Lily walked into the tent, finding Daryl already laying down trying to sleep. She crept in slowly and zipped the door shut behind her. Sitting on her side of the tent, she took out her knife and laid it next to her pillow and started to unlace her boots.
"Merles gone." Daryl said quietly. Lily jumped slightly at his voice but took a deep breath, still facing away from him. She lowered her head and sighed.
"He dead?" Lily asked.
"He's just gone. Cut off his own hand like a crazy son of a bitch and left." Daryl's voice wobbled slightly and Lily's eyes started to fill with tears.
Daryl sat up and moved closer to Lily placing a hand on her back. She wiped her cheeks and turned to him, giving him a weak smile. Daryl removed his hand quickly and placed it on Lily's chin, turning her head gently towards him.
"What the fuck happened to you!?" He raised his voice, still examining her face. Lily's lip was cut and her eye was slightly blackening already. She pulled away and shook her head quickly. "You better tell me right now."
"Daryl it's nothing. Just leave it. Shane sorted it out." Lily looked down and realised she hadn't finished undoing her boots.
"Oh, you and Shane best buds now? Is that it? He just fuckin' everyone in this camp. I'm out tryna save ma brother and ya screwing around with officer big shot over there." Daryl was getting himself really worked up and Lily was trying to stay calm but it didn't last long.
"I wanted to come with you, but someone thought it'd be best for me to stay here and doing fucking washing with the rest of these women. Only for that twat Ed to come and act all dominant thinking he can hit his wife. Yes it was Ed, I stood up for Carol because I wasn't gonna let some fat bastard think he could control all the women here. Happy now?"
"Where is he?" Daryl was already getting to his feet before Lily stopped him.
"He's dead Daryl." Daryl let out a long sigh and sat back down.
"Why would ya wanna get involved in their marriage? Just let 'em get on with it, we got bigger problems to deal with ain't we. Unless of course, ya don't care that Merle's gone cause it sure does seem that way." Daryl shrugged, quieting his voice a little now.
"Don't even start that shit with me Daryl. You know how much Merle means to me, how the fuck you expect me not to care? You're pissed, I get that, but you don't need to take it all out on me." Lily quickly jumped up and stormed out of the tent, picking up her knife on the way out.
-
"You okay there Lily?" Shane watched her from on top of the RV, he was clearly on watch for the night.
"Fucking fantastic." She said quietly as she continued to march past him. She had no idea where she was heading, she just need some air and to get away from him. Andrea was still sat next to her sisters body, crying quietly, covered in blood. Lily pulled her arm over her nose to cover the smell of the bodies that still lay around the camp (Everyone had agreed to move them tomorrow.) and walked towards the water at the edge of the camp.
The stones underneath Lily's feet made a crunching sound each step she took. She approached the water and sat down on a rock next to it, bringing her knees up to her chest. Lily stared out into the water and watched the ripples she made when she threw in little stones.
"Couldn't sleep either?"Lily looked up as saw Carol standing behind her, with her arms folded looking out to the water. Lily shook her head as Carol sat next to her and let out a sigh. "I'm not even sad he's dead." Carol suddenly said quietly. "I prayed every day for God to save us from him. It just took him a while to get round to it I guess. He probably had more important stuff to do." Carol and Lily smiled a little at the thought. "I always knew God worked in mysterious ways, and now I'm sure of it. This is just a test, to get us all to pull together. I'm certain when we prove ourselves to him, he'll put an end to all this pain and suffering."
Lily listened closely to Carol's words. She'd never been a believer in God and used to laugh at people who took life too seriously, but hearing those words coming from Carol, she just felt a sense of comfort, like everything would be okay. Carol looked at Lily and smiled.
"You're a strong girl, you'll get through this, especially with Daryl looking out for you. Me?... I'm not so sure, but what I am sure of is that I'll do anything to keep my daughter alive. Its not safe here any more Lily. We need to leave for all our safety." Carol's head tilted up to the sky as she stared at the stars.
