Wanderlust

Torture

Daryl's truck came to a skidding halt in front of the gates to the kingdom. Feeling a relief seeing the familiar truck of Rick's was short lived as he thought about Gypsy again. Screaming at the guards to open the gate, he waited impatiently as they creaked open. Running inside, Daryl's eyes darted here and there looking for any familiar faces. Finally spying Rick and Ezekiel he broke into a run to get to them.

Turning his head, Rick first began to smile seeing Daryl barrel his way towards then but the smile was quickly replaced with concern as he saw the look of anger, desperation and fear on Daryl's face. Whatever what was going on with him, certainly wasn't good.

"Daryl!" Rick called, giving him a small wave.

Ezekiel looked up and became immediately concerned seeing Daryl but not Gypsy.

"Rick....Ezekiel...." Daryl huffed, trying to catch some air "the time is now, we have to fight.....now" Daryl finished, looking at each man desperately

"Easy brother" Rick said softly "We will, but we're not ready just yet but we will be....soon"

"No!" Daryl shouted "It has to be now!"

Rick stared at Daryl stunned. He had never seen Daryl like this and it was not sitting well with him at all.

"Daryl.....where's Gypsy?" Ezekiel said quietly

"Gypsy?" Rick asked

Both men could see the look of pain clearly on Daryl's face.

"I found her Ezekiel" Daryl said softly "She was at Hilltop and was fine. We were on our way back when we were trapped by savior vehicles....I didn't think they ever used that road....." he trailed off

"Daryl?" Ezekiel said a little panicked

Daryl shook his head trying to clear his thoughts.

"Yeah, so anyway....I told her to run but she wouldn't, she said I should run because they wouldn't harm her that she was under your protection....I believed her and escaped into the woods. I watched as Negan talked to her....he said that he had been looking for her? Then they took her....Ezekiel why was Negan looking for her?" Daryl asked as his heart hammered in his chest.

Ezekiel shook his head and rubbed his face with his hands, this situation was not good.

"Before she came here, Gypsy was captured by the saviors.....Negan took a great interest in her and wanted her to be one of his wives, badly. She refused him for months and so he tortured and kept her locked in a cell. Eventually she agreed to "marry" him and on their wedding day when she was finally free of her shackles, she escaped. I heard he was furious and killed a number of his people for letting it happen and from what others have said he was moving mountains trying to find her. I didn't know any of this when she found us but someone else that had escaped the sanctuary and came here, recognized her and told me what had happened." Ezekiel finished with tears in his eyes.

"He'll kill her" Daryl choked

"No.....he won't Daryl, that would be merciful. He thinks he loves her but his idea of love is so far beyond twisted.....she'll be kept alive but I shudder to think of the torture he has planned for her. Rick, Daryl is right....we need to move, soon. Gypsy is like a daughter to me and if I'm not mistaken, Daryl here has grown quite fond of her" Ezekiel said looking at Daryl who nodded back.

Rick scratched his beard and sighed deeply. Normally he wouldn't risk the lives of his people for one person, they weren't ready for this fight yet but looking at Ezekiel then Daryl he knew they had to get ready. It was obvious Ezekiel cared very much for this girl.....and so did Daryl. He also knew with or without the group, Daryl would be headed to the sanctuary to try and save her and he couldn't let that happen, he couldn't watch Daryl get captured, not again. Nodding his head he saw both men sigh in relief. Whoever she was he hoped she was worth all of this.