Gym Socks

Chapter 17

My head pounds as tears slip down my face. I knew this was stupid, this was the dumbest idea from the start. How could we possibly have thought our plan was going to work. I lay sobbing, legs tucked tightly against my body.

"Well aren't you beautiful?" A voice asks,  not nearly as husky or threatening as Negan's.

Earlier

I sit nervously in my room. Frankie and I have been staring at each other for what feels like an hour without speaking.

"So... is this the final plan?" Frankie asks finally breaking the silence.

"I suppose, we should probably go over it one more time though, just to be sure." I respond

"Okay so we gather our things and we wait until nightfall. Negan should be long gone by then." Frankie starts.

"And we create some sort of disturbance... I think we still have some fireworks in the basement we can set off outside." I add

"And then we leave from the opposite side of the building because the walkers will be drawn by the sound." Frankie continues

"Exactly. Then we head a mile up the road, there are always getaway cars there with the keys on the tire. We take one of the vehicles, head west, and everything is smooth sailing from there."

"Sounds like a plan." I smirk slightly to lighten the mood. We then begin to carefully pack our things, we wouldn't want the other wives to become suspicious. I put all my clothes in a bag and Frankie strategically grabs waters without it looking suspicious.

"Brooke, I'm scared." Frankie says as we watch the sun set.

"Me too." I say not sugarcoating anything. Finally it is pitch black outside. I sneak down to the basement and grab a few of the firecrackers we have from guiding walkers away. I take a few along with a lighter and head to the back of the sanctuary where Frankie is keeping watch.

I sneak out the metal door making sure to keep a rock there so I don't lock myself out.

I carefully place the firecrackers on the cement and light them, I then sprint back inside kicking the rock and running up the stairwell nobody uses. Frankie already waiting for me. I can hear the sound of popping echoing through the compound.

Frankie and I freeze when we hear people in the stairway. She grabs my hand and takes me through a random door leading to the third floor hallway.

We continue running, our bags bouncing against our backs as we go out the fire exit and down the stairs.

"Do you have it?" Frankie asks as we arrive at the fence. I pull out cutters to break a way through the fence for us and some zip ties to fix what will be destroyed. My hands are shaking as I cut us a way through and before I know it I am somehow sitting in the drivers seat of a black pick-up truck a mile up the road. We are both breathing so hard and fast I fear one of us may pass out.

Finally after a few minutes I start the vehicle and begin to drive, I'm not exactly sure where I am going because we didn't exactly add a map to the list of things to bring unfortunately.

After about two hours of driving the car begins to stall.

Wonderful. Just fucking peachy.

I get out of the vehicle and look under the hood but unfortunately I don't know jack shit about cars or engines and neither does Frankie.

After another couple of hours of trying to get the thing started we give up. The sun is beginning to rise and we can't be seen in daylight. We take all of our supplies and walk up a dirt road. We eventually reach a cabin that is a little warn but is still in good shape. I pull out my knife and knock on the side of the walls to hear if there is movement.

Luckily nothing.

We stay in there for a while until we begin to hear commotion outside. Both of us look at each other in shock, confusion, and maybe a hint of fear.

"They found us, we are so dead." Frankie whispers and I shake my head.

"No way. It can't be them." I whisper back and signal for her to stay put as I creep around the cabin trying not to step on any creaky floorboards. I peek out the window and see a group of three men. Very 'redneck' type of men. They all look to be in there late forties some maybe older then that. They are just standing smoking cigarettes and ones drinking a beer.

"Is it them?" Frankie asks so quietly I almost didn't even hear her speak. I shake my head no. But honestly Negan has so many men working for him that they could be a few of his saviors. Hopefully they are just passing by.

I panic on what to do I reach for my pistol first and then my AR-15 we stole. I tell Frankie to pull her handgun out too and she does nervously.

"We May have to fight our way out of this one." I explain

Maybe if I can sneak out around the back I can surprise them. I carefully open the back door and slide my way out as quiet as I can.

I finally am able to squeeze myself out of the doorway and am just about to turn towards the men when I hear a deep voice.

"Put yer weapons down or I'll blow yer fucking brains out."

At first I freeze, the voice almost sounded like Negan's but it's not. I hold my positioning without moving.

"Put down yer damn weapons, I'm not gunna tell ya again." He repeats as I put down my weapons and turn to face the voice.

He's younger than the other men, maybe in his thirties.

"Hey guys, would ya lookie at what I found?" He calls spitting at the ground. I can't help but to scrunch my nose.

I can't believe this is happening.

"Now what are you doing out here all by your lonesome self?" Another man asks eyeing me.

"Hey we've got another one in here!" Another man calls. I turn around and see him pulling Frankie out by the upper arm. I want to fight, scream, and kick but I can't.

I freeze.

The men eventually take us and hold us at gunpoint sticking bags over our heads. They make us walk for at least twenty minutes. I try to make a run for it a time or two but get smack harshly in the head with the back of a gun.

We are eventually pushed to the ground and I grab Frankie's hand tightly. The bags are removed from our heads and finally I can see. We our still outdoors in the middle of the open woods. There are some tents and a fire pit but nothing much. Pretty risky considering a herd could come through anytime.

My head pounds as tears slip down my face. I knew this was stupid, this was the dumbest idea from the start. How could we possibly have thought our plan was going to work. I lay sobbing, legs tucked tightly against my body. I refuse to look at these men.

"Well aren't you beautiful?" A voice asks, not nearly as husky or threatening as Negan's.