No Rest For the Wicked ~ A Walking Dead Fan Fiction

Chapter 45 Circus Envy

Chapter 45

Circus Envy

Third Person~

"You know, I- I should tell you that we'll be okay, that we're safe, that tomorrow we'll bury our dead and endure, but I- I won't, because I can't."  The Governor turned in a slow circle, charisma turned up all the way to give the speech of his lifetime.  His faithful followers had gathered around the arena he was centred in.  

Relate. 

"Because I'm afraid.  That's right." 

Unify. 

"I'm afraid of terrorists who want what we have.  Want to destroy us!" 

Provide a scapegoat. 

"And worse... because one of those terrorists... is one of our own.  Merle!"  He, along with everyone else looked at the one handed man.  All his armed men, Merle's so called friends, pointed their weapons at him immediately.  He chose to involve Merle because he killed his beloved daughter.  By not killing Michonne, he killed Penny.  And now he would pay for that. 

Elicit sympathy.

"The man I counted on, the man I trusted." 

His men took the knife from Merle's prosthetic as well as his other weapons.  Merle just stood there, not showing anything but a little anger bubbling below the surface that he just couldn't mask. 

"He led 'em here!  And he let 'em in.  It was you."  He spoke directly to Merle now, but kept his voice amplified so the others could hear him. "You lied, betrayed us all."  He sent him a one eyed glare.  What was more perfect a way to make Merle pay for taking his family than by taking his in return?  He gave the cue and his men led the struggling captives from the shoot out into the arena, bags over their heads.  "This is one of the terrorists.  Merle's own brother!"  Phillip boomed as he ripped the bag from Daryl's head.  The crowd boo'd as the brothers eyes met.  "His blood!  His kin!  Responsible for our dead!"  He roared, successfully rallying the crowd.

"Who's the other?"  Someone shouted.  Phillip turned to the more slender figure who still wore her bag.  He didn't have as grand an introduction for her but pulled her forward anyway.

"No..."  Merle's brother must have recognized the girl's body as his eyes widened even further in horror.  A covert smile played on the Governor's lips.  Maybe he could do something with her after all.

"Back before all this she was a hardened criminal, wanted for murder and assault among a long, long list of other things.  It's no surprise she's here now, another terrorist!  She belongs to his group!"  He bellowed, pointing at Daryl as he pulled the bag off the girl's head.  She was young and pretty, not ideal for Phillip's purposes.  People had an easier time hating those that already looked nasty.  She didn't look like a hardened criminal, just terrified with eyes the size of dinner plate's flickering around the arena of people jeering at her.  When her eyes met the younger Dixon's he just stared back at her in dread.

"I- I told you to go!"  He stuttered. "I told you to go!"  He repeated again, angry now.  He was angry that she hadn't listened to him, but not angry at her.  The crowd didn't know this however and neither did she.  The scornful cries got louder as she dropped her eyes, not knowing what to do.  All of a sudden Daryl found her throwing herself into his arms and clinging to him for dear life.  She never did pay much mind to his social cues.  He hugged her back tightly, pressing her head into his shoulder as if he could shield her from all this.  Of course he couldn't and she was quickly pulled from his arms by the Governor's men.