traded my life [TWD]

『86』

TW mentions of the SA by the governor to hyejin and maggie

hyejin is more detailed this time so please be careful and read at your own risk

I cringe when the Governor grabs my bound hands and pulls me to my feet. He moves me from one part of the RV to another, sitting against the wall by Michonne's feet.

I rip my limbs free from him and stare at the floor. He gets Hershel as well, letting him sit in the booth beside Michonne.

I flinch when he reaches to his jacket pocket and tosses a bag on my lap.

"Y'all should eat. It's gonna be a long day," he says. "Nobody's gonna hurt you."

"That's what you said last time," I state, never looking away from the floor.

"I didn't hurt you last time. I just-"

"You just, what?" I hiss, looking up at him. "You just laid me and my best friend over a table and.. and.."

I exhale sharply.

"Laughed as you did what you did? Watched us hold hands while you-"

"Hyejin," Hershel calls, his voice tight.

I close my eyes and try to breathe.

"Just tell us what this is," Hershel tells the Governor. "We've been down this road and you know how it ended last time. Don't get more people killed."

"None of this is personal," the Governor denies.

"Then, what is it?"

"Michonne, I want you to know.. Penny, my daughter, she was dead. I know that now. I don't blame you for killing her."

He turns his back to us. I contemplate if I stand up fast enough and wrap my tied-up hands around his neck.. how long until he choked out and died?

"What I did to you.. To Hyejin.. To Maggie," he lists off. "That was just masculine and primal rage."

"You piece of shit!" it slips from my lips.

"I'm gonna take my sword and gut you like the pathetic piece of-"

"Stop it," Hershel urges Michonne and me. "So, if this isn't personal.. Is it survival? You want the prison?"

"Yeah," Governor answers. "And I'll take it as peacefully as I can."

 "Governor-"

"Don't call me that," Governor cuts Hershel off this time. 

"We can find a way," Hershel urges. "Rather than risking lives and taking hostages- just have a conversation with Rick."

Rick.

My heart aches and I bow my head. I left Rick on uneasy terms. We were borderline arguing. If that was our last conversation..

"The people you need to keep alive- do you love them?" Hershel questions.

"You're a good man, Hershel. A better man than Rick. But, there is no possibility of conjoining our groups. Michonne, Rick, Hyejin.. half of your group would kill me in my sleep."

"I'd rather watch the life slip from your eyes," I comment. "Well.. eye."

Michonne raises her chin. "Or, I can take that one out, too."

"Girls," Hershel scolds.

I glance up at Hershel and sigh.

"We can find a way-"

"I found a way!" Governor cuts Hershel off. "This way.. this way you get to live and I get to be.."

I wish I didn't flinch when Governor stood up, but I did. Each movement he made put me on edge.

"You say you want to take this prison as peacefully as possible. That still means you'd be willing to hurt people to get it. My daughters are in there. Hyejin's infants are in there," Hershel points out.

As if I couldn't be any more sad, the reminder of Woojin sends a sharp pain through my entire body.

"If you understand what it's like to have a child.. how can you threaten to kill someone else's?" Hershel asks.

The Governor barely hesitates. "Because they aren't mine."

I jump again when the door shuts behind him. Then, my body trembles. I pull my knees to my chest, fighting to keep the tears in my eyes.

"Do you honestly think we can just move on from what he's done?" Michonne asks. "As a man.. you'll never understand what he put us through. Your own daughter."

"I just want there to be peace.. No casualties," Hershel admits.

It's quiet for a few seconds. I sniffle as more and more intrusive thoughts flood my brain.

"If anything happens to me.."

"Hyejin," Hershel scolds. 

"Can you both make sure Woojin is safe?" I ask, looking up at them. "Make sure Rick doesn't lose himself.. Judith. Carl.."

"If anything happens.. I'll look after them," Michone swears. "With everything I am."

I wipe my tears on my arm, having to bend it awkwardly to maneuver the restraints around my wrists. 

"If anything.." Hershel hesitates. "If anything happens to me.."

He can't finish his words.

I don't know if it is because he didn't want to think about the worst possibilities or if naming Maggie, Beth, and Glenn's names out loud would make everything harder.

"Of course," I promise.

Michonne rests her head against the wall. She doesn't say anything and that makes me feel horrible.

She was finally opening up. She didn't have anyone to worry about. She was just now, finally, coming around to the idea of our family.

And when we least expected it, at our lowest of lows after battling the illness, the Governor struck. 

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

yes I'm using my uni skills to make memes don't look at me and no i wont stop