Disclaimer: I do not own the Walking Dead or any of the characters from the show or comic books. I only like to play with them once in awhile.
Authors Note: Before I start writing this I need to make something perfectly clear, I am completely against abuse, torture, etc. I may write about them for story purpose but I am AGAINST it.
Some characters may be considered ooc in this story. I will take liberties with them at time, every author does. This story is not going to follow the shows story line exactly. I may use aspects of the show at times but I am not going to stick exactly to the scripted story line, I have some ideas of my own to play with them. Keep in mind this is a fan FICTION. Reviews are always welcome.
Secret Anne Sutton sat huddled up in a tree trying to figure out a way to evade the walkers that were currently huddled around the base of it. She felt like an idiot for getting lost, and for letting herself get surrounded. Just another idiotic thing to add to the list of things she had done in her life. The ex-librarian sat there trying to pull things from the books she had read that might help her. But right now not a single thing was coming to mind. All she knew is that half her supplies were currently being trampled by the walkers. Sure she had her back pack on, but that had a change of clothes, a few knives and maybe a bottle of water. Her food was down below, along with her sword, not that she was very good with it.
It was hard to tell how long she had been up in the tree. But slowly it began to get dark and her heart began to race. Logically she knew that she was safe up here. The walkers didn't know how to climb trees. They could chase sure, even bite and scratch, but thankfully they didn't have enough brain function for tree climbing. Her stomach growled and she sighed wishing that she wasn't alone. But she was alone, and that was better than how she was right before the end had started. Secret knew she wasn't going anywhere tonight, she just hoped she managed to not fall out.
"Secret Anne, what in the hell are you doing in there?" The angry voice of her fiance Shane chilled her blood as she sat there staring at the locked door then the half packed bag on the bed.
"Nothing Shane, what ya doing here anyways?" She was sure her voice was shaking as bad as her hands. Then the door starting to shake, she knew he was slamming against it. And it was only a matter of time before he got in. She had tried to leave before, she always tried. But it seemed when the ring was slipped on her finger she was trapped forever.
The door slammed open with a bang, hitting the wall the door knob cracking the plaster with the force. Shane stood there breathing heavily, rage written plainly across his face. It got worst when he saw the bag on the bed. He didn't say a word but within a second she was lying on the floor. Her face was throbbing and she was starting to feel dizzy.
She woke up fighting back a scream. Secret thought she was past the troublesome relationship with her ex fiance. Shane seemed sweet when she first met him at a bar. They had an ideal relationship at first and they were close with his partner Rick and his wife Lori. Everything was perfect until they got engaged. Then he started to change, get angry all the time, pick fights try to control her. And for two years she let it happen but the apocalypse changed all that. Secret was just 25 when they met, and she fell for the older guys charms.
Her gaze went to the ground below and she was surprised to see the walkers dead, arrows protruding from there heads and a man rummaging through her supplies. From what she could tell he was lean, but strong. His sleeveless arms boasted muscle tone and the dead walkers around him proved he was a fighter. But she could not see the front of him.
"Hey! Leave my stuff alone!" She shouted down to the man as she started to climb down. When she was about five feet from the ground she jumped and landed easily. The petite woman had been a gymnast in high school and still had some of those skills.
"Lookie here little lady I killed them damn walkers to get this." He turned around and she bit back a small gasp. He was handsome in a way, rugged and dirty, and based on the accent definitely from the south and probably not from a well off family. "I never saw ya up in that tree," He was gesturing now and seemed to be agitated and she had to laugh.
"Listen here, I am not giving up all my food. I won't last to long without it." As the petite girl spoke she stepped closer jabbing a finger into his chest as she looked up at him. Standing at 5 ft 4 left her shorter than him and that just riled her up more. "So you need to get your own damn stash you hear me!" She spoke in an angry whisper, not wanting to draw any walkers down upon the pair. Scanning the ground she scooped up her sword and studied the blade for a moment.
It wasn't the best weapon, but it was sharp and light-weight. It was the only thing she still had from Shane, well apart from the scars that was, physical as well as mental.
"How bout this, I bring ya to my group. We got supplies and safety." He suggested as he studied the woman. "The names Daryl Dixon." A hand was extended towards the woman when he said this. The man noticed how hesitant she was to take his hand, saw the wary, wounded look in her eyes. She reminded him of a deer, easily spooked. But after a minute of silence her slender fingers enveloped his.
"Secret Sutton." She said squeezing his hand lightly. Secret was not sure if she was going to go with him yet. The woman supposed that being amongst a group would probably be beneficial. It was hard to go at it alone in the world, she was learning that the hard way. But she knew nothing about him or his group.
"Listen were notta bad group." He said smiling trying to put the ladies mind at ease. She looked like she needed protecting he thought. Her dark hair was bound back in a braid and her large green eyes stood out. But it was the pain he saw in those eyes that made him want to protect her. The clothes she was wearing barely fit, he could tell they were someone elses. And they were not appropriate at all for running through the forest.
She wore a pair of sneakers and sweat pants that were barely staying up even though they were tied as tight as the string would allow. The tank top she was wearing was tattered and Secret tugged at it slightly before taking off the back pack and taking a black hooded sweat shirt out and putting it on. It was obvious she was stalling, trying to figure out what to do.
And Secret did not know what to do. She was terrified out on her own, but being in a group of strangers was not that much more appealing. What if someone was like Shane? Secret could kill a walker if she had to, but to defend herself against a living breathing human? Well lets just say the woman didn't believe she was strong enough for that yet. A hand touching her shoulder caused her to jump and stumble backwards hitting the trunk of the tree.
"Please, just don't hurt me, I will come with, I'll be good." She started to babble slightly. Not sure what was causing the fear to overcome her. Secret hated being weak, hated that it took so little to put her back in those years with Shane.
"Come on girlie, I'm not gonna hurt ya." He shook his head wondering what the hell had happened to her. "Not ma style." He stepped away to give her some space and started gathering up the scattered supplies. He hadn't had luck hunting, but the supplies Secret was bringing with should be enough to get them by for now. At least it should make it more likely that Rick would allow the girl to stay.
Because the more he observed her the more he wanted to keep her around. He glanced around and listened for the sound of walkers before turning back to her and reaching a hand out. She hesitated before taking it and walking towards him. As quietly as possible he started to lead her out of the forest and back to the abandoned farm they were staying at. It neighbored Hershel's farm, but after finding Sophia in the barn they had to flee him. Daryl shook his head and sighed as the farm came into sight.
"Listen hear, lemme do the talkin at first ya hear?" He tried to sound not as gruff as he normally was, but it was taking a lot of effort. "I don't want any troubles." Daryl looked up and saw the approaching figure of Rick, the leader of the group. As the man got closer he watched the strange reaction his companion had. She went pale and gripped his hand tighter. Then he saw Rick's face light up. Apparently they knew each other some how.
"Secret? Is that really you?" The sheriff asked pulling the hat from his head. "I can't believe it, we thought you were gone, that ya had died in the mayhem. Lori and Shane will be so happy."
"Sh..Shane is here?" The brunette questioned gripping Daryl's hand even tighter, her knuckles turning white. She had finally escaped him when the virus had started, told him she needed to go back to Chicago to see her family. Of course she never got out of the city, but the ring had been traded for supplies and she struck out on her own. The thought that he had survived, or that she would ever see him again had never crossed her mind.
Daryl had always been a keen observer, had to be to hunt. And he could tell that the thought of the other cop in the group made her uncomfortable, he just didn't know why. And Daryl hated not knowing things.
"Yeah, he saved Lori and Carl. I met up with them after I woke up in a hospital, the city in ruins." Rick stepped forward and hugged her awkwardly, it was hard with the woman still clutching Daryl like a life line. "We all missed you, Shane said you headed back to Chicago before it got to bad." He pulled her forward a little by the free hand until she released Daryl's hand.
"I never made it. Things went wrong." She spoke quietly her eyes darting frantically about trying to figure out how to escape. Sure Secret loved Rick and Lori, but they never believed Shane had a bad side. And now if she went with him she would be right back where she started, living in the nightmare she escaped. "I need a minute, Daryl I need a minute." Her voice was high pitched and her breath was starting to come faster.
"Whats wrong girlie? You just found what most people look for, people ya know. A family." He tried to be light, not wanting her to run. He could tell just looking at her that it was crossing her mind.
"Nothings wrong." She insisted, still remembering the way Shane had threatened her. The feeling of his hands around her throat the menacing tone he used when he said he would kill her if she ever told. Besides not like anyone would believe her. He was a cop, and a damned good one.
"Ya sure girlie? Cuz your tremblin like a leaf and paler than milk." Daryl reached for her hand again, but was not surprised when she pulled away.
"I just never imagined they would be alive still. I shoulda guessed he woulda made it though." She said softly. "Shane always was a tough son of a bitch." A bitter laugh escaped her lips as she said it. The laughter turned a little more hysterical as she realized her luck. "Of course in the middle of the damn apocalypse I would run into my fiances group." She wanted to say ex-fiance. But it was the apocalypse that got her away, technically they were still engaged.
"Your what?" Daryl asked shocked. Shane had never seemed like the marrying type to him. He shook his head and laughed, "Well this should be interestin." Was all he said thinking of the way Shane and Andrea had been sneaking off together since Rick had returned. Daryl knew that before Rick came back it was Lori the man had been fucking, but with her husband back the man turned to Andrea. Hell Daryl had noticed her panting after him like a bitch in heat. Now he wondered what would happen when Secret was brought into the mix.
Secret heard shouting a short distance away and turned to see Shane and Rick arguing, then Shane turning to look at her. He smiled and it chilled her to her bones. Right at that moment she wished that she was still up in that tree surrounded by walkers. Hell a hoard of walkers would be more preferable to facing her tormentor.
In that quick way of his Shane was in front of her within seconds. His hand gripped her wrist tightly for moment before pulling her into his embrace. As usual Shane squeezed her to hard and she felt like she was suffocating for a moment.
"You bitch, thought ya could get away. Your mine you always will be." He whispered cruelly in her ear. Secret was sure that he looked like he was saying sweet nothings. Shane was good at that. "Just wait til later darling when I get you all alone."
She forced a smile in place not wanting to alert Rick or Daryl that anything was wrong. Secret knew it would be worst that way. As her gaze slid over to Daryl she wondered if he would have been able to keep her safe, if she had met him before Shane. She wondered what would have happened if Shane wasn't in the group, if Daryl would look after her. But as she felt the hands on her back tug at the end of her braid she knew it wasn't to be. Shane would keep her or destroy her, after all she was nothing more than his property.
It was Shane that pulled away, Secret knew better than to do anything but go along with his actions. It was time to go back into her acting mode, pretending that nothing was wrong and that he was the perfect fiance. It was safer for everyone that way. After all, was it not better for one person to be hurt than many? Besides he wouldn't kill her, he needed to keep her around. He loved her, she knew that he said it all the time. But Shane didn't know how to show it, and she always did things to piss him off. Secret was disgusted with herself. In the months away from Shane she had finally broken that train of thought. Started to remember who she used to be, even if he did break her. Now moments around him and she was back to that terrified puppet.
His hand squeezed hers as he dragged her towards the house everyone was staying in. Shane had been sharing a room with Andrea, but now that he had Secret back he could kick her aside. Andrea didn't listen well anyhow, he needed a woman he could keep in line. And with a cruel smile at the small woman he was dragging along he knew he had her.
TWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWDTWD
It was a few hours later that the whole group gathered around a camp fire in the front yard. It was a nice enough night that they didn't need to stay inside and the atmosphere out was cheerful with the new addition to the group. Well with the exception of Andrea, she was furious and it was obvious. She sat in her chair glaring at Secret who was huddled up with Lori whispering.
"Lori, your pregnant? But Rick was in a coma, and yall weren't doing to well." Secret whispered glancing around to make sure no one was listening in to the conversation.
"Damn it, I didn't want ta have to do this. Its probably Shane's..." Lori dropped her eyes and paused not wanting to continue. "We thought you and Rick were dead, you have to understand." Again the woman stopped, she wasn't sure there was any way to explain this. "He kept me safe ya know? And it just well it just happened."
"Shane?" Secret said softly, hurt evident in her tone. She expected it of him, but not of Lori. "I just, I mean, well." She just shrugged and turned to gaze into the flames not sure what to make of the information.
Daryl was watching and saw the emotions flicker across the woman's face. He wasn't sure why he couldn't stop watching her, but she kept his attention.
"So Secret, why don't you tell us about yourself?" Andrea asked loudly gazing angrily at Shane who was sitting on the porch a bit a ways talking with Rick.
"Umm, well." The tiny woman's gaze went over to Shane who nodded. "I am, I mean I was a librarian. And Shane's fiance, I mean I still am that." A blush spread across her cheeks and she didn't want to continue.
"A librarian?" Andrea asked mockingly, "Well that will do us a helluva lotta good."
"Leave her alone Andrea, your not mad at her." Shane said as he walked towards the group.
"Your not the boss of me Shane, go fuck off." Andrea spat back at him. "Better yet, go fuck that little girl of a fiance, how old are you anyways 16? Fucking perv."
Secret watched the fight, then looked around at the others. No one seemed surprised at the turn of events. A few seemed to be enjoying the show. She stood up wanting to escape unnoticed, but knew that was unlikely as she felt the tingle running down her spine. Turning she saw Shane, he was watching her even as he fought with Andrea. And deep down Secret knew that tonight was going to be hell for her.
She waited in the room that he said would be theirs. Shivers ran through Secret's body as she sat huddled up in the center of the bed. The woman had no idea what to expect, but when Shane walked in glaring at her, she knew it wasn't good. But as he approached she smelt Andrea, and let out a sigh of relief. At least he wouldn't try for sex tonight.
"So my pet, did you miss me?" He asked softly as he studied her. As requested the woman had stripped down to her bra and underwear. Her body was bruised, but he felt shivers when he saw the "S" shaped scar carved into her side.
"Doesn't seem like you missed me." She said studying him. Shane's eyes glistened in the candle light. Goosebumps rose on her skin as she felt his eyes raking across her body. Secret felt exposed and dirty just sitting there under his gaze.
"Don't be like that, I needed to keep myself entertained." Shane laughed and sat down on the bed next to her. "Now, I think its time for your punishment, you did leave me after all. And your not wearing your ring. Bad girl." His voice had taken an icy quality on it as he pulled her across his lap.
She knew not to struggle, it would only make things worse. She bit her lip as she felt his hand strike her bottom. It started off at not to hard of a strike, the blows coming every few seconds. But as he continued she felt the strikes coming harder and faster. She was biting so hard on her lip now that she had drawn blood. A whimper escaped her lips as he shoved her to the ground.
"You learn your lesson bitch?" He had his fists clenched, ready to teach her more if need be. But Shane knew she would answer appropriately, she always listened. His perfect little pet, he hated when she made him hurt her.
"I'm sorry Shane, I wont do it again. I promise. How can I make it up to you?" Secret hated herself as she pleaded with him. The tears running down her face burned her up with humiliation. But that was normal, it was what she needed to get used to.