Breathe Princess (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter Thirty Eight

I didn't know what time it was when I woke up the next morning, although in fairness I don't think anyone really knew. Since the loss of clocks and watches, we'd all been getting up when it was light and some of us would sleep when it was dark. That's how it was now. Light meant awake, dark meant sleep. It was a painful routine that probably wasn't going to end anytime soon; although one could hope.

Daryl was gone by the time I had finally peeled my eyes open. I was staring at the dusty gray wall, but I felt cold and alone. I knew he'd left. There was a small part of me that was wondering if him coming back was a complete dream filled with wishful thinking and hope that was completely redundant. If it wasn't for the fact that I could still smell him on the bed sheets (which I hadn't been able to do for a while) I would have completely believed I'd invented the whole thing.

One thing I knew I didn't dream about was Jacob. How I kept seeing him everywhere and how last night; Daryl kept me sane enough to actually fall asleep. Admittedly, it wasn't much sleep, but it was enough to make me feel slightly more energized than I had been yesterday.

I finally pulled myself out of bed when I heard the voices downstairs talking and the small smell of food venturing up to the cell. I changed quickly, throwing on some jeans shorts and an old black vest top which I'm 90% sure is Daryl's. Nevertheless, I tie a knot in the bottom and pull on my boots, finally walking into the world that I wanted so desperately to forget.

Apparently, whilst I was asleep; pretty much everyone had disappeared.
Michonne, Carl, and Rick were all out, I'm assuming on a run, and Daryl was no where to be found.

Beth was serving up some food and handed me a bowl, sending a small smile my way. It didn't reach her eyes although nowadays, no ones smiles ever do. They're always a fleeting thing that are used for comfort rather than happiness. It hurt to know that happiness was no longer a main priority for people; surviving was.

"Where's Daryl?" I ask, sitting myself down on a step and leaning against the railing, letting out a small yawn.

No one responded verbally but Maggie nodded her head to the door that had just opened, Daryl walking through and straight up to the cells without even a good morning. Had I done something I didn't know about? Maybe it was just someone in the group pissing him off.

I didn't really have the chance to chase after him; Michonne, Carl, and Rick following behind carrying a crib. "Where'd you get the crib?" I ask Rick as he stands and watches the other two carry the thing towards where Judith was currently laying in a box filled with blankets, 'Lil' ass kicker' written crudely on the side.

"Found it on the run, figured we'd bring it back!" Michonne called as she heard my question, letting the gate to the cells slam shut behind her.

"You coming with us today?" Rick turns, looking down to me with a small smile.

"Going where?" I nervously ask, swallowing the small amount of food I'd put in my mouth. I didn't want to venture outside of the gate through fear of walkers and the Governor but then again; I didn't like being cooped up in here either. It's funny how much simply surviving in this prison makes you feel like you should really be there.

"We're having a meet with the Governor. Andrea set it up." He responds, holding a hand out for me to take.

"Um-" I don't get a chance to respond as Daryl comes storming back through the gate to stand next to me.

"She's not coming." He shakes his head and rests a hand on my hip.

"But I want to come. I want to get out of here. I hate been kept here." I almost whine, trying not to sound like a six year old child.

"I'll keep her safe. She can stick with me." Apparently Herschel was going along with the boys on this as well. It was true that I wanted to get out and I would feel a hell of a lot safer being around Daryl and Rick, knowing that Herschel was going to be there too was a strange sense of security; even if all he could do was fire a gun.

Rick shrugged and gave Daryl a look as if he was the one to make the deciding vote. If Daryl wanted me to stay, then I would and he knew it, but I hoped there was a part of him that wanted to keep me close to him. Maybe it was so I knew he was coming back, maybe that's why I was so confident to go, or maybe it was simply because I really didwant to get out of this prison. But whatever the reason. Daryl agreed.

"You keep with me or Herschel got it?" He asked, keeping a slightly firmer grip on my side. I nodded and gave him a short smile, again of comfort. There was no way I was going to get in a gun fight with the Governor. I would either die or get seriously injured and I really didn't want that to happen. "Let's go." Daryl sounded defeated as we walked out towards the truck we would be taking and his motorcycle.

Not wanted to piss Daryl off by keeping out in the open, I decided sitting in the back of the truck with Herschel and Rick up front was the best option. It was easier and safer. Two things I was currently using as my only lifeline.
Another reason I wanted to get out the prison? One that had been weighing down on me since I woke up this morning; maybe getting out of this prison would get Jacob away from me for a few hours.