Demonic Saint (The Second Novel in the Avenging Angel Series)

Chapter Five

The days came and went, blurring together in an endless mock of living. Before anyone realized it, three months had gone by. Alexa leaned against the trunk of the current car her brother had commandeered as Nix, the female puppy Daryl rescued, laid at her feet. She watched, arms crossed, as Rick, Daryl, T-Dog, and Carl breached today's house of sanctuary. A few shots ranged from within, and Alexa smirked. She was quiet proud of how efficient her nephew has become with firearms. Silence filled the area as the daylight dwindled, leaving Alexa alone with her thoughts.

Her mind began to wonder, senselessly drifting back to the staff room in the public storage. Daryl's words replayed in her mind, swimming in and out of the crevices. He had declared his love to her. She knew that it was nothing more than just spur of the moment occurrence. His desperate attempt for her to see reason, but he had said it. Now it has been three months, and she hasn't gave him any kind of response. She was afraid. Alexa couldn't help feeling that if she told him how she truly felt, then it would be torn away. You don't deserve him. Alexa's eyes went wide as her inner voice spoke. Of course she didn't. Why on earth would he want to be tied down to someone who couldn't return his feelings? That's right, he's better off, The voice told her once more. What kind of person was she? You were better off with me, you know you felt it too. Jerry's voice cooed as it echoed through her. No. No! She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thoughts that clawed at her.

"Alexa, I was told to come get you..." The feminine voice trailed off. "You okay?"

She flinched at the words as she fought to suppress the events from overriding her mind. Alexa looked at the young blonde before her and forced a smile as she said, "I'm fine."

After pushing herself off the car, Alexa made her way to the house with Nix on her heals. The wooden porch creaked under her weight as she crossed it to the front door. Her body automatically stiffened when everyone turned to look at her briefly before going back to their previous actions. She looked over everyone, taking in all the changes that have occurred in the last few months that she has been with everyone. Carl was checking over the gun in his hand. Alexa felt a sense of pride at how efficient her nephew has become with the firearm, but there was small part of her that couldn't help feeling jealous and sadden. She was jealous because of her own guns being stolen from her when she was taken, and sadden at the state of the world that lead to him to turn out this way.

Her glance slid over the tired forms of everyone. Their eyes all look hollow and sullen with the constant moving around they've had to do lately. Lori sat on a dusty, worn out couch with her hand over her swollen stomach and Carol at her side. With the baby due any minute, the mid-wife in training kept close to the former as Hershel not far away. Daryl and Rick were discussing something in the corner out of earshot of the group. Alexa noticed that with Shane gone, those two have grown closer. In fact, everyone had become a well-oiled unit since her absences to the point she often wondered why she was even back at all.

You're useless, the voice cooed in her head.

Daryl locked eyes with Alexa, and she immediately looked away before walking into the kitchen and away from everyone. Her nephew walked passed her with some kind of can in his hand, but she didn't pay attention to it. Instead, she surveyed the kitchen. The linoleum was a dark yellow with an almost recognizable flower design that off-set the cream paint on the walls and light wood finish that matched the cabinets. A single table sat in the center of the floor opposite the open pantry. Alexa vaguely heard her nephew call Nix to him and half listened to the clicking of her nails as she retreated back to the living room. She walked over the sink and leaned over it feeling sick. Her stomach threaten to churn at the thoughts running through her head. Why? Why did she feel this way? Alexa closed her eyes fighting back the dizziness that washed over her. Was this some kind of punishment for wishing she could have a life... a family with Daryl?

Yes, The voice hissed in her head, causing a single tear to slide down her face.

At the moment, a pair of strong arms snaked their way around Alexa's waist, pulling her firmly against a hard chest. Her eyes snapped open and stared at the reflection the clouded, mid-day sun provided. Daryl stared back at her as he asked, "What's wrong?"

She avoided his gaze as she muttered, "Nothing."

Annoyed, Daryl forced Alexa to turn around and face him, placing both his hands on the sink to block her escape. The warmth his body gave off engulfed Alexa and for the first time since arriving, she felt safe. Her hands reached out and grabbed the hem of his jeans and tugged until he moved closer to her. She rested her head on his chest and he instinctively wrapped his arms around her. Her heart hammered in rhythm with his own and a small smile tugged her lips. "Please, just talk to me." His voice rumbled in his chest as he brought his head down to whisper in her ear.

Alexa pulled back to look at him with a sad smile. "I don't belong here anymore."

Daryl open his mouth but was interrupted by T-Dog as the man shouted, "Walkers!"

The house was in chaos as everyone quick grabbed what they could and rushed out in their haste to escape the approaching walkers. Daryl had ahold of Alexa's hand, afraid to let it go after the conversation they just had. Something was bothering her and he wanted to figure out what it was, but those damned geeks had to ruin everything. He lead her to his bike and the pair slipped on. Nix barked once before jumping on the bike between Daryl and Alexa, who caged the young dog in her arms. The engines quickly roared to life as they abandoned the house for a safer location, if there was such a thing as one. They drove for miles cutting down road after road until the reached a highway that no one knew the name of. Daryl pulled to a stop next to Rick's car and waited for Nix and Alexa to get off before he walked over to the elder Grimes sibling as the man pulled out a map. The group began to surround the two, all except Beth, who kept watch, and Alexa, who kneeled to the ground to pet Nix.

Rick took a pen from his pocket and marked off another location on the map. "Damn it." he growled.

Lori leaned over to look, maintaining a hand on her swollen belly. "We're going in circles." she said incredulously.

"What?" came a few confused replies.

"Since we left the Greene's farm," Rick sighed. "We've been trying to escape from that herd, but have been doing nothing except going in a damn circle."

"What do we do?" Carol asked.

"We won't be able to do a thing without more supplies." Maggie said.

"We are really low on water," Glenn agreed.

"Alright, fine." Rick said as he grabbed a rifle and screwed a silencer on his gun. "A few of you check around here for water, Daryl and I'll go hunting."

Alexa sighed as she moved to go help T-Dog and a few others with the water when a hand wrapped around her wrist. She stopped as the familiar shiver ran through her body and turned already knowing who it was. She stared into his blue eyes, taking note of the conflicting emotion embedded there, and yet none of it showed on his face. She raised an eyebrow in question. "Come huntin' with us."

"What?" She was thrown off-guard by the sudden statement.

"Come on," Daryl said, pulling Alexa along without giving her a chance to reply one way or the other.