WITH YOU | TWD

[16] CAPTURED

"Come on out. Let's talk."

Rick's voice echoed through the silence woods. Charlie stood tense and alert next to Maggie and Carol, the weight of their situation pressing down on her.

"We're not coming out, but we will talk," replied the woman with ginger hair, stepping forward until she was face to face with Charlie. Her eyes were cold, calculating. "Names."

Charlie stared back, refusing to show any sign of fear. "Maggie, Carol," she said, her voice steady. "I'm Charlie."

The ginger-haired woman nodded slowly, a smirk playing on her lips. "We've got a Carol, a Maggie, and a Charlie," she repeated into her radio. "I'm thinking that's something you want to chat about. And it's going to go our way."

"You can see we have one of yours," Rick answered. "We'll trade."

The ginger-haired woman paused, considering. "I'm listening," she said, once again speaking into the radio.

"First I want to make sure they're all right."

The woman nodded, seemingly agreeing to Rick's terms. She turned on her heel and walked over to where Carol, Maggie, and Charlie were standing, her eyes scrutinizing each of their faces. This time, she seemed to decide to give someone else a chance to speak. "I'll know if you try anything else," she warned, her tone icy.

"Rick, it's Carol..." her voice was shaking.

"Oh, not you." she rolled her eyes, annoyed by the woman's shaky voice. She passed Maggie, then stopped right in front of Charlie. "You."

"Rick, it's Charlie. We're all okay. We'll figure this out, so don't..."

"Shut up," the woman interrupted, rolling her eyes again. "Now, let's talk."

"This is the deal. Let them go, you can have your guy back and live."

"Three for one? That's not much of a trade."

"You don't have another choice." Rick said. "Or you would do something about it."

Silence hung in the air, thick with tension. Charlie stood there, listening to the bickering, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on her. The quiet moments stretched out, each second feeling like an eternity.

"Do we have a deal?"

The woman glanced at Charlie, then back at the radio. "I'll get back to you," she said curtly, before signaling her people.

The last thing she remembered was being led through the forest with Maggie and Carol, and now she found herself in a dimly lit room. Charlie blinked, trying to make sense of her surroundings. Maggie was seated next to her, her expression a mixture of concern and determination.

"You're wondering if there's a way out of this." the Ginger said. "There isn't. Not unless I say so." she turned to Carol.

Sitting on the ground with her legs taped, she locked eyes with the ginger-haired woman who stood over her with a stern expression. The room felt smaller now, the air thick with tension. The woman turned her attention to Charlie, studying her with an intensity.

"Don't look at me that way," she said. "I already want to kill you all. It's taking all I have not to, so don't test me."

Soon all three were left alone in the room as their capturers left. After the doors were closed and they heard the gunfire from behind it, they scanned their surroundings, searching desperately for anything that could help them break free from their bonds. Their captors had been thorough, leaving nothing within reach that could aid in their escape.