"Merle! You son of a bitch!" I yelled.

I thrashed against my restraints. They were too tight to slip out of yet I couldn't make myself stay still. It felt as if though I was in a cage and everyone knows caged animals turn wild easily.

A shout left my lips as I fought against the tape they used to restrain me. Heavy breaths left my lips as I tried to think of a way out.

These restraints were the first problem, I could try and get them off but even then I'd be in a locked room with many people on the other side of them.

I've faced worse odds to be honest, but I have to do is something. The longer I sit here, the less I can think straight. The door opened and a man walked in. It wasn't Merle for sure.

The man was tall, dressed surprisingly fancy for someone in an apocalypse and seemed to walk as if though he owned the place. He probably did. His eyes went over me as he slowly walked closer.

He pulled out a knife and I stared at him unimpressed by it. He then cut the duck tape and my eyes narrowed at the action. I rubbed my sore wrists as he sat down on a chair in front of me.

He tilted his head as a friendly smile formed on his face. I wasn't fooled by it though. It was the face of someone who has been faking a smile for so long that they don't know how a genuine one looks.

"It's Josephine, right? I'm the Governor. Merle told me about this little misunderstanding you've had with him. You tell us where your people are and I'll drive you there myself. You can trust me." He said.

A scoff left my lips as I glared at him. I wasn't born yesterday nor is this the first time I've been in the presence of an incompetent male.

I trust no one nor do I trust the people who kidnap me to get information. Merle isn't the type of guy who lives with saints.

"My trust in you is the same trust I have in Jesus. The nonexistent kind." I spat.

A smirk tugged on his lips at my words. I'm glad to know I can amuse even my enemies. I might die a painful and gruesome death, but at least my last words were funny.

He shifted in his seat tilting his head to get a better look at me. I know I'm pretty to look at but if he continues with that look, I'll burn his eyes off.

"You're worried about your people's safety, I get that. But there's no need for mistrust between us. All you have to do is tell me where your people are." He replied.

He got up and my eyes followed his every move. I noticed the knife in his belt and I inhaled sharply. All I have to do is get that knife and kill him.

Then I'll at least have a weapon to defend myself with when trying to find a way out. There's no way I'm leading him to my siblings nor am I leaving without Dakota.

"I'm not the kind to listen to what I'm told. Especially by egoistic pricks." I snapped.

He grabbed me by the elbow successfully pulling me up. I used the chance to grab the knife and swing it at him. He dodged it in time before punching me in the face.

I fell to the ground from the impact while the knife fell out of my hand and he bent down to grab it. I kicked him in the chest pushing him away from it. My hand reached out for the knife, but he grabbed me by the hair and slammed my head against the table.

A pounding filled my head as I fought off a wave of dizziness. He grabbed the knife and pushed me to the wall with the knife pressed against my throat. The impact made my head throb with pain.

"Merle warned me about you. I'm gonna ask you one more time, where is your camp?" He demanded to know.

The blade dug into my skin and I could feel some of the blood sliding down my throat. He won't kill me, he needs me as a hostage. One of his hands was on my arm putting immense pressure on it.

This is nothing compared to what my mother did to me. She used to whip me, kick at every bone in my body until she was satisfied with the remains. If it wasn't for Dakota, I might've died a long time ago.

"Whatever you do to me, I can guarantee you that I've been through worse. So there's no point in trying to break me." I replied.

"Who said anything about hurting you? Your friends are far more breakable." He argued.

My face gave away nothing for a few moments before I started chuckling. He looked at me in confusion before decreasing the pressure on my throat.

God, people trying to blackmail me can be extremely entertaining sometimes.

"You're even more stupid than I thought if you think I'd risk my life for them." I snapped.

He let go of me and I glared at him, my laughter coming to an end. His eyebrows furrowed as he realized I wasn't the typical woman he'd encounter.

I guess he expected me to be scared and fragile and begging for my life. That person died a long time ago.

The Governor turned around smiling to himself. That lasted only for a second. He then turned around abruptly and punched me in the face. I fell to the ground and he kicked me in the stomach.

Pain spread through me and I found it difficult to breathe. I couldn't move from the small waves of ache throughout my body. There was blood on my face and I'm pretty sure he bruised my ribs.

I closed my eyes pretending to have been knocked out. A sigh left his lips as his footsteps echoed through the room.

When the door closed, my eyes snapped open. He just made the most important mistake in his life. He left me unrestrained and breathing.

I reached under my hair pulling out a bobby pin before sitting up. A smirk formed on my face as I wiped away the blood and went to the door.

I leaned my ear against it listening for sounds. There was nothing but footsteps which has to mean there's a hallway. Another door opened and closed but then there was radio silence which means no guards.

Even after everything I just did, he still underestimates me. I'm kind of offended, really.

I fiddled with the keyhole trying to twist it. Locks were easier for me to crack than this, but I'm a patient woman. After a few minutes, I was able to unlock it. I carefully opened the door by an inch to look outside.

Just like I guessed, a hallway with a door at the end of it. I ran towards it opening it and walking out. Imagine my surprise when there was another hallway with multiple corridors.

A frown etched itself onto my face as I walked ahead only to duck behind a wall as I heard voices. I took a quick glance at the corridor to see two men talking amongst themselves. Both of them carrying guns.

I hesitated before running to another corridor. Thankfully they didn't see me though they might've heard me. I didn't stick long enough to find out.

The other corridor was also no good as I heard footsteps coming my way. Going back wasn't an option because of the men there so I'll have to knock out whoever is coming my way to be able to leave.

I made my hand into a fist as my breath hitched as the person got closer. I saw a flash of hair and I swung my fist at their face.

"Josephine? What the hell is wrong with you?"

I froze at the sound of her voice. Dakota was clutching her cheek as she held on to the wall for support. It's been so long that I've almost forgotten what she looks like.

Her brown hair was nicely brushed as always, her skin tanner than before and she seemed to have gained a bit of weight. All in all, she looked healthy and alive.

"Seriously? You haven't seen me in months and that's the first thing you say to me?" I asked.

A smile formed on my face against my will. I was still angry at her for leaving us for Merle yet the level of absurdity of our reunion couldn't stop me from being extremely amused.

She removed her hand and I saw there was a red mark on her face which would probably turn into a bruise soon. She didn't seem that bothered by it though.

"Says the girl who punched me in the face!"

"I think the kidnapped person has a bit more right to be angry!"

She cracked a smile before wrapping her arms around me. I immediately returned the hug closing my eyes. Her embrace always felt like peace and safety to me.

Maybe it was because she was older than me and for one moment, I didn't have to be the stronger older sister. I could be the little sister in need of protecting.

"I missed you so much. How's Abby and Ryan? Are they okay? Are they safe?" She asked quickly.

I nodded opening my mouth to reply when we heard gunshots. My head turned to the direction they were coming from. That might be Glenn and Maggie who are being shot.

Dakota pulled at my arm and I looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.

"We need to go while they're distracted." She said.

"They're holding some people from my group, Glenn and Maggie. We have to help them." I protested.

She bit her lip debating the idea before nodding. For a second, I thought she was going to disagree with me and be on the Governor's side. That would not go well with me considering what he did to me.

She led me to the direction in which the gunshots were fired. Just as we came close, we saw gas bombs being triggered. We hid behind the wall and Dakota handed me my gun.

She must've stolen it back for me. I couldn't see through the smoke but someone bumped into me.

I raised my gun only to see Rick in front of me. He barely noticed Dakota but as he grabbed my elbow, I grabbed hers. In the midst of it, I saw Daryl and Oscar getting Glenn and Maggie.

"Go there." Dakota instructed.

That was the first time they noticed her. Rick looked at me with doubt in his eyes. He probably thought she was with the Governor or that she sided with him. That had been my first thought too after Merle didn't want to say anything about her.

I nodded at Rick to confirm she was on our side. We went inside a building as there was panic on the streets. It was only then that I saw the state of Glenn. He was beat up and his face was all swollen and bruised.

Blood was smeared all over his face. Maggie looked to be intact, although shaken up. As I glanced at Dakota, I knew it was going to be a long night.