SERVICE

We had parked in front of Alexandria. Negan wanted to visit. I got out of the truck. Negan was whistling as he walked up to the gate

"Dun-dun-dun dun" Negan sang before banging on the metal with Lucille

"Little pig, little pig, let me in!" Negan yelled. The gate rattled as it opened. I saw Rosita, Eugene and Spencer. Negan looked at Spencer

"Well?" Negan asked at the second gate was still in the way

"Um, who are you?" Spencer asked

"Oh, you better be jokin'. Negan, Lucille. I know I had to make a pretty strong first impression" Negan said. Rick walked up. Negan smiled at him

"Well, hello, there" Negan said. They didn't open the gate

"Do not make me have to ask" Negan said. They all looked at me

"You said a week. You're early" Rick said as he opened the gate. I looked back at Daryl. He had a black eye. I bit my lip as I looked forward

"I missed you" Negan said. I heard a walker growling. Negan turned and looked at it

"Oh, Rick, come on out here. Watch this. Calling it!" Negan yelled. He then bashed the walker's skull in

"Ha ha ha! Easy peasy lemon squeezy! All right, everybody. Let's get started. Big day. Hey, Rick, you see that, what I just did? That is some service! I mean, we almost get turned away at the gate. 'Who is that guy, anyway?' Do I get mad? Do I throw a fit? Do I bash some ginger's dome in? Nope. I just take care of one of these dead pricks that could've killed one of y'all. Service. Hold this" Negan said handing Rick, Lucille. He walked through the gates

"Hot diggity dog! This place is magnificent! An embarrassment of riches, as they say. Yes, sir, I do believe you are gonna have plenty to offer up" Negan said. Rick turned to Daryl

"Daryl, hey-" Rick was cut off

"No. Nope. He's the help. You don't look at him, you don't talk to him, and I don't make you chop anything off of him. Same goes for everyone. Right?" Negan asked Rosita. She glared at him and then walked off. A giant smile appeared on his face

"A lot of suspense there. I don't think she even knew how much. All right, let's get this show on the road. See what kind of goodies you got in the cupboard" Negan said

"We put aside half the supplies" Rick said

"No, Rick. No. You don't decide what we take. I do. Arat" Negan said. She stepped up

"You heard the man. Move out!" Arat yelled. I walked over to Rick. I wanted to know where Lyra was

"Where is she?" I asked

"My house. Taylor is there, too" Rick said. I nodded and headed for Rick's house. I finally got there and I opened the door. When I walked in, I saw Carl. I knew someone had been following me. I felt eyes on my back

"Y/n?" He asked

"Hey" I said sadly

"What are you doing here?" He asked

"I'm here to see Lyra.. but first come give me a hug" I said smiling. He walked over and hugged me

"Someone's watching us.. follow my lead" I whispered as I hugged him. I let go of him

"So, where is she? Also, do you have paper..? I know that since you're an only child, you have no idea how to care for a baby.. which is why I want to write down some instructions, on what to do if she won't lay down.. what she likes and doesn't like.. etc" I said. He nodded

"Oh, yeah.. here she's upstairs" Carl said. I followed him upstairs. I put my hand on his shoulder and tapped him twice

"Sorry, for making you grab paper. I just.. get nervous" I say. He got my hint to grab two

"She's in there.. I'll be with you in a minute" He said. I smiled

"Okay" I said as I walked into the room. I saw Lyra and Judith. Lyra looked at me and squealed in laughter. I walked over and picked her up

"Hi" I said with a smile as I kissed her forehead. She giggled at me as she grabbed my nose. Carl came in with two papers and a pen. I set Lyra down and quickly wrote directions to the Sanctuary and the folded the paper in my pocket. I heard footsteps come up the stairs. I began writing fake instructions for Lyra

"So, she hates carrots.. loves applesauce though" I said as I wrote that down. I continued writing fake instructions. I then handed it to Carl

"Here, thank you again" I said as I hugged him once more. I subtly slipped the folded paper into his pocket. I then picked up Lyra. I went to walk out when I saw Taylor

"Y/n?" She asked

"Hi, Taylor.. how have you been?" I asked her. She ran to me

"You're okay" She said happily

"Yeah, I am" I said

"They're not hurting you?" She asked as I began walking downstairs. She followed me

"No.. not me" I said unfortunately. We walked outside. Negan was there with Rick and Daryl. He turned to me. A grin on his face

"Is that your baby? Wow.. she's a cutie" Negan said. Taylor looked at Daryl

"Dary-" I cut her off

"Stop" I said to her. She looked at me confused. I just shook my head

"Damn, I love this place!" Negan yelled

"Negan. Somethin' you might wanna see" A man said with a camera as he walked over. Negan grabbed it

"Well, well, well. What do we have here? I got my fingers crossed for a little freaky-deaky" Negan said. He played the video

"Know.. me. I've killed people. I don't even know how many by now" I heard Rick's voice

"Jee-hee-sus!" Negan said

"But I know why they're all dead"

"Is that you, Rick, underneath all that man-bush?" Negan asked Rick

"They're dead so my family, all those people out there, can be alive"

"Shee-ot. I would not have messed with that guy" Negan said. He then started recording Rick

"But that's not you anymore.. is it? Nope. I really gotta shave this shit. Whatever happened to that sick girl? That seemed like a hell of a stressful night for her. The way she was carrying on, she was married to number two, right? Careful. Careful how you're lookin' at me, Rick. Widows, especially ones that look like that.. they are special. I love 'em. Right after their husbands go, they are just empty inside. But usually not for long. Ahh. Where is she? I would love to see her" Negan said

"Do you care to pay your respects?" I heard Gabriel ask. I turned and saw him. Negan turned around

"Ho-ly crap! You are creepy as shit, sneaking up on me, wearin' that collar with that freaky-ass smile" Negan said

"My apologies. I'm Father Gabriel" He said. Negan chuckled and then looked at Rick

"She didn't make it?" Negan asked Rick. I looked at him. He shook his head. Tears fell down my face. I handed Lyra to Taylor as Rick and Gabriel led Negan to her grave. Me and Daryl followed. There were three new graves

"Damn tragedy. That's what this is. Well, this must really suck for you guys. Number one? That was on me. No choice there. Lessons had to be learned. But number two? That didn't need to happen. Daryl, there, he forced my hand. Probably put her right on her back, huh? Damn. I was gonna ask her to come back with me. Oh, I know what you're thinkin'. How could I have a shot, guy that just bashed her husband's head in? You'd be surprised. Boy, people, they-" Negan was cut off by a gunshot

Negan, Rick, and Daryl left to figure out what happened. It was just me and Gabriel. Once it was just us I got closer to him

"Is she really dead?" I asked him. He shook his head

"No, she's alive and fine. What do you know about the Sanctuary?" He asked with a smile

"A lot" I told him

(1391 words)
01/10/22

Edited: 07/11/22