A warning for later in the chapter, there will be some rough actions and themes that may make some people uncomfortable. Please read carefully but I made sure it wasn't too offensive.

I do not own The Walking Dead

Chapter 10: Deceit

Instead of thinking of the past, I tried to focus on the here and now.
Vincent was going to be coming round for dinner, we both finally had a night off and I promised that I would try and do something other than tinned spaghetti and bread. The kitchen was minimal but with the heat that was outside and the fresh vegetables that Mrs Richardson gave me, it was easy enough to make a salad, even scoring some left over sausages from the picnic the other day.
I had just carried it to Vincent's room, setting it down on the table he had there when I heard a knock on my door. Rather than walk back around to my own room, I opened Vincent's door and stepped out, Vincent chuckling and stepping back to his own room.

"Hey, good timing, I just got dinner ready," I said, Trix hoping out of my way as I pulled a chair back, waiting for Vincent to join me but he didn't, flicking the main light on and grabbing his gun from his draws.
"Sorry sis, I just got asked to be on guard. Tim's come down with something and they asked me to instead." He stopped in front of me, looking down at my angry scowl with a calming smile. "I already asked if there was anyone else, but there's not. I shouldn't be long, save dinner for me." He said, kissing my forehead before leaving quickly.
In a whirlwind he was gone and I just sat there, a little sad that at such short notice I was going to be alone for another night. I looked at the dinner in front of me, suddenly not having an appetite and picked up my sausage, dropping it to Trix who gobbled it down quickly.

Not sure what to do with my evening now I wasted some time tidying up, munching on a carrot as I sat on my bed, Trix lying at my feet. My candle flickered on the dressing table, the mirror reflecting the light oddly but through my window the light from fires outside light my walls an orange colour. There were more bonfires and fire pits out there tonight than any other night and I turned my head to look out down the street. The sky was dark by now, some people still moving about despite the curfew being in an hour or two. I thought I saw Armstrong for a moment but I shook my head; he was out with Trisha and Hughes, doing whatever it was they did. I missed their company; yes even Trisha, who I think warmed up to me only because I didn't give into any of her crap. As I sat there, I could just see the wall at the end of the town, and I wondered when they would be coming back. When they came back, maybe I would talk to Hughes.
I felt myself blush at the memory of the other morning; he was a decent guy. But what would I talk about to him? Why would I want to? I couldn't lie to myself, he was an attractive man who I guessed to be around my age, and not that it mattered any more. Maybe I could waste some time with him…

The stone in my pocket jabbed against my leg and instantly my thoughts were flooded with Daryl. With a hiss I stood up, startling Trix but he dropped his head again at the false alarm. I thought about giving Trix the rest of the sausages but then I thought of Vincent, he still hadn't had anything to eat, he would have to be hungry. So at least that would waste fifteen minutes.

I grabbed the plate of food, patting my leg for Trix to follow me as I left my room, closing the door behind me. Trix was excited as though he knew where we were going, that or he thought the plate in my hand would be for him. People were still moving about, getting ready to settle in for the night and once I stepped outside I breathed a sigh of relief. It was a nice evening, calm and still, I just wished there was a breeze to help with this stale heat.
All down the street there were fire lights everywhere, lining the walls and all down the middle; unless someone suddenly got a fear of the dark I had no idea why, but as a group of people moved past me, they looked more like soldiers armed to the teeth and it made me nervous. They walked in small groups, their faces stern even as they gave me curt nods. As I made my way closer to the wall, I could hear some of them talking that they didn't even know, maybe a herd of walkers but it didn't feel like it.

Glancing up at the faces on the wall, I tried to find Vincent but couldn't.
"Can I help you?"
I looked up to Tim, confused as he hung his rifle over his shoulder, bending over to look at me closely. For a second I didn't know what to say; you're meant to be sick, why are you here? Instead I cleared my throat, glancing around me in case I walked past him.
"Uh, Vincent, he said he was here tonight,"
Tim shook his head, eyeing the plate in my hands.
"Sorry love, he had tonight off."
Without another word I began to walk back up the street, confused. If he had a date with a girl or something he would have just told me, that and he took his gun. My senses were on high alert as I stood there, trying to sort out in my mind what was happening. It did explain why he was so quick to get in and leave, but leave to where?

I knelt down, snatching Trix's attention away from the plate and to me. As a puppy I had taught him a lot of things and he was a smart dog to learn quickly.
"Where's Vince? Go get Vince." I said and Trixs ears pricked, tilting his head confused. Once I had said it when Vincent was out of a paddock and I was too lazy to walk out there, just as a joke but then Trix did, running off into the distance and bringing him back. I had hoped he would remember that command, but it was only once. I stood up, frowning, "come on, go get him!" I said a little more encouragingly and I laughed quietly when Trix gave me a yip, sniffing the ground before running off. With some excitement I did my best to keep up with him, watching as he darted across the road and back again. We went all the way to the back end of the town; I rarely came up this way, no one did and I frowned when I saw Martinez and Merle step out, leaning on the wall not far from the door.

Trix ran towards it, slipping in quietly and I felt my nerves almost get the better of me but I sucked in a breath and crept closer to the door. I didn't know why I was sneaking about, I could just ask them if Vincent was in there but I didn't want anyone to feed me any more deceit. I did my best to open the door quietly with one hand, debating about leaving the plate behind, it didn't seem that important anymore but I took it with me, just in case I was being silly. The door opened almost silently and I quietly thanked it and stepped inside.
It was dimly lit inside the old building, and it looked as though it had been gutted and restored as some sort of rabbit warren storage warehouse, the tin walls reaching the ceiling and I walked through carefully, trying to find Trix.

I rounded the corner, seeing the room open up with multiple doors coming off of it and I sighed with relief when I saw Trix's tail wagging, pawing at Vincent's leg who was looking down at him confused.
"You know you didn't have to lie to me." I said, straightening up and relaxing my muscles as I approached Vincent, who looked up at me a little more anxiously.
"What are you doing here?"
"Bringing you dinner, I thought you would still be hungry."
Something clicked in my head and I felt my finely tuned instincts bellow from inside that something was really wrong. Why would they need all the chiefs of the Governors troops all in one little storage place?
I opened my mouth to ask Vincent but pain exploded in the back of my head and I think I was out before I even hit the ground.

The first thing I felt was the rough rope that was tight around my wrists and the chair prodding into my back. Slowly I opened my eyes and then the pain woke also in my head, throbbing as I blinked wearily, trying to figure out what had happened. It felt like I'd been hit with a ton of bricks and I tried to move my arms back in front of me, but that rope was tight.

Panic swelled like a rising tide, taking over my body as I pulled desperately at it, trying to slip free but it was properly done. What the hell? Whoever did this was going to feel my anger when I was free. I gasped as my side pulled tightly, my scar still a little sensitive to my harsh movements and I sat back. Flicking my fringe from my face I looked around the room I was in, a small square of a room with one side decaying bricks and the other a wall made of metal sheets and wooden boards. A spotlight was set up in one corner next to the only door, its light bright but it still left most of the room in darkness but from the smell of it, it was more dusty and unused than anything else.
"Vincent?" I called, my mouth dry and I stretched my legs out, testing and finding that they were tied and my arms weren't tied directly to the chair. I made to stand up when the door opened.

Three men walked in, none of them I knew by name but I had seen them either working on the wall or walking around the town. They walked in carefully, checking behind them before they closed the door and I felt my heart race as they all smiled, making their way over to me like a cat stalking a mouse.
"She is a pretty one ain't she?" one snickered, brushing brown hair back under his cap and another agreed with him. They all made other comments and I felt vile rise in my throat, my panic mixed in with fear until I managed to turn it into some sort of anger, something I could use. Shame for them that I wasn't a mouse.

I made to stand up, ignoring the throb in my head with a plan on ducking past them and getting to the door but they leapt forward, hands grabbing my shoulders and thighs, keeping me on the chair and I thrashed against them.
"Get off me, get off!" I roared but they laughed, able to keep my still easily. I snarled as they moved their hands over my collar bones, rubbing my thigh and playing with my hair.
"She is feisty isn't she?" the youngest laughed, his thumb tracing down my cheek and I turned my head, trying to snap at it but he pulled away just in time.
"Maybe it is from that walker bite,"
"I wouldn't mind her having a bite of me, would you like that? Some flesh of man?"
"I'd like a bite of her."
I glared up at them, disgusted but I tried to calm myself, moving away from their touches when I could.

"Where's Vincent? What do you want?"
"Vincent," one guy said, rubbing his chin as if he was actually thinking, "he was down here, ain't seen him for a few minutes now though, he just, poof, gone." He laughed, his friends laughing along with him and I tried to keep calm, if they had hurt him, if they killed him I would torture these bastards slowly until they screamed for death!
I kicked my leg, slamming my boot into one of their shins and as he wobbled in pain, I received a hard slap across my face, stinging in pain as I hissed. Hands grabbed me, standing me up and I cried out as they reached under my shirt and grabbed at my pants.
"Stop! Get the fuck off me!" I yelled, hoping that someone was out there that would help me, but then I tightened my lips; if they heard they might want to join in instead of helping me. With as much strength as I could I managed to headbutt one of them but it probably hurt me more than it did him. I was turned and slammed onto the table, my wrists feeling warm with blood as I strained to get them free.
"Keep still, it won't be fun if I have to knock you out."

They grabbed a handful of my hair, pulling my head back and I groaned but it came out more of a whimper regardless of my rage coursing through me but then the door opened.
Merle casually walked in, his face calm despite the scene in front of him. My hair was released and I felt myself pant for breath, wincing as one of them behind me gave a harsh shove into the table again.
"Come on now fellas, what are you doing in here? You know I get all the fun first."
The men behind me complained, but they slowly walked out of the room, telling Merle not to ware me out and I stood up straight, my legs becoming a bit like jelly. I turned my angry eyes to Merle, as he shut the door, his eyes never leaving mine. I couldn't keep it up though and I gulped in more air, terrified as Merle slinked his way towards me, his eyes not once letting me go, just like I knew he wouldn't be letting me leave.

FYI I love Merle so don't worry, thanks for reading!

Silver Kirin
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