Farmer's Daughter (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter 45

Melinda's POV

"So Mr. Dixon, are you excited to see your brother?" It was a stupid question to ask, but there was simply nothing else to talk about. Every topic under the sun had been uttered at least once.

It had been about a week since we had been with the claimers. Each day gets a little easier around them, considering Daryl and I had come accustomed to the everyday word they preach. Along with their other rules.

Traveling was a nightmare. Each day we woke up at sunrise, and sometimes we didn't stop until dark. They had no desired destination in mind, they just liked to walk everywhere. So with bags under our eyes we marched on to no place in particular.

Joe hadn't ask Daryl or I many more questions after the second day of us traveling together. I didn't know if it was because he trusted us, or if he truly wasn't interested in us enough to give a shit.

Daryl and I had gotten a little closer like I had predicted. We talked often about little things. Whether they be about our lie, daily life as we know, or our family. We figured something was better than nothing, and who better than to share it with than the only person you trust?

Every store we had been to within the last few days had been picked clean. Nothing edible rested on any of the shelves, or in any boxes that lay along the side.

Our food supply within the group was gone. Anything that anyone had had disappeared and was never thought of again.

So according to Joe, today's journey consisted of one thing. And that one thing was food scavenging. But in our defense, we were going to look for food for however long it took.

"What kind of question is that?" Daryl quirks an eyebrow my way.

"I don't know," I pause and reposition my crossbow in my arms. "Just thought I'd ask." I shrug. He nods his head understandingly.

"Yeah, I do." He answers.

"You had just gotten him back too. I'm sorry." I take a moment to think of the many times I had filled his head with my worries, when he had just as many.

"Ye just got yer little girl back too." He acknowledges. A sad smile covers my face as I nod.

"I have hope we'll both find them." I softly state while looking at the ground as I walk. "Because without hope, what's the point in living? Am I right?" He snickers a little.

"Right, Mel." He lays a giant hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. But before the moment could soak in, his hand slides down my arm and returns to his side.

I had wished his firm hold would have lingered there a moment longer. I yearned for his touch in a way that he would never understand. In a way, I don't even understand at times. I just wanted to be one with the hunter.

"According to this map, there should be a store up north." Joe points his arm dew north as he scans the map once more. "And hopefully we'll find something worth keeping this time." His playful voice echoes in the quiet environment.

"Well let's go! I'm starving!" A man with long black hair bellowed. I had yet to learn his name.

Joe flicked his wrist and began walking in the direction of the so called store. Puffs of smoke fill the air as we pick up the pace to our destination. Our weapons clinked against our sides as we bounced along the asphalt.

The day was getting late as oranges and pinks painted the sky. The day was getting much colder as the sun started to tuck away.

A large building comes into view. Street lamps flickered on in the parking lot as we pass. A large sign read Walmart above our heads.

I look around at our new found group members. Each face was eager to run in. But, they all waited for their leader to say the word.

"Alright men. Let's go." Joe pulled a hand gun from his back pocket and checked the clip. He snapped it back in place and walked toward the large sliding glass doors.

"Wait," I spit out. He looked back expectantly. "Don't you think we should check for walkers?" His stare made me greatly uncomfortable as I twisted my fingers around one another.

"There's nothing there, little lady." He says the new nickname slowly, almost threatening. I don't question anymore as I look up to Daryl.

"Just stay by me." He mumbles. I nod my head, and wait for the claimers next steps.

Joe reaches and grabs ahold of the sliding doors. Another man grabs ahold of the other side. With a nod of Joes head, they both pull the doors wide open.

The black greets us with open arms. The silence calls us forth.

My conscience screamed for me to turn around and run. It screamed that I didn't need them. It called for me to take Daryl's hand and fly into the woods, away from their view.

But I did the exact opposite. I grabbed ahold of Daryl's backpack and pulled the flashlight from the bottom.

The store was about ten degrees colder than outside, adding to my building fear. The only visible thing was what my flashlight was shining on. A dull path was being lit.

"Hell yeah!" A voice echoes throughout, causing me to jump out of my skin.

"Dammit." I feel my racing heartbeat. My flashlight hits the guy that had yelled in victory to see an isle full of food.

"Somethings not right here, Daryl." I look around the abandoned store to see nothing that should fuel my worry. But yet, the anxiety grows.

"Let's just get what we need and get the hell out of here, I'm done with this crazy ass group." Daryl slides past me and walks to another isle just past the man who yelled.

I hurry behind him, grabbing random things off the shelf and shoving them into his bag. I'm grabbing a box of crackers when a creak fills the room.

I pause in my step. Labored breaths leave my mouth as I think of the worst. I slowly zip Daryl's bag, making sure I'm as quiet as possible.

"Let's get out of here." I whisper. I turn to go back where we started when a foul stench hit my nose. My blood ran cold. I walk to the end of the isle and peek around the corner. A lone walker stumbles out of a far isle. Then another one. And another. And as the seconds go by I had lost count of the walkers that stumbled our way.

"Dammit go!" Daryl pushes me out of the isle and forces me forward. I don't think twice as I push one leg in front of the other, going faster and faster.

I dash out of the door seeing joes group not too far ahead. It only pushed me to go faster.

Their bodies ducked into the near woods and stopped. Joe began to count everyone that was present as they slumped against trees. That's when I noticed something off.

"Daryl?" I question. I didn't get an answer. "Daryl!" I say louder. My body spins as I look around for him. But everywhere that I looked, his shocking blue eyes never found mine.

"Oh my god." The whisper falls out painfully as I look in the direction of the store. "Not again." I breathe.

My legs think before my brain ever does, and I start to run. I make it to the edge of the parking lot before a hand forcefully grabs me. I grunt at the sudden stop.

"You can't go back there!" Joe screams in my ear.

"I'm not leaving him there!" I growl. I turn to face the enraged man. Even though I could barely see him, I could feel the anger radiating off of him.

"It's too dangerous!" He bit back. His grip tightens as I try to pull away.

"I said I'm not leaving him! Now you can come with me or stay here! But I'm going back for my husband!" I spit in his face. Me teeth grit together as I glare up at him. He licks his lips and gives a soft nod before releasing me.

A/N

It's been a while. But I'm hoping this is what you guys want. I worked kind of hard on this, even though it's not my best and not a lot happened... I like this.

Please comment and vote ;)

-Melinda