Within

thirty eight

Ariana moved swiftly through the dimly lit hallways, her body on autopilot, each step more determined than the last. She kept her head down, avoiding the eyes of anyone who passed. If they noticed the duffel bag slung over her shoulder or the haunted look in her eyes, no one said a word.

The Sanctuary had a way of swallowing secrets, of letting things go unspoken. It was a place built on fear, after all, fear of Negan, fear of what stepping out of line might bring.

But not for her. Not anymore.

Her mind raced as she made her way through the twisting corridors, memories flashing like fragments of broken glass. The nights she had spent in Negan's arms, the stolen moments where he whispered things that made her feel safe, valued.

It was all poisoned now, every smile a deception, every touch a calculated move to keep her loyal. The realisation felt like a pit opening up inside her, swallowing everything she thought she knew.

She had never belonged here. She had known that deep down, but she had wanted to believe in something... someone.

That hope had blinded her to the truth.

As she neared the main gates, she hesitated. Where would she go? She had cut ties with Alexandria, convinced she could find something more here, with Negan.

She couldn't go back, not like this, broken and humiliated. She didn't even know if Rick and the others would take her in. They had seen her as a traitor, a deserter.

And maybe, she thought bitterly, they weren't wrong.

But staying wasn't an option. Every second she spent here, the walls seemed to close in, pressing the truth down on her like an unbearable weight. She couldn't stay and pretend anymore. Not after hearing what she had. Not after understanding just how little she meant to Negan.

The night air hit her like a slap as she stepped outside, cool and biting against her flushed skin. Her lungs filled with the crisp air, a welcome relief from the suffocating confines of the Sanctuary. She felt a momentary flicker of panic, her heart hammering as she realized the enormity of what she was doing. But it was quickly swallowed by the anger simmering beneath the surface.

She was done. Done letting Negan control her, done playing along in a game she hadn't known she was part of. She had to get as far away from here as possible.

"Leaving already?"

A voice cut through the stillness, and Ariana froze. She recognized it instantly... Dwight. He stepped out of the shadows, his face half-hidden in the dim light. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes, something that told her he knew. Maybe he had known for a long time.

Ariana swallowed hard, her throat tight. She wasn't sure what to say, wasn't sure she had the strength to explain herself. Not to him. Not now.

"Yeah." She said finally, her voice low and hoarse from holding back tears. "I'm done."

Dwight didn't move, but his eyes never left hers. For a moment, they stood in silence, the weight of unspoken words hanging between them. He glanced at her bag, then back at her, his lips pressed into a thin line.

"You heard everything he said, didn't you?" His voice was quiet, almost resigned.

Ariana nodded, biting the inside of her cheek to keep from breaking down. "All of it."

He sighed, shaking his head slightly. "Everyone tried to warn you. I knew this would happen."

She looked away, a fresh wave of shame washing over her. Of course, Dwight had known. He had been there longer than anyone, had seen the way Negan played his games. She had been too blind, too wrapped up in her own need for something real to see it.