40

                                    

                                          
We're meeting with the Governor. Gonna try and negotiate a deal. Andrea arranged it. The thought of seeing that man again makes me sick, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna let my fear control me. Daryl and Rick told me I didn't have to go, gave me plenty of chances to opt out, but I stood my ground. I had to do this.
                          
My heart was pounding so hard when we pulled up that I could hear it over the roar of Daryl's bike. We came to a stop and got off, weapons drawn. Rick and Daryl went to find the Governor while I stayed with Hershel. I kept my head on a swivel, worried that it could be a trap. This man is unpredictable.
                          
I hopped in the passenger seat and Hershel drove closer to the building they agreed to meet in. Daryl walked up. "He's already in there. Just sat down with Rick. It was hard not putting an arrow through his one good eye for what he did to you." He directed at me. I swallowed thickly.
                          
"I don't see any cars." Hershel said, looking around.
                          
"It don't feel right. Keep it running."
                          
"Heads up." Daryl tapped the hood of the car, raising his crossbow. Hershel and I got out. I turned the safety off on my assault rifle. The car rolled to a stop. Two men and Andrea got out. "What the hell? Why is your boy already in there?"
                          
"He's here?" Ander asked, seeming genuinely shocked. 
                          
"Yup."
                          
Andrea sighed and walked into the building Rick and him were in. 
                          
I leaned uneasily against the car, tapping my finger against my gun. Daryl was pacing. The two men looked very nonchalant. One of them looked like he definitely didn't belong out here. He was writing something in a little notebook. "Maybe I should go inside." Hershel said.
                          
The man with the notebook looked up. "The Governor thought it best if he and Rick spoke privately."
                          
"Who the hell are you?"
                          
"Milton Mamet." He went back to his notebook. I rolled my eyes.
                          
"Great. He brought his butler."
                          
The other man chuckled. "I'm his advisor." Milton answered. 
                          
"What kind of advice?"
                          
He sighed. "Planning. Biters. Uh, you know, I'm sorry. I don't feel like I need to explain myself to the henchmen."
                          
"You better watch your mouth sunshine." Daryl retorted without hesitation. I clenched my jaw in anger.
                          
"Look, if you and I are gonna be out here pointing guns at each other all day, do me a favor, shut your mouth." The other man spoke.
                          
Daryl walked up to him, having a stare down. "We don't need this. If all goes south in there, we'll be at each other's throats soon enough."
                          
"What's your name?" I asked.
                          
He smirked. "I'm Martinez, hot stuff. I'm sure you remember me." He winked.
                          
I chose to ignore the way he looked at me. "Yeah I remember you. You held my arm while I stood topless and raped and your buddy in there pointed a gun at my best friend."
                          
He swallowed, his smirk falling. Everyone fell silent.
                          
~*~
                          
They'd been in there for what felt like forever. Daryl was still pacing, getting more antsy by the second. I sat beside Hershel. I started feeling nauseous and dizzy. Hershel noticed. "You okay?" He asked.
                          
I took a deep breathe. "Just...nauseous, a little dizzy."
                          
The corner of his mouth turned up a little. "The joys of the first trimester."