Last One Fighting ~ Negan Fanfic

14

Hi all! I just wanted to thank you all so so much for the continued support this story has been receiving! It has been super fun to write and I'm glad others are enjoying it!

<><><><><>

I trailed behind Kate as she led the way through the compound. She had seemed content to walk with a protective arm wrapped around me, but once we were out in the hallway I just couldn't do it. It felt more exposed out here and having another person, even if it was my sister, so close was suffocating. I needed to have my arms unconfined and be free to move.

Every corner was a blind corner and I didn't know what to expect of this place. It was fairly obvious everything was not as perfect as it first appeared. It made me itch to get out of this oppressive building and out from behind the fence where I could breathe again. Merle trailed behind us, and having him with made me feel strangely better. He had a gun on one hip and a knife on the other and if there was one thing I knew about Merle, it was that he was good in a fight.

Kate kept glancing back at me over her shoulder, but I didn't have the energy to make her feel better. I felt bad about that. I should say or do something reassuring so she wouldn't worry, but the deeper into this labyrinthian compound I was led, the tighter the knot in my chest became.

"Merle and I are on the civilian side," Kate was explaining. "We both have jobs."

It was a struggle to really hear her words, but I used the sound of them to keep the clawing claustrophobic panic at bay.

"We have one of the family dorms. It's nice. We have nice neighbors and it's really nice here."

I didn't miss how many times she had told me it was nice, how forced her voice sounded. But I couldn't figure out right now if it was because I was making her nervous or if there was something deeper going on here. That mystery was just going to have to wait until tomorrow.

I drew in a deep breath and glanced back over my shoulder at Merle. He was watching me carefully, but he didn't look upset by anything. I was more willing to take my cues off of him than Kate. I trusted his reactions.

Kate led the way as the hallway opened up into a huge three story open room. It must have once been the factory floor but now was filled with people. There were some standing in line at what looked like stalls where people had everything from clothes to weapons to different kinds of food. I stopped just before heading into the crowds. There had to be nearly a hundred people in here. I heard Merle stop less than a foot behind me. My heart was thudding in my ears as I tried to force myself to take that last step out onto the factory floor. But it felt like my feet had grown roots.

"And this is the market place-" Kate hadn't noticed I had stopped yet and continued to explain. "We don't make money at work, we rather points which you use to buy stuff. Just tell them you're a Dixon and it will-" Someone called her name and she smiled and turned to talk to them.

"You still with us Barbie?" Merle's gruff voice came from behind me. I flinched, not expecting it to be so close, but I kept my eyes glued to the strangers.

There were too many of them. My mind tried to track them all, seeing everyone as a potential threat. My eyes burned and felt scratchy from a lack of sleep and it made my brain feel slow and stupid. I just needed to find a place to rest. All I had to do was follow my sister and Merle and then I would be able to rest.

Merle scuffed his boot against the floor behind me and I whirled to face him my hand dropping to my waist.

He didn't look surprised by my reaction, instead he was watching me carefully. His chin lifted, his head cocked slightly to the side. "We need to get you home Barbie," he said seriously.