Negan's Daughter

Chapter 69

I sat on the inside of one of the trucks being filled with stolen goods. My palms were sweating as I listened to Negan taunt Rick. It would all be over soon, we would leave and Rick and the others would be safe... until Negan decided to raid them of their supplies again. What would happen to Judith if they took her food? What would they do without weapons if the town was overrun with walkers? Would we return one day to see the group emancipated and close to death? Suddenly, Arad, with Olivia in her grasp, came marching up the stairs. Negan chastised her before she explained that there were two guns missing, two guns we hadn't confiscated yet. Immediately, my sweaty palms started to tense up.

"I don't enjoy killing women. Men, I can waste them all day long, but at the end of the day Olivia dear, this was your responsibility-"

"Negan, ple"- I started but was cut off by Negan pointing his finger at me.

"We had a deal, shut up or I will waste all of your friends here!" Negan glared at me but there was also a look of resistance, as if he didn't want to. I furrowed my brow at him before closing my mouth. I glanced at Rick who was dismayed and alarmed. Negan continued. "This was your job and you screwed up. Keeping track of guns? That shit is life and death." My mouth was dry as Negan stared hard at Denise. Slowly I pushed myself to my feet.

"I'll start to look for it, see if I can convince whoever it is to give it up." I interrupted. Negan grinned slightly, his eyes shifted to me.

"Good girl." Negan commented.

-

I exited one of the houses with a heavy feeling in my stomach. I couldn't find the Goddamn gun. My eyes suddenly found themselves on Enid who was being taunted by one of Negan's group members. "Say please again little girl." My nose scrunched up in anger as I approached the creepy raider.

"Leave her alone." I spoke calmly through gritted teeth. The raider smirked at me in surprise. I lowered my eyes to the balloons in his hands. "Give them back."

"Or what? Negan told us to not hold back", the raider taunted as he rubbed a finger down Enid's face. That was it. I pulled my gun out and aimed it at the man.

"DO YOUR DAMN JOB AND FIND THE GUN BEFORE I BLOW A HOLE THROUGH YOUR EMPTY HEAD!" My voice had caused Enid to jump, as it was eerily similar to Negan's when he was upset. The raider scowled at me then dropped the balloons on the ground and walked away. I lowered my gun by my side and noticed Carl staring at me with an indignant expression. My body tensed up as I noticed Negan walking over to me. I met him halfway and immediately started to plead.

"I'm sorry- he was just, being a creep-"

"Enough." Negan spoke firmly. He stared at me for a moment before Rick walked over, interrupting us with his presence. "What ya got for me Rick?" Negan asked as he tore his gaze from me and turned towards Rick. Rick held up a gun in his hand and I sighed relieved. "Funny how a little 'holy shit someone's gonna die' lights a fire under everybody's ass!" They both turned to face Olivia, who was crying. "Tell me Rick, which one of your fine people almost cost Olivia the rest of her days?"

"Doesn't matter anymore-" Rick tried to state but Negan cut him off.

"No Rick it matters. So you need to get everybody on board. Everybody. Isn't that right sweetheart?" Negan asked. I swallowed a lump in my throat.

"Everybody." I repeated in a restrained voice.

-

I leaned against one of the cars as I watched Rick and Negan talk. It was almost over. Just one more gun and we can leave and they would be safe. Rick left Negan alone and headed off towards one of the run down houses. I furrowed my brow but waited. A few minutes later Michonne emerged with a deer sling over her shoulders. "Look at this!"

"I thought she was scavenging, she was hunting." Rick defended. "This one never came inside we kept it near the blind." Rick stated as he handed over the last missing gun.

"Look at this. This is something to build a relationship on. Good for you Rick." Watching Negan taunt Rick and Michonne made the fire in my stomach grow. I just wanted him gone, I want to go back and bring Glenn back and Abraham and go back to the way things were. Hell I'd go all the way back to the prison. Negan's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, this was the present and there was no going back.

"I'd like to ask you if Daryl could stay." Rick spoke. My stomach clenched and I felt it bubble inside. Daryl, the one who left me behind to die the one who had cost Glenn his life, was the one Rick wanted to try to get back. I turned my head towards the ground as Rick tried to plead his case. Negan continued to taunt him until Dwight drove away on Daryl's bike.

"So nobody died, and you know what I think? I think you and I we refined our understanding. Let me ask you something Rick. Do you want me to go?" Negan asked, taking a step closer to Rick. Rick paused before nodding.

"I think that'd be good." He responded.

"Then just say those two magical words." Negan commanded. I bite back my hate as I watched Rick struggle to mutter the words that expressed the opposite of what he was feeling. God how I had two other words in mind. Negan chuckled.

"Thank you." Rick choked out.

"Don't be ridiculous! Thank you!" Negan's taunt was silenced by an upcoming walker. "Another one. You need our help. Davey, hand me that candlestick over there. You know what I think Rick? I think we're both gonna come out of this winners. Watch my form!" Negan took his time killing the walker, I had had enough and started towards the van. As I approached the side of the vehicle I noticed Carl standing by his house with his arms crossed. I stared at him for a moment, his face was tight and avoided me. I felt my chest clench as I opened the vehicle door and climbed inside. He had survived and that was what was important. Him, Rick, Judith, Michonne, and the rest of the group had survived.

-

The ride was silent, Negan had not said a word since he got in the truck, flipped off Rick and drove away. I played with my hands and went over the images of the others in my head. Rick's disappointment, Carl's indignation, Michonne's anger. My face had probably been pale with embarrassment the whole time. I had let them down. Suddenly, the truck came to a stop in the middle of the road. Negan watched the road, not saying a word. I furrowed my brow until I noticed the raiders hauling mattresses onto the side of the road and stacking them into a pile. My mouth dropped open as Negan pulled matches out of his leather jacket and held it up for me to take. He didn't look at me. I grabbed the matches before exiting the vehicle. Holding back everything that I wanted to say and act I approached the mattresses with the raiders gathered in a circle. My fingers felt numb as I slowly pulled a match out and lit it on the side off the box. Once one of the raiders finished soaking the mattresses with gasoline I threw the match onto the pile and watched them burn. This was it, this was the way things were. Maybe Negan was right, maybe if I give in... it would be for the better.

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Screw amc.