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Jo

When I came to, I was laying on my side on the ground. I flexed my hands and found my wrists were bound behind me. I rolled my wrists, shifting my jacket sleeves so whatever I was tied with was against my skin. It felt like rope. I could work with rope.

"There she is," a gravely voice called cheerfully from behind me.

I blinked a few times trying to clear my head. I rolled up into a sitting position. My head swam as I moved but I would not lay here like a sack of potatoes and stare up at him from the ground.

"You took quite the blow to the head. Billy there got a little excited when he found ya." The man in front of me was probably in his late fifties. He had a look about him that made me think he didn't have a camp. It was a combination of overall wear on his clothes, how many layers of dirt covered his skin and the visible weapons. He had a friendly, open smile but it did not reach his eyes. His eyes were hard, like granite. I glanced from him, to the group beyond. There were six men that I could see, all armed and tough looking.

I didn't respond to his calm explanation as I took in my surroundings. It was still dark so I couldn't have been out more than a few hours. I was still wearing all my clothes, which was a relief, though my jacket was now unzipped. A little wiggling made it clear all of my weapons were gone and whoever had tied my wrists had done a good job. I didn't like the idea of one of these men searching me and removing my weapons while I was unconscious. It made my skin crawl to think of them touching my body when I was out, but I couldn't think of that. I needed to focus.

"Now, Billy got the claim on you before any one else could," the man had continued to speak pleasantly as though his words made total sense. "But we got us a little business to take care of before that happens. So, we're gonna bring you with us while we take care of that." His face turned serious and he pointed a finger at me. "Now, if you behave yourself, things will go better for you later. If you don't...well, things can take an awful turn."

The man flashed a predatory smile and I resisted the urge to shudder. There was something about him that reminded me of The Governor. Though, he was more charming than The Governor. I had managed to keep The Governor mostly away from me by being scary. I had a feeling this man didn't scare easily. I wasn't sure how I was going to get myself out of this one. My heart started to pound, but I was surprised to find I was not as afraid as I should be. The quiet numbness that had surrounded me the last few days was still there. It provided a temporary clarity which allowed me to think rather than panic. 

I glanced around at the men, and spotted my kukri knife tucked into the belt of one of them. The grey haired man in front of me followed my gaze and smiled. "Yeah, Harley there got the claim on your blade. It's real nice..." He scratched at his head thoughtfully. He was both a talker and a bit of a showman. It was good, it would buy me time to find my moment. I wasn't as good against people. They moved and reacted differently than Walker's did, but given the right circumstances I could handle myself against this man.

The man cleared his throat. He had noticed my focus on him had wavered. I looked back at him and looked him levelly in the eye. Something in my gaze pleased him, because he smiled a real smile and it was nothing like the put upon fake ones I had seen before. This was an oily predatory smile that showed too many teeth. "You like cats?"

I didn't respond, just glared at him. He glanced back at his men, indecision seemed to weigh on him for a moment. Whatever he was thinking about resolved itself because when he turned back to me, his fake, friendly smile was back in place. "Never mind. Don't matter anyhow. There's rules," he said in a confiding whisper. Then he straightened and cleared his throat. "Lotta blades for sucha little girl." He reached behind him in the waistband of his jeans and pulled out my handgun. "Nice gun too, full clip...seems improbable a little girl like you out here all by your lonesome..."

"Joe!" One of the men called interrupting the man's tirade.

I flinched and my head snapped in his direction. How the hell had they known my name?

"Yeah?" the man in front of me responded.

I breathed out a sigh of relief. I didn't know why it mattered so much to me, but I didn't want this group of men to know who I was and have any more power over me than they already did.

"They settled in and made camp, be a good time."

Joe nodded thoughtfully. "Daryl still out scouting?"

His words went over me like cold water. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear nothing of their exchange over the pounding of blood in my ears. I fought not to let them see me react. It wasn't him, it couldn't be. There were plenty of other Daryl's out there. I glanced around at the group again, no way my Daryl would be mixed up with a group like this. Everything about them screamed bad news.

My Daryl, I wanted to snort as the thought went over me. He had never been mine. My chest constricted uncomfortably as I considered the fact that I may never see him again.

"Alright, well he'll just have to catch up. Billy, you claimed her, makes her your responsibility. She damn well better not mess this up or I'll slit her throat myself whether we've used her or not."

A rail thin, middle-aged man nodded and swaggered over to me. Billy puffed up his chest importantly and smirked down at me. When I didn't appear impressed or frightened he frowned at me angrily. He grabbed a hold of my arm and hauled me roughly to my feet. I had a feeling I was not the first woman to fall into their hands. It made me disgusted. The world was a bad enough place already the last thing it needed was more predators. My hand itched to bury my kukri in Billy's heart.

I resisted the urge to pull away. I wouldn't cower but I rolled my shoulders down to make myself look weaker. I didn't think I could fool Joe but this man appeared a little more gullible. Whoever they were planning on ambushing could pose a challenge for them, which meant there might be an opportunity for escape.

Billy pulled a dirty handkerchief out of his bag and tied it tightly in my mouth. The smell of motor oil and sweat flooded my nose. The stiff fabric tasted of salt, oil and dirt and when it hit my tongue I gagged. I tried to twist away, temporary forgetting to appear meek but he grabbed my cheeks roughly, digging his fingers into the soft flesh, forcing me to comply. I whimpered softly in pain and he grinned.

I managed to draw in a shuddering breath through me nose. Breathing through my mouth wasn't an option. Any time I drew in a breath with my mouth open the taste coated the back of my throat and made me gag again. I did not want to throw up with the handkerchief tied in my mouth.

"Let's move," Joe called and we all set off through the dark.

I stumbled along behind Billy as he dragged me through the forest. Up ahead I could see the faint flicker of the camp fire I had spotted earlier.

The men around me all pulled out their guns and then silently disappeared into the forest. They were surrounding the fire. It was clear to me they had worked together for a long time. It was rare to find such a cohesive unit with men like this. I wondered at Joe's ability to hold them together. He had clearly been the leader.

Billy had a gun in one hand and the other was locked around my upper arm, dragging me closer to the fire. When we got close he crouched down. I tried to see who was out there but I couldn't make them out from this distance through the trees.

"Now we just gotta wait," he leered at me. I was distracted by who was at the fire and he moved faster than I thought he could. He shoved me back against the trunk of a tree. I grunted on impact, my hands and wrists taking the brunt of my weight.

He smiled again and leaned in close. "By our rules, you are mine now," his breath was hot and reeked. I gagged again against the cloth in my mouth. "But once I'm done, the rest of the group gets a go."

I shivered at the image that went through my head. He reached up with his free hand and pulled open my leather jacket. I fought to pull away from him, but he slammed me back against the tree once more. My head rebounded off it this time and stars went off behind my eyes. He stared down at me hungrily and I wished I wasn't wearing such a low cut tank top. He reached forward and grabbed my breast roughly, squeezing painfully. I winced and fought to get away from him, but he was pinning me against the tree, his excitement clear by the bulge at my hip.

He leaned in once more, so his lips were brushing my ear. "Don't worry, once we take care of this little problem, you and I get to have our fun," and he ran his tongue up the side of my neck.

I didn't think, I just reacted. I slammed my forehead forward as hard as I could, headbutting him in the face. He stumbled back, swearing under his breath and clutching his nose as blood squirted. If he thought I was going to weakly submit to this he had another thing coming.

"You stupid bitch," he whisper yelled at me. He stormed over to me and punched me as hard as he could in the ribs, then backhanded me across the face, splitting my lip and knocking me to the ground. My head pounded painfully as blood filled my mouth. He grabbed my arm painfully, digging his fingers in hard enough to bruise and jerked me back up to my feet. He ripped my jacket down my arms, but with my wrists tied behind my back it only served to trap me further.

There was a quiet hoot in the forest, that didn't sound entirely natural.

Billy took a deep breath, calming his rage and looked down at me smiling. "Duty calls, guess we'll have to finish our fun later."

Relief swept through me so fast I was almost dizzy. I fought to keep my breathing even as he pulled me along behind him closer to the fire. We were just about to the tree line before I could make out the outline of two people sitting around the edge of the flames. They looked like they were talking together softly. As Billy crept closer I could see it was a man and a woman. Billy lifted his gun and was prepared to step out into the clearing just as I realized leaning against the log next to the woman was a katana. I looked up at the couple again, squinting in the dim light.

Rick and Michonne.

Without thinking of myself I slammed my foot down on Billy's I step, then kicked sideways, aiming for his knee. I missed and my balance was off with my arms behind my back, but it made him let me go. I jumped out of the trees, screaming around the gag at the top of my lungs.

Rick and Michonne jumped up, their hands dropping to their weapons, but my warning came too late. The men from the group were already in position and stepped out of the darkness, all with raised guns.

Billy came flying up behind me and slammed the butt of his gun into the back of my head. I tasted unconsciousness, but fought my way back. I slammed into the ground, tucking my face to the side and letting my left shoulder take most of the impact.

Rick's eyes were wide as he took in the man holding a gun on them. "Jo?" he asked, in a rough voice, just as shocked at seeing me as I was at seeing him. I had been so convinced they were all dead. I couldn't believe Rick, Michonne and Carl had all escaped together.

The other Joe laughed. "Seems you know each other. Guess you weren't out on your own like we thought aye little duck?" He asked me. "Billy what did I tell you about that girl?" he asked in a calm voice.

Joe turned back to Rick. "See, we have a very specific way of doing things here."

Billy stalked towards me, rage written all over his features. I had made a fool out of him in front of his group. I tried to scrambled to my feet, but couldn't manage in time. Billy kicked my viciously in the stomach. I cried out, my voice muffled by the gag. I tried to roll with it, to get away, but he stooped over me and punched me. My head snapped back and I tasted blood.

"Joe?" A voice called out of the darkness. "What the hell is going on?"

I tried to blink away the haze. I felt like I was hallucinating. I knew that voice. I would know that voice anywhere.

He stepped into the circle of fire light, his blue eyes on the leader of the group, his brow furrowed in confusion. His crossbow dangled from one hand but there was a tension to his shoulders. He could have it up in seconds. He ran his eyes over Rick, Michonne and Carl first and then he turned towards Billy. He glared at Billy and then his eyes dropped to the ground.

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Daryl

I had told the guys I was going out to scout, but it was just an excuse. I wanted to leave. I didn't have my stuff, but there wasn't much there anyway. In the end I came back. I knew the group was in the area and I had spotted the fire. Whoever it was they were tracking was going to die tonight. I didn't want to get mixed up in that kind of thing. It wasn't good to be alone, but a group like this was bad news. I was debating disappearing into the woods when I heard a woman yell.

I exhaled loudly and walked towards the fire. I couldn't just leave if they were attacking some girl. My mind flashed to Beth and the guilt and shame burned through me so fast I was instantly pissed. I stalked towards the ring of firelight just in time to see Billy start wailing on a woman on the ground. I glanced over at Joe and froze when I spotted Rick, Michonne and Carl all with guns pointed at them. Rick was the guy who killed their friend. No doubt to protect Carl. I heard Billy connect with whoever was on the ground and she cried out.

I turned to look and my breath stopped in my lungs. My brain fought to convince me what I was seeing was real.

It was really Jo. Jo was alive. My Jo was here and alive. Then horror slowly dawned as I realized she was bloody and beaten with her hands tied behind her back. Her jacket was pulled down, leaving her in a small, revealing tank top. I ground my teeth. There would be only one reason these guys would tie up and keep a woman.

Billy was standing over her looking like he was going to hit her again. I felt white hot rage surge through me and took a menacing step towards Billy. I would kill him with my bare hands.

Joe stepped forward, holding his hand up. "Now Daryl," he said in his maddeningly reasonable voice. "That piece of ass was claimed fair and square. Billy gets her first, but once he's done we can all have a go. Now!" Joe said enthusiastically, turning back to Rick. "Where was I?"

"Joe!" I snapped with a little more authority. "Just hold up man."

"You're stopping me now Daryl?" his eyes turned hard and I took a step towards him.

"This is the guy who killed Lou so we got nothing to talk about," Harley called out. I glanced over at him and saw my Jo's kukri tucked into his belt.

Joe chuckled jovially. "The thing about now a days is we got nothing but time. Say your piece Daryl."

I licked my lips and risked a glance at Jo. She still lay, crumpled on the ground at Billy's feet. There was a small trickle of blood coming from her lips and I could already see bruises starting on her skin. I looked back to Rick and Michonne. Everyone was depending on me.

"These people," I started and took a breath. "You're gonna let them go. These are good people."

"Now, I...I think Lou would disagree with you on that. Now of course I have to speak for him because your friend here strangled him in a bathroom," he said pressing his gun harder into the side of Rick's head.

I nodded. Joe had a strong sense of justice and wouldn't change his mind on this. "You want blood," I said. "I get it." I switched my crossbow into my left hand and tossed it to the ground a few feet away from me. Putting it closer to my Jo. Her hands were still tied, but if she could get free it was loaded and she could defend herself.

I opened my arms in invitation. "Take it from me man."

Pure shock ran over Joe's face. Behind me from the ground I heard my Jo try to make a noise around the gag in her mouth. I didn't see it, but I heard Billy hit her.

"Shut up," he hissed angrily.

I fought the urge to look at her, knowing it would send me over the edge. I needed to keep calm. Jo would tell me herself she was fully capable of taking a few knocks and she would be pissed at me if I let my concern over her get any one of us killed.

"Come on," I encouraged when Joe did nothing but stare at me. My words finally shook him out of his shock.

"This man killed our friend. You say he's good people...see now that right there is a lie."

I dropped my arms and felt the air woosh out of my lungs. I had failed. We were all going to die here.

"It's a lie!"

One of the guys jumped forward and slammed the butt of their gun into my stomach. I doubled over, pain shooting through my gut.

"No!" Rick yelled.

Billy stepped over Jo and hit me too. His blow caught me across the jaw. It spun me around and I lost my balance. I stumbled back but they were right there and continued to hit me. One of them was raining down blows with his fists, while the other continued to hit me with the stock of his gun.

"Teach 'im fellas! Teach 'im all the way!" Joe yelled above the sound of the blows. Joe had just told them in his way to beat me to death.

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Super dramatic moment!! I have another update coming soon. I really hope you are enjoying the story. Please like/comment, I really appreciate it!