[saviour ➼ negan]

05.

NEGAN had avoided artemis for the next few days, just to be safe. he did not like how comfortable she had made him feel. she was just some girl, or so he had convinced himself.

artemis was upset that she had not seen negan since that night in his room but chose not to let it disrupt her, she still continued on with her daily life.

"everyone follow me." artemis turned away from the plants she was potting, seeing simon directing everyone inside. she was confused at what was happening.

"what is going on?" she asked him curiously.

"just get inside." he grumbled, shoving her slightly into the crowd of people. she frowned at his reaction but continued to follow the crowd.

everyone had gathered in the area where they usually ate. dwight was standing over by a large open fire, holding something into it, but artemis couldn't tell what it was.

she noticed everyone fall to their knees, which meant only one thing. she followed suit, kneeling down onto the ground.

"rise." he ordered, walking into the room. he was dragging someone along behind him. he forced the squirming man to sit in the chair.

"now, incase you're all wondering what the fuck is going on, let me explain. this pathetic piece of shit, or as some of you may know him, matt," he pointed to the man who was sinking further into the chair. "has been stealing our shit, sneaking off and giving it to his group. now i don't know about anyone else, but that deserves some fuckin' punishment." negan explained.

"d." negan turned to dwight, putting a thick gloves on his hand. dwight handed him the object from the fire which artemis made out to be an iron. she gulped nervously as she realised what was about to happen.

artemis turned to leave, but was forced to watch by simon, who held her in place. she could not believe what she was about to watch. she gulped nervously, unprepared for what she was about to witness.

"negan, i swear i never did it, come on man, please, fuck please, i swear, i'll do anything." matt begged negan, who held the iron inches from his face.

"i don't wanna fuckin' hear it. shut the fuck up and get it over with like a man." negan shouted into his face.

before artemis could turn away, the iron was pressed into matt's cheek. the screams that erupted from matt's lungs could be heard for miles. they were haunting. artemis could feel the sick begin to rise in her throat.

she watched as negan pulled the iron away from his face. matt's melted skin was stuck to it. he was now unconscious, he had passed out from the pain. negan handed the iron back to dwight. he signalled for the doctor to take him away.

artemis had never saw anything like this. despite the world ending, she had managed to avoid all of the brutality, the worst thing she had encountered was the walkers. she felt the world around her spinning. she could barely stand. before she knew it, she had hit the ground, everything going black.

➼

"come on folks, everyone get out, nothing to see here." a distant voice called as artemis began to wake up. she opened her eyes to see negan kneeling over her, a concerned look on his face.

"jesus fuck, kid." he sighed relieved. "thought you were never gonna wake up." he laughed, helping her sit up.

"w-what happened?" she stuttered, her head still feeling foggy.

"you passed out." it all began to come back to her. "stole my fuckin' thunder." he joked. artemis was disgusted that negan tried to make light of such a horrible situation.

"yo-you put that iro-you-why did you..." she could barely find her words, still speechless at what had happened.

"don't seem so fuckin' shocked, kid. he was fuckin' stealing our shit, i ain't just gonna let people off the hook." he replied, helping her stand.

"where have you been?" she asked, changing the subject. she didn't want to think about what she had just witnessed. negan looked at her, confused.

"what do you mean?" he asked, holding her up so that she didn't fall. they began to head out the room. negan held her up, scared that if he let go she would only faint again.

"i haven't seen you since the other night." she asked as her room came into sight.

"i'm a busy person, artemis, I've gotta run this place. i don't have time to just stop by and see you." he replied, helping her into her room.

"did i do something wrong?" she asked, concerned, as she sat onto her bed, laying down. she looked up at him, awaiting his answer.

"quite the fuckin' opposite actually." negan chuckled before exiting the room, leaving her confused at his words.