The Rocking Dead (#Wattys2018)

Chapter 11: Confrontation

Blackie's POV: The moment Tom collapsed to the ground, I knew something was wrong. When I got closer, I saw the bite on Jeff's neck. My heart skipped a beat. I felt horrible for Tom. Then my emotions changed to anger towards Negan. This is all because of him. I know it sounds far fetched but hear me out. If he wouldn't have found Rick's group and had that lineup the other day, we wouldn't have to be out every day looking for shit to appease him. If we wouldn't have to constantly scavenge, Jeff and Tom wouldn't have had to go out, and he wouldn't have gotten bit. It all goes back to Negan.

Because Tom helped me when Negan had Penelope, I knew I had to be there for him. I owe him. After he was in his and Jeff's house for a while, I figured Jeff was gone, and went in to help him. Sure enough, he was in the bedroom, sobbing on the floor next to Jeff's lifeless body. He already took care of him so he wouldn't turn. God, thinking about him having to plunge a knife into his best friend's skull is gut wrentching.

"Tom." I softly called, letting him know I was there. He looked up while holding back tears, his eyes tear stained, puffy, and red from the sobbing. No words would come out of my mouth. I didn't realize Penelope was behind me until she trotted into the room and over to Tom. She stared at him for a moment before hugging him. After a few seconds, Tom hugged her back. "We're here for you Tom." I finally managed to say. He sniffled as he looked back up at me.

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Tom's POV: The day after Jeff's death, Rick offered to bury him in a makeshift grave. I agreed, knowing I'd have somewhere to visit him every now and then. Michonne made the cross out of sticks and twine, while Rick and Blackie took care of the burial. I simply just stood there, watching, wondering why this had to happen. Once the grave was finished, I sat there with Jeff for what felt like hours.

"Why did this have to happen?" I said, almost as if I was still talking directly to Jeff, "Could I have saved you? I could've. I know I could've. But I ran. It's my fault you're dead Jeff, it's all my fault. I could've saved you. I could have." A few stray tears slowly rolled down my cheeks. My mind snapped back to reality when I heard the gates open. In walked Negan and his men. Great, they're here for our shit. I got up and walked over to Blackie and the others. After talking with Rick, he came over to us.

"Look who it is! My favorite rockstars." He said, arms out to his side while holding his bat. We all looked at him with disdain. "Wasn't there one more of you? Oh yeah, your band mate Tom! Where is he anyway?" Anger was welling up in my body.

"You wanna see him?" I said, trying not to flip out at Negan.

"Well, isn't that why I asked you where he is?" He replied.

"Follow me." I said, clenching my fists. I, along with the others, led Negan to Jeff's grave.

"Oh man." He solemnly said, "I'm sorry. He was a smart man, a lot smarter than Rick. How'd he go, if you don't mind me asking?"

"He was bit." I said, not looking at him.

"Oh, guess he wasn't that smart." He said. That was my breaking point.

"He was bit scavenging for your greedy ass." I said, looking him right in the eye.

"Excuse me?" Negan asked, his eyes narrowing.

"You heard me." I replied, "We were looking for shit for you. Because killing Rick's people isn't enough for your sadistic mind, you gotta make us look for shit because you don't want to."

"Tom, stop." I heard Sebasian say.

"Nah nah Sebastian, let him continue." Negan said, tightening his grip on his bat.

"If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have to scavenge so much, and he wouldn't have been bitten." I continued, "You take pleasure in people's fear and pain. As long as you get what you want, you don't care what happens and who dies. I don't give a shit if you slaughter me with that fucking bat right now. In fact, doing so would put me out of my god damn misery. You are the reason my friend is dead. You! You greedy, psychotic, sadistic, twisted, unemotional piece of fucking shit!" I was close to his face and yelling at this point. I don't care anymore. "I will kill you one day. I don't know how or when, but I will."

"Be careful what you say Keifer." He replied before walking off. Nothing but pure hatred remained in my body.

"Tom, I'm pretty sure you pissed off Negan." Vince said.

"I don't fucking care." I said, "I'm gonna be the one to fucking kill him." I walked back to my house...