Farmer's Daughter (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter 23

Melinda's POV

With a few words with the governor exchanging his whereabouts, they had finally crawled back in their vehicles and sped down the dirt road. Nothing important was spoken other than that, just the same thing repeated in different ways. Each way was like a knife being shoved into my chest.

He wanted me.

The possibilities of why were endless. I had never encountered this man, or the people with him. Other than my uncle.

Seeing him again brought up emotions that I had pushed away for a good reason. It made me feel scared, like anything and everything is possible in this world. But then again, nothing is possible. It was going back and forth that confused me. He was supposed to die. The whole situation screamed death. But then, he was standing right in front of me, alive and well.

A nudge of the shoulder brought me out of my thoughts. A shaky breath fills my lungs as I look up at the man. His eyes were a piercing blue, and in that moment I don't think I had seen them so frightened. The way they look into mine, almost dreading what was to come.

"Melinda, what did you do?" His voice was low. Ricks eyes looked over my face trying to capture an emotion, any emotion. But I couldn't exactly give him one. I was feeling so many, all at once.

"W-what do you mean? What did I do?" My voice shook with confusion and fear.

"Atlanta Melinda! What the hell did you do before Atlanta?" His voice had risen quickly causing me to jump slightly at the change.

"I didn't do anything! I told you Rick, I had just gotten out of that hospital. What could I have possibly done?" I tried to keep my voice at a minimum. But the fear bubbling up inside of me made it difficult to remain calm.

"Have you ever seen that man?!" He points a fast finger in the direction the men had fled.

"No! I-"

"Then what do they want with you?!"

"Rick!" A woman's voice screams. His breathing was uneven and face red as he turns to a disapproving wife.

"What Lori?" He snaps. She seemed shocked with his behavior, almost terrified. Like she had never seen her husband raise his voice before. Like all of this was new for her.

"I need to speak with you." She took a small look my way, then once again to her husbands raging face. "Alone."

Rick turned with slits for eyes, they cut into mine as he made eye contact.

"We aren't done here." His teeth were clenched as he points a finger to the ground. He turns once again and follows his wife, disappearing into a near by tent.

As soon as he left my sight I let out a long breath. One I had been to scared to let out while he was standing in front of me. My hand came up to my chest in a flash, just seeing how fast my heart was racing. It was like a drum, each beat new and alive.

The pressure in my ears made it hard to hear the surrounding noises. The thoughts that ran through my head were like none other that I had thought of. People are cruel, and heartless. Even before everything went down, but more so now.

Trees past my vision as I stare blankly at what's in front of me. Freedom. Everything was so free and alive out in the open. The only thing that wasn't was in fact the only movement.

Me.

I was dead compared to everything else. The trees breathed in the sunlight and the wind blowing past their branches. The small vegetation used the trees little shade to block the harsh sun that danced freely in the sky. The clouds moved with the wind, with a pattern of their own. The birds called a song to let nature know that they were alive.

And that's when it really had sunken in. The dirt on my face, all over my body. In my crevasses and every curve. The dread on my shoulders. The guilt in my eyes. The pain in my every move. The weapon dragging the ground behind me proved my weakness. I couldn't even hold up my one life source to prove to myself that I was strong. Because I wasn't.

The twigs snapped as I took each step. To where? I don't know. Just to get away and let my thoughts take over. Each thought was more drastic than the last.

I stopped moving as I heard the echo of my steps. The soft ones I had been used to for a while now.

"I'm tired Daryl." The whisper comes out so soft. Sounding so broken, there was no thought of strong ness in it.

Silence was all I got in return. But I knew he was there. There wasn't anything he could really say to such a thing.

I tried to bring the air into my lungs, but they were closing slowly. Just enough air passed to keep me alive.

Almost motionless, I turned to him. My head was low as I stare at his mucky boots.

"I'm so tired." My eyes stung as they slowly trailed up his body. "I'm tired of losing people. And I'm tired of running. I'm tired of smelling dead flesh as I step out into the open." My lip shook as I stare into his shocked eyes. The bow in my hand slid to the ground with ease. Now to heavy to carry. My mind to numb to care.

"I know it's something we have to do. But I'm so fucking tired." A tear drips down my cheek. I quickly look at the fallen leaves on the ground as I wipe away the evidence that shows how I feel.

"How-" I clear my voice as it starts to slightly crack. "How am I going to take care of her Daryl?" I slide my boot around the soft dirt, making small piles.

"Like ye always have." His voice was as low as mine. It was soft, but confident.

"Tyler was there to help me. And he's not here now. Everything has changed. What am I going to tell her? That dead people walking is normal?" A sarcastic chuckle bubbles up as I say my last words.

"Yes." I look up at him with curious eyes. "Ye can't lie to her. She's young, this is all she knows. It won't hurt her as much as ye think."

"She's vulnerable." I point out. "I don't want her to grow up like this."

"Ye don't have much of a choice Mel."

I look around at the surrounding forest. The governor should just be north of us. Waiting for me. Waiting to get his hands on me. That's when he'll leave them alone. When he has me.

"I could go." I whisper.

"What?" I hear his body move at the slightest bit.

"He wants me. He'll leave yall alone! He won't come back!" I bite my lip to suppress anymore noise. The temptation to say more was there. But keeping it short and sweet was the number one thing I wanted.

"And what about Charlie? What about the others? What am I going to tell them when yer playing hero? Huh?" His voice rises slightly. I meet his gaze, his eyes didn't hold the ones of fury. They held fear.

"Tell them that I'm sorry." The whisper was like before. Maybe I wasn't thinking straight. Or maybe I was going insane. But it felt right.

He takes in a breath as he takes a step closer. His grip on his bow loosening.

"What about me?" He whispers. I blankly stare at his soft face. "How do ye think I'm going to feel if I let ye go?" He takes another step towards me. It was a matter of feet still there, but I still felt suffocated.

"You'll get past it." I start to walk in the direction my future held. One of the mans hands I didn't trust.

"Mel." I stopped in my tracks at the name. "I can't." His voice was soft yet again. But I didn't dare look as I spoke my last words.

"Then don't let me go."

A/N

I don't even think I should write an authors note. I haven't written in so long. And I'm ashamed!!!!!!!! How dare I leave you all like that!

What do you think will happen? Will she leave? Or will daryl make her stay?

-Melinda