Beautiful Disaster

by My Writing Is This

The dead were walking and surviving was imperative. Caroline had hit the ground running. She tried to never look back. She was alone for too long. Learning to live and love again wasn't easy. People still mattered. Many would come in and out of her life and not all was as it seemed. She had to learn to be a person again and to find her place. And the one she was meant to be with.

15. Crossing the Line

Chapter Fifteen: Crossing the Line

Moments.

Moments were what this new world was made of. Holding on to the good while trying to let go of all the bad. Life was officially too short to be worrying about all the little things, the petty things, and all the things you couldn't change. The world we knew was gone and it was up to us to create a world that we could live in. A world that also included the dead walking among us. The dead that we could join at any moment. The second you stopped breathing you risked turning. The window so small of being saved and when you couldn't be, you'd become one of the walkers we were so desperately trying to survive against.

I wanted to keep breathing.

I wanted to keep living.

I'd do anything to make sure I stayed alive. More than that, I wanted the people I cared about to stay alive. I was new to the group and yet I wanted everyone under our roof to survive. They were all good people and if there was anything that this world needed it was good people.

Standing in the courtyard, I listened to the walkers as they roamed the yard. We needed to clear them. Clear. Morgan. Sighing, I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to shake the sadness that meeting him had brought on. Looking down at the cup of coffee in my hands, I tried to focus on the good things in my life. I'd been lucky enough to have had coffee in Woodbury and now at the prison I was still lucky enough to enjoy a delicious cup of my life's blood. It was one of the things I had the hardest time living without when the world went to shit.

"Hey." Carl said appearing at my side.

"Hey." I replied, doing a double-take. He hadn't talked to me since our little trip. "How's it going?"

"Anything happening?" He asked.

"Nope." I said shaking my head. "Nothing but walkers." He nodded at me. "What are you up to?"

"Nothing." He said just standing there with me.

Smiling, I kept enjoying my coffee, letting silence fall. But I had to admit that it was nice to have the company. I'd always liked kids, wanting three of my own, but I never found the guy for me. Now that the world was shit it was probably never going to happen. Having a child in this world would be a gift and a curse.

As the minutes went by, I couldn't help but wonder why he was standing here. Either way, it was nice. It made me miss Hannah. She had been younger than him and far more innocent. I missed talking to someone as innocent as she was. Her outlook on life hadn't been tainted. Carl could remember what life was like before the outbreak. He knew. I hated that he knew so much about death. What he'd had to do was unspeakable and no child should ever have to do though anything like that. Now he had an unstable father and a baby sister that he had to take care of. He felt responsible. It wasn't fair.

"Were you big on comics or videogames?" I asked him.

He shrugged a shoulder, "I guess."

"Ever play Kingdom Hearts?" I asked, getting a look from him. Laughing, I nodded, "I guess that might be too girly for you."

"Only a little." He stated with a smirk.

"Do you like to read?"

He nodded, "I do."

"Any favorites come to mind?"

He shook his head, "Not really."

"I'd tell you mine but they're probably too girly for you, too." I told him, nudging him.

"Let me guess. Harry Potter?" He smiled up at me.

"I'll have you know," I told him with a British accent, "that being immersed in the magical world was one of the highlights of my life."

He laughed and shook my head, "You look like someone who'd like that."

"Hey." I said with mock shock. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." He said, shrugging, but was still silently chuckling about it.

Pausing a moment, I scoffed a little, "I had one book with me when I was out there on my own. Wanna take a guess as to what it was?"

He thought a moment before he asked, "What was it?"

"World War Z." I smiled at him.

"What was it about?"

"Zombies."

"Zombies?" He frowned.

I nodded, "Very similar to our Walkers."

"Was it good?"

"I liked it." I told him. "I read it to my boyfriend's daughter. Not appropriate since she was five, but she seemed to enjoy it."

"Where is she?" He asked.

Taking a deep breath, I was going to respond, but before I could, there was a hand on my shoulder, making me jump. "Rick." I said, wiping the coffee that had splashed onto my shirt. "This was my last clean shirt."

"We can help with that." He told me.

"Not the point." I told him with a raised brow.

He smirked at me, looking at Carl. "You should be helping the others."

Carl nodded and smiled up at me before he went back inside. Rick moved next to me, looking out at the yard. "Were you gonna tell him?"

"Tell him what?" I asked as I took a drink of my coffee.

He just shook his head. "You can trust us you know. Carl. Me."

Looking at him, I smiled, "Thank you."

He put his hand on my shoulder, "I trust you."

I couldn't help my jaw from falling slightly open. He just smiled and walked away. "That was unexpected." I told myself.

"Told you so." Daryl said coming up from behind me, making me jump, more coffee splashing onto my shirt. Clenching my jaw, I wiped at it for a second time. "Jumpy much?"

"Not usually." I shot at him, sighing heavily. "What do you want?"

"That's not very nice." He retorted faking being hurt. Raising a brow at him, he just chuckled at me. "What are you doin' out here?"

"Thinking." I told him.

"About?"

"Everything."

He put his arm around me, pulling me into his chest. For a split second I melted against him. I forgot how nice it was to be pressed against a chest. An arm wrapped around me protectively and caringly. It was nice. But then it passed and I quickly pulled away from him, dumping the coffee as I dropped my arms, swiftly walking away from him.

"Linny." He called.

Moving faster, I walked past everyone as I moved to my cell. Going through the few belongings I had, I tried to find something that was clean. But nothing existed. Then a shirt was tossed onto the bed. Looking at it, I sighed, swiftly removing the one I had on and put the clean one over my head. It was a simple black tank-top, nothing fancy, but hugged my figure so I didn't feel too baggy.

"Thanks."

"You okay?" Michonne asked.

Shrugging my shoulder as high as it would go, I shook my head at her, "I don't know if I can do this."

"Since when?" She frowned.

"These are good people. Genuinely good people." I told her.

"And?"

"And they bring up so many memories that I've been trying to forget." I replied as I sat on the bed. "I've been running from what happened. Being here makes me think that everything I had before is possible again. That and more."

"That's a good thing." She smiled, sitting next to me.

"It's also debilitating and completely terrifying."

"Why?"

Meeting her eyes, I couldn't help the tears in mine, "What if I lose it all over again?"

She sighed, wrapping her arm around me, pulling me to her so she could rest her head against mine. "One day at a time, Linny. And I don't think we're going to lose it. Not this time."

Taking her hand, I relaxed against her, "Okay."

"Incoming!" Someone called, making Michonne and me look at each other before sprinting from the cell.

"Caroline." Hershel said as he crutched behind everyone.

Quickly moving to him, I put my hand against his arm, looking him up and down, "You okay?"

He smiled, "Stay here with me."

"Of course." I nodded, feeling anxious.

Everyone else had left us and it was just me and him. Pacing, I waited for the others to come back, freaking out about what could be happening outside. He knew it too, smiling and watching me as if I was supposed to be learning something.

"What are you trying to do?" I finally asked him, crossing my arms as I frowned at him, a small smile on my lips.

"Nothing." He smiled back at me. "I just think you could use a little distance from this fight."

"What are you talking about?" I frowned harder at him, my smile gone.

"Maggie may have told me something." He replied.

Sighing heavily, I felt anger bubbling to the surface, "She had no right to say anything."

"It was an accident and she didn't actually say anything." He replied. "I may have guessed and she simply didn't deny it."

"Fine." I told him. "But I'm not saying anything either."

"Can I make a guess?"

Keeping his eyes, part of me wanted to let him. A game of twenty questions would probably be entertaining, but I couldn't. Not yet. "No." I told him and turned, meaning to rush from the room, only to run into a chest.

"You all right?" Daryl asked.

"I think people need to worry less about me. I'm fine." I told him and moved around him, practically running into Glenn.

"You okay?" He asked.

Sighing, I moved around him, accidentally hitting Carol's shoulder, had to bend myself around Carl, shifted out of Maggie's way and then came face to face with Rick. Sighing as loudly as humanly possible, I dipped my chin before meeting his eyes. He simply nodded at me before stepping around me. Swiftly moving forward, I went outside to see Michonne watching as a car pulled away from the prison.

"What's going on?" I asked her.

"Andrea." She said sadly.

"What did she want?" I frowned.

She met my eyes, "She set up a meeting for Rick and the Governor."

Laughing, unable to do anything else, I paced away from her. "Of course she did." She nodded. "Is Rick gonna go?"

"Rick is gonna go." Rick himself interrupted.

"Why?" I asked him. "Why would you risk it?"

"For peace." He stated. "Now come help me plan."

Sighing, I nodded at him, "Okay."

He shifted his feet, "You don't have to do this if you don't want to."

Laughing lightly, I smiled at him, "I want to help, Rick. I'm just a little anxious about it all."

"You know him better than all of us." He told me. "I would appreciate any help you have to offer."

Looking at Michonne, she nodded at me. Meeting Rick's eyes, he blue of them were always a little shocking. Stepping closer to him, his eyes were almost all I could see. "And you'll take what I have to say objectively?"

He nodded, "Yeah."

"And you won't get mad at me?"

He smiled, thinking a moment, "I can't promise you that."

Smiling, I nodded, "Didn't think so."

"I'll listen to you, Linny. We all need to do this together."

Smiling wider at him, I nodded again, "Maybe Michonne is right."

"About what?" He asked.

I looked at Michonne, offering her my hand, "Come on."

"About what?" Rick repeated as he followed us.

When the time came to go, there was a basic plan that would hopefully solve all our problems. It was simple. Maybe a little too simple. Each of us takes a side of the river and we never cross paths. There was plenty of places to scavenge on either side. More than enough resources. Both communities would be able to survive. This didn't have to end in bloodshed. But after everything that had already gone down, I didn't think the Governor was going to have it end any other way. We still had to be prepared for anything. We needed to be able to fight. We needed to be able to win.

My arms were firmly around Daryl as we approached the meeting point. I'd never ridden a motorcycle before. I had never felt comfortable about riding something that didn't have four walls. Turns out…it was fucking fantastic! I couldn't help the release that came with it. The wind flowing over me. The smell of the earth. It was amazing. It offered a release that I hadn't felt in a long time.

"How you doin' back there?" Daryl asked as we slowed down.

I rested my chin on his shoulder, "Fantastic."

He chuckled, "Better than a car?"

"Much." I said and pressed a kiss against his cheek. "Thank you."

"Welcome." He replied. "But it's time to get serious. We're here."

Sighing, I hugged him tighter, "This better work."

"I've got your back." He stated.

"I've got yours, too." I told him.

Stopping, we both got off and I pulled my gun from the back of my pants. Hershel stopped the car that he and Rick were in, our leader getting out, moving toward Daryl and me. Nodding at him, we started to move around the perimeter, making sure everything was safe. We came across several dead walkers. Someone had already been here. Making our way to the barn, we could hear tapping. Going in first, my gun raised, Rick was right behind me while Daryl stayed outside.

"I'm a little surprised to see you here." The Governor said appearing from the back of the barn.

Scoffing, I smirked at him, "Shows your level of intelligence."

"Hello, Rick." He replied looking around me. Rick didn't say anything. "Linny, would you be so kind as to leave us alone?"

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I shot at him. "I have no idea what your twisted plan is so I think I'm going to stay right here."

"Linny." Rick said putting his hand on my shoulder, sliding it down my back, and around my side. I could feel his chest against my shoulder. "It's okay."

"No, it's not." I replied, tightening my grip on my gun.

"Linny." Rick repeated with his lips against my ear. "I'll be alright."

Glaring at the Governor, I thought about pulling the trigger, but I knew that it would only cause more blood to be spilled. "Fine." I said lowering my gun. Turning to Rick, I met his eyes, "Don't do anything stupid."

He smirked at me, "I'll be careful."

Nodding, I put my hand against his chest, trailing it across it as I left the barn. Joining Daryl, he put his arm around me, walking to the car as Hershel pulled up.

"He's already in there. Sat down with Rick." Daryl told him.

"He wouldn't let me stay." I added with annoyance.

Hershel looked around, "I don't see any cars."

"It don't feel right. Keep it running." Daryl told him.

"I should go back in there."

"Nah." Daryl said gently gripping my arm. "Stay close."

Meeting his eyes, I smiled at him, "Always."

Hearing a car approaching we turned toward it, waiting to see who it was.

"Heads up." Daryl warned.

The truck stopped and Martinez, Milton, and Andrea got out. My stomach sank but I couldn't help but feel slightly giddy at the sight of Caesar. He was a good man.

"What the hell?" Daryl frowned at him. "Why's your boy already in there?"

"He's here?" Andrea said surprised.

"Yup." Daryl replied.

She scoffed and started to go in but I gripped her arm. "They want to be alone."

"I don't listen to you." She said jerking her arm from my grip.

I laughed lightly, calling after her, "It's about time you start."

Looking around, the two groups were segregated, tenseness flowing off of everyone. Caesar had barely looked at me and everyone else was on edge, waiting for something to happen.

"Maybe I should go inside." Hershel said breaking the silence.

"If anyone should go in there it's me." I frowned at him.

"The Governor thought it best if he and Rick spoke privately." Milton replied.

"Who the hell are you?" Daryl shot at him.

"Milton Mamet." I stated. "The Governor's little lap dog."

"Great. He brought his butler." Daryl scoffed.

Caesar chuckled, and I couldn't help but smile at him.

"I'm his advisor." Milton corrected.

"What kind of advice?" Daryl asked.

"Planning. Biters." He replied before frowning at him. "Uh, you know, I'm sorry. I don't feel like I need to explain myself to the henchmen."

"You better watch your mouth, sunshine." Daryl shot at him.

In the same moment, I had stepped forward and punched him, "Shut the fuck up, Milton."

Then my arm was grabbed and I looked at Caesar. "Stop, Linny." He told me, then addressed Daryl. "Look, if you and I are gonna be out here pointing guns at each other all day, do me a favor, shut your mouth."

"Knock it off." I frowned at my ex. "Daryl." I said spinning and putting my hands against his chest. "Don't."

"We don't need this. If all goes south in there, we'll be at each other's throats soon enough." Hershel told us.

Looking at him, he was right. Pacing away from everyone, I heard steps and turned to see Caesar slowly walking up to me.

"Hey." I smiled at him.

"Hey." He said, distance in his expression.

"I'm sorry about all this." I told him.

"I'm not." He replied with a smirk. "You made your choice."

I furrowed my brows, "Don't be like that."

"How do you want me to be?" He shot back. "You left me to join a different group who intends on destroying mine with your help."

"The Governor needs to fall. Even you know it. You just don't want to admit it." I frowned at him before softening my expression. "And you also know that we were never going to work. You have to have known that my heart wasn't in it."

"But mine was." He told me sadly. "But yeah, I knew that yours wasn't." He added. "I just ignored it because I wanted you with me."

"I know." I smiled. "But it just didn't go down like that. I needed to get out."

"And now you sit at the right hand of a different leader."

"I was never on the right back of the Governor. Let alone Rick's. I'm just someone who knows the Governor and his people. I'm here just in case verification or anything else is needed."

"You've turned into a lapdog?" He frowned.

"No." I frowned back. "I'm simply helping these people not be killed by a fucking unstable madman." He laughed and shook his head. Sighing, I stepped closer to him. "I never wanted to hurt you."

"It's fine." He told me. "I knew that you were hurting. You needed someone. I tried to keep it casual but I couldn't."

Smiling, I wrapped my arms around his neck, "Thank you for everything."

He hugged me tightly, "I'll miss you."

Taking his head in my hands, I kissed him, "I'll miss you, too."

We both turned as we heard steps, Andrea appearing from the barn. She looked pissed, sitting against the side of it. Looking at Daryl, he was tenser than I'd ever seen. Putting my hand against Caesar's face, I smiled at him before moving back to Daryl, putting my hand against his shoulder. He met my eyes, nodding at me.

Smiling, I moved closer to him, gently gripping his fingers. "Everything is going to be okay." I told him softly.

"Ya think?" He replied.

"I do." I stated. "Even if they don't make the deal, we're all going to be okay. We're all going home." He nodded, momentarily pressing his forehead to mine.

"There's no reason not to use this time we have together to explore the issues ourselves." Milton interrupted.

"Boss said to sit tight and shut up." Caesar told him, purposely not looking at me.

"Don't you mean the Governor?" Daryl spat at him.

"It's a good thing they're sitting down, especially after what happened." Milton went on. "They're gonna work it out. Nobody wants another battle."

"I wouldn't exactly call it a battle." Daryl stated.

"It was a slaughter, you asshole." I shot at him.

"I would call it a battle and I did. I recorded it." Milton stated.

Laughing, I started to pace, "You are such a – you know, I don't even know."

"For what?" Daryl asked him.

"Somebody's got to keep a record of what we're gone through. It'll be a part of our history." Milton replied.

Hershel nodded, "That makes sense."

"I've got dozens of interview –" Milton started, only then metal clanging reached our ears.

Walkers were coming.

Looking at Daryl, we rushed off, Andrea and Caesar quickly following. Coming around a corner, there were four coming our way. The men were in front, just standing there.

"After you." Daryl told Caesar.

Caesar smiling at him, "No way. You first."

I looked at Andrea, "Seriously?"

She smiled and then we both moved around them, stabbing the walkers, letting them fall to the ground. Turning, Caesar had a bat in hand, crushing the skull of a walker. Moving together, Daryl shot one with his bow before throwing a knife into the face of another before Caesar could take care of it. Laughing, I watched as Daryl pulled a pack of cigarettes from one of the bodies, looking cocky.

"Why are you really here?" Andrea asked me as we started to head back to the barn.

"I'm here because Rick asked me to be." I told her.

"Why though?" She asked with a harder tone. "He hardly knows you."

"He knows he can trust me. That's all that matters." I replied. "And I can trust him."

"He's a good man." She stated.

I nodded, smiling at her, "He is. I wasn't sure but I think he is one of the good ones."

She grinned at me, "I'd say there is an attraction there but Daryl is clearly attracted to you."

"He's a good man, too." I smiled. "And so far he's always been there. He let me in first."

She laughed lightly, "Then it's mutual."

Laughing loudly, I gently shoved her, "Stop. I haven't been around long and I'm not going there with anyone."

"Still hung up on Ben?" She asked sadly.

My smiled disappeared. "Not hung up." I replied. "I'm just not ready to go there with anyone. I fell in love and look what happened."

"It's not the same, Caroline."

"It could be." I nodded at her. "And I haven't healed from the pain of the last one. I don't really feel like putting myself in the position to feel it again."

"Not yet." She said gently. "But you will be."

Then an arm draped across my shoulders and I looked up at Daryl, "You okay?"

Wrapping my arm around his waist, I nodded, "Yeah, of course."

"Good." He said before moving ahead of me, looking from side to side.

I looked at Andrea who was grinning at me. Smiling, I shook my head. "Not yet."

As soon as we were back to the barn, I moved to Daryl as we once again segregated ourselves from each other. There was an invisible line and we all had to pick which side we were going to stay on. I'd picked mine, seeing Hershel go and talk to Andrea. She was the only one who was standing with one foot on either side. She could choose either one. But she had to do it soon. If she left with the Governor, she was more than likely going to die.

"You doin' alright?" Daryl asked.

"I'm trying to." I smiled at him, crossing my arms. "What do you think is going on in there?"

"I don't know." He replied. "I don't like it."

"Me neither." I sighed.

Just standing there in front of each other, we waited for Rick to come out. Hopefully with good news. When they finally did, Rick glanced at me, his head down, making my stomach turn. Everyone was looking at them.

"Rick?" I frowned at him, moving toward him.

"Martinez." The Governor said before pointing at me. "Take her."

"What?" I frowned.

"What's going on?" Caesar asked.

"She's my consolation prize." He stated. "Until I get what I really want."

Daryl gripped my arm, "I don't think so."

"Martinez." The Governor said with authority.

Caesar looked at me before moving to my side, gripping my arm. "Sorry."

"No." Daryl said gripping me tighter.

"Daryl." Rick said gripping his arm. "Let her go."

"Rick, what did you do?" I asked him. He barely met my eyes before avoiding them. "Rick, what did you do?!" I yelled as Caesar started to pull me away from them. He still didn't look at me. In the next second Hershel was hitting Caesar with his crutches. "Hershel." I said blocking Caesar with my arm, the crutch hitting it.

Hershel attempted to hit Caesar again only then a shot rang, pain searing in my shoulder blade, dropping me to my knees. Fighting against them would only bring more death to people who couldn't handle any more death.

"Caroline!" Hershel said reaching for me.

"Don't!" I yelled at Caesar as he moved to strike against Hershel, getting to my feet. "Leave him alone." Then I turned to Hershel. "It's fine."

"Rick, do something." He shot at his leader.

Rick still wouldn't look at me. "It's done."

I nodded at him before meeting the old man's eyes again, smiling, "I'll be fine."

My arm was grabbed and I was spun before I was on my knees again, the side of my face stinging, my vision momentarily speckling. Now Rick responded.

"Hey!" He yelled. He dropped in front of me and I couldn't help but glare at him. "I'm sorry." He told me. I just scoffed at him. Taking my head in his hands, he brought his face close to mine, "Fight." I furrowed my brows at him. "You're a fighter, Linny. Keep fighting."

There was an almost knowing look in his eyes. "I'll fight." I told him. He smirked and gave me a nod.

Then I was grabbed and brought to my feet, being practically dragged toward one of the other trucks.

"What the hell is this?!" Daryl yelled at Rick, raising his bow at Caesar.

"Daryl, don't." I told him harshly. "Lower it." He did, keeping his eyes on mine. "It's fine. I'm gonna be fine."

"Bullshit." He said glaring at the Governor. "Rick?"

"Let them take her." He nodded at him.

Being put into the back of the truck, I flinched as Caesar pushed against the bullet wound, not looking back at them. I would see them again. Or I wouldn't. The Governor was probably going to kill me, but he would wait for the opportune moment to cause the most pain for everyone.

"Caroline!" Daryl yelled.

The sound of him made me look over my shoulder. Rick was holding him back, seeing him finally pull away from him, pacing as he watched us get smaller. I'd been with them shorter than any people I've ever been with and I felt more connected to them than anyone. Parts of me felt more connected to them than even Ben and Hannah. I longed for that connection and now it was shrinking before it disappeared altogether.

The ride back was extremely quiet. No one said anything, though the Governor kept glancing at me over his shoulder. Glaring back at him, I knew what my future held. I wouldn't be the first or the last person to be tortured for simply pissing the man off. My shoulder blade was throbbing and I could feel the blood trickling down my back. Unafraid to rub it against the back of the seat, I met Caesar's eyes in the rearview mirror. Offering him a smile, he did the same, clearly torn as to what to do.

When we reached the gates to Woodbury, I couldn't help the pounding of my heart, feeling it pressing against my ribcage. Breathing felt harder as I attempted to keep control of myself. I'd finally decided to live and I was still going to die. I'd been bartered over like a damn cow. I'd been handed over to the enemy and they were going to do whatever the hell they wanted with me.

Damn you, Rick.

Caesar parked the car, getting out and opened the door to me. Just sitting there, I knew I had to move but just couldn't seem to bring myself to do it. I didn't want to be here. This wasn't a choice. If I'd willingly given myself up, I'd deal. But this…this was Rick's decision. I had no say and no matter how hard he wanted me to fight, it was still all on him.

"You know where to take her." He told Caesar as he pulled me from the car.

"Boss." Caesar told him.

"Martinez." He said turning to face the man.

They had a momentary stare down before Caesar nodded at him. Looking at me, his grip tightened as he took me toward the warehouse that held their holding cells. People were looking and whispering as we passed. Then there was a flurry of activity and Karen came screaming around a corner, a look of horror on her face.

"Martinez!" She called. "Caroline!"

"It's fine." I said holding out my hand. My arm was streaked with blood. "Just stop and turn around, Karen."

"What's going on?" She asked, her expression fearful.

"Nothing." I smiled. "Just go."

"Care." She said shaking her head.

"Go."

She didn't go but she didn't follow us either. Being led into the warehouse and to one of the rooms, there was a fun looking exam chair. A floating table with tools already on top of it. I'd never seen the inside of one of these rooms and I hoped I never would. But here I was, about to die in one.

Two more men appeared, attempting to force me into the chair, I fought hard against them. Kicking one, freeing my arm to punch the other, I momentarily was set free, darting from the room, hitting the Governor on my way past him. Caesar was behind me but he didn't say anything. Part of me felt like he was going to protect me and hide me, not wanting me to die. But the other part of me was telling me he was waiting for me to make him react. I wasn't going to.

Hitting a chest, I looked up, feeling a measure of relief, "Shumpert."

"Caroline." He said wrapping me in his strong arms.

"Help me." I whispered into his ear. "Please help me."

"Shumpert!" The Governor yelled. "Do not let her go!"

"What's going on?" He asked, his arm firmly around me.

I looked up at him pleadingly, "They're going to kill me. Please."

He moved his arm in front of me. I gripped it tightly. "No they're not."

Only in the next second I was grabbed from behind, Screaming and thrashing as I was taken to the ground. Managing to wound two, Shumpert screamed and I faltered, looking up to see him on the ground. My arms were forced behind my back, a knee digging between my shoulder blades. My bullet wound was searing with pain, making me cry out as their knee shifted.

Being jerked back onto my feet, my hands were bound and I was brought to the room again, being forced into it, my ankles being tied to the small foot rest while my hands were tied to the arms. As soon as it was done the Governor strode in, backhanding me so hard I thought I was going to lose consciousness, blood trickling from my mouth as I bent over. Finally straightening, I glared at him. He hit me again against the other side of my face, making me bend the other way, feeling blood drip from my brow, hitting my cheek.

He hit me once more before smiling down at me, "I may not have Michonne yet, but I think I'll be perfect happy with you for a while." Letting blood fill my mouth, I spit it in his face. He laughed, wiping it away, looking at his fingers. "You've always had spirit." Then he looked at his men. "Have fun with her boys. The sky's the limit."

Looking at the men, my stomach dropped and I knew that I was going to suffer before I died. Attempting to harden myself, I glared at them. I wouldn't go down without a fight. I would fight them until my last breath.