Back: A Bethyl Survival Story

Unexpected Guests

Unexpected Guests

Waking up, I slide over top of Beth to get out and piss. After doing my thing I hear a strange noise from the woods. It's not a walker cause it's not moaning or growling. I cautiously take a a few steps forward after grabbing my pants and boots from the car. I have Beth's knife in my hand as I step closer to the tree line. There's two noises but I can't tell what they are. I hear it in the woods and look back to the car as if I should just drop it. I can't though. If this was a scared movie, I'd probably be dead after wondering into the words to fin the odd noise, but once I get in a few feet, I can't turn back. Reaching a bush I can distinctly hear whimpering and slight crying.

I fin a small opening in the bottom like it's a house or man made tent out of shrubs. I stupidly crawl in, but am shocked at what I find.

"Ahh!!!" A little boy screams and a German Shepard growls in my face.

"Hey it's okay. It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt ya." I place my knife on the ground and put my hands up so both animal and boy can see I'm not gonna hurt them. The young boy is really small. Probably around the age of 5. The dog, I'd say, is at least 6 years old. "I'm Daryl. What's your name?"

"Bentley... and this is Sargent... but I call him Sarg." The blonde haired boy seems too frightened to truly understand himself.

"How old are you?"

"8. How old are you?"

"About 45 now. Where are your parents?" He looks to the ground an his blue eyes fill with sadness. "It's okay. I get it. Do you have anyone out here with you sides Sarg?

"No. I've been out here for a very long time. Do you have food? I know Sarg is hungry." The boy should talk. He's skin and bones I can see his rib cage. The dog looks kinda skinny too.

"Yeah. Come one back with me. I think I know someone who can take very good care of you." I crawl out and he's hesitant.

"What about Sarg?" He holds onto the dog, who has calmed down.

"He can come too. Wouldn't want to leave your best friend behind now would we?" I give him a smile and I know he's coming around. We walk to the car and Beth seems to have just woken up and is in a small panic. When she sees me emerge from the woods he sighs in relief, but soon seems confused, yet a lil joyous when she sees Bentley and Sarg with me. Bentley hides behind me as if Beth is all that scary a person. "Beth, I want you to meet our new friends. This is Bentley and this is Sarg."

She hunches over and has her hands on her knees. She can see Bentley is rather tiny and malnourished. Opening the car door she reaches in and grabs four granola bars. Usually I would've protested in maintaining supplies, but the poor kid reminds me a lil of myself. I used to scrape for food when I could and for days on end would end up starving.

"Here ya go. And here's two for Sarg." She goes to hand him the bars and he just hides more behind me." I reach out and grab them from her. Turning around I open two and place them in front of the dog who eats them. And unwrap the other two, handing them to Bentley. He hesitantly takes them an turns around, practically shoving them down his throat with out barely chewing them.

"Daryl can I talk to you of a moment." She steps on the other side of the car and I follow. Her arms are crossed in front of her chest. I can't tell if she's cold or annoyed. "Where'd you find them?"

"Out there alone in the woods. Been out there like this for months, probably years. He's 8. An he looks like he's 5. Tell me you wouldn't have brought him back with you."

"No. I would have, but Daryl...huh. He looks at me like I'm some kinda monster. " She's a little upset now so I pull her into a hug.

"No. He's jus... well scared. He jus needs us to take care of him." She gives me a lulling look.

"Since when did you become such a softy?"

"I ain't soft. Jus don't wanna feel guilty bout leavin a kid and a dog out here for those monsters." Turning back, She grab my hand and kisses it.

"You're a great man."

"All cause I have a great woman." We walk back and find both Sarg and Bentley laying on the ground. The dog is basically on top if the kid, probably instinctually trying to warm him up. As I get closer to them, Sarg growls low in his voice. "Hey, it's okay. Bentley... do you wanna sleep in the back of the car with Sarg, while Beth and I drive?"

"Sure...It's okay, Sargent. You can get off now." the dog gets off after licking the boys face and I open the back door. Helping the kid in first, he sits behind the drivers seat. Sarg waits before Bentley calls him up into the car. He hops in and I shut the door.

"Would you like something to drink? We have water or Gatorade?" Beth asks from the passenger seat.

Bentley shakes his yes an Beth hands him a bottle of water and a small bowl she found. Bentley pours the water in an allows Sarg to drink it.

"Here. This ones for you." She hands him another water and he downs it. They soon fall asleep and Beth and I quietly talk as I drive out of North Carolina an into Virginia.

"So you know nothing else?"

"I can only assume his family's gone. All he has is the dog. They were living in a brush pile. I just... huh... never mind."

"You what?" She gives me a pining look.

"I see me in him okay. I basically lived alone at that age. Merle was always gone, mother dead, and my father... well let's just say I'm lucky to be here... I just want him to have a better life, even if it is in this terrible world. He just needs people to love him an well..." what am I saying? I can't love this kid? I don't know him? I... okay maybe I have fatherly feelings or him, but Beth wouldn't understand that. Shit. I suck at this part of life.

"Aw. You wanna love him cause you wanted that when you were younger. Daryl, that's so sweet and kind. That's what I love about you." She leans over an kisses me while I keep driving. "You can be his Daddy and I can be his Mommy and it's like were a family. Daryl..."

"Beth, I think you need to sleep. You're going slightly crazy... I just wanna take care of him okay. I'm not his Daddy and you're not his Mommy. Were his guardians now, and nothing more."

"Way to kill the mood bright eyes." He rolls onto her side in her seat and I can't help but scoff at her insult.

Great. A man, a woman, a boy and a dog, enter Virginia... what a shitty joke.