In a world ruled by fear, survival comes with a price.
When her brother's attempt to overthrow the Saviors fails, Tessa finds herself under Negan's watchful eye-protected, controlled, and dangerously close to the man she should hate. As violence, po...
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The morning sun slammed down on Alexandria, bright and unforgiving, as Rick climbed the metal steps to the catwalk above the front gate. Carl followed right behind him. Rosita came next, jaw tight. Tessa took the last few steps and moved into place beside Rick, the metal warm under her boots. From up here, she could see the road, the tree line, the empty stretch of dirt that wouldn't stay empty for long.
Behind them, Michonne crouched higher on a rooftop post with her rifle. Aaron and Eric took cover along the wall. Scavengers — Jadis' people — were stationed on other sections of the wall and catwalks, guns pointed outward, "allies" for now. Tessa wrapped her fingers around the rail, heart pounding a little too fast.
Then she heard it.
Engines.
Low at first. Then louder. Closer.
Multiple trucks rolled up and stopped just outside the gate, directly beneath the catwalk. One Savior truck pulled forward — the flatbed. Eugene climbed onto the front of it, gripping a microphone.
"H-hello. I come salved with the hope that it is my dropped knowledge that you heed. Options are zone to none. Compliance and fealty are your only escape. You may thrive or you may die. I sincerely wish for the former. Will you comply Rick?" Eugene speaks out.
Rick stepped up to the rail and called down, voice echoing, "Where's Negan?"
Eugene looked up, expression flat, almost empty.
"I'm Negan," he said. The words hit like a slap. Carl's eyes went wide. Rosita's face twisted with hurt and rage. Tessa felt her stomach twist — she'd eaten with this man, listened to his awkward rambling, watched him grieve. Eugene swallowed once but didn't take it back. On the wall beside them, Tessa saw it — the betrayal sinking into everyone at once. The realization that Eugene had chosen the Saviors, chosen Negan. Rick's jaw clenched.
He didn't argue. Didn't beg.
Instead, he gave the smallest nod. Rosita saw it. Her hand slid down, fingers finding the detonator hidden along the catwalk. She pressed it. Click. Nothing. No explosion.
No boom. No smoke. Nothing.
Rosita's eyes widened. "What—?" she breathed.
Tessa's blood ran cold. The bombs. The plan. They'd wired the streets, the vehicles, everything. Nothing worked. And then, almost in the same heartbeat— The Scavengers turned. Guns that had been pointed outward now swiveled inward, aiming up at Rick, Carl, Rosita, Tessa — and down at every Alexandrian below. Jadis stepped forward, rifle raised toward Rick.
"They made a better deal," she said calmly.
Rick stared at her, stunned. True shock broke through his controlled mask for the first time. Tessa's heart pounded so hard it hurt. They were completely exposed on the catwalk — trapped between Jadis' guns and the Savior trucks. Rosita froze, still clutching the useless detonator. Michonne shifted, realizing her "backup" on the other roof had also turned their guns on her.
Tessa swallowed, throat dry. They were surrounded. Outgunned. Their entire plan dead in a single second. A slow clap cut through the air. Negan stepped into view on the bed of the truck behind Eugene — sunglasses gleaming, Lucille resting on his shoulder like this was all a show put on for him.
"You hear the one about the stupid little prick named Rick, who thought he knew shit but didn't know shit and got everyone he that gave a shit about killed. It's about you," Negan speaks as he points towards Rick.
""Yall gonna wanna put your guns down now." Negan demanded
"No one drops anything."
He pointed Lucille directly at Rick. Negan sighed like Rick was a child refusing bedtime. Then his eyes found Tessa. Negans posture changed, slow smirk, dark amusement. "You pushed me, Rick... and you pushed me." He snapped his fingers.
"Dwight. Simon. Chop chop." The coffin was dragged forward, propped upright. Negan popped the latch. The lid opened and Sasha burst out, a walker snarl ripping from her throat as she launched straight at him. Negan stumbled back, crashing into the rail. Saviors panicked. Gunfire erupted everywhere. Alexandrians fired back from below. Scavengers turned fully against them.
Rick started toward the stairs as Jadis appeared behind him and Tessa, raising her gun. The shot cracked. Rick jerked violently, the bullet tearing into his side. His breath punched out of him as he dropped to one knee.
Tessa screamed, "Rick!"Tessa tried to move toward him, but Jadis fired again at the metal near her feet, sparks flying, forcing her to stop as two Scavengers grabbed her arms and pinned them behind her.
Jadis yanked Rick up by his shirt, dragging him toward the edge of the catwalk. Blood dripped through his fingers as he tried to hold his wound. Tessa struggled wildly, tears blurring her vision.
"Don't— please—"
Jadis didn't even look at her. She shoved Rick off the catwalk. He hit the ground below hard, dust rising around him. Carl didn't see it. He was down on the street with the other Alexandrians, firing, ducking behind cover—completely unaware his father had just been shot and thrown off the platform. The Scavengers dragged Tessa down the steps after Jadis, her boots scraping metal, her breath breaking.
They shoved her across the courtyard toward the center of the street. And that's where she saw it:
Carl. Already on his knees. Captured. A gun at his back.
Negan stood in front of him, breathing hard from Sasha's attack but smiling like this was all entertainment. Carl looked up at Tessa and Rick only when the Scavengers finally forced them into the dirt beside him. Rick groaned, blood soaking his shirt. Tessa fell to her knees so hard it rattled through her bones. Negan planted Lucille in the ground.
"You're about to lose... everything."
He pointed the bat at Carl.
"I'm gonna kill him now." Negan smirked.
"Then I'm gonna kill you."
Only then did he notice Tessa. His smile shifted, darker, more personal.
"Well... look who's home," he murmured. "Sweetheart, oh how I've missed you." Tessa stared back, breath shaking. Negan lifted Lucille over Carl. Carl inhaled, steady, braver than any kid should be.
Rick choked out, "Don't—"
Negan swung down—
But a roar tore through the street. Shiva launched out of nowhere, tackling a Savior, blood spraying.
Negan spun in shock as the Kingdom charged in, Carol firing.
"End these Saviors and their accomplices! Alexandria will not fall! Not on this day!" Ezekiel shouts. Alexandrian's surged forward. Scavengers scattered. Rick grabbed Carl and Tessa, dragging them back behind cover despite the pain in his side. Negan retreated with the Saviors, screaming promises of revenge until smoke swallowed him.
Before he turned fully, he looked back once— and his eyes locked on Tessa.
Not panic. Not fear.
Something closer to possession. Then he vanished into the smoke.
