Knife Edge [Daryl Dixon]

Chapter Eight- Together Alone (2/2)

     Sarah sat in the dark, her body alert to every sound, waiting for Daryl to return. The afternoon was waning by the time he got the van started so instead of risking getting caught on the road at night, they decided to spend the night in the van. Inside the fence, inside the van, they were as safe as they could be outside Alexandria. 

That was the plan anyway. What they couldn't have known was how many walkers would be attracted by the screeching whine of the van's engine, no matter how fast Daryl shut it off. And now, as the sun was setting, their numbers were steadily increasing. 

They weren't coming to a standstill either, the way walkers normally did after sundown. They were wandering up and down the streets outside the fence, dragging their feet and scuffling against each other as they felt their way over and around everything they encountered. Thankfully they weren't banging on the fence so they didn't know she and Daryl were on the other side, but they had left the lights off all the same.  

Sarah started when the latch on the door clicked, but her agitation was quickly replaced with relief. Daryl was back.  

He brought a last glimmer of light with him when he came in and she seized it, her eyes darting around the van. She was at the table, sitting on one of the fitted benches. Opposite her was a long couch which led to the kitchen, and finally to the bedroom and shower room in back. It didn't matter how many times she told herself it was empty, she still doubted its ink-black corners.  

She waited until Daryl pulled the door closed to whisper, 'How many?'

'About forty,' he answered, equally low.

Forty. Her mouth went dry as she shifted against the padding on the bench. It was damp beneath her. They would need a good distraction to get away in the morning, and that was if no more walkers turned up during the night. 

Daryl passed her on his way to the couch and sat down, giving a sound somewhere between a groan and a sigh. They left the curtains open to let in as much light as possible, but while the parked cars outside gave a sense of familiarity, they also filled the yard with ominous shadows.

'They'll miss us at Alexandria.'

'Mm,' Daryl nodded. 'We'll head back at first light.'

With hindsight, she supposed they should have gone back for a truck but if they had then they wouldn't have found the van, and it was a great find.

'I wish I'd had something like this on the way up from Atlanta.'

Daryl held the curtain back to look outside, 'When we get back, hang onto it.'

Her heart jumped at the idea. She didn't mind living with Rebecca but David hadn't moved in yet and she was already beginning to feel like a third wheel at times, spending more time in her room to give them some privacy. 

She didn't want to get too excited, 'You don't think it should go to a couple? Rebecca and David maybe.'

Daryl blew out a derisive breath, 'They want one, they can come out and find one.'

She bit her lip. Solid wood cabinets throughout, blue furnishings, she did like it. Earlier, when their stove was lit to heat some food from the cache, it reminded her of before. Almost normal. Almost homely.

From ominous shapes and uncertain corners the van now seemed full of opportunities. They could use it on longer runs... Take their own base rather than finding somewhere when they were out... 

Lost in her thoughts, she was distracted when Daryl let the curtain drop, 'Go on, get some sleep.'

A line of moonlight traced his cheek. It was funny but now that he was reduced to little more than a silhouette, she could see how tired he was. It was there in the way he moved and spoke. Usually there was strength in everything he did but tonight he was slower. He was being quiet and careful because of the walkers, but it was more than that. He was conserving energy.