The Hunter's Prey

Chapter 12

Footsteps echoed before stopping in front of my cell door. A note was slid under the door. I picked it up and read over what it said. Go now. On the back of the note was a key and a match. I flipped it back over to look at the letters. The handwriting wasn't anything like Negan's. Was it someone else's? Could I trust this? Something in my gut told me I could. This was my chance. I made you a promise Daryl. I'm coming back.

I used the key to saw through the rope binding my wrists. I rose to my feet and slowly opened the door. As I did so I noticed the cell door next to me open as well. I closed the door so there was only a crack to peer through. When I saw who it was my heart dropped. Negan found a loophole after all. No killing, but I never said no taking hostages. There he was, the man I loved. Daryl. He stepped through the door and glanced around. I opened the door and watched as he jumped. His body relaxed as he saw me. He tensed again as he glanced over my naked and wounded body. I suddenly found myself really self conscious.

He stepped towards me and removed his shirt. He handed it to me. I hesitated slightly. How was he not mad at me? I got him locked up. Tortured even. He sent me a concerned look. I pushed away my fear and took the shirt. I quickly threw it on as he led the way to our escape. He quickly pulled me into a room as a group of people rounded the corner.

We scanned the room making sure no one was in there. I quickly found some clothes as he did the same. Finding a jar of peanut butter I scooped some out and ate it. I handed it to Daryl. Who had probably had the same crappy sandwiches I did.

"You okay?" Daryl's voice was low.

"Yeah, you?"

He didn't answer. Instead he pulled me into a hug. I flinched slightly, before I melted into him. We waited for a while as the voices outside subsided. Once they were gone, we were back to sneaking around. Daryl had found a knife before we left the room and led the way. We passed a bucket of pipes and I grabbed one. I followed Daryl as he opened a door.

We were outside. In front of us was a row of motorcycles. Daryl rushed to one of them. I stiffened as the man who took over for Dwight walked around a corner. He held a sandwich in his hand. He paused seeing us.

"What the hell?" Something dawned on him and he raised his hands. "Whoa. Whoa. It's cool, I swear. You two can walk right out that back gate there, and I won't say anything to anybody. I'm supposed to be there now, but listen I'm just trying to get by, just like the both of you."

The man pointed in a direction. We couldn't trust his word. He helped Negan try to trick me. Probably did the same to Daryl. I stepped towards him. It was safer to kill him, then to leave him alive.

"Please."

I ignored his plea as I swung the pipe. He was down to the ground in one swing. I continued pounding his head until I felt Daryl pull me away. I turned to look at him, pissed. He took a step back as his face became worried. Was he worried about me? Or did he think I was going to hurt him? I softened as I looked at him. I would never hurt him.

"Daryl? (Y/n)?"

I quickly turned ready to swing again. Only to see Jesus. I relaxed as he looked at the two of us. Jesus's eyes went to the man. My eyes followed. The man's head was caved in much like Abraham's. I could hear Negan laughing in my head. Just like your father. I did that. I killed that man. I flinched as Daryl's hand landed on my arm. He pulled the pipe from my hand and dropped it to the ground. He reached down and grabbed a gun from the man's side.

Daryl pulled a key from his pocket as he pulled out his bike from the line. I looked back over at Jesus. There were three of us. Only two could fit on a bike. I quickly stepped towards another bike. I did my best to hot wire it. Once it started, we moved quickly. The sound of the bikes would grab someone's attention. I shared a bike with Daryl as Jesus led the way to Hilltop.