Claimed

Chapter Seven

[Beth]

I sit on the porch swing, my tear-streaked face blank. I cried out all the tears I had in my body. I just sit on the swing, staring at the stars. They buried Bella today, but I wasn't there. I couldn't watch. I hear footsteps come up the porch steps, and Daryl sits next to me. We both stare at the stars, not speaking.
"I could have done something." I blurt out.
"No Beth, you couldn't. Not everything is your fault." He says, completely understanding what I'm talking about.
"No, you don't get it. I could've been there. I could've-" I stop my sentence and look away, afraid more tears will come.
"Beth, look at me." I look at him my eyes filled with tears I didn't know I had in me.
"Accidents happen. You couldn't have stopped this."
I close my eyes and a tear streaks down my face.
"It's just, it was my job to protect her. And I failed. I failed her, I failed my sister, my family. Everyone."
"No you-."
"You can't keep lying to me." I stand up and lean against the railing. I sigh and look at him.
"Do you ever have that feeling where you know what's done is done. You know it wasn't you. But you keep thinking of it like its all on you? Like you could've done something. Do you ever have that?"
"Yeah." He says, looking at the floor. I sit back down next to him and lean on his shoulder. He wraps his arms around me and rests his head on mine.
"I just miss her."
"I know." We sit in silence for a while like that, just thinking.
"Do you ever think things will ever go back to the way it was?" I ask.
"No." He says bluntly.
"Well, I dunno."
"I guess I don't either. It's just that hope that keeps me going." I say. It's nice to have someone I can talk to.
"So.. What happened to your sister. You mentioned her." I swallow hard.
"You don-." I interrupt him.
"No, I have to. After I got home, my sister was the only one. We were together for a while. We ate what was salvageable in the house, but that ran out pretty quick. We had to go out. We had to leave our home behind. We had a few close encounters with walkers, but I killed them pretty quick. One day, she sort of snapped. She didn't understand.." I close my eyes, remembering every detail. "She thought they were people. I was stupid one day and left her while I went out to get supplies. When I got back, she was surrounded by walkers. I killed them instantly. Then, she started screaming and crying. I tried to explain, but she wouldn't listen." I blink my eyes hard, not wanting to cry. "Then, she came at me with her knife. I wrestled her, trying to keep the God damn knife away from me. She lunged toward me, and I did the only thing I could. I shot her." I burry my face in my hands. I sit like that for a while, until Daryl breaks the silence.
"Holy shit.." Daryl says.
"Yeah." I say as I wipe the tears away. Maggie walks out onto the porch.
"You two still up?" She chuckles.
"Get to bed, love birds!" Daryl and I both blush and walk silently into the house. I hear Maggie laughing her ass off behind me. Screw her.

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A/N So not much action this chapter. I promise more interesting stuff and thangs will be coming soon. Hope you enjoyed, and don't forget to comment and vote! Till next time!

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