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I always rested the day after a fight and the day before the next one, but the rest of the week I trained. My cell was small, twelve by twelve with a cot and a toilet, but I made the most of the space. Every day I worked my body until I couldn't go any more, then I rested, ate and went again. Day in and day out I honed my reflexes, got stronger, better.

All the while I waited for my chance. It had been months, but someday they would make a mistake and I would be able to get Kate and I out of this. I had to. That was part of the reason I allowed myself the friendship with Merle. I told myself I might be able to use him one day. Or, more likely, one day old Merle would decide he had had enough of The Governor and might consider me an ally.

It was Saturday again when Merle came swaggering down with Martinez trailing behind. He was always a jackass when Martinez was there, he had to be. He couldn't be seen making friends with prisoners. It would be seen as a weakness and he couldn't afford to have his loyalty questioned. I understood that and we both played our parts.

Merle sneered as he approached the bars. I was in the middle of stretching, trying to prepare myself for whatever the Governor had thought up to use to punish me for what I had done last week. I didn't feel bad about what I had done to that woman, and maybe that would bother me someday, but there was no place for morality in here. There couldn't be. If I hesitated for one second I could get myself seriously hurt or killed. So instead of feeling bad I was just annoyed with myself that now I would no doubt face something worse. I had insulted The Governor's fragile ego and that was a dangerous thing to do to a man like him.

Merle threw a pile of clothes through the bars at me. I only ever got new clothes on fight night, so I would look like he took care of me. Shorts, new underwear, bra and a tank top. Same thing every week. I climbed to my feet and picked up the clothes. Shorts, underwear and a sports bra.

"Hey asshole, you forget something?" I called to Merle as he walked away.

He smirked at my words but his eyes were serious and spoke volumes when he met my gaze. "Sorry Barbie, The Governor changed your costume."

I ground my teeth and gave a curt nod so he would know I didn't blame him for this.

Merle still looked grave, and that was starting to worry me. He shouldn't look that worried over a simple outfit change. Fighting in a sports bra was hardly the worst thing that could happen, I wasn't that modest, and privacy was nothing but a distant memory after months in this cell.

Merle cleared his throat. "Now you be a good little Barbie doll and change your clothes."

Martinez was hanging back, he usually did, I had long since scared him. He was watching over Merle's shoulder, however, enjoying the little games of torment The Governor cooked up. Martinez was a coward and a bully. Merle leaned into the bars so he looked like he was leering at me just like he did every week.

I sighed angrily and pulled off my tank top throwing it at his face before turning my back to him and changing the rest of my clothes. Normally The Governor was present to witness this little hoop he made me jump through, it surprised me that he missed it. Maybe he had finally grown sick of me. I could certainly hope.

Merle put on the show for Martinez though, just like he normally would have if The Governor were standing beside him. He made rude comments and cat calls which all seemed terribly over the top to me, but Martinez chuckled with him. I ignored them both as my mind started racing through all the things that could have Merle looking so upset.

When I was done I turned around the threw the rest of my dirty clothes at Merle's face, glaring daggers at him.

Martinez barked out a laugh behind him. "Guess you not as good with ladies as you thought? Eh, ese?" Martinez asked.

Merle scooped up my clothes and made a show of smelling them. "Guess not." He laughed as the two of them headed for the door. "You're the main event tonight sweet cheeks," Merle called over his shoulder.

"Who am I facing?" I called after him. There were only so many female fighters in the community, and I was pretty sure I had fought them all now at least one. I wondered if The Governor was finally going to have me start going up against some of the men. Merle himself had stepped into the ring a time or two and was good, brutal, but good. I ran my eyes over him, wondering how I would fair against him. If it came down to that, I would have to be quick. One hit by someone so much bigger and stronger than me could lay me out easily.

Martinez started laughing then, and a bad feeling went through me.

"Not who," Merle corrected, his eyes telling me it was going to be bad and there was nothing he could do about it. "What."

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Merle and Martinez were the ones to escort me into the ring later that night. Which surprised me, normally I only had one guard and here I was with two of The Governor's best, holding guns on me. I guess The Governor wasn't taking any chances with the main event.

As we approach the ring I could see two of his other soldiers fighting one another. Nothing serious, just a friendly brawl. The crowd was loving it however, they were laughing and cheering. And when it was done the two men stood up and clapped each other on the back, laughing.

Then the man himself stepped down from the bleachers."We have a special event tonight." He called, the crowd hooted and hollered, already excited. The crowd loved me, always had and I fought every week, so they knew to expect me. Most could see me standing between Merle and Martinez and I heard a few whistles. I rolled my eyes.

"The darling of Woodbury has faced every female fighter we have and come out on top." The crowd began to cheer and stamp their feet. I was very popular, of course I didn't think they knew I was here against my will. "She and I were talking over dinner this week and I asked what she had left to prove. I begged her to step down as the undefeated female champion, but she refused. Instead she said that wasn't good enough!" He was working the crowd up into a frenzy now. "And I asked her what was left for her to face."

Merle stepped towards me as Martinez left to follow a few of the other guards. "I'm sorry about this Barbie," he said under his breath and he pressed two knives into my left palm. I looked down at them in surprise. I had never been given weapons before. My heart started to pound as I consider what I could do with the knives, this might be my chance.

"And she said, the same threat we all face every day!" The Governor roared, raising his arms triumphantly. He really was incredibly charismatic and the crowd was all but eating out of his palm.

Then I heard Them. I felt my eyes widen and turned to Merle but he was already stepping back, confirming my fear. Three guards came up from the cell block, each holding one of Them on a leash.

I took a slim blade in each hand and turned to face the guards. I glanced down at the blades and it took me a moment to realize I recognized them. They were the steak knives from my catastrophic dinner with The Governor now months ago. I turned to face him and he smiled at me, it was that sick, sadistic smile that made my skin crawl. It was the smile of a man who knew exactly what he was doing, each moment of this was calculated and executed with my punishment in mind.

The crowd was cheering so loudly I couldn't even hear my heart pounding in my ears as I turned to face Them. As soon as I turned, the guards dropped the leashes and the crowd roared again.

I think I would have been fine in the end if they had turned them all loose facing me, but I was surrounded, and while I managed to make short work of the first one the truth of the matter was I had never fought with knives. I had only ever fought Them with a golf club, knives meant I had to get so much closer, move faster.

I wasn't ready.

I slammed the knife through the temple of the first but didn't manage to pull the blade free before the other two were on top of me. I kicked the second one back and made a move towards the third but it has been closer than I thought. It grabbed me, leaning in, it's teeth snapping. I fought to hold it back, but it was stronger than I thought. It managed to throw me off balance and I went down with it on top of me. It landed on me on it's knees and I had the wind knocked out of me as its knees pushed into my rib cage.

My arm with my remaining knife was pinned and my other one was holding back the one on top of me as its jaws snapped and it groaned. The second one flopped on top of us, and I felt my ribs give way beneath the weight of both walkers.

I screamed and jerked my pinned arm up not caring that I ripped away some skin. I shoved the blade up through the eye socket of the one on top of me and ripped it back out, spilling its blood down across my chest. It collapsed, relieving the pressure on my ribs. And I was finally able to gasp in a breath.

I tried wiggling out from underneath it but the last one was still coming for me and my legs were trapped. I leaned forward, crying out at the pain caused by my ribs and grabbed the last one by its hair, actually pulling it closer. I was shaking from the pain now and black spots danced across the corners of my vision. I knew I was going to pass out and if I did it before I killed this one I was dead.

He would win.

I pulled the things head towards me and then slammed the knife down through the top of its skull. I screamed at the motion and just as I completed it I let the darkness take me.

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"Jo," a voice called. "Jo, are you awake?"

I was dreaming of Daryl. Of laughing with someone, of the simple act of trusting someone and feeling safe. The last time I had felt safe was when I was with Daryl and Rick. I was normally so careful to keep those memories locked away. I couldn't let myself think too hard on what I had stupidly walked away from.

"Jo," I heard his voice again, his accent thick with worry.

I blinked my eyes open not surprised to see his blue eyes hovering over me.

"You with me Barbie?"

I blinked a few more times before I realized it was Merle's blue eyes, not Daryl's. Merle leaning over me, not Daryl. I wasn't safe. I was in Woodbury, laying on the dirt floor of my cell.

I looked around uncertain how I got here. I tried to sit up and a sob ripped its way up my throat. Merle immediately pushed me back down.

"You're hurt real bad Barbie, you need to stay down. Here," he said and he handed me a couple pills. It took a few tries but I managed to swallow them dry.

"Milton says if you ain't coughing up blood yet your lungs are probably okay." Merle observed rocking back on his heels.

I nodded, fighting back tears. I don't think I had ever hurt this badly before. Every breath I took was like fire racing through my chest.

"Well you did it, you survived another week." He said with forced cheer.

A single tear rolled down my cheek.

Merle cleared his throat uncomfortably and rested a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

I was so hurt, I didn't see any point in holding back anymore. I had hit rock bottom. I let the tears come, not caring if Merle saw them. He was the closest thing I had to a friend anymore and he was little more than a friendly enemy.

He let me cry for a few moments in silence before I blinked up at him. My head was starting to feel strangely fuzzy and I wondered what type of drug Merle had given me.

"Why are you doing this, Merle?" I asked him, my voice sounding small and far away. "Why are you nice to me?"

Merle looked uncomfortable for a moment before he forced on a smile. "Must be my charming personality, could never resist a damsel in distress."

I shook my head, and stopped when it hurt. Couldn't move like that just now. If I held very, very still, the only pain I felt was when I breathed.

"Liar," I croaked. And he was lying. Merle was a loaner, the ultimate survivor and opportunist. There was no reason for him to help me. Being nice to me didn't get him anything.

Merle sighed and the fake smile slipped from his face. "Ya fought at my baby brother's back, was his friend. He ain't ever had that aside from me. Guess I owe ya." He said uncomfortably.

I nodded, feeling my eyes drift closed, my lids felt so heavy. I believed him, that made sense. In some twisted way Merle had a code and if he thought he owed a debt...it made sense.

"Barbie, Barbie ya gotta stay awake," Merle's voice was urgent and I forced my eyes open again. His mouth was set in a grin line. "That's a girl," he congratulated then he sighed. "I gotta tell you Barbie, just so's you know. You facing those Biter's wasn't his only trick tonight."

A bad feeling went through me and all thoughts of sleep fled. I turned tear filled eyes to meet Merle's steely blue gaze. He looked away then, as though my tears made him uncomfortable, but he continued. "You remember that boy I told you about? The one your sister been dating. Well, The Governor had him bring your sister to the fights tonight. Like on a date. She saw the whole thing."

"What?!" I gasped, trying to sit up once more. Liquid fire burned through my body, but I had to get up, I had to get up. Kate would flip out and do something stupid.

"Merle," I gasped. I grabbed onto his arm. He stiffened at the contact but didn't pull away. "You have to find her. You have to tell her..." I gasped past the pain. My brain was tripping over itself, moving too damn slowly. I couldn't think of anything but the burning in my chest."You gotta," I gasped.

Merle looked grim. "If I leave you The Governor gonna send Martinez down to take over. You want that prick standing over you when you're hurt this bad?"

I didn't. Martinez was a bully but I didn't matter. All that mattered was Katie.

I grabbed his hand, pulling him towards me. "Please Merle, Kate will get herself killed trying to save me." I met his eyes, staring him down with everything I had. "I protected your brother," I growled. "Save my sister."

Merle did pull away from me then, his eyes searching my face. He gave me a short, sharp nod. "Alrigh' Barbie."

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I don't know how much I was sleeping versus drifting in and out of consciousness when a sharp, urgent voice dragged me back to reality.

"Jo! Jo! Please wake up!"

I blinked blearily towards my cell door, and my heart dropped to my feet. Crouched down in front of me was Kate. Her face was covered in dirt smudges and there were tear tracts running down her cheeks. I didn't know how long it had been since I sent Merle after her, but he had obviously failed.

"Don't worry Jo," she whispered. "I'm going to get you out of here."

I fought to sit up, but ended up having to pull myself up along the side of my cot. The pain in my chest was excruciating, but it was nothing compared to the fear that was seizing the rest of me.

"Kate you have to get out of here. Run. Far away." I gasped. Every breath was agony, and tears began to form in my eyes.

At the sight of my tears, my soft hearted sister began to weep. "You're hurt," she gasped. "I can't believe what they are making you do. I'm going to get you out of here and we will leave. Together. Tonight." she promised.

"Merle," I gasped, my head was still foggy from the pills and I didn't know that I was for sure making sense.

"Don't worry about him," Kate flashed me a brilliant smile. "I slipped past him, we don't have to worry." she assured me. She turned her back to me and began searching the surrounding area for a key.

"It's not here." I whispered to her. "You need to go find M-"

"Well, what do we have here?" A pleasant voice called from the stairs.

I froze.

No no no no no no no no.

The Governor prowled out of the stairwell, flanked by Martinez and Merle.

"You let her go right now," Kate demanded her voice shaking though she stood tall before him.

The Governor glanced over at me. "But she's my favorite," he said with a smile.

Kate recoiled, and I knew this was the first time she was witnessing this side of him. It was the first time my naive little sister saw The Governor for who he really was.

"But..." The Governor drew the word out. "We can't have you running back topside and telling everyone what you've seen down here."

"Phillip!" I called his name, his real name and it caught his attention. "You don't need to do this. I'll do anything you want." I gasped around my words. "Please, anything!" I shouted and white hot agony flared through my chest.

The Governor motioned for Merle to grab my sister. Kate screamed and tried to hold him off, but Merle back handed her roughly. She sagged, dazed and he caught her before she hit the ground.

"MERLE!" I screamed, my physical pain completely overshadowed by my rage. Merle the opportunist had betrayed me, Merle the survivor had made his choice and the only thing that burned hotter than my rage was the shame that I had actually believed his act.

"Now," The Governor stepped close to Kate. "I want you to know that your sister is being punished. She did something very bad. And then she broke something of mine..." he reached out and stroked the side of Kate's face.

I knew what was happening, what was going to happen and I was powerless to stop it.

"And so now, I'm going to break something of hers." He said with a smile. "Take her upstairs to my apartment Merle." He leaned in and kissed my sister's face. She tried to jerk back but The Governor grabbed her cheeks in his palm, his fingers digging into her delicate skin. "I'll be along shortly my dear," he promised her. He jerked his head towards the door and Merle nodded.

Merle dragged my little sister out of the cell block. He paused once, to close the door and the look in his eyes was one I would never forget.

"Now, that we're alone," The Governor said the smile on his face was like broken glass. "I want you to know that what is about to happen is your fault. I was more than happy to continue to allow your sister to happily remain a member of our community, but you ruined that didn't you? Oh don't worry, she won't end up down here with you. I think we both know Katie isn't strong enough for that. But I'll find some other use for her."

I screamed and went nuts, throwing myself against the bars of the cell, no longer caring what kind of pain I was experiencing. I didn't even know if there was anything but pain anymore.

He just stood there, smirking at me. Watching me. He pointed at me. "Your fault," he said with a sadistic smile. And then he turned and sauntered away.

I screamed until my voice cracked and broke. I screamed out all of my pain and my rage.

My fault.

Those words chased themselves around my brain until I was sure I had gone insane. I fell to the ground. My face smashed against the bars but I didn't care. I screamed and screamed as tears fell down my face. Someone would hear, someone had to hear. Someone had to care. Someone would come. This couldn't happen, not like this. Not to us. It couldn't be real.

Soon I couldn't feel anything, nothing at all. I sagged against the bars The Governor's last words echoing through my mind.

I lost all ability to determine time. So I didn't know how long it had been when I heard footsteps thundering down the stairs. I didn't have the energy to get up. All I could manage was to tilt my head towards the door.

The Governor threw open the door to the cell block. It slammed against the wall, echoing like thunder through the small space. I couldn't contain my flinch, I was too tired to pretend to be tough anymore. All of my control was just gone. I felt like I had nothing left. I was an exposed wire, all the protective casing gone. All that was left was me raw and vulnerable. He had finally managed to take everything. 

The Governor stalked towards my cell. "You," he raged.

He reached through the bars and grabbed me, jerking me against them. I felt the pain distantly, and collapsed to the floor, blinking up at him. 

"You did this," he accused, his eyes narrowed menacingly.

Behind him, Martinez appeared, gasping for breath as though he had run to catch up. He had his gun in his hand. Something was going on. Something had happened. 

I blinked again, trying to clear my hazy vision. 

"Where are they?" The Governor demanded, his face was a contorted mask of fury. 

I frowned, my tired brain struggling to put the pieces together. I had missed it. 

"I know this was you," he growled. "Where are they?"

I went very still as the pieces began to fall into place and his angry words started to make sense.

"Tell me!" He ordered, his voice low and dangerous. When I still didn't move his eyes flashed with something very close to madness.

"Open the cage," he ordered Martinez.

Martinez hesitated, uncertain if listening to his boss was the smartest thing to do. I hoped he didn't. The look on The Governor's face convinced me I wanted him to stay on his side of the bars. 

"You know," The Governor accused standing in the doorway. "You know, and you are going to tell me," he said. 

I shook my head and backed away. I stumbled, tripping over my feet in my haste to get away from him. I didn't trust him like this, didn't trust he wouldn't kill me in a haze of rage. One he would certainly regret later, but regrets would make me no less dead. 

"Martinez," The Governor said, "Get a biter." 

I struggled to get to my feet, pain was radiating every inch of me. 

"Tell me where they are," he ordered stepping back so Martinez could bring It to the door of my cell. "Tell me." 

"I don't know!" I yelled, feeling the desperation rise in me. Even if I wasn't hurt, I didn't have a weapon. I couldn't kill one of them without a weapon of some kind. There was no where to run, no where to hide in my tiny cell. If Martinez let that thing loose I was as good as dead. 

The Governor stood outside the bars leaning towards me. "If you don't tell me, he will let him go."

"I can't tell you what I don't know," I hissed back, my fear making me angry. I wasn't going to beg and I wasn't going to let this asshole see my fear. 

"Martinez," The Governor ordered, and he let It go. 

It shambled towards me, snarling excitedly. 

"Tell me where are they?" 

"Who?" I yelled back. I grit my teeth. I wanted him to say it. I needed him to say it. 

There was a clatter at my feet and when I looked down Martinez had rolled a knife towards me. 

I snatched it up and turned towards It. I was weak and tired and hurt, I needed to be smart about how I did this. The weakest points on a skull were the temple, under the chin, ear and eyes. I kept my movements to a minimum. I let it get close, closer than I wanted, but my speed was normally my best weapon, and I didn't have it now. I needed to be smart, I needed to think. I struck upwards, shoving the knife up under It's chin. I collapsed at me feet. I sagged forward with it, refusing to let go of the knife. I was pulling the knife out when I heard The Governor's voice again. 

"Martinez," The Governor said. "Another." 

The next one came and I killed it the exact same way. The beauty of the dead was they didn't learn. They would all come shambling towards me on the most direct path and I could use the same, energy saving strike over and over, as long as I held out. 

"Tell me." 

When I didn't, two more were thrown in one after another. The bodies helped. The more bodies there were, the harder it was for them to get close to me. 

"Tell me where they are!" 

"I don't know!" I screamed as I killed the next one. 

"Where are Merle and Kate!?" he bellowed. When another didn't come The Governor snapped his head towards his soldier. "Martinez!"

Martinez shook his head from his place by Their cell. "There aren't any left sir," he said. His eyes were uncertain as he gripped his gun. I doubted even Martinez had witness The Governor this far gone. 

The Governor swung his gaze around to face the cell and then he realized his threat was gone. I stood with the knife in my hand, meeting his gaze. My whole body was shaking with the effort of holding myself up.

The Governor growled angrily and turned around, stomping off. "Leave them in with her for the week. Give her something to think about," he snarled and he disappeared up the stairs. 

Martinez pointed his gun at me as he shuffled cautiously towards the door to my cell. "Give me the knife," he ordered. 

I looked down at the  blood slicked blade in my hand. I had almost forgotten I had it. Sometime during that all it had started to feel like an extension of myself. I didn't want to give it up, I felt safer with it, but the whites were showing in Martinez's eyes. He was close to the edge as well, the only difference was, I was pretty sure it was me he was afraid of and I didn't want to give him a reason to shoot me. 

"Thank you," I said, tossing it underhand so it landed at his feet. He bent down, keeping his eyes and gun on me as he picked it up, sliding it into his belt. 

"I didn't do it for you," he said, pulling the door closed and locking it. 

I just nodded and watched him back out of  the cell block. He turned off the lights and closed the door behind him, leaving me alone. 

I collapsed forward onto my cot, barely managing to catch myself. 

Merle had done it. He and Kate had escaped. They were free and all that was left was me. Merle would take care of my sister and get her as far away from this place as possible. Merle was the ultimate survivor and opportunist. I couldn't think of a safer place for Kate. 

I couldn't keep the pleased smirk that pulled up the corner of my mouth. All that was left was me now, I didn't have anyone left to worry about. And I would kill him for what he had done to us. All I needed to do was wait for my chance and keep fighting. 

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Okay, a bit cheesy, a bit melodramatic, but who could resist the moment when Jo became Jo in her head! I hope you are all enjoying the story, because guess who is coming...?