two

The walls of Alexandria stood tall against the fading light of the sun, setting eerie shadows along its walls, it was a fortress of safety in a world that had forgotten what safety meant. The sky was streaked with the last hues of orange and pink as the day gave way to night. Ariana knew that she was lucky, lucky to have this sanctuary, lucky to be surrounded by good people.

But a part of her still couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't deserve it. And that she didn't belong to it.

She stared at her reflection in the small mirror hanging in her room. Her hair, once carefully styled and maintained, now fell past her shoulders in wild, messy waves. The bags under her eyes had become a permanent fixture, a testament to the sleepless nights filled with worry and the nightmares that never seemed to fade.

God, she wished that she had some makeup, something to cover up the wear and tear that this world had inflicted on her. But even if she did, she doubted it would make much difference.

The familiar routine of the morning had lost its comforting rhythm, replaced by the hollow echo of what life used to be. The weight of gratitude pressed on her shoulders, a heavy burden she couldn't shake.

The community of Alexandria had grown stronger, more resilient, but so had the threats outside. The Saviours were out there, lurking in the shadows, and every run beyond the gates carried a weight it hadn't before. But that didn't stop her from going out every morning. It was the only time she felt truly alive anymore, when she was out there, on her own, away from the walls that felt more like a cage than a haven.

She stood in the armory, loading up a backpack with supplies. Her fingers worked methodically, her mind going through the motions, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She was so lost in them that she didn't hear the footsteps until they were right behind her.

"Busted." Ariana sighed, recognising the familiar presence before she even turned around.

"Ariana, you don't need to do this." Came Rick's voice, firm yet laced with a worry he wasn't even trying to hide. He stood in the doorway, arms crossed, his posture as strong as ever, but his eyes betrayed the concern he felt for her. Ariana turned to face him, already knowing what he was going to say. "Not alone. Not anymore. The Saviours-"

"I know what they're capable of." Ariana cut him off, slinging the pack over her shoulder. "But I've been doing this since the beginning, Rick. I'm not going to start hiding now. If I stay in that house, I'll go crazy. I had this conversation with Michonne, I'm not having it again with you."

His blue eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he stepped closer. "This isn't about hiding, Ariana. It's about being smart. About surviving."

"We've always survived." She shot back, trying to keep her voice steady. "That's what we do. We don't let fear dictate our choices."

"It's not fear, Ari. It's caution." Rick's voice softened, a pleading note slipping through that caught her off guard. "We can't lose you too."

"Is this about losing me, or are you just worried I'll cramp your style with Michonne?" She quipped, the words sharp and laced with bitterness. "Wouldn't want to interrupt whatever the hell is going on between you two."

Rick rolled his eyes, clearly not in the mood for her jabs. "This isn't about Michonne and me. It's about keeping you safe."

Ariana smirked, shaking her head. "Yeah, well, I'm not one of your soldiers, Rick. I don't need you to keep me safe. I've been doing fine on my own."

He stared at her for a long moment, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Ariana could see the battle in his eyes, the struggle between wanting to protect her and knowing he couldn't control her every move.

Finally, he let out a long breath, his shoulders slumping just slightly. "Fine." He muttered, his voice resigned. "Go. But this is the last time on your own, Ariana. I mean it."

Ariana nodded, the victory feeling hollow in her chest. "Last time." She echoed, even though they both knew it was a lie.

Rick stepped aside, letting her pass, but as she walked by, she felt his hand on her arm, stopping her for just a moment.

"Be careful out there." He said, his voice low. "Please. We need you."

She met his gaze, the sincerity in his eyes cutting through her anger.

"Nobody here needs me, Rick."

Rick's eyes narrowed. "Don't talk like that."

Ariana let out a sigh. "Look, I'll be fine. I promise." She replied, before pulling away and heading for the gates.

•••

The air outside the walls was different... colder, sharper, filled with a tension that Ariana couldn't quite shake. She moved quickly, keeping low, her senses heightened as she navigated the familiar terrain. She'd done this a hundred times, but now, every shadow seemed to hold a threat, every rustle in the bushes made her tighten her grip on her knife.

The Saviours were out there. Somewhere. And as much as she hated to admit it, Rick was right. The stakes were higher now. They weren't just fighting walkers anymore; they were up against something far more dangerous... people.

She pushed forward, trying to drown out the doubts creeping in her mind. She was good at this, better than most. Michonne had taught her well, and she'd learnt to trust her instincts. But that didn't stop Rick's words from echoing in her head with every step that she took.

The supply run was supposed to be simple, grab what they needed from an old store a few miles out and get back before dark. But simple didn't mean easy, and the closer Ariana got to the destination, the more she could feel the danger pressing in around her. The world had a way of reminding her that safety was an illusion, that in the blink of an eye, everything could change.

And it did.

She was almost at the store, just a few yards away, when she heard it, the crunch of footsteps on gravel. She froze, dropping into a crouch behind an old rusted-out car, her heart pounding in her chest. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made her skin crawl, the kind that made her breath catch in her throat.

Slowly, she peeked around the corner, just enough to get a look. Her stomach dropped. They were heavily armed, as she expected, but the sheer number of them, at least six men, was more than Ariana had anticipated.

The men moved with an easy confidence, the kind that only came with the knowledge that they owned whatever ground they walked on. The smirks on their faces made her shiver.

Ariana tried her best to weigh her options. She could try to slip away quietly, avoid any kind of confrontation, but with their proximity, the slightest sound could easily give her away. Her other option was to make a run for it, but she knew that the risk was high, they were obviously faster and better equipped than her. There was a chance she could outmaneuver them in the woods, but it was a slim one. And who knows what or who else would also be out there.

But then the idea came into her head of running back empty-handed. Facing Rick, after all the bravado that she'd shown him? That felt like a fate worse than what these dickheads could do to her. She didn't want to embarrass herself further.

She gripped her knife, the only weapon she had at the ready, and tightened her jaw. This was her chance to prove to herself that she wasn't just a random girl playing survivalist in a world gone to hell. She had faced worse odds before.

But before Ariana could make a move, the crunch of boots on gravel came closer. Too close. She tensed, trying to make herself as small as possible behind the car, but it was too late...

"Hello!" A voice called out, sharp and amused. "We can see you."

Ariana's blood ran cold as she realised that they had her cornered. She slowly rose to her feet, keeping her hands in front of her, trying to mask the fear with a deceiving smirk.

"Well, isn't this a charming welcoming committee." She said, her voice laced with a false bravado that she didn't entirely feel.

The leader, a tall man with a cruel grin, and blacklong moustache came walking up to Ariana.

"Look what we have here, boys." He drawled, eyeing her up and down. "A little lost lamb out in the big bad woods. And all alone, too."

The others chuckled, their eyes gleaming with a mix of curiosity and malice. She could feel their gazes crawling all over her body, assessing, appraising, judging. She knew what they were thinking, what they were planning, and it took everything that she had to keep her face neutral, to not show the fear that was gnawing at the edges of her resolve.

"I wouldn't say lost." Ariana shot back, lifting her chin defiantly. "More like bored. I figured I'd find some real excitement out here, but all I've found is a bunch of wannabe badasses playing soldier."

The leader chuckled, clearly entertained by Ariana's sharp tongue. His eyes glinted with amusement, but there was an unmistakable malice behind them.

"Oh, I like her." He said, his voice smooth but dripping with condescension. "You've got some spunk. Negan will like that. But you see, sweetheart... out here, you're not exactly calling the shots. No one cares about your little attitude."

Ariana gave a bored sigh, meeting his gaze with unwavering confidence.

"Is this where I'm supposed to be scared? You used to watch too many bad films." She said, her tone flat. She flicked her eyes over to the brute with the scar who was still cracking his knuckles, like some caricature of a thug. "And you, what's your deal? Did you lose the ability to talk when you got that little scar?"

The brute growled, stepping toward her, but the leader raised a hand, stopping him. "Easy now. She's playing tough. It's cute. We'll see how long that lasts."

Ariana's smirk deepened as she folded her arms across her chest. "You boys are just so intimidating. Truly. It's almost impressive how generic you are."

The leader's face twitched slightly, his amusement thinning. "You think you're funny, huh?"

Ariana shrugged, her eyes cold and disinterested. "I think I'm bored. And you're wasting my time. So, either shoot me, or let me go. This macho posturing is really getting old."

The leader's grin vanished, replaced by a sneer. "You're not going anywhere, sweetheart. Not until Negan has had a little chat with you."

Ariana tilted her head, her smirk returning, this time more taunting, almost playful. "Oh, I see. You're not the boss here, are you? Just a lapdog fetching girls for your 'big man'. It's okay..." She said with mock sympathy. "I'm sure you'll get promoted one day if you keep trying really hard."

The men behind the leader shifted uncomfortably, exchanging glances, as if they were waiting for his next move. His jaw tightened, and Ariana could see that her words had struck a nerve.

"Enough talking." He snapped, stepping forward and grabbing her arm roughly. Ariana's eyes flickered with momentary panic, but she quickly masked it, twisting her arm to break his grip.

Before she could pull away completely, the leader grabbed her again, this time pinning her against the rusted car. "You really don't know when to shut up, do you?"

"Let go of me!" She shouted, trying to kick out at them, but her efforts were met with laughter.

"Feisty." The leader commented as he approached. "But not smart."

Ariana spat at his feet, her eyes blazing with defiance. "Fuck you."

He grinned, leaning in closer until his face was inches from hers.

"That's the spirit. But you're coming with us. I think boss man would love to meet you. See if that mouth of yours is still running after a little conversation."

Her heart pounded in her chest as the reality of the situation sank in. They weren't just going to rob her and leave her here. They were taking her. Kidnapping her.

As they tightened their grip on her, a surge of adrenaline cursed through her veins. She lashed out her foot connecting with the shin of the man holding her arm. He howled in pain, giving her a brief moment to struggle. With a desperate heave, she broke free, but it was too late. The leader's hand clamped down on her shoulder, throwing her off balance.

The world spun as she hit the ground hard. Pain erupted in her side, a sharp, blinding agony. She tried to scramble to her feet, but the leader's boot connected with her back, sending her crashing back to the ground.

A wave of nausea washed over her as she tried to catch her breath. The world was a blur of pain and fear. She could hear the men's laughter, their voices growing louder as they closed in.

Desperation clawed at her, a feral instinct to survive. She had to fight, to struggle, to do anything but give up. But her body betrayed her, weak and aching. The cloth was back over her mouth, the suffocating scent of chemicals filling her senses.

"Sweet dreams, sweetheart."

Darkness crept in, a cold, inviting embrace. But Ariana fought against it, clinging to consciousness with fading strength. She wouldn't let them win. Not like this.

As darkness enveloped her, the last thought in her mind was of Michonne. Of the promise she had made, the promise she was failing to keep.