In This Life

Chapter 19

Hey y'all! 

Hoping everyone is enjoying the story so far! There's more to come.

So, question: I have had many requests for a second book/spin off? Yes/No? I'd love to write one, but I wanna hear what y'all have to say! I don't plan on ending this one too quickly, but I already have a few sequel ideas. ;)

Anyways,

Enjoy!

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Since the outbreak, a dark, painful hole burned deep in the pit of my stomach and kept growing into the vast crater it now was. But, until this day, this moment, seeing Daryl's limp, blood soaked body hanging limply from two men's arms, I had never felt more agony throb from that hole. It bubbled up and over the brim of my heart soaring throughout my body, leaving me nothing but the feeling of ultimate guilt and pain. Everything; all the pain and suffering that has troubled Daryl since I joined the group, has all been caused by me. My legs grew wobbly and my balance became unstable as this realization sunk in.

Martinez and the other man struggled to hold up Daryl as they kept shifting and pulling him upwards until his arms rested across their shoulders. His head hung down towards the ground and his body shrunk low as gravity taunted his unconscious figure. 

A deep chuckle broke my attention from Daryl, causing my eyes to flash up to meet a devilish sneer. The Governor's piercing blue eyes held my gaze as he studied me, and I him. "Well." He cleared his throat, as if announcing his turn to speak. "Now that I have your attention.." He began to slowly pace back and forth, like a predator stalking his prey, never taking his eyes off me. 

I slowly stepped away from the remaining cover the trees provided and into the clearing, weary of my steps. I continued to creep forward until I was mere yards from the Governor and the two men, still sporting an almost lifeless-like Daryl. My eyes never left Daryl, even as the Governor slowly crept forward towards me.

I flinched back in shock as I felt the sudden warmth of the Governor's presence, not realizing he had approached me. His chest heaved up and down, nearly hitting me, seeing how close he was to me. The man who is the cause of all the pain Rick's group endured - and I endured - is inches from me, breathing thick, hot air down the front of my body. I shivered as the contrast of his body heat and the crisp, Georgia night wracked my body. He slowly drew his hand up, causing me to instinctively shrivel back. He hesitated before drawing his hand closer to my face, slowly pushing lose strands of my matted, brown hair behind my ears and away from my face, then cupping my chin in his large, calloused hand and jerking my face to meet his.

A genuine grin took the place of his usual devilish smile, causing me to be transfixed in curiosity. Why was he suddenly so keen on playing nice?

After a few moments of taking in each others presence, I finally pursed my lips impatiently. "Why don't you kill me already." I half demanded, half curiously wondered.

He cocked his head to the side before letting out a small chuckle. "Kill you? Ah, no." He shook his head back and forth. "I have lots in store for you."  He slowly slipped his hand back over my shoulder, sweeping my crossbow and quiver off my back and letting them fall to the ground. He then glided his hand down my back to where I had stashed one of his men's guns in the back of my shorts, pulling it out and letting it fall to the ground as well, leaving me with my hunting knife, the knife hidden in my bra and my belt of throwing knives, easily able to over look due to it being hidden by my oversized shirt.