No Exceptions

Twenty Seven

"Negan, what going on?" I repeated, but all he did was place his finger over my mouth to shush me. He quickly got up and straightened his hair and I ran to my cupboard and went to get dressed. Negan ripped my arm from a pair of jeans I was about to put on.
"No no no! There is no fucking way on fucking God's green earth I am letting you go out with that bullshit."
I shrugged him off and then tugged my jeans on and searched for a tank top and he grabbed my face, forcing me to halt and give him eye contact "I said fucking NO! I will sooner cut my swinging dick and feed it to the biters before letting you out of that fucking door, do you hear me? And we both know that neither of those things are happening!" He grabbed Lucille and he pointed at me in his final warning before heading out the door.

I stood there and considered staying, knowing if I stayed in here I wouldn't cause trouble. But I thought of my people, all the loved ones I'd grown to care for and I just couldn't. I went back to my drawer and pulled out a bra, tank top and shoes and crept out, having no idea how much the next fifteen minutes would change everything. As I exited I found no guards at the door, something was really wrong. I ran down the corridor and skipped down the stairs, heading towards the origin of the chaos praying that I'd find my loved ones safe. The deep pit in my stomach suggested otherwise.

I tried to stick to the shadows, knowing I was a sitting duck being completely unarmed. Some Sanctuary workers came running in the opposite direction, escaping whatever threat there was in the courtyard.
"AHHHHHH! HELP ME! HELP ME!" I closed my eyes and began silent prayer, I didn't want to believe it was Sherry's voice. I ran towards the cries for help although I knew I was too late from the gurgling noises reverberating off the walls.

As I took at the scene in front of me I was horrified. My dear friend Sherry lay face down on the floor; a walker had crept up and was towering over her, gnawing at her shoulder blade. Sherry was hopelessly trying to roll over to defend herself but she'd grown too weak, laboured breaths pushing through her failing lungs. I'd picked up her dropped blade and while the biter was distracted I drove the blade clean through his temple, dying for the last time.

I carefully rolled Sherry over, her skin devoid of all pigment. Her eyes were glassy and unable to maintain focus, her breathing resembled a fish out of water. I burst into tears knowing there was nothing I could do for her now, Sherry was going to die. I swept sweat sodden locks from her face.
"I'm soo sorry Sherry! If I left earlier, I might've been able to do something!" She lifted her shaky hand to my cheek in an act of comfort. She spluttered, trying to say something but I shook my head
"It's OK! Just rest"
I held her as the light faded in her eyes, her hand limply dropping to her side, her final breath drawn as everything seemed to stop. I held her body now wailing, I hated this world, hated that Sherry had been taken away and I felt crushing guilt for not leaving the room earlier.
"Sherry! Sherry baby where are you?" Dwight bellowed, a semi-automatic weapon strapped to his back and a Bowie knife clutched in his right hand, ready to strike.

He stopped in his tracks, his face dropped then immediately contorted at the sight of his deceased wife. The blood from her shoulder was pooling underneath her as I held her tight, wilfully ignorant to the fact that she could re-animate at any moment. Dwight harshly grabbed my shoulder and threw me into the wall, his grief stricken state uncomfortable to watch. He checked her pulse and violently shook her in the hopes that she would miraculously wake up, hoping she'd just been knocked out.
I wiped at my eyes "I'm so sorry Dwight! I'm so very sorry" my voice was hoarse and I sagged on the wall in grief.

Dwight dropped the knife beside Sherry and gently ran his hand over her eyes to close them, then crouched down in front of me.
"What happened?" His face sharp, staring at me with seething disgust and abhorrence. I blinked and looked down at my blood soaked top, wanting to forget that my friend lay there dead.
"I got out of my room to investigate and found Sherry on the floor with him attacking her. There was nothing I could do!"
His arm snapped out and he grasped my throat, restricting air flow.
"Did you know Rackel? Did you fucking know about them?" I just stared at him blankly, not wanting to upset him further.
"What do you mean?" I immediately regretted my question when his nostrils began to flare and his grip got so tight I felt my eyes bugging out. I clawed at his fists then failing that his arms, white dots littering my vision. He leant into my face, his saliva spraying me as he continued
"You planned to get married tonight! Then your whole crew turns up while everyone is off guard with a zombie trap and all guns blazing! A little too fucking perfect wouldn't you agree?"
I shook my head in denial and yelled silent pleas, but all I got for my effort was darkening of my vision, unconsciousness threatening me, I clamped my eyes shut.

"Let 'er Go!" Dwight's grip loosened as I gasped for air, and my eyes flung open. There stood Daryl, rifle aimed at Dwight's head, finger hovering over the trigger. I put my hand up to him
"Daryl please! Sherry just died" Daryl's eyes flicked from me to Dwight, his finger never leaving the trigger.
"Back away from 'er or I'll riddle ya with holes!" His accent always thicker when he was angry. Dwight backed away in surrender and collapsed next to Sherry, utterly defeated. I got up and we shared a loving embrace, he came to save me like he always did.

I looked over his shoulder to see Negan, standing with a stern look on his face, his suit completely ruined. He had a gash on his cheek and his hair was disheveled, he had been through a lot in the short time we'd been apart but I couldn't contain my excitement, he was OK! I let go of Daryl and ran for him, thankful he was still alive.
"Negan! I was so worried!" He had looked angry but his expression melted as I ran closer and closer.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

As the shots connected I was splattered with his blood. I grabbed him but wasn't able to stop us from falling to the floor. I looked up at and made eye contact with his shooter... Rick Grimes. Yet again Rick had killed my family, ripped away the person that I cared about the most.

I got to my feet as a feral snarl escaped my lips and I sprinted toward him, I was going to rip his fucking throat out with my teeth! But, I hadn't been fast enough, I felt Daryl's arm lasso around my waist pulling me to him and attempted to drag me away. I looked down and my husband lie there eyes closed, completely lifeless. I clawed at Daryl's arm and he continued on his path, then I bit him on the forearm as hard as I could.
Daryl tried to turn me around "Rackel, calm down! It's me" but I just kept trying to break free, trying to get to my husband.
"He might still be alive! I've got to see if I can save him!" Daryl got a grip on my waist again and pulled my feet off the ground, over his shoulder.
"Come on baby! We gotta go!" I kicked and screamed  in the hope that one of the saviours might stop and hear me
"Someone find Dr. Carson! Negan's been shot, anybody go get Dr. Carson please!" No-one stopped, all the workers were just trying to flee, but I couldn't give up. I thrashed at Daryl as my rage grew.
"He's my husband Daryl, you need to let me go!" He ignored me and just kept running to the courtyard. Blood, guts and all other carnage tainted the once beautiful and peaceful space. I was screaming and drumming him on the back, in hopes he'd let me go back to him.

He carried me all the way out of the compound and to the parked RV. He slammed the door open and Enid stood to attention and her face lit up "Rackel, you're alive!" My body wracked with sobs as she sat back down awkwardly, she'd never seen me like this and wasn't sure what she should do.

Maggie and Glen came bursting through the door with Skye in front of them, her hands bound in front of her. Daryl finally released me as I sunk to the floor, knowing that I wouldn't lay a finger on Maggie in a thousand years. Maggie let Skye approach and knelt beside me rubbing my back; Maggie sported a look of shock and concern
"Rackel what's wrong?"
I gasped for air between sobs "They killed my husband! Rrrrick killed him" Skye burst into tears as we held onto each other. Maggie was incredulous, she looked at Daryl then slowly back to me
"Who'd they kill sweetie?"
"Negan" I looked at her with bloodshot eyes

"They killed MY Negan"

To Be Continued

A/N Hey Hey everybody! I wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone who's taken the time to read NO EXCEPTIONS. I know this is a bit of a kick to the guts but do not fret! I'm hoping you guys read the sequel to this story MY EXCEPTION which won't be too long of a wait! Sending love out and good vibes xoxo