Remember Me (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter Fifty-Five: Father Gabriel

I walked with the others through the forest, my legs aching with every step. My entire body was aching, actually. I looked at Daryl to the right of me and frowned. The squirrels he was carrying on his back kept smacking into me. I tried to ignore it, but it was getting on my last nerve.

I scooted a little farther away from him to avoid this, but this caused Rick to shoot me a dirty look. He wanted us all to stay tightly together, but he had obviously never been hit with dead squirrels. I rolled my eyes as I moved back to Daryl. We were all pretty cranky. The heat was beating down on us and causing us all to get in shitty moods. Even Judith was pissed off about it. I continued holding her close to my chest as I pulled her bottle of water out. She gratefully snatched it from my hands and began gulping.

"Help!"

My eyes quickly moved to Daryl who was looking at Rick. I felt deep down inside that this could be a trap, but this could also be somebody who needed our help.

"Somebody! Help!"

Carl looked to his father with desperation as we all stayed put. I couldn't just run to see who it was. If I did, I would put both me and Judith in danger. Daryl looked down at Judith before looking at me for a split second.

"Dad, come on," Carl begged as the screaming continued. Rick hesitated and shook his head at the young boy. "Dad," Carl continued begging.

Though hesitant, Rick motioned for us all to follow him. I cursed to myself when he did this. If we all got lured into a trap, I would forever hold Rick accountable for that. I held Judith close to me as we all began running towards the screaming. It didn't take long for us to reach a small boulder with walkers surrounded around it.

I could see a man dressed in black kicking and screaming at the top, begging for us to save him. I wanted to go at one of the walkers, but I couldn't with Judith in my arms. I watched Rick, Michonne, and Carol take out three of the walkers while Daryl took out the last one.

I was pretty displeased that I couldn't help, but at least we saved this man. Once they were taken care of, we all began looking around the area. I partially expected Gareth and the others to jump out from the bushes, but they never did. Maybe this wasn't a trap after all.

"Come on down," Rick said to the man who was on top of the boulder. He was shaking and almost to the point of tears as he looked around at all of us. I could tell he was completely terrified about what just happened.

"You okay?" Rick asked him once he was safely on the ground. The man lifted a finger up before putting his hands on his knees and vomiting all over the ground. I groaned as I looked away from the sight. This made me want to lose my lunch too.

"Sorry," the man said apologetically as he came back up. "Yes, thank you. I'm Gabriel."

"Do you have any weapons on you?" Rick asked him as he pointed to his suit. Gabriel seemed pretty amused by this question. "Do I look like I would have any weapons?"

"We don't give two shits what it looks like," Abraham said as he joined the conversation. I rolled my eyes at him before looking back at Gabriel.

"I have no weapons of any kind," Gabriel announced as he looked at all of us. "The word of God is the only protection I need."

"Sure didn't look like it," Daryl replied in a cocky tone. I shoved his shoulder when he said this. He shrugged his shoulders at me when I did so.

"I called for help. Help came," Gabriel replied in a hopeful tone. He looked to all of us for reassurance but he never got any. "Do you have any food? Whatever I had left...it just hit the ground."

Carl held his hand out to Gabriel. "We have some pecans."

"Thank you," Gabriel nodded with a smile. Carl nodded back at him as he took the pecans from his hand. Judith cooed at me and began tugging on my hair, signaling she was finished with her water. I smiled at her as I took the bottle and placed it back in my bag.

"That's a beautiful child," Gabriel smiled as he addressed her. I didn't reply to him, I simply kept my eyes on him with a blank expression. "Do you have a camp?"

"No," Rick replied automatically. "Do you?"

"I have a church," Gabriel replied as sweat collected on his brow.

"Hold your hands above your head," Rick replied in an irritated tone. After a few moments, Gabriel did as he was told. Rick began patting him down, searching for any secret weapons.
"How many walkers have you killed?"

"Not any, actually."

I was completely shocked by his answer. How did you live in this world without killing any walkers? You can hardly get by without killing any humans. "How many people have you killed?"

"None," Gabriel replied as he shook his head.
"Why?"

"Because the lord abhors violence," Gabriel said as if we should all know the answer to that question.
"What have you done?" Rick asked as Gabriel began getting anxious. "We've all done something."

"I'm a sinner," Gabriel stated. "I sin almost everyday. But those sins I confess to God. Not strangers." Rick cocked his head at his reply. I was pretty annoyed with this entire conversation myself. I just wanted to find a place to go. I didn't want to sit out here and chat all day.

"You said you had a church?" Michonne asked. Thank you, Michonne. Finally somebody cuts to the chase.

Gabriel slowly nodded

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From the time we arrived at the church, I knew it would be a bad idea. Gareth and the others could easily find us here if they wanted to. I didn't want to be anywhere that we were easy targets, but I guess we didn't really have a choice. It was here or another night in the woods where they could get us even easier.

I waited for Rick and the others to emerge from the church to signal that it was safe before I went inside, Judith in my arms. Once we were safely inside, I handed Judith to Rick so I could give my arms a break. I said down on one of the pews and kicked my legs up as Gabriel gave me a dirty look.

"How'd you survive here for so long?" Rick asked as he looked around the room. "Where did your supplies come from?"

"Luck," Gabriel replied as he put his hands together. "Things fell apart just after our annual canned food drive. It's just me." Rick handed Judith to Carl as he listened to Gabriel's words. "The food lasted a long time and then I started scavenging. I cleaned out ever place nearby except for one."

Daryl sat down next to me and I placed my hand on top of his. I was obsessed with knowing he was right there next to me after being separated. I never wanted to be away from him again.

"What kept you from it?" Rick asked as he motioned towards the door. "It's overrun."
"How many?"
"A dozen or so. Maybe more."

Rick looked at Tyreese for a moment before turning his attention back to Gabriel. "We can handle a dozen."

"Bob and I will go with you," Sasha volunteered as she walked over to Rick and Gabriel. "Tyreese should stay here. Help keep Judith safe."

"Sure," Tyreese agreed. "You ever need me to watch her. You ever need anything for her, I'm right here."
"I'm grateful for it," Rick said as he walked over to Tyreese. "And everything else." I smiled at Judith as she turned around to look at me. She stuffed her hand in her mouth as she let out a giggle. Daryl smiled at the sight of it.

"I'll draw you a map," Gabriel volunteered.
"You don't need to," Rick interjected. "You're coming with us."

"I'm not gonna be of any help," Gabriel replied with nervousness. "I'm no good around those things."
"You're coming with us," Rick repeated.

I watched Gabriel break a sweat before looking back at Rick.
He nodded at him with hesitation.