Daryl made sure Shane was hidden and tied up enough to not be able to escape, making sure no one would hear his screams for help.
Spending a decent amount of time on him before joining his wife outside once again.
"Are you okay?" Daryl asked her as they began to head back together.
"No. No I'm not" She began. "Everyone has been taken, the kids are gone." Theo panicked as Daryl froze.
"Mercer, he saved me from being killed by some random person, who followed me, he told me everyone was gone, taken..." She sighed. "And Shane...I could have asked him, beat it out of him, but I just let my rage take over me" Theo panicked.
"It's okay. We will get them back." Daryl told her confidently.
They looked at one another for a moment before the sound of a vehicle approached quickly causing them both to duck quickly.
They watched a man in a long coat enter the truck, disappearing for a few minutes before more soldiers walked over to the vehicle.
"Daryl we need to go..." Theo suggested as he quickly agreed, they both snuck backwards before leaving Alexandria, knowing for certain that there friends were inside and needed their help, but in order to do so, they had to get out first and come up with a plan.
They headed into the woods as the sun began to rise when suddenly a high pitched squeal caught their attention.
"Was that a train?" Theo questioned as Daryl reached for his binoculars.
"Fuck, it was a train, and it's filled with bikes, cars...people" Daryl explained before passing the binoculars over to Theo who looked at the same thing, only when she looked up into the forest, she saw something strange.
"D. Is that...Carol?" She asked as she handed the binoculars back, pointing into the woods behind the train.
Daryl took a quick look before nodding.
"Yeh and I think she may have the same plan as us..." Daryl nodded, looking at Theo who agreed.
"Shit, that's Connie," Daryl pointed out as he looked down at the train.
"We need to get Carol's attention without getting the attention of everyone else, do you think your bolt can go far enough?" Theo asked as she looked at her husband
"I don't know if I can get a clean enough shot..."
"I believe you can, aim for the tree behind her '' Theo suggested as Daryl readied up his crossbow.
"Just breath" Theo suggested, Daryl nodded before taking the shot.
Carol receives the message, looking through her binoculars to see Daryl and Theo across the tracks from her.
Theo and Daryl signed that they were going to follow the train and get Connie back, and the message was received clearly as Carol grabbed Daryl's bolt.
"Daryl, if we go after Connie..."
"I know, we won't find the kids" Daryl finished for her, but they both knew that they had to get Connie, they won't be able to just sit back and wait.
"Get in the car, let's get ahead of this train..." Theo pulled his hand in the direction of a vehicle that was abandoned by those of the Commonwealth.
Daryl jumped in the driver seat, putting his foot down to get ahead of the train.
He drove fast enough to beat the train with enough time to stop the vehicle and get out to discuss what was next, just as Carol pulled up beside them on a bike.
"Do we have a plan?" Carol asked as she jumped off of the bike.
"We have to do something, we can't just sit and wait for this train to arrive." Daryl shrugged as he paced in front of the jeep before getting in the vehicle.
"Daryl, do you remember what Kelly said, at the cave?" Carol began, her eyes watering as Daryl looked at her sadly.
"We can't save them if we are dead" Daryl remembered those words, everytime he cant see Theo, it's the only thing reliving in his mind.
"I know you want to go and help, but we need a plan, and we need a smart plan" Carol calmly reminded him as he bit his nail looking at Theo
"We need to go, but we need to keep our distance from the train, when the time is right, we can make our move" Theo nodded as Daryl looked at her confidently.
"Alright. Let's go" Daryl nodded as they all jumped into the jeep.
They began to drive down the wooden roads, keeping their distance but keeping a sharp eye out for any other soldiers around, however the last thing they expected to see was Maggie sat on the side of the road with a child in her hands.
"Please, please tell me that is not Hershal" Theo stood as she watched Maggie's shoulders jolt as she cried.
"Maggie?" Theo called out gently to her friend, making her turn to her in tears, standing up and running to her best friend.
Maggie hugged Theo tightly.
"It's not Hershal..." Maggie reassured Theo as she let out a sigh of relief. "And that solider is still alive..."
"Get him in the jeep" Theo told Daryl as he nodded.
"Come on, we need to get moving" Carol gently reminded the two as they got into the jeep, continuing to the next stop off for the train.
After waiting for half an hour, Rosita and Gabriel joined the four of them.
Sharing a relieved hug between everyone.
Daryl and Theo walked off after ensuring everyone was okay to ask the soldier a couple questions.
Daryl got in close to him whereas Theo stood watch.
"Where is that train going?" Daryl asked as the soldier coughed in pain, blood spilling from his lips.
But the soldier refused to talk.
"Where is designation 2?" Theo asked from behind Daryl.
Nothing.
"Okay..." Theo nodded, "Where the hell are the rest of our people? Our kids?"
Nothing.
"Hey! Did you not hear her!" Daryl stood, kicking the man as he coughed out in pain.
"Guys, the train is going to be here soon" Carol walked over to the Dixons. Gabriel joined her.
"Oh that's fine, you wanna die quick? Or you wanna die screaming?" Daryl asked as Gabriel looked at the man confused.
"I know you? Second pew from the back, every Sunday. You would come late, leave early, seems you wanted to talk about something?" Gabriel questioned as the soldier sat up.
"Does God forgive people like me?" He asked as they all looked at Gabriel
"I don't know. I wish I knew..."
"All this shame...guilt" He cried
"Fear has a way of making us cowards, which unfortunately you are. But you can do the right thing now, we can see it, he can see it..." Gabriel spoke calmly to the dying man.
"I wish I had spoken to you sooner..."
"Me too, but you can do the right thing now..."
He took a deep breath.
"They punish exiles. Make them do labour, your friends are on track duty. But i don't know where your friends are. But I heard rumours, designation 2... people are taken far away and never seen again..."
"Alexandria." Theo nodded.
"Will you pray with me while I go?" The soldier cried as Gabriel nodded.
The three of them left Gabriel and the soldier alone as the man died with Gabriel by his side...
YOU ARE READING
5. The Steeple
FanfictionThe fifth and final book. Theodora has come a long way since the world ended, but she is challenged with new problems that have a whole new reason for her to live. Daryl and Theodora are stronger than ever, but is what to come going to weaken that?
