Condemned. Sequel to 'Don't Look Back'

Chapter 36

"They're back." One of the Hilltop residents yell as they throw open the big front door. I follow everyone outside and see three people approaching, all looking equally angry.

"Where's Marsha, and-"

"They're dead." The guy in the front said.

"Negan?" Gregory asked, and all three nodded.

"Said the delivery was too light, they're keeping Craig though." Gregory nodded and ran a hand over his beard. The guy in the front took a step forwards and said,

"Craig will live as long as I give you this message." He rushed Gregory and stabbed him. Multiple people ran to separate them, but I stood back and watched the reactions of the other residents.

They were all just watching in shock, some continued working, not many were genuinely concerned about Gregory. Rick and Michonne tore the stabbing guy away, though he pushed off Michonne. I reached behind me for my bow, but realized I didn't have it. I actually kind of forgot where I left it.

Rick had the big guy down on the ground, and I spun around and saw Abraham being choked out. I pushed past a few bystanders and kicked the man in the ribs, making him fall off of Abraham.

Daryl rushed past me and broke the guy's arm, and he stayed on the ground. Daryl and I helped Abraham up and heard a deep voice yelling threats.

"Next person that moves, I kill this guy." And that guy he was talking about was Rick, who had a knife being held to his throat. I brushed some hair out of my face and looked around with wide eyes.

Michonne approached the man and told him to get up, and while he was distracted, Rick stabbed the man's jugular and he bled out onto Rick.

I watched as Rick stood up, blood staining his clothes, and his face.

"What?" Rick asked the Hilltop residents who stood in a stunned silence.

"He tried to kill Gregory and then me." Rick said, looking over at Jesus who was keeping pressure on Gregory's stab wound.

A lady from out of practically nowhere came up and decked Rick right in the jaw. He stepped back from the pure shock, while Michonne wasted no time in flooring her.

After everyone settled down, and the situation was handled, fairly well, by Jesus we all waited for Gregory to be treated by Doctor Carson.

"Why don't you guys come in here for a second?" Jesus led us into Gregory's room in the big house. I took a spot behind the desk, and sat in the chair, propping my feet up on the desk.

"We heard the name Negan, who is he? Abraham had a run in with his men a while ago." Rick got straight to his point and Jesus sighed.

"He's the leader over a group he calls the Saviors. Shortly after these walls went up, the Saviors showed up. They made threats and demands, even killed one of us, all on the behalf of their leader, Negan. Cory, he was only 16, and he was beat to death, right in front of us." I took my feet off of the desk and got a nauseous feeling from listening to what Negan, or the Saviors, did.

I leaned forward on the desk, looking around trying to get a read on what the others felt, but they were too guarded, though I felt a sense of dread.

"Said we needed to understand, right off the bat." Jesus continued, but I didn't quite get what the Hilltop needed to understand, because as far as I knew, they didn't bother people.

"And, Gregory is terrible with confrontation, he's not who I would've chosen to run this place, but, he made it what it is now."

"So, he made the deal with the Saviors?" Rick questioned, Jesus nodded.