Fire With Fire // D. Dixon

chapter thirty-nine

Negan's movements were erratic and unpredictable as he moved around the room.

"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..." Carl sang, his voice shaky as he watched the bat fly around him, "You make me happy, when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away..."

"That's pretty good! Lucille loves being sung to, It's about the only thing she loves more than bashing in brains. Weird, huh?" Negan cheered as he finished, "Did your mother sing that to you?"

"Carl, you don't have to answer that-" Chloe intercepted, rubbing Carl's shoulders comfortingly.

"Chloe, my dear, do not be so damn disrespectful! I asked this young man a question. It would be rude not to answer, now wouldn't it?" Negan looked back at Carl, watching his unreadable expression.

Carl only shook his head as he sniffled, desperate to keep himself together. He wouldn't cry, not now, and most certainly not in front of Negan.

"Damn...she's dead, right?" Negan shook his head, looking at Chloe knowingly. Her face grew pale as she remembered their conversation a few days prior. He knew this information, yet he wanted to hear Carl say it. Why?

"I shot her...before she could turn," Carl spoke, his gaze remaining on his hands. He couldn't dare to look Negan in the eye.

"Damn, no wonder you're a little serial killer in the making..." Negan paused, as his face became more serious, "Come on, kid. Get up. It should be ready now."

"What should be ready?" Carl asked, looking up at Negan. Chloe gulped, knowing what was going to happen next. She'd seen it before, during her first week there. Her weary eyes met Negan's as she rubbed her swollen belly, but he quickly looked away.

"The iron."

-X-

"You know the deal. What's about to happen is gonna be hard to watch. I don't want to do it. I wish I could just ignore the rules and let it slide, but I can't. Why?" Negan spoke, pausing as everyone spoke in union.

"The rules keep us alive."

"That...is...right. We survive. We provide security to others. We bring civilization back to this world. We are the Saviors," Negan smiled, "But we can't do that without rules. Rules are what make it all work. I know it's not easy...but there's always work. There is always a cost. Here, if you try to skirt it, if you try to cut that corner...then it is the iron for you."

Negan made his way down, grabbing the searing hot iron from Dwight. The man in the chair squirmed. Chloe shifted where she stood, holding Carl close as he stood beside of her. He looked at her, knowing where this was headed.

Ngean chuckled, "Mark...I'm sorry, but it is what it is."

The iron seared, the loud sizzle seemed to echo against the walls, the eerie smell of burning skin filled the room. Chloe clutched onto her brother, trying to shield him from this. Mark's screaming was ear-piercing, gut-wrenching. Eventually, he passed out, the pain had become too much for him to bear.

"Ah, that wasn't so bad now, was it? Jesus. He pissed himself!" Negan spoke, handing the iron back to Dwight, "Clean that up. Doc, I'm all done. Do your thing."

Doctor Carson moved forward, trying to help the man. He had seen so many men in this condition, and worse ones. Every time made him sick, without fail, even though he did his best to hide it.

"Well, the pussy passed out...but it's settled. We're square. Everything is cool," Negan announced, "Let Mark's face be a daily reminder to him and to everyone else that the rules matter. I hope that we all learned something today, because I don't ever want to have to do that again."

Negan came back up the stairs, meeting the siblings again. He didn't miss the way Carl clung to his sister, nor did he miss the evil glance that Chloe had sent his way.

"Some crazy shit, huh? You probably think I'm a lunatic," Negan whispered to them, "Come on. Let's go figure out what to do with you two!"

-X-

The trio was back in Negan's room. It was silent, too silent.

"Why haven't you killed me? Or Chloe? Or my Dad?" Carl asked firmly. Chloe looked at her brother, her face unreadable.

Negan smirked, "You all work for me. Your dad? He's already getting me great stuff. Chloe, here? She gives me all the information I need. And you, on the other hand, we shall see." Chloe shifted uncomfortably in her seat, not wanting to seem like she was on Negan's side, that must be what Carl was thinking by now.

"Just let him go home, Negan. He doesn't belong here," Chloe spoke, watching as Carl snapped his head to look at her. He was confused, his face showed that. She had been giving him information? How much had she told him?

"It's more productive to break you, more fun too. You thinking that's stupid?" Negan asked, a smile still ever present on his face.

"I'm thinking we're different." Carl spat. Negan only smiled at the kid.

Negan moved closer, "You're a smart kid. What do you think I should do? You know I can't let you go. So...do I kill you, iron your face, chop off your arm...Tell me, what do you think?"

"You should jump out the window to save me the trouble of killing you." Carl was quick to stand up, getting close to Negan's face. Chloe held her breath, wanting to stop them both.

Negan chuckled, "Now, there is the kid that impressed the hell out of me!"

"I think you're not saying what you're gonna do to me because you're not going to do anything..." Carl paused, his tone threatening, "If you knew us, if you knew anything, you would kill us. But you can't."

"Maybe you're right, maybe I can't..." Negan smirked, standing up, "Let's go for a ride. All three of us."