Haven (A Walking Dead fanfiction)

Chapter 6

It's been hours since Shane's outburst and I still haven't had the courage to face Daryl. I sit in a rocking chair on the front porch, gently swaying back and forth as the cool evening air tickles my cheeks. I lay my head back against the chair, my heart heavy with embarrassment. I'm ashamed of my brothers actions. I wanted nothing more than to be close to Daryl, and now I look like a little child being scolded by her father. A fool. Every part of me wants to run to him, apologize for what happened, just be close to him. But deep down I know he'd never want to see me. I sigh as I pull my legs to my chest, resting my face against my knees. Besides, what in my right mind would make me think that Daryl Dixon would actually be interested in a worthless loser like me. Forget the fact that he's 26 and I'm hardly 18. I swallow the lump in my throat, blinking away a few tears. I should have known I would just mess everything up here. I choke out a laugh. Hell look what happened to Andrew. Every damn time I get close to someone...they get hurt. I stifle a sob in my hand. I can't hurt anyone else, I think on the edge of hysteria. I need to go, coming here was a mistake. I should have just stayed on my own. The utter loneliness is far more tolerable than being with a group and tearing them all apart. I stand, suddenly determined. I have to leave, now. I run a hand through my messy hair as I charge inside. I go straight to my things in the girls' room. I pull my bag out from underneath Beth's bed, where I keep it at the ready. I take my handgun from the shoebox in which I had hidden it. I check the magazine to make sure it was full. I click it back into place and fill my pocket with extra ammo. I pause just long enough to write Beth a quick note: 

"Beth,

       I'm so sorry. I wish I had more time to explain. I'm so extremely grateful for you and your family." I pause.  Wiping my nose on my arm as I sob. "I can't bare to stand by and watch as I destroy all that I have left in this world. Not again. I won't continue to let the people I love get hurt because of me. Daryl could have gotten killed. I'm sorry I had to do it like this. I just knew if I stopped to say goodbye I never would have made it out the door.

I love you guys <3

         Hailey"     

  I make sure the knife in my boot is still in place, then take the flashlight from the bedside table and head right back outside. 'I'm doing the right thing'. I think to myself as I walk further away from the house. Everyone's bustling around,  so busy with their nightly chores no one even notices as I walk by. I question if I should say goodbye to Daryl, but I shake my head at the thought. I know it'll only make things harder. As I walk part of me hopes someone stops me, that someone, anyone will notice and tell me stay. But no one does, so I keep on walking. I shiver as I make my way into the woods surrounding the farm. I can't tell if it's the blanket of shade from the trees, or the reality that I'm completely and utterly alone again that makes me feel so cold and exposed. I tighten my right hand around my gun, the sweat beaded in my palm loosening its hold. 'They're all better off' I think, continuing to convince myself that I have to go. The sun begins to set as I walk. The darkness of the night creeping in around me. They probably know by now, I realize. Except for Daryl of course who probably hasn't left his campsite since the incident. I sigh. 

~Back at the Farm~

"Daddy!" Beth screams hysterically from her room. Hershel, Patricia, Jimmy, and Maggie all come running. 

"Beth, baby, what is it?" Hershel asks. All of them startled by her screams. She hands them the note Hailey had left for her. 

"It's Hailey!" She cries. "She's gone...

"What??" Maggie asks her voice cracking with emotion. She snatches the note from Hershel. "Shane did this." She growls. Her southern accent apparent in every word. She storms down the stairs, stomping out to the fire pit where Rick and Shane sit in silence. She shoves the note so hard into Shane's chest that he wobbles backwards, falling off the log he was sitting on. 

"The hell?!" He yells, scrambling to his feet. 

"She's' gone." Maggie hisses, her voice coming out a whisper as she uses  everything in her to hold back tears. 

"What?" He laughs. "Who's gone?" 

"Hailey you asshole!"

"What??" Rick shouts jumping to his feet. Shane rubs his hand over his face, seemingly thinking. He hands the piece of paper to Rick. "Jesus Christ man, what have you done??" Rick growls angrily charging away from him. 

"You better fix this!" Maggie sobs. Before following closely behind Rick. Rick and the others gather the rest of the group. 

"Someone should get Daryl." Lori says quietly. "He'd know how to find her."

"I just went to find him...he's gone too..." Carol says, slightly out of breath. 

~ Back to Hailey~

It's almost dark now. The orange beams of the setting sun lighting my way as I trek deeper into the forest. I freeze, a snapping twig sending ice through my blood. I click on my flashlight, raising it level with my gun. I scan my surroundings, but find nothing. I sigh with relief. It was probably nothing, I think as I keep walking. I keep my eyes peeled for danger as I creep along. I yelp as a body is thrown into mine, sending us both flying into the nearest tree. I drop my gun, my arms pinned against my body. Two rough, calloused hands wrapped around my wrists. His body pressed against mine. I'm frozen with panic. His face so close to mine that I can feel his warm breath against my cheek. I open my eyes and my fear melts away. I let my body fall against his, my arms wrapped around his waist as he releases them. I look up into his watery blue eyes. "You came for me?" I cry. He takes my face in his hands, caressing my cheeks with his thumbs. 

"Of course I did." He grumbles. His deep thick accent sending chills through my body. He gazes straight down at me, his eyes scanning my face. His eyes graze over my eyes, my nose, my cheek, but it rests on my lips. He glances up into my eyes once more before pushing me back against the tree and kissing me like I've never been kissed before. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer into me. The trees rough bark digs into my back as he lifts me up, allowing me to wrap my legs around his waist. I kiss him with everything in me,  every ounce of me wants to be closer to him. He pulls away, resting his forehead against mine. "Don't..." He pauses, breathing heavily. "Don't you ever...leave me like that again." He chokes. This soft side of him melts straight to my heart. I take his face in my hands, tilting it so he's looking straight at me. 

"I thought you were done with me after what Shane did." I cry, the taste of him still in my mouth. Daryl chokes out a small laugh. 

"No...No..." He laughs through his tears. I run my hands over the purple bruises Shane's hands left on his throats. 

"But he hurt you..." I whisper shamefully. "Because of me..." He leans in so close I can almost feel his lips on mine. 

"I don't care what he did." He whispers. "This isn't about him. This is about you, about me, about us. You, me. Right here, right now. Nothing else matters." His breath trickles over my lips as he speaks sending goose bumps over my body. I look down at his lips, craving for them to be against mine once more.