Surviving All Out War (BOOK FIVE IN THE SURVIVING THE WALKING DEAD SERIES)

No Other Choice

"STOP!" Everyone stopped and turned towards the gates. I opened my eyes, my jaw slightly dropped in shock. A man. He stopped the execution. He stormed up to the gallows, his broad shoulders were rigid with anger, hidden underneath leather. He was furious, his eyes and body language said it all. His right hand clenched his weapon as he draped it over his shoulder. He finally stopped, looking up at me and Maggie. "Let 'er go."

"What are ya doin' here, Daryl?" I growled.

"I told ya I'm not gonna kill ya. I'm not gonna let them kill ya, either."

"I shot ya. I tried to kill ya."

"Ya only shot me because Negan accidentally made ya pull the trigger. Ya didn't want to shoot me."

"Because your pussy ass wouldn't hold a fuckin' gun to me. Ya wouldn't fight back."

"If me not fightin' back against my wife makes me a pussy, then I'm a fuckin' pussy."

"I'M NOT YOUR FUCKIN' WIFE!"

"YOU ARE! YOU'RE MY WIFE AND THOSE BABIES ARE MINE!" Daryl snarled. "Get that rope off 'er neck."

"Daryl-" Maggie began.

"Get 'er down, she's comin' with me."

"Rick said that she is to be executed immediately."

"Yeah? Well, fuck Rick. Ya ain't killin' my wife and kids." My eyes darted over to Kal as he began to walk towards me. I instantly stepped one foot off the stool in retaliation.

"Stay back, or I'll fuckin' drop." I snapped. Kal instantly froze and I turned back to Daryl. "You're ruinin' a perfectly good execution. I had a huge speech and everythin'! And ya think you can just waltz up in here and stop it? Take me with ya? I don't fuckin' think so!"

"You'd rather fuckin' die than come with me?" Daryl scoffed. "What about the babies? You'd rather them die?" I didn't respond. "Ya jump off that stool, ya kill your unborn children, do ya really want that?" I let out a sigh and put my foot back on the stool. "Get 'er down-"

"I have some requests."

"What?"

"If I'm goin' with ya, I have some requests."

"Name 'em."

"I want warmer clothes."

"Done."

"I want my fuckin' shit back."

"We'll see what ya got first. No weapons."

"My weapons, my shit."

"I can't trust ya yet. You'll get 'em when I can trust ya not to try and kill me with 'em." I let out a frustrated sigh. "Anythin' else?"

"MJ and Elijah are comin' with me."

"No." I instantly raised my foot and began to step off the stool. "STOP!" I looked down at Daryl and smiled. "Who are they?"

"My friends. MJ was assigned to protect me, Elijah is his son."

"Ya want me to bring the one person who was supposed to protect ya? Fuck that." I quickly kicked the stool out from underneath me, my feet hovered just an inch above the ground, the rope tightened around my throat, I struggled for air as my face began to turn red. Daryl began to pace back and forth, thinking to himself. "Alright, fine! Get 'er down!" Kal instantly ran over to me and lifted me into his arms as Eduardo removed the rope from my neck. I coughed as I gasped for air, smiling victoriously as Kal put me back on my feet. "Where are they?"