CHAPTER THIRTY TWO,
cain and abel

DARYL HAS ALWAYS been silent, an observer to the shadows and the outskirts of the room. He was so used to just watching people and to world go on with their lives, never even knowing he existed.

He didn't mind. Daryl and the solitude had become best friends, the only friendship he had occurred all of his living life.

He noticed things first - it was a gift, and very much a curse. That's how he knew that Shane had killed Otis, that's how he knew about Lori and their affair.

That's how he knew that Samantha Walsh was far from being like her brother.

Daryl liked to watch her sometimes, as stalkerish as that sounded. He never observed her in the past, because back then he thought she was a brat. A stupid, reckless girl he would call her, and her brother was way worse.

So, he stayed in the obnoxious shadow of his brother, keeping his distance away from everyone else and especially her.

But what a story she has become, her plot twist even greater.

Daryl couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

She has you weak, brother! His poisonous laugher ringed in Daryl's head.

He learned to just ignore it, build up a barrier between him and Merle's taunting voice.

While Daryl was preparing to go drop off Randall, there she was. He didn't notice at first, but he definitely felt her stare. It made his neck hot, made the awkwardness creep in and so he turned.

She was staring at him with those pretty green eyes that reminded him of his favorite place.

"We really need ta get you a hobby," He muttered. "Always sneakin' up on people."

Samantha merely grinned. "You're my hobby," She stated. "How does it feel to finally be noticed by people?"

Daryl scoffed, but inside it did feel a little good. he felt good.

"Got more work shit to do now," Daryl grunted, loading up his arrows. "Your brother seems pissy about the whole thing."

The grin dropped from her face completely. Daryl wasn't stupid, he knew that Samantha was smart enough to see what was going on with Shane - but she stupidly ignored it because she loved him so much.

Where there's Shane, there's always Samantha, and in a way he could relate.

Where there was Merle, there was always Daryl. Now he was alone.

She rubbed her head, a gesture he's noticed that both the siblings shared.

"Go on, tell me I was right." Samantha pleaded.

"Not gonna give ya that satisfaction."

He watched the way she jutted out her bottom lip to create a pout, before her eyes drifted off to his tent. Daryl followed her gaze and saw the book The Once and Future King on his makeshift bed.

He felt nervous. "I finished it," Daryl cleared his throat. "Didn't have pictures, but it wasn't bad."

A smile grew on her face. "You finished it." Samantha repeated, her facing brighting like the sun.

"Jesus Christ, it ain't that big of a deal," Daryl said. "I know you didn't come over 'ere just to be all happy and crap."

Samantha straightened her posture, and held out something to him - which he didn't even notice she was holding the whole time. When he took it, his eyes scanned the title. Hamlet.

Daryl stared at it for a second before opening it. He felt himself internally sigh. No pictures.

"What's it 'bout?" He asked.

"You ever watched the Lion King?" When Daryl shook his head, she huffed in disappointment but continued, "It's kinda like that. It's about brother going against brother, murder, and the tragedy that follows,"

Sadness washed over her face.

"I got it from Dale's RV."

At the mention of the older man, Daryl felt sorrow wash over him. Dale was an observer too - he noticed things. He was good, too good for that gruesome death, too good and merciful for this world.

"I'm sorry, brother."

"You okay?"

Daryl looked back up and was met with concerned, gentle eyes. Sometimes he didn't like the way she cared for him too much, and sometimes he didn't like how much he was starting to trust her.

"My uncle Jess said the same thing to my dad," Daryl spoke.

The image of his father's bloody flesh was still vivid in his head, his screams as his arm was mauled into still fresh in his head.

His father had been so intoxicated that his mind couldn't comprehend the dead that called, their warnings to anything alive that they were near.

Daryl wasn't even surprised. If his father was barely sober in the old world, why should he be at the end of the world? He got what he deserved.

He hated that man with everything inside him, the hatred consuming his heart, his mind, and his soul - but even as Daryl held the gun, even as he had the chance to be his father's merciless God and end all the years of the physical and psychological abuse, he simply couldn't.

But his uncle did.

Daryl looked up at Samantha. She was still staring, always staring.

"The last thing I said to Dale, that's where I got it from."

Daryl had pulled the trigger because Dale didn't deserve to suffer. His father did, and perhaps that's why he couldn't do the same.

Samantha nodded, understanding him.

"He finally went to Golden pond." She said with a sad, knowing smile.

The two locked eyes.

"With that stupid hat of his." Daryl added, chuckling.

Samantha seemed to bring all the uncharacteristic things out of him. He couldn't decide if he liked it or not, but Daryl didn't have time to decide over the shouts that came from the camp.

━━━━━

Samantha peered into the shed, immediately catching sight of the bloody handcuffs near the wall. She recoiled, disgusted that another human was placed in cruel circumstances. He truly had been a caged animal.

The others came rushing out, worry on each and everyone on of their faces. Nathan was the last, his figure halting as soon as he saw the empty shed with secrets sticking upon his tongue. "Is Randall gone?" He already knew the answer.

How long has he been gone?" Hershel demanded.

"What's going on?" Carl joined.

The camp was buzzing with confusion and fright, their emotions causing Samantha's anxiety to burst to life. They all knew this was a dire situation - Randall had been taunted and tortured with, and the result of that would most possibly be vengeance. Samantha wouldn't blame him if she were right.

Questions were being thrown left and right, the survivors being desperate for answers. She was trying to come up with a logical explanation for this.

But then came a shout.

"Rick!" She turned to the voice and saw her brother barreling out of the woods. He called again, "Rick!"

As he came closer Samantha let out a faint gasp. Blood was trickling down his bloody nose, his face bruised. "Oh my, god!" She shrilled, heading towards him. "What happened?"

"He's armed! He's got my gun!"

Her stomach dropped and she felt like she was going to be sick, but another emotion formed; surprise.

Randall was scrawny, clearly weighing less than her big brother. How had he taken Shane, out of all people out?

"Are you okay?" Her godson asked.

"I'm fine," Shane answered. He stopped next to her, his eyes on Carl's worried little face. "Little bastard just snuck up on me. He clocked me in the face."

He seemed to be speaking quickly, his whole demeanor frenzied. Immediately Rick took his role as the leader, quickly guiding his people to safety.

"All right, Hershel, T-Dog, get everybody back to the house," He pointed to them. "Nate, I need you to stay watch," Her best friend hadn't taken his eyes off of Shane, but noticeably nodded. "Glenn, Daryl, come with us."

"Wait, I'm coming with you too!" Samantha sprung into action.

Shane whipped his head to look at her. "Like hell you are!"

"Watch me." She challenged.

"We don't have time to argue, Shane!" Rick snapped. "Get everybody back in the house. Lock all the doors and stay put!"

But before they could begin searching the trees, a hand stopped Rick and pulled his shoulder. Nathan was whispering something into Rick's ear, his lips moving at a rushed speed. Samantha the leader's face shift, but before she could read it it went back to its previous expression.

The two pulled back, and Rick sent Nathan a nod. Samantha turned to Shane, who had his dark eyes on the soldier.

They entered the woods hurriedly, her brother immediately starting to explain what had happened.
"I saw him head up through the trees that way before I blacked out," Shane gestured to the direction. "I'm not sure how long."

Samantha kept looking at Shane's wounds, wanting so badly to mend it - she hated seeing her brother hurt. Her brother turned to her, before glancing away, unable to look at her. "I'm fine."

"He couldn't have gotten that far," Rick stated. "He's hobbled and exhausted."

"And armed." Both Samantha and Glenn synced, glancing at one another after doing so.

"So are we," Rick reminded. "Can you track him?"

They all looked at Daryl. He was scanning the scattered fall leaves, his face hard and unreadable. "No, I don't see nothin'." He muttered, his attention still on the ground.

"Hey, look, there ain't no use on tracking him, okay?" Shane spoke up loudly. "He went that way. We need to just pair up. We spread out, we chase him down. That's it."

Daryl voiced his opinion.

"Kid weighs a buck twenty-five soakin' wet. You tryin' to tell us he got a jump on you?" Daryl's eyes squinted at Shane accusingly. Samantha felt defense boil her veins.

"I'd say a rock pretty much evens out those odds, don't you?" Shane countered.

"Alright, knock it off," Rick sighed. "You, Sam, and Glenn start heading up the right flank. Me and Shane'll take the left -"

"I wanna come with you." She interrupted.

Shane was against the idea. "Sam -"

"No, you don't know what'll happen out there!" She cried out. "What if he sneaks up on you again and finishes the job?"

Samantha's nerves were getting bad, her worries overwhelming her because it involved Shane. She knew how life threatening the situation was. As much as she wanted Randall a chance with surviving, if she had to choose between that chance and her brother she will always choose Shane.

Shane gazed at his baby sister, before peering at the other men and then back up at her. His features visibly softened.

"Tell you what," He started.

Shane walked up to her while in the process of pulling off his 22 necklace. He placed it into her hand.

"Keep this safe, I'm gonna need it when I come back." Shane tried to muster up an assuring smile, but her hands were shaking so hard. Samantha felt like something very bad was going to happen.

"Promise me." She demanded.

He looked back at Rick, and back at her.

"I promise."

Shane grabbed the back of her head and brought his lips down to her forehead. She felt like that small child again, waking up from night terrors and her big brother being there to protect her.

"Remember, Randall's not the only threat out there."

Samantha watched them leave, her hand clenching Shane's silver necklace until they became ghostly white.

Shane would be okay. Shane is going to be okay. They are going to find Randall.

Glenn patted her shoulder. "Let's go."

Samantha turned. Daryl was watching her, but she didn't meet his gaze before she followed them in the opposite direction of Shane and Rick.

Shane will be back.

My brother never came back.

━━━━━

The night was silent, the air growing cold. Shane and Rick were trailing through the darkened woods, looking through the darkness for any signs of their prisoner.

"You say he got you with a rock?"

The air between the two best friends was thick.

"That's what I said."

"Inside the shed?" Rick pressed even further. "Because that door was shut when T-Dog rolled up."

"I saw that too," Shane remarked, not blind to the fact that Rick was suspicious - or he already knew thanks to Nathan. Shane reminded himself he would need to deal with him after Rick was dealt with.

"Must've slipped out through the rafters."

The two stopped in a clearing, the sky cloudy and hanging over them, more chills shivering through their bones. Shane could see his breath white as it left his body. He watched Rick's back, wondering the thoughts going through his head.

I could do it here Shane was thinking. I could make everything better.

Rick placed his python into the holster, keeping his movements slow and calculated. Finally, he spoke, his words confirming his knowledge of what was happening,"So this is where you're gonna do it?"

Shane was silent for a moment.

"It's a good place as any."

"At least I have the balls to call this what it is..." Shane had taken his own piece out, eying his best friend steadily. "Murder," Rick had turned around to face him head on. He felt betrayed, angry that it had come to this, angry on what he had to do.

"You really believe if you walk back onto that farm alone, no me, no Randall -"

"You hush up!"

" - you really believe they're gonna buy whatever bullshit story you cook up?"

The two were circling one another like sharks around prey.

"That's just it, it ain't no story," Shane's voice was surprisingly calm. "I saw that prisoner shoot you down. I ran after him. I snapped his neck,"

Shane's plan was well thought out, and it could've been the perfect murder.

"It ain't gonna be easy, but Sam, Lori and Carl - they'll get over you," He nodded, every fiber in him believing it. "they done it before. They gonna have to."

Shane aimed his gun at Rick. If he had pulled the trigger, it would've most definitely been a fatal bullet.

But he didn't pull the trigger, he kept dragging it out.

"Why?" Rick demanded. "Why now?" The man he had believed to be family since childhood had turned against him. It was hard to comprehend. "I thought we worked this all out."

"We tried to kill each other man," Shane laughed menacingly. "What did you think? We just gonna forget about the whole thing?" He hadn't pulled the trigger yet. Why was he dragging this out? "We gonna just ride off into the sunset together?"

"You gonna kill me in cold blood?" Rage boiled his insides. He was so very betrayed. "Lie to your sister? Screw my wife, have my children, my children, call you daddy?" He cocked his head to the side. "Is that what you want?"

Shane's jaw was hard, but he still hasn't pulled the trigger. The was the old Shane in him, and he needed to reach inside of himself and kill him to finally start the new era.

"That life won't be worth a damn," Rick promised. "I know you. You won't be able to live with this."

A nerve had been touched, Shane's eyes blazing with resentment.

"What do you know what I live with?" Shane's voice had become raised, echoing around the fields. "You got no idea what I live with!" He snarled in defiance.

"You wanna talk about what I can do, Rick? How about what you can do," He placed his gun behind his belt, raising his arms up into the air."Come on, raise your gun."

"No. No, I will not."

"What happened, Rick?" Shane taunted. "I thought you weren't the good guy anymore? Ain't that what you said? Even right here, right now, you ain't gonna fight for 'em?"

"I'm a better father than you! I'm a better for Lori and Sam than you, man! It's cause I'm a better man than you, Rick. Because I can be here, and I'll fight for 'em!"

"But you come back here and you destroy everything!" Shane roared. "You've got a broken wife. You got a weak boy. You ain't got the first clue on how to fix it," He was animalistic looking. "And if that ain't enough, you have Sam wrapped around your finger too."

Rick was taken a back, his eyebrows raising in shock.

"Shane -"

"I'm just the sinner, right? But she looks up to you as if you're the saint," Jealously spewed from his lips. "You know she's all I got, man, but you reeled her in! You're gonna take her too, but I won't let that happen, no, I won't,"

Shane wiped his eyes. The thought of losing the little girl he raised with everything he had, the only one that has never seen him for the monster everyone thinks he is, was unbearable to him.

But the thought of Rick snatching her away was just as bad, and that what's made him raise his weapon again. "Raise your gun." Shane ordered, his lips curved into a snarl.

"You're gonna have to kill an unarmed man," Rick murmured. "Watch my hand," He took one hand down to his holster. He raised his pistol into the air and towards Shane, as if it was white flag and his surrender.

Behind them, the moon was full and the sky was now clear. There was no friendly stars tonight.

"Listen to me, Shane. There is still a way back from this. Nothing has happened here," Rick assured, keeping the internal desperation away from his voice. "We're gonna lay down our guns, and we're gonna walk back to the farm. Together,"

Rick inched closer to him, his eyes never leaving the hesitant ones of his best friend.

"Back to Lori, back to Carl," Sadness lighted Rick's face. "Back to Sammy."

A softness seemed to shift on Shane's face, the mention of his baby sister the beacon through his storm, the gentle hand reaching to hold onto his decreasing sanity.

Samantha was waiting for him back at the farm. Shane needed to get back to her - he needed to protect her. He made a promise.

My sister, my responsibility.

Shane slowly reached out to Rick, his mind on his family; Samantha needed him, he couldn't disappoint her, he couldn't-

But before he could make another move, Rick Grimes stabbed Shane Walsh in the abdomen.

A gun shot went off.

Rick held Shane's body as they fell to the ground.

There was blood everywhere.

Rick finally begin to cry, his face angry and his tears hot.

All there was was red.

Shane was spluttering, the pain so intense. He was trying to stop the blood, his attempts almost desperate as his mind kept thinking of one person, one person only.

They were Cain and Abel, jealously the downfall of man and causing brother to go against brother.

But Abel had picked up the rock first.

"Damn you for making me do this!" Rick rebuked, feeling his best friend's blood soaking his hands as he kept the knife lodged in.

Through all of the wails, through all of the blood and pain, Shane looked up. Rick was raging, screaming into the night, but Shane could only look at his eyes and despite everything, he found peace and comfort in those blues.

Red soaked his body and resembled rubies, the life draining away from him and with his last breath he murmured a woman's name.

And then Shane Walsh finally succumbed to his downfall.

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟnote

well

it finally happened. i was dreading having to write that.

words ; 3284
edited ; ✔️