MAKNAE [twd]

【115】

"Rachel," I call, "Bring these to Cyndie."

Rachel looks to the guns then back to me.

"Don't argue," I warn, "Go."

Rachel throws her head back, groans, and picks up the guns as she drags her feet in Cyndie's direction.

"She's a handful, huh?" Bea laughs from where she was loading guns with me.

"She's a kid in this. It happens," I shrug, "Happened to me."

"Ah, that's right, you had to have been young in all this," Bea nods.

"I'm sure my brother probably wanted to leave me on the side of the road a few times for how I acted back then," I chuckle, setting a loaded gun aside before picking up another.

"Brothers are like that," Bea agrees, "They never go through with it, though."

"You had a brother?" I catch on.

"Yeah.." she smiles nostalgically, before looking up to me, "Went out during our fight before."

Bea lost her father and brother due to the Saviors, my heart ached for her. She seems to be the lone survivor in her family now- just like me.

"But, that's why I'm here, right?" she forces her head higher, "Why you're leading us to stop them from taking more."

"That's right," I nod, pulling my own smile up.

--

"This is each man on watch- Dwight gave us the list. We take them out one by one and then move in," Rick explains the paper in his hands.

Bea nods, taking the paper in her own grasp before handing it over to me.

"Relay?" I wonder.

"Each relay box is the same," he nods, "Too risky to have radios- they could hear our plans."

I read over the number of people and the station they were at. On our list, there were two with circles around them signalling that Oceanside was to take them out.

"We'll get on it," I agree, pocketing the paper.

Rick gives me a look, glancing to the band on my arm before he smiles a bit, "Good luck."

"Don't need luck. I learned from the best, didn't I?" I remind.

He reaches over, patting my shoulder before noticing Glenn's hat on my head. There, he smiles again.

"Runs in the group and family, right?" he remembers.

"Damn right it does," I nod.

--

I dust Glenn's hat off on my thigh before stepping up onto the car hood, placing the hat back on.

"The Saviors are nothing we haven't seen in the past. But, they've easily done the most damage. That doesn't mean that we have to kneel- I've never knelt for Negan once in the time he's been around. And Oceanside sure as hell is never going to kneel for them again," I speak- hoping my voice sounded more confident than the nerves in my veins.

From the crowd of women below, there's a few cheers, making me smile.

"Negan and Simon," I name, "They are our priorities. They are the ones that inflicted the damage onto us. Negan, I will kill myself. Simon as well if I have to."

"This isn't a revenge mission, no matter if you want that. This is a fight to secure our futures. Our family's future. The Saviors stole that from the family and friends not beside of us. Our brothers, our fathers, husbands, boyfriends- and even our sisters."

"When I was in the Sanctuary, I met Negan's 'wives'. Women that were placed there with no freedom. They weren't fighters, planners, or even workers. Bodies. They were bodies for a man's pleasure. He said they were there out of their own choice, but we know they weren't. They were there so they could get things they needed when they couldn't provide for themselves and their family's. When I was a kid, just learning about the world from before, she told me something. I think it still applies to this world.."

"A 'yes' does not mean 'yes' if 'no' isn't an option, "I recall Angela's words.

"The woman that helped me get out.. She tried to escape and they went after her and her sister before and the Saviors found her. And I hope that she got out this time. But, that's why this is only about Negan and Simon. There are innocent people in there as well. People like Sherry who were forced into those places. People like those wives that have dealt with unfairness and shitty treatment. Those workers, those slaves that they have forced into their roles."

"Negan says that he wasn't responsible for what happened at Oceanside and pinned the blame on Simon. Yet, he never punished Simon. Simon is his right hand man- got off clean for what he did. Negan may as well have done the damage himself."

There's a few nods of agreement, all following along. Others held looks of pure determination and readiness for what lies ahead.

"And there's others like Simon. Those that kneel without hesitance because they actually believe that Negan is a part of some 'better cause'. Those people- those that call themselves 'Negan', they're a part of this, too. We don't feel bad for taking those down when they've clearly and willingly shown what side they're on."

"There are the innocent lives that have been forced and those that have chosen. It's clear which ones are in our way to getting to the goal at hand. Negan, Simon, and those that follow on their own free will. We spare those that are innocent and they will be the ones to join us later. And all of us, together, will make a new future. A new future for ourselves, our friends, our sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters.. Our nieces and nephews."

"We lost too much to the Saviors. But, that doesn't mean we lose ourselves. Once we lose ourselves, we truly lose those people that are no longer beside us. Once we're gone, so are they. That's why we go into this knowing right from wrong. We know good from evil. We do this for the future, not the past. We do this out of justice and security, not revenge and anger."

"We fight so that we have a future. All of us.. Together. Cause that's the only way we'll make it through all of this."

The women below cheer, pulling their guns up.

"Let's show these pricks why they don't piss off a woman," I join, holding my bat up.

Negan.. You really have no idea what's coming for you.

--

𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽𝑜𝓇 𝓇𝒶𝓂𝒷𝓁𝑒𝓈--

this is short but hi leader!hana is here