Beth screamed as she was forced into the back of the van Daryl had been pulled from. She screamed as the doors were slammed shut, blocking out the glaring lights of the head lamps and the faces of her family who screamed too. She screamed as the engine started up, as the metal floor of the van rumbled beneath her, as the van began to move. She screamed as it took her away, away from the carnage of the last couple of hours, away from her family, from Rick, from her sister, from Daryl.

She only stopped screaming once her throat grew raw and she tasted blood.

She pushed her back up against the cold wall and pulled her knees up, pushing her hair out of her sweating face. She took several deep, shaking breaths, forcing the dusty, stale air of the van down her raw throat and in to her lungs to calm herself. She was okay. She was okay.

She put both of her hands against her stomach, feeling the warmth through her top. They were okay.

She kept herself still against the wall, keeping her breathing low and steady as the van took her where ever it was taking her. Things had spiralled quickly, but she wouldn't let herself spiral too.

There were no windows in the back of the van, and it was sectioned off from the front seats, so Beth had no idea where they were headed. But maybe she could remember, try and remember the movements of the van – how many lefts, how many rights… she focussed on the floor beneath her boots, her brow furrowed in concentration.

'Urgh.'

She shook her head. It was no good. The van twisted and moved and she had no idea which way they were facing, which turn was left, which turn was right.

She groaned in frustration, banging her head back against the wall, closing her eyes and grinding her jaw. She was still alive, and so was her baby, and for as long as that was the case, she could fight. It wasn't over yet.

The van slowed, and Beth listened out – could she hear growls close by? Walkers? Had they driven her into a herd? Her heart began to beat harder.

The van turned once more, tilting Beth to one side, and then moved ahead again – before it finally stopped. The vibrations that had reverberated all around the metal surrounding her cut off, and Beth suddenly realised how loud it had been in her ears.

In the quiet, Beth braced herself, clenching her fists.

The doors opened, and the light of the night fell in. It wasn't bright, but it was sudden, and Beth squinted.

'Come on.' A voice said. 'Out.'

A man reached in and grabbed Beth's arm, pulling her forward. She stumbled after him as he pulled her from the van, his grip tight around the top of her arm.

Beth was pulled through the courtyard of a factory, her feet skidding over gravel. She looked behind her, seeing a chain link fence surrounding the courtyard, with walkers impaled on spikes all along it.

Their defence system, she guessed. Something so grisly would do nothing to deter other walkers – but it would keep humans at bay. Who were these people, she thought, who went to such gruesome measures to protect their boundaries from other humans?

She guessed she was about to find out.

The man pulled her and she turned to face the great grey structure that stood before them. The man, who Beth realised now was flanked by another, led her up some metal stairs to a large set of double doors. These doors opened just before they reached them, and Beth saw down a long, dark corridor. She remained silent as they led her down it, light washing over them sporadically with every hanging bulb they passed beneath. She could hear movement within the other areas of the factory, both above and beneath her, and her own footsteps echoed off of the thin, metal walls, beating almost in time to her own heartbeat filling her head.

They led her to a room with a red door.

The man holding her paused as his partner opened the door; it swung inward to reveal a relatively spacious room.

The man walked Beth forward, then, surprisingly gently, pushed her inside.

He let go of her, leaving her to stand there in the middle of the room, looking about herself. The room appeared almost entirely self-sufficient with a bed, chair, fridge, microwave – even a bookshelf, generously stacked.

Beth turned to look at the two men who stood at the door.

'Welcome home, Blondie.' The man who had held her arm said.

Before Beth could say anything, they left the room and closed the door.

Moved by the sound of it clicking shut, Beth moved to it, testing the metal knob – of course, it didn't budge.

She looked about herself again, the only sounds that of her shallow breathing and the low buzz of the hanging light.

What was happening? What was Negan playing at?

She tried the handle again, feeling panic swell within her.

Beth was unsure how much time had passed since she had arrived at The Sanctuary – an hour, perhaps two – when there was a knock at her door.

She looked up, not moving from the edge of the bed where she sat.

The door opened, and a man Beth recognised walked in. She felt her jaw clench.

'Beth, right?' The man with the moustache said with a smile that made Beth's skin crawl. 'I hope you're settling in nicely.' He walked in to the room, looking around appreciatively. 'Making yourself at home.' He stopped in front of her. 'Now – first of all, from myself and from the big man himself, we would like to extend you an apology – we know none of what you saw or went through today was good for you. But it had to be done. Your Rick Grimes needed to be shown the way things work around here – seeing as telling simply was not doing the trick.' The man smiled, heading over to one of the shelves and picking up a book. 'Negan hopes that today's … showcase… will help to settle things. And he sincerely hopes that we can all learn to work together.'

'What do you want with me?' Beth asked flatly.

The man turned to her.

'It is well known that Negan is a collector of… beautiful things.' He grinned. 'But more than that. He likes people who are strong. Who are fierce. Who offer him a little fire. He seems to think you showed him that tonight, out there. I guess he thinks you will make a good addition to the team, here.'

Beth kept her jaw clenched tight, her eyes on the man.

'It's been a long day.' He said. 'Why don't you get some sleep, and we can discuss your place here in the morning – oh, and in case you haven't looked yet, the fridge is stocked. So help yourself. Normally we would bring you something, but things are a little busy here tonight. You understand.'

Beth said nothing.

The man gave her one last smile.

'Alright, then.' He said, heading back for the door. 'See you around, then. Oh, I'm Simon.'

The door closed, leaving her alone again.

Beth let out the breath she had been holding.

'Simon.' She said, feeling the way the name felt on her tongue. Bitter, like bile.

Beth did not want to sleep in the walls within The Sanctuary; not only were they foreign to her, but they were hostile. Negan could fill the room with books and food, give her a bed with fresh, clean sheets and a cupboard with clean clothes, but there was no taking away from what it really was. A prison.

Beth had been torn away from her family and friends, taken and hidden away from everyone she knew and loved. She had no idea what she had left behind in that clearing, no idea if she had left those she loved dead or alive.

Remembering Daryl's pleading, frightened eyes as they sought her out over the bloodied pulped remains of Abraham, had her own eyes filling with tears again. She had been pulled away from him as they held him to the ground, weapons aimed and ready at his head, and she could only hope and pray that they had left him like that – alive, that is.

She rubbed her hand over her belly as the tears spilled down her face; she wiped the back of her other hand over her cheek, smearing away the wet, only to be greeted by a smudge of dark blood on her pale skin. She blanched, looking at it, and her mind took her back to that clearing once more, only this time it was Abraham's skull caving that filled her minds eye.

A wave of anguish washed over her and she found herself crying harder. The night grew darker all around The Sanctuary but the artificial light in Beth's room stayed the same.

The man that had let Daryl and the others out of the van in the clearing let himself in to Beth's new room the next morning and introduced himself as 'D'. Beth opened her eyes as the door creaked open; she had fallen asleep on top of the bed, too stubborn to give in and climb in to it.

She pushed herself up and looked at him as he entered the room, and as the sleep cleared from her eyes, a mix of anger and fear washed over her – D was wearing Daryl's vest.

He was holding a bundle of clothes, which he put down on top of the dresser besides the door.

'Morning.' He said. 'Negan hopes you slept well. He's sorry he hasn't been to see you yet, but he's got work to do elsewhere.'

Beth wanted to address the vest, but she wasn't sure how to. Words seemed to fail her now, as she sat on the edge of the bed, staring at this stupid, scrawny man and the vest she knew and loved.

'Simon is going to bring you something to eat.' D said, standing a little awkwardly by the door. 'I'll be back later.'

'Let me go.' Beth said, finding her voice.

D looked at her through his blonde hair. She wanted to tear that vest off of his body and beat him with it.

'You're not a prisoner.' D said.

'Then leave the door unlocked.' Beth said.

D smiled slightly.

'I can't do that.' He said. 'Not yet.'

Beth glared at him as he left the room, memories of Grady coming back to her as the door clicked shut. She had been trapped there, too, but at least she had been allowed to wander.

She slammed her fist down onto the bed beside her, angry. She needed a plan… she looked around the room, searching for anything that could help her. Nothing. No windows. And nothing sharp.

With a frustrated sigh, she got up and went to the clothes, at least curious as to what they had brought her.

She picked up the top item and her heart plummeted – this was hers. This was her dress from Alexandria… they had been there, had been to her home, to her house, to her bedroom.

Where the hell was Daryl? What had they done to him?

She turned around and threw the dress at the wall, frustrated when it only fluttered down with no satisfying thump. She picked up a book instead, throwing that at the wall, only slightly more pleased with the smack it made.

Angry now, she turned again, grabbing up another book and throwing that, too. She moved around the room, picking up anything she could and throwing it across the room – plates that had been left beside the microwave shattered and shards of china flew in all directions, a potted plant smashed and soil covered the walls and floor, the bulb from the lamp broke against the floor.

The red door to the room opened and in came Simon and a woman Beth did not know.

'Hey! Hey!' Simon was saying as he grabbed her, grabbing her hands and pulling them together. 'You don't want to make yourself more trouble than you're worth! Right now Negan has you here because he wants you. Don't make him change his mind!' Beth struggled against him, and Simon moved his face closer to her. 'Don't make me change his mind.'

The woman Beth didn't know came into view then – her face was different, somehow, softer.

'Here,' she said; she spoke calmly, but Beth thought she could hear a hidden emotion beneath it. 'Take this.'

She held out a pill to Beth.

Beth stared at it, then up at her – up at the soft, pleading eyes of the woman.

'No,' she spat, feeling Simon's hands tighten on her wrists.

'It will be better for you if you take it.' Simon said. 'Better for you and for those you love.'

Beth groaned.

'It's just a sedative.' The woman said. 'It will calm you.'

'I don't need – ' Beth began, but the woman gently shook her palm, forcing Beth to look at it again.

'It wont hurt you. I promise.' She said.

Beth looked at the woman, at the soft, somehow pleading eyes of the woman, feeling the hands tight around her wrists. She took a deep breath, and nodded.

Beth woke again a few hours later – or so she assumed, with her head groggy. She pushed herself up and looked about the room – it had been tidied and put back to how it was before her outburst as best it could. She sighed, pushing herself up and going to her fridge as her stomach rumbled. At least she had been stocked with food, she supposed.

The next few days passed in very much the same way – Simon or D brought her food at some point in the evening, and sometimes they would stay and talk to her for a moment, but she often refused to answer or engage. The jacket D wore over his undeserving back only made to resurface her anger.

After what Beth thought was perhaps four days, she got some new visitors.

She was sitting in the middle of the bed, her legs crossed beneath her, reading a book. After so many days shut away in the same room, she had succumbed to the forms of entertainment that had been left to her in her room – mainly the literature.

The door opened and Beth looked up with the same bored, slightly irritated expression she saved for her usual visitors. Her brow furrowed slightly when instead of either D or Simon, she saw five women, all dressed in black, slowly enter her room.

'Hi, Beth.' One said, and Beth recognised her from the other day. She had been the woman who had given her the pill.

Beth put the book down and looked at them.

'We thought you might like some company – some different company.' She said. 'Do you mind?'

Beth looked over them, acknowledging the nearly matching black dresses, the all slightly unhappy faces. She shrugged.

The women walked in, one of them closing the door behind them.

'My name is Marie,' the woman said. 'This is Amber, Frankie, Sherry and Tanya.'

Beth nodded.

'So, uh, how are you feeling?' Marie asked. 'I'm sorry about the other day. I just thought it would be better for you if you could… calm a bit.'

'Right.' Beth said. 'Calm.'

Marie sighed.

'Look. When I first got here, Sherry did the same thing for me. I – I freaked out too.' She said.

'You were brought here?' Beth asked.

'I – yeah.' Marie said. 'Simon found me. I was out there alone, and badly injured. He brought me back here.'

Beth listened as she spoke, and as she spoke, Beth knew there was more she wasn't saying.

'What about that freaked you out.' Beth said, seeing the way Marie's eyes flicked the some of the other women.

'Well.' Marie said. 'My injury needed medicine and looking after. They – they work on a points system here and I would never have been able to make up those points. So – so Negan offered me a different option.'

Beth looked at her – then at the other women in the room.

Was she hearing this right?

Did all these women have the same, or similar, stories.

'So what – what are you to Negan? A harem?' Beth frowned.

One of the women in the back scoffed.

'We're his wives.' Sherry said. 'He looks after us, and we don't adhere to the points system.'

'And what's the exchange rate?' Beth asked. 'Sex?'

'He doesn't force us.' Marie said softly. 'If we say no, it's a no.'

Beth raised an eyebrow.

'But yes.' Amber said from by the door. 'Sex is expected.'

'And if you don't provide?' Beth asked.

'You're demoted.' Amber said dryly.

Marie shot her a look.

'Is this why you're here?' Beth asked after a moment. She knew Negan must have allowed these women to visit her – she was under lock and key. 'To recruit me?'

Marie sighed; she picked up a book and ran her hand over the cover.

'Beth,' Tanya said softly. She moved over and sat on the bed beside Beth. 'Negan brought you here because he liked you. He wants you here. He wants you to be one of us.'

Beth began shaking her head, but Tanya lay a hand on her knee.

'It really isn't so bad.' She said. 'We have safety. Food. Shelter.'

'I already had all of that!' Beth said. 'Back home! My home!'

'I know.' Marie said, sitting the other side of Beth. 'But Negan likes you. He wants you. You either agree – or he'll put you out with the workers.'

Beth looked from Marie to Tanya, then across to Sherry and Amber.

Sherry smiled at her.

'There's no going home.' She said.

'I – I can't stay here.' Beth said, feeling a surge of panic within her chest. 'I can't be a wife.'

'Look – you don't have to make any decisions – ' Tanya said.

'No, I can't.' Beth said, both of her hands going to her stomach. 'I – I'm pregnant.'

Marie sighed, looking down.

'I thought so.' She said. 'I thought that was a bump.'

Beth nodded, rubbing her hands over the small bump beneath her dress.

'Do you think Negan knows?' Tanya asked, her question aimed at Sherry.

Sherry paused for a minute.

'I don't know.' She said.

Marie put an arm around Beth's shoulder.

'None of us want to be here, Beth.' She said, her voice resigned, and Beth got the impression that her first assumption had been right; these women had been sent to visit her with the intention of recruiting her – buttering her up, selling their lifestyle to her. Maybe some of them had already done it to each other, before. But hearing her speak, and seeing her bump, had changed things.

'Not really. We're here because we have no where else to go. No one else to go to. But you do.'

Beth looked at her, her eyes widening with a glimmer of hope.

'You'll help me?' She asked, not really daring to believe.

'Yeah.' Marie said, giving her a light squeeze. 'We'll help you.'

A few more days passed in which Beth was left in relative solitude; she wondered what was happening outside of her small room. There had been no word from her family, no word from Negan. She guessed a week had passed, but with no real way to judge the passing of time, she could not be certain.

A rap against her door startled her as she sat at the desk in her room, absently flicking through the thin pages of an old book. She turned, expecting one of Negan's henchmen. Breakfast had not been that long ago, this she knew from the lack of rumbles from her stomach, so she was a little curious to see what they wanted. The one person Beth had not expected it to be was the one person she had not seen since that night in the clearing, and seeing his face now as the door swung open sent a sickening jolt of fear through her. 'Hello, Beth.' Negan said with a nauseating smile. 'I'm sorry I haven't been to visit you myself, but you know how it is. These places don't run their-selves.' Beth stared at him, unsure what to say. Adrenaline coursed through her, and part of her wanted to jump out and lash out, but every other part remained still, except her hands that shook slightly as they held the pages of the book. She let the pages fall from her fingers, eliminating the tell-tale rustle of her nerves. 'I know you don't really want to be here.' Negan said. 'But let me show you what it is we have here, what we are building. You might not be so against it if you see it' Beth frowned, confused. 'Come on.' Negan said, gesturing for Beth to get up. 'Follow me.' Beth slowly pushed herself up from the chair, steadying her palms against the surface of the table. She thrust them into the loose pockets of the dress she wore, balling them into fists within the fabric. She couldn't recall ever feeling so unsure of herself, yet her legs remained steady as she stepped out of the room for the first time in days. Negan waited in the hallway for her, all smiles and leather just like he had been that night. He walked along beside Beth like they were old friends, calm and casual back along the dim, grey hallway, the harsh light of the bulbs above accentuating his sharp features. He led her back out onto the stairs which led down into the courtyard she had been brought in through, and Beth had to shield her eyes from the sudden onslaught of the sun. Negan held the door back for her as she stepped out, her feet shaky and unsure. He gestured for her to descend the stairs, and it took her a moment to get her legs working; there were saviours out here in the sun, fixing up the walkers to the fencing or standing around, speaking to one another. Beth looked out over them as her eyes adjusted to the light. 'Now.' Negan said. 'You might see a pretty gruesome sight here. But let me assure you this is peak protection. No one is getting close to those dead pricks.' Beth looked over the walkers, both the ones secured to the fence and the ones roaming. She had seen them when she had first arrived, but only briefly, and under the cover of night. In the day light, the sight was even grislier, the sun bleaching any colour from their decaying bodies, the heat basking their rotten stench. Beyond the ghastly adorned metal fence were large concrete blocks, in-between which untethered walkers roamed. There were people out amongst them, Beth noticed, all in plain brown, baggy clothing. Some were attempting to lure larger numbers away whilst some gingerly attached new ones to the fence. From what Beth could see of their faces, neither were jobs apparently sought after. Each face was downturned, listless, almost as deathly as the walkers they worked with. 'Come on.' Negan said. He opened the doors at the courtyard ground level and stepped aside for Beth to enter; the sun was hot on her back, but her stomach dropped in disappointment at having to go back inside. Compared to the bright white light of the outside, inside the doors was a jet black maw. 'Let me show you the heart of the Sanctuary.' Negan said as they walked. She stepped inside and took a few moments to blink, allowing her light eyes to readjust to the drop in light. Negan led her slowly down a corridor and into a large centre room, leading her up some stairs and to a walk way that looked down over a bustling … market place? Beth couldn't help but gape as she looked down over sprawling stalls of produce - both grown and man-made. The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air, along with spices and something sweet. The din was loud, voices intermingling and echoing around the chamber of the large room, as people talking, children shouted, parents called. Negan stepped to the front of the walkway in two large, confident strides. He began to whistle. Beth watched as people turned to see him and gradually the noise in the room lowered. Then, one by one, the people lowered to their knees. No matter what they had been doing before, each and every one of them stopped and knelt. The room fell silent of voices. It made Beth sick. Negan nodded slowly, a grin spreading over his face. He watched them all for a moment, basking in the silence and the attention. Then he nodded. 'As you were.' He said, with a sweep of his hand. Slowly, then almost all at once, people stood back up, and the noise within the room resumed, and was soon at its peak again. 'This is the market.' Negan said, turning to address Beth as if he had not just partaken in such a gross display of overconfident dominance. 'Anything you can think of – anything you can dream of. We have it. Food. Produce. Meat.' He grinned at Beth, who closed her mouth. 'Tailors. Barbers. Machinery. Medicine. We are almost entirely self-sufficient.' He said. 'We work on a points system – take what you want, but it will cost you points.' He turned his body to face Beth then, gesturing for her to follow him down into the throng of people. She was almost reluctant to follow, but one foot found its way in front of another, and she followed him down the metal steps, the clink of their boots on the grates lost amongst the voices of the room. He walked her past stalls and tables of people who bowed their heads when he passed them. Beth wondered what it took to get to that level of subjugation. Negan took an apple from a stall of fruit and held it out to her. Beth stayed still, her hands still hidden in her pockets, so he grabbed her wrist and pulled it until her hand was free, then thrust the apple in to it. 'Consider this a welcome gift.' He said, pressing his other hand over hers to close it around the apple, and Beth tried not to grimace at the warmth in which her hand was now enveloped. 'Although there are ways around the points system. Ways we have set up to help those who need a little extra. Extra medicine they couldn't otherwise afford.' Beth's cheeks burned as she looked at him, knowing exactly what he meant. He had sent to wives. He knew she understood him. Negan grinned. 'But more on that later.' He let Beth go and carried on walking, gesturing out with his arms as he did. 'So this is where all of that magic happens.' He said. 'We also have an armoury and combat training, but you don't want to see that.' Beth bit her lip; he wasn't as stupid as he looked. 'You,' he smiled. 'Live up on the top floor. Up with those I keep closest to my heart. My inner men. Simon. Dwight. My wives.' Beth shuddered. 'The workers – they live down lower. Keeps them close to the action. Easy access to the fields.' He turned to look at Beth as they reached the far side of the market. 'It all makes sense here, Beth. Every one of us here is important. Plays a vital role.' He held his hand up to punch emphasis as he spoke. 'That is how you survive.' Beth folded her arms over her chest, heat rising in her cheeks again at his smug superiority. 'We managed to survive just fine.' She said sourly. 'Without making anyone get on their knees.' Negan licked his front teeth as he grinned; he nodded. 'So you say.' He said. 'But I can't say I've ever broken in to some-one's home in the dead of night and killed men in their sleep. Compared to that, a bit of kneeling seems okay.' Beth took a deep breath. She was not the bad guy. 'I can't say I've ever kidnapped anyone, either.' Beth said. Negan grinned. 'We don't kidnap.' He said, stepping in close to her. 'We save. Hence the name, Beth.' Beth rolled her eyes, and Negan laughed out loud. 'That is why I chose you, Beth.' He grinned, dramatically wiping his hand across the back of his eyes. 'That spark. That fire.' Beth glared at him. 'Come on.' He grinned. 'They're about to start tidying away here.' Negan took her to a few different rooms within The Sanctuary, and Beth tried to remember everywhere they went – canteen, library, showers. Negan talked all the while about how Important the Sanctuary was, how Vital it was. Beth had to admit, it was impressive. They had turned a once abandoned factory into a thriving environment, with gardens and livestock – that had been most notable to her. It was small, smaller even than the allotment at the prison had been, but they made up for it with the animals. Beth could only wonder where they had found them – pigs, chickens, even a goat. No dairy cows, Beth noted. The sun was setting by the time Negan took Beth back to her room, and her feet were beginning to ache. He opened the door and gestured for her to enter – a weird feeling overcame Beth as she stepped back in to the room – a strange mixture of come homing, and feeling trapped. These walls had become familiar to her, but they were still a prison. 'Now.' Negan said, stepping in to the room with her, and Beth suddenly felt a wave of panic wash over her at his proximity in the small room. 'It was important for me to show you all of that. Important that you saw what it is we are fighting for here. If only Rick could see the good work we are doing here.' Beth shook her head in exasperation. 'People run this world now, I know you know that Beth.' He said. 'And there is, as there always has been, a hierarchy. Someone on top. The Sanctuary is on top. Once Rick figures that out – well, we can all work and grow together.' Beth took a deep breath. 'I brought you here because I saw something in you I admired. Something I respected. A fire. A will to fight – to live. We need that here. You would make a great lieutenant.' Beth frowned; that hadn't been what she had been expecting him to say. 'Or, of course, a great wife.' He smiled, too many teeth, and Beth felt bile at the back of her throat; was that why he was here, now? In her room? Did he intend to make on that offer straight away? He could turn her into a wife right now, she thought in a hurried panic, if he really wanted to. She took a breath, remembering what Marie had said about no meaning no, and opened her mouth to speak, but Negan shook his head. 'Now I am also fully aware of your situation.' He said with that toothy smile. 'I am not stupid, or blind. But that too is what we need here.' Beth closed her mouth, frowning. 'New life!' Negan said. 'A future!' He gestured then to Beth's stomach, and she protectively lay her hands on it. 'A young, pretty, virile girl with gumption.' He grinned. 'Is just what the Doctor ordered.' Beth took a shaky breath. 'Now I will not touch you while you are in the family way. No one will. You have my word on that.' He said, his voice firm and straight. Beth looked into his eyes, and saw he was telling the truth – no-one would touch her, not even Negan. It was little compensation, but it was something. 'You stay here.' He said. 'Think about it. Think about everything you've seen today.' Unable to think of anything else to do, she nodded. Negan smiled. He nodded back. 'Alright.' He said with a satisfied grin. 'Goodnight, Beth.'

As Beth changed for bed, her mind reeled with a multitude of information – everything she had seen and heard that day, as well as that small sliver of hope Negan's wives had left her with before. Altogether, it mingled into a strange mixture, curdling and spilling over each other, bubbles of hope bursting as waves of sickening fear drowned them out, images of people on their knees, heads bowed, as Negan grinned down at them with too many teeth, and the wives stood back, dejected and submissive, but with a promising spark in their eyes. It was enough to drive anyone insane.

Whilst Beth wrestled with her own thoughts, Daryl tried not to let his drown him. He had had too much time alone to think, with nothing to distract him; he leant his head back against the cold, stone wall. It was all he had seen for a week – four stone walls, one stone floor, one stone ceiling, barely visible in the darkness he was surrounded by. His eyes had adjusted over time, but it was still dark.

A loud knock against the door brought his head back up, and he braced himself.

'Hey, asshole!' A voice called. 'Time for dinner!'