Chapter 9

Michonne was almost back at the prison when she saw Daryl heading toward her at a run.

"Where's Merle?" He demanded.

"Gone to the grain store to kill the Governor" she explained "He changed his mind about handing me over"

Daryl nodded "Knew he wasn't all bad" He made to carry on but Michonne stopped him.

"Cassie's with him" she said quietly. Daryl stopped.

"How the hell she end up goin' with him? She wouldn't go along with giving you up" he was angry.

"She saw him take me and followed, planned to talk him out of it. When he set me free she wouldn't let him go alone. I had to leave so I could get help." He could see she felt guilty about leaving but knew she made the right decision.

"Go back, get Rick and the others. I'll carry on see what I can do" He turned and headed up the road.

"Daryl" Michonne called after him "We'll be there as soon as possible. Stay safe"

He gave her a small, tired grin.

"I always do"

He saw the grain store in the distance and slowed, taking the time to arm his crossbow. Cautiously he approached, keeping an eye open for any threat, dead or alive. There were several walkers feeding on bodies on the ground. He slipped past them unseen. In a clearing in the middle of the buildings he saw a walker bent over the body of a young man. Something made him look twice; there was something familiar about this one. He moved closer and noticed the missing hand. He took a step back, not wanting to believe what he saw. The walker raised its head, blood and intestine running down its chin. With a cry of distress and horror Daryl staggered back as he looked into Merles glazed, milky eyes. The walker lumbered towards him, seeing nothing more than a fresh meal. Daryl pushed it away from him and it lurched forward again. He pushed it back once more and it fell to the ground. Choking back sobs Daryl fell on the creature that was once his brother and stabbed it repeatedly in the head. Finally he fell back, collapsing onto the ground, his arm across his eyes as he grieved. He didn't hear the approaching footsteps until it was too late.

Cassie had fought as hard as she could but Martinez and one of the other men had managed to bind her hands behind her. They had stuffed a rag in her mouth and tied it behind her head.

"Can't have you warning anyone we're here" Martinez had told her apologetically has he'd pulled the rag tight. She was then shoved into a chair and held there at gunpoint. She had no idea where the Governor and the rest of his men had gone until the door opened and the one eyed man strode in, a smile on his face.

"Got something for you" he told her happily as Daryl was dragged in, held by three of his men. He was struggling wildly and she could see he'd been hit several times. When his eyes met hers she could see they were red rimmed and she knew he'd found Merle. She tried to rise but the man guarding her pushed her back into the chair.

"Just stay where you are, if you know what's best" he snarled at her. Daryl lunged forward, ripping his arms free from the men restraining him. He punched one in the gut, making him fall to the ground, wheezing. His fist meet the nose of a second and there was a satisfying crack as the man staggered back, clutching his face.

With an impatient sign the Governor reached out and grabbed Cassie, tugging her towards him. He forced her head back and pressed her own knife to her throat.

"Dixon, unless you want to see her bleed, give up now" he demanded. With a last, defiant punch Daryl straightened and held his hands out to the side in surrender. At once his arms were pulled behind him and bound. As soon as he was restrained several of the men laid into him, determined to get payback.

Cassie struggled as the Governor held onto her, gripping a handful of hair as he forced her to watch the beating. Eventually the Governor decided he'd seen enough.

"Take them to the truck. Let's get them back to Woodbury. We need to send a message to the prison, tell them we have two more of their people. Let's see what Rick does now" He shoved Cassie back to Martinez and headed to his car.

They were bundled into the back of a dirty pick up and taken back to Woodbury. The truck was driven in through a back entrance and parked behind several sheds and small warehouses. This was where the Governor did all the things he didn't want the townsfolk to know about.

They were dragged through a door and taken down several corridors. As they passed a group of men one of them held his hand out, stopping them.

"What's going on?" The Governor demanded as the man grabbed Cassie by the chin and forced her to look at him. She found herself staring at Michael, clearly not as dead as Merle had thought. She could see the bruises on his throat from Merle's grip.

"Well well" the man drawled "I never thought I'd see you again, you murdering bitch" He turned to the Governor

"This is the one who killed my sister" he explained. The Governor studied him carefully.

"I was going to ask for your assistance with these two. I have a need for your special talents." The Governor smiled at him. "It will make it so much better if you have personnel grudge as well"

They were shoved into a large room and Daryl was forced onto a chair. His arms and legs were duct taped to the frame so he was unable to move. At Michael's instruction Cassie was shoved face first against a wooden support post. Her arms were freed from the plastic ties but then pulled above her head and attached to ropes on the post. The gag was removed from her mouth. There was a small table next to the post, covered with a sheet and Michael walked over to it. He pulled the sheet off and revealed what was hidden beneath. Daryl started to struggle and curse and Cassie stared in horror at the familiar car battery and metal pole.

"Let's see if you last as long as he did" he nodded towards Daryl. "I'll think of something even better for you. I owe you for the lives of most of my men at that farm"

The door opened and a guard entered carrying two buckets of water. Michael ordered Cassie's shirt cut from her, leaving her in just a tank top and water was thrown over her, soaking her from head to foot.

Michael soaked the bundle of rags on the end of the pole and attached the wires to the battery, careful not to touch anything other than the rubber handle of the pole. He rammed it into Cassie's side and her back arched as the current flowed through her. She forced herself not to cry out as he did it a second and then a third time. Turning to Daryl, Michael laughed as he asked

"Does this bring back memories? You know just how much this hurts, don't you? Probably hurts her more, she's smaller and weaker than you. I bet she's in agony" He gave a little twirl and then dragged the pole down her back. This time she did scream in pain at the prolonged contact.

The Governor chuckled "I do like to see a man enjoying his work" He joked; a couple of his men laughed but most looked uncomfortable with what was going on. Interrogation was one thing but torture for fun was going too far.

Cassie tried to flinch away as he advanced on her again but the ropes holding her gave her no slack. He jammed it into her side and laughed as she screamed out again. Her breathing was harsh and raspy and her legs were shaking as they tried to support her. Her head sagged and she was barely holding on to consciousness.

As Michael was about to jab her again the door opened and a short man in glasses timidly entered.

"Um… Philip" He started, obviously not happy to be in the room. His eyes saw Cassie and he dropped them to the floor, unable to look.

"What is it Milton?" the Governor asked "We're kinda busy here"

Nervously Milton continued. "We need all the men at the wall, there's a build-up of biters for some reason and the people are getting nervous. You need to come and talk to them"

The Governor sighed "The pressures of being in charge" He commented. He ordered all his men and Michael to the wall. Before he left he leant close to Daryl

"I haven't forgotten about you." he whispered "When I come back you are going to regret ever meeting me"

"Do already, murdering bastard" Daryl spat at him. The Governor just laughed as he left the room, slamming the door behind him, leaving the two of them alone.