Negans men walked in and out of houses, packing things up and carrying them out to the trucks they brought. Most of the people in Alexandria were in the street, on their knees in front of Negan. The burn of their kneecaps reminded a few of the first night Negan came. The yelling. The blood. The screams. It was a sickening deja vu. A kind that made their blood run cold and their bodies tense up. All they could think about was how someone was going to die.
Negan stood in front of Rick, sighing. Rick was on his knees along with the rest of his people. All of them stared up at Negan with wide eyes full of fear. "Rick... your kid killed two of my men. He wanted to kill me." Negan pointed the end of his bat at Carl. "I didn't hurt him. I brought him home all safe and sound and I fed him... but now... considering how rude everyone has been..." He shook his head. "I think that you guys don't deserve Carl. He broke in and was more respectful than you guys were."
Rick was shaking. His knees dug into the ground and his hands were gripping his thighs. He was struggling to stand. "You've already killed the ones that were rude." He tried to argue. "You didn't choose to kill Rosita-"
"But." Negan smiled. "Someone died in her place. To prove a point. To prove-" He raised his voice. "That I am not messing around! Rick! Your people cost two lives today, don't make me make it a three." He turned and looked at Carl, who was curled up in his seat, clinging to the chair. "So... what do ya say, Rick? I kill your boy, because red head, widows husband, fat chick, and snobby white boy wasn't enough to teach you idiots a lesson."
"Neg-"
"No." Negan swung the bat and slammed it into the ground. "No!" He repeated. "I've given you second chances. I've warned you! Hell, I've killed and you still don't care! I'm done trying, Rick." He turned around and raised two fingers, curling them. "Come here, kid. You're coming home with me. Your friends don't love you enough to be good and keep you alive." Negan shrugged, tilting his head to the side. "That must really suck."
Slowly, Carl stood up and walked down the steps of the front porch. His face was emotionless but his eye was clouded with fear. He pushed past Negans men, looking down at his feet. He flinched when Negan grabbed his arm and yanked him to the ground. Negan was kneeling in front of Rick, fingers curled around Carls arm, gripping it, tight. Carl was on the ground, his chest only an inch or two above the asphalt. One of his hands was in a pool of blood, his other hand on top of his dad's knee.
"Look at him, Rick.." Negan shook his head. "Hes so scared. He just wants his daddy to save him, but you can't do that, can you, Rick? You're just gonna let your little boy get murdered because you are too stubborn to actually give up and realize that I will always win." He pointed at his own chest. "I will always be in charge. The old way is over, Rick. It's my way now." He let go of Carl and stood up. "Get on your feet, kid."
Carl stood up, brushing his hands off across his jeans. He looked down at his father, who was crying, but silently. Tears slipped down Ricks face but not once did he sob or scream. He just watched. "Dad.." Carl whispered. "Dad, come on..." He reached out to touch him but Negan grabbed his wrist.
"Go with Simon and get in the first car.." Negan pushed Carl past him, tilting Ricks head up with the end of Lucille. "There will be no more second chances, Rick. I'm killing your boy and hopefully, that'll help all of you dumb asses to realize how serious I really am." He dropped the bat, swinging it up so it was resting against his shoulders. "Any last words you want him to hear? How much you love him? How sorry you are that your stubbornness and stupidity is getting him killed?"
Rick was staring at him. The fear in his eyes was replaced with anger. He pushed up on his knees, sitting up straighter. Carl would be safer there. Negan wouldn't kill him. If he wanted to he would have killed him earlier when Carl broke in. Negan can keep him safe. Negans system is fucked up and bad but it will keep Carl safe. It's better to have him protected by an enemy than killed by one. "Do it."
