War Of The Damned - (Daryl & Beth) - The Walking Dead

2. Taking Out The Enemies

2. TAKING OUT THE ENEMIES

The motherfucker drops ta the ground between one second and the next. And Beth runs ta where Lizzie, Mika, Luke, and Molly are sat. She reaches for Judith and Lizzie hands her over without a word. The girl surprised me; she didn't appear even a little frightened by what the now-dead man had intended for her ta do. Another reminder of Carol, I think darkly. Only I knew what she was doin' for the kids and only I didn't disagree.

See Rick liked ta think he could keep 'em as kids long as possible, maybe even 'til this whole thing blows over but Carol and I knew that the world of before was forever gone. The kids needed ta learn how ta protect themselves at all times. It was why I let Carol do what she needed ta do. She just wanted ta make sure they didn't end up like Sophia. What was so wrong with that? She killed Karen and one of our own.

Beth's voice pulls me from my thoughts as it always does. I watch her inspectin' the kids, makin' sure they 'a all safe and that there ain't no traces of bites or scratches on their skin. When she nods up at me, I nod back lightly. I stab the dead motherfucker in the head before goin' over ta wake up Glenn an' Tyreese an' his sister, Sasha. Glenn looks like he'd had an argument with a few heavy fists - and lost. He hasn't quiet recovered from the flu that hit us a few weeks back but he's a tough, slitherin' Korean. He'll make it. Tyreese looks confused as hell when he wakes an' almost immediately he stands and checks himself over. Satisfied he ain't bit and ain't got any scratches that could potentially turn deadly, he helps the others up. He looks weak, his arm is badly injured but he still fucken manages ta carry on.

I frown at Glenn, not oblivious ta how Beth positioned herself an' the lil Asskicker ta my left, half a step behind me. I don't say anythin' but am sure as hell thinkin' what Blondie's upta'. Not now, I remind ma'self. "What happened, Korea? He one of the Governor's men?"

'cept he only shrugs what muscles in his shoulders he can still move. "Yeah, I think...I didn't realize who he was until it was too late. Plus, he had Judith...somehow." He says through clenched teeth an' Beth sucks in a loud breath 'a air. Fuck even I'm a bit sickened by that statement. We all look over ta Lizzie, the eldest of the small children. She looks ta her feet, as do the others. Apparently Glenn knew Judith was with them too, 'cause the look he's throwin' Lizzie was fuckin' terrifyin'. I swat Korea's scrawny lil' bicep, tellin' him ta knock it off. He looks sorry, musta' realized he was starin' at a girl like a fucken maniac and then he asked, "Where's Maggie? She alive?"

"We ain't seen her since the shoot out. Might be with Rick, Carl, an Michonne." I say tryna' offer some reassurance or somethin'. "How'd he get ya'll out here by himself? Who set that bus on fire?"

"We don't know. The last thing I remember is a barrel staring me in the face." Glenn chocked out. "Maggie. We have to go back for her. She might have... She might be... Oh god!"

"She's alive, Glenn." Beth answers quietly. "She ain't weak enough to die in a fuckin' prison."

Damn. "Language in front'a the kids aye," I say, near smilin'. Ta be straight, I kinda liked Beth usin' filthy words. It made her all the more... Fuck sakes Daryl!

"Sorry... I just... We need to find shelter for the children." She's changed, a little colder, a little less careful of what she says 'cause her Daddy ain't here anymore ta sling biblical passages and dish out a little hope. It was all lost.

"No we can't go. This is the meeting point. We have to wait for Maggie and Rick and Carl. And what about Michonne and Bob?" Glenn argues. "Daryl, you know we can't leave them."

He's right. "But we can't stay either. Got no tents, no food, and that bus is only gonna' attract walkers."

Glenn looks defeated. He knows I am right also. Until we find Rick and the others, we need ta look after these kids. Keep em' safe.

"We can leave a trail?" Beth pipes up. "You know, a piece of clothing or sometimes. We'll tie them to the trees. They'll know and they'll follow." Glenn doesn't say anythin', only looks at his feet frownin'. Beth speaks quietly, "She'll make it Glenn. You have to have some faith."

I nod at Beth, leanin' in ta press my lips ta Asskicker's furry head. "Better get goin' now 'fore the sun goes down." No one complains an' soon we are movin' away from the scene, leavin' that motherfucker's body for any walkers who come across him. I remember Rick tellin' me they eat people who've died, probly 'cause the bloods stays warm for like seven hours or somethin'. I ain't too fazed by the little facts like Rick is though, that bastard's corpse can rot maggots fa' all I care. Beth ties her red scarf ta a tree behind us for Rick and Maggie ta find, or even Michonne. Shit I wonder what happened ta her.

Beth walks beside me, takin' two steps ta my one. I slow down at once and reach ta take Judith in one arm while still holdin' onta' my crossbow with a death grip. "Damn you' gettin' heavy girl."

Βeth sighs, she was probly havin' a hard time holdin' Judith for s' long as she had. She looks so breakable, with breakable little arms. She smiles over Judith's head. "Thank you. It's like she's gained pounds in the last two hours alone."

"Yeh. Need ta find more food though. She's hungry. Can hear 'er belly rumblin'." Beth's hungry too, can hear hers from here. She ain't like me. I can go without food fo' like a week without my stomac' plummetin' every two seconds, learnt a long time ago, when the ol' man used ta beat me so badly I couldn't even eat and Merle was already gone ta Juve for the seventh time. I used ta blame Merle for all 'a that but not anymore. Can't blame people for anythin' when they ain't alive.

Lizzie catches up ta us. She don't say anythin' and I feel sorry for the girl. I know after Glenn's death-stare she's probly beratin' herself for what happened. She offers a small chocolate bar, the one with caramel on the inside and Judith snatches it with the big eyes of a child who'd just woken up ta christmas mornin' presents. I'm sure Lori would've had somethin' ta say about her child eatin' chocolate at such a young age, and Judith probly was too little ta eat it but we were out'a options. Lizzie whispers, "sorry," only loud enough for me an' the lil' Asskicker ta hear before returnin' ta the centre of the group where the other kids are. Beth pats her back as she walks passed.

By the time the sun reached its peak, at the center of the sky, we ended up at a river flowin' around a small island. I felt like we'd just won millions, 'cept the money would be useless ta me now. Luck was on my side this day more than any other day in my life. We will live ta see another , is all I can think.

"Think we can make it?" Glenn an' Tyreese say together.

I smile over one shoulder, probly the first time I've ever smiled at the two of them before. Beth is the only one who smiles back at me. "Here, take Judith." I say ta Beth an' hand her over. I sling my crossbow over my chest 'fore reachin' ta prop Lizzie on my shoulders. I take another child and hold her ta my chest, motionin' for Tyreese and Sascha ta take the other two. "Dig ya' feet in the ground an' don't turn ya' back ta the current, you'll get swept."

Everyone nodded. Glenn was eyein' up the flow of the river, swallowin' his adams apple. "You good, Korea?" He looks at me an' I know he ain't. Must 'ave some great fear of water or somethin'. Ain't nothin' we can do abou' it through and he knows it.

"Hold tha' gun above the water Blondie." I say ta Beth as I take the lead. "An' keep close."

Crossin' the river was harder than I thought, Beth had gripped my hand when it reached our waist and she'd placed the gun I'd given 'er in her mouth. Fuck this is weird, ain't never held a girl's hand before. Her skin is so hot and soft. Did every girl's hand feel like this? I was pretty sure the others would'a been able ta see but I didn't care. As far as I'm concerned I'm jus' helpin' her across. Nothing more ta it, I keep tellin' myself.

Everythin' seemed ta be goin' fine an' me, Beth, an' the lil Asskicker an' the two kids in my arms are only a few steps away from the island. By now, the water was up ta my chest and it was fuckin' freezin'. Beth makes a squeakin' noise in my ears and points ta somethin' on the island. I follow her finger ta see them hidden behind green bush. "Do you think...maybe they belonged to the Governor and his group?"

"I don' know Blondie." I reply, holdin' her hand til' we feel sand beneath our feet. I sigh an' lower the kids ta the ground. Damn it felt good ta too. Beth keeps Judy close ta her chest, walkin' forward ta inspect the big, white things she'd spotted. She is vigilant, with her gun aimed and ready ta fire. I wanna' smile, glad she ain't like how she use'ta be at the farm. Good 'cause I don't think I can let her die. Not now that- But my thoughts were squashed under the sound of someone screamin'.