Chapter Thirty- Six

I woke to Negan's voice telling Dwight something. I couldn't quite make it out as my head was still fuzzy and I was fighting off a wave of nausea. I could barely see several feet in front of me, which didn't help my feeling of sickness. I could tell that we were in a small camper that had been parked.

"There she is," Negan said as I felt him stand over me. "Our very own sleeping beauty."

I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hands as I tried to sit up.

"Wow, easy does it," he said as he grabbed the collar of my jacket to steady me. "You were out for a while." He leaned down so that his face was only a few inches from mine. "I thought we were going to have to put a bullet in between those pretty eyes."

I remained silent, something that I knew Negan hated.

"What's your boyfriend's name? Dwight told me you were going steady with someone." He paused waiting for me to answer. "So you and Daryl," Negan went on.

"Jealous?" I asked smugly.

Negan grinned. "Take off your pants."

"You're going to have to kill me first," I spat.

He laughed so loudly that his shoulders shook. "Don't be dramatic. I'm not going to rape you. I don't want sex unless you want to give it to me."

"In that case, I don't think these will fit you."

Negan put his gun to my head. "This isn't up for discussion."

I clenched my jaw but did as he asked, removing first my boots, socks, and then my jeans. I stood awkwardly in front of him trying to stabilize myself.

"Now your jacket."

I obeyed, not having any more fight left in me. The chloroform had made sure of that. He looked at the black tank top and black bikini cut panties I was wearing.

"It's a shame it had to come to this."

"Come to what?" I asked.

Negan bent over and scooped a handful of dirt out of a tin can. He smeared the dirt over my arms and legs. I didn't question him because I knew what he was doing. He was playing a game of psychological warfare; he wanted Daryl and the others to think that I had been raped and beaten. Negan finished off his task by smearing dirt along my face and hair.

"You're about to see one hell of a show," he said as he grabbed me by my left arm and pushed the door of the camper open. He pushed me to my knees after we had walked down the steps. I lifted my head up to see some of our people lined up, all on their knees.

"Pissing our pants yet?" Negan's voice echoed over the field. "Juliet here has been without her pants for most of the evening, so you'll have to excuse her."

Dwight pulled me up by my hair, revealing my freshly skinned knees from landing on the dirt and rocks.

I was able to scan the faces: Daryl, Rick, Carl, Michonne, Glenn, Maggie, Abraham, Eugene, Rosita, and Sasha. My eyes locked on Daryl's as Dwight walked me to the end of the line-up, next to Glenn.

Negan began to preach about the new world order and how he was angry with Rick for killing his people. He explained how our belongings were now his and how this is how it was going to be. Glenn took of his jacket and gave it to me. I nodded a thank you and put it on.

Negan walked up to Glenn and me and squatted down. "Take it off," he said to me.

I clenched and unclenched my jaw as I watched my breath travel in front of me. The cold air was adding to the misery I felt. I did as he asked to keep the peace and dropped the jacket in front of him.

"So you're Daryl?" Negan asked Glenn.

At the sound of his name, Daryl shifted, which Negan caught. Negan stood back up and looked directly at Daryl. "So you're the famous Daryl," he said with a grin. "You're the guy that our girl would cry out for?" He looked back at me. "He kind of looks like shit. It must be that bullet wound." He walked past Daryl and stopped at Maggie. "Damn, you look like shit too. I should put you out of your misery."

In an instant, Glenn flung himself towards Negan and Maggie, putting his body in between them.

Two of Negan's men responded by kicking Glenn and putting him back in line when directed to do so by Negan.

"I get it, it's an emotional moment," Negan said. "But I will shut that shit down. Don't do it again." Negan looked at Rick. "I'm going to kill one of your people, Rick." He lifted up his bat. "With Lucille here." He smiled as he walked towards Carl. "This is your kid, isn't it?" He asked.He nodded. "Oh it's definitely your kid."

"Stop this!" Rick yelled, his voice filled with pain and rage.

"Hey!" Negan yelled back. "Don't me this easy on me. Don't make me kill the kid." He paused. "Everyone is at the table waiting for me to order." He walked down the line again, whistling with the bat extended. "I simply cannot decide," he chuckled.

I grabbed onto my knees as I looked in front of me. Negan's ferocity was frightening as he stood in front of my people preparing to choose his victim using a children's rhyme.

He stopped in front of Abraham and told us not to move or he would cut Carl's other eye out.

I closed my eyes and turned my face. The sound of Abraham's skull colliding with Negan's bat sent chills down my spine and I had to fight to keep myself from vomiting. The sound of people letting out gasps filled the field and I closed my eyes tighter, relived that it was Daryl on the other side of Negan's bat.

I heard Abraham's body hit the ground and Rosita and Sasha crying. Negan continued to hit Abraham and laugh while he did it. The sadistic moment was almost too much to take.

I opened my eyes to see Negan standing in front of me with the bloody weapon extended. "You guys, look at my dirty girl." He waved the bat in front of me. "Take a damn look, Juliet."

I looked up at him, anger boiling through my veins.

He chuckled. "I know I said I was just going to bash one of your brains in, but Juliet, you ran away. I haven't forgotten." He paused. "You were just as naughty as Lucille is dirty." He looked at his bat. "What do you say, Lucille? Are you hungry for another one?"

Daryl lunged at Negan and Negan pushed him down.

"Daryl!" I yelled and scrambled to him. I put myself in between Daryl and Negan, clinging to Daryl.

Negan stepped back. "That's not how it works. I already told you people; the first one is free. Then what did I say? I said I would shut that shit down. No exceptions. I don't know what kind of lying assholes you've been dealing with but I'm a man of my word. I need you to know me. So," he paused as he lifted his bat over his head.

Daryl wrapped his arms around me as I clung to him.

"Back to it," Negan said before turning around and slamming the bat into Glenn's skull.

My breath was knocked out of me from the shock and the sound of Maggie's voice that was filled with devastation and pain. I buried my face into Daryl momentarily before I was ripped out of his arms by one of Negan's men. I was thrown back in line and when my body collided into the rocks and gravel, I was forced to look at Glenn's battered skull and hear the sniffles and cries of those whom I referred to as family.

"Woo!" Negan exclaimed. "This has been a productive day." He looked at me. "But it's not over," he said with a smile. "Stand up, sweetheart."

I locked eyes with Negan and I pushed myself to my feet. I stood trying not to shiver from the cold air.

"You know I don't hit women, don't you?"

I clenched my jaw in response.

"Come on, Juliet. Tell them. Tell them I'm a good man. Tell them you don't want to cross me." He paused and then looked at Rick. "She made a good pet." When he looked at Daryl, he winked. "Bethany, where are you?" He asked as he scanned his people who were armed behind my family.

A young woman in black leather emerged from behind us. She stepped over the fire pit and stood next to Negan. She looked at me with the same smile I saw on Negan's face.

"But Bethany here doesn't mind hitting women, do you?"

She shook her head.

As I looked her over, I realized that she had at least thirty pounds on me and for some reason, I knew the nightstand in her belt loop wasn't just for show.

"Let's get on with it then," I spat.

Negan laughed. "Damn, Daryl, your woman sure is a firecracker." He paused. "Go ahead and tie him up."

Daryl started to struggle under several of Negan's men's hands as they pulled him up to bind his hands and feet together.

Negan stepped over Glenn's body to get to me. "I want you to fight back."

I looked at him and narrowed me eyes. "Fight back?"

He nodded. "Oh yeah. It ain't much of a fight to the death if you don't fight back." He looked at my family. "If anyone try anything, the boy gets it."

He looked at Daryl. "I'm talking to you, Romeo."

"I'll fight," Daryl said. "Any of your men. Let me," Daryl pleaded.

Negan took several steps toward him, grinning. "That's damn sweet, Daryl, but you see, Juliet ran away and she was doing some very important work for me. She has to be held responsible."

"What if I refuse," I said.

"Refuse?" Negan asked as if he hadn't thought of that to be a possibility. "Then Bethany kills you and one of your people." He walked to Bethany. "The fight is in your favor," he told her. "Juliet was recently drugged so she's probably still a bit hazy." He looked at me. "Aren't you, sweetheart?" He waited for a reply that I didn't give and then went on to explain his rules. "No one is allowed to help or stop the fight. You can use whatever you have as a weapon."

Bethany pulled out her nightstick and smiled.

I looked down at my bare legs and feet, wishing I was at least wearing shoes.

"Let's start shaking," Negan said.

I walked towards the young woman who was either about to kill me or who I was about to kill. I felt my palms start to sweat. "It doesn't have to be this way."

"Yes it does," she said and in that instant, she punched me in the side of my face.

I staggered backwards and overcorrected myself so that I stumbled forward to my knees. I looked up in time to catch the nightstick that was about to collide with my face. She had a tight grip on it so with both of my hands, I was able to use my leverage on the nightstick and pull her to the ground next to me. She might have been stronger than I, but I was faster. I was able to maneuver myself on top of her and push the nightstick across her throat.

I put my entire weight into the pressure but moments later, she wrapped her legs around mine and shoved me off of her. My back hit the ground and I let out a gasp. I could hear Negan giving a play by play and Daryl yelling for Negan to call Bethany off.

Bethany came down hard with the nightstand and I rolled to my side to prevent myself from being hit by it. I scrambled to my feet, dirt flying under me. I stepped aside as she tried to punch me and lunged forward to push her. She tripped over her own feet and fell backwards, the nightstick flinging from her hands.

I rushed to grab the weapon and she pushed herself up to tackle me. Again, we were on the ground. We rolled a couple of times, both of us trying to get control of the blunt weapon. She grabbed my hair and I elbowed her in the face. I could hear the sound of her nose breaking as it collided with the point of my elbow.

She screamed and grabbed her nose.

I pushed myself off of her and got to my feet as she stayed on the ground. "I'm done," I said to Negan. I could taste the blood that was pooled in the corner of my mouth.

"She isn't," he pointed out.

I turned to look to see Bethany rush me. I dodged her initial attack, but the nightstick collided with my shoulder. She used this in her advantage and hit my ribs with the blunt weapon. I fell to my knees trying to catch my breath. I needed just a few more seconds so I picked up a handful of dirt and threw it in Bethany's face. She stumbled backwards and tried to rub the dirt out of her eyes.

"Please!" I cried as I was able to breath.

Bethany pushed down on top of me, my back landing on a rock. I screamed as I felt the edge penetrate the skin. She put the nightstick on my throat and even though I used my hands to push it up, I could feel her weight start to overpower me. I squirmed under her, but I could feel my lungs start to burn from the lack of air. I began to see black out of the corners of my eyes when I let go with my right hand to retrieve the rock that was stabbing into my back. I pulled the hand-sized rock out from under me, scraping and gauging my skin in the process.

I knew that I only had seconds to react before I lost consciousness. I took the last breath I could muster as I held the rock over my head and in a swift motion, I used all of my strength and hit Bethany in her forehead with the rock. Her head jerked to the side but she didn't let go of the nightstand so I hit her again. And again. And again until she fell off of me. I pushed myself up and gasped for air as I held my free hand to my throat. I looked at Bethany to see half of her face caved in and blood spilling around her face and head. I looked down at my hands and chest to see that I was also covered in her blood. Bethany's hands twitched as bubbles of blood pushed out of her mouth.

I screamed as I threw down the stained rock.

Negan clapped as he circled the two of us. "What a show."

"Fuck you," I said.

This only seemed to amuse Negan even more. "You surprised me, sweetheart." He paused to look at Daryl. "I thought Bethany would make you a widower." Negan took out his pistol from the back of his jeans and turned to look at me. He pointed the gun at my face and cocked his head to the side. "Too bad Bethany had to die for no reason."

"Wait!" Daryl yelled. "She knows things." He struggled under the rope that had him bound.

Negan laughed. "Oh does she?"

"About the walkers," Daryl said.

"Daryl stop," I pleaded. I didn't want Negan to know of my discoveries. Information in the hands of a man like Negan was dangerous.

Negan looked from Daryl and then to me. "What's he talking about?"

I remained silent.

Negan pointed the gun at Carl. "What is Daryl talking about?" He repeated.

"I may have a theory," I said. "I would need the data that I collected."

"I still have it," he said. He holstered his gun. "I'm not an unreasonable man. You have something I want so I'm going to let you live." He looked at Dwight. "Take her back to camp. I'll see you there."

When Dwight put his hands on me to escort me to his truck, I jerked away. The thought of being touched repulsed me.

"Load him up," Negan said talking about Daryl. "He has guts. I like him," he said to Rick.

I watched as Daryl struggled with the four men who roughed him up as they shoved him into the back of a truck. Dwight led me to a different truck as Daryl and I locked eyes. I didn't know if I'd ever see him again for the third time in my life.

...

I loaded the last box of belongings into my car. The movers had left an hour ago with my furniture and most of my possessions. I kept my more sentimental items with me as I planned to drive across the United States. Checking my phone for the tenth time I let out a deep sigh. I had already said my goodbyes to my sister and parents, but I hadn't seen Daryl. I was under the impression that he wouldn't come from our last conversation, but I had hoped that the years we had spent together would cause him to change him mind. I knew how stubborn Daryl was, so I knew not to hold my breath.

I was about to give up when I heard his truck pull into the parking lot of the apartment complex.

I turned as he got out and watched him close the old rusty door. "Hey, kid," he said calmly.

I walked to him, getting lost in his eyes. He had cut his hair and it was much shorter than the last time I saw him. "You came."

He nodded.

"I don't know what to say," I admitted.

"I don't neither."

I let out a deep breath. "Can we try? To make it work?"

He rubbed the back of his neck but didn't say anything.

"California is-"

"Too far," he said. "I want yew and I want to touch yew," he said as he pulled me towards him by the belt loops of my blue jean shorts. When his thumbs brushed against the skin between my shirt and shorts I felt chills go down my body.

"But?" I asked.

"Yew ain't gonna' be here." He pulled me into him and I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Stay," he said.

"What?"

"Don't make me say it again," he said.

I stepped back. "I can't. I love you but I have to do this for me."

He dropped his arms by his side. "Then we ain't got nothin' else to talk about." He shoved his hands in his front pockets. "I fuckin' love yew, kid. If yew come back, I'll be here."

I watched as Daryl walked back to his truck and got in. He didn't turn around to look at me as he drove off. I held my breath to fight back tears as I wondered if I would ever see him again.