A Brother's Influence (A Daryl Dixon Story) Part Three

Hostage

Chapter 10

Hostage

Merle

"Why did you come? I asked you when there was a chance for you and Chloe to live here. There are no more chances now. Now, we're stuck in this shit hole waiting on them to decide how to kill us. They're probably stick us in a hole with some Biters. The Governor is not nice enough to just put a bullet in our heads. He's going to make sure we suffer." He turned to look at Chloe, "Especially after what you did sweetheart. You took the man's eye. He's killed for less, a lot less." Merle shook his head and chuckled. Damn female.

"I'm not going to let him hurt Chloe." Daryl stated fiercly.

"You don't have a say in this little brother. The deal is done. Your fate was sealed the moment you walked through that gate. What the hell were you thinking?" Merle still couldn't comprehend that decision.

"Merle, how do you get caught up with people like the Governor? All my life it's been this way. Don't you ever think about doing what's right? Even once? Do you realize you were the only role model I had besides Dad? What chance did I have?" Daryl looked for something in Merle's eyes to show him that Merle understood what he was saying but he saw nothing. No regret, no shame.

"Guys, this isn't going to help us. We need to find a way out of here. Merle, isn't there anyone here that would be willing to help us? You?" Chloe chimed in before a full fight could break out, she has seen it many times before.

Merle looked at her then thought of Reegan. The one woman who accepted Merle for Merle. With all his bad qualities, she still thought there was good in him. She was wrong. "No miss smarty pants, there isn't, Ol' Merle is a loner, I don't need anyone."

Before Chloe or Daryl could make a comment, Martinez came around the corner. "The Governor wants to have a word with you Merle."

"Yeah? Well tell him I'm busy." Merle sat back on his heels, defiant even in the face of danger. Before anyone knew it, Martinez took his right foot and kicked Merle so he'd fall backwards onto his ass. Daryl jumbed up but one of the goons that was with Martinez cocked his gun at Daryl's head, "Sit down." He commanded.

Merle shook his head and thought that before he died, Martinez was going to get his. "Alright, alright, I'm getting up, no need to fuss with them." Merle bit back any remaining comment he may have had.

The two men left with Merle back to the Governor. Chloe looked at Daryl who was still looking after the men after they left. "What do you think is going on?" Chloe nervously bit her nail looking for some reassuarance from Daryl.

"They're probably at the back fence right now. But those assholes are probably still watching the fence. They may be just waiting for an opening. Until then, we need to do our best to stay alive." Daryl didn't want to scare Chloe but both of them knew the risk before they came here. "This is the only way we are going to stop this."

Chloe looked beautiful, even through the layer of dusk and harsh conditions that she has had to endure. Daryl's heart wouldn't be able to take it if something happened to her. He would do whatever he had to, kill whoever he had to if it meant protecting her.

Before Chloe could answer Daryl, the door slammed opened and Merle was shoved back inside the room, bloody and beatened. "I'm free again next week if you all want another date. Assholes." Merle always had to have the last word, no matter what it meant and he knew that comment would cost him. Martinez's man walked back to where Merle had fallen and gave him another boot to the face. Daryl jumped up and went towards the guy but the man quickly pulled out a gun and aimed it at Chloe. "One more step and I put a hole through her pretty, little head." That instantly made Daryl stop, he gave the man a look that said I will kill you. The man laughed at Daryl and backed out of the room, closing the door behind him.