Playing With Evil

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe

The whistling was getting louder. We ran. We ran fast, trying to escape. We had no idea what was going on or who was out there. We needed to get away. We needed to get away fast. Branches broke as we plowed through them, stepped on them. Briars caught my pants and I could feel them try to hang on as I passed, but broke off before they could stop me. The leaves crunched, small branches from bushes and trees got stuck in my hair, causing my ponytail to loosen. I didn't have time to fix it so I let it hang and bounce against my back. I looked behind me and saw Devon, Cassie and Finn running on each others heels.

We stepped into a clearing and some lights were on us. We stopped dead. There were people in a circle, surrounding us. Guns everywhere. The whistling stopped.

"Get on your knees!" A male voice yelled. Unsure who it was. I looked around, trying to take it all in. We were outnumbered.

At the corner of my eye I saw Rick glance around and the others started to lower themselves to their knees. I followed their lead, still taking in all the people and weapons they had. Rick continued standing.

"Down! On your knees!" The voice yelled again. There was the sound of a gun being cocked.

I glanced over and saw Rick lower himself to his knees again.

"Ready to meet the man?" The same voice said again.

No one answered. A door to an RV opened and out walked a man. Jet black hair, slicked back. Around 6 foot tall. He had on army boots, tan pants and a black leather jacket. On his shoulder, he carried a wooden bat. Then I noticed it. The bat wasn't just a normal baseball bat. It had wire wrapped around it. Barbed wire. My breath caught in my chest. Everyone had these guns, and he had a bat wrapped in barbed wire. This man was brutal.

"Hi. I'm Negan." He said as he stood before us and smiled.

Negan. He was the man that Rick had been looking for all the time. And I was stupid enough to join him in the search. Now I wish I hadn't. Just look at this guy. He's got tons of men with tons of weapons. There was no way we were going to make it past all of them to get to him. And now the man himself was here, right in front of them, but they were helpless.

He looked at Rick, obviously knowing that he was the leader of us. "So. I heard you were looking for me." He saw that Rick glanced at the bat on his shoulder. "Oh, this?" He held the bat out and then cradled it almost like a baby. "This is Lucille." He smiled at it, almost like it was his kid. He was obviously fond of it.

"So... I am willing to accept you guys, work with you. But I think I need to make a point first." He held the bat down at his side now. He walked down the line of us, back and forth. "Man, I just can't pick." He had his back turned towards us and then turn around, a grin on his face. "I have an idea."

I watched him carefully as he moved. Trying to find a weak spot on him for when the time came that someone was able to take him down. So far, I didn't see one. He seemed very strong.

He walked in front of Devon, who's blue eyes had faded from their bright color, his dirty blond hair was damp with sweat. "Eeny..." Negan pointed the bat at him, right in his face so he could see it clearly.

"Meeny..." He now pointed it at Abraham.

"Miny..." This time it was Cassie.

"Moe..." He pointed it at Carl and I noticed Rick stiffen.

"Catch a tiger..." He walked down the line to Glenn.

"By his toe..." He grinned and this time it was Finn's turn at the end of the bat.

He walked to Sasha. "If..."

"He hollers..." Now Michonne.

Rosita's turn. "Let him go..."

He stopped and stood in front of us all again. "My mother..." He walked to me now, looking down on me. I could see him studying my face. I knew I was showing a hint of fear on my face.  I held my breath. I could feel his eyes piercing into me, but as I stared back at him, afraid to look away, something seemed different. He gave me a slight smile and pointed the bat at me. "Told me..." He continued, "to pick."

He moved on now, going to a smaller guy who's name was Gary. "The very..."

"Best..." He went to Eugene.

He went to Cassie again. "One..."

"And you..." He pointed to Rick who glared up at him.

He paused and went back and forth to each of us, pointing the bat in our faces. Rick tensed when he went to Carl. When he got to me he didn't look at me the same way he did before. He looked at me like I was nothing.

He stepped in front of the smaller guy, Gary. "It..." He smiled.

He raised the bat and smashed it down on Gary's head. Blood flooded down his face, his dark hair got darker with the blood that flowed out of his scalp. "You're taking this like a champ!" Negan said and smacked Gary again. There were screams from some. I wasn't sure who. It was too loud. I closed my eyes and looked away. It was too brutal. I heard every crack of the bat against bone. Finally it all stopped. There were sobs and I opened my eyes and looked. Negan was smiling at his work. There was blood and brains everywhere from Gary.

Negan turned around and held the bat again, like it was a child. "She got a little thirsty." He looked down at it and then back up at all us, he smiled. "So... Do we understand that you will do what I ask you to do?" He looked at Rick who glared at him, but obviously looked terrified out of his mind.

"Alright." He turned around. "Load 'em up!" He said as he walked to the RV again, opening the door and stepping in. The door closed behind him and some of his men came and pulled us up, pushing us to vans, tying our hands together when they got us in the back. They closed the doors and we were off. To God knows where.

*Author's Note: I hope you all liked the first chapter.*