"You aren't surprised, are you?" Phillip asked, thoroughly amused with how things were coming along. Merle's instincts kept telling him to move a bit, say something, do something, anything. Standing there stunned like he was just played into The Governor's plans, but he couldn't move or speak.
Daryl was near the back of the small room, his wrists shackled in large metal cuffs that were chained up in some sort of contraption. The chains led up then down again, held up in rungs near the top. It appeared it was that way so the tension could be changed between lax and taut. Whether on purpose or not, the chains seemed pulled too taut as the man's knees just barely touched the floor so that his wrists held most of his weight. A rag pulled across his mouth, forcing his jaw apart but blocking speech, and tied around the back of his head. His clothes, or what was left of them, were ragged and dirty, along with his skin. When Merle had entered the room his brother looked up to see him. He wasn't even sure what to feel. For one he was so glad to see him again, know he was alive and okay. There was also some comfort and having him here in this particular situation. But another part of him couldn't help but feel anger. Was he any part of the reason he was in this situation? This Governor guy was who he'd been serving all this time? And what now?
Merle finally started to move after what seemed to be an hour of standing still. Once he stepped further into the room Phillip followed and closed the door.
"..Why is he here?" The older Dixon brother spoke quietly, eyes still fixated on his younger brother. It sounded like a stupid question now that he thought about it, at least for the current situation.
"I won't reiterate what you already know, Dixon. Phillip glared at him though Merle didn't notice. "You really thought you could launch some sort of tag-team, backdoor attack? Your first mistake was thinking either of you had the mental capacity for it to begin with." The Governor huffed, shifted his weight. "There was no doubt I would catch it before it happened, as I have, but now you owe me. You owe me for my time, for my wasted energy." Merle's mind was getting through the haze now and he glanced over at his superior. What did he have planned? Would he hurt, or kill, Daryl right here and now? Obviously he wouldn't let that happen. But a dread washed over the man, for he knew that wasn't how The Governor worked, he didn't make such simple, straight-forward plans. He was a master of torture, especially the mental type. "Now, let's get on with this, fellas."
Phillip moved so he was closer to Daryl but still off to the side of the room. Merle hadn't noticed before but there was a man, one of The Governor's cronies, to the side of the restraint device Daryl was held with. Merle inhaled and glanced back to his younger brother, not sure what to think.
"You want to know what I have planned, what will happen? Well, I know you aren't past simply abusing the boy. I know your type" He let a short moment of uncomfortable silence pass by. "That wouldn't suffice." The Governor calmly watched Merle a moment before inhaling sharply and turning to the man. "Fulfill the carnal sins that undoubtedly linger in your mind, and have for years, and i'll let you and him free."
Merle's thoughts drifted between his brother's situation and The Governor and his maniacal request. He wasn't sure which one was more disturbing.
"You're insane.." He spoke in a hushed tone, eyes flicking to The Governor. Finally he moved, turning towards the man and stepping towards him, his anger obvious. The expression on Phillip's face didn't change as he swiftly withdrew a revolver, extending his arm as he pointed it at Daryl.
"Don't think I have any reservations about pulling this trigger. It's all up to you, Dixon." Phillip said calmly, eyes on Merle but weapon still focused on his younger brother.
"I ain't doing anything you say!" Merle said in a near-growl.
"Okay." The Governor said. Before anyone could draw another breath he pulled the trigger. Merle let out a gasp as he heard the shot, commenced by Daryl crying out. Everything seemed to be happening in slow motion. He looked over, fearing the worst. What he saw was somewhat a relief. At least from what he was fearing.
Blood trickled down Daryl's arm as he grunted in pain. The Governor had purposefully shot him non-fatally in the arm, though it would still hurt like hell. The bullet had clipped him right at the edge of his forearm. There was nothing he could do because of the way he was bound.
Merle exhaled audibly, looking back to Phillip. He knew he couldn't get mad, couldn't beat the shit out of him like he normally would have done in a situation like this. He forced himself to stop and think this time. First, he headed over to his brother, inspecting his wound. Daryl flinched and hissed when the older man put pressure on it.
"Quit yer bitchin'.." Merle spoke, though it seemed like he was making an effort to be more caring, at least in his tone of voice. But still weighing heavy on his mind was Phillip's ultimatum. How could he ever do it? Was it better for them to be dead? No. He could deal with his own death, but Daryl didn't deserve that. Though he didn't deserve rape either, especially from his own brother. Merle shied away from the thought.
"I don't have all day. If you don't make your move in thirty seconds i'm killing you both. I'm a busy man, you know." The Governor stated matter-of-factly. Merle stood, glanced to Phillip than back at Daryl.
"Kick his ass, Merle." Daryl spoke, his voice somewhat weak.
"You really think that's an option? We're dead if I even go near him! Don't be an idiot." Merle spoke, anger in his voice.
"Twenty seconds." Phillip stated, watching the both of them.
"Yeah I know!" Merle muttered. Unbeknownst to the others, Daryl had a plan. Now the pressure was on him to put it into action.
"Listen, asshole, why don't you be a man and do something!" Daryl suddenly cried out at his older brother. Merle glanced at him, wide-eyed. "You heard me! You always think you know what's best but look at you, standing there without a thought as we're about to be shot to death!" Merle huffed, mouth twisted into a snarl.
"You don't talk to me like that! What's wrong with you? You think I can't do something to fix this?!" Merle shouted down at him. By the side of the room, The Governor smirked, staying quiet as he watched on.
"No, I know you can't, and you never could!" Daryl was shouting now, the chains holding his wrists clanking against each other.
"You really want me to fix things, huh? Watch me!" Merle yelled, stomping around Daryl and the restraint device to come up behind him. "I'll fuckin' fix everything!" He started undoing the front of his pants then went to one knee. "You fucking crazy asshole Governor!" He shouted, keeping himself occupied as he got closer to doing something he'd never imagine doing in his life.
