The next two days or so pass uneventfully. Wake up, chores, work, scout for Sophia, sleep. Daryl got his stitches out and the both of us were given free rein again. I'm glad. I hated having to rest all the time. It gets boring.
We all gather for breakfast. The sky is cloudy, but we don't really mind it. Glenn gets up out of his seat and walks to the front of the group.
"Um...guys?" he starts nervously. We all look up at him, and I keep eating as I watch. He takes a deep breath. "The barn is full of walkers."
My fork clatters onto my plate, and everyone's eyes widen.
We get up, going to the barn. Shane goes up to the door, peering in. A growl sounds and Shane backs away.
"You can not tell me you're alright with this," he growls as he storms away from the door.
"I'm not, but we're guests here. This is Hershel's land, not ours," Rick says.
"This is our lives, man!" Shane yells angrily.
"Lower your voice," Glenn orders.
"We can't just sweep this under the rug," Andrea says.
"It's not right. We've either got to go in there and take care of it or we just gotta go. Now we've been talking about Fort Benning for a long time," Shane argues.
"We can't go," Rick says.
"Why, Rick? Why?"
"Cause my daughter's still out there," Carol says timidly.
Shane scoffs, rubbing his head. "Ok. I think it's time to just consider the other possibility."
"We aren't leaving Sophia behind," Rick says.
"I'm close to findin' this girl. I found her damn doll two days ago," Daryl says.
"You found her doll, Daryl. That's what you did. You found a doll," Shane spits.
"You don't know what the hell you're talkin' about!" Daryl yells angrily, advancing on him.
"I'm just saying what needs to be said!" Shane yells, his voice rising. "You get a good lead, it's in the first 48 hours."
"Shane, stop," Rick demands.
"Let me tell you something else," he says to Daryl. "If she were alive out there and saw you coming all methed out with your buck knife and geek ears around your neck, she would run in the other direction!"
Daryl lunges towards Shane. Everyone starts yelling, pulling Daryl and Shane away from each other. I grab Daryl's arm, keeping him back as best I can.
"BACK OFF!" Rick yells, silencing us. "Let me talk to Hershel. Let me figure it out."
"WHAT ARE YOU GONNA FIGURE OUT?!" Shane screams, spit flying from his mouth.
"If we're gonna stay, if we're gonna clear this barn, I have to talk him into it. This is his land!"
"Hershel sees those things as people," Dale interrupts. We go silent and stare at him."Sick people. His wife, his stepson-"
"You knew?!" Shane asks loudly.
"Yesterday, I talked to Hershel."
"And you waited the night?" Shane yells.
"I thought we could survive one more night. We did," Dale says. "I was gonna tell you today but Glenn wanted to instead."
"This man is crazy Rick. If Hershel thinks those are alive or not!" Shane screams.
The door of the barn rattles and the sound of the undead moaning and growling is heard. We stand in silence once again.
Everyone disperses. Daryl storms off and I go get some water. I take a drink and sit down, resting my face in my hands.
Carol runs up to me after a few minutes.
"Hope, come quick. Daryl won't listen to me," she begs.
I run towards the barn as best I can manage, where Daryl is saddling up a horse. I move inside, my boots stirring up the dirt on the floor.
"You can't leave! You still need to heal," I say.
"I don't care," he grumbles.
"I do. Rick is going out to follow the trail."
"I ain't gonna sit around and do nothin'."
"No. You're gonna go out there and get yourself hurt even worse," I retort.
He stays silent, continuing to put a bridle on the horse.
"We don't know if we're gonna find her, Daryl," I whisper, my voice dropping. "We don't...I don't."
He turns to face me. "What?"
"I can't lose you. I just can't."
He stares at me, his eyes blazing.
He grabs a saddle and throws it with a scream of anger. He groans and stumbles, clutching his hurt side.
"Daryl!" I move forwards, trying to help him. He shoves me away.
"Just leave me be!" he yells. "Stupid bitch."
I stiffen, feeling like I've been slapped in the face. He storms away, but I can't make my legs follow him. I lower myself onto my knees, my eyes feeling like they're burning. A few tears slip down my cheeks and fall onto the dusty ground below me, but I clench my jaw and wipe them away.
I'm not weak.
YOU ARE READING
Daryl's Angel (Book One in the Apocalypse Angel Trilogy)
Fanfiction"Why're you bein' so nice to me?" "I would want the same if I were you." Hope Starling was alone when the dead started rising. She had always been alone, with parents that had disowned her and no friends to help her. Inside the department store in...
