Michonne followed Sherry down a series of hallways. She tried to memorize the twists and turns but they had been walking for at least ten minutes and this place was built like a maze. Michonne settled on memorizing the colors of the lines painted on the floor. They seemed to be in some kind of factory and it seemed like each section of the factory had a different color line painted on the floors. Michonne was flanked by two armed men. If she wasn't, she probably would've knocked Sherry out and made a run for it.
She hoped neither of these men were the ones riding in the SUV with her on the way here. Since they weren't talking she had no idea, but the one who was sitting on her right in the SUV was definite trouble and she wanted to avoid him at all costs.
Suddenly, Sherry stopped and pointed at a door. "The showers for the women are in here. I figured you would want one..." Sherry stared at Michonne's shirt and face. Michonne just stared back. She didn't know what was in that room and she wasn't sure she wanted to find out. Sherry seemed to pick up on the mistrust and opened the door herself, flipping the light on. "See?" Michonne took a step forward and peered into the room. It was a large room with 5 individual showers. The floor and walls seemed to be amazingly clean as if there was a full time cleaning staff who wiped it down every night.
"Come on, it's ok". Sherry tried to coax Michonne into the room. "I'll stand right here and wait for you if you want" Sherry said, and purposely swung her eyes over to the armed guards.
She seemed to be saying "I'll be a look out for you if you're worried about them hurting you".
Michonne walked further into the room. She did really want a shower, she was still covered with Abraham's blood and brains, and her own sweat from a long car ride sitting between two sweaty thugs. But taking her clothes off in this place, without knowing these people, and with the threats that had been thrown at her from the Saviors... she didn't want to risk it.
Sherry seemed to read her mind. "Ok, how 'bout you come with me to the women's quarters and pick out some clothes. Then we can come back here when you're feelin' more comfortable, and when you change into those clothes I'll have these washed for you."
Michonne stared at Sherry for a moment. She didn't know what to think about this young girl, but that offer seemed reasonable enough. She nodded quickly, and then added "I'll wash my own clothes".
Sherry nodded. As she and Michonne left the shower room, Michonne noted the color of the lines on the floor. Shower room, white lines.
She followed Sherry down another series of hallways until they reached a locked door. Sherry took the key out of the pocket of her too short cut off jeans. "These are the women's quarters, only Negan's wives are allowed in here... and other female guests".
Michonne thought she heard Sherry wrong. "Only Negan's wife is allowed in here? Does that mean you're married to Negan?"
"Wives" Sherry corrected "He has quite a few, but yes I'm one of 'em. And I wouldn't say we're married in the traditional sense".
Michonne froze. She didn't quite understand what Sherry was talking about, but she knew she did not want anything to do with Negan's wives. And if Negan was in there, there was no way she would be.
Sherry noticed Michonne backing away from the door, and so did the guards who pushed the butts of their guns into her back.
"It's ok. you don't have to stay with the wives, we have guest rooms for other female guests. I guess that's what you are... I know it's weird, but if it makes you feel better, Negan won't be comin' back in here tonight, he's already made his choice for the night" Sherry explained.
"Or, you can stay out here in the hallway with me tonight sweetness" One of the guards whispered, and she immediately recognized the voice. It was the man from the SUV. She turned around and took in his chubby face and greasy hair. Her stomach turned and it took all her self control not to spit in his face.
Instead, Michonne turned and walked into the women's quarters, noticing that the guards didn't follow them in. Once again, everything was surprisingly spotless and orderly. It seemed to be set up like a dorm suite, with a kitchen and living room that was shared, and then doors to smaller rooms which she assumed were bedrooms. It was actually a nice set up, but just knowing that the rooms belonged to women who willingly had sex with Negan disgusted her. And the fact that this young girl, who actually seemed pretty sweet, was one of those women saddened her.
"This way, this is where we keep the extra clothin' " Sherry explained. She led Michonne to a closet in the living room. She opened it wide and Michonne was shocked by the sheer number of choices available. And all of the choices were name brands. Versace, Guess, Dior, Armani.
Sherry smiled, "it's like every woman's dream right?". Michonne knew that 3 years ago she would have died to try on half of these clothes. But since then, she had really almost died so many times that name brands didn't mean much to her anymore.
"You have a t-shirt and jeans?" she muttered. Sherry looked a little apologetic. "Not really, Negan likes his ladies to 'dress up'. Most of the clothes are skimpy, lingerie, or ball gowns". Michonne rolled her eyes and looked back in the closet. After flipping through Guess bikinis, and Versace dresses that looked more like shirts than dresses, Michonne found a long light blue ballgown that came down to her ankles. It was tight and backless and strapless, and she knew that if she wore this for Rick it wouldn't be on her for long.
I guess this could pass as a night gown. As long as those nasty guards don't come in here.
Michonne draped the dress over her shoulder and looked at Sherry expectantly. "You want that one huh?" Sherry said smirking "It'll look real pretty on ya". Michonne rolled her eyes and stalked over to the door leading to the hallway.
When Sherry opened the door the guards were waiting outside to Michonne's dismay. She followed Sherry back to the shower room and she was pleased to realize she was already starting to recognize some landmarks in this place. When she started to see the white lines on the floor she knew the shower room was nearby.
"Do you want me to wait outside?" Sherry asked. Michonne nodded silently.
Michonne stepped into one of the showers. She turned the water on and adjusted the temperature so that it was steaming hot, almost hot to the point of pain. She then got under the jets fully clothed. As the hot water washed over her hair, skin and clothes she noticed the steady stream of red going down the drain. There was so much blood coming off of her she thought for a moment she had been injured and didn't realize it. She quickly checked her body and realized it was all Abraham's.
She suddenly felt weak and fell to her knees in the shower. Before she could do anything about it, body wracking sobs fell from her mouth. She was crying so hard that she couldn't move her hands to cover her mouth. She tried to quiet herself but it just resulted in her squealing every time she took a breath. After awhile she just didn't care and let it all out. She cried until she was exhausted, and then started to remove her clothes and wring them out into the shower drain before putting them to the side. She debated whether she should take her only pair of underwear off but she wanted it to be clean and dry for the next day, and she couldn't wear the same dirty pair for 3 days.
Although that may keep that nasty SUV man away.
That thought made her smile.
She gathered up her wet clothing, tied up her wet locs so that they weren't dripping down her face, and then put the ballgown on her naked body. She looked at herself in the mirror and was stunned by how good she looked. Even with no makeup or shoes on the gown fit her to perfection. She was happy and dismayed at the same time. She wasn't trying to attract attention, but she had no towels to cover her curves. She sighed, that man would follow her around regardless of what she had on, so she was just gonna go with it. She put her boots back on and held her wet clothing in her arms as she made her way out of the shower room.
As promised, Sherry was waiting for her. Sherry's face told Michonne that she had heard her sobs. "Are you ok?" Sherry asked. Michonne nodded. "You look great by the way" Sherry added. Michonne nodded again. As Sherry turned to walk back to the women's quarters, the SUV man started getting uncomfortably close to Michonne. Michonne stopped and whirled around, sticking her finger in his face. "If you touch me I will kill you". Sherry and the other guard seemed shocked. The second guard said "Chill Rick, you know Negan doesn't want us spoiling the goods".
Michonne felt like she had been punched in the gut when she heard the man's name. Why Rick?
Without waiting, Michonne spun around again and walked off, causing Sherry to pick up the pace to catch up with her.
When they got back to the women's quarters Sherry showed Michonne to her own room. Michonne hung the wet clothes on a chair located in the room and sat on the bed.
It was amazing how since she had started sleeping next to Rick she became more and more dependent on him to go to sleep. She was so tired, and hadn't slept in 2 days, but she knew that without Rick holding her it would be nearly impossible for her to fall asleep.
She decided to just lay in bed and think about Rick, but her mind began to wander.
I wonder what he's doing right now. I'm sure he's awake. Carl too. They're so much alike. There's no way he's sleeping without me. I wonder if they got Daryl to the doctor at Hilltop, if they didn't I think he might be dead now. And Maggie didn't look very good either, maybe there's something wrong with the baby? If so they definitely had to go to Hilltop. What did they do with Abraham's body? Did they bury him? Burn him? And oh God, Sasha. She's already lost so much. And my baby, Judith. Who is kissing her goodnight tonight? Carl my brave boy, I know he blames himself for everything, even things out of his control, just like Rick. Be strong please, both of my boys.
As Michonne felt the hot tears well up in her eyes again, she let the tears flow as she laid in bed. Just as she noticed the sun rising in the small window in her room, she cried herself to sleep.