Chapter 12: Reunited

My scream echoed along the tin walls, though I didn't know if they even reached any ears or if they were just ignoring them. Outside I could hear gun fire, there had been a lot of it a little while ago, loud but now it had stopped, and it was replaced with an eerie silence that made my skin crawl.

I sobbed as I twisted around to the little window above me, calling out but I didn't even hear a cricket. With a frustrated grunt I tried again to dislodge the rusty old pipe but it was as stubborn as I could be. All I wanted was to find my brother, find my dog and get out of here; if that really was Ricks group out there, I wanted to leave with them if they would have us. There wasn't any guarantees about that either, I know if I was Rick I would be turning someone like me away but I had to cling to that, otherwise the only reality I could see was me dying or being out there on my own again. As I squatted, my back aching from the effort of breaking the pipe, I wondered if it would have been better for me to die. I knew I had the thoughts before, but now I really was regretting it. Everything was wrong since I woke up, I had caused so much trouble and I pressed my free hand to my eyes, trying to straighten me erratic thoughts. I couldn't think like that, it was too late what was done was done. Plus I knew it was better to here above the dirt, walking and breathing and living. Besides, I had always been a little claustrophobic, and the thought of being buried made my bones rattle.

Instead I was here, alone in an empty room and waiting for something to happen, but when it did happen I wanted to be alone again. The door swung open and two men shoved another inside, who fell in a heap on the floor, struggling to get to his feet with his hands tied behind him with tape and a brown bag over his head. Leaping to my feet and glared at the men that stepped back, closing the door without another look.
"Where's Merle? Merle!" I yelled, growling when they shouted back through the walls.
"He's a little busy, you just worry about yourself."
I kicked the pipe that kept me prisoner in frustration, growling as it vibrated up to my sore wrists.
"I thought I was don' hearing women scream his nam'."
Only now did I focus on the person trying to find their balance and I felt my heart sing when I recognised the tattered wings on the well-worn vest.

"Daryl!"
He stilled before he tried to shake the bag free from his head and I managed to reach out and pull it from him. Dazed slightly, he blinked before snapping his eyes up to me and for a second I could have sworn I saw anger in them, anger directed at me.
"Jas? What are you doin' here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," I said, unable to wipe the goofy smile from my face as I stared at him, checking him over quickly for any wounds. His arms were bare but it made it easier to check for wounds, which he had none of, just a graze on his cheek and a bruise that would probably come up nicely over the next few days; if we lived that long.
"Turn around, I'll try and get the tape off," I murmured, seeing shadows moved under the door. Daryl just looked at me, panting for breath and tried to keep the tingle of my fingers, the urge to reach out for him, at bay. Quickly he did though and I began to pick at the tape that was wrapped around tightly, not caring if I broke any of my weak nails.
"Rick and the others?" I asked, hoping that they were alright.
"Got away, just me. Jumped me when my gun bloody jammed. What are you doing here, where's Merle?"

I bit my lip in frustration as I only managed to get strips off, Daryl tensing but still not able to break the tape.
"Vincent brought all those people here, and this is where we stayed. I came down here a little while ago, they tied me up and," I swallowed hard at the thought of those men touching me, a shiver of repulsion traveling down my spine but it was gone soon and I refocused on Daryl's hands, "Doesn't matter, Merle wanted to know if I was loyal to Woodbury or to the group."
"Is that what that bruise is on you' face? Merle hit ya?"
"No, someone else did. Merle just talked to me."
We stood in silence for a minute and Daryl looked over his shoulder at me.
"We came to save Maggie and Glen. Merle, brought 'em here and Glen don't look like he's in good shape."

I knew something had been going on and I felt guilty at the thought of Maggie and Glen in here being beaten or worse while I wandered around freely, blissfully unaware. With a triumphant noise I managed to get the tape undone enough for Daryl to pull his hands free and he ripped the rest of it off, tossing it to the floor angrily before he turned to face me. Leaning into me, Daryl wrapped his arms so tightly around me I thought my ribs were crushing but I didn't care. With my free arm I held the back of his head as he buried his face in my neck. I didn't know how long we stood like that for, but I was glad because Daryl would have seen my eyes become cloudy with tears. Managing to blink them away, I held Daryl as tightly as I could before he stood up straight, his hands cupping my face as he kissed me.
"Let's get outta here." He said, looking down my arm and them up the pipe, seeing that it could be dislodged. I just nodded, still a little dazed myself that Daryl was actually here and I stepped out as far as I could from the pipe as Daryl kicked at it. At first it didn't budge but Daryl cursed at it and with one last kick it split in the middle and I quickly slid the other cuff off the pipe, instantly wrapping my arms around Daryl.

"I thought I'd never see you again."
Daryl tenderly rubbed his hands up and down my back and I stood back, clearing my throat as Daryl gave a smile at me. There wasn't time for this now though and I could see it in Daryl's face.
"Do you have any idea where Merle coul' be?"
I shook my head and we both quietly got to the door, hearing the men outside of it talking and sharing a look.
"You know the layout of this place righ'? Can you get us out?"
I nodded, remembering the way I had come in but I didn't even really know what room I was in. Either way we weren't going to hang around here and wait for someone to come shoot us. My thoughts turned to Vincent, I had to find him and no doubt Daryl wasn't going to leave without at least seeing Merle

Counting down with his fingers, Daryl braced himself at the door and I twisted the handle as quietly as I could, ripping it open when he got to zero. Instantly he grabbed one of the men, bringing him to the ground and knocking him unconscious, his partner following in to obviously return the favour to Daryl but I leapt at him from behind, bringing the handcuffs chain around his neck and pulling. He gargled for breath, dropping to his knees as I strangled him until he was still. I hadn't killed him, I wanted to but Daryl had tapped my shoulder as he slipped out of the door and I didn't want to waste time on him. The hall was a mess, bullet holes riddling the metal sheets and an odd smoky smell hung in the air but I pointed to the door I knew I had come through when looking for Vincent, glancing back hoping that there was another way out but this time Daryl pointed down a corridor, the hanging pendant lights not giving us any shelter to hide in but we crept along the walls, listening for any people but I was too late to react.

Someone grabbed my hair, pushing me to the ground but Daryl pounced on him, fighting him before he managed to get him into some sort of hold, the guys hands stuck up by his head by Daryls arms and I got to my feet, ready to help when there was a click of a gun being cocked.
I stopped, lifting my hands slowly and I turned to the man holding the gun to my head, his own head free of any hair and I looked to his partner, his long black hair probably making up for it.
"Don't fucking move."
Daryl let his opponent go who instantly turned and began to beat him. I made a move to stop him but the tall baldy pressed the gun to my temple, making sure I remained compliant. There was nothing I could do as Daryl groaned on the floor, his hands once again tied behind his back and I held his gaze as the man then unlocked the cuffs, only to tighten it on my other wrist; at least my arms were in front of me.

"You," he spoke to Daryl who was hauled to his feet, "You do as you're told or I'll blow her fucking brains out."
Daryl glared at him, something hot and dangerous and I felt the barrel of the gun press harder at my temple until I whimpered which made Daryl instantly back down. I kept my eyes on him, trying to show that I wasn't afraid, but I was scared and I could see it in Daryl's face that he was terrified, whether for me or him or both of us I didn't know but what I did know was that whatever was going to happen next was not good as a pillow case was shoved over Daryl's head and I was told to walk to the arena.

Dun dun, thanks for reading

Silver Kirin xXx