For Daryl Dixon [part 1]

Here goes nothin' (47)

"My name is Marshall. I will be asking you some questions. First, state your name." The man who had hit Daryl was sitting across from the in the large warehouse. There were bunk beds lined up against the walls and cupboards filled with weapons all around. The people who were by the fire were now mingling around the other end of the warehouse.

"Beth." I said and looked down at my hands that were tied up again.

"State your religion."

This question surprised me that when I looked up at him I couldn't speak. He stared at me and lifted his eyebrows as if waiting.

"I-I.."

"You...what?" He stopped writing on the pad in front of him and waited.

"I believe in God." I said knowing this was true. No matter what kind of hell was happening around us, I did know that. He gave me Maggie, Daryl, and he was going to protect me through this.

"That's not an answer."

"Is there a right answer?"

"There is a wrong one." He said and stood up and walked over to me. "We recruit believers but not weak ones. You have to know who and what you believe in if you want to live among our group."

"What if I don't want to live among your group?"

"The non believers go to hell and we do the Lord's work by putting them there quicker, along with the chosen ones."

"The chosen ones?"

"The dead among the living. The Lord has chosen them to damn them all. We are here because the Lord want's us to help them."

This was all too fucked up to understand. I just stared blankly at him waiting for the joke to be over. He couldn't honestly believe that this was his purpose in this fucked up world.

"You think the walkers were sent to earth by God to send people to hell?"

"If by walkers you mean the dead among us, then yes. Just as God sent a flood and kept Noah and his people safe. He has kept us safe. It's the new world the Lord has promised us in the book of Revelation. We are to share our beliefs to others before determing their fate. That is why I am speaking to you currently. To determine." He spoke with such certainty and pride. "Now, the correct answer is that you are a Christian who believes that the Lord has given us a purpose to fulfill. The purpose is to cleanse the world of the unrighteous so that we may inherit the earth."

I remembered what Michonne said about anyone who didn't agree and decided I was going to play along. For now. I thought about my father and how many times he quoted scripture to me. I knew exactly what this man wanted to hear and I was going to give it to him. I knew the survival of my group depended on it.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Matthew 5:5. The meek will guide in judgement: and the meek will teach his way. Psalm 25:9."

"Impressive." He said and undid my hands. "So you understand that we do not wish to harm you but to save you."

I nodded and tried not to shutter at his touch.

"Marshall." A boy said coming over to us.

"What is it Turner?" Marshall said standing up straighter making him seem more intimidating. I could sense the boy shriek back at this. His people feared him, that was sure.

"It's my brother. He killed one."

"I see." Marshall said and rubbed his chin. "I think you know what has to be done. The Lord placed them here to save us and when we kill them we are dishonoring our purpose."

"I know. I told him that but he did it anyway. He thought they were going to eat him."

"Then perhaps he is unrighteous."

"But he's only seven-"

"Bring him to the ceremony tonight. He will be displayed as an example. We must punish those who dishonor the Lord. You know this Turner."

"Yes." Turner's eyes were tearing up and for a second I thought he was going to cry but he didn't. "He has to be sent where the unrighteous go."