revenant|c.g.|

xliv

Clary approached the holding cell, noting the footsteps that followed slightly behind her. She knew it was Carl, but it didn't seem to matter to her as she moved down the steps, Michonne practically guarding the cell.

Upon seeing the young woman, Michonne shook her head. "No, Clary, not you too." The girl clenched her jaw upon hearing the sadness in the woman's voice, not wanting it to sway her decision. "Rick took something from me that day by saving Negan. I'm here to make things right." Michonne shook her head. "Rick did what he thought was right back then—" Clary cut her off. "And now so am I."

Michonne clenched her jaw, not budging as the girl stared her down. "Glenn loved you like a daughter. You really think he'd want this for you? For you to be so angry you're willing to get through me to him?" Clary clenched her jaw, being reminded of the dream she had had previously. "Loved. Past tense. Glenn loved me because he isn't alive to love me anymore. He doesn't get to love Maggie, or Hershel, or what we're building, and it's all because of him!" Clary shouted, her hand pointing to where she knew Negan sat in the cell because she had been down there once upon a time.

There was a pause as Clary tried to regain her composure, but her anger and her fear trumped whatever calmness she held. "Ever since Negan stepped foot in Solaris, I couldn't wait until I got the chance to kill him. I was ready to see him die, and I still am, because then that means that no one has to be afraid of what happens if he gets out." Michonne shook her head. "He won't—" Clary cut her off. "But he can! He can and just like the snake he is, he will."

The girl took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as her mind swam in thoughts. "I lost the first father figure I had in years on that day, but I'm not just doing this for me. I'm doing it for Maggie, because she saw her greatest love die in front of her and had to have a child without him. I do this because—" she fell silent. Michonne was surprised as a choked sob sounded from the girl's throat. "Because I am so scared that history will repeat itself and that there is even the slightest chance that I could lose one of the last good things I have in my life."

The young Commander shook her head. "I won't take that chance. I won't lose him, I can't. The nightmares are bad enough and I won't let it be my reality." Michonne looked thoughtfully to the girl, realizing that she spoke about Carl, because while Glenn was Maggie's great love, Carl was hers. The dreams had plagued Clary's mind for months, but she had always tried to push them away. Now, they pushed her.

Michonne tried to hold her guard, knowing Maggie was inside doing exactly what the girl planned to, until she saw Carl approach. "Carl?" Clary looked back to see the boy walk down the steps, standing by her side. "She hasn't seen him. Let her." Michonne was surprised by his words to say the least, scrubbing her eyebrows in confusion. "Carl, your father—" the boy shook his head. "She needs to see what I've seen. What I've heard." Clary looked to Carl, realizing the boy had not only been in the same community as Negan but had possibly been communicating with him.

However, with the go ahead from Carl, Michonne let out a sigh before stepping aside. As Clary approached the door, Michonne turned back to her. "Maggie's already inside." The girl only nodded before entering, shutting the door behind her to look to the sight before her.

Maggie looked away from where her gaze rested upon Negan in the cell, wishing she could find comfort in seeing her daughter but she couldn't. She had wanted to do it quick, to spare the girl of being at risk of losing Carl if she were to go against his wishes and beliefs. Sadly, she hadn't been quick enough.

"If it isn't the little Commander. I was wondering when you'd be coming around." Clary clenched her jaw upon hearing his voice for the first time in almost two years, realizing she could have done well not hearing it. Her eyes only narrowed as he stood in the shadows, the man letting out a soft laugh. "I was just telling the Widow here about what I remember from the battle. I remember the two of you in that clearing. You little ladies were screaming your heads off just wanting to see me die."