Our Extinction Event {Daryl Dixon}

Key In The Lock

Daryl knew it was probably a trap, but at the same time, he didn't care. This damn song was driving him crazy. The door was left unlocked, giving him the opportunity he needed to try to find his wife and get the both of them out of there. He didn't know if it being unlocked was just a setup or if Fat Joey was just too stupid to remember to lock the door. As he carefully navigated down through hallways that all looked the same, he had an encounter with one of Negan's wives. It was the same one he had seen before, visiting the doctor for a pregnancy test. And the one he'd encountered in the burned forest. Dwights wife. She had warned him to return, to go back to his cell. To save himself from a worse fate, before telling him that she would keep Parker safe. The mention of his wife's name had only fueled Daryl's desire to escape, so he didn't say anything to Sherry and ran off to where the motorcycles were. He'd find an operable one and then find wherever they were keeping Parker. Just when he thought he was free, the doors opened and he found himself surrounded. A whistle caught his attention and he saw Negan calmly approaching. He walked through the circle and stood in front of Daryl, surrounded by his men. Laughing, he looked around, the least bit surprised at his attempted escape.

"Are we pissin' our pants yet?" After a pause in which he looked at Daryl, he smiled expectantly. "Who are you?" He pointed his bat at Fat Joey who had purposely left the cell door unlocked.

"Negan."

"Who are... you?" Negan asked, pointing his bat behind him.

"Negan."

"Who are you?" Negan asked the group, his arms held out as he waited.

"Negan," Everyone declared at once.

"You see that?" Negan laughed, letting Lucille fall to his side. "I am everywhere. And this was your shot to prove to me that that fundamental fact was sinking in, and you failed. Which sucks, because your life was about to get so much cooler. Am I right?"

"Damn right," A man from behind him nodded. Negan slammed the bat on the ground at Daryl's feet and he moved away a little each time. He clicked his tongue disappointedly.

"Now, Dwight gave you some options. I don't think you get it yet. So I'm gonna break it down for you. You get three choices. One, you wind up on the spike and you work for me as a dead man. Two, you get out of your cell, you work for points, but you're gonna wish you were dead. Or three, you work for me. You get yourself a brand-new pair of shoes, and you live like a king! Choice seems pretty obvious. You should know, there is no door number four.  Unless you want there to be. That door will be for someone else though. And... we'll see what happens to that beautiful wife of yours if you choose to open that door." Daryl flinched at the mention of Parker, but Negan didn't notice. "This is it," Negan said. "This is the only way," He let out a humourous sigh. "Screw it." He then swung the bat, stopping just before it came into contact with Daryl's skull. He didn't even flinch and Negan laughed again. "Wow!" Negan stared, amazed at the fact. "You don't scare easy. I love that. Just like your wife... or should I say ex-wife? Anyway, she doesn't scare easy either. But Lucille... well, it kinda pisses her off. She finds it to be disrespectful. Lucky for you, she's not feelin' too thirsty today. But.. I am. So... I'm going to get me a drink!" With that he left, walking away from his men as Daryl threw the first punch. It didn't end well for him, and he ended up back in his cell, in more pain than before. Negan, however, ran into Parker on his way back inside and found her crying. "Whoa, what the hell's wrong with you?"

"Where are Daryl's clothes?" Parker asked, trying to wipe away her tears before Negan saw them. "I thought I saw them down in the market but I need them."

"And why is that?" Negan asked, swinging Lucille in a circle, not taking anything seriously. Parker hesitated for a moment, trying to keep herself from snapping at him. She wiped her nose on her sleeve, sniffling slightly.