Animal Gone Wild [DISCONTINUED]

33

THE AWAKENING

"And I will remember."
I turned my head and twitched my eyes. Whoever was talking needed to shut the hell up and let me sleep...except who I saw was not who I was expecting to see.
"Beth," I whispered, slightly reaching out for her.
Beth rushed towards me as some lady in an officer's outfit shot up and turned towards us; Beth grabbing my hand.
"I'm right here June," Beth smiled, "I ain't goin' anywhere."
"Where are we?"
"Somewhere where I'm gonna take care of you. Nothin' is gonna happen to you. I swear it."
I groaned as I moved slightly. Beth gently rested one hand on my shoulder.
"Hey, hey, hey. Don't move, you're still weak."
"I'll be fine Beth."
"You were injured," the lady spoke up, "we saved you."
I scoffed, "like hell lady. Your people hit me with a car—I wasn't injured before then."
I grunted as I sat up, wincing as I did so. Beth still at my side.
"You blacked out, you probably don't remember what really happened."
I turned my gaze to the lady with a sharp glare.
"Don't be tellin' me what I do and don't remember. There's plenty I remember, and me bein' injured before bein' hit, isn't one. So how 'bout you screw off, yeah?"

I was in a wheel chair being pushed by Beth—apparently the boys came to get us. To be honest, I wasn't surprised. They would kill to have us back, no matter the stakes. Three officers and the head lady from earlier were blocking our path. I could hear them, they were coming. A small smile graced my face as Beth placed one hand on my shoulder, I reached up and placed my hand over hers.
"They're here," I whispered, squeezing her hand lightly.
We watched as the door opened and they all trickled in. The officers moved out of our way as we moved forward.
"They haven't been harmed," Rick called.
"Where's Lamson," HL asked.
"Rotters got him," answered the exchange lady.
"We saw it go down," added the man.
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. He was one of the good guys."
It was quiet a silence.
"One of yours for one of mine."
"All right."
Daryl walked forward with the burly man. Then an officer started wheeling me forward. Soon Daryl took hold and started pushing me back to the others.
Then Rick went up to get Beth. Rick started guiding Beth back towards us.
"Glad we could work things out."
"Yeah."
I got up and out of the wheelchair and we started to get to leave when she called out again.
"Now I just need Noah. And then you can leave."
"Rick," I warned out.
Rick started moving forward slightly aggressively.
"That wasn't part of the deal," Rick commented.
"Noah was my ward. Beth took his place and I'm losing her, so I need him back," commented HL.
"Ma'am, please, it's not-"
"Shepherd! My officers put their lives on the line to find him."
I felt hostility in the air.
"One of them died."
"No, he ain't staying," Daryl growled out.
"He's one of my mine. You have no claim on him."
I felt myself spiking into familiar, dangerous territory. Anger.
"The boy wants to go home," Rick commented, "so you have no claim on him."
"Well then we don't have a deal."
I felt my face darken at those words. I let out a growl, that seemed to echo off the walls.
"Simmer June," Rick called, knowing it was me, "you're injured, we don't need you causin' harm to yourself. Besides, the deal is done."
"It's okay," Noah comforted.
"No, no."
"I got to do it."
"It's not okay," Beth commented.
"It's settled," the lady commented, probably with a hidden smirk.
Noah went to go before Beth called out to wait. I took an instinctive step forward before Daryl put his hand to stop me. Beth then pulled him into a hug.
"It's okay," comforted Noah.
"I knew you'd be back."
Then I felt a shift in Beth's stance. I looked between Beth and the lady confused.
"I get it now," Beth commented.
I soon understood what was going to happen.
"Beth," I screamed, "no!"
I rushed forward, but Beth was quicker. She stabbed the head officer and then was shot. I stopped short and let out a cry of terror. Tears slammed down my face. Daryl reacted the way I would've in any situation. He shot her in the face.
Soon everyone was pointing guns at each other before one side put it down—followed by our side. I rushed towards Beth. I clutched her tightly towards myself as blood started staining not only my clothes but my hands.
"June we gotta go," Rick commented, crouching next to me.
I shook my head.
"June..."
I looked up at Rick, who was staring straight at me.
"I can't keep doing this Rick," I whispered quietly.
Rick's face broke at my comment before telling Daryl to take Beth from my arms. I watched sadly before Rick gingerly pulled me up—I clung to his side as we walked off. Noah joining us.
When we exited the building, our group was there to meet us. I was still clinging to Rick. I watched Glenn's face change to confusion at my bloody frame before Maggie started wailing on seeing Beth's dead body being carried by Daryl. I burrowed my face into Rick's shoulder, him pulling me into a strong hug as fresh tears fell from my eyes.