RIDE OR DIE | DARYL DIXON

beginning, middle, but no end

SHE FELT THE SECOND NUDGE, and still didn't move from her spot.

"Get up."

She opened her eyes when she heard his voice, but the room was still dark. She could only see half of his face. "You're back?"

She watched his head bob in a nod as he nudged her again. 

"The girls are in the bed. Sleep on the floor." She told him as her eyes drooped shut again.

Her head dropped back as her body was yanked forward. "Daryl, what the he-"

"Shut up and get dressed." He laughed quietly, grabbing her hand and stuffing something into it.

She felt it and found two sleeves and a few buttons- one of her jackets. She shrugged it on, her eyes half open. "The sun isn't even up yet."

"I know." He whispered, throwing her a pair of pants and socks. She still couldn't see, but she felt them hit her stomach and drop to the floor.

Feeling around, she found them and shed her other clothes to put them on. "So then why the hell are you waking me up?"

"You'll see." He found his way to her and helped her tug on her boots. 

Her fingers fumbled against the laces as she tried to tie them blindly. "Fuck it." 

She stuffed the ends of the laces into the top of her boots and stood up, grabbing his hand and allowing him to guide her out of the room.

"Where are we going?" She still kept quiet as they walked down the hallway. There was no doubt that everyone was still asleep. "And what about Sibby and Sienna?"

"Stop askin' so many questions." He tugged her along, and they only saw the first glimpse of light when they found the stairs where they kept candles lit along them. "Ash is still awake. He'll check on 'em if we aren't back before they're awake."

She kept her mouth shut and followed him outside and to his bike. She mindlessly climbed onto the back of it and nestled her face against his back, her eyes threatening to shut again.

He whistled at whoever was on gate duty, and started up his bike. She cringed at the loudness of it, and didn't stop until they were a good distance away from Hilltop.

"Any hints?" She yawned.

He remained quiet and took them down a few back roads that they had cleared before. The final stretch was down a dirt road, about a mile until they reached a rusty metal gate that enclosed whatever land was beyond it.

The bike shut off and Daryl climbed off the bike, grabbing a few pistols from the saddle bag.

"Brought me out here to execute me?" She joked as she got off the bike too.

He stuck both in his pockets and grabbed his crossbow off the other side of the bike. "Not unless you want me to."

She twisted her face. "Funny."

He laughed as he grabbed her hand again and walked with her around the small gate. The dirt road came to an end right at it. Past it was just grass and trees that went along the sides as if to continue the road. 

The nerves woke her up. Being out in the middle of nowhere in the dark stirred something up in her, but the longer they walked, the more she felt at ease. The sun seemed eager to come up, and it created a beautiful pallet of colors- blue, pink and purple. It was dead silent, not even the crickets sang.

They reached the end of the trees and the path ended and became a massive, open field. The grass was tall and swayed lightly with a few flowers that were still blooming. There was a small hill ahead of them, and he took them directly to it.