Hope Lost: A Daryl Dixon Story (The Walking Dead/ Bethyl )

30- Death Begets Death

In the hours that followed, sometime past 3am, their conversation came to a lull. Daryl sensed that she didn’t want to sleep just yet, but he would force her. They were under the covers by now, both still clothed, when Daryl pressed Beth closer into his chest. She made mild protests but didn’t resist. Seconds later she had fallen into a light doze. Daryl kissed the delicate skin of her forehead and closed his eyes as well. In his dreams, he remembered nothing else except flashes of her smile. Sometime later, as the sun was about to rise, the door was opened by Sasha.

‘Beth have you seen-’

She made a face as the man she was looking for was snuggled up in Beth’s bed with her. She gently shook him awake.

‘There’s trouble outside.’ Sasha whispered, her face still wary of Beth sleeping in his arms.

Daryl nodded and said, ‘Gimme a minute.’

She left with one more acute look at the two of them, much to Daryl’s annoyance. They would talk, but that was inevitable. He pried Beth out of his arms without rousing her. He put on his boots, slung his crossbow over his shoulder and left soundlessly. The sky was streaked with pinks and oranges as the sun made its first appearance of the day.

‘Ted and Robin weren’t in their tents when I woke up a bit before this.’ Sasha said as Daryl approached her. His brow fused.

‘Bob and I found, uhm, something you should see.’

She led the way after Daryl didn’t ask any further questions. They walked through the thickness of the forest for a few minutes before she stopped. Daryl looked on in silence. Bob and Sasha had probably expected Daryl to overreact. But instead, he remained quiet.

‘It’s funny how things work out.’ Sasha said. ‘Some people struggle for life, while others just…’

How had this happened, Daryl asked himself the more important question. Robin’s lifeless body hung from a tree on a thick rope tied around her neck. Dawn’s light showed her skin to be a bluish hue. There was no note, no explanation. Maybe it’s time you take yours off too. Might as well, you could be dead tomorrow. Robin had said those words just a day before. He should have taken the hint. Emotionless, uncaring and unscathed. Daryl felt nothing for Robin as her body swayed a bit. She had chosen this. Daryl turned away in disgust.

‘Shouldn’t we take her down?’ Sasha asked him.

‘No,’ Daryl answered, impassively.

‘She’ll turn.’

‘Ain’t got nothin’ to do with me. She wanted this, she can stay up there.’

Daryl left without another word. If they wanted to take down her body, they could do it without his help. The sun shone brilliantly in the sky by the time Daryl had returned to the greyed farmhouse. Maggie was up, and she nodded at Daryl as he passed her, which he returned. That was the first time they had acknowledge each other since Glenn’s death. Daryl thought of what Beth had told him last night about her. He sat down on the porch steps and leaned forward. Only then did Daryl realise that Ted was missing. Maybe he’d run away? Maybe he took his life as well. Daryl didn’t know, and he didn’t care either.  Most of them looked solemn enough as Sasha explained what had happened with Robin. Beth was still asleep inside, and she didn’t wake up until much later. She found Daryl on the porch steps. He hadn’t left his spot. She sat down next to him.

‘I heard.’ She said after a while. Maggie had told her in one sentence what had happened before Beth had left the house.

He didn’t respond.