Determined to Endure: The 4th Installment in my Daryl Dixon Love Story

Chapter 19: New Relationships

Negan places me in a room with a women named Shelly. She wasn't one of the wives that I talked to for an hour the day before. That night, we introduce ourselves and she brings me a plate of food. She leaves afterwards, and when I wake up in the morning she's sleeping. I run my hand down the book case, eyeing some of the titles. My brain races with more questions. The women didn't answer everything I asked, they couldn't. They only know so much, and what I was asking were things they didn't know. As I stand in the room in thought, a voice pulls me out, "rumor is he killed two? That true?"

I look over my shoulder. The women is now sitting on the edge of the bed, throwing a dress over her head. I answer, "yeah."

She exhales, stands and then asks, "and he asked you to come?" She refers to Negan. I nod, having nothing further to add. She simply responds, "hope it's worth it for you." And leaves me in the room.

I get a tour of the sanctuary that morning from someone named fat Joey. I guess he's nice, but I can't stand to try and let myself think that way. If they are here as a savior, they need to die. Most corridors have bedrooms in them and I try to memorize the floor plan. He takes me to the main hall for lunch and explains how the points system works for the people. I watch as men, women and children all work at different stations. None of them talk or look at one another, they all work. Fat joey says, "as a wife, you can ask for whatever you want and they'll give it to yah. Here.." he pulls me along, "tell em what kind of sandwich you want?"

"I'm— I'm not hungry" I reply, the women in front of me standing towards me but her eyes are averted down.

"She'll take a cucumber, tomato sandwich with mustard." He tells the women. She nods and gets to work on making it. When she's done she hands it over to me. I don't take it, so fat Joey does and he digs right in, "I'm tellin' ya, it's good havin' perks, you don't wanna be down on the floor." He says with a mouth full.

I nod, telling him I get it. He shows me a bit more of the inside but when I come to a large two door entrance, he tells me to turn around, "what's over here?" I ask him, curious to know every inch.

"Just the cells." He answers. My heart picks up, figuring this could be were they are keeping Daryl. I don't push it further, and fat Joey walks me back to my room, "Negan will see you for dinner at 6 o'clock tonight. We've laid out some clothing choices for you." He shuts the door to the room when he leaves and I turn back around to look at the clothes.

All of the dresses are black, and clearly tight fitting. I find the most modest one and place the others on a chair. I got to shower in the morning, so I take the braid out of my hair I threw in earlier and finger out the waves. I spot some makeup on the dresser and go over to use some. I put on some mascara and blush, before changing into the dress. I sit in the room in silence for 4 hours before someone comes to get me, "are you ready?" The voice calls through the door after knocking.

I put on a pair of shoes, the only ones they left that fit me and open the door, "ready" I say, not smiling. They walk me to Negan's sitting room or something and they knock twice before moving to walk away. I look at them as they move and turn my head to the door as it opens.

Negan smiles from the other side of the door and says, "well now you're lookin like one of my wives. Come in!" He moves aside for me to enter. I walk in slowly, and he shuts the door behind me. He puts the tips of his fingers on my shoulder and leans in from behind to whisper, "can I get you a drink?"

I say, "sure" hoping a drink will help ease the feeling of dread I've had since I arrived here.

He walks over, pours a glass of something red and returns to hand it to me, "to new friends" he goes to clink.

"To new relationships" I return. He pulls his glass away before I could cheers it and he looks at me with wide eyes and a smirk. I elaborate, "not sure about the wife thing yet, but we'll see."

"I knew you'd like it here." He clinks his glass to mine and we both take a sip. Negan guides me to sit down at the table and he serves me a plate of salad. Once he serves himself, he says, "tell me about yourself." I start to rattle off some things about me from before the world broke, meaningless crap, but he quickly stops me, "no, no. Tell me about you now, why did you agree to come here with me?"

I think on what he asked, not wanting to say the wrong answer. I slowly start, "well, I wanted to make sure you don't hurt Daryl."

"Daryl's gotta make sure I don't hurt Daryl." He spits back.

I shrug and return, "but if I could, in anyway, have some kind of help in your decision to keep him around, I needed to take that chance."

He pushes his lips together, "well, I know Daryl boy is strong but he'll break, they all do. But if he doesn't, then you better hope what you have to offer is mighty good if you want me to keep him around."

"It is." I assure him, knowing I need to come off as confident and strong if I want him to stay interested in me.

"We'll see then, won't we." He winks, stabbing his fork into his salad before eating it.