5. The Steeple

o n e h u n d r e d e i g h t y e i g h t

They ran for as long as their legs could carry them, Lance hot on their feet the entire way.

Eventually they came across another building, running in with no other thought behind them, splitting into three to clear the building and quickly as quietly as they could.

"How many you think he has?" Maggie asked while looking out the window.

"Doesn't matter, we take them out one by one" Daryl grumbled when the front door to the building opened making the three of them hide, ready to fight.

Theo was behind one door, Maggie behind the other, Daryl ahead behind a pillar.

She looked at Daryl who nodded making her jump out just as Gabriel and Aaron came through the door making her jump.

"Shit" Theo grabbed her heart before looking behind them to see no other than Negan.

"Hey doll" Negan smiled at her as she gave him a smile back before hugging him tightly.

"Where the hell have you been" She smiled before looking at another lady besides him.

"Where is Herschel?" Maggie asked the woman, panicking as she looked behind them.

"He is with Elijah, he is safe" The woman told her as Maggie sighed in relief.

"We are here to help you take down shithead" Negan explained as Theo took a step next to Daryl.

Theo thought for a while while the others debated what to do.

She kept to herself thinking carefully on their next move. 

"I have an idea" Theo spoke up finally as everyone looked at her waiting for an answer.

"They don't know who the hell Negan is..." She looked at Daryl as he pointed at her encouragingly.

"You say i just walked right up in there?" Negan asked

"That's exactly what she is saying" Daryl nodded.

"I'll come to" The woman Theo did not yet know the name of spoke up.

"No, Annie, I need you to stay here only one of us has to go into the belly of the beast" Negan smiled as she nodded back at him.

"Alright Dixon's. What's the play..."

The plan was set.

Daryl and Theo waited as Negan got into place.

"You okay?" Daryl asked as they waited.

"Hmm. Yeah. I'm okay babe. You?" Theo nodded looking at him as he looked at her worried.

"I'm okay. But I'd be better if you told me what's up?" Daryl asked again as she shook her head.

"It's silly...But, I'm scared." Theo admitted as Daryl was taken back.

"Ma girl is scared?" Daryl was shocked. He had never heard those words leave her mouth before now.

She gave him a small laugh.

"I don't know what it is. I just have a really bad feeling that something bad is going to happen." She admitted as he looked at her worried.

"It's going to be okay T. I promise" He nodded as she gave him a quick kiss before another vehicle pulled up to where they were.

Theo and Daryl stayed hidden as they heard gunshots firing and lots of walkers gathering.

After a couple more seconds that vehicle drove away and Daryl slowly opened the door to reveal two machine guns and a walkie as Negan drove away as he successfully completed stage one of the plan.