Three Empty Words

Chapter Nine

"All of my love. Has yet to wake. I know your strength Is what, I lack. You've got my back And now that I've got yours, I have you to thank for lighting up the dark. Because you're here with me, Our dreams will soar free. For-ev-er." ~ Amalee's Cover of Crossing Field

***

Thea's PoV

"I'm not going in there."

"You have to. We're all going in."

"If I go in there, I can't promise I won't punch him in the face." Carl chuckled, shaking his head even though I was being completely serious. Daryl patted my shoulder on his way past me into Gregory's room.

"Look at who's in our group. You're not the only one making that promise." I sighed heavily, relenting my argument. He smiled and kissed my cheek, before walking past me as well. I audibly groaned and turned on my heel to follow after the rest of my group. I made a point to go to the very back, leaning against the cases with Daryl. Carl stood maybe a foot in front of me. I crossed my arms over my chest, preparing for the annoyance that was Gregory's voice when we started this meeting.

***

"No! No way in hell.That was not the deal. You people swore you could take the Saviors out, and you failed. So, any arrangement we had is now done- null and void. We aren't trade partners, we aren't friends, and we never met. Hmm? We don't know each other. I owe you nothing. In fact, you owe me for taking in the refugees at great personal risk," Gregory shot down all our proposals, sitting down comfortably in his desk.

"Oh, you were very brave staying in here while Maggie and Sasha saved this place. Your courage was inspiring," Jesus brought up sarcastically. The corners of my mouth twitched up in a small smile.

"Hey, don't you work for me? Aren't we friends?" Gregory brought up in a condescending tone.

"Gregory, we already started this," Rick cut in, quickly losing his patience with the man.

"You did."

"We did. And we're gonna win."

"These are killers."

"Is this how you want to live? Under their thumb, killing your people?" Rick asked, taking a step back from his desk, looking around at all of us briefly.

"S-sometimes we don't get to choose what our life looks like. Sometimes, Ricky, you have to count the blessings you have." I bit my lip at the sentence. We've done more than just count our blessings. We are running very close to not having any more to count.

"How many people can we spare? How many people here can fight?" Maggie butted in, getting right to the point we were all really here for.

"We?" Gregory scoffed. "I don't even know how many people we have, Margaret. And does it even matter? I mean... w-w-what are you gonna do? Start a platoon of sorghum farmers? 'Cause that's what we got. They grow things. They're not gonna want to fight."

"You're wrong. When people have the chance to do the right thing, they usually step up. I mean, people just-"

"L-Let me stop you before you break into song, okay?" Gregory interrupted, putting his hand up to visibly stop Tara from talking. Her jaw dropped in disbelief. She looked at Daryl and I with annoyance clear in her eyes. "And, by the way, who would train all this cannon fodder?"