The Devils Daughter

71

I stay quiet and just nod my head, still yet something inside of me felt empty. Like a part of me has been killed. I feel the goosebumps start to appear on my arms, Rick's cold voice repeating over and over in my head.

"You okay?" Amber whispers behind me, "You look pale." I look over my shoulder and nod my head in reply before turning back to Rick who was already walking away. I knew where he was walking to, our home.

"How's Daryl?" He asks once we arrive to the steps. I shrug my shoulders as we start to climb the steps. He stops on the porch and turns to face me, "Is he dead?" He questions.

"No. He's not. Well I don't think he is. Dad wouldn't let me around him. But, I don't think he will kill him. He's like a carrot that he's going to dangle over your head. He'd be stupid to kill the only thing he has against you." I say as Rick turns back around and opens the door.

I stay behind him but peek around him. Everyone was in the living room, just sitting. Nobody was talking. A few heads turn and look at Rick, nobody had noticed me yet. "Guys we need to talk." He says before he moves out of my way.

Everyone's eyes widen. The first person I see coming to me is Maggie. Her arms engulf me, and I felt at home. I wrap my arms gently around her not wanting to make it too tight. "Are you okay?" I ask through a shaking voice.

She stays quiet but by the way her hair moves on my ear I can tell she's just nodding her head yes. I knew she was lying, but there's no time for any sob stories. "I missed ya." She whispers in my ear before pulling away.

Everyone else stands there with smiles on their faces. Everyone but Carl. I guess Maggie could feel my confusion before she takes a step back slightly to see my face more clearly.

"He's upstairs. Hasn't been out of his room in a couple days." I just nod my head, as much as I wanted to run up there and hug him, I just didn't have time to right now.

"I need to talk to you guys. About my dad." I say walking to the couch and sitting beside Aaron and Rosita. "I already explained to Rick, I'll give you guys a little run through and he can explain further." They all nod their head in unison.

"Take your time." Aaron whispers before patting my knee, I listen to the door open and watch as Sasha walks in and towards us. I look around at everyone, they all look so different even though we've only be separated for a couple days.

"He's planning a war. He wants to kill all of you." I motion over to Amber. "This is Amber. She helped me escape, she told me everything. We can trust her." She steps up awkwardly, as everyone begins to stare at her.

"Hi." She whispers out. "I heard all his plans. That's why I took Sarah and ran, I didn't want to be caught up in it." She mumbles. I stand up and walk next to her so she felt more comfortable. "He planning to attack in a week. But, considering that Sarah and I both ran away it might be much sooner. He does have more men back at The Sanctuary, way more than you guys saw." She finishes.

The air in the room was filled with tension. Nobody said a word as they took in all of Amber's words. I gently rub her back to calm her down. Rick stands there staring at the ground his jaw clenching and unclenching every so often.

"We need to get with the Hilltop. Carol and Morgan was talking about some place called The Kingdom. Maybe we could talk to them gather more people?" He says looking around, the silence was just a confirmation that everyone agreed.

"Great. We will split off into groups early tomorrow morning. I'll take a few with me, Dar-" He stops himself before sighing, "Michonne will take some with her. We all meet back here right at sunset. Got it?" We all nod.

"Can I go?" I ask, Rick places his hands on my shoulder and looks at me for a minute before shaking his head. I frown slightly, I knew it was dangerous but I wanted to help. It's the least I could do.

"I just think it would be best if you stayed here. It's dangerous out there. We already lost you once, we're not prepared to do it again." Michonne says as she steps up next to me, Rick drags his hands down my arms and then lets go.

"Please let me help. Just incase you guys try to make a deal with him, if he doesn't accept it I can be the next thing you use." I pause trying to think of the right thing to say, "I'll be your bait." I say staring at them.

They all stay quiet and exchange looks, they were speaking without words. A look I could understand nor read. Rick shrugs his shoulders and Michonne just sighs before walking back and sitting down on the couch in my original spot.

"Okay. Yeah, okay." Rick says before he looks between Amber and I, "She goes too." He says staring at her, she looks at me with a slight frown but then agrees. "You two can go upstairs and get cleaned up. Show her the guest room. But try and be quiet Carl is probably asleep." He says.

I nod and grab Ambers arm pulling her along with me as well tiptoe up the stairs. I push open the bathroom door and look around before letting her arm go. "You want to go first?" I ask.

"Please?" She asks, I smile and urge her to go on in. Once the door closes I walk down the hall to the guest room. I open the door and walk in, I smile and felt relief that I had actually made it back home.

I jump onto the bed and lay down face first until I hear shouting coming down the hall. I quickly jump up and run out, Amber was wrapped in a towel her eyes wide with fear. I look over and notice Carl holding a gun to her, his bad eye facing me so he couldn't see me.

"I said who the hell are you and what are you doing in my house?" He says venom dripping off his tongue as he glares her down. She stumbles over her words and he tightens his grip on his gun.

"Carl stop. She's with me." I say. I watch his entire body freeze, his grip on his gun easing up before his arm falls back to his side. He places his gun on the small table beside him, before ge turns around following the direction of my voice.

Once his good eye was facing me, his mouth slightly dropped open in shock. He stood there for a few minutes, just staring at me. Amber slowly slips around him and runs past me into the guest bedroom slamming the door behind her.

"Baby?"