nineteen

Negan summoned the entire community of the Sanctuary for a meeting, a gathering that sent rip of unease through them. As Ariana sat amongst the other Saviours, she felt a knot twist in her stomach, an instinctual response to the weight of impending doom that hung in the air.

The heavy door swung open with a creak that echoed through the tense silence, and Negan strode in like a storm, his boots thudding against the floor with purpose. He was a towering figure, radiating an intensity that drew every eye in the room.

Gone was his usual smirk, the playful demeanor that often masked his ruthless nature. Instead, his face was set in a grimace of cold, calculated fury. The change was palpable; it felt as though the very air around him had thickened, charged with an energy that put everyone on edge.

As he surveyed the crowd, his eyes flicking over the anxious faces, Ariana could almost feel the temperature drop. The tension was electric, and she instinctively leaned forward, bracing herself for whatever was coming. Negan's presence commanded respect and fear, and in that moment, it was clear that something significant was about to unfold.

"I've got the news." Negan announced, his voice slicing through the anxious murmurs like a knife. He leaned back against the podium, casually twirling Lucille in his hands, a motion both reassuring and menacing. "It's the one you've all been buzzing about, the juicy gossip that's been going around town. The little band of merry misfits from a place they call Alexandria? Yeah, they're the ones who hit our outpost."

He paused, letting the weight of his words linger in the air, watching as the realisation washed over the crowd. Faces turned pale, voices stilled. Negan relished the moment, allowing the tension to build as he took a step closer, his smile returning but with a chilling edge.

"So here's the deal, folks. We've got ourselves a little situation, and I think it's high time we send a message. A nice, loud reminder that nobody messes with the Saviours and gets away with it."

His gaze locked onto Ariana for a split second, a playful yet dangerous glint in his eye, before sweeping across the rest of the group. "So, let's talk about how we're going to repay Rick and his friends for their little field trip, shall we?"

The room fell silent, the implications of Negan's words sinking in. Ariana's heart stopped. Her worst fears had come true, and the reality of the situation crashed over her like a tidal wave.

Rick. It was Rick. It was Alexandria.

Ariana's hands started to tremble, and she quickly folded them in her lap, trying to keep herself composed. She could feel the blood draining from her face as the memories of her time with Rick's group flooded back, her old family, the people she had fought alongside, the ones who had given her hope in a world gone mad. But none of that mattered now. Not here, not with Negan.

Nobody knew about her past with Rick's group. She had been careful, cautious. The Sanctuary was her new life, and she had buried Alexandria, far away from the prying eyes of the Saviours. But now, with Rick's name on everyone's lips and Negan's thirst for vengeance growing stronger by the second, that past threatened to resurface.

She could feel eyes on her, and she forced herself to keep her expression neutral, her gaze fixed on the floor. She could hear the discussions around her, the Saviors eagerly talking about how they would make Rick's group pay, but their words blurred into a distant hum. The only thing she could focus on was the rapid beating of her heart and the cold sweat forming on her brow.

Negan straightened up, his demeanor shifting from playful to serious in an instant. "Now, I know some of you might be feeling a little uncertain. But let me remind you, fear can be a powerful motivator. You've seen what happens when someone crosses us. We don't just roll over and take it up our asses; we fight back, and we do it hard."

He paced slowly in front of the row of Saviours, gauging their reactions.

"We're going to make an example of those Alexandria folks. They think they can waltz in and disrupt our operations? Not on fucking my watch. I want you all to feel that hunger for revenge seeping into your bones. It's time to get creative."

Negan's voice rose, the enthusiasm spilling over.

"I want each of you to think about how we can best remind them who they're dealing with. Maybe a little surprise visit, huh? We could catch them off guard, show them what happens when they rattle the cage of the Saviours." He paused, allowing his words to soak in as he leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "And I don't want just any old ambush. I want something spectacular. Something they'll talk about long after we're done."

The room erupted in agreement, but Ariana felt like the walls were closing in on her.  The fear that someone would notice her anxiety, that they would start asking questions, gnawed at her insides.

Ariana took a deep breath, willing herself to calm down. She couldn't afford to panic, not here, not now. She had to stay strong, keep her secret hidden, and find a way to navigate the storm that was coming.

"So, who's with me?" Negan bellowed, a fierce grin spreading across his face. The room erupted with a chorus of shouts and affirmations, eager to please their leader and ready to follow him into the fray.

"Alright, then! Let's gear up, people! We're going hunting." He declared, his laughter filling the space, infectious and intimidating. "And remember, we don't just play nice. We show 'em why you don't mess with Negan. Now, go get ready! I want everyone fired up and ready to roll!"

As the crowd began to disperse, adrenaline pumping, Ariana exchanged glances with a few fellow Saviours. They all shared the same unspoken understanding: the stakes were high, and in these moments, loyalty meant everything.

Negan stood in the room, his presence commanding and unyielding, as he barked orders to the Saviours gathered around him. His voice was a low, dangerous rumble, sharp and precise, as he laid out their plan for retaliation. The tension in the air was palpable as his followers listened intently, ready to follow his lead without question.

But suddenly, Ariana felt a shift in the atmosphere. Negan's sharp eyes, usually scanning the crowd with a mix of confidence and menace, locked onto her with an intensity that made her stomach drop.

The air thickened around them as his gaze bore into her, relentless and unwavering. She froze, desperately trying to maintain a facade of calm as she felt the heat of his scrutiny. As the rest of the Saviours went back to work, Negan stepped away from the group, making his way toward her, his expression unreadable.

"Something wrong, darlin'?" His voice was smooth, almost too calm, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

Ariana forced a smile that felt more like a grimace, the tension tightening in her chest. "No, I'm fine. Just worried about Atlas... and everything that's happening..."

Negan didn't reply right away. He continued to study her, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were peeling back layers, searching for the truth beneath her mask. The world around them faded, leaving just the two of them caught in a heavy, silent exchange that felt like it spanned forever.

"Worried, huh?" Negan finally said, his tone deceptively light. He took a step closer, looming over her, and Ariana instinctively held her ground, forcing herself not to retreat. "Worry's natural, especially these days. But you... you seem a little more on edge than usual."

Ariana's heart raced in her chest. She swallowed hard, grasping for anything to deter his probing. "It's just... the shock, I guess. I wasn't expecting all of this. It's hard to process."

Negan tilted his head slightly, that ever-watchful gaze boring into her.

"Hmm." He hummed thoughtfully, a sound deep in his throat that teetered between contemplation and suspicion. "You're not lying to me, are you, Ariana? Because I'd hate to think you were keeping something from me."

A chill ran down her spine at his words.

"Of course not." She replied, her voice trembling just a touch. "I'm just... worried about what's going to happen next."

His eyes narrowed further, and Ariana felt the weight of his attention like a vice around her chest. He was too close, too perceptive. She couldn't afford to let him see the panic bubbling beneath her carefully constructed facade.

Leaning in, his voice dropped to a low murmur meant only for her.

"You're sure? Because I gotta tell you, darlin', I'm getting a feeling that there's something you're not telling me."

Summoning every ounce of courage, Ariana met his penetrating gaze. "I promise, Negan, I'm not hiding anything."

Silence hung between them, thick and suffocating. She held her breath, hoping beyond hope that he would accept her words. Finally, he straightened, though his eyes remained locked onto hers, studying her with that unsettling intensity.

"Alright." He said softly, his voice still edged with a warning. "I'm gonna trust you. But if I find out otherwise..."

His words trailed off, but the threat lingered, heavy and unspoken, a guillotine poised above her head, waiting for the slightest misstep.

Ariana nodded quickly. "You won't."

"Good."

Negan studied her for a moment longer, then finally turned his attention back to the group, the moment of tension dissipating as he resumed his commanding presence. But Ariana knew it wasn't over. He was suspicious now, and that made her situation even more precarious.

As Negan continued to issue orders, Ariana took a small step back, her mind racing. She couldn't afford to panic, not when the stakes were this high. She needed to stay calm, stay focused, and above all, stay one step ahead of Negan.

But the look in his eyes told her that wouldn't be easy. He was a predator, always on the hunt, and right now, she was his prey.

Ariana forced herself to breathe, to think. She needed to protect herself, and maybe, just maybe, find a way to protect the people she had once called family.