Nothing Left to Burn [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 8 - The Last Saviors

Regina was doing her nightly rounds when she heard a familiar voice carrying through the hallways of the Sanctuary. She wandered upstairs with her gun drawn because as far as she knew, no one had been up here in ages. She and the others stayed mostly on the first floor when they weren't out scouting, and they were wary of visitors since Saviors had been turning up dead or altogether disappearing. Once Arat, DJ, and Laura left, it was clear the last of the Saviors were in for a rough winter. There were only nine of them left now and they had no way of resupplying what little rations they had.

That night, the Saviors heard from Arat over the radio, who had more than one piece of news. First and foremost, Negan had escaped and Rick was urging everyone to be on the lookout. Second, Rick, the ex-Saviors, and the other Alexandrians would be arriving at the Sanctuary in the morning. And lastly, the reason for their visit aside from looking for Negan was to make one last attempt to salvage the Sanctuary and its people. Rick didn't have support from the other communities, so unless there was something the Saviors could offer or at least do for themselves, he would no longer be able to help them.

Whatever voice Regina had heard went silent, but as she continued further upstairs she'd catch it now and again. When she followed it all the way up to Negan's old bedroom and found him there, a few things flashed through her mind. Her first thought was that things were going to be better now. With Negan back, things would return to normal. Her second thought was that her first thought was stupid. Still, Negan could probably pull what was left of the Saviors back together, whereas she and the others clearly weren't able to do it.

Then she saw Aven and scowled. That woman showed up just as everything went down hill. Her arrival was a mere week before trouble with Alexandria arose, and though Regina wasn't sure if Aven had been working with the enemy or not, it was certain that she distracted Negan. He changed when he met her and it was clear just by the look on his face, even to people who didn't know him personally. The Saviors assumed if he weren't so wrapped up with her, he would have handled things with Rick differently and won the war.

"Regina, how the fuck are ya?" Negan said warmly, stepping forward to shake the woman's hand but keeping Aven behind him protectively. He slid right back into the swagger of his former life and Regina seemed to regard him just the same as she used to. 

"Given the state of the place, not good," Regina replied solemnly. "We really thought this was it. It was a raw deal for all of us what Rick did to you. He's been giving us rations now and again but this place immediately went to hell without you."

"So I've heard," he said coolly, though with the hint of a smirk in his eyes as though to say of course this place went to hell without me.

"You got here just in time to pull things back together." Regina's eyes again darted to Aven who was still standing behind him. She wasn't getting a good feeling from Regina; she didn't like the way the woman looked at her. It was the same kind of look she'd gotten from people sometimes in her year at the Kingdom, full of spite and distrust.

"Aven, this is Regina," Negan said, changing the subject. He wasn't expecting this encounter and didn't want to break it to Regina yet that he wasn't staying. He still felt responsible for these people, and whereas Aven was trying to push him away, Regina was glad to see him. "Regina was one of our lieutenants."

"We've met," Regina said, furrowing her brow as Negan stepped aside so Aven was no longer hidden behind him.

"She doesnt remember," Negan replied. "Amnesia. Apparently she hit her head pretty good."

"Shit, so that's what happened. We thought you died," she said disinterestedly to Aven. "Didn't look like you were getting back up."

"You saw?" Aven and Negan asked at the same time, and Regina nodded.