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The lack of light let visions flicker through her mind as if it were a slide show. First was the knife. The look on Negan's face as he gripped it in her back pocket, alone, just the two of them in the apocalyptic woods. The way his eyes flickered from amusement to an indistinguishable, stomach swirling expression. The way she felt alone in the car, watching the man and his cohorts fight off an enormous crowd of walkers all as they piled through the sides of the woods, clawing and gnawing at the windows. The way the blood poured down her hand as she gripped the shard of glass tighter than she'd held anything before. Her consciousness of the boots she wore and the sounds they made as she sprinted into the woods. Everything after, her father's broken face of utter despair and the rivulet of blood on Olivia's cheek. It was as if it replayed over and over again, each thought flickering with every pump her stone heart gave.
It was strange the comfort a quiet, darkened room gave her, even as it allowed the brutal and awful memories to come swirling back all at once. Even with clammy hands and a perspiring forehead, the feeling of not knowing when her eyes were closed or open soothed her erratic heartbeat. The one thing that would have finished it off was a pair of headphones and a music player, something to drown her inevitable thoughts and the voices in her head telling her tragedy was imminent. But it was the end of the world and that just wasn't possible. She would have to work with the beat of her own heart, the only noise to be heard in the eerie, silent room.
Dropping her head and running her fingers through the sheets on what had come to be her new bed, her heart almost jumped out of her chest when the door opened and the lights flickered on. Dwight came strolling in, usual crossbow in his hands and Daryl's vest over his shoulders. Vada scowled and jumped to her feet.
"Doesn't anybody knock in this place?" She frowned, running a hand through her unkempt hair. Dwight's lips twitched, but it seemed as if he couldn't form a genuine smile.
"Sorry sweetheart, Negan's calling." He adjusted the weapon in his arms and hitched his chin. Sucking her lips together, Vada inhaled sharply.
"For what?" Her voice softened. She knew it was probably her punishment. He'd held it off long enough, which was already out of character for him. Her fingers started to tremble as she shuffled uncomfortably, pulling at the hem of her shirt.
"Can't tell you. But he's got a surprise," he spoke in a breathy tone. Vada furrowed her eyebrows.
"A surprise? Like," she stopped, her eyes flickering to the ground, "A violent one?"
Dwight managed a laugh. "Can't tell ya."
"I'd at least like to know if I'm getting a limb cut off or receiving a surprise party, Dwight, it's a pretty broad ter-"
