A/N – I should be doing other stuff. But this story is dying to get written. I'm just dying to get past the governor and get back to writing happiness and not angst…
Anyway… I am nervous about posting this chapter and the next as I'm pretty sure no one will like them. But just try to imagine how great it's going to be when the governor gets his. Please read and review. Feel free to say you hate it (that probably applies more to the next chapter than to this one).
Chapter 28 – A Little Surprise
Without thinking, she spun to face him, "Don't you call him that! You don't know anything about him! He is a good man… and you… you're just a fucking lunatic!" This is counterproductive. She regretted her actions quickly. She needed to know where Daryl was; she needed to get to him before it was too late. I can't lose him too. And yelling at the Governor was not going to help her get answers. He smacked her, his hand connecting with her face hard, knocking her backwards, almost onto the ground before she caught her balance, a shooting pain ricocheted through her head.
"I'm disappointed. This is the thanks I get. I'll say whatever I want. About whoever I want. And you'll like it." She shook, her hand clutched to the side of her face. The Governor looked at her, tilted his head, and then smiled again, "You don't deserve your surprise. But I'm going to give it to you anyway. Consider it a gesture of good will. And you'll remember this, and be nicer next time I visit."
He moved away from her towards the door. A buzzing sound filled the room and then he was gone, another man slipping into the room in his stead. "Miss?" She kept her back to him. "Miss... he, he has asked me to bring this to you." She turned to face a small man, his face was scarred and jagged all over. He was nearly unrecognizable as a person. His ankles were chained together, his wrists as well, and a collar hung around his neck with longer chains that connected to the ones on his wrists and ankles. He was carrying something… a basket. She didn't move.
"Please?," he said, "please. If you do not take he will punish me." She sighed. She couldn't make another person suffer for her. She went over, reached for the basket. Inside was Rose. How? Her heart leapt. The baby's eyes were open, and she smiled instantly at the sight of Carol. Carol made a sound of what could only be joy.
"How is this possible?," she exclaimed. Her eyes met with the other man's.
He smiled softly, kindly. "He is a very powerful man."
She looked puzzled, "But he is just a man. He can't raise the dead." She was incredulous.
"No, he cannot," came another voice from the doorway. A large dark man entered the room, "Run along little dog. Your master didn't tell you to linger." The chained man cast his eyes down and fled the room quickly.
Carol took Rose from the basket and held her in her arms. "Who are you?"
The man closed the door behind him. "He calls me Babar, of all things. It's ridiculous. But my real name is Alex."
"What do you want?"
"You don't trust me. That's good. Don't trust anyone here."
"What do you know about Rose? How is she still alive?"
"His ring. It contains some kind of odorless gas. He pushes a tiny button to release it. When inhaled it renders you… unconscious? Near-dead? Something like that. To any casual observer, you appear dead, but after a few hours, you wake up as if you were sleeping," Alex paused. "It's a scare tactic. He has many of them. From his military background, I believe. He has drugs that make you see things, things that aren't real. He can make people do things. Just remember that. Whatever you see, whatever you hear. Not all of it is real." He turned away.
"Can't you let me out? Can't you help us?"
Alex turned back. He shook his head. "I'm sorry. You are on your own. We all are."
"Where are my friends? My group?"
Alex looked at her sadly, "Oh, he will show you. Just be ready."
Daryl was pulled up off the cold floor, flung forward until he landed on something springy… mattress? He forced his eyes open. The room spun in front of him. He hollered as something heavy pinned him down. He felt a sharp pain in his neck as he was pricked with something – needle? Wha' the fuck?
"Bring him to me. I'd like to give his orders personally." His eyelids were heavy. His limbs felt disjointed. It was the Governor who had spoken… Daryl was sure of it. Carol… They'd injected him with something, but his whole body seemed to be growing weaker, hotter, almost like he could feel it… whatever poison it might be… coursing through him. The Governor's face swam into view.
"Don't worry. Just a little something to make you feel better, make you more at home here. Here in Woodbury. Carol is waiting for you. You'll be back with her in a moment." Something was wrong… Daryl could feel it. His body felt strange, his vision was blurry. He thought of Carol, it was the only word the Governor had said that really resonated with him. Carol… Carol… Carol. He felt himself growing hard at the thought of her.
