Chapter 8

"So tomorrow, huh?" I asked standing by the couch awkwardly while Daryl sharpened his knife.

"Yeah, first one." He smirked at me, then looked back at his knife checking it's sharpness.

"Mind if I join you? My weapons," I cleared my throat," could use a tune up." I smiled. Daryl nodded, I grabbed my weapons from the antler rack by the door, setting them on the floor in the living room. Daryl handed me what he was using for his knife to use on my own, I gave him a nod of appreciation.

"So, I uh, never asked you the questions I had." Daryl said a little nervous. He glanced at me then back down at his gun that he had disassembled.

"Go ahead." I smirked kindly, as I continued to sharpen my knife.

"So you and your family were vacationing in Mexico, why?" He looked to me a little confused.

"Um." I cleared my throat as I started to rack my brain for the answer. "If I 'member right, relatives?" I said a little unsure, but also positive.

"You have family in Mexico?" He looked me over not convinced.

"Dad, Mexican, mom, French something like that." I shrugged.

"So do you know other languages?" He asked curiously.

"Um, maybe." I cleared my throat, again. "Haven't crossed anyone that speaks another language." I shrugged. At this point my throat was burning, but I was enjoying this conversation with Daryl too much.

"So after you escaped the hotel, what happened?" He asked. I looked at him, hurt in my chest that I couldn't remember. He saw my pain, looking back down at his hands. "Um, where did you come up with the tree idea?"

"Huh." I laughed a little. "Always wanted, treehouse." This throat clearing was becoming inconvenient.

"How long did that take?" Daryl asked curiously.

"Couple months?" I shrugged.

"So, now that you can answer on your own, what is your name?" Daryl asked. I looked down at the blade of my ax, running the tips of my fingers along the smooth edge, ashamed to admit that I didn't know. I didn't know why my mind was against me, why it wouldn't give important information that I needed, it was frustrating.

"I-" My voice strained. "I don't know?" My voice scratched. "I don't, uh-" I pressed my hands to the sides of my head, frustrated. "I don't remember." My voice scratched. It was silent between the two of us, neither of us said a word, no one knew what to say at this point I guess. I heard Daryl get up, I didn't look, thinking he was leaving, until I felt his hands on my arms, I looked up at him shocked.

"You're Hazel." He stated. "That's who you are, alright?" He smirked lightly at me, causing me to smile through tear filled eyes.

"Okay." I laughed lightly, throwing my arms around his neck, Daryl gently hugging me back.

——————

I sat out on the front porch as the sun barely started to rise over the walls. Daryl was still asleep. I would never tell him, but on nights when he's the most exhausted he snores, it's kinda cute I must admit. It isn't a loud snore, it's just a light one, barely audible.

"Mornin'." Daryl spoke, as he stepped out onto the porch sitting next to me. "What're you doin' out here?"

"Couldn't sleep for whatever reason." I shrugged. I knew why I couldn't sleep, it was the fact that I was getting too comfortable here, and I knew that doom was just around the corner for this place.

"Well I'm gonna be leavin' soon, Sasha's still here, if ya need anythin'." He added. I nodded giving him a light smirk.

I sighed heavily as he left down the street. I had things to do today, but they would just be different without him here. I knew he wouldn't want me to wait up for him, but that's what I would be doing. I had the option of helping Olivia today, and I think I would, she seemed to keep busy, so it would be nice to keep my mind distracted. On my way there, I was grabbed by the arm and pulled behind a house, coming face to face with the last person I wanted to talk to, Spencer. I shoved his hands away from me, crossing my arms in frustration.

"What?" I hissed.

"I just wanted to warn you about those people." He said cautiously, looking around us to make sure no one was around.

"Who?" I growled.

"They're dangerous, Daryl, Rick, Carol, Sasha, them. You do anything they don't like, and that's it for you." He said nervously.

"Why believe you?" My voice scratched, it was still strained from last night.

"Cause I've seen it, they went with my brother on a run, he didn't come back. They took another group out, about six, only two of ours came back. My dad and my mom dying both their fault." He looked at me with a fury in his eyes.

"So what?" I bit my tongue hard as I watched him look around us again, then at me.

"You can stay with me, just so your safe from them." He said a little hysterically.

"I'm just as dangerous." I stated. He looked at me confused then in shock when he felt my knife against his throat.

"What-what're you doing?" He swallowed hard, fear in his eyes.

"They, are my friends, they saved me." The last of my sentence coming out in a whisper. "Leave me, and them, the fuck alone!" I shoved him away and continued my walk to Olivia's. I clutched my burning throat, swallowing spit to try and soothe it.

That stupid, brainless- ugh, I had a temper but let me tell you I was very good at hiding it, sometimes. One minute I could be smiling, but you touch me wrong, or say something about someone I care about, best believe you'll be flat on your back with a messed up face; a new fact I just remembered about myself. I mean yes I was quiet and kept to myself, I was small even, but I worked out, everyday, especially now that I have more food. I don't want to be seen as weak around these people, I was literally going to pull my own weight or someone else's if I needed to. My thoughts completely enveloped me and I ended up not at Olivia's but at the front gate where Eugene was.

"Hello." Eugene said awkwardly, nodding his head slightly having a hard time making eye contact.

"Hello Eugene." My voice cracked.

"Somethin' I can do for ya?" Eugene stepped a little closer leaving his spot from the gate.

"No, I-I'm just lost, looking-" I cleared my throat annoyed with the scratchiness that came from my mouth. "For Olivia's house, I was gonna help." I said a little short.

"Oh, uh, Olivia has no work as of now, just saw her with Judith and Carl." Eugene informed me.

"Oh." I sighed, then smirked at him. "Okay then."

"You're welcome to stay here, if you'd like." I looked at him, he stood nervously his hands clenched at his sides, glancing at me now and again. "With me." He added quickly. I gave him a thumbs up, no longer able to tolerate my voice at this point.

I followed Eugene back to his post that was just a few feet away, watching him as he peered through the gap in the gate. I had to make conversation, otherwise the next several hours would be uncomfortable.

"You always do watch?" My voice came out in a slight louder whisper.

"No, just started, thought I'd start contributing to the cause." He looked at me then back out the gate. "You lived in a tree?" I nodded in response. "How did that idea hatch?" He asked kindly.

"My dad, always talked about the apocalypse, higher ground would be better he said." I explained in the least amount of words as possible.

"He isn't wrong, walkers can't climb, good vantage point, but people, that's different. We don't necessarily look up unless something catches our attention, and people can climb. Unless you have a well fortified tree house, there is a flaw in the plan." Eugene stated, with a "matter of fact" look on his face.

"Lived, inside the tree, covered the outside in a moss blanket." I shrugged, a scratch in my voice that made me clear my throat.

"You hollowed out a tree?" He looked at me skeptically. "With what, may I ask?"

"Uh, this." I showed him my ax. "This and this," I pointed to my knife then my hatchet.

"How did you acquire the moss blanket?" He asked crossing his arms.

"A hunting store." I smiled. "Display had it." I shrugged simply. He nodded processing the information, things becoming awkward again. "Tell me about you." I cleared my throat, trying to get rid of the gruffness in my voice.

"You don't want to hear that, far too much information to take in at once." He explained.

"Then you'll just have to tell me a bit at a time." I smiled at him again, feeling like I was blushing. He looked at me a little confused." Like chapters, tell me some today, more another day." I hid how much my throat was aching behind a smile.

"I can do that." Eugene nodded. "So the beginning I guess..." Eugene began to tell me a beautifully detailed story of where he was when it began, what he did, where he went, leading up to the moment he first met Abraham. "And that is where I will end that chapter." He said smugly.

"Aw man." I pouted, crossing my arms over my chest." Alright, I'll be back to hear the rest?" I bumped his arm with hand." Tomorrow."

"Copy that." Eugene smirked at me, and continued on with his job of staring blankly out of the gap in the gate. It was late afternoon when I started to walk through the streets aimlessly.

"Hazel!" I looked over seeing Carl approach me with Judith in his arms. "I was wondering where you were."

"Here I am." I smirked.

"Daryl had asked me to keep you company today, also I figured you could get to know Judith." He hiked Judith up in his arms readjusting her on his side.

"I can tell you two are related." I laughed a little.

"Um yeah." Carl said a little uneasy, as if thoughts and memories suddenly clouded his mind. "Anyway I was just going to take Judith over to the playground."

"Oh okay, yeah I'll come." My voice cracked a couple times.

Carl and I proceeded over to the church, a small slide, a couple swings, a small rock climbing wall, and a sand box next to the church. I was actually curious if they ever used this church, like for church, or if it was just even used. Carl set down Judith in the grass, a large smile on her face as she ran for the slide, quickly climbing up the ladder, and zooming down the slide into the grass. Carl laid out a blanket onto the grass, the two of us sitting down watching Judith happily play. "Tell me your story Carl." I said quietly the two of us still looking at Judith.

"I don't know where to start, things were, really chaotic in the beginning." He sighed deeply.

"Tell me just the beginning." I smirked, I don't know what the deal was with me today wanting to know everything about these people." Go from there."

"Well uh, after I found out my dad was in the hospital, it seemed like things took a turn right after that, my dad's friend, Shane." He paused for a moment thinking about the man he just mentioned. "He came and got me and my mom, they were running around packing things up, then we were in the car on our way to Atlanta."

"Atlanta?" I asked.

"It was supposed to be a safe zone, but something happened. The infection spread and they started bombing the place, so we had to find somewhere else. We ended up in a canyon with a group of people, only me, my dad, Daryl, Carol, and Glenn are what's left of that group." He looked at me, with pain in his eye, then back at Judith.

"You don't have to tell me anymore, I know it's painful." I spoke softly, hesitantly putting my hand on his arm. I didn't know how to give comfort or show affection, or how to receive it, but I was trying my best.

After the small chat I had with Carl, I was back home with Sasha. It was dark out, we sat on the floor in the living room, fine tuning our weapons, the two of us waiting up for Daryl.

"Saw that you talked to Eugene today, and Carl.." Sasha started. "How was that?" She said casually poking her knife into the floor.

"It was okay." I shrugged. "Just thought-" I cleared my throat. "Just thought I'd start to get to know the people that took me in." I smirked.

"I feel like I still don't know much about you." Sasha looked at me.

"Sorry." I croaked out, clearing my throat. Suddenly we heard the sound of the gates opening, and a car driving in.

"They're back." Sasha and I quickly jumped up. We looked out the window, not wanting to immediately crowd them. We watched them pull someone out of the vehicle carrying them toward the infirmary. "What the hell?" Sasha said under her breath.

The two of us rushed out of the house over to the infirmary, just as Rick and Daryl stepped out, barely catching a glimpse of the bearded man they brought in. "Who was that?" Sasha asked.

"I'll explain it all tomorrow, I just need to get some sleep." Rick rubbed his eyes, then walked past us to his house.

"I'm gonna see if Abraham and Glenn need anything." Sasha looked to me then Daryl as she walked away.

"How you been?" Daryl said quietly, as he leaned against the house still close to the front door.

"Good." My voice scratched out.

"Lot of talkin' today hm?" Daryl crossed his arms looking at me.

"Kinda." I shrugged swallowing hard still trying to soothe my throat. "Staying here?" I asked.

"Yeah, gotta keep an eye on this guy." Daryl pointed toward the door with his thumb.

"Can I stay?" I asked rubbing my arms awkwardly.

"Yeah." I leaned against the wall next to Daryl, the two of us standing in silence as Daryl lit a cigarette. "No talkin' for a while."

"Looks that way." My voice cracked.

"Don't worry about it, we don't have to talk. Not much of a talker anyway." Daryl shrugged taking another puff from his cigarette. The night probably held my favorite sounds, even though the night scared me. The sounds always lulled me to sleep, the crickets, the breeze in the leaves, the animals, the distant walker. I always slept with the window open just to get those sounds in my room, to help me sleep, they didn't always put me to sleep, sometimes they were just soothing to me, like tonight.

Daryl and I sat for hours in the cool night air, Daryl occasionally looking through the window to see if the captive was still there, until suddenly he wasn't. "Sum'a Bitch." Daryl growled under his breath as he threw the front door open.

"What happened?" I asked.

"He's gone." Daryl grumbled, storming through the house. "Go tell Sasha." I ran out of the house, toward the wall. I had never experienced anything like this, I wasn't sure what to say, or do, I guess I'd just stick close to my friends, hopefully this wouldn't turn into a huge shit storm.