Ch.56
Later that night, I wake up to a nightmare. It didn't seem like one at first until I looked at who was next to me. I was holding a baby in my arms and went to smile at the person next to me.
"We did it." I say thinking I was talking to Daryl. It wasn't Daryl, though. It was the governor instead. "We sure did, my dear." he says grinning at me and the baby. Noticing who it was, I drop the baby to the floor.
There was no noise from the baby. When it hit the floor, it shattered like glass. I couldn't believe it. When I looked down there was just a puddle of blood. The blanket I had the baby wrapped in was covered in blood, though.
I crouch down terrified at what I've done. Every time I touch the blood with my fingers, it evaporates into thin air. I don't know what's happening, but I cry every time I look at the mess and see the governor's face looking down on me.
I wake up sweating to death and begin crying outloud. I can't believe what I saw in my dream. I wish none of this ever happened. "God, I hope it doesn't become true." I cry into my hands.
In the middle of the night I hear gunfire. I stand up quickly and rush to the window looking for the source. I bet that's Rick and them coming to get us out. At least I hope it is. My mood changes with hope that I'm going to be free soon.
I can't see what's going on, but I think it came from the building we were being held in. I start to panic wondering how they're gonna get to me. Will they even find me? How will they know where to look?
I hear someone scream for help, but it's not one of our group. Indistinct clattering can be heard outside where I'm at. The governor shouts for everyone to go home, lock their doors, and keep the lights out. I wish I could go home, but first I need to find a way out of here without others noticing.
"Daryl! Rick! I'm up here!" I scream and pound on the window trying to get their attention. I don't think I'm making enough noise for them to hear, but I have to keep trying.
"Guys, please look up!" I continue pounding on the window as more gunfire breaks out. "Hey! Keep it down in there!" the guard outside my room commands banging on the door. When I look back down, they're running away with Maggie and Glenn. They're trying to make an escape without me.
"Guys, wait! Please don't leave me!" I cry as loud as I can. "Please! I'm up here! I'm still here!" I shout as I hear them screaming. "Hey! I said to keep it down!" the guard shouts again at me to calm down.
"Don't do this. Please." I sob quietly as I fall to the floor. I can't believe my luck. They're just gonna forget about me. There is no way I'm getting out of here alone. They barely made it out alive. "Please come back for me." I wrap my arms around myself and cry.
A half hour later, the door opens loudly as a man walks through it. "You're coming with me." he says trudging closer to me. I look so scared as I cower before him. Then he pulls me up off the floor with force.
"Don't touch me! Leave me alone!" I yell punching him in the face and he groans in pain. "I figured so. Cam, come help me with her." the man says wiping his face. Another man walks through the door to tie my hands together. This isn't going to end well.
"Let me go! What's happening out there!" I yell afraid for my life. "You'll find out soon enough. The governor said to bring you to him." the man called Cam states flipping me over his shoulder.
"No! You can't take me to him! I won't go! Let me go! I swear to God! I'll kill him if he lays another hand on me!" I kick and scream all the way down the stairs. "Not with your hands tied." the first man says leading us to some arena.
After Cam puts me down, the governor stares into my face. "Got a little surprise for you." he says angrily eyeing me. "What the hell happened to you? You look better. Less to look at." I say while glaring at his patched up eye.
"Don't patronize me." the governor states looking around at the crowd. "What the hell is going on around here?! Tell me, asshole! Why did you have your lackeys bring me here?!" I yell lunging for him.
"Easy there. You'll find out soon enough. For now, stay right here." the governor states smoothing my hair before kissing me on the cheek. "Keep an eye on her." he tells the two men who carried me down here.
I hear people chatting all around me when I hear the governor speak to the crowd. He continues to speak about the fear he has for the safety of his town and its people. He's right. He should be afraid because we are going to destroy him for what he's done.
"What's worse is one of those terrorists...is one of our own." the governor continues yelling out Merle's name. He believes Merle betrayed him. I can imagine the look of shock on Merle's face right now.
I feel kinda bad for Merle now. He's done everything the governor asked and is turned against everyone here. The governor is biased if Merle has anything to do with his brother or my group.
"This is one of the terrorists. Merle's own brother." the governor states as two other men bring Daryl to the center of the crowd with a sack over his head. I gasp at what I see through the crowd.
Daryl's here, but not how I had hoped. "Dar!" I begin to shout at him before someone covers my mouth. "Shut up, slut." I hear them say to me. Why is this happening? What does the governor have planned?
"What should we do with them?" the governor shouts to the roaring crowd. I hear them all say to kill them both. "No!" I quickly shout in response before I get knocked down to the ground and lay there out of breath.
"You wanted your brother. Well, now you got him." the governor says softly to Merle who is staring confused. He doesn't know what to think or do. We're all in a sticky situation.
"Where's Mae?! I know you have her here! She wasn't with the others! Where is she?! Tell me!" Daryl shouts at the governor. "I got a little surprise for you." the governor laughs as he calls for his lackeys to bring me to him.
I struggle to get away but the governor catches me by my neck. "You wanna see her? Well here she is." he growls flipping me around so that I'm facing Daryl. "Mae! What did you do to her?!" Daryl asks staring at me in only my bra and shorts.
"Nothing much. Just roughed her up a bit. We had a little fun upstairs, isn't that right?" the governor grins caressing my neck and collarbone. "You son of a bitch!" Daryl growls lunging for him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. I have your girl." the governor states backing me away with a smirk on his face. "Is it true? Did he touch you?" Daryl asks me softly with a sad look in his eyes.
Daryl looks at me with that glazed look in his eyes and I nod at him. After that, the waerworks begin to flow freely down my cheeks. "Where?! How much?! Tell me!" Daryl expression changes to pure rage.
"You sick bastard! I'll kill you!" Daryl screams lunging for the governor again. "Uh-uh. You don't want me to hurt her again, do you?" the governor taunts caressing my bare stomach.
"Just let her go! Don't hurt her!" Daryl yells struggling to get to me. "Daryl, please help. Don't let him touch me." I cry softly. "Philip, please don't do this." I hear someone say beside me. I look over to see Andrea with a look of horror on her face.
I can't believe my eyes. I thought Andrea was dead this whole time, but she's been here. "Andrea?" I question out of shock and she looks worriedly at me. How long has she been in this god-aweful town?
"What should we do with this terrorist slut?!" the governor shouts throwing me forward. "Kill them all!" the crowd shouts booing and kicking dirt at us. "Mae, you okay?" Daryl asks forcing his way up to me after cutting his binds.
"Fight to the death. Brother against brother." the governor states rearing the crowd even more. I can't believe this man. This horrible man would pit two brothers against each other in a fight to the death.
"Daryl, I'm so sorry. " I say crying as he wraps me in his warm embrace. "It's okay. I'm here." he stares directly into my face. "I won't let him hurt you again." he says holding me as close as he can.
Then I'm pulled backwards by my hands. "No! Wait! Let her go!" Daryl shouts running after me as the governor holds me by my neck. "Don't worry. She'll be right here watching the whole time." the governor says holding me close.
"Don't touch her!" Daryl yells as the governors cradles my hips and touches my bare stomach. "Stop! I said don't touch her!" Daryl continues shouting as the governor caresses my body in front of him.
I hear some wolf whistles coming from the crowd as the governor continues showing me off. "Yeah, you like that? This here...is the prize." he says waving to the crowd. My eyes go wide at the declaration.
"Maybe she should show the world what she's made of." the governor says with a grin on his face. Then starts to lower my shorts off my hips. "No! Shut up! Stop this now!" Daryl screams at everyone.
"No. Please, don't do this." Andrea says trying to change the governor's mind. "The crowd's already chosen. Fight to the death. Winner takes the slut." he responds with a sly grin. "You can't do this! They're my friends!" Andrea fights with the men holding her back.
"I'm gonna do... whatever I got to do to prove myself." Merle begins by punching Daryl in the face. I shout out Daryl's name as he gets punched to the ground by his own brother. I can't even run to him.
"My loyalty is to this town." Merle shouts as he continues beating up his brother. I cry watching Daryl take blow after blow. Then a group of men bring out walkers to join the fight.
"Get up, Daryl." I panic as I stare at him groaning in the dirt. "Daryl, get up!" I repeat. I can't watch them beat each other up. "Please! Stop this!" I look at the governor for a cry of help. I don't think I'm gonna get it from him.
I squeeze my eyes shut, afraid of what's to come. When I open my eyes, Merle and Daryl are fighting together against the walkers. Then a gun fires and sparks surround us. I crouch in fear as everyone runs to safety.
"Come on, little brother. Grab your girl and go." Merle yells beating a man to death. I yell out for Daryl as he gets close enough to grab me, but another man runs in front of me.
"Don't let her go!" the governor shouts pointing at me. Several men block my path while another throws me over his shoulder with ease. Daryl screams for me as he punches another guy in the face, but gets overthrown.
"Daryl!" I scream for him to save me, but he's too far away now. "Mae! Let her go! Mae!" he shouts at the man holding me. "Let's go, little brother." Merle drags him away before things got any worse.
"Daryl, let's go!" Rick shouts urging them along. "But Mae...!" Daryl shouts back. "We'll come back for her! Now come on!" Rick states retreating back to camp. "We have to save her now!" Daryl shouts in rage.
"Rick! Daryl! Maggie! Please come back!" I cry outloud as I watch them leave me behind. Daryl was the only one screaming to go back for me. They have to come back for me. They just have to.
"What do we do with her, governor?" the men holding me ask. "Put her back in her room." he commands holding my face up. "Don't touch me! I'll kill you!" I scream struggling against the men. "I'd like to see you try. I'll be back for you." he whispers in my ear before walking away. "You're the worst man ever!" I yell to his retreating form.
They cut me loose after they drop me off in my room. I'm sitting in the chair crying to myself. I can't believe I'm still in this mess. I thought I was gonna get out of here. Go back home to the peace and quiet of the prison. I guess I was wrong.
I try to stay away from the bed because every time I look at it, the scene replays in my head. It makes me sick to my stomach. I can't stand the fact that the governor...did what he did. He got the best of me. I just hope Daryl comes back for me soon.
