Running From You I Negan x Maggie (ENGLISH VERSION)

Chapter 7: Wicked Game

"What a wicked game you play, to make me feel this way
What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you"

"Damn, if heaven's like this, I must be in real trouble." That was Negan's first thought as he slowly opened his eyes, even though his soul surely wasn't headed to heaven, but he liked to fool himself.

The man felt the weight of his age as he tried to move, pain in every part of his body, like a truckload of crap had run him over and left him in the middle of the road. He blinked against the bright light of the room he was in; it took a few seconds for Negan to recognize the infirmary in Alexandria.

He looked at the beds beside him—he was the only patient there. The hot sun streamed through the windows of the house, making the room feel nothing like the cold hospitals of the old world. Negan was grateful for that; he hated hospitals and the memories they brought back.

The initial confusion slowly faded away. He looked down at himself and noticed the bandage wrapped around his chest, bringing back memories of that afternoon with Maggie like a bullet. Right away, he found himself worried about the woman. Where was she?

"Hey, sleepyhead!" The infirmary door opened, bringing the cold air from outside in. Negan looked anxiously at the visitor. The girl with long hair and teenage features wasn't who he expected. Lydia smiled as she approached his bed.

"Hey there, kid." He adjusted himself in bed, leaning back against the headboard. He had a lot of questions since his last memory was of Maggie promising he wouldn't die in that godforsaken clearing. "Sleepyhead? How long was I out?"

"Since you got here? About four days." Lydia cleared her throat to answer as she sat on the bed next to Negan's. "You were practically dead when you arrived, but Jess pulled off a miracle." Negan noticed a difference in her voice, almost uncertain about what to say.

"Hm, and what else?" He asked bluntly, his head beginning to throb.

"Well... a lot happened while you were out. Right after you got back, Eugene showed up with a new group at our gates." By the girl's expression, Negan knew it wasn't good news. "They're a pretty big group, actually a city—the Commonwealth, with around fifty thousand people living there."

"Holy shit... wow." Negan blinked a few times, absorbing the information. "Did they say that, I mean, the leader or whoever came here?"

"Eugene told us himself—shops, schools, police. 'Just like the old world,'" Lydia recited, not really understanding what that meant, as she was too young to remember when the world turned to shit.

"Well, sounds too good to be true." Negan scoffed. As soon as he got out of that bed, he needed to find out more about this new group. Lydia shrugged; she didn't believe in all of the Commonwealth's promises either.

"Yeah, they want to make a deal with Alexandria." Lydia added.

"Of course they do. I know that story well. And I know how it ends." Negan sighed, tired, remembering echoes of a song he never wanted to hear again. "And you, kid, no trouble while I was away, right?" Lydia smiled shyly, shaking her head.

"I've been wandering around, and I found something I think you'll like." She remembered excitedly, picking up a bundle she had left under the bed earlier. By its shape, Negan already knew what it was. But the biggest surprise was when he opened the case.

"Damn... kid. Is this for me?" Negan unwrapped the instrument like a child who got the exact present they asked Santa for. Lydia smiled, happy for him. She remembered his stories of when he was younger and had a band. "You have no idea what you've found, do you?"