Trust me, I am NOT giving the Governor pedo vibes. He's going to try a different approach but not like Roy, I swear! So, don't expect pedo things from this. Just as a heads up! I really hope I write Merle good, after researching hard on him and such, it's a wing of it for sure. Letting my meeting with the actor back in Winter for my birthday help motivate me on it too! Enjoy!
Kaylee didn't know what to do at this point; she was kept from Maggie and Glenn, then left alone in the room. What had they done to them? Kaylee imagined them both beaten to bloody hell, or what these men would do to Maggie. It made her think back with Roy.
She yanked at her bonds, then leaned her head down and started to chew at them. Duct tape was strong, but it can be cut. The teen ignored the nasty taste of the filthy thing and grinded her teeth along the thick layer. Hearing the sound of a click made her sit back up, spitting at the ground a few times. The door opened, the tall man returned, Kaylee sunk in her chair again.
"I hear your name is Kay." He spoke, closing the door behind him. "I'm the Governor."
Kaylee didn't speak, he moved further into the room and leaned on the table. She looked away, the Governor craned his neck to look at her, seeing the fear in her eyes.
"How old are you? Seventeen? Eighteen?" She didn't answer, her shoulders were tense as she stared down at the floor. "A bit young, aren't you? Your parents know your here?"
He was patronizing her, she knew it. Her parents were dead and he was mocking her with it. "Let me go." She hissed, still refusing to look at him.
Perking up, he made his way around the table to stand in front of her and leaned his back against the table. "Talking to me, aren't you?" The Governor saw her nod, he grabbed her chin and forced her to look at him. "You look at me when talking, little lady."
Kaylee's arms started to struggle as she tried to pull from his grip on her. "If you don't tell us where your little group is, I'll just bring their heads in here."
"Why do you want to know so badly?" She questioned, calling his bluff.
He let her go roughly, as she moved her jaw from his tight grip on her. "Merle deserves to be with his brother, yet you all won't let that happen."
"I want him to be with his brother, but-" She gulped, watching as he stood and paced around her. She kept turning her head to see where he was. "I-I can't risk my family. We offered to Merle we'd bring Daryl to him, then he shot at us."
The Governor chuckled, "Yes, but do you blame him? You're depriving him of his precious brother, the only family he has left." he tried to reason with her. "He told me you got an older sister, you know what it's like." The Governor leaned forward in front of her, hands on her arms bound to the chair. The weight he put on her arms caused her to cringe at the feeling. "Why not help a brother out, find his long lost family?"
Kaylee felt the only defensive tactic to keep him at bay, was to spit in his face. She gathered as much saliva as her mouth produced and spat it at his face. He backed up, wiping the nasty spit his cheek, and slapped her across the cheek making her cry out in pain.
"I tried to be nice, I did. You just crossed the line."
Kaylee looked up as her check stung red, seeing him marching toward the door. "Don't hurt them!" She screamed at him, as the door shut and she was locked alone once again.
The group drove a few miles out, everyone silent until Michonne, the cold woman's name they learned, had spoken up. "Here is far enough." She told.
Rick glanced at her from the rear view mirror, she gave a look in return. He glanced to Daryl, then back to the road pulling over to the side. Everyone got out of the car, Michonne was fastening her sword sheath onto her back. Daryl went to the trunk to get the needed weapons.
"They have patrols. We're better off on foot." She explained.
Rick looked to the sky, "How far?" he asked. "Night's coming."
"It's a mile, maybe two.
Daryl threw on his backpack that held arrows and rifle on it, Angela checked her gun's clip and her extra. She slung her own rifle over her back as Daryl checked his crossbow, Oscar taking a bag as well. Rick slung a shotgun onto her back, taking the last bag and slammed the trunk shut.
"Is it safe to leave the car out on the road like this?" Angela asked, adjusting her rifle.
"They call this area the red zone, they never go out here." Michonne explained to her. She watched the worried sister check her ammo, reaching into her back pocket, Michonne fished out a small wooden box.
"What's that?" Angela asked, seeing her holding it out to her.
"Your sister, the one with the limp. She had this." Angela stepped forward, gently taking it into her hands and opening it up. Soft music played, making her close it within a few seconds.
"She dropped it when taken." Michonne turned, leading them into the woods.
Angela followed with Daryl, he glanced to her. "We'll give it back to her once we get 'em back." He told. She nodded, Daryl gently took it from her turning her around and putting it into her bag.
They ignored the single walker up the road, not finding it a problem for now. Michonne took lead, Oscar behind, then Angela, Rick and Daryl in the back. He gave a glance to the hunter, feeling something to be said.
"I know, what you did for me." Rick spoke. "For my baby, while I was…" He tried to find the right words for it. "Working things out- Thank you."
Daryl looked to him, then back around their surroundings. "It's what we do." He dismissed, not finding it a big deal on his deed.
Angela smiled to herself, glad Rick was back and about with them. But it soon faded, thinking the danger that her sister, Maggie, and Glenn were in right now. Leaves rustled and crunched beneath their feet. Sounds of birds and other creatures of nature were heard above and around them, only lightly.
Daryl's head turned to the left, spotting something past the trees "Rick." He warned, raising a hand up.
"Down." Rick hissed, having them all crouch and lower to the dirt. "Formation, no gunfire." He ordered, standing to slice his machete into the walker's head and kick it down.
Daryl walked ahead and shot an arrow into an oncoming walker. Angela and Oscar moved to Rick's left, he used the crowbar to rip the leg off and slam it into its head. Angela ducked down and swept her legs under the walker, making it crumble to the floor. She spun and stabbed her hunting knife into the walker's forehead.
"There's too many of 'em." Daryl told, holding his knife up.
They backed up, Rick stabbing one behind Daryl to find more coming from behind them. "This way." Rick ordered, taking lead to get them through the walkers.
Angela swung her knife at a walker, only chopping the nose off as she followed with the others. They went off the path and into the woods, hearing them all stalking after them. Rick had spotted a log home in a clearing, as they all bolted for it.
"Come on!" Despite the boards on the door and windows, Rick easily opened the door, barging in. "Get the door."
They rushed in, Michonne and Angela leaning on the door to keep it shut.
"Keep it down. Keep it down." Rick told, as their thumping and thudding of boots make noise.
"The smell, it's loud." Said Daryl covering his mouth.
Rick shined his light around, hearing the buzzing of flies and noticed the stench of rotting flesh as well. Thinking a walker was in, Rick tried to find the source, searching around with Oscar and Daryl. Michonne and Angela found switch to use as a lock, walking across the room to search with the men.
"What the hell is that?" Oscar questioned, seeing Rick's light shin on the tattered corpse of an animal.
"Gotta be a fox, or what's left of one." Daryl crouched down to get a better look. A collar and the snout of a dog answered his . "I guess Lassie went home."
A pound was heard, wood creaking under weight. They all spun around to see the shadows of walkers had met up with them at the door. She clawed and slammed against the door, they didn't know how much weight the old wood could take of them.
Rick's eyes caught something; a bed with a figure under the blankets. It was moving, rising and falling of someone sleeping or a possible walker under it. Rick gave a small whistle, getting the hunter's attention to approach with him. The others had their weapons ready, in case it would be a walker ready to jump out at them.
Rick slowly reached over, his fingers gripped the surprisingly fairly clean covers. He yanked it off, finding a live person sleeping, but now awake and alert at their presence. He jumped to his feet, causing everyone else to back up in defense.
"Who the hell are you!?" He questioned, raising a double barrel shotgun at Rick.
"We don't mean any harm." Rick told, hands up to show he wasn't the threat there.
"Get outta my house!" The man demanded.
"Okay, okay, okay." Rick motioning his hands up and down to get the man to lower his voice. "We will, but we can't right now."
The man rose the gun up higher to his head. "Now!"
"Shut him up." Michonne hissed at him.
"Get out right now!"
"There are walkers outside." Rick told, pointing at the door where the undead were pounding to come in.
The confused man looked around, eyeing everyone of them. He saw how Angela and Daryl held knives up at him, he looked terrified, as if not knowing what Rick meant by 'walkers'.
"I'll call the cops!" The man declared.
The cops? Did this man even know what was right outside his door? Angela pondered how drunk the man was to not know the dangers outside for a year.
"I am a cop." Rick countered, it wasn't a lie. "Now I need you to lower the gun." Rick crouched down, showing he wasn't going to hurt him as he placed his flashlight and machete down on the floor. "Don't do anything rash."
Rick stood by up, hands still out to show he had nothing to hurt him with. "Everything's fine, lets- Let's just take this nice and slow, okay?" The man's eyes were on the other two, seeing them with their weapons still up. "Look at me. Hey, hey."
He looked back, nearly jumping as he forgot about Oscar holding the blood covered crowbar. The gun was cocked and he aimed the gun higher between Rick's eyes. "Show me your badge." He demanded.
"Alright, it's in my pocket. It's in my pocket." Rick told, pointing down to indicate he had to take out the 'badge' he had in his pocket. "Now, I'm just gonna reach down nice and slow."
Once the man was distracted, he slapped the gun away. The gun fired nonetheless, Angela shoved herself and Daryl out of the way as he blew a huge hole in the back door. Rick wrestled with the man, putting him in a headlock as he demanded to be released.
"Let go of me!"
"Shut up! Shut-Ah!" A distinct crunch was heard, the man bitten Rick's hand when he tried to cover his mouth. He made a run for the door full of walkers, screaming in fear.
"Help! They found me!" The man cried.
"Don't open that door!" Rick demanded, going after him.
Michonne took her sword out and plunged it right through his chest. She ripped it out, the man fell to the floor, instant death stabbing through the heart. Michonne gave a look, as Rick had failed to shut the man up. Oscar was a bit taken back by the action of killing him so easily. Angela and Daryl peeked through the door, they were managing to rip the boards off the door.
"More are coming." She told, seeing some in the distance and checking out the commotion.
Daryl looked to her then to the others. "Remember the Alamo?" He questioned.
He gave them all a look, Angela sighed and rounded them as Michonne took her place at the door. "Daryl, help me get the door." Rick told, the redneck came around and they both started lifting the dead man.
"You've gotta be kidding me." Oscar shook his head, seeing what they were planning.
"He's dead." Rick countered. "Check the back."
Oscar and Angela went to the back door, he opened it a crack as she peeked outside. Not a walker in sight, she turned back to them. "Coast is clear."
Rick and Daryl held the man up, they looked to Michonne as she held the door knob. "One, two, three- Now!"
She opened the door and within a second, the two men shoved the body at the walkers. Michonne slammed the door, hearing the undead feast upon the man's corpse. Daryl locked the door so it didn't give way. They all grabbed their weapons and bags they dropped and rushed out the back door. Rounding to the front, they passed the distracted walkers to find their path to Woodbury.
Glenn was wondering the room, pieces of the chair he was bound to splintered across the room after his bout with the walker. He only tasted blood and saw red, ready for them to come back as he would fight his way out. The door opened, he raised the wooden arm ready to take Merle down after what he had just done to him.
"Uh-uh." The redneck entered with another man, holding a gun up at him.
Glenn lowered the chair arm, waiting for another torture method to try and break him. It was then the Governor came in, a shirtless Maggie being dragged in by his grip He grew angry, what had this bastard done to her?! Her arms were tightly crossed over her chest to keep her decency and pride together as much as possible.
He raised the weapon back up, Merle and the other man jumped, Merle raised hand up to stop him as the other held a gun at Maggie. She looked distraught, but refused to show weakness with tears. With no choice, he dropped the wood, letting it clatter onto the cement floor.
"We're through playing games." The Governor stated. "Now, one of you is gonna give up your camp."
He took his own gun out and held it against her temple. But he noticed how he didn't flinch seeing the weapon pointed at her. He let her go, and stomped over to point it at Glenn's head instead.
"If you don't tell me, maybe Kay can inform me." He threatened.
Just as he thought, the girl cracked. "The prison." She told, voice trembling. Her arms tucked around to keep herself from exposing to everyone.
Merle held his arm up, stopping her from getting any closer. "The one near Nunez?" He asked.
"That place is overrun." The Governor told.
Maggie shuddered out another answer. "We took it."
"How many are you?"
"Twelve." Glenn swallowed, he wasn't mad at Maggie for revealing all of this. If she wasn't going to crack, someone was going to. "We have twelve now."
"Twelve people cleared that whole prison of biters?" The Governor questioned, eyes glued to the Asian, not believing a word she was saying. "Huh?" He glanced back at Maggie, who trembled as she nodded at him.
He held the gun closer to Glenn's head, he only flinched his head closer to the , not scared of taking a bullet. Finally, the Governor lowered his gun and passed his two men to the two. Before leaving, he turned to Maggie and holstered his gun.
"Hey, hey." He cooed her, caressing her cheek which as he predicted, caused Glenn to react to his touching. "Shh, shh, it's alright."
The Governor cupped her cheeks and held her close, in attempt to comfort her. Kissing her head, he kept whispering comforting words which only made her recoiled, with her eyes staying on Glenn. Giving a look to the pissed off and injured Korean, he turned Maggie and shoved her towards him. She wrapped her arms around him as he held her close, she sobbed into his shoulder, clinging to him for life. The Governor and other man left the room, Merle backed out, watching the interaction. It was hard to tell by the expression he held on what he was thinking. Merle left the room, leaving the cowgirl to sob into the arms of her Asian lover.
The redneck walked toward the room Kaylee, the teenager, was kept. It was further down from where the other two were, making it difficult for her to hear the torture Merle put him through. When he approached the door, he heard sobbing from the other side. His hand froze over the handle, a smack was echoed from the room.
"Please!" The teen sobbed, a cough was heard. "Please, I-!" Another smack, followed by a cry of pain. What the fuck was he doing to her in there?
"How many people do you have!?" The Governor's voice bellowed.
Merle could care less when it came to torturing whatever men they found out there, be it military or just some lost bastard in the woods. This was some kid, one Merle didn't want to hurt. He questioned, tried to soften up and use the innocence of the teen to get answers. He was close too, reaching out to her as she had a sibling and understood. The Governor got his answer, humiliating and possibly scaring the shit out of the cowgirl. What would he gain beating this kid up?
"We-We lost some people, we have t-twelve I think." This time a kick was hurt, judging by the thud and coughing after, he had knocked her to the ground. "I-I swear, twelve people!"
Merle had opened the door at that, seeing the Governor's hand risen up. He paused in his action to hit her again, Merle saw the girl curled up on the floor, free of her chair. Spotting the teen with bruises and marks all over her face, tears streaming down her puffy red cheeks he slapped who knows how many times.
With a sigh, his boss turned seeing the one armed man at the doorway. "There a problem?" He questioned, clearly not please with Merle interrupting this session.
Merle cleared his throat, shifting his footing as he met eyes with the man he feared- Only man he feared. The sight before him reminded him, brought back memories of when he was a child, curled up while beaten by his father.
"So, it's true then?" He asked, regarding the reveal of Daryl and his group's location.
The Governor turned, ignoring the trembling girl on the floor as he approached Merle. "Seems so." He passed by as Merle avoided his eyes at that point.
Knowing he wanted him to follow, Merle looked down to the teen, she coughed sitting up to check her bruises. Merle glanced out of the room, then walked over to approach her. Kay looked up, once Merle knelt down, he expected her to back away or coil from him. Instead, she glared at the man and threw a punch across his face. He shook his head, what a right hook she had! Merle spat at the floor, looking to the teen with no anger. He thought she would cry more or beg him not to go near, but she had some fight in her. Merle saw the fury in her hazel eyes glaring at him, once full of innocence beforehand.
"I tried to fight him back." She told, coughing and spitting blood onto the floor. "He started beating me."
Merle raised his hand up, leaving his arm with the blade at his side to show no threat to her. She nodded, understanding that he had proved not to be as dangerous as him. Merle near scoffed at her foolish trust, wait til she sees what he did to Glenn.
"Stupid of you to do." He told, resting his arm on his knee. "Should've just told him what he wanted."
"He hit first, just starting slapping, punching, and kicking-" Kay coughed, feeling pain in her gut. "Then he asked if there were really twelve of us and where we were. How did he know?" She swore she didn't tell him, how'd he find out?
"Your friends ratted you out." Merle answered, expecting her to be angry but only looked concerned.
"Are they safe? What did he do to them!?" She demanded, her fist daring move to grip the collar of his shirt, but he barely flinched. It wasn't what the Governor did, more like what Merle had done.
"They're alive." Was all he said.
Kay sighed and let him go, "Why are you with that bastard?" she asked. "You could've trusted us, we would've brought your brother to you. Angela would've helped out."
"our sister, right?" Kaylee nodded, Merle scoffed out loud. "Doubt it. Blood is all that matters."
"Angela cares about Daryl, she knows what it's like to have family missing." She winced, touching her jaw to find a bruise swelling there. "Daryl helped her when I was lost, almost died trying to find me. She'd want to do the same. You have to help us out and I'll take you to him."
Merle narrowed his eyes at her, "A bit foolish to be trusting me, princess. I could double cross you, just like back at that lot." he warned.
"You were desperate, I get it." She tried to convince, grunting to get to her feet. She leaned on the table as Merle stood with her. "My sister said I'm a fool for trusting people. But, trusting Rick got us further than we would've gotten. Got us a new family, new friends, and a place to call home."
"So, ya think trusting me is gonna bring sunshine and rainbows? That ya'll be free and back with your 'family'?" He questioned, with an amused smile on.
"Yes!" She answered with a hard stare, but soon softened. "You can too."
Merle watched her, was this teen stupid? Well, they do say ignorance is bliss. She didn't know the blood he had on his hands, the amount people he's killed and the things he did under the Governor's command. Yet she just kept giving him chances to turn the tables. Getting out of here and returning to his brother is what Merle wants, could she be his key out of here?
With a sigh through his nose, Merle reached for her chin and tilted her head to check the damage. "See?" He frowned at her in question, she smiled as a speck of blood was found on her busted lip. "You're just as good as Daryl."
Ready for a counter to her claim, Merle heard his name being called. He let her go and turned to exit the room. He gave one last look before shutting the door. Merle shook his head, something inside made him want to not see the kid get hurt. It just made him think of the old days, days with his son of a bitch father. He followed the tan skinned man, known as Martinez, to the Governor's office where he was explaining to Milton what the cowgirl had confessed.
"Twelve people? That's deep in the red zone." Milton told, shocked that there were survivors out that far. "There's no way only twelve-"
"So, she's lying?" The Governor countered, turning to him from pacing about. "I even questioned the kid, story checks out."
More like beat it out of her, Merle thought. He stood by, watching his leader grow concerned over the possible threat they had.
"That means a pretty sizable force has moved into our backyard." He narrowed his sights on Merle. "This group with your brother at its core has done something you told me couldn't be done." He told, looking to the others as he referred to taking the prison.
The Governor looked back to Merle, with that look that made Merle not dare to counter. "Your brother might be out there right now, searching for them. Blood is blood, right?" He questioned, knowing it was a statement Merle had said many times before. "Makes me wonder where your loyalties lie."
Merle tried to avoid eye contact, but found he couldn't. This man, this was the one thing on earth that could put fear into Merle. Only reason he hasn't left this place is that he had a cushy bed to sleep in, beer to suck down, and advantage to live through this hell. Leaving would cost him being hunted down, as he has done to many deserters and escapees, like Michonne. He was being questioned on something Merle would never have to think about; choosing his brother over something. If anyone else had questioned him, he'd chose his brother and call the bastard a dumb prick for even questioning him. But, Merle had to let him think he'd choose his loyalty to him for now. If his actions before don't bite him in the ass, he'll get the fuck out of here.
"Here." He answered, earning a pat on the arm.
"You two get a small group and scout this prison." He ordered to him and Martinez. "I wanna know exactly what we're dealing with."
"Yeah. You got it."
He and Milton made their leave, Merle lingered as the Governor glanced to him, taking a seat at his chair. Merle sighed and followed Martinez, he had a bad feeling about all this.
It was nightfall by the time Rick and the others had found Woodbury. Passing by train cars, they hid behind a beat up car and some bushes. Peeking over, they found a wall, a true wall, of metal and tires. Even a large gate! Spotlights were shining around with men on the wall for lookout. Angela had to be colored impressed, it beat what her first community had for sure, and it was as secure as the prison was. She noticed actual buildings of possibly stores or maybe even homes. Judging by how the road was paved, this is only a chunk of an actual town, and took what perimeters they could.
Rick and Daryl has never seen anything like that, high defense and strong walls for protection. They never thought they'd find anyone with a place like this. Daryl counted the guards, eyed their weapons, being spotted would be a death wish for sure. Angela looked up at the wall and guards in fear, this was not Point Campus, this was bigger. If the Governor was as bad as Michonne claimed he was, who knows what they would do to Maggie, Glenn, and Kaylee.
Said couple were sitting in the room Glenn was tortured in. Maggie now wore Glenn's shirt, but was still shaken up by her event with the Governor. Glenn noticed, and feared the answer she would have for his question. Touching, caressing, groping- Anything to the one he loved scared him.
"Maggie, did he-"
"No." She answered quickly, looking to him. "No, he barely touched me."
The two stared at one another, Glenn tried to see if she was lying or not. It wasn't that he didn't trust her, but felt it would be something she would keep from him. With how she came in, how he touched her, how she was still trembling beside her- He had to of.
Maggie looked down at her huddled knees. "All this time, running from walkers-" She sighed. "You forget what people do, have always done." She looked back, swallowing back a need to cry. "Look at what they did to you."
"Doesn't matter. Was Kaylee with you." He asked, brushing off his injuries.
Maggie shook her head, ducking her head into her knees. "No, no she wasn't." Glenn looked up, fearful of the teen's well being. "Poor thing must be terrified, God knows where."
Glenn sighed, he had Maggie safe with him, Kaylee could be within that bastard's clutches. "What if he's-" Maggie's eyes went wide, shaking her head not wanting to believe him.
Maggie's tears returned, covering her mouth feeling useless to protect the girl. She was the same age as her sister, hell, was like another little sister to her. Something just as bad as what he did to her was something Kaylee did not deserve. Glenn must have thought the same, as he eyed up the walker he had killed hours ago.
"Hey." He groaned, feeling the pain in his beaten body as he got to his feet. He had an idea, and it was going to take ripping some flesh and bone to do so.
Angela felt like she had been watching the guards switch shift for too long. She was going antsy, and Daryl knew just how she kept clenching and unclenching her knife. Without warning, Michonne from behind backed up and disappeared behind the train car.
"Hey! Hey!" Rick turned, calling her back in a hushed manner. "Damnit." The four backed up, grouping to figure out a strategy since the one who can enter the damn place just ditched them.
"Should I-"
"No, don't give chase. Need you here." Rick dismissed, looking to the others. "Alright, we need to downsize.
"Ain't no way we're gonna check in all 'em buildings," Daryl whispered as they all slung their guns on and dropped their bags. "Not with all 'em guards there."
"Shame we can't just pick them off the damn thing." Angela said, adjusting the sling of her rifle. "Then again, with how many shifts were changed, who knows who many standing behind the wall alone."
A sudden twig snapping caused all four to spin around, aiming their weapons at their intruder. It was Michonne who returned, mouthing and pointing for them to follow. Seems she wasn't ditching them, just managed to find a way in. They all followed her in line, ducking under branches and trees to keep up.
Merle was looking over the map with the Governor, explaining the location before he'd head out.
"The prison's the perfect place to hole up." He said, buckling his gun holster belt. "What once kept prisoners in now keeps biters out. And that's smart."
"You thinking of taking it over, moving Woodbury there?" Merle asked.
"People love it here because it feels like what it was." The Governor gave him a look as if it was beyond being a stupid question. "Move them to damp cells surrounded by barbed wire? No." He looked back down on the map. "We gotta take out the group that's living there. Let the biters move back in. No one'll be the wiser."
That got to Merle, knowing it meant the safety of his brother at stake. He shook his head, "The problem is my brother's with 'em."
He looked to his right hand man, "Well, you'll talk to him." he assured. He smirked at him. "Make him our inside man. He'll get us in there." The Governor chuckled, hands on his hips. "I see you almost got that kid won over."
Just as must as he saw her getting beaten, Merle thought.
"We'll wave the white flag like we did with the national guard."
A snide smirk played in his lips, knowing damn well what happened with that. Not one person survived that trip. "Nothing happens to Daryl." He told, not wanting to repeat himself.
"Of course not." He assured, though Merle knew a lie when he saw one.
"What about Glenn and the girls?" He asked, curious to what their fate would be.
He took a breath, thinking over what to do. "Well, the longer they're here, the more chance Andrea will find out. Especially with that loud mouth one." He said, meaning Kaylee. "Take them to the Screamer Pits."
Merle watched him turn away, given another dirty task to do yet again. As the two went to the door, the Governor opened it just to find Martinez there with Kaylee in a headlock. She had a sack over her head and her arms were bound behind her. The teen struggled and fought against her capture, the Governor grinned at this, arms opened in welcome.
"My guest has arrived." He grinned, nodding toward the chair. "Give her a seat, I got a place for her to stay."
Merle's brows furrowed, he watched her being shoved inside as she fell to the floor. Martinez walked over, yanking her back up, Merle could hear her whimper under the sack. "She's a goddamn fighter, tried to jump me when I got in the room."
"Antsy one, ain't she." The Governor chuckled, he turned to Merle seeing his confused look.
"Taking her to the pit yourself?" Merle asked.
He watched how the teen was shoved to the floor once against, then yanked up and thrown onto the chair. She recoiled and curled herself up like rabbit caught from its burrow. The Governor watched his reaction to the sight of the teen in his hold, he chuckled.
"She's the white flag."
Michonne lead the four to what looked to be a food storage room. The place was dark and empty, but they kept their weapons up just in case someone was guarding it.
"Is this where you were held?" Rick asked her.
"This is where I was questioned." She told.
"Any idea where they could be?" He asked.
Daryl rushed across the room towards the windows. He tugged the curtains ever so slightly, seeing the light of flames dancing on the curtains. Angela came over and looked though, seeing people, actual citizens walking by. They wore normal bright clothing and looked happy, almost in complete bliss. It was like they were in a different worlds completely.
"Good amount of people wandering about." Angela noted, as Rick walked over to look out the other window himself.
This got to Daryl, as a claim had been made by Michonne. He looked to her. "I thought ya said there was a curfew."
"The street is packed during the day. Those are stragglers." She told.
Rick sighed, "If anyone comes in here, we're sitting ducks." his eyes kept peeling about seeing people just walking about. "We gotta move."
"They could be in his apartment." Michonne suggested.
The three turned, Angela had a look of fear at that suggestion. "Yeah? What if they ain't?" He questioned, walking toward her.
"Then we'll look somewhere else." She countered at him not appreciating his attitude.
Rick followed as Angela kept watch. "You said you would help us."
Michonne glared at him, "I'm doing what I can." She hissed at him.
"Then where in the hell are they?" Oscar questioned.
Rick noticed the worried look on Angela's features as they questioned her. "Hey." He softly called to the men and walked to the back to talk with them. "If this goes South, we're cutting her loose." He told them, unable to trust her words.
"You think she's leading us into a trap?" Oscar asked.
"Right now? It's the blind leading the blind." Daryl told, watching Angela come across the room. "Let's split up."
"The last thing we need is to lose each other." She whispered to them. A sudden knock on the door jolted them, they spun around at the door. "I didn't see anyone approaching the building." She thought out loud.
"Back, get back!" Rick hissed at them, moving themselves to hide behind the walls and pantry shelves.
The sounds of keys jingling and the lock clicking was heard, the door opened and a man with a red cap came inside. He shut the door and gave the room a look around.
"I know you're in here." He called out, "I saw you moving outside." he said. The red capped man moved closer, his footsteps echoing closer to them. "Alright, now. You're not supposed to be in here and you know it." Seemed the man thought one of the Woodburians were hiding out in here, so that was an advantage they had.
He walked toward the back room, Oscar and Angela aiming their guns ready for him to round the corner. Before he could react to the sight of them, Rick jumped out from behind a curtain and slammed him up against the wall, gun in his face.
"Shut up. Get on your knees." Rick threw him down as Daryl held his arms behind him. "Zip tie him." He told, then focused back to the man. "Where are our people?"
"I don't know." He answered, which Rick didn't like and tightened his grip on the gun.
Angela had her gun at the back of his head, she glared him. "Like you don't."
"You are holding some of our people. Where the hell are they?" Rick demanded.
"I don't know." He repeated, shaking his head.
Rick seemed to notice the man genuinely didn't know, he glanced to Angela signalling her to lower her gun. She did so, as he picked up a cloth he knocked off the shelving. "Open your mouth." Rick shoved it into the man's mouth, gagging him as he muffled against it.
Angela stood as Daryl knocked him out with the butt of his crossbow. He fell to the floor with a thud, Rick stood and dragged him by his feet to lock him in a closet they found. "Now what?" Angela asked, seeing that got them nowhere.
Before Rick could answer, the sound of gunfire was heard in the distance. They all ran to the front, people shouting. Some sort of chaos was brewing and it shockingly wasn't them, Angela held her rifle up as Daryl had the shotgun ready. Rick nodded to them, opening the door and they made their way across the square to follow the gunshots.
They moved down an alleyway and turned a corner, finding a door surprisingly unlocked. Rick rook lead, his rifle up, with Daryl, Angela, Michonne and Oscar in line behind him. Rick stopped at the corner, seeing a man passing by. Once clear, they came around hearing voices of men talking. Because of the walls, it was just muffled to tell if it was Glenn or The Governor's men. A window was found, filthy but Daryl peeked through to see if he could tell their people were in there.
"On your feet, move." A man demanded, despite the filth Daryl got a glimpse of two people forced out of the room with sacks over their heads. "Let's go."
"Shit." They had to get them out, fast!
Rick and Daryl got out the flash bangs, holding one up to Angela. She looked down, taking it, Daryl nodded at her. She nodded back, hooking her finger around the pin just like he taught her. As they heard them come closer, the three tossed their canisters and a loud explosion was heard along with a flash of white at the men. The men shouted, smoke escaping the cans as they were blinded by the flash bang. Going to the corner, Daryl and Angela held their guns up, Angela spotted a figure in the room but the smoke made it unclear who it was and gunfire was too risky right now. Who rick did spot was Glenn, coughing on the floor as the bag fell from his head. Angela spotted the only female with a sack on, it had to be Maggie judging by the height. She ripped it off her head and lead her back toward the others. She paused, looking around trying to find her sister, but gunshots caused Daryl to pull her back by the arm to avoid getting shot. With no choice, she was force to retreat with the others.
Rick and Maggie supported the beaten up Glenn through the town, and found refuge inside the building across the one they were just hiding in. Glenn fell to the ground in pain and exhaustion, Maggie knelt beside him with Angela to check his wounds. Blood was down his mouth and neck, she saw the black eye and checked around for any broken bones or fractures.
"Ain't no way out back here!" Daryl called, checking for a back door when he found none.
"Rick, how'd you find us?" Maggie asked.
"How bad are you hurt?" Rick asked, not answering her question.
"I'll be alright." Glenn dismissed.
"Nothing broken, but he was beaten to complete shit by some asshole." Angela concluded, looking to Maggie. "Where's Kaylee? She wasn't with you?"
Maggie shook her head, "No, they separated us, we haven't seen her since we got taken." she told. "Where's that woman?" She asked, remembering there was another female with them.
Rick and Angela looked around, "She was right behind us." he said. Rick checked out the window, seeing people scattered about in panic.
"Maybe she was spotted." Said Oscar.
"Want me to go look for her?" Daryl asked, "Kaylee's still out there." he added.
Rick looked conflicted, he looked to Angela who gave him an even stare. "You guys go, I'll get Kay." She stated.
"No, we stick together. She's on her own, but we need to find out where Kaylee is held up." He told her, as she was antsy by the door now.
"Daryl," Glenn called, trying to catch his breath. "This was Merle." Eyes shot to him, in shock by the name he just said. "It was. He did this."
"You saw him?" Rick asked, looking over to him.
Glenn nodded, "Face to face." Maggie helped him slide a shirt on that she found. "He threw a walker at me. He was gonna execute us."
Angela looked to Daryl, seeing he was just as shocked. "Your brother is behind all this?" She near shrieked, earning a shush from Rick.
Daryl blinked, astounded that not only was his brother alive, but that he was the cause of all this. "S-So my brother's this Governor?"
Glenn looked up, shaking his head. "No," Maggie answered. "He's somebody else. Your brother's his lieutenant or something."
"Does he know I'm still with you?" Daryl asked.
"He does now." Glenn told, looking to Rick as he crouched down to him. "Rick, I'm sorry. We told him where the prison was." Rick looked over, his eyes shifting to Angela. "They were gonna hurt Kay if we didn't tell."
Angela wasn't mad, she was thankful they considered her safety overall. It just made her mad her sister was still out there somewhere. Her knuckles were white as her grip became tight, they dared threaten to hurt Kaylee.
"Don't. No need to apologize." Rick told them sternly, assuring with a pat on the knee and rushing back to the window.
"Daryl, I have to go back out there and find my sister." Angela told, eager to bolt out the door to go search.
Daryl agreed, following Rick to convince him. "They're gonna look for us." Maggie told.
"We have to get you back. Can you walk?" He asked Glenn. "We got a car a few miles out."
Glenn fought back the pain, wanting to get the hell out of here. "I'm good."
"Alright."
"You guys go ahead, get them to the car. I gotta find Kaylee." Angela told them, standing by the door.
"I gotta find Merle too, we'll stay behind." Daryl agreed, only to have Angela have a counter word on it.
"If your brother really did all this, I won't hesitate to shoot him." She hissed at him.
"Angela's right, look for Kay and get out." Rick ordered.
Daryl couldn't believe them, he kept looking between the two. "He's my brother. I aint-"
"Look at what he did!" Rick hissed at him.
Angela agreed. "What if he did the same to my sister, Daryl? We are not taking him with us."
Daryl looked desperate, he needed to get back to his brother, he was blood! Buy, the fact he actually did this to Glenn, even after he knew Daryl was with them. He knew Angela wouldn't hesitate to put a bullet through his head.
"Maybe I can talk to him. Maybe I can work somethin' out." He tried to convince the two, not wanting to lose the chance of reuniting with his brother. Angela could hear the desperation in his voice.
"I know he's your brother, Daryl. But he is a danger, the only way I'll find him if he knows where Kaylee is being kept." She told him with steely eyes.
"Then we'll find him, get him to take us to Kaylee n' we all get out." Daryl told, Angela sighed shaking her head. She rather throw a walker at Merle just like he had to Glenn.
Daryl looked to Rick, "Ya get Glenn n' Maggie to safety. We're goin'." he told.
Before Rick could try to stop them, the two ran out of the building, firing their guns as they ran up the road in search of their respective siblings.
Thank you Kaikitty165 for the follows and favorites!
Bruna Pereira- Hell yea! Oh, I didn't see your name, so I didn't know if you saw or not. I was CHEERING to save Negan. That's what it gets me that so many people are like 'OH KILL HIM' but, it's the same fucking thing! Make it different, Negan is special he can be made into a great allie. Plus, this means their following the comic, which makes me ECSTATIC to know this! Oh, is it Morgan's cell? I was wondering, I don't straight up read the comic but I know the story. I'd probably spiral into his madness, he had a good vision but it became corrupted over time. He'll become good, I hope. I would hate to see JDM leave The Walking Dead family. YES! OLD SCHOOL WALKING DEAD! They start filming in April, I can't wait!
RedVelvetPanPan- Thanks so much! Ohh, I'm sorry to hear that! I remember my first panic attack when I was about fourteen. Can't remember what it was, but man did it keep me from getting sleep for a week. Was it someone's review or a story that caused it? Sometimes panic attacks happen without any reason. Maybe this will help; Whenever I have a panic attack, I watch these DIY japanese fake foods. I don't know if it will help, but it calms me down quickly and relaxes my senses. RRCherrypie is a youtuber I rely on heavily for it. Ohhh, I'm not awesome at all. I, myself, almost had a panic attack over meeting my team for ignoring their messages for a week after getting frustrated with their recent entry. With Social Anxiety, confrontation scares the fuck out of me. I can at times handle it, but when it concerns my reputation or grade, I become a wimp instantly. I'll see you next time, try those videos out they really are relaxing!