My Saviour.

Leaving.

Simon leads me around to the front of the building, killing off any dead that dare get too close. I stick close by him like glue, feeling absolutely terrified by being out here. I hear my name being called and I peek around Simon seeing Josh sprinting towards me, I quickly tuck the gun in the back of my jeans like Simon had done.

He scoops me up into a massive bear hug and swings me around in circles, I spot Simon's annoyed look as he watches us. Josh drops me down on my feet and pulls me against him by my ass and makes out with me all hot and heavy like.

I push him away after awhile, literally sensing how uncomfortable Simon is by watching us. We continue to walk down the main street, meeting up with Triss, Kevin and his friend. Simon talks quietly with his friend, while Josh and I join Kevin and Triss.

"Where is Chelsea and Mick?" Triss asks her voice immediately pissing me off.

"Their gone." I say softly, sadly. The others don't say anything just giving each other strange looks, that confuse me.

"What happened Kevin? You were the last one down there. We had a system in place if anything like this happened." I ask growing more angry by the minute.

"I was just having a ciggy when a herd of them come at me from around the corner. I couldn't close the door in time and they got in." He says easily, almost like he prepared his story.

"But our system is to run through the bottom story and go up the fire escape so they can't follow you up there. And Mick and Chelsea never mentioned a herd and they certainly would have." I push further not satisfied with his answer. Josh tries to get me to be quiet but I'm not interested in that I want to hear the truth.

"I don't know Hailey, maybe they missed them and I panicked alright." Kevin deflects again.

"Well your panic, just killed two of our friends."

"Baby, stop being so hard on him, it was an accident." Josh tries to calm me down but he only makes me more angry as I remember that he left me.

"No. I'm not happy with you either, you fucking left me there on my own, you didn't even wait for me." He doesn't get time to respond as Simon interrupts us.

"I hate to get involved, but we are leaving so if you want to come with us, then let's go."

"Nah, we're all good man." Josh says for all of us and I'm even more angry.

"What?! No we are going with them." I say arguing the point.

"Ah, No we aren't. All my stuff's in that apartment and I'm not leaving until we get it." Triss pipes up.

"Seriously, you're going to risk your life over material objects?" I blanch, baffled at the idea, I spy Simon and his friend leaving subtly.

"Um, it's all I have. So yes I am." She puts her hand on her hip.

"Well I'm going with them." I say turning on my heel, but Josh grabs my right forearm digging his fingers into the makeshift bandage. I feel the wound start to separate, blood oozing down my hand again.

"Let go of me." I sternly stare down Josh, warning him now is not the time to even think about hurting me. I've put up with it until now, after today I'm going to grow a back bone and defend myself.

"You're not going anywhere." He growls out between gritted teeth and tightens his grip.

"Josh just let her go." Triss tells him and I honestly would have thanked her if it was a different circumstance. Josh releases my hand and I quickly jog away down the street, trying to catch up with the two fading figures down the street.

As I get closer Simon turns and walks backwards watching me until I finally stop beside him and then he faces forward again.

"I didn't think you were gonna come." A smirk dances along his mouth and I hate it, I'm not in the mood.

"I'm not getting killed for her lacy underwear and few protein bars." I huff out trying to keep pace with them, they seem to have unusually tall legs. But then again I'm rather short, the last time I checked I was 5"2 and I doubt that I will get any taller then that.

I lift my arm to inspect it as we walk, the mock bandage completely soaked through now and I frown at that. I need to treat it soon or I risk infections which could lead to an amputation. I'd like to keep both my arms in this bullshit world if I can.

"Hey. How did that get worse? The bleeding looked like it was slowly before." Simon observes and I realise he might not be the type of person I may be able to get things by.

"Um, they just tried to stop me, it's no biggy." I deflect, avoiding details as best I can without seeming suspicious.

"Why would they use your injury to stop you? That's fucked up." Simon says a look of disgust on his face.

"No, it's not like that. Josh just doesn't.....". I trail off, knowing I've said too much now, but I hope I can get away with it anyway.

"Does he beat you?" Simon asks right out and his bluntness throws me off so much so that I can't come up with a lie in time. So I just remain silent, which practically proves Josh is guilty of what he's asking me.

Simon stops and places his hand on my shoulder, tightening his grip to be more firm when I refuse to look up at him. He tucks his thumb and forefinger under my chin to lift my head up.

"While I'm around he's not to lay another hand on you, you come to me as soon as he does so. Understand?" The seriousness in his eyes frightens me and I think he realises this as his face softens. I move my face from his grasp and step away from him entirely, feeling uncomfortable and wondering if I made the right decision to go with them.

"I don't need to tell you anything. What happens in my relationship doesn't concern you. I really appreciate all you did for me today, but I've still only just met you." I walk off before he gets the chance to answer, catching up with his friend.

"Don't let him get to you, Doll. He means well, just has a habit of over stepping his bounds. I'm Negan, by the way." He says smiling down at me.

"Hailey. Thanks. He should really learn to mind his own business though." I mutter glancing at the street around us.

"Yeah he does, but like I said he means well. I trust that man with my life and I guess so do you now, seeing how you jumped from a roof for him." I frown at Negan and look back at Simon for a moment.

"I guess I do trust him a little, but it was a matter of life or death."

"Does that fucking matter?" Negans eyes dance with clear amusement.

"Yes, it does." We walk in silence for a while, but my eyes keep catching sight of his barbed wire wrapped baseball bat.

"Sooo.... Your bats pretty fucking badass." I smile at him, he lifts the bat up for me to look at better, a huge smile spreading across his face.

"Yeah she's something, her names Lucille." He gives her a few swings before resting her back on his shoulder.

"Does that name mean something to you?" I ask intrigued by his name choice for his bat, thinking it would be something along the lines of Beater or Blood Demon.

"Maybe others need to mind their own business too." His mood immediately drops and his carefree nature disappears and I realise I've hit a nerve.

"Uh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it. Sorry." I slow my strides and sigh, falling back into step beside Simon.

"He has his moments, he's been through a lot." Simon tells me quietly as he wraps an arm around my shoulders. I don't bother answering him this time, just let the quiet overtake us.

But it's soon intrrupted by the sounds of shoes slapping on the cement behind us and I turn to see Josh, Triss and Kevin running to catch up. Empty handed.