I was alone in the back of the van, the doors wide open and people staring in at me like I was an animal in a zoo. They had taken Daryl away from me to god knows where. Negan appeared in front of the wide open space and blocked the sunlight that flooded in the van. He flashed his teeth at me.

"How was the ride," Negan asked. I stayed silent, my head down with my arms wrapped around my knees. "C'mon, beautiful, we've got places to go and people to see." He held his hand out to me. I lifted my head, my eyes locking on it. Another wave of sickness pushed itself onto me. That was the hand of the man that murdered my friends, that swung the bat. I sat there in fear. "Don't worry, I don't bite... not on the first date, anyway," Negan chuckled through his teeth. He was gonna kill me if I didn't do it, someone with a gun in their hands carefully watching me in the distance. I forced myself to place my hand in his. It trembled. Negan sighed happily as he brushed his thumb over the surface of my skin. He assisted me out of the van, letting go of my hand once my feet touched the ground.

"I'm trusting you to follow my lead. You know what'll happen if you don't," Negan threatened, trekking ahead of me while I reluctantly followed after him. He led me around a corner, a bunch of people suddenly dropping to their knees. I stopped in my tracks, startled at the movement. Negan turned around to face me once he noticed the absence of my presence behind him. "C'mon, sweetheart, they won't hurt you." He held his hand out to me again. I shakily stepped over to him, sliding my hand into his. "Good girl."

I stumbled over the threshold of Negan's sanctuary, frigid air and darkness clouding the halls. People continued to drop to their knees as Negan and I passed them. He whisked me into a room, shutting the door behind him. His heavy footsteps clunked their way to the front of me, his face inches from mine. Lucille rested on his shoulder menacingly. My line of vision darted to the ground, my whole body tense.

"You won't even look at me," he sneered, his voice low. "You're scared aren't you?" I stayed silent, my focus on trying not to cry out of fear. Negan grabbed my face, squeezing it tightly. "Look at me." My eyes darted back to lock with his, my breathing quickening. "Answer me," he growled. "You're scared aren't you, Princess?"

"No," I whispered, my voice wavering as I lied.

"You're lying. Don't do that. What needed to happen happened and now you're safe. See that?" Negan motioned towards the bed. "That's where you're gonna sleep. Why don't you test it out? I bet it's way more comfortable than the one you've been sleeping in."

"I—"

"I'll leave you alone for awhile, let you sleep. You deserve it for being such a good girl for all of your friends back there. Surely you do, right," he asked me softly while his thumb brushed over my cheek. I nodded, frightened to rebel. "Feel free to shower too. You look so fucking sexy with blood all over you, but I don't need you dirtying my sheets. I'll be back soon," he smiled, closing me inside. I cautiously shuffled over to the shower in the corner of the room. I peered my head inside, slowly turning on the water. I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath, attempting to relax even though my body was as stiff as a board.

A presence lingered next to me when I woke. My eyes fell on Negan who was sleeping, his shirt non-existent. My eyes widened in panic. When did he get here? Did he do anything to me? I didn't feel any different. I turned away from him, quickly getting out of bed.

"Don't," Negan hollered, making me jump. I felt myself tense as his heavy footsteps slowly crept up behind me. I faced the door, not daring to turn around. Negan placed Lucille next to my face. "Don't you ever try to leave or you'll end up like your friends." He made a popping noise as he threateningly thrusted Lucille forward. I squeezed my eyes shut. "You're gonna be in my company for a hell of a long time." A furious knock on the door interrupted us, the sudden noise almost shocking my heart. Negan swung open the door. "What the fuck do you want?"

"That new guy we've been keeping in the cell, he got out," a man said, breathing heavily like he'd been running. Negan angrily stormed to the other side of the room. Daryl? He escaped?

"How the fuck," he bellowed, throwing his shirt over his head.

"I don't know, sir, but we got him surrounded."

"Get the fuck out of my way," Negan snarled, grabbing my wrist and dragging me behind him. "Have I got a surprise for him," he chuckled. We burst through a set of doors. A group of guys with guns stood in a tight circle. Negan released my wrist, sauntering towards them.

"Well, well, well... look who thought he could try to get past us!" The group stepped to the side, Daryl in a prisoner's jumpsuit catching my eye. A scream tried to claw its way up my throat, but I swallowed it back down. My palms began to sweat. "This really sucks! Your life was about to get so much cooler. Dwight even gave you some options, but you don't get it yet... how sad," he grinned while unveiling my presence. "I brought a guest with me." Daryl's face softened. I almost spoke to him as he began to step towards me, but Negan was quick to jump in front of him.

"Not cool," he scolded him, silence sweeping over the scene. Sweat dotted my forehead. "Screw it," Negan muttered, raising Lucille and bringing it down towards Daryl's head only to stop inches away from making contact. I almost threw up my entire heart. "Wow, you don't scare easy! I love that, but it kinda pisses Lucille off. Lucky for you she's not feeling too thirsty today, but I am. So, I'm gonna go get me a drink and your woman is gonna keep me company," Negan snickered, approaching me. He seized my wrist and dragged me back inside. Everything seemed to be happening so fast, my head swirling. I found myself back in the room, sitting on the bed. My vision became fuzzy as he sat down in a leather chair across from me, smirking as he drank in my figure. "I didn't scare you too bad out there, did I sweetheart?"

"N-no," I muttered, rubbing my temple in hopes to soothe my eyes.

"Good," he grinned. It was quiet. I sat there, staring at the ground and circling my thumbs around each other. "You ever have sex with him? Daryl," Negan questioned. I stopped what I was doing, my cheeks beginning to burn. He chuckled at the sight of the deep blush painting my face, tilting his head to the side to observe me in my flustered state; he thought it was hot. "I bet I can make you feel a whole lot better than he could. I can do whatever you want, wherever you want..." I almost couldn't hear him, the sound of my heartbeat taking over my ears. "You're such a sweet girl, staying loyal to him in all this." Negan smirked as he leaned forward to place his elbows on his knees, proposing an offer. "If you let me take care of you, I promise I'll keep him safe." I cautiously gazed up at him. He stared at me smugly.

"Y-you'd do that," I asked timidly.

"Oh yeah." He nodded, biting his lip. "I won't harm a greasy little hair on that man's head." My brain was screaming at me at the top of its lungs to stand my ground and not give in, but I needed Daryl to stay safe; he was the love of my life and I couldn't stand being away from him, not knowing if he was okay or not. My whole body felt like it was on fire while my mind raced. I'd do anything to make sure Daryl was safe. Anything.

"Okay," I finally agreed, a devious smile growing on Negan's face.

△

Negan leaned back in the leather chair, sighing. His eyes ran up and down my body as I pulled my shirt back over my head.

"Oh you blow me away, no pun intended," he chuckled. I faked a smirk, truly being disgusted with myself and everything that just happened between us deep down. "You deserve something better than what you've been given today," Negan pondered the thought while I sat back down on the bed. "How about a little trip back home? Daryl included!" My heart leaped at the mention of his name. "Does that sound good to you?"

"Yeah," I responded, nodding.

"You know what, I'm feeling extra fucking generous tonight! Why don't you go talk to him," he smiled. Butterflies immediately fluttered in my stomach at the opportunity, a slight grin tugging at my lips. He started to laugh at my eagerness. "What, did you think you were actually gonna see him again?" Disappointment slapped me across the face, my grin disappearing. "You can talk to him through the door of his cell. Go right now before I change my mind. He's just a few doors down." I scrambled to my feet, carefully opening the door and shuffling down the hall. I pressed my hands up against the door's cold surface.

"Daryl," I whispered, my voice cracking. There was no answer. "Daryl, it's me." Still no answer. My heart began to ache at the silence. "I-I don't know if you're in there, but..." A tear tumbled down my cheek. "I love you." I rested my forehead against the door. I wish I could walk right through it. I was desperate to be in Daryl's arms where I belonged. "I love you so much and I... I'm so sorry."