There's Blood

Daryl’s POV

Ain’t like Ath to take this long. She musta been gone what? Fifteen minutes already? First, I assumed she musta got chattin’ to somebody, but now I’m gettin’ worried.

I shifted in my seat, Sawyer sittin’ next to me stuffin’ popcorn in his mouth like it was his last meal, Briar gigglin’ in my lap at somethin’ on the screen. My boots tapped, heart pickin’ up in that way it does when somethin’ just ain’t right.

“Merle,” I muttered, turnin’ toward ‘im where he was sittin’ behind us with Annie. “Keep an eye on ‘em a sec, yeah?”

Merle looked at me, noddin’. “Sure thing, brother.”

I stalked off ‘fore he could get another word in, boots hittin’ the ground faster now, throat tight. Maybe it was nothin’. Maybe she ain’t feelin’ well or somethin’. But my instincts? They weren’t buyin’ it. My gut was screamin’ - somethin’s wrong.

The bathroom was empty.

“...Ath?” I called as I walked back out into the hall.

Nothin’.

I turned fast, eyes sweepin’, then went outside, hopin’ she jus’ needed some air.

I’d jus’ got ‘round the corner when I noticed it. Blood. Small streaks of it on the pavement near the corner of the buildin’, just past where the fence ended. Fresh.

“Shit-” I breathed, crouchin’ down. Fingers brushed it. Not dry yet. My stomach dropped.

Footsteps scuffed behind me. I turned quick, hand already on my knife - but it was Merle, brows drawn tight, eyes already readin’ the scene.

“S’goin on?”

“Ath.” I swallowed, standin’ back up and tryna breathe properly. “Can’t find her. There’s blood.”

Merle’s face darkened. “Ya think somethin’ happened?”

“I know it has,” I forced out as I started movin’ toward the Kingdom’s gates, jaw clenchin’. “Don’t let the kids outta yur sight, ya hear me?”

Merle jogged after me, serious now. “I’m comin’ with ya.”

“No. Stay with the kids. Raise the alarm, but don’t let ‘em hear.”

I was runnin’ now. Merle picked up ‘is pace to keep up. “What ya gonna do?”

“Track her.”

“Daryl-”

“I gotta!” I snapped, sharper than I meant to, “She’s my wife!”

Ezekiel was joggin’ over now, prob’ly hearin’ the commotion, eyes wide beneath that regal facade.

“What’s going on!?”

“She’s gone,” I yelled without slowin’. “There’s blood.”

His face fell. “Athena?”

“Anyone else missin’!?”

“Not that I know-”

“Keep my kids safe. Please.” I begged as I rounded the corner toward the gate.

I moved even faster then, heart poundin’. My mind tried to race, but I shoved it back down.

Can’t panic. Not now.

Find the trail. Find her. Get her back safe.

~

The woods were too damn quiet.

I crouched low, squintin’ at the faint indentations in the dirt. Boot prints. More than one. They were light - whoever it was knew how to move. But not well enough. Not better than me.

I followed em’ fast as I could, keepin’ my eyes on the trail, tryin’ not to let my mind picture what could be happenin’ to her. Drag marks. Not just one. Small smears of blood on the underbrush. A snapped branch, freshly broken.

I swallowed hard. My chest burned from runnin’, but I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.

I saw something in the dirt. I reached down and picked it up.

Her bracelet. The one Briar made her from purple string.

My stomach dropped. I felt like I was gonna lose my mind.

I closed my fist around it and pressed my forehead to my knuckles.

“I’m comin’, Ath.” My voice was crackin’ but I couldn't let myself cry. Not now. Not when she needed me.

I kept movin, followin’ the bootprints. After what seemed like forever, I pushed through another thicket and then stopped dead.

A barn. Old. Half-collapsed roof, rotted out door hangin’ by one hinge. Quiet as a grave.

The tracks led right up to it.

My hand went for my knife before I even thought about it.

I crouched low, heart poundin’, eyes scanin’ the edges. More tracks outside. More people.

I circled the barn fast and quiet, but the other side was empty. More boot prints headed east. Whoever brought her here... they were gone.

I was goddamn terrified of what I might find inside. I felt like I couldn’t breathe as I eased the door open. The smell hit me first - blood, sweat, old hay. And something worse. Like meat left out too long.

Ropes on the ground. Blood smeared in the dirt. Fresh blood. Lots of it. This ain’t from one person. It’s from a lot.

It looked like bodies had been dragged out, ‘n’ the thought of hers bein’ one of ‘em made my knees buckle.

My fingers grazed a lock of dark hair soon as I hit the ground. It was hers. I knew it. My wife’s.

“No... no, no, no.” Tears welled, but I forced ‘em back.

She’d been here, but I knew my girl - she'd have fought. Hard. She was gone, but that didn’t mean she hadn’t made it out alive.

I stood up ‘n’ gripped the edge of the door, almost tore it off the hinges. Rage flooded in, hot and hollow.

I stepped out into the trees again, eyes sharp, every inch of me wired to strike.

I needed to find my wife.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed a Daryl POV! ❤️