked, as Carol nodded in agreement from the other side of the truck.
"You spend enough time out in it, you can smell it." She said, thinking back to all the days they'd spent on the road. The smell of rain always brought with it a feeling of relief– at least in those days. Daryl shrugged off his crossbow and leaned it against the side of the truck as he helped them finish securing the ropes.
Codron huffed a soft laugh, shaking his head. "I'll take your word for it."
Isabelle emerged from the abbey, a folded blanket in her arms. "Everything's packed," she announced, her voice cutting through the quiet. She glanced up at the sky, her brows knitting slightly. "Feels strange. This warmth. Like the weather can't decide what it wants to be."
"Just means the storm'll be worse," Daryl muttered, tossing the last strap into place. He stepped back, his sharp eyes sweeping over the truck to ensure everything was secured. The supplies were covered tightly under layers of tarp, the ropes crisscrossing over the load like a web.
Isabelle handed the blanket to Carol, who stowed it in the backseat.
"That everything?" Daryl asked, looking back towards the abbey, its facade looking even more weathered in the shadows of the greying sky.
"I think so," Isabelle nodded, there was a tinge of sadness in her voice– knowing that she was once again leaving the place that was her home, her shelter for so long.
"We'll head towards Toulouse," Codron chimed in, slamming the truck's tailgate shut. "Then South from there towards the border."
Daryl gave a curt nod, his gaze shifting to the horizon where the sky seemed to grow darker with each passing minute. The air was heavy, and even without the first drop of rain, the storm already felt like it was pressing down on them.
"You sure about Toulouse?" Carol asked, climbing into the backseat and setting her pack beside her. "Bigger cities could mean bigger problems."
"It's the most direct route," Codron replied, climbing in after her. "We'll have to double back if the main roads are bad, but it's quicker than the rural routes."
Daryl didn't look convinced, but he opened the driver's door and climbed in. Isabelle followed, settling into the passenger seat as she cast one last look back at the abbey. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a brief moment, she looked like she might say something. Instead, she exhaled softly and turned her attention forward.
"You good?" Daryl asked, his voice low, almost lost under the sound of the engine roaring to life.
"Yeah," she said quietly, but he could see how the fingers of her left hand were fidgeting with a tear in the seat, twisting and pulling at the loose threads around the edges. He didn't say anything at first, just watched as her tension played out in the nervous motion. Finally, he reached out, sliding his hand under hers and lacing their fingers together. Her eyes glanced down at their entwined hands before they moved up and locked with his.
Daryl gave her hand a small, reassuring squeeze before turning his attention back to the windshield.
The storm broke with a vengeance an hour into their journey. Sheets of rain pounded the windshield, the wipers struggling to keep up as Daryl carefully navigated the flooded roads. The vast open fields, broken by scattered clusters of trees, streaked by in a haze of browns and muted greens, blurred by the relentless downpour.
Lightning split the darkened sky in jagged forks, illuminating the soaked landscape for the briefest moments before plunging it back into shadow. Each brilliant flash was followed by the crack and rumble of thunder, rolling across the fields and vibrating through the truck's frame. The noise of the rain hammering against the metal and glass was unrelenting, drowning out all but the roar of the engine.
Daryl's knuckles were white against the steering wheel as he leaned forward, his eyes squinting through the distorted view ahead. Isabelle sat silently beside him, her hands folded in her lap, though her fingers fidgeted unconsciously with the edge of her jacket.
"This ain't drivin'," Daryl muttered under his breath, his voice low and gravelly. "It's blindfolded guesswork."
"Storm's worse than I thought it'd be," Isabelle replied, her tone quiet, as if trying not to add to the tension in the cab.
"It'll pass," Daryl said, though there was no certainty in his voice. His focus remained locked on the road, or what was left of it, the water pooling in deep channels and concealing hidden obstacles.
In the backseat, Carol and Codron sat in silence. Codron's gaze darted between the storm and the tattered map in his hands, the edges worn thin and curling in the humidity.
The truck jolted as the tires found a hidden rut beneath the water, prompting a low curse from Daryl. He tightened his grip on the wheel, adjusting quickly to keep them steady.
Carol glanced up from the blade she had been sharpening, her eyes narrowing at the map Codron held. "You sure we're even on the right road?" she asked, her tone cutting through the sound of the storm.
Codron huffed. "Not with this weather, no. Hard to make out the signs when they're rusted and half-covered in vines. But this is the route we planned—should take us straight through, if the roads aren't blocked."
"That's a big 'if,'" Daryl muttered, his voice rough. His gaze never wavered from the shimmering stretch of waterlogged road ahead, the headlights barely cutting through the rain.
A flash of lightning illuminated the narrow road, revealing a cluster of abandoned and rusted vehicles, their metal skeletons slick with rain and moss. Daryl braked, his jaw clenching as he slowed the truck to a crawl.
"Shit," Carol muttered, leaning forward to peer through the windshield. "Doesn't look like there's a way through."
Daryl exhaled sharply, his frustration evident as he threw the truck into park. "Ain't riskin' it. Not with this visibility." He looked at Codron in the rearview mirror. "Got another route?"
Codron glanced at the map again, tracing a path with his finger. "We'll have to backtrack, try south of Toulouse. Rural roads'll be clearer."
Daryl shifted the truck into reverse, the tires spinning briefly before finding traction. "We passed a gas station a few miles back," he said, "looked like it had a garage out back. I'll see if we can't get in there to top off. See if the rain's gonna slack off any."
The truck jostled over a bump, the waterlogged road offering little grip as they retraced their path. Eventually, the faint silhouette of the gas station came into view, its rusted sign swaying precariously in the wind. The building itself was dark and uninviting, but the covered garage at the back offered some reprieve from the downpour.
The structure was a 4-bay metal building, its walls streaked with rust and grime from years of neglect. The concrete floor was cracked and pitted, littered with the remnants of its former life—old mechanic tools scattered about, rusted car parts piled in the corners, and an overturned oil drum leaking a dark stain that had long since dried.
The truck rumbled forward, its headlights cutting through the dim, rain-soaked interior of the mechanic shop. Daryl carefully maneuvered it into the second bay, the tires splashing through shallow puddles collected on the cracked concrete floor. The sound of the engine echoed against the metal walls before he finally killed it, leaving only the relentless drumming of rain on the roof.
Daryl pulled the keys from the ignition and glanced around the dimly lit garage. The faint smell of rust, oil, and mildew hung thick in the air. With a sigh, he opened the door and stepped out, his boots scuffing against the damp concrete.
They made quick work of refilling the gas tank and securing the can back into the bed of the truck. Carol set out to look around the shop, hoping to find anything of use. Daryl leaned against the large metal doorway, his forearm braced on the frame as he watched the storm rage outside. Rain pounded the ground in relentless sheets, pooling in deep puddles across the lot. The wind carried the occasional spray of mist into the garage, but Daryl didn't flinch, his eyes scanning the obscured landscape.
The faint crunch of boots against the concrete floor behind him signaled Codron's approach. He came up beside Daryl, pulling his cigarette case out of his jacket pocket. With a flick of his thumb, he popped it open and offered one to Daryl.
Daryl glanced at the cigarette, his brows lifting slightly before he reached out and took it. Codron lit his own first, the small flame of the lighter briefly illuminating his face, before holding it out for Daryl. The two men stood side by side in silence, the smoke curling upward and disappearing into the storm as they each took a drag.
"Doesn't look like it's going to be easing up anytime soon," Codron said after a moment, his voice low, almost lost under the sound of the rain. "The roads are just going to get worse."
Daryl exhaled a slow stream of smoke, his gaze still fixed on the downpour. "Already bad enough," he muttered. "Ain't gonna get any easier the closer we get to Toulouse."
Codron nodded, taking another drag before glancing sideways at Daryl. "I can drive, if you want. I know the area better. I'll be able to read the road signs when they get trickier."
Daryl tilted his head slightly, considering the offer. He didn't like giving up the wheel—control was something he held onto tightly—but Codron had a point. He'd driven these roads before, and that familiarity could make a difference.
"Alright," Daryl said after a moment, flicking ash toward the wet ground outside.
Codron gave a quick nod and took another drag from his cigarette before letting it drop to the ground and grinding it out with the toe of his boot. Daryl followed suit, crushing the glowing ember of his cigarette against the door frame.
Codron clapped Daryl lightly on the shoulder, heading for the driver's side. Daryl watched him go before turning back toward Isabelle. She was already sliding into the backseat, leaving the front passenger seat open for Carol.
Daryl hesitated for a moment, glancing back out at the storm before sliding into the back seat. The seat creaked slightly under his weight as he settled in beside Isabelle. She shifted closer, the edge of her knee brushing against his.
The truck rumbled to life, Codron adjusting the mirrors and wiping condensation from the windshield. "Alright, let's see if we can make it through without having to turn around again," he muttered, easing the truck out of the garage and back out into the storm.
As the rain poured down, the cab grew quiet save for the relentless drumming of water on metal and glass.
"Merde…," Codron cursed under his breath, gripping the wheel tighter as he reversed the truck from another dead end.
Carol squinted at the road ahead, her hand resting lightly on the dashboard. "This is a lot worse than I expected." Codron nodded in agreement, as Carol went back to checking the map, using her dull pencil to scratch another X on their projected path.
In the back seat, Daryl's hand rested against his knee, his fingers drumming in a steady rhythm. Isabelle sat beside him, her gaze fixed on the rain-streaked window.
At this rate it would take them weeks to reach the coast of Spain. Daryl's jaw tightened at the thought. The idea of spending weeks cramped in the back of a truck, running into one dead end after another, every path forward resulting in another path back into the direction from which they were trying to escape. He sighed, working his bottom lip between his teeth.
One step forward, three steps back.
Daryl's hand stilled as he felt Isabelle's fingers wrap around his. Her touch was gentle, grounding, a quiet attempt to ease the restlessness building in him. His gaze shifted from the rain-slicked window to their hands, her smaller fingers laced with his, steadying the rhythm he'd unconsciously set.
He let out a quiet exhale, his shoulders softening just enough to release the tension he'd been carrying. Isabelle's eyes remained fixed on the window, but her thumb brushed lightly against the back of his hand, a silent reassurance that somehow managed to slowly cut through the storm in his chest.
Daryl's jaw unclenched as he watched her, his fingers curling slightly around hers in return.
He turned his attention back out the window, noticing how they'd already begun to lose daylight. With the thick cover of the storm clouds, it was impossible to know if the sun had already set, or if it was just well on its way toward it. And judging by the return of the rolling hills of farmland and occasional smattering of trees along the roadway, it didn't seem as though they had very many options for a place to hole up for the night.
The truck jostled suddenly, pulling Daryl's attention back to the road ahead. Codron cursed under his breath as the tires skidded slightly before finding traction again. The rain was relentless, turning the narrow rural road into a slippery mess of mud and standing water.
"Road's gettin' worse," Codron muttered, his grip tightening on the wheel. Carol leaned forward in the passenger seat, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the road ahead through the streaked windshield.
"You're not gonna make it through that," she said, pointing toward a low dip in the road where the water had pooled deep enough to ripple with the wind.
Codron cursed again, easing the truck to a crawl. "This mud is too slick for me to stop. I can't turn around. We're going to have to chance it."
"Take it slow." Daryl said from the backseat, his voice gruff. He sat forward slightly, his free hand bracing against the back of Codron's seat.
Codron nodded, the muscles in his jaw flexing as he guided the truck into the flooded section. The water splashed up against the sides of the vehicle, the tires churning through the thick mud below. For a moment, it seemed like they might make it.
Then the truck lurched, the back end sliding to the side as the tires spun uselessly in the muck.
"Fuck!" Codron growled, gripping the wheel tightly as he tried to regain control. The engine roared, the tires spinning in place, but the truck didn't move.
Carol sighed, her hand gripping the dashboard to steady herself. "Told you it was too deep." She muttered, squinting through her rain and mud streaked window trying to survey the area around them. The rain continued to pour in relentless sheets, drumming loudly against the roof and cascading down the windshield in distorted waves.
Daryl muttered something under his breath, his frustration evident as he rubbed the bridge of his nose with his free hand. The storm outside seemed to mirror the tension inside the cab.
Codron threw the truck into park, frustration evident as he yanked the keys from the ignition. He leaned back in the driver's seat, running a hand through his hair and exhaling sharply. "We're not getting out of here tonight," he muttered, his tone edged with defeat.
Carol nodded, her eyes still scanning the waterlogged road. "Not with the rain coming down like this," she said. "We'll have to wait it out until the water starts to recede."
Daryl grunted in agreement, leaning forward in his seat. His sharp gaze flicked between the windshield and Codron, his irritation simmering just below the surface.
The group fell into a heavy silence as the rain continued to pound against the truck, the sound filling the cab like a persistent drumbeat. Isabelle reached into the back and pulled out a small bag of supplies, digging through it for a moment. She retrieved a couple of packs of dried fruit, passing them up to the front seat. She offered another over to Daryl but he just declined, as he usually did.
They sat in a lulled silence for a while, Carol studied the map, unfolding it across her lap. She traced the lines with her finger, her eyes scanning it as though new roads might suddenly appear. The dim light inside the cab made it difficult to make out the details, but she didn't stop. It was something to focus on, something to distract from the frustrating reality of their situation.
Darkness began to settle over the landscape, the storm clouds blending with the fading light to shroud everything in shadow. Daryl shifted in his seat, leaning back and adjusting his position to get comfortable. As he leaned his head back against the seat, he felt Isabelle shift beside him. the movement was subtle at first—a small adjustment as she tugged the blanket from her lap and unfolded it over her legs.
Daryl glanced down at her, his brow furrowing slightly in curiosity. Before he could ask what she was doing, she reached for his wrist, her touch warm and sure. Gently, she pulled his arm up and over her shoulders, settling herself closer to his side. She turned her back toward him, tucking her legs up onto the seat and nestling into his frame.
Isabelle tugged his arm across her, tucking it snugly against her front as she leaned her face into the curve of his bicep. The blanket shifted as she adjusted, her other hand drawing it higher to cover them both.
Daryl didn't say a word as he let his arm settle across her, his hand resting lightly against her side. His gaze flicked down to the top of her head, where her hair brushed against his jaw, and he pressed his lips into her hair.
Isabelle shifted slightly as she felt the faint movement of Daryl's hand against her side. His fingers brushed against the edge of her shirt, lingering for a brief moment before slipping just beneath the fabric, the warmth of his palm settling against her skin.
Her breath caught for just a second, a small hitch that she wasn't sure he noticed. But as his hand stilled, resting there as if it had always belonged, she let herself relax further into him. Her fingers tightened lightly against his forearm, her silent way of giving him the reassurance she knew he always looked for.
Daryl's thumb moved idly, tracing a faint pattern against her side. It wasn't much, just the barest hint of motion, but it sent a quiet shiver through her. For all his rough edges and quiet demeanor, there was something achingly tender in the way he held her now, as if she was something precious he didn't quite know how to handle but was trying his best not to let go.
She burrowed more into him, pressing her face further into his bicep, her eyes drifting closed as she let the warmth of his presence wrap around her like a shield against the world outside.
There was a faint shuffle from the front seat as Carol adjusted her seat, reclining slightly before settling against the backrest. She reached for her jacket, rolling it up and wedging it behind her head as a makeshift pillow. "Might as well try to get some sleep," she murmured, her voice low and distant. "No point in staring at the rain all night."
Codron let out a noncommittal grunt, tipping his head back against the seat. His arms folded across his chest, and his eyes drifted shut, though his furrowed brow betrayed the restlessness beneath.
In the backseat, Isabelle had fully relaxed against Daryl. The steady rhythm of her breathing, coupled with the warmth of her body pressed against his, was all he needed to finally let himself unwind. Shifting slightly, he angled his body to better accommodate her, his movements careful not to disturb her. His arm tightened just a fraction around her, holding her closer.
Her fingers, resting lightly against his forearm, moved in response. A lazy, soothing caress trailed across his skin, and Daryl couldn't help the small, almost imperceptible sigh that escaped him. The tension that had coiled tightly in his chest since they'd set out eased further, and at some point he finally drifted into a light sleep.
The first time Daryl drifted back into consciousness, it was brief. His eyes cracked open just enough to note that the relentless drum of the rain had finally ceased, leaving only the occasional raindrop tapping lightly against the roof. The absence of the storm's roar was jarring in its silence, and before his thoughts could linger, sleep claimed him once again.
The second time, it wasn't the quiet that woke him but a sound—a faint thud against the truck. His eyes fluttered open, his body shifting slightly as he glanced around. In the dark, he could faintly see Isabelle's foot rested near the door, and he chalked the noise up to her stirring in her sleep, her foot bumping the panel.
He let his head fall back, his eyes closing as he exhaled softly, ready to drift off once more. But just as the edges of sleep began to pull him under, the sound came again.
This time, it wasn't the door by Isabelle's feet—it was the door at his back. A slow, deliberate sound, like something brushing against the metal. Daryl's body went rigid, his senses sharpening as his eyes darted to the window. The faint scrape of something sliding along the side of the truck reached his ears, followed by a dull thud at the tailgate.
The hairs on the back of Daryl's neck stood on end as the realization settled into his mind—
They weren't alone.