Days passed, and Negan did not visit Beth again, but Simon and D continued to. The lack of visits left Beth with a lot of free time – a lot of time to sit and think. Her mind often wandered back to her outing with Negan, to what Negan had said. Did he really believe himself to be the good guy? The future?

Beth could see the good in this place – beyond Negan, she could see the potential. It had promise, sustainability – but Negan wasn't the one helping it flourish. Sure, he had found these people and he was keeping it all ticking – but making everyone kneel whenever he entered – that wasn't leadership. That was dictatorship. People here obeyed and worked because they were scared not to.

And the points system – it wasn't so dissimilar to Grady. People stayed here and they worked off their debt. If they needed medicine, Negan made them work up the points for it. If they were hungry, again, Negan made them work for it.

Beth didn't agree with everything Rick did, sometimes his methods were brutal, but he never withheld things from them. Everything was given out evenly and freely. Alexndria's food supplies were sometimes rationed when they were struggling, but everyone got them equally. If food or medicine ran low, they sent out more hunting parties. It would take a while for things to flow perfectly, but their methods had worked so far. The world was harder now, she understood that, but it didn't have to make you hard.

Beth sat at the desk in her room, staring into space. If they could take this place, maybe it could flourish. Their allotment was small – Beth would start there. Expand and grow. And the walkers out front – they would need sorting. The ones at the fence – Beth hated to admit it – were almost a good idea. Whilst she had originally balked at the idea of having to keep humans at bay, after having met Negan and his Saviours, she now knew the necessity of such a deterrent. And now she had learned of yet another community – there was no guarantee just how many people were still out there, building their-selves back up from the ashes. And in a hard world, it was likely a lot of them had hardened with it.

As for the walkers that wandered freely, they could be useful against enemies, too - but there were too many – Beth had watched the workers – no, prisoners – grapple with them on her outing with Marie. She couldn't be certain due to the light on her arrival here, but she believed there had been more free the last time she had been out there.

And Beth had seen first-hand what too many walkers at a boundary could do. First at the prison, weakening the structural integrity of their fencing, and then again at Alexandria, wading in and almost taking over the grounds.

Given reign to get past the defences, too many walkers could wreak havoc on a society, and if said society was not prepared, could easily destroy it.

There was a light tap on the door to her room and Beth sighed; she couldn't face another stony silent act as one of Negan's idiotic men tried to make small talk.

She turned to face the door as it opened, and Marie and Sherry entered the room. Despite herself, Beth felt herself relax. She got the impression that these women were not against her; they had been put into vulnerable and difficult situations because of circumstance, not choice. They didn't want what Negan gave them, only security and safety. If she got out, Beth would offer them shelter in Alexandria.

'Hey, Beth.' Marie said. She approached Beth and held out a small pot of pills; Beth peered at them.

'Pre-natal?' She asked, looking up at Marie.

Marie nodded.

'Yeah.' She said. 'Don't worry, you don't owe anything for them.'

Beth raised one eyebrow as she took the small pot, hearing the pills rattle within.

'Do you?' She asked.

Marie just shrugged.

'Hey, Beth.' Sherry said, and Beth's skin instantly prickled at the tone of her voice; she turned to look at her. 'There's no easy way to say this, but we discovered something.'

'What?' Beth asked, trying to keep her voice even. 'What?'

'Negan is holding one of your people here.' Sherry said. 'In a…cell. Downstairs.'

Beth swallowed.

'Who?' She asked.

Marie and Sherry exchanged a look, and it told Beth everything she needed to know in an instant. She felt her heartbeat quicken.

'It's Daryl.' Marie said.

Beth slammed her hands down onto the desk, scattering the odd few items that lay upon it onto the floor, including the new bottle of vitamins.

'Why!' She demanded. 'Why!'

'We're not sure.' Marie said. 'But I think they're trying to break him.'

'Break him?' Beth snapped, her voice rising. 'What do you mean?'

'Make him one of us.' Marie said. 'Get him on board.'

'He's still in the cell because he hasn't given in.' Sherry said. 'I don't think he will.'

'Of course he won't.' Beth barked in harsh laughter; she shook her head, trying to process what she was hearing.

Daryl was here somewhere – in a cell. She was being kept in a room, with a bed, and food, and relative comfort – and he was in a cell. She stood up, her fists balling at her sides.

'How long?' Beth asked. 'How long has he been here?'

'As long as you have.' Sherry said. 'I only found out today.'

Beth pressed the palms of her hands to her eyes, pushing down until stars popped up against the black. She took several deep, steadying breaths as her mind whirled. What could she do? What could she do?

'I have to help him.' She said, letting her hands fall down. 'I have to get him out.'

'I know.' Marie said softly.

'Beth,' Sherry said, 'Is Daryl – ' She gestured to Beth's stomach.

Beth lay a protective hand against her growing bump, aware that the time she had spent alone in The Sanctuary had already brought her half way through her sixth month of pregnancy.

'Yes.' She said. 'Yes he's my –' She paused. Boyfriend felt too childish. Informal. 'Partner.' She said, and the word felt right on her tongue. 'He's the father of my baby. He can't be in a cell. I can't be in a cell. I can't have my baby in a cell – I can't be here. I have to get home – I have to get us all home – I – '

Marie was there then; she wrapped her arms around Beth, pulling her close to her as Beth began to spiral into panic.

'It's okay.' She said, soothing her. 'We're here to help you.'

'I think Negan knows who Daryl is to you.' Sherry said, folding her arms over her chest. 'I think that's why he brought you here, too. I think he wanted Daryl from the start, and he thought if he had you here Daryl would relent.'

Beth was shaking her head; Negan didn't know Daryl. Daryl was hers, but he was also Rick's.

'I have to do something.' Beth said.

'D has the key to the cell.' Sherry said. 'D… Dwight… he's – he used to be – my husband.'

Beth looked at the other woman, her face straight despite her hammering heart.

'I think I can get it.' Sherry said.

Beth sighed, a rush of gratitude flooding her as she looked at this woman – this woman who barely knew her, who owed her nothing.

'Yes.' Beth said.

'Just give me some time.' Sherry said softly, her dark eyes steady on Beth, and Beth allowed them to ground her.

Beth breathed out a heavy sigh, one hand absently rubbing her stomach, aware suddenly that time was not something she had bucket loads of. But she nodded.

'Okay.' She said.

Another day passed in which Beth's heart fluttered somewhere between its rightful place in her ribcage and her throat. She found resting difficult, and thinking worse.

All at once, too many things were happening, whilst simultaneously, nothing happened.

Beth guessed it to be around lunch time when a knock roused her from her jittery thoughts; she turned to the door, expecting D or Simon with food – but the nervous, pale face that peered around at her belonged to neither man, nor did it belong to any of the wives she had come to expect, either.

'Eugene!' She cried, jumping up from the bed and rushing over to the man who had put his own life on the line to give her and her baby a chance at survival weeks ago.

'I can't believe you're here!' She threw her arms around his neck, hugging him, ignoring how he remained stiff. 'Are you okay? What did they do to you? What's happening? How is everyone – what's happening back home?'

She stepped back and looked behind him, expecting to see Saviours, but no one else stood outside in the hall. Eugene had come alone.

She frowned.

'What are you doing here?' She asked finally.

'I came to see if you were okay.' Eugene said simply, in the same unaffected voice he always used.

'I –' Beth swept her eyes over him, taking in his neat, tidy appearance. 'Sorry, Eugene. I don't understand.'

Eugene took a single breath, then he spoke in that same flat tone.

'Negan brought me here to utilise my vast expanse of capacious knowledge.' He said. 'He recognised my potential.'

Beth didn't know what to say – she stood looking at him.

'You mean – you're here – you're not being held.' Beth frowned.

'Neither you nor I are being held here against our wills. We are here because Negan believes we will both be advantageous to this here society.' Eugene said with a firm nod. 'And I too believe in this here society. I know I can be a part of something here. A valued asset.'

Beth opened her mouth to reply, but was struck silent. Her tongue felt thick in her mouth.

'There are profitable, pragmatic elements to this place. Machinery. Weaponry.' Eugene continued, and Beth got the impression he was speaking mostly to himself. 'I have been appointed as lead chief engineer and I strongly believe I can make a sincere difference.'

Beth stared at him.

She shook her head, confused, trying to clear the fog that had settled around her ears as Eugene spoke.

'So you're working for him.' She said slowly. 'After everything he has done – everything he has put us through. He beat you! He killed Abraham in front of you!' She found her voice rising in volume as the situation before her became clear. 'But he gives you – what, a job? And suddenly you're all for him?' She spat.

Eugene gave one curt nod, his thin lips pursed.

'I am Negan.' He said, and Beth's blood ran cold. 'And I am here to tell you you could be too. You have been chosen, and I for one do not think it was a bad decision on Negan's behalf. You should be exultant that Negan saw something worth saving in you.'

Beth's mouth hung open.

Saving?

'Both you and your little one would be safe here. A true part of something. I am here to tell you that being Negan could be a valuable choice for you.'

'You know he has Daryl, right?' Beth said, finally finding her voice. 'In a cell. In the basement.'

Eugene swallowed, his adam's apple bobbing in his throat a visual representation of the lump that was lodged in Beth's.

'I do know.' He said. 'And it is an unfortunate circumstance, but it is a necessary route to the top.'

Beth bulked; she snapped.

'How can you say that!' She cried. 'How can you possibly say something so – so stupid!'

'I do believe it is not stupid. I believe I am following the most cognizant –'

Beth slapped him.

Her hand connected across his fleshy face, echoing through the room, and leaving a large red mark.

Eugene bulked, staring at her with watery eyes. He held his own hand up to his cheek, looking shocked as he cradled the stinging flesh.

'Get out.' She said through gritted teeth.

Eugene looked at her, then gave her one more curt nod. He turned and left, letting the door close behind him.

Beth stood where she was, her chest heaving as her eyes burned.

Incredible.

She couldn't believe what had just happened, what she had heard. Was Eugene really so weak? So pathetic. One promise of grandeur and he was lapping it up like a kicked puppy, desperate for affection. She took some deep breaths as tears pricked at her eyes.

She turned and sat down heavily on the bed, feeling more defeated than she had in days, her mind threatening to spill out of her ringing ears.

Beth had calmed down a little by the time Simon brought her food, but not enough to engage with him. She offered him a frosty glare before he left her alone for her artificial night.

The next morning, having tossed and turned almost the entire night, she felt a little different.

She rose and dressed, then paced as she waited for the knock that would bring her breakfast.

She was growing anxious before the door finally opened; she sighed with visible relief as D entered her room. Even the vest affronted her less.

'D,' she said as he placed the plate of eggs on the desk. 'Can I leave this room?'

D looked at her, his face unsure beneath his lank hair.

'Can you take me out, at least?' She offered.

'Uh,' D wrung his hands in front of him, and Beth had to fight to not roll her eyes. This weak man was one of Negan's highest regarded, she thought?

Beth sat at her desk and began to pick at the eggs he had left her.

'You know I'm pregnant.' She said, opting not to look at him. 'I need to walk, stretch my legs, my back. The baby kicks almost all of the time now and I'm so uncomfortable.'

D was nodding.

'Yeah,' he said. 'Yeah. Let me uh – let me speak with Simon.'

Beth looked at him. She swallowed the egg in her mouth, swallowing past the bitter taste that washed over her tongue.

'Eugene came to see me yesterday.' She said, watching his face carefully. 'It was a shock.'

'Yeah.' D said.

'I wanted a chance to speak with him. Apologise to him.' Beth said.

D nodded lightly, ran a hand through his scraggly blonde hair.

'Eat.' He said. 'I'll speak with Simon.'

Beth nodded.

'Okay.' She said, making sure to keep her tone light. 'Thanks.'

D looked at her again, but Beth wasn't certain of the emotion on his face – he was another hard man to read. He offered her a small smile, then left her again. Beth heard him lock the door behind him.

She pushed the unfinished plate away from her and sighed.

Eugene being here could work to her advantage; Eugene could be the key.

Simon returned a little while later, rousing Beth from where she had been laying on her bed, her back flat but her legs stretched up the wall behind her – what she had said to D had not been a lie. The baby was kicking a lot lately, and her legs were aching a lot.

She glanced up at an upside-down Simon before righting herself; she struggled just a little, her now protruding belly a new obstacle to navigate around, but turned herself right way up and sat on the edge of the bed.

Simon was smiling at her beneath his moustache, having watched her struggle.

He grinned.

'So, little missy,' he grinned. 'D tells me you want to go walk-about.'

Beth nodded, pressing her hand into her side as the baby inside kicked out particularly harshly at having been swivelled around.

'I get that.' He said. 'And hey, Negan gets it too. We want you and baby healthy, after all.'

Beth nodded again, forcing herself to smile.

'As for Eugene…' Simone chuckled. 'He was pretty put out after her saw you yesterday. Had him sulking for a good minute. But I think a cold beer and a visit from Tanya cheered him up okay.'

Beth swallowed, keeping her eyes on the man in her room.

Simon pursed his lips, bringing a hand to his chin in mock thought. He nodded.

'So I reckon he could stand a visit from a cute friend. Okay. Come on. I'll take you to him.

Beth let out the breath she had been holding and pushed herself up, before pushing her socked feet into her boots.

Simon took her from her room and down the corridor in a different direction to the usual, and Beth felt a little uneasy at heading deeper into the bowels of her prison and further from those double doors she knew hid the sun.

'No upsetting our latest employee though, okay Blondie?' Simon shot Beth a grin over his shoulder as she followed behind him. 'He is a valuable member here, and the work he is over seeing is very important.'

Beth nodded.

Simon looked her up and down, seemed satisfied, then turned away. Beth grimaced once his back was turned.

Eugene, she discovered, had been stationed in a large underground factory deep within The Sanctuary. He was stood at the end of a long table of workers, all of whom were busy making bullets.

He looked around as Simon and Beth walked in, and his eyes widened as he looked at Beth. His hand twitched towards his face.

'Eugene!' Simon called and he strode across the floor. He clapped a hand on the man's shoulder. 'Now I know your last attempt at communication with young Beth here was a little unsavoury, but see, she begged me to bring her to you, desperate to apologise.'

Beth remained still and calm, a few feet behind Simon, and Eugene glanced over Simon's shoulder. He locked eyes with her, his face nervous.

Beth swallowed her pride and tried out a smile she hoped looked sorry.

Eugene sniffed.

'I would be willing to accept an apology.' He said a little stiffly.

'Good man.' Simon said. 'I've got some business to attend to.' He said then, stepping back from Eugene. 'But I'll back in a bit to take her back to her room.' He gave Eugene a winning smile, and Eugene seemed to shrink a little.

Simon turned to Beth before he left.

'This conversation could be very beneficial.' Simon said to her. 'Think about what you would like to talk about. Eugene may have some very good points.'

Beth smiled, knowing exactly what Simon was implying.

Simon believed Eugene could be the key to bringing her over to their side, officially. All she had to do was say those three little words, and the walk back to her room would be one of leisure, ending with a door unlocked.

Eugene straightened himself as Simon left, putting on a face of authority as he looked out over the table before him; the workers who had ben listening quickly hunched back down over their work.

'Look,' Beth said as she closed the space between herself and the man before her. Eugene looked like he wanted to take a step back, but he stood firm. Beth almost admired that. 'I'm not saying I agree with what you're doing here, or what you said to me yesterday, but I'm here to listen.'

Eugene looked at her, sizing her up.

'At least,' she sighed, 'show me what it is you're doing here.'

She watched as Eugene swallowed, then nodded.

Slowly, he led her to the table. He began to talk her through the process, and whilst Beth tried to listen, she understood little of what he was saying. Eugene, she had come to realise, had a certain way of speaking, which was not straight forward. It reminded her of men who were trying desperately heard to appear smarter than they really were – dumbfounding regular people with unnecessarily large and expressive words in an attempt to alienate others whilst elevating theirs-selves. It was almost entirely frontage.

She took this time to look at the workers, and at the room they were in. She looked around until her eyes happened upon what she had desperately hoped she would find; one single, heavy duty looking door, with a keypad beside it.

Her heart skipped a beat and she fought to keep her face straight.

'Sorry, Eugene.' She said. 'I'm a little confused. If these are spent bullet casings, how do they fit into the guns you have here?'

Eugene looked at her, wetting his lips.

'I assure you my calculations are correct.' He said. 'They do fit. They work, too.'

Beth nodded, her eyebrows raised in a feint of innocence.

'I don't doubt you,' she said slowly, 'I know you're smart – I just wonder – if you've got the calculations correct. It seems – I don't know – unlikely.'

Beth saw the smile one of the workers near her was trying to bite down, and she swallowed her own.

Eugene looked at her, his eyes wide, and Beth knew she had got him.

She twisted her face into one of disbelieving uncertainty.

'Will the guns fire?' She asked.

Eugene grabbed up one of the completed bullets and made for the door at the side of the room; Beth followed.

Eugene raised his hand to the key pad and Beth held her breath; then he paused.

'I can't allow you to follow me in here.' He said, a little uncertain. 'Few people are allowed to know the – er – stock.'

Beth nodded, hiding her glee at his stumble.

'I understand that.' She said seriously. 'I don't need to go in there.'

Eugene nodded, turned his back to her, and keyed in the code.

Everything that happened afterwards mattered little to Beth; Eugene returned with a gun, took her out a back door into a small courtyard, fired it off as proof of his working bullets. Beth nodded and smiled, apologising for her disbelief and expressing her admiration for his intelligence. Eugene was appeased, and her attitude towards him the day before seemed to have been forgotten.

'So how about it, Beth.' He asked once the gun was safely put away and the door firmly locked. 'Are you Negan, now?'

Beth pursed her lips, rubbing her hand over her belly. It drew Eugene's eyes, and she knew somewhere it pulled at his emotions.

'I need some time to think about it.' She said. 'But I really appreciate you speaking with me.'

Eugene nodded; he seemed satisfied, and his attitude towards the workers was one of extended superiority and confidence as Simon returned to collect her.

'So, was your outing worthwhile?' Simon asked as they walked back to the room.

'I think so.' Beth said.

Beth did not expect the dice to fall evenly around her, and it was another couple of days before she had a chance to see the wives again.

Sherry came to get her early one evening, with the offer of taking dinner with them. Beth was surprised, but she agreed, and so Sherry took her back to their quarters.

It was not a long walk, and then Sherry was leading her in to a larger room that appeared to act as a lounge for the wives; it was one large room with a dining table, two sofas and various other soft furnishings. Beth looked around as she followed behind Sherry, spotting the other four wives as they potted around – Tanya and Frankie were already sat at the table whilst Amber stood nearby, a glass of wine in her hand as she leant back against the counters, her eyes on Beth.

Marie approached them as they entered.

'Hey,' she smiled brightly. 'We got you some extra food from the canteen.'

Beth nodded as she followed them to the table, the smell of fresh pasta washing over her and making her mouth water. There was a flutter in her chest as she sat down, a warm feeling of inclusion. There was something special about eating with other people – especially after weeks of taking her food alone at a desk.

Sherry sat down beside her.

'Do you always eat in here?' Beth asked them.

'We can eat in the canteen.' Tanya said. 'But we usually choose not to.'

Beth looked around the table at the women, seeing the muted dejection beneath their carefully crafted masks of indifference. As they began to pick at their food, Beth realised then that these women were no less prisoners than she was. Sure, they were free to roam the grounds, come and go as they please, but they were just as trapped. Out of place amongst the workers who grafted for their right to stay safe, and separate from the lieutenants and soldiers who worked beneath Negan, these women were left in a subjugated limbo in which they were only really understood by one another. Allowed to eat in the canteen with the rest of those who called this place home, they opted to stay in their own quarters, which to Beth, said everything.

She chased a strand of pasta around her plate, suddenly not feeling very hungry.

Sherry cleared her throat.

'Negan has left the grounds.' She said. 'Simon too.'

Beth looked up as the other women nodded, understanding why she had been allowed to partake in a communal dinner now.

'Where have they gone?' Beth asked.

Sherry shook her head.

'I don't know.' She admitted, and Beth could only pray that they were travelling in an opposite direction to Alexandria. 'But I know Dwight is still here.' She looked to Beth. 'I'm going to try and speak with him tonight.'

Beth took a breath.

'You're still going to help me.' She said.

Amber leant forward on her elbows, her eyes slightly glassy from the wine she had been steadily sipping on.

'We want out of here just as much as you do.' She said. 'We're in.'

Beth looked at the others, seeing the resolve in each pair of eyes.

'Can any of you get a word to the workers?' She asked.

They exchanged glances for a moment, then Tanya nodded.

'Yeah.' She said. 'I can.'

Beth was nodding, trying to keep her heart rate steady.

'I know the code to the armoury.' She said, and the other women shot her a mixture of surprised and confused looks. 'Tell the workers to arm their-selves.'

'Beth.' Marie said slowly. 'What are you planning?'

Beth tapped her fingers on the table; she had been thinking it over as she had paced her room the last couple of days, ever since Eugene had been careless enough to unlock the door in front of her.

'If someone can get in to the armoury, leave it unlocked. Prop the door open, dismantle the keypad, spread the code, whatever. Just make sure the workers have access.' She said. 'And make sure they can arm their-selves. Not every-one, but enough. If they can take the guns without anyone finding out, even better. I'm not sure how long it will take.' Beth said.

'How long what will take?' Frankie asked.

Beth pushed herself back from the table and got up; she looked around until she found a pad and pen, then went to it.

'If you get to Daryl, can you give him a note?' She asked Sherry.

Sherry nodded. Beth turned her back to the women for a moment to write.

She had thought about this, too.

Go to the Hill Top.

She wrote.

There are too many walkers at the fence. Starve them out.

She tapped the end of the pen against the paper; she had thought hard about what to write, knowing it would need to be short and to the point. She wondered whether Daryl would understand what she was saying, but she hoped she could rely on their shared experiences and the understanding they had of one another enough to keep it simple.

She bit her lip, then added what she hoped would be a turning point in the fight that was sure to come.

Find The Kingdom.

She folded the paper and turned to hand it to Sherry. Without reading it, Sherry hid it in her bra.

'If Daryl gets out, and understands what I am suggesting, the workers will need to be able to defend their-selves.' Beth said. 'On the ground floor they will be at the most risk.'

The women were quiet, and Beth waited for them to ask for more information or argue, but they didn't.

They placed an odd amount of trust in Beth, and it made her feel oddly nauseous. Their desperation was clear as they looked to her, at least ten years younger, pregnant and by all means vulnerable, as their chance at escape.

'This note,' Sherry said, touching gently at the place in her breast where she had hidden it, 'will Daryl understand what he needs to do?'

'Yeah.' Beth nodded. 'Yeah, he will.'