Chapter 9

I didn't read the note right away despite the anxiety of wanting to know what it said ripping me to shreds. Instead, I let it burn a hole in my pocket as I hastily made my way to the women's washroom. I was antsy to know what it said and wouldn't dare read it where someone could see me. I still had my nightly rituals to go through, and I wanted that shower and dinner before lights were out. I rushed up to the locker room door, thankful there wasn't a line, and shoved my card in the Saviors face.

"Twenty points," she said, taking the card.

"What? Why? It's always ten," I said confused.

"Ten for the shower and ten more for being rude. You have twenty minutes," she said with a sarcastic smile as she hole-punched my card and shoved it back in my face. I grabbed it out of her hand, my sour mood becoming sourer and wishing for her to get carpal tunnel.

I went inside and got set up, not paying attention to the few others that occupied the room as well. I stepped out of my clothes being sure to hide the note in my hand as I got into the shower and drew the curtain behind me.

In the steam that rose around me, I unfolded the note and read it. I furrowed my brow in confusion and read it again.

"What?" I asked out loud.

It didn't make any sense and I got a feeling of trepidation deep in my gut. I read it for a third time:

"What is made of steel and closed in on all sides? Is easy to get into, but hard to get out of?"

It was a riddle. Daryl hadn't given me a riddle before and it was probably the most articulate thing he had written yet. But what was he trying to say? What message was he sending; it's easy to get into, but hard to get out of? Was he saying we were stuck here? That couldn't be. His last note had confirmed our way out of here. It must be something else.

I crumpled the note as I heard laughter echo behind me. I stood under the tepid water and let the thin paper get soggy, ripping it up as it dissolved. I watched it flow down the drain, helping the stubborn pieces go down with a flick of my foot. I quickly showered after and scrubbing myself hard, still contemplating what I had read.

I wrapped a towel around myself and rung out my hair. Stepping out of the stall, I looked for my clothes I had left in a pile on the floor and noticed them neatly folded by my toiletry bag.

"Sorry," a woman's voice called out. I looked up and to my left to see the same pretty brunette woman from earlier looking at her face closely in a mirror. Her reflected eyes found mine. "I can't stand a mess."

"Oh," I looked away. I wasn't sure what to say or do. "I guess I don't mind either way."

She turned around to face me, looking me over; her facial expression thoughtful. I grabbed my clothes and gave her a curious look. She smiled and it seemed forced.

"Do you know who I am?" she asked.

I shook my head and shrugged. She nodded her head and looked down at her feet, her high heeled sandals leaving streaks through the condensation on the floor. She looked back at me and crossed her arms, her hands holding each elbow.

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Us harlots don't venture out too much," her voice was bitter. "I'm Sherry."

"Nice to meet you," I replied, feeling more and more confused and awkward by the second. What the fuck is going on?

"I don't mean to barge in on your personal time, I was just curious."

"About?"

"You," she stated matter-of-factly.

"What's curious about me?" The message on the note flashed in my head. I was beginning to get nervous.

"Nothing," she gave me a searching look. "Just be careful. Like I told Daryl, I don't think you realize who you're dealing with. I didn't."

"What? Wait, you know Daryl?" I asked even more confused now.

But she pushed off the sink she had been leaning on and headed out the door, the clicking of her heels fading as she walked away.

"Hey! How do you know Daryl?" I called after her stupidly. She was already gone.

What she had said sounded awfully like a warning and the only assumption that could be made was that it was about Negan. What was she to him, though? She didn't talk like she was his lover, but I could be inferring wrong. Negan wasn't exactly a lovable guy, but I'm sure he had a woman; or women, from the sound of it.

I took a moment more to process what happened before concentrating on getting fresh clothes on, straightening myself up and gathering my things. I had spent too much time in here already. Out in the hallway, I hurried toward the common area, hoping I had just enough time for a quick meal before bed. I was going to look for Daryl, too, and ask him what the hell he was playing at, sending me a vague message that I couldn't understand. If it was even his message, I thought with a start.

As I rounded the corner I let out a shriek, Negan's disappointed face inches away from my own. The stuff in my arms clattered to the floor as I stood there motionless, caught like a deer in headlights. He knows.

"Did you ever figure out the answer to that riddle?" He asked as his brows furrowed in question, his shoulder leaning against the wall.

With wide eyes, I stared at him unsure of what to do. I couldn't draw in air. A tiny sound escaped my throat, but otherwise I made no noise. I was paralyzed in fear.

"It's kind of a tough one," he said, his placid brown eyes taking in my fear. "What is made of steel and closed in on all sides? Is easy to get into, but hard to get out of?" He raised his eyebrows. "Can you take a guess?"

I felt the water from my hair dripping down my back and on my chest. I was afraid to answer, not even sure I could speak. I felt adrenaline coursing through me, but my body was starting to feel weak. I was having a panic attack.

"Let me give you a hint," he scowled.

The next second, he had by my hair, twisting it in his hand. I yelled out in pain as he yanked me forward, his nose touching mine. The look he gave me was pure evil and he sneered, "Let's go see Daryl."

He dragged me down several corridors, a tenacious grip on my arm. I was sobbing now, unable to control it from the sheer terror that flooded my body. I felt like a child, this feeling all too familiar to me. It was one thing to survive a zombie apocalypse; zombies were slow, stupid and uncalculating. It was a whole other experience to be victim to the capacity of inhibited human evil; even if I was a well-seasoned acquaintance with it.

He finally walked through a doorway and shoved me on the ground. I landed on my hands, barely catching myself before my face hit the floor; sharp pains shot from my hands and up my arms. I stayed there, my forehead against the concrete floor, and cried. Footsteps resounded in the room and I heard what sounded like a struggle, metal clanging against metal. Negan's footsteps stopped by my head.

He grabbed me by the back of my shirt and yanked me up on my knees. Negan's Saviors were standing around the room, looking down at me in an amused, condescending way. In front of me, I saw what the riddle had meant. A cage, I thought bitterly. I felt like throwing up.

"There it is, sweetheart. There's your fucking hint, or rather your answer. I guess I kinda ruined it for you, huh?" He let go of my shirt and took a step back, watching my reaction.

In front of me was Daryl, fresh blood covered his face to the point that I couldn't tell where his wounds were at. He was locked in a cage, sturdier and larger than one for a dog; this one was built to hold something strong and keep it in there. He swayed back and forth on his hands and knees, his wrists bound together with rope.

I didn't say or do anything other than stare at Daryl, agony a pounding fist in my stomach. This is all my fault, I thought harshly. How had he found out? What was he going to do to us? I knew that there would be no going back from what was about to happen. We had been caught red-handed, and the consequences were not going to be light.

"Here's another one for you guys! What do you do with a feral animal that just won't let himself be broken in?" Negan put his hands on his knees and bent over to look me in face, searching for an answer. When I gave none, he gave out a hushed, lingering laugh.

He looked over his shoulder at Daryl who was hunched and shaking on his hands and knees, his blood a smeared and sticky mess on the bottom of the cage. His smile widened.

"How about this one?" He asked as he turned back to me. "Who can only stand up to all fours and is red, black and blue all over…?"

He looked at me for a moment, waiting vainly again for me to answer him. I didn't say a damn thing. I wasn't going to play this sadistic game with him. Just as Daryl wouldn't give him what he wanted by saying his name, I wouldn't either.

"Aw, come on," he pressed. "I know you know the answer. It's right fucking there!" Negan gestured to Daryl inside of the cage and laughed, standing back up. He threw his hands up in the air, "You guys make this shit too fucking easy. I'm having fun!"

"We-we're sorry," I started, trying to figure a way out of this, but there wasn't one.

"Oh, no," Negan said. "See, I've already explained the rules to you two and you both know you've royally screwed the pooch left, right and ass-backwards. I can see it all over your sorry ass, pitiful faces."

I looked at the floor, blinded by fresh tears. I could feel death nearby. We had barely lasted a damn month and a half in this place, but it was longer than I had initially thought we would. That has to count for something right? I briefly thought before sorrow pierced my heart at knowing that everything leading up to this moment had been lost. We had survived through so much and had found sanctuary at last with those we cared about. It was ironic that we would die in a place named for something that we had searched for, for so long; named for something it didn't provide.

"Alright, here's another one, and it's not really a riddle, but still an important question nonetheless," Negan broke me from my mourning and took a sudden step up to the cage to kick it hard. Daryl flinched backward. "What happens when you conspire to steal my motherfucking guns and run off with them?"

Daryl made a low growling noise in response. Negan didn't wait for an answer, but stomped over to me and grabbed me by the back of the neck. He lifted me up effortlessly and dragged me up to the cage, slamming me down hard back on my knees.

"You get locked in a motherfucking cage like the piece of thieving shit that you are!" He screamed at us and kicked the cage again. "I own you! You. Are. Mine!"

He let go of me and took a step back to take in a deep breath. I didn't look at him, but kept my eyes forward, not seeing a thing. Pain radiated throughout my legs, my knees were aching horribly and I continued to cry silently. Negan stepped back up beside me and squatted down, his face close to mine.

"This last one's for you, Everly, and sorry I'm not a better fucking riddler, so I'll just cut the bullshit and ask it as plainly as I can… How long do you think he'll last in there when he's not treated like a human being anymore?"

Rage suddenly boiled up in me, hot and pressing. I couldn't hold myself back any longer; couldn't have if I tried. I looked over at Negan and spat in his face. It hit him square in his eye.

"Fuck you," I hissed through my teeth. "It should be you in there!"

What followed could only be described as an eerie silence. Absolutely no one moved. The shock at what I just did was thick in the air and I felt a jolt of fear tear through my stomach, slicing through the anger. Negan slowly brought a hand up to his face and wiped away my saliva with an irate smirk.

We started at each other, hatred clear in both of our eyes. I was drawing in ragged breaths, my heart tripping over itself to keep up. Negan looked as calm a provoked snake, coiled and ready to strike. I readied myself, too. I wasn't going down without a fight. I was just thankful he hadn't thought to bring Lucille along with him.

"Simon," Negan spoke, his voice steady and his eyes still burning into mine.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"What was it that you used on Daryl over there?"

"Uh, just regular elbow grease. Nothing fancy."

"Well, do me a favor there, bud, and find me something fancy," Negan's lips twitched down and Simon disappeared.

"No," Daryl mumbled out through swollen lips. "I'll take it. Not her."

"You," Negan yelled, turning his head to address Daryl, "are not in the position to say no to me!"

Simon came back into view, holding a thick metal pipe, "How's this?"

Negan looked and nodded, seeming satisfied. He stood up and walked over to him, holding out his hand and Simon handed it over. Negan turned back to face me and used the pipe to smack his hand; the sharp whipping sound it made had my muscles clenching in apprehension. He shook his hand and made a fake pained face, circling me.

"Oh man. I am so going to enjoy this after what you just did," a smile graced his face again, his usual good spirits back. Unexpectedly, he moved, raising the pipe up in the air and lunging forward like he was going to hit me. I flinched, falling back on my bottom, hands braced behind myself. His smiled widened and he laughed, continuing to slowly circle me; him the predator and me his prey.

"Yeah, I knew I was gonna like you," he pointed the pipe at my face. "Remember what you said in that clearing after I got done bashing your friends' fucking brains in? You said, you're a fucking bastard!" Negan called out in an attempt to mock me, his voice high and ridiculous. His lackeys laughed out and he laughed with them.

"Damn, little girl," he continued, smiling all the while, "you have no goddamn idea just how much of a fucking bastard I can be."

And the pipe swung down, barely missing me as I flung myself to the side, panting with fear. It clanged on the hard floor with a thunderous crack and I rolled away from Negan as he reared up to swing again.

I cried out as I felt it cut through the air, barely missing the back of my head. I ducked down and scrambled backwards, turning to keep my eyes and body facing him. I kicked my foot up as he swung at me again, catching the pipe at an awkward angle. Pain seared through my ankle where it had hit me and I screamed.

"Ooooh ho ho!" Negan cheered. He was enjoying himself immensely. "Little kitty has come out to play!"

I pushed myself back some more, my right foot limp and useless now. I was sweating, my palms slick against the concrete floor. I kept slipping as Negan slowly advanced on me. He liked watching me struggle, liked seeing me desperate and scared.

He swung again, downward this time, as my back hit someone's legs. I parted my own as the pipe came down, just missing my left knee. He was trying to incapacitate me, perhaps break my legs even. I wouldn't be able to do much of anything if I couldn't walk, much less escape. It would be completely over for me then if it wasn't already.

"Stop! Stop!" I screamed frantically, holding my hand out to him as the pipe soared behind his back, ready to strike again. "Stop, I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'll do-do what you want. I'm sorry."

Negan was breathing heavily and still smiling. He had frozen in place as I begged him for mercy and he watched me with delight. He let his arms drop to his sides, the pipe swinging back and forth in his hand, just as dangerous as Lucille. He flicked out his hands and shrugged, turning the corners of his mouth down in a thoughtful expression.

"Okay, alright. I'll stop," he said and the pipe fell to the floor with a tumultuous clamor. Negan wiped his mouth, sweat beading his brow, and let out an expressed sigh of fatigue. "Whew!"

He chuckled as my fervent heartbeat began to slow a little. I brought my shaking hand down to the floor and pushed myself into an upright position, my legs tremoring with adrenaline.

"But you know"-Negan shrugged again, gazing down at me with half-lidded eyes-"I don't think I heard you say please… Arat!"

A tall, olive skinned woman stepped up next to him. She wore leather from top to bottom as well as a snarl on her face.

"Everly, Arat. Arat, Everly," Negan introduced us, gesturing to us in turn with his gloved hand. "Now, I know I really got your motor running, swinging that lead pipe around, but I swear I was just fucking with you. I wasn't really gonna bash your head in," Negan said defensively, putting a hand to his chest and furrowing his eyebrows with a smile. He turned to Arat and put his gloved hand on her shoulder.

"I'm not much of a believer in men hitting women unless they absolutely have to and while you were a real gutter cunt for spitting in my face, I'm not going to be the kind of man to beat down a woman just for that. I do have morals. Your ankle,"-he pointed to my lame right foot-"you did that. However, I am running this shit parade, and you and your bumpkin friend have gone and made a big fucking mistake. I can't let that slide, no way," Negan shook his head and licked his bottom lip pensively.

"Instead," he continued, "I think Arat here will do the dirty work for me. That way I can sleep just a tiny bit easier tonight, but quite frankly, most nights I'm out like-" he snapped his fingers to indicate he had no qualms with who he was or what he did; he slept just fine every night. I shivered in a mix between fear and anger.

"So! Without further ado," Negan turned his smiling face to Arat. She returned his happy expression with a twist of her lips that somewhat resembled a grin, but it looked like her mouth got confused on the way up, turning her smile into a contorted, ugly mess. I wasn't sure if it was because of him or me, but when she aimed loathsome eyes my way, I knew then. She walked back and forth dilatorily in front of me.

"You know, I've heard a little bit about you. You've just about got every person in this compound sniffing after you, but I guess that's fairly typical whenever there's fresh meat around. Don't feel too special, it won't last."

That's fucking reassuring, I thought. My nails slowly began to cut into my palms as she carried on.

"I do have to say, though, that I'm not gay and even I'm trying to picture what you look like under those ratchet ass clothes," she taunted and stopped pacing to stand a few feet in front of me. "I bet you were a wet dream a couple of years ago, huh? A real stuck up bitch who thought her pussy was too good for most. I bet you still do," she said as some Saviors let out snorts. She put her hands on her knees to bend over, her spiteful eyes becoming level with mine.

"Don't worry your cute little button nose," she reached out and flicked the tip of my nose. "You'll still be a fucking Betty by the time we're done with you."

Before I could react, I heard a feminine scream from behind and felt a strong force hit me in the side. I fell over, gasping for air but unable to draw anything in; hot, aching pain clawing my insides. I was hit again, this time in the stomach by Arat. The force of her kick lifted me up to my hands and knees, causing me double over in pain I had never felt before. I couldn't take in a breath and I started to panic, my throat convulsing with the effort to draw in.

The hits kept coming, merciless and powerful. They crashed into me greedily in their rage, their teeth barred and their taunts frenzied; I was their outlet. It didn't last long, but it was enough to make me realize once again how defenseless I was. I lay on my stomach for a while after they had stopped, bruised, bloody and aching. My burning, wet eyes were on Daryl who was sobbing uncontrollably, his swollen hands gripping the cage bars.

I felt the cool air stir around me as Negan knelt by my head. He stroked my hair, pushing it back from my face in a loving, tender way; his fingers warm and callused. He put his hands under my armpits and lifted me up like a rag doll, my body limp from exhaustion and pain, and pivoted me around to cradle me like a child, his arms strong and oddly comforting.

He looked down at me, his face gravely serious now. Any merriment he might have felt while watching his girls beat me was no longer present on his face. He ran a hand through my hair again, looking over my defeated face, battered and wet with blood. A small smile turned up the corner of his lips, but it didn't seem malicious now. It almost looked affectionate.

OH SHIT, Y'ALL! This was pretty intense to write about a month ago, but I've reread and revised it about 100 damn times that it's lost its luster for me. Please let me know your reaction to this! I'm very curious to see how you guys have perceived it.

And damn Everly and Daryl! Getting into trouble, bending the rules. You'd think they would have learned by now, huh? That'd be no fun, though... :D

Truth be told, I did not think this story would be as long as I've written it so far. I thought maybe about 20 chapters, but I'm nearly there and I'm not even halfway through the story! A lot of shit is going to be happening from now on. I may have a dull chapter here and there, but it's all building up to a head. It's gonna be crazy, y'all! I hope you're prepaaaaared! (And I hope I'm not hyping myself, and you guys, up too much on this, ah ha...)