Condemned. Sequel to 'Don't Look Back'

Chapter 43

Negan swung the bat off of his shoulder and let it dangle in front of Rick's face, a bold threat. Negan bent down to get close to Rick and said in the calmest, most collected voice,

"Give me your shit, or I will kill you." Once Rick didn't reply, Negan stood up straight again, and began a small speech.

"Today was career day, and we invested a lot so that you guys would know who I am and what I can do. You work for me now." The bat was pointed directly into Rick's face. I gave Carl's hand a squeeze, though I'm not sure if it helped any.

"You have shit and you give it to me, that's how things work now, that's your job. Now I know that is a mighty big, nasty pill to swallow, but swallow it you must certainly will." Negan's voice raised in ferocity and volume. He was so self assured and confident with how he worded things, how he presented himself, it was the most intimidating thing about him.

He turned facing Rick head on,

"You ruled the roost, you built something. You thought you were safe, I get it. But, the word is out, and you are not safe. Not even close." I took a deep breath, feeling my eyes burn with tears. I've kept it together this long, I can't afford to crumble now.

As Negan continued his monologue, I focused on my breathing and keeping myself as calm as possible. I stared at a rock and blocked as many of the harsh words out as I could, but it failed because each time Negan opened his mouth to say something, I was sucked in because his words could mean life or death.

"This is your way of life now. The more you fight back, the harder it will be. So if someone knocks on your door you let us in. We own that door." Negan was once again right in front of Rick, looking down at his defeated figure.

"You understand?" Negan posed the question, and leaned down with his hand by his ear to encourage a response out of Rick.

"What? No answer? You don't really think you were gonna get through without being punished now did you?" He took a step back from Rick and addressed us as a whole, or so it seemed. The bat was carelessly waved through the air as he spoke adding to the somberness of the situation.

"I don't want to kill you people, I want you to work for me and you can't work for me if you're dead now, can you?" He briefly paused, probably to collect his thoughts.

"However, you killed a lot of my people, a lot more than I'm comfortable with, and for that; for that you're gonna pay." My blood felt like it had frozen in my veins. One of us was going to die, I was sure of it.

"So now, I'm gonna beat the holy hell out of one of you." Negan said in a deep voice. After that last word was said, the tears began trickling down my face uncontrollably. I tried to keep my breathing quiet, but I was failing.

I had never felt an emotion so strong as I am in this moment. The feeling that you might die is an extraordinarily strong, lingering type of feeling. Anxiety, fear, and anger combine into a mess that's barely comprehendible.

"This is Lucille, and she. Is. Awesome." Negan got into Rick's face.

"All of this is so we can pick out who has the honor." I looked down at the ground, at the rock I had stared at shortly before. I forced myself to watch where Negan was going.

He stopped in front of Abraham, who sat up perfectly straight and looked Negan in the eyes. He then turned away from Abraham and walked our way, stopping in between Carl and I.

"Young love, that's real damn cute. She means a lot to you." He made the observation. He crouched down in front of us, and I could barely keep from passing out.

"Yeah, she means a lot to everyone, doesn't she?" He asked Carl, who made no move. Carl didn't move, but Daryl did. He tried to stand up, but was shoved back down by one of the men. Negan stood up and looked between Daryl and I, making the connection.