when the world turns blue - d. dixon

preface.

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TALIA WATCHED HER FATHER'S RETREATING back as he stepped out of the RV, her stomach boiling with rage and something akin to fear. She could hear Simon's voice echoing in her ears. His words were a bitter poison, filling her soul with empty threats and horrific fantasies. Fantasies involving her father's head rolling across fresh grass as his subjects cheered victoriously. Fantasies that Talia feared would never come to pass.

"Pissing our pants yet?"

Talia bit back a smart remark that would surely find its way to her father's ears. Despite her high status among the Saviors, Negan insisted on making sure Talia stayed within the metal walls of her mobile prison, going as far as making Arat sit with her to insure her compliance. She didn't want to be outside. She didn't want to watch innocent people get beaten to death. It was the fact that her father felt like his 25 year old daughter needed a babysitter. That's what made her mad.

"Boy, do I have a feeling we're getting close," she heard her father say. Talia could hear the smile spreading across her face. It made her sick.

The brunette felt her face twist into a scowl. She hated her father. She hated being in his ranks. She hated everything about the Saviors. Talia prayed she would one day see the demise of her father's horrible armada. She prayed she would be able to insure his downfall with the tip of a silver bullet tearing through his head and lodging itself into the back of his skull. It was cruel but it was the truth. And Talia would be damned if she allowed her father to grow his empire any further.

"Don't make that face," Arat ordered her harshly. Talia narrowed her eyes at the older woman. "Negan is-"

"I don't care what Negan is," Talia cut her off crisply. His name tasted like vinegar as it escaped her lips. If she had been speaking to anyone else, she would have simply called him her father. But Arat had a knack for being tediously particular and Talia really didn't want to fight with her tonight. Not with everything else going on.

"You should have a little more respect."

Talia flew back in her seat with anger filled eyes. Her fist connected with the cheap table harshly, echoing off the metal walls of their temporary prison. "I should have a little more respect?" she exclaimed. Arat watched the exasperated young woman with regret. "Arat, who are you?"

Arat stood up a little taller, her chest swelling with pride. "I'm Negan. We're all Negan."

Talia nodded, ignoring the disgust boiling in her throat. "And who am I?" she persisted. Arat seemed awestruck. Her eyes grew bigger with each passing second. It was common knowledge that Talia had a temper. It was also common knowledge that she refused to submit to her father's rule, despite being apart of his inner circle. Arat just didn't expect her to blow up so suddenly.

"Negan," Arat replied slowly with a look of uncertainty.

Talia stood up quickly, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as she approached the Savior standing near the door. "Bullshit," she spat. Arat faltered a bit. "I'm Talia. Don't you ever forget that, Arat."

Arat stood there for a moment, her mouth hanging on its hinges. Talia knew her father would hear every word of this outburst soon enough but she really couldn't care less. She was about to turn her outburst into an even bigger scene. After all, first impressions were everything and she wanted to make sure Rick Grimes knew where she stood.

"Move."

"What?"

Talia huffed and grabbed Arat by the arm. "I told you to move," and before Arat could say anything else, Talia pulled her from in front of the door and threw it open.

"Talia!" Arat called after her as she stepped out into the events unfolding around them. Talia didn't care. She was far more concerned with the body laying in a pool of blood and brain matter that sat at her father's feet. Her stomach turned. She had seen many things. She had done many things. But in this moment, she regretted ever stepping out of that RV. Talia was suddenly thankful she had never seen her father use Lucille on anyone until now.

There was just so much blood . . . and the smell.

She took a step backwards as she watched her father go in for another swing, not yet aware of her presence. Tears pooled in her eyes, reducing her vision to an array of blurred colors and bright lights. She saw people crying out on their knees, begging her father to stop. But it was no use. He enjoyed it.

"Did you hear that?" Negan laughed. "He said suck my nuts!"

Talia could feel the contents of her stomach rising into her throat. She could feel Arat tugging on her arm and she honestly wished she could bring herself to look away. But she had a strange feeling that she needed to see this.

As she looked down the line of people on their knees, one man in particular caught Talia's eye. He looked like the kind of guy she would have avoided if not for the apocalypse. While everyone looked at Negan with fear or respect, he regarded him with a look of rage. There was a murderous glint in his eye, almost as if he were already making plans to put her father six feet under. And Talia couldn't blame him.

Just before Arat finally pulled Talia back into the RV, she made eye contact with the man. Something bubbled in her chest. It was a feeling that she couldn't quite pinpoint. But when they locked eyes, Talia suddenly felt like she was staring at an old friend. She took a shaky breath and nodded her head. She wasn't sure what she was telling him to do but as soon as she did it, he was scrambling to his feet and flying at Negan with a clenched fist.

Arat shut the door just in time for Talia to see the man's fist connect with her father's jaw. And for the first time in a long time, Talia wasn't angry anymore.

She was ready for her father to burn. And she would be damned if anyone stopped that from happening.

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