Lost ; Daryl Dixon

Chapter 16

You were getting restless, tired of your own company and your lack of productivity. You'd been with the Congregation for over a week now, and you still hadn't been given a job assignment, or really had a proper conversation with anyone other than Helena and Stevie, who had been tasked with watching over you and ensuring you were okay at all times. You weren't sure if it was his presence that prevented any of the other residents from speaking to you, but you were feeling increasingly isolated, and half wishing that you were back out on the road on your own. But you had a roof over your head, albeit a canvas one, and were being provided with a couple of decent meals each day, so you supposed things could be worse.

As far as you knew, the missing families hadn't been found, and Helena could be seen storming around the camp in a whirlwind of snapped orders and frustrated huffs. Whenever she saw you approaching, her mask would slip back into place, her eyes kind, her smile welcoming, but you knew better than to fall for her act now, keeping her at a distance as best you could. The conversation you'd overheard had left you with a knot in your stomach that you'd been unable to shift, wondering exactly what it was that the runaways had figured out that had caused them to leave so suddenly. You'd resolved to keep your eyes peeled, to stay alert at all times, but so far, nothing else had happened to cause you any concern.

You were complaining loudly to Stevie about needing something to do to stop yourself from going completely crazy, when you were approached by another member of the group that you'd seen around a few times. He was around the same height as you, probably the same age too, with glasses and ears that stuck out slightly too far from his head. You thought his name was Edward but you couldn't be completely sure.

'If she's really that desperate for something to do, I can take her out with me today.'

'Helena won't like that.' Stevie immediately shut down the idea, though you were itching to get out of the camp and put yourself to use. 'She's supposed to be resting.'

'I'm fine,' you snapped, fed up with being treated as though you were fragile and likely to break at any moment. You felt stronger than you had in a long time. 'Really, I'm completely 100% okay.'

'I'm only picking around the treeline, man,' maybe-Edward weighed in on your side, and you saw Stevie's eyes flicker over to the forest, as though he was contemplating letting you go.

'Please, Stevie! If Helena says anything you can tell her I slipped away while you were taking a piss or something. Please!'

He sighed, and you knew that you'd won, imagining he was probably craving some space from you as much as you were from him. 'Fine. Within earshot at all times though, you hear me? And I don't want you taking any weapons out with you.'

'What?' You couldn't quite believe the odd request, that he would actually want to send you outside of the camp fences without a way to protect yourself. Did he really not believe you could be trusted? Was that why you were being shut off from everyone around you?

'Eddie's got a gun, he'll deal with any corpses that come your way. You're not leaving this camp armed.'

'Fine,' you conceded, unable to argue too much when you didn't have any weapons to hand over anyway, your pipe having been confiscated when you'd first arrived. You couldn't force him to give you a gun, and, if you were staying close to the treeline, you should be able to make it back to safety before any walkers got the better of you. 'Thanks.'

He spun on his heel to walk away, and you turned to your new companion, giving him a shy smile. 'Thank you so much! You have no idea how insanely bored I've been! I can't believe no one's put me to work yet.'