The Remains of Tomorrow #wattys2019

Chapter 9

Running from the group I found myself in a corner throwing up what little food I had in my stomach. Dead, no not Daryl...I couldn't believe it. I felt someone stood behind me who lifted up my hair while I emptied the contents of my stomach.

"Kenzie, we don't know if Daryl is dead honey." Michonne's voice sounded from beside me, looking up at her I realized tears were streaming down my face,

"But Rick said..." I started to say but Michonne shook her head at me,

"We know Glenn and Abraham are dead as he killed them in front of us, but he just took Daryl...we don't know where he went?" Him...

"Him Michonne?" I asked standing up to face her, "you said he killed them..." She looked at me but Aaron came up behind her and placed a hand on my shoulder to look me in the eyes.

"Negan, honey." Shocked I looked in his eyes and realized he was completely serious, my legs went out from under me and I found myself arse in the dirt looking up at my brother.

"But I thought he was dead Aaron?" He shook his head as he crouched beside me in the dirt.

"So did I? But he is alive and has now got a group of men and women who follow him. Dwight and Simon were with him." Pulling my knees up I placed my head on my knees and just shook in shock.

"Do you know who Negan is?" Michonne asked as she squatted in the dirt beside me; looking up I let her see the horror in my eyes,

"My Father," I said before letting my head drop to my knees in shame and despair. Hearing Michonne take a step away Aaron stopped her in her tracks just as I lifted my head up to face them both

"But I thought she was your sister?" She said as she poked him in the chest. He nodded his head and gave me a hand up to pull me beside him,

"She is my sister...same mother different father." He plainly replied holding her in place, "and we thought he was dead. The last time we saw him he was in a warehouse surrounded by walkers...there should've been no way he got out of there." Glaring at my brother I felt the anger in my features,

"But he did...and he killed Glenn and Abraham before taking Daryl." Turning around I ran my hands through my black hair and tried to decide my next move. "I need to find him." Grabbing my helmet from the floor I stalked towards my bike,

"But you don't know where he is Kenzie." As I'm about to reply Gregory came skulking up to the group with Jesus in tow,

"I do." He said pulling out a map from his pocket, "I won't take you there but I will show you how to get to his hideout." Pulling one of the knives from my thigh sheaf I pushed him against the wall and placed the blade alongside his neck.

"And how do you know where he is?" I spat out at him while Aaron and Jesus were trying to pull me off of him.

"We have had dealings in the past; I scratch his back and he scratches mine." He shrugged as Jesus managed to pull me away from him, for a little guy he was quite strong. Gregory laid the map out on the floor and pointed to a location about 2 miles away to the north. "He is in an old ammunition factory along the way, they call it Sanctuary. There are two sets of fences with walkers between them; his idea of a moat." He smirked at me, "You need to get them to let you in; they have people who keep the walkers away from people coming in and out of the compound." Nodding I put my helmet on and swung my leg over the Harley,

"Aaron, get them home; if Maggie can't travel leave her here, Jesus will look after her." He nodded to me as I signaled for the gates to be opened, "And for fuck's sake kiss your husband when you get back; he is worried out of his mind about you." I felt Aaron tap me on the helmet but before I could respond the gate was opened and I roared out in a cloud of dust. Rescuing Daryl if he was still alive would be a challenge, but facing my father after I left him to die would be a whole different ball game.