The Woman at The End of The World. (Daryl Dixon)

fiftyfour.

"I'm calling off the hunt for Daryl. We need to find Owen, now! We need all hands-on deck for this! Go! And whoever the fuck was on his guard duty is getting fucking punished for this shit!" I flinch at the sound of someone barking out orders. The voice familiar but I can't seem to place it. I groan, bringing my hand to my head. It's like there's yet another concert jamming along inside my mind. For a blissful moment, I forgot what had happened. Like being doused with ice cold water, I shoot up, screaming and crying as my final memories begin to pour over me. Owen. How the fuck did I manage to get away a second time? "You're okay." The voice returns, "Owen isn't here." I peer over, seeing Negan standing next to me with his arms crossed. Simon and Dwight lurk behind him. I groan, this is not good.

Dwight already has a deep seated, burning dislike for me and my husband. I escaped death, and now these assholes will probably kill me. If I'm not dead already, because this is exactly how I picture hell. Though, I was half hoping the eldest Dixon would be the one to greet me instead of these pricks. My luck has left a lot to be desired lately.

"Fuck." I moan, rubbing my face in frustration. "Great, I'm in hell." I pinch the bridge of my nose. "Owen fucking killed me. I'm dead and went straight to hell." I glance around, realizing I'm in some infirmary I've never seen before. If Negan is here, that means I'm in his domain. I traded one asshole for another. I just wanted to get home. Maybe I shouldn't have been speeding, but I was alone and unarmed. Another fucking reckless call.

Number one rule in this world - never get comfortable or shit will flip your world upside down. I should know this by now.

"Welcome to the Sancturary, Vanessa." Negan chuckles, "I guess you would think it's hell. You aren't dead. But we started wondering if your heart was gonna give out given the damage you came in with. We are happy to see you still running the mouth. Simon and Dwight brought you in three days ago." His face serious and concerned.

I've been out for three fucking days?!

"Simon? Dwight?" I bow my head, cursing under my breath. "I need to get back to Rick. He's going to be worried. I have no doubt someone is organizing a search party." I start to kick my legs over the bed. I look down, seeing I'm in a shirt I've never seen before, frowning. "Where's Daryl's shirt? Where's my clothes?"

"Now, hold on. You can leave once we talk. You ain't my prisoner." He holds his hands out to stop me. He pulls over a chair, sitting back, watching me. "I need you to confirm that this was Owen. I know what Simon said, but I need to hear it from you." He gestures to my face, and body, pointing out my injuries.

I reach up, feeling a cut in my cheek, nodding. "He had like half off his face burnt off. Kind of like Freddy Kruger. He came out of nowhere. I crashed the truck trying to avoid..." I trail off, glancing anywhere but at Negan. He doesn't need to see the panic in my eyes. "He was trying to kill me and my child. Oh god, did I?" My hands find my stomach, trying to swallow the panic attack; attempting to keep it bay.

"We heard the crash, and the explosion, once the screaming started, it wasn't hard to find you." Simon spreads his arms. "We were out searching for him. He escaped."

"The baby is fine. We checked that first before patching you up. That baby is a fighter like you and Daryl. I should make you stay here and rest, but I don't need Rick showing up, making a scene. The longer you stay..." Negan offers. I let out some air between my lips as relief crashes over me. "Owen made a lot of friends here. I'm returning you to Rick because you'd be safer with him. No more running for me until your healed, okay? That's an order. You got several stitches and our doctor spent hours pulling glass from your back and legs." I anxiously fiddle with the hem of my shirt, listening, "Simon carried you back after Dwight went after him. He ran when they intervened. We can't find him anywhere. Why were you out there?"