𝖣𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗌 𝖪𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗌 𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖬𝖾 | ᴅᴀʀʏʟ ᴅɪxᴏɴ ³

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ ᴏɴᴇ

«LOCKED UP»

DARYL WAS HAVING his way with Dante, after restraining him and securing him in the infirmary with bound hands. Dante's actions have murdered Siddiq and when Rosita walked in on him he attempted harm on her and Coco as well.

Poor baby had to watch her father being taken down by her mother to protect her from him. Dante had left him to turn and set him out on his wife and daughter.

Rosita herself was visibly shaken and in a dire state as she joined them in the infirmary.

"Hope that hurts," Daryl grunted, delivering another punch to Dante's face.

"It doesn't matter," Dante breathed. "None of this matters. Watch enough people get incinerated, devoured alive, you see how ridiculous it is getting attached to ourselves"

He continued. "But knowing that sets you free."

Chloe glanced up at Daryl, observing him as he lit a cigarette. He had managed to quit smoking, but the stress seemed to resurrect his old habit.

"Is that what you're doing?" Carol questioned. "Setting us free?"

"If you learn that lesson, it'll only help you," Dante replied.

"What, so we can be more like you?" Daryl asked him.

"Accept the future," he said.

John stepped forward, a smirk playing on his lips. "You talk a lot for a man tied up and beaten."

Dante chuckled, blood dripping from his split lip. "It's all a joke, you know? Life, death, all of it. We're just players in a sick game, and nobody really cares."

"You think this is a game?"

"Of course," Dante replied with a twisted grin. "And I played my part well. Brought chaos, death, and destruction. It's liberating."

"You're just a twisted son of a bitch," John spat back.

Meanwhile, Merle kept a watchful eye.

"Siddiq depended on you," Gabriel stated. "Why put him through all that hell in the barn just to kill him months later? I can't see an ideology behind that."

"I liked Siddiq," Dante admitted, his expression finally betraying some emotions.

"Oh, you liked him?" Rosita retorted from the corner, restraining herself from launching an attack.

"He wasn't part of the plan," Dante explained. "But he found out who I was, so I had no choice."

"What plan?" Chloe pressed.

Dante maintained silence for a moment, meeting Chloe's intense gaze with a softer one. "Encourage your paranoia about us, leading to poor decisions," he disclosed.

"I knew ya were trouble from the moment you walked in," Merle chimed in. "But you're right about one thing. I'll give ya that. We've grown too soft, letting people like you in."

"Places like this make cruel promises to their people, and they crumble at the smallest nick," Dante continued. "Hell, I'm going to enjoy watching you tear each other apart over what to do with me. Just like with Negan."

"Is that what you want?" Gabriel inquired. "A public reckoning? A chance to be heard?"

"That's what you'll give me," Dante responded. "Because it's right."

"We helped you," Rosita interjected, her voice nearly breaking.

"Why?" Dante retorted. "'Cause you wanted another doctor around? You got something from me, too. Don't pretend you didn't."