MAKNAE [twd] *editing*

【134】

Pulling up to Hilltop was like driving into an active nightmare.

The gunshots were loud, but scarce. Instead, the shouting and sounds of arrows flying through the air was heard above anything else.

"Rosita, Hana, Gabriel, and Tanya stay in the back. Amber, Frankie, and Ashley, as well. Cyndie, you should stay here, too. You're injured where you can't run- you guard the three of them," Michonne decides between the injured and the ones that need to stay hidden a little longer.

"I'm going in those walls," Rosita argues.

"You go in there with that wound, you're getting yourself killed," Kathy denies, "It's best you stay out here."

Everyone else begins piling out of the truck, Taeyang stays standing outside the door with his arms propped onto the seat as he looks up at me.

I couldn't find words, I could only play the image of the two bodies seen today. One of Negan- my own doing. One of Jae- another brother I'd lost now.

"We'll be back when it's over," Taeyang says, his voice course and dry.

I force a nod, staring at my bloody hands on my lap. Taeyang's own hand comes into view, rubbing my leg before walking away with the others after closing the door.

The truck filled with the five of us goes eerily silent, the sounds of the fight inside the walls almost enough to be tuned out as well.

"He was a strong young man," Gabriel speaks up after what felt like hours.

"He.. Shouldn't.. Shouldn't have come.. Back.. For me.." Tanya hiccups, a line of blood trailing down her lip that Frankie wipes away.

"It wasn't you," Cyndie dryly responds, "It was for me."

I try to ignore the mean, nasty side of my brain that got angry. They didn't even know him- who were they to talk about him in any way? But, Gabriel was just trying to help and Tanya was saved by him in the last few seconds. And I knew that from our Oceanside journey that Cyndie and Jae were building up a friendship. I also knew how sensitive Cyndie could be to certain things- of course she would blame herself.

Rosita inches her hand to my leg, soon wrapping her hand around mine.

"I'll tell Ben," she assures, "He'll take it easiest from me."

"We've gotta.." I inhale sharply, "We gotta go back for him. He can't just.. rot.. on that road."

"We will," Rosita promises, "As soon as this is over, we'll drive this wheeling bastard straight to him and get him back."

Gabriel jumps as the radio suddenly makes a noise, quickly asking, "Rick? Is that you?"

"Rick.. Rick can't answer the phone," Simon snickers.

I lean forward between the seats, snatching the radio out of Gabriel's hands.

"Negan's dead, shithead," I hiss into the radio, "You will be soon."

Simon was becoming a parasite at this point- he took too much from my Oceanside group before we met, he was part of selling me out and bringing me to Negan that day, he wanted a fight more than anyone- he was Negan with a lust for blood.

"Ah, yes, I've heard of the big man's demise. I sent out a little search party to see if it's true or not. Your little doctor friend went with him so that if Negan really is dead, you get to see Carson die slow and painfully."

"Your guys on the road?" I question, "Yeah, they're dead, too."

Simon is quiet for a second before returning, "If you saw my team.. Let me guess, you're somewhere outside these luscious walls?"