Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Eighty-two.

 Negan.

The red headed woman sits on the stairs as she listens to Paul talk, "We want to generate trade. Gregory does. But ammo isn't something we urgently need." Paul explains "Well, how's that?" Rick questions "The walls hold. We just brought in more medicine. Gregory wants the best deal possible." Paul says "Yeah, well, we want things, too." Daryl says "We need food. We came all this way, we're gonna get it." Rick says "I will talk to him and we will work this out. Circumstances change. We're doing well now, and you will next. I will make him understand that. Can you give me a few days?" Paul asks "We can." Michonne says "Yeah."Rick says after thinking for a minute.

Iris looks up when the large front door opens and a man steps inside, "what's wrong?" Gregory asks walking out of his office, "they're back" the man says, Iris looks down at the others confused, she stands up and walks down to them and they all follow Paul outside, Iris stays back and watches the new people walking towards them "Nathan, what happened to everybody else? Where's Tim and Marsha?" Gregory asks.

"They're dead." the man with the bun says, "Negan?" Gregory asks, "Yeah." "We had a deal." "He said it wasn't enough. Was the drop light?" the other man asks, "No." Gregory says, "They still have Craig." the woman says, "They said they'd keep him alive, return him to us, if I deliver a message to you." the man with the bun says, Iris slowly pulls her knife out of the sheeth on her belt, "So, tell me." Gregory says, the man with the bun places his hand on Gregory's shoulder before driving his knife into the mans stomach.

Rick and Michonne run forward and pull the man off of Gregory, Iris runs over as the man starts fighting Rick, his friend goes for Rick but Abraham is quick to stop him, Iris runs to Abrahams aid as the man strangles him, Daryl follows closely behind her.

Daryl grabs the mans arm, twisting it back and Iris kicks him in the side causing him to fall, she looks up to see Rick on the floor with a knife to his throat "Stay back! Anybody who tries to stop me is killing my brother!" the man shouts, Iris quickly drops her knife and replaces it with her gun, pointing it at the mans head.

"Drop it!" she orders, the man looks at her when suddenly blood starts pouring from his neck, Rick stands up and looks around at everyone, "what?" he questions, Iris lowers her gun and moves to pick up her knife and puts both her weapons in their place, "Nathan! You killed him!" the man shouts from the floor, "He tried to kill Gregory, then me." Rick says the woman lunges forward and punches Rick, Iris quickly grabs her and throws her to the floor, twisting her arm behind her back.

"Drop it now!" a guard shouts, pointing his spear at them, "I don't think I will." Rick says, Iris glares at another guard as he points a spear at her, she lets go of the woman on the floor and step up to the guard pulling out her gun and pointing it at him, "Everyone, this is over!" Paul shouts, standing between his people and the others, "It's over. Ethan was our friend, but let's not pretend he was anything more than a coward who attacked us. He did this. And these people stopped him." Paul says.

"What can I do?" Rick asks "Put the gun away. You've done enough." Paul says and Rick lowers his gun "You need to know that things aren't as simple as they might seem. Just give me some time." Paul pleads, "Iris. Put your gun down" Rick says to his friend, Iris keeps her eyes on the guard, "point it at me again and i'll kill you" she threatens, watching the man's eyes flicker with fear before she puts her gun away and walks over to Daryl.

"Hey, man. You good?" Daryl asks as they look down at Abraham as he lays on the floor "Yeah. I'm better than all right." the man answers, Daryl holds out his hand and helps Abraham up, "are you okay?" Daryl asks, turning to Iris, "I'm fine, you?" she asks "im fine" he answers.

.........

"Dr. Carson was able to patch Gregory up. He's in pain, but he'll live." Paul says, walking into the office the group had been waiting in "So, what happens now?" Michonne asks "Things like that don't usually happen here, but, uh, it's settled." Paul says, "We heard the name Negan. A while back, Daryl and Abraham had a run-in with his men. Who is he?" Rick asks.

"Negan's the head of a group of people he calls the Saviors. As soon as the walls were built, the Saviors showed up. They met with Gregory on behalf of their boss. They made a lot of demands, even more threats. And he killed one of us-- Rory. He was 16 years old. They beat him to death right in front of us. Said we needed to understand, right off the bat. Gregory's not exactly good at confrontation. He's not the leader I would've chosen, but he helped make this place what it is, and the people like him.

"He made the deal?" Maggie asks "Half of everything. Our supplies, our crops, our livestock, it goes to the Saviors." Paul continues "And what do you get in return?" Glenn asks "They don't attack this place. They don't kill us." Paul answers "Why not just kill them?" Daryl asks from next to Iris, "Most of the people here don't even know how to fight, even if we had ammo." Paul says, "Well, how many people does Negan have?" Iris asks.

"We don't know. We've seen groups as big as 20." Paul says "Now, hold up. So, they show up, they kill a kid, and you give them half of everything? These dicks just got a good story. The bogeyman, he ain't shit." Daryl says "Well, how do you know?" Paul questions "A month ago, we took his guys out PDQ. Left them in pieces and puddles." Abraham says "You know, we'll do it. If we go get your man back, kill Negan, take out his boys, will you hook us up? We want food, medicine, and one of 'em cows." Daryl says. "Confrontation's never been something we've had trouble with." Rick adds "I'll take it to Gregory." Paul says walking out of the office and leaving them in the office.