The darkest days

14

I shoot up and I look at my surroundings.
Stray arrows,rucksack,leather vest,sleeping bag and a book....
Daryl's tent.
I get up and I hear the tent getting unzipped."Take it easy."
I hear a gruff quiet voice as my head spins a little."I'll get out."I say quietly as I
walk towards the opening of the tent but i wobble and almost tip over when Daryl comes to my side and
grasps my arm."Slow it down a bi'.You passed out from hysterics."
He says as He guides me back to the house."I'm sorry for bothering you."
I say quietly as I walk beside him,Relishing the feel of his hand on my bare arm.
He nods and grunts,a slight blush on his face.
I am for sure taking note of that.
We get back to the R.V. and I freeze."I-I-I can't go in there."I say
as I lower my head to look at the ground.
I look up but I see no sign of Daryl next to me and I look out into the field and I see
the dark outline of a figure walking back to his tent.
I sigh and I hear the door of the farm house being opened and shut quietly as I
see Hershel walking by to get to his truck,"Where are you going?"
I ask and he jumps a little as he see's my small figure and He frowns."To town,now leave me alone."
He says bitterly and I frown a little."Let me go with you." I say
and he looks at me with a stern expression until it softens and he sighs.
"Yeah all right." He says and I hop in the truck's passenger seat as he gets
in on the drivers side.
After a short drive and checking to see if the perimeter was clear,we made it into the
small towns bar silently as Hershel sat at the bar and I went behind the counter and found a
bottle of whiskey and a water bottle."That's no water."
I say taking a strong whiff of the nasty smelling liquid."Tha's some moonshine right there."
I say with a grin and I grab a couple of shot glasses under the counter as I spot a pack of cigarettes and My
eyes go wide with happiness.
I grab the small book of matches on the counter and I light a cigarette
and I pour the man a shot."I see Daryl has an eye for you."
He says after a couple of shots between us and my face grows pink."No he doesn't."
I say and I from as I throw back another shot of whiskey and I take a long drag of my cigarette.
"Hell,He hast talked to me for about six,seven years.Why would he start to like me now."
I say and I rub my forehead a little bit and I poured us another shot.
He downed it and dropped his head looking at the glass."I'm sorry for what happened today."
I say quietly and He shakes his head,"I should have known they weren't sick."
He says as he pours himself another glassful.
I sigh and I hear the door bust open."Great,there goes my buzz."
I say under my breath,as hershel smirks at me then takes another sip of the fire-y liquid."Hershel,Cecelia."
Rick's southern voice rings through out the room with hesitance in it.
"Whose with you?" Hershel asks as I take the last drag of the cigarette and I throw it to the ground and
I pick the pack up again and I light the cigarette and take a long drag then letting the smoke
billow out of my nose."Glenn."
Rick says and I snort,I liked Glenn but if Maggie thought he could help with the current situation that the group has
with Hershel then they thought wrong."Maggie sent him?"
I ask and I pour another glass of whiskey as I hear Rick walk closer to us
and I swallow the strong shot and it burns in my stomach making me feel warm.
"He volunteered,He's good like that."
Rick says as I see Hershel play with his glass in front of him.
I go to take another swig of the whiskey but I feel a hand on my wrist and
Rick brushes over my scars and I yank my hand out of his grasp subtly "Don't"
I warn him and he gives me a curt nod as I throw back the liquid and I put my head in on hand.
"How many of you two had?"
Rick asks looking between the both of us and I scoff."Not enough."
I say and I sigh."Lets finish this up back at home."Rick says looking at Hershel pleadingly.
"Beth collapsed,is in some sort of state." He says and I grunt softly and I take another drag.
"Must be in Shock.I think you are too."
Rick says as I get up and I get light headed and I grasp onto the bar and Glenn helps me get to another table.
"Thanks''I mumble and He nods."No problem."
I start to fiddle with my ribbon and I sigh as I tie my hair up into a pony tail and I scratch my fore head and
I take another drag,God it felt so good to smoke right now,
I thought to my self as Glenn sighed and looked at me"Why are you here Cece?"
He asks and looks at me with a worried expression."I didn't want him to go alone and
I couldn't stand the thought of going into the same R.V. as Carol and Hearing her cry because of me,
and I know what would happen if I tried to sleep...You see you don't fucking understand,Glenn I'm sorry but you don't.
You don't get the same nightmares every night,You didn't have a daughter that got taken away from you in a sea of people
that were in panic,and you especially don't have a redneck ex boyfriend who won't even acknowledge you
because of a fight that you had damn near seven years ago!"
I say as I let it all out but i freeze up when i let the last part slip out.
"I-I'm sorry." Glenn says and I sigh."If you say anything to anyone about the last part of my sentence,I will never forgive you.
You got that?" I say sternly and He nods his head,"I need a drink."
I say and I stand back up and I go behind the bar and look for something stronger as Rick goes back to where
Glenn is."So what do we do,just wait for them to pass out?"
I hear Glenn mutter to Rick and I sigh."Don't you get it?"
I ask and Hershel sighs"Just go."
I hear him say in a distasteful voice."Just go!"
He says again and I pop back up with nothing,I walk back to my glass and I pour another glass whiskey
for myself."I promised Maggie I'd bring you home safe."
Rick said as He started to walk back to us."Like you promised that little girl?"
I questioned,feeling a little bit angry that he wouldn't leave us alone."So what's your guys' plan?
Finish that bottle?"
Rick asks and I nod"Drink yourself to death,Leave your girls alone,Leave Daryl?"
He says as He looks at me and I suddenly get this sour feeling in my stomach as I think of Daryl and his glances
he throws at me occasionally."Stop telling me how to care of my family,my farm."
Hershel says and I shake my head."Daryl hasn't spoken to me to years,this wouldn't bother him either,
He doesn't give a damn about me anymore."
I say and I take another sip."You people are like a plague! I do the christian thing,give you shelter,and you destroy it all!"
Hershel says with anger and pain in his voice as He walks towards Rick."The world was already in bad shape when we met."
Rick said in a hushed but forced tone."And you take no responsibility!You're supposed to be their
leader!"
Hershel explains and I sit down in one of the chairs and I watch silently.
"Well,I'm here now,aren't I?"
Rick says in a heated manner."Yes.Yes.Yes,you are."
Hershel says as He walks back to the bar"Now come on,Your girls need
you more than ever." Rick says trying to get us back but I shake my head.