twenty four

It was a few days later, Ariana sat silently in the back seat of one of the Saviour's trucks, the tension inside the vehicle as thick as the oppressive heat outside. She glanced around at the other, Negan was riding shotgun, his presence dominating the space, even from the front. His boots were propped up on the dashboard, Lucille resting across his lap. He was humming a tune to himself, a twisted smile playing at his lips, as if he were savoring the anticipation of what was to come.

In the driver's seat was Simon, his usually animated face set in a serious expression. He kept his eyes on the road, his hands gripping the steering wheel a little tighter than necessary. In the back with Ariana were Dwight and two other Saviours, both of whom looked as stoic and stern as ever. The cab was crowded, and the scent of leather, sweat, and engine oil filled Ariana's nose, making her feel slightly nauseous.

Ariana stared out the window, trying to calm the roiling anxiety in her stomach. The convoy rumbled down the road toward Alexandria, the line of vehicles stretching out in front of and behind them, a show of force meant to intimidate and control. She could see the sun beginning to rise over the horizon, casting a pale orange glow over the landscape, but its beauty was lost on her. Her thoughts were consumed with what awaited them at the gates of Alexandria.

"Big day ahead." Negan said suddenly, breaking the silence in the truck. He turned in his seat to glance back at Ariana, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "You ready for this, darlin'? Gonna show your old friends just how things work now."

Ariana's heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her expression neutral. She had learned quickly that showing fear around Negan was like bleeding in front of a shark. "I'm ready."

Negan grinned wider, seemingly pleased with her response.

"That's my girl. Make sure they understand who's in charge now." He chuckled, turning back around to face the front.

Dwight shifted slightly next to her, his gaze flickering to Ariana. His face was impassive, but she could sense the unease radiating off him.

She turned her attention back to the passing scenery, her thoughts drifting to the people of Alexandria. She could still picture Judith's innocent face, hear Carl's defiant words, feel Michonne's unwavering support. These were the people who had taken her in, who had become her family. And now, she was on her way to help terrorise them under Negan's orders. The guilt was a constant presence in the back of her mind.

But Ariana had learnt quickly that survival in this world meant making impossible choices. She had to keep her head down, to play the part Negan expected of her, or risk losing everything. She knew what Negan was capable of. The thought of Glenn and Abraham's brutal deaths was etched into her mind, a gruesome reminder of what happened to those who defied him.

As the convoy neared Alexandria, the familiar sight of the walls looming in the distance, a pit of dread settled in Ariana's stomach. The trucks began to slow, their engines rumbling as they came to a stop just outside the gates. Negan swung his door open and stepped out, Lucille slung over his shoulder, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"Let's go, people!" He called out, his voice booming as he gestured for everyone to follow. "Time to say hello to our friends in Alexandria!"

Ariana hesitated for a moment before she opened her door and stepped out onto the gravel road. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. She could hear the muffled voices of the Alexandrians from behind the gates, could sense their fear and uncertainty.

Negan turned to her, his smile as sharp as a knife. "Stick close, darlin'. I want you right there by my side. Let's show them how things are done."

Ariana nodded, forcing her feet to move forward.Negan moved toward the gate with an unmistakable swagger, the familiar whistle of his tune cutting through the morning air. He transitioned into a singsong voice, his tone both mocking and jovial.

"Dun dun dun... little pig, little pig! Let me in!"

The gate creaked as it was pushed open, revealing Spencer's confused face on the other side. Spencer blinked, clearly taken aback.

"Who are you?"

Negan threw his head back and laughed, the sound echoing through the open space.

"Oh, you better be joking!" His eyes sparkled with amusement as he surveyed the scene before him.

Ariana's stomach twisted in knots as Rick came into view, stepping forward to greet them. The moment he saw her, his face registered a mix of shock and betrayal. His mouth hung open for a moment before he snapped it shut, his gaze shifting back to Negan.

"You're early." He said, his voice tight.

Negan spread his arms wide, a grin plastered on his face.

"I missed you." He said, voice dripping with insincere warmth. He threw an arm around Ariana's shoulders, pulling her close. "And my number one girl here wanted to come back and say hello! I couldn't deprive her of that, could I?"

Negan brushed past Rick, eyes scanning the houses and neatly tended gardens of Alexandria.

"Hot diggity dog! This place is magnificent!" He exclaimed, sounding genuinely impressed. He clapped his hands together once, a sharp sound that cut through the tension. "Alright, let's get this show on the road. Let's see what kind of goodies you've got tucked away in the cupboard." He turned on his heel, snapping his fingers at one of the Saviours. "You, take my girl to go see the badass chick with the sword! They get five minutes. No more."

One of the Saviours immediately stepped forward, his hand resting casually on the butt of his gun as he moved to Ariana's side. Ariana could feel her hands trembling as she forced herself to look up at Rick, her eyes silently pleading for understanding. She nodded toward the direction of the house they used to share, a flicker of the past momentarily breaking through the tension.

Rick's face was a mask of barely contained fury, his eyes darting between Ariana and Negan. Ariana felt a lump rise in her throat, knowing that whatever words she and Michonne exchanged would have to be brief. With the Saviour close behind her, she began to walk, feeling Rick's eyes on her every step of the way, a silent witness to her betrayal.

Ariana walked with the Saviour shadowing her every step, the air with tension as they approached the house that once felt like home. Each stride felt heavier than the last, weighed down by the memories of Alexandria, a sanctuary that had sheltered her in a world gone mad, now filled with uncertainty and fear.

She could feel the Saviour's presence looming behind her, an ever-present reminder of her precarious situation. Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and opened the door.

Inside, the house was as she remembered, cosy, familiar, with the lingering aroma of Michonne's cooking wrapping around her like a warm blanket. But even that comfort felt bittersweet. Michonne sat at the kitchen table, meticulously cleaning her katana, her movements fluid and purposeful. When she looked up and saw Ariana, shock flickered across her face, quickly replaced by a wave of relief that made tears prick at Ariana's eyes.

"Ariana!" Michonne exclaimed, rising from her seat and crossing the room in an instant to embrace her.

The familiar warmth enveloped Ariana, igniting a flare of emotion that she had held at bay for too long. For a brief moment, everything else faded away, and she allowed herself to be enveloped in safety.

"I thought something had happened to you!" Michonne said, pulling back to look her over. "Where have you been?! Why didn't you listen to me?! I've been worried sick!"

Ariana managed a smile, though it felt fragile. "I'm alright, Michonne. I've just been... keeping my head down. Staying out of trouble."

Michonne's gaze was piercing, her concern palpable as she scanned Ariana's face.

"I know you've come here with Negan. You shouldn't be with these people." She urged, her voice low and urgent. "Do you know what they're capable of?! Why are you here with them?!"

Ariana hesitated, fighting against the weight of her truth.

"I didn't have a choice." She admitted quietly. "You wouldn't understand."

Michonne's expression shifted from concern to desperation as she stepped closer, her eyes pleading. "Ariana, you're scaring me. You need to come back home. They are a false sense of security, trust me, this isn't the life you want. You don't belong with them!"

Ariana felt a flicker of guilt but quickly buried it. "I've made my choices. I can handle myself." She insisted, pulling her hands away.

"No, you can't!" Michonne's voice cracked, her frustration boiling over. "This isn't about being strong or tough; it's about survival! You need to believe that there's hope outside of this nightmare. People care about you! I care about you!"

Ariana's gaze faltered, the weight of Michonne's words pressing heavily on her chest. But even as Michonne pleaded with her, Ariana couldn't shake the bond she felt with Negan, a connection that was more complex than she wanted to admit.

"You don't know what it's like... what he means to me..." She whispered, her voice barely audible.

"What do you mean?" Michonne's brow furrowed in confusion, her heart sinking as she realized the depth of Ariana's attachment. "Ariana, you've got to be kidding me... you're not with Negan? Are you with Negan?!" She shouted. "HE IS A MONSTER!"

Ariana shot back, her emotions boiling over. "I'm not leaving him! I'll figure this out. I have to!"

Panic flooded Michonne's chest as she searched Ariana's face, looking for any sign of the girl she once knew. "You're making a mistake! Please, don't do this! If you stay, you could lose everything, your freedom, your future... even your life! He murdered Glenn and Abraham! I watched as he turned their heads into mush! Ariana please don't stay with him!"

But Ariana stood firm, her decision made. "I won't run away from him. I can't. I'll find a way to make this work. He won't treat you all badly with me here. Michonne, he makes me feel like I belong. Something I didn't always have in Alexandria."

Tears streamed down Michonne's cheeks as she realised the depth of Ariana's commitment to a path fraught with danger. "Ariana you're breaking my heart."

Ariana's own tears threatened to spill over, but she kept them at bay, swallowing hard against the lump in her throat. Her voice wavered but held steady.

"I'm sorry, Michonne. I didn't want it to be like this, but it is. I can't explain it to you. I don't expect you to understand."

"Understand?" Michonne's voice was raw, disbelief etched into her features. "How could I understand? He's done nothing but bring pain and destruction. And you... you were supposed to be better than this, Ariana. I thought you were stronger."

Ariana flinched as if slapped. "I am strong! You think I want this? You think I want to be with a man who... who's done the things he's done? But I can't leave. I won't leave him. I can't explain it, but I need him, and maybe he needs me too."

Michonne shook her head, stepping back as if Ariana had struck her. "This isn't you talking. This is him, inside your head, twisting things, making you think this is what you want. Ariana, he's poisoned you."

Ariana clenched her fists at her sides, anger bubbling to the surface. "Maybe you don't know everything, Michonne. Maybe he's not just a monster! Maybe he's done more for me than anyone else ever has! Have you thought about that?!"

Michonne's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing. "What has he done for you, Ariana? What? Given you protection? Made you feel safe? That's not love, that's control. And you know it. Deep down, you know it!"

Ariana bit back a sob, her voice breaking. "I don't know what I know anymore, Michonne. I just know that I can't turn my back on him. Not now. Not when he needs me."

Michonne's face crumpled, her resolve cracking as she looked at the woman she had once thought of as a sister.

"He doesn't need you, Ariana. He's using you. And when he's done... when he's taken everything from you... he'll toss you aside like he has with so many others. I can't stand by and watch that happen. Please, just come back with me. We can figure this out together."

Ariana took a shaky breath, her heart aching with the truth of Michonne's words. But she shook her head, stepping back. "I can't. I can't leave him."

Michonne's shoulders slumped in defeat, tears streaming freely down her face.

"Then you're lost to me. To all of us. Because if you stay with him, Ariana, you're choosing him over your family, over everyone who ever loved you."

Ariana turned away, her own tears falling as she forced herself to walk toward the door. "I'm sorry, Michonne."

As she left the house, the door closing softly behind her, the weight of her decision settled over her like a shroud. Each step she took away from Michonne felt like a step into darkness, but Ariana kept moving forward. There was no turning back now.