Running From You I Negan x Maggie (ENGLISH VERSION)

Chapter 28: I will always find you

"Oh, when you're all alone
I will reach for you
When you're feeling low
I will be there too"

Chaos took form the moment the first screams echoed through the crowd. The festival, once filled with laughter and music, turned into a hell of pushing, panic, and blood.

Negan felt the small grip of Hershel's hand in his, the boy's fingers clutching so tightly they felt like nails digging into his skin. He looked at Maggie. Her face was pale, her eyes scanning the crowd desperately, searching for a way out.

And then, the first walker appeared.

Negan didn't think—pure instinct. He pulled Maggie, Hershel, and Lydia back, his free hand reaching for the knife strapped to his belt. The walker stumbled toward them, its jaw snapping in the air as if it could already taste their flesh.

He twisted the blade without hesitation and drove it into the rotting skull, feeling the knife cut through the decaying flesh until it hit resistance. A quick yank, and the body fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

"Run!" he growled, pulling all three of them behind him as he forced a path through the crowd, dodging terrified people and walkers crawling among them.

The stalls were knocked over. People were trampling each other in an attempt to escape, while Commonwealth soldiers barked useless orders as the horde advanced. Negan didn't give a damn about them. His only focus was Maggie and the kids.

They turned a corner and almost crashed into someone.

Daryl.

He had a firm grip on Judith's arm, his eyes wild and alert as always. The girl was okay, but her eyes were wide, her face smudged with blood—thankfully, not hers.

"Negan, fuck!" Daryl exclaimed as soon as he saw them.

"Great, just what I needed—a heartwarming reunion," Negan scoffed, kicking another walker square in the chest. "We can hug it out later. We need to get the hell out of here now!"

"Shit's gone to hell," Daryl growled, turning to cut down another walker.

"No shit, Sherlock!"

Judith turned to Maggie, her worried eyes wide.

"Aunt Maggie... what do we do?"

Maggie scanned their surroundings, clearly torn. Her instinct had always been to protect, to fight. But the city was packed with screaming, dying people being torn apart in the streets. She knew she couldn't save everyone.

Lydia drew the knife from its sheath at Maggie's hip.

"We need to help them!" she said firmly, no hesitation in her voice.

Negan whirled to face her, his face contorting in frustration.

"Fuck those people! We need to save ourselves first!"

"We can do both, Negan!" she shot back, her eyes blazing.

Negan closed his eyes for a second, exasperated.

Shit.

He knew Lydia was stubborn, that she had that same stupid instinct as Maggie to want to save everyone. And if he were honest with himself, it pissed him off and made him proud at the same time.

He looked at Maggie.

"Take the kids somewhere safe."

Maggie frowned, hesitant.

"Negan, no..."

He grabbed her shoulders, his grip firm.

"Maggie, for fuck's sake. Just do it."