Daughter of the Fallen

Knots Unite Part 4

We were all sitting in a small room when Jesus walked in.

"Dr. Carson was able to patch Gregory up," he informed. "He's in pain, but he'll live."

Oh....joy.

That was sarcasm if it wasn't obvious.

"So what happens now?" Michonne asked.

"Things like that don't usually happen here. But it's settled."

"We heard the name Negan," Rick said, stepping forward. "A while back, Bree, Abraham, and Daryl had a run-in with his men. Who is he?"

Intrigued, I took a few steps forward, keeping my arms crossed in hopes it would give me security.

"Negan's the head of a group of people he calls the Saviors," Jesus explained. "As soon as the walls were built, the Saviors showed up. They met with Gregory on behalf of their boss. They made a lot of demands, even more threats. And he killed one of us. Rory. He was 16 years old. They beat him to death. Right in front of us. Said we needed to understand right off the bat. Gregory's not exactly good at confrontation."

"Gee, really?" I asked sarcastically under my breath.

Jesus gave me a look. "He's not the leader I would've chosen, but he helped make this place what it is, and the people like him."

"He made the deal," Maggie concluded.

"Half of everything. Our supplies, our crops, our livestock, it goes to the Saviors."

"And what do you get it return?" Glenn asked.

"They don't attack this place. They don't kill us."

"Why not just kill them?" Daryl asked.

"Most of the people here don't know how to fight, even if we had ammo."

"How many people does Negan have?" I asked.

"We don't know. We've seen groups as big as 20."

"Hold up," Daryl interjected. "They show up, they kill a kid, and you give them half of everything? These d*cks just got a good story. The Boogyman, he ain't sh*t."

"How do you know?"

"A month ago, we took out his guys at PDQ," I answered, stepping forward. "We blew them to bits."

"We'll do it," Daryl offered. "If we go get your man back, kill Negan, take out his boys, will you hook us up? We want food, medicine, and one of them cows."

Jesus looked at Daryl, surprised, before looking at Rick.

Rick shrugged. "Confrontation's something we've never had trouble with."

He was silent for a moment. "I'll take it to Gregory."

With that, he left the room.

•••

I was sitting with my dad while we waited, once again, for Maggie to talk to Gregory.

Thoughts raced through my head as I stared at a painting on the wall.

"I knew we hadn't heard the last of Negan," I said softly. "I could feel it."

"Good thing we're gonna be taking him out soon," my dad reminded.

I sighed and shook my head. "I don't think it'll be that easy." I looked over at him. "What if he kills one of us?"

He put his arm around me. "Don't worry. We won't let him do that."

Suddenly, the door opened and Maggie walked in.

"How did it go?" I asked, standing up.

She looked at me and gave me a small smile. "We have a deal."

A smile crept onto my face and she put her hand on my shoulder. "You both should go help Rick load up the truck."

She walked out and my dad and I exchanged a relieved look before walking out to help Rick.

•••

As we drove off with half the Hilltop's supplies loaded on the RV, I watched as Glenn handed a little picture to Michonne. A smile came onto her face and she handed it to Daryl.

Finally, it was handed to me. As I looked at it, a huge smile took over my face. It was a picture of the ultrasound Maggie got.

The very sight of it gave me hope.

Hope for a new world.