Hi all, sorry it had been a while since I updated, been very busy studying.
Enjoy!

I do not own The Walking Dead.

Chapter 11: Truth

From the tiny window behind me I could feel the cool air from outside seep in, not offering any relief but at least I knew it was still night time. Not that it was important, it couldn't help me but at least it gave me even a split second of something else to think about other than the man approaching me now.

"Keep away," I snapped, stepping backwards as he approached, his face clear from any sort of emotion but his eyes were burning on me, almost angry and felt my arms tremble. He continued and I took another step back but I was met with a wall and I swore, lifting my head back to Merle who was reaching for me now.
"I'm warning you!" I growled but my angry voice turned into a frail cry as Merle grabbed my shoulder, twisting me around and shoving me back into the wall. His hand wrapped around the back of my neck tightly and he traced the knife that was attached to his other arm down my spine, sending revolting chills through my body and I squirmed.
"Uh uh, you don't want me to accidently poke you, do you?" Not that I had a choice as he tightened his grip; he could snap my neck if he wanted to. I felt the knife traced slowly down my arms to my wrists and I closed my eyes, breathing heavily on the rough stone next to my face.

With a rough jerk I suddenly felt the blood flow return to my hands and I instantly brought them up, pushing myself off the wall. My wrists were red with blood and irritated skin, my mind not quite believing Merle had cut the rope free. Spinning around, I swung my arm out, trying to hit him but he had already put a few paces between us. With a string of words ready to be yelled at him I opened my mouth but he quickly put a finger to his lips, which for some reason I obeyed. I swallowed tightly, my eyes wide as I watched him move, gesturing to the seat and I carefully moved forward, sitting down with a nod. My wrists throbbed and I carefully rubbed them, easing some of the pain but smearing the blood that had oozed.

"Where's Vincent?" I asked quietly, my voice cracking. It wasn't what I wanted to say to him or ask him, but I needed to know that my brother was alright, I needed to know that my brother had nothing to do with this. Merle quietly sat on the table, resting his arms on his legs and softening his face.
"He's fine. Got a bump on his head to but he's sleepin' it off like a baby."
"What is going on? Why am I here?"
Merle looked down at the blade attached to metal stump, stroking it almost affectionately and I was ready to ask him again when he spoke, not looking up at me.
"Who was in your group?"
I frowned at him, confused, "What's that got to do with anything?"
"Everything," he replied harshly, looking up at me with a stern face and I sank back in my chair, afraid he was going to hit me, "Were there others besides Glen and Rick and my brother?"

"Yes." I answered weakly, still trying to think of a reason for this interrogation. "Not many of us, an old farmer and his daughters, Ricks wife and son and a few others. We're more women and children than anything," I said, blinking a few times, "They are." I corrected and watched as Merle looked back down at his feet.
"So, are you loyal to them or to your new found family?" he said, raising his arms up as if to emphasise Woodbury and I had to swallow again, my cheek stinging from the slap. How do I answer that? I trusted the group, they were my friends and we had been through enough together and Woodbury made me more uncomfortable than anything else. My imagination was on steroids as I tried to figure out why I was being asked these questions, it was as if he was trying to make sure I would do anything for Woodbury, no matter who was on the outside or who I had once known.

"Answer the question!" he yelled, slamming his knife hand on the table, making me jump in my seat. I held his angry stare when something dawned on me; these questions were more for him; I could see the struggle in his eyes and I felt a new sort of fear growing like a weed inside me. Was Rick and the group here? Were they in trouble? Had the Governor found them?
Merle rushed at me, his rough hand grabbing my chin and lifting my face to him as he leant in.
"Where do your loyalties lie?"
"I love my brother more than anything, and your brother," I swallowed, licking my lips as I held Merles raging glare which weakened at the mention of his brother, "Your brother, Daryl, I love him. That's where my loyalties lie; how about yours?"
I snatched my chin back, Merle lifting his hand away slowly, his pale face turning into something I couldn't figure out but I didn't care. It was the truth, he could take it or leave it and I frowned as he paced for a bit, as if shocked by my words. Maybe he was, after all a woman he was probably going to beat to death just said that her heart belonged to his younger brother.

Merle stopped and I hesitated rubbing my wrists when there was an odd noise. We shared a glance, as if hoping that it was them or they knew what it was but then Merle marched towards me, grabbing my arm and hauling me to my feet. I snarled at him, fighting against him as he shoved me against a wall, bringing a pair of handcuffs out. For a man with only one hand he moved like lightning and with ease and before I knew it I was handcuffed to a pipe. I pulled against it, hoping it was loose that I could slip free from it but I couldn't and I frowned at Merle.
"What are you doing?"
"Be careful in them honey," he said over his shoulder as he walked towards the door, "last time I was in handcuffs I had to cut my hand off."
He gave me a wave with his bayoneted hand, shutting the door behind him with a bang and I stared at him, confused before I turned my attention back to the hand cuffs that linked my hand to the old pipe.

Outside I could hear yelling suddenly, some sort of fight and I pulled even harder at the restraint, willing them to come off but they remained there.
Gun fire made me crouch down low in terror; it was so loud, so close and once my initial fright ebbed away, I could hear yelling and someone shouting something that sounded like Maggie.
Maggie? Is that what this was about, they were here?
"Hey! Guys, I'm in here!" I yelled but there was too much noise, so I tried to scream, making any sort of noise in a hope of being heard but no one came to the door, no one called back and when I saw smoke seep in from under the door and a few fainter gun shots, I pulled as hard as I could at the handcuff like a frustrated horse bucking to be free of a saddle but they wouldn't budge and I felt tears in my eyes.
I didn't want to be here, I didn't want to die.

Thank you for reading!

Silver Kirin xXx