Man with the Bat || a Negan novel

Chapter 14: Over My Dead Body

Carl's eyes met mine, his face washing over with a wave of relief, sidetracking him just enough for Dwight to tackle him. Dwight pins Carl to the ground with one hand, using the other hand to position the gun Carl had been holding to his chest.

"Get off of him!" I shout in fear, rushing towards the two of them. No one was allowed to point a gun at Carl's chest without me ready and rearing to point one at theirs.

"Dwight, back off" Negan speaks out, I couldn't tell if Negan had said that because of my concern or because he sincerely meant it.

Grudgingly, Dwight pushed himself off of Carl, who sat himself up straight as soon as he did. His eyes found mine again, just as Negan neared him.

He held his hand out towards Carl, encouraging him to grab onto it, "Is that any way to treat our new guest?"

"C'mon kid, I'm gonna show you around" Negans cocky self says, but Carls attention isn't directed on Negan anymore. It's directed towards the morbid scene of chained up walkers in front of him. All tethered and snarling, pulling towards all the warm bodies around them. It was a sight to alarm anyone the first time around. Or perhaps he was more fixated on Daryl, in his ratty sweatshirt with the orange A spraypainted to it.

Darly looked just as concerned as I, the only difference being that Daryl wasn't allowed near him. Daryl was a prisoner to them and they were gonna keep it that way.

"You know you do the same damn stink eye as your dad, except it's only half as good 'cause well, you know, you're missing an eye."

Negan chuckled at his own joke, looking to me to join in on the humor, but I just gave him a condescending look. He smirked at me in response before turning back to Carl.

"Really? You're really not gonna take my hand? 'Cause you're lucky you even still have a hand. Same as your boy Daryl over here, now that I think about it," Negan turned in the direction of Daryl, who is grasping a hold of the fence peering in at the situation, "How's the job going, Daryl? Hot enough for you? Yeah, it'd be tough with one arm."

Carl glanced at me, myself pleading with my eyes for him to grab onto it. With a reluctant sigh, he grasped a hold of his hand.

Negan effortlessly pulled him up, " Ah, smart kid."

"Now, come with me. Dwighty-boy, why don't you grab Daryl, take him to the kitchen, do a little grub prep," he turns to his men, "New plan, boys. Let's burn the dead, unload the truck later."

Negan lets out an exasperated sigh, "Damn, I am not gonna have time to screw any of my wives today."

I rolled my eyes in disgust at him. Negan noticing my disgust.

"I mean, maybe one" Negan bit his bottom lip, inching closer to me, "But you're not one of my wives, are ya Mia?"

I wanted to yell at him for his vulgar ways, especially in front of Carl. But I knew that was why he was doing it, he was trying to aggravate Carl. That's why he was being such a jackass, but I wasn't going to give him the satisfactory of me getting angry with him. So I kept quiet.

He hesitates, his eyes admiring me, then he abruptly turns.

"Come on."

Negan pats Carl on the shoulder, steering him towards the Sanctuary itself.

"What are you going to do to me?"

Nothing as long as I'm here Carl

"Number one, do not shatter my image of you. You're a badass. You're not scared of shit. Don't be scared of me. It's a disappointment" Negan lectures Carl, a too serious tone in his voice, Number two you really want me to ruin the surprise? Screw you, kid. Seriously. Screw you." He smirked at the end of his statement, shooting me a wink before turning away.