For better or worse

Atlanta

Me and Daryl entered the back of the truck and sat by one another. T-dog sat across from us while the new guy Rick and then Glenn sat in the front. I've always looked up to Glenn, even though the world has gone to shit he's still himself, most of us have had to change in one way or another.

I laid my head on Daryl's shoulder as we started to drive off. I soon found it very difficult to keep my eyes open and drifted off into a light sleep. I could hear Daryl say something to T-dog but I didn't really care what they were saying. I finally felt the vehicle come to a stop and I lazily lifted my head off his shoulder.

"We walk from here," Glenn turned around from the drivers seat to inform us. I quickly jumped to my feet and grabbed my pistol and tucked it into its holster and slung my crossbow over my back. Daryl went ahead and pulled open the back door of the truck. He and T-dog swiftly jumped out, Daryl held his hand out to me which I took and helped me out of the truck. We all started a light jog towards the city. We reached a fence which we used some bolt cutters to get through.

"Merle first or guns?" Rick asked as we all made it threw the fence.

"Merle! We ain't even havin this conversation!" Daryl spat angrily at Rick.

"We are," Rick replied in a serious tone, "you know the geography, it's your call", he turned back to Glenn.

"Merle, the guns would be doubling back, Merle first," Glenn simply said as we all picked up a jog again. I stayed slightly behind all of the guys. As much as I really don't like Merle I hope we find him okay. I'm afraid of what Daryl might do if something happened to him...

"Keep up Gracie," Daryl whispered back to me. I picked up the pace a little so that I was right next to him. Luckily we didn't run into any walkers on our way there. We quickly entered the building. The front glass doors were all shattered and the whole place looked destroyed. 

"Shit how many walkers were there?" I asked to no one in general as we made our way up the stairs.

"Too many," Rick quickly said. We swiftly went up the stairs and were met by a door with a chain and lock keeping it closed.  T-dog retrieved the bolt cutters again and cut the chain releasing the door. Daryl shoved past all of us, kicking the door open and running outside. We swiftly followed behind him but froze in our tracks as we saw what was before us. Merle was gone, or at least most of him was, his hand was left behind as well as a bloody saw.

"No!" Daryl yelled out over and over tears filling his eyes and sadness and hurt in his voice. I quickly made my way over to him holding onto his strong arm.

"Daryl, please look at me babe," I said trying to calm him down. He tugged his arm out of my grip and and pointed his crossbow right at T-dogs head. Rick followed his actions by pointing his Python right on Daryl's temple. I gasped and covered my mouth with my hands in shock.

"Daryl, please calm down," I said shakily, fearing for his life.

"I don't care if every walker in the city hears this," Rick said his voice deadly serious.

"Daryl please listen to me," I pleaded walking back up to him slowly. His cold expression started to fade and tears began to fill his eyes. He slowly lowered his crossbow and looked back to me apologetically. I smiled slightly at him and quickly wiped a tear that was on my check that I hadn't realized escaped my eye.

"You gotta do rag or somethin?" Daryl said quietly looking back to T-dog. Without saying a word or breaking eye contact he reached in his back pocket and handed Daryl a rag. I looked at T-dog in order to somewhat apologize for what my boyfriend just did. He gave me a nod in a sort of acceptance and I then turned my attention back to Daryl. He was down by Merle's hand, wrapping it up in the rag.

"I guess the saw was to dull for the handcuff, ain't that a bitch," Daryl said. He then got up with the hand and motioned for Glenn to turn around. Glenn reluctantly turned around and allowed Daryl to put the severed hand in his backpack. I returned my gaze back to the blood that was left on the floor.

"He must have used a tourniquet, there would be a lot more blood if he didn't," I said looking back to Daryl. He nodded in agreement and began following his blood trail. I followed closely behind him as well as the others. I looked back to check that they were coming, but I had to stifle a laugh that crept into my mouth seeing Glenn's face of disgust. I'm guessing he wasn't to happy about a bloody hand in his backpack. After I choked down my laugh I turned my attention back to Daryl. We were now in another staircase on the opposite side of the building.

"Merle! You in here?" Daryl shouted down.

"Daryl maybe we should be a little more quiet, there could be more walkers," I said behind him. He shrugged in response which made me roll my eyes, he can be such an ass. We made it down the stairs to see the bodies of two dead walkers.

"Toughest son of a bitch my brother is, give him a hammer and he would crap out nails," Daryl said cockily. I smiled at the way he talked about his brother.

"Any man could pass out from blood loss," Rick quickly commented which made my smile fade. He was right, Merle could be passed out getting eaten alive by these undead freaks. I quickly swallowed the thought and continued walking. We made it into a kitchen where a gas stove was on with some pots and other things.

"What is that burned stuff?" Glenn asked innocently.

"It's skin" I said matter-of-factly.

"He must have cauterized the stump," Rick added. Glenn looked away disgusted once more.

"I told you he was tough," Daryl said looking up to Rick. "No body can kill Merle but Merle" he added.

"Alright let's keep looking for a little while, but I think we should go and get the guns," I said looking at the group. Daryl squinted his eyes at me angrily for a moment.

"She's right," Rick said "if we run into a big group we won't make it with the little ammo we have, we need the guns."

"Fine" Daryl said stomping off towards the exit of the building.

Authors not
I wasn't sure where to end this chapter. But I'm sorry for not updating in so long! I hope you continue reading and enjoy the story! I will be updating more regularly.