When The World Ends

Restarting

Daryl's POV

I would have made it out with anyone else if I could have. I got out with Beth, and we've been on the run all afternoon. After making it a decent way away from the prison, night falls. I make a small fire to keep the two of us warm. I wanted to just sit in silence, but Blondie had other ideas.

"We should do something." I just stare into the fire. Her face clouded all of my thoughts. Did she make it? Did he kill her while they were fighting? Is she with someone? Is she dead?

"We should do something." She repeats. I look at her, bored.

"We aren't the only survivors. We can't be." I want to tell her to shut up and that she's making my head worse. "Rick, Michonne, they could be out here somewhere. Maggie and Glenn could have made it out of A block." I look back down in loss of interest. I'm not gonna sit here and play make-believe. "They could've." She pushes. I stay silent, getting lost in the fire, the pops and crackles sounding more attractive than her voice.

"You're a tracker. You can track them!" Beth stands up like I'm something to show off to the world. Only Jade was allowed to do that. "Come on!" I just look up and back down with her, hoping she'll get the fucking memo.

"The sun will be up soon. We can head out" She stops, and I can feel her eyes glaring daggers at me for being so mean. I knew I was being an ass, but it's pitch black anywhere away from the fire. How does she expect me to see shit?

"Fine. If you don't track, I will!" She stomps over and grabs one of my knives, not confidently. She then walks away into the forest's darkness, the crickets and night consuming her. How dumb can one girl be? That was the difference between any other girl and her. She didn't need to be protected. Jade was confident in every movement she made. She could consume you if you let her. She was perfect in every aspect. Beth, Beth was not. Beth was a klutz that would get herself killed if I didn't go after her. So I pushed my ass off the ground and started kicking some dirt over the fire I made. Once it was out, I grabbed my crossbow and followed her into the night. As expected, we wasted a whole night of what could have been rest for not being able to see a thing.

We hit some vast open forest, allowing me to escape her. Looking at the ground, I couldn't find any evidence of people. It was just leaves and sticks. Until something caught my eye. I walk toward it and kneel down. I begin to brush the leaves away very carefully. The footprint becoming more visible. They were small footprints, kids.

"Could be Luke's or Molly's. Whoever they are, this means they're alive." I almost want to roll my eyes.

"No, this means they were alive a few hours ago." My voice comes out huskier than usual.

"They're alive!" Beth pushes. Finding the trail of the footprints, we continue to follow them, Beth taking the front lead. I hate when people have no clue what they're doing. Jade always knew she was almost as good as me. Soon hard dirt turns to soft soil leading us through a trail. We come across what looks like a grape bush. Beth goes to the right while I study around the bush. A few grapes are smooshed on the ground.

"They picked up the pace right here," I point the grapes out. "Something must have happened."

"Would it kill you to keep a little faith?" She bitches.

"Faith," I laugh, "Faith ain't done shit for us. Sure as hell didn't do anything for your dad." I knew it was a low blow, but it just slipped out. Half of me meant it, and the other part knew that wound was technically a few hours old still. I turn and look at her, standing in the small grass with trees all around us. I knew she expected me to be sorry. All I could do was soften my look and eyes the slightest bit. We weren't that close yet. I stand there while she picks the grapes off the vines.