The Devils Eyes •Daryl Dixon•

S I X T Y - O N E : A B S E N T I A

Two and a half days.

That's how long Merle and I have been forced to stay at this camp.

We tried to escape the first night, but realized the guards on the walls doubled during the night, lowering our chance at escape.

We would've got caught escaping by the Commanders wolf, but the two of us managed to sneak back to our rooms.

So far they've sent us out on runs to test how strong we are.

They also forced me to cauterize my stump which I wasn't too opposed to, but the two of us were both weary as they wanted me to be put under.

"You okay?" my eye flies to Merle who wipes a bead of sweat from his forehead.

We were currently outside, tending to the garden.

"Just tired," I nodded and went back to breaking up the dirt.

Shouts of joy erupted from the front gate and I caught sight of the men hopping out the truck with grins on their faces.

I wonder why they were so excited.

"Bring her on out," one of them shouted as they hurried to the back, before pulling out a slightly bruised blonde, who was probably in her early 20's.

My heart froze as I realized why they were so excited.

Would they stoop down to the level?

Panic coursed through me as flashbacks of all my encounters with James flew through my mind.

"I ain't gonna let them touch you," Merle whispered, knowing the cause of my anxiety.

"We have to help her," I whisper as I look back out to see them dragging her into the headquarters where the Commander was.

"Can't do much for her now," Merle shook his head, digging out some more dirt.

"Why didn't they do that to me?" I asked. "I mean I'm grateful they didn't but I wonder why."

"Probably because of me," he shrugged. "Probably would've killed me if the two of us were married but I don't know why they haven't attempted to kill me yet."

"We're not off the hook until we get out of here," I shake my head and loosen some more dirt up.

"We gotta wait," Merle nodded. "Probably won't get a good chance to escape until a few days when most the group will go out to meet that other group."

I nodded as the two of us went back to tending to the crops.

<>

I continued to much on some stale lay chips while I watched Merle doing shooting practice with my bow.

I had come to terms without having an arm, and the bag was resting on my right arm that was bent 90 degrees.

We were granted about an hour of free time per day and right now, I leaned against a tree eating chips while Merle shot.

He wasn't a bad shot, but it was expected.

The two of us pretty much had similar lives growing up, and I'm pretty sure he was more experienced in weapons than me.

"Oh so close," I teased as Merle sent an arrow but it barely missed the bullseye.

"Like you could do much better princess," Merle smirked over at me.

"Oh shut up," I sent another chip in my mouth. "You know I'd whoop your ass in a shooting competition if I had both my arms."

"Well ya don't," Merle plastered a fake pouting face before turning back to the target practice.