Rivers & Roads || The Walking Dead Fanfiction

15. Under his charm.

Chapter 15
5,065 Words
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The ride back to the sanctuary is deadly silent. I'm thankful Negan didn't make me ride in his truck with him though, I think if I had to be trapped in a car alone with him after that I wouldn't be able to hide my disgust. I could never be with him now, not after watching what he did to my family. I have to find a way to get away from him, hopefully that plan also includes Daryl. I can't leave him in that place all alone.

The drive back is going to be long, so I have plenty of time to devise a plan. I know Negan is going to talk to me once we get back, and I can't exactly tell him the truth on how I'm feeling about all of this. I wonder if he'll still want to offer me that promotion after my reaction to the days earlier events.

I think my best course of action will be to try to play coy. I've told Negan about my past group and my family before, but he shouldn't know that those people were them. And why should he? The last time I saw my group was way back in Georgia. It wouldn't make much sense to be seeing them all the way up here in Virginia. No, as far as I'm aware, Negan should think that I just got overwhelmed by what happened and nothing else.

My thoughts drift back to that look he gave me before he got into the truck, after the events of the lineup. I'm still not totally sure what to make of it. He definitely seemed upset, but I couldn't tell exactly  the reason why. I know I wasn't really on my best behavior, I did have a bit of an outburst when he killed Glenn, and again when Dwight took Daryl.

"It has to be that." I think to myself. "But it seemed like it was more?" I know this conversation with Negan isn't going to be fun. I'm going to have to act like I was just overwhelmed, like I'd never seen anything like that. Which is true. I need to play the part of a soldier from now on, obeying Negan as best I can. I'll bide my time until I can find an opening to see Daryl, and start to build a plan to get away from the sanctuary. I smirk to myself.

"Finally time to put those school play acting skills to good use." I think. I'm going to have to dig deep in order to convince Negan that I'm with him, I need his trust in order to get his guard down and escape. This isn't going to be easy, but I think I can do it. I have to at least try, if I find it's impossible, or god forbid I get away only to be dragged back, at least I'll know I didn't just sit by and accept my fate.

It's been a few hours since we left the clearing where the lineup was held. Our truck is now stopped on the highway as we refuel and stretch our legs. I stand leaning against the side of the truck, smoking a cigarette as I watch ants move across the asphalt. Mason stands to my left, He shuffles awkwardly and crosses his arms over his chest.

"You shouldn't have been there for that." Mason says quietly. I continue to watch the ants as the form a line and take a drag from my cigarette.

"None of us should have." I say flatly as I exhale, throwing the butt of my cigarette onto the anthill. I look up at Mason. "But it's what had to be done." My face stays void of emotion as I speak, things may be better between Mason and I, but I can't risk my cover. I have to play the 'emotionally stunted soldier' part, the same one I'll probably try to use on Negan. Mason frowns and looks at me confused.

"Is that what you think?" He asks me. I decide to double down.

"Those people needed to know who they belong to. What happened needed to happen." I say flatly, turning and heading back around the truck as I try to get away from this conversation.

"You can't seriously believe that." Mason says in a hushed voice as he follows me around the truck. "I thought you hated this savior stuff?" He asks me when he catches up.