A/N: Sorry this chapter is late, I had two exams in one day so I was unable to do anything. Definate M content in this chapter and in the next few chapters to come however it won't be crazy out of control senselessness. Just a warning though. Spitfire47
A cool numbness washed over her body. The sensation of falling was great but Hayden fought to the surface, ripping a hole in the dark cover that blinded her from the truth. She tore and clawed until the rip grew large enough for her to surface – for her to wake up.
Hayden's breath was laboured. A migraine seared across her brain making her wince every so often as well as a sting of pain through her sore limbs. Hayden's head rolled a few times this way and that, only then did she realize that she was cold. Hayden looked down and nearly screamed at her discovery. She was naked. Rope bound her wrists to the armrests of the chair and her ankles were roped to the legs. Another involuntary shudder ran through her body and she tugged slightly on the ropes but they were bound tightly. Hayden gave another tug this time putting all her energy into it but to no prevail. She tried again but this time there was a lack of energy. A chill went through Hayden and she forced herself to take long breaths to calm her pounding heart.
The door opened and in came a man she had never seen before in his hand was a bucket filled with mysterious contents. He seemed to be trying to focus on whatever task it was he was given but had a hard time as his eyes would travel from Hayden's exposed breasts to the part she was trying to cover. Hayden snarled.
"What the fuck are you looking at?"
The man frowned and threw the bucket contents right at Hayden. Instinctively she tried to make herself small but was unsuccessful. A full spray of water hit every part of her body and Hayden sputtered as some of the water had gone into her mouth. Hayden shook the excess water out of her hair and looked up in time to see the man making his haste exit. Besides angry Hayden found her confused, she wondered why they would start out like that. Hayden let out a breath and closed her eyes listening to the sound of water dripping onto the dirty floor.
The same man came in every so often, splashing Hayden with water and Hayden would always instinctively duck to avoid getting hit even through escape was not possible. As soon as the water was splashed Hayden would start to shiver uncontrollably. Sometimes Hayden would take it other times Hayden would swear and curse, one time even provoking the man into hitting her. Other than that, Hayden hadn't seen Merle, or the Governor ever since their last encounter.
Hayden had no idea what time it was, she couldn't tell by any means, the water would come whenever and there was no sign of daylight streaming in when the man opened the door to make his exit. Hayden was ready to sleep when a sudden volley of shots rang out. Hayden jumped and thrashed at her bonds but it made no difference. The gunshots finally stopped and Hayden's breathing continued at its rapid pace. Hayden hung her head trying to think of other things. She knew what the Governor wanted, it was only a matter of time when he would barge in when he realized his tactics weren't working. Hayden balled her fists, a sting of pain ran through her hand and forearm making her bite her lip to keep from screaming. She looked down to see blood trickle through the woven threads.
XXXXXX
It had to be hours at the least; days at the most. Hayden was exhausted, she wanted to go to sleep but whenever she tried the water would jolt her awake – her heart racing and her breath fast and shallow. The sound of gunshots at different intervals didn't help either making her skittish and unnerved. That was the Governor's plan, or at least the first step of it. Both the water and the gunshots were used to destroy Hayden's nerves.
When the Governor and Merle came in, Hayden was in between conscious and sleep. Merle walked up to her and slapped her awake. Hayden tried to shove him away but another sting went through her body and Merle grinned. With his only hand he reached down and placed it on her breast then looked at her in hopes of a reaction but instead-
"Really? Strip me naked so that you can have an excuse to touch me?" Hayden asked with a mock of surprise.
Merle blushed in embarrassment but that quickly turned to anger, he raised his metal brace to strike Hayden when the Governor told him to stop. The leader got up and walked over. His hands covered Hayden's and squeeze making more blood squirt from her wounds. Hayden bit her lip trying to not cry out as the Governor leaned it. The pain increased as he applied more weight but Hayden remained silent. He then pressed his lips onto hers and unlike before it was filled with nothing but greed. Hayden tried to force the man off him, but every time she moved pain would increase and more blood could trickle down. The Governor drew back for a breather and when he leaned in Hayden ducked her head, came back around and bit him on the side of the chin. It wasn't the preferred place but it was something. The Governor's screams were a bit off since Hayden had him by the lower jaw so it was gargled and strangled. Hayden sunk her teeth in using the bone as a holder. Merle struck every part of Hayden's body in order to let him go but Hayden felt a growl vibrate in her throat. I let go when I want to bitches! Hayden finally released the Governor who jumped back to a safe distance howling in pain, the door flung open and his remaining team entered eyes widened as they saw the gouge on their leader's chin. The Governor shouted something at them and some ran while the other led the Governor out.
Hayden could still taste the Governor's blood in her mouth, she spat once on the ground and then felt something caught in her teeth – flesh. She picked it out with her tongue and then spat again and this time on Merle's shoe. She turned not caring what the redneck would do, Hayden could hear his footsteps coming around to the front.
"Whatever you do," Hayden whispered, blood trickled from her mouth. "Just make it quick."
Merle let out a chuckle. "I'd thought you was smart Gorgeous, you know that we can make this go on for as long as we like."
Hayden wanted to say something but a violent cough took over along with a shudder. Merle watched as Hayden for a while then slammed the metal brace into her face. The gauze ripped off along with pieces of flesh as the metal that stuck out dug deep into her skin. Hayden's head snapped back then rolled to the side, blood trickled down her neck. Hayden raised her head slowly, her head screamed with pain and pulsed with numbness. Her tongue ran along her teeth to make sure that nothing was loose or rolling. It reached her chipped canine and fury built up in Hayden, but she managed to push it back down. She looked up in time to see the door close and Hayden let out a sigh of relief. Hayden shook her head but that made it worse as the pain increased. Her long fingers wrapped around the end of the armrests and squeezed as another wave of pain assaulted her.
XXXXXX
It had to be the next day, Hayden thought to herself. She had long since spoke and she wasn't even sure if her voice was even there. The man with the bucket came in every so often, sometimes even one after the other only taking a momentary pause to fill it up. What a waste! The gunshots continued too, she wondered what piss poor excuse they were giving to the citizens. Hayden rolled her shoulders the best she could to get the kinks out and then relaxed. The door opened and Hayden looked up to see a bundle in Merle's hand, Crowley came up from behind and leaned up against the wall. Hayden didn't need to be told what was in the bundle.
"It doesn't have to be this way," Merle said there was something about his tone that made it seem like he was bored. Merle elaborated. "At least that is what the Governor wanted me to tell you."
Of course.
"Me on the other hand." Merle unrolled the bundle and the long thin cloth reached the halfway mark on the table. There were about ten slots and in each was an instrument. "I don't mind gettin' my hands dirty."
Hayden's gaze went from the tools – already dirty and speckled with whatever oddities – to Merle, her brain replayed his last sentence and Hayden gave a smirk. The crack on her upper lip widened sending fresh blood into her mouth straining her dirty teeth.
"What?" Merle asked.
"You said hands," Hayden croaked due to lack of use. "That's plural."
Merle looked down and Hayden noticed his chest rise and fall at a rapid pace, according to her foster mother's teachings she should have stopped there. But if Hayden was going to go down, might as well go down swinging.
"Last time I counted," Hayden said a little louder, "there was only one."
In one swift move, Merle grabbed the hammer and slammed it into Hayden's remaining good side. The pain grew excruciating as he continued until Hayden was sure that more than one rib was broken. He then grabbed the long thin blade and stabbed it into Hayden's right hand. Unable to contain it, Hayden released a blood-curling scream. Merle twisted the blade and leaned in, listening at Hayden's failed attempt to contain the increasing pain. He let go of the blades grip and sat back in his chair. Crowley shifted uncomfortably but didn't say or do anything. Merle and Hayden went into an intense staring contest each challenging one another to make the next move. Finally Merle stood and took out a long thin rod with the tip pointed. He then took a match box out of his back pocket, he placed it on the table, using a smaller part of his metal brace to hold it down while he struck one and held it to the tip, occasionally going down the four in length. Hayden felt fear enter her mind, she thought about other things, memories from earlier the good ones from her childhood but nothing helped as Merle struck another match. When he finished, he flicked the still burning match on Hayden's exposed knee. She cringed and blew it out then shook it off. Even though it wasn't on long, it was enough time to get the skin to bubble. A prick of pain stayed in that very spot, Hayden looked up to see Merle looming over her with the heated spike.
"Do you have anything to say?" he asked hauntingly.
Hayden looked up even though she was bound physically she wouldn't allow them to overcome her easily. She stared right into Merle's eyes.
"Fuck. You."
Merle drew back his arm and jammed the thin long heated spike into Hayden's left hand. Her skin bubbled from underneath, veins burst from the heat and Hayden found that she couldn't stop screaming.
XXXXXX
Outside the makeshift shed, the Governor was leaned up against the stripped truck. Hayden's screams were audible through the thin metal and the Governor closed his eyes. His fingers gingerly touched the gauze that was taped awkwardly on his left lower jaw, a sting of pain made him wince wishing that he had a shot of bourbon or something strong to take away the pain. Tim then came in closing the chain link fence behind him and holding a small satchel in his hand.
"Sir?"
Another scream pierced through the metal and Tim flinched, the Governor however remained still beckoning the Asian to come forward. Tim obliged and handed the Governor the satchel. He opened it up and pulled out three notebooks. They were small, ones that someone would get from a cheap dollar store. The Governor flipped to a random page on one, he read. Then another page, and another page. Page after page he scanned reading all the recordings, numbers and equations writing in that single notebook.
"Are all of them like this?" the Governor asked in awe.
Tim nodded.
"Among those…we found this too."
The Governor opened his hand and Tim handed him the sealed package. It was sticky and smelled awful. The Governor opened it carefully and Tim even back off slightly. As the strings fell to the sides and the dark cloth slid off and hung heavily filled with fluids. Both the Governor and Tim looked down at the rotting piece of flesh.