The Replacement

Part Twenty-six

Warning: mention of murder

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You were stumbling blindly about in the dark woods trying to find the others after having gotten separated while fleeing the chaos that was once Alexandria.

The night had seemed so peaceful earlier, when suddenly it wasn't. Alexandria had come under attack; why and by whom wasn't known, but you were quite sure that it was the same group that had attacked Maggie's settlement and that had possibly tracked her down to here.

"Is anyone out there?!" you called out into the silent night.

"Carol?! Rosita?! Jerry?!... Anyone?!"

A rustling noise is heard from behind you, causing you to spin around in the direction.

"Hello...? Is anyone from Alexandria out there?"

No reply comes out, the woods were deathly quiet; there was absolutely no one to be heard or seen, not even a Walker.

In a fit of panic, you could feel your heartrate begin to dangerously increase then as you turn back to the direction you had been heading into.

You couldn't be alone here in the woods, could you?

You couldn't have been the only one to have made it out?

The others had to be somewhere out there.

You managed a few more steps before you were struck by the vice grip in your chest; causing you to drop to one knee on the ground as you clutched at your chest.

"Not now..." you utter out breathlessly while tightly gripping the dagger in your other hand.

Taking a deep breath, you force yourself back up onto your feet. Pausing for a moment then, shaking your head in an attempt to get your equilibrium back as you felt your vertigo kicking in.

You continue to stumble along on uneasy legs as you fought against the urge to blackout.

Fuck, I have to find someone. 

Coming up to a clearing, you pause when seeing a figure lying face down on the ground.

Carefully scanning the surroundings to check if it wasn't a trap; you slowly edged your way toward the body to investigate.

You frowned as you got closer when noticing something extremely familiar about the person.

It couldn't be...? he's supposed to be on his way to Meridian, not here.

"Negan?!" you rush forward, dropping down next to the body.

With trembling hands, you turn it over to find that your suspicions were correct.

"Negan!!!" you cry out at seeing the vacant dead stare in his eyes.

"Who did this to you...?" you sob, clutching him in your arms.

"Negan, please get up...!" you tearfully beg as you rocked him in your arms, but it was of no use; he was already gone.

"You knew that this was bound to happen..."

Recognizing the voice, you turn to find a smug looking Maggie standing behind you.

"What did you do?!" you screech out, tears flowing down your cheeks as you glared at her.

"I repaid him for what he did to my husband" Maggie grins at you.

"I was going to make him suffer the way I did, but then I found out you're pregnant. So, instead I made him suffer the way my husband did. He'll never get to see his child be born, just like Glenn didn't get to."