When the dead roam - (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 98 - You push me

Louise stood beside Daryl, wiring explosive after explosive into the large truck that sat just outside the gates of Alexandria. They had taken what Dwight said and put their trust in him, praying to anyone that would listen that he wasn't feeding them complete bullshit - though Louise had no doubt in her mind that the male wasn't to be trusted. Ann's group had arrived just before Dawn, vehicles packed high with ammunition and weapons. They had been helping set up traps ever since. Each and every task force had at least one member of her group with them and Rick was proud to have brought the two communities together.

The two archers worked in comfortable silence, only communicating in small glances and the occasional smile as they strung countless TNT sticks together. He winked at her as he hopped out and headed back through the gates. She hadn't noticed until then...that his leather jacket still wasn't in his position. As she watched him leave she remembered everything he'd lost...everything that once made him who he was was still locked inside a cell in the sanctuary...and it made her sick to her stomach.

"You good here?" She asked Ann's friend, Tamiel, before jumping down from the vehicle and following Daryl back into their town. Rick was waiting for them by the lookout when they arrived, having reinforced their walls and parking an armoured car directly behind the metal fence of the gates. Ann was beside him, crouched out of site along with the rest of her group, who had stayed scattered across the grounds, buddied up with each Alexandrian. Michonne was situated at the top of the tallest building they had, watching continuously through the scope of her rifle whilst Aaron, Eric and Nicole stayed below her, waiting for their moment.

"Rosita, get into position. I'll signal you" Rick shouted down. He took one finally look around his community before continuing. "And the wall's gonna hold?"

She nodded confidently. "It'll hold"

He looked towards Daryl and Louise, who stood side by side, both of them nodding at him in turn. They all lulled into silence as multiple engines rang out from a few meters down the road. Eugene was sat on top of one of the trucks, holding a megaphone and talking loudly. Rosita moved closer to the gates the second she heard his voice, face covered in disbelief.

"All points are covered. Every contingency is already met" he said. "I come armed with two barrels of the truth. A test is upon you and I'm giving out the cheat sheet"

Louise took a deep breath as the vehicle shuddered to a stop.

"Do me a favour..." she said quietly to Daryl, who turned his head slightly to look at her. "If it comes down to it...don't be the hero. You get out of here alive"

His eyebrows furrowed. He didn't get chance to reply as Eugene continued.

"H-hello. I come salved with the hope that it is my dropped knowledge that you heed. Options are zero to none. Compliance and fealty are your only escape. Bottom-lining it, you may thrive, or you may die. I sincerely wish for the former...for everyone's sake. The jig is up and in full effect. Will you comply, Rick?"

Rick looked down to Louise, who slowly shook her head, knowing that even if they gave in right now, it was more than apparent that a good fraction of them were going to be killed. He grumbled to himself.

"Where's Negan?"

Eguene lowered his megaphone and spoke loudly. "I'm Negan"

The Sheriff took a deep breath and looked to the sky, as if looking for some kind of clarity in the heavens. Rosita didn't even try to hide the tears that were in her eyes as she shook her head. They gave each other a warning nod, the detonator button in her hand growing more and more prominent. She took a deep breath, knowing what she was about to do and regretting it before it happened.

Three.

Two.

One.

Her finger pressed down on the button. Rick ducked.

Nothing happened.

Not a single explosive went off...and that's when Louise figured it out. She swore under her breath, reached for her pistol and came face to face with the barrel of a shot gun. Ann's group had double crossed them.

The gates in front of them were pulled open and Negan strode into view, a cocky smirk evident on his face. He balanced Lucille on his shoulder and a red scarf sat around his neck, tucked neatly into his leather jacket. He locked eyes with Rick, who looked slightly terrified.

"You ever hear the one about the stupid little prick named Rick who thought he knew shit but didn't know shit, and got everyone that he gave a shit about killed?" He pointed at the Sheriff. "It's about you Rick"

Louise shuffled under the gaze of Tamiel's weapon.

"You're all gonna wanna put your guns down now"

"No one drops anything" Rick protested. He turned to Ann. "We had a deal"

"Tamiel came for the boat things. Followed ones who took. Made a better deal" she said simply.

"You push me and you push me and you push me, Rick!" Negan said loudly. "I mean, you just tried to blow us up right? Now, I get me and my people...but Eugene? He's one of yours...and after what he did, he stepped up. You people are animals! The universe gives you a sign and you just shove your finger right up its ass!" He laughed loudly and shook his head. "Dwight, Simon, chop-chop"

The two men hoisted themselves onto the truck Eugene had previously occupied and stripped the blanket off a long narrow box. It took Louise a moment to process what it was. The silver varnish glistened in the sunlight and a they stood it up on its edge and the two-part lid came into view, a puddle of bile made its way up her throat, settling in the back of her mouth and burning through her flesh. A coffin.

"So, you don't like Eugene anymore" Negan said, stepping up and standing beside it. "You guys gotta like Sasha. I do too. Got her right here packaged for your convenience. Alive and well. Now, I brought her so I wouldn't have to kill all of you. And not killing all of you could get complicated. See, I know there's a lot of firepower left in there, Rick. So I'm gonna make this simple. I want all the guns you've manage to scrape up. Yep, I know about those too. I want every last grain of lemonade you got left. I want a person of your own choosing ...for Lucille. Daryl. I gotta get me my Daryl back"

Louise scoffed and shook he head. "Yeah? Well you're not getting' him"

"Lou-Lou" Negan sang, smiling widely at the female. "You ready to thank me yet? Y'now, for killing that pathetic excuse of a brother for you?"

Her fingers brushed over the trigger of her gun.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you" he warned.

"You're like a bad rash that just keeps coming back" She spat. "Its over Negan. Just go"

"I couldn't agree more. It is over" he said. "I want everything. The pool table and all the pool cues and chalk and I want it now or Sasha dies and then all of you...probably" he smirked at Rick. "C'mon, Rick. Just cause I brought her in a casket doesn't mean she has to leave in it"

The sheriff didn't move. He just stared down at Negan, as if he was peering into his very soul until the Saviours leader sighed over dramatically.

"Y'know what? You suck ass, Rick! You really do." He shouted. "I don't wanna have to kill her but that's exactly what you're gonna make me do"

"Let me see her" Rick said finally.

Negan chuckled under his breath. "Alright. Just give me a second I might have to get her up to speed. You can't hear shit inside this thing" he tapped on the metal with Lucille. "Sash...you're not gonna believe this crap"

Slowly, he pulled open the lid and a newly turned Sasha fell on top of him, teeth snapping. Louise didn't have time to cover her mouth before Daryl pumped a bullet into Tamiel's face and dragged her away.