"As much fun it is to talk to you doll, I have some business to conclude", Negan told her, pointing at the group that was still kneeling, all of them were crying, some kept it to them self while other were sobbing, the pain was written all over their features, then she saw a shorthaired woman that was as pale as death, it was obvious she was in lot of pain and it had nothing to do with what just happened, it peeked her curiosity.

"So if you will be a good girl for a little longer and just hand over all your weapons so I can bring my attention back to them. They are getting jealous just look how Rick is looking at me. ", he looked at Rick and started smiling again but this time his smile was different, then she saw it, it was fake, but she is not stupid enough to call him up on that, this was his act after all not hers.

"Do you miss me, Rick?",he called out, Rick let his eyes fall to the ground not speaking.

"See, I told them over and over again doll, speak when you are spoken to, but they just don't fucking listen. Tell me, do you listen?", he turned his attention back to her still invading her personal space, she really didn't mind it, they were in the middle of an apocalypse, there is no space for trivial things like that anymore.

"Sure", she told him, like he just asked her will she fetch him a glass of water.

He was laughing again, telling one of his men to get a bag so they can put her weapons in it, in less than a minute one big black duffle bag was in front of her, Negan placed Lucile on the ground and unzipped it, holding it wide open so it would be easier to slip weapons in it. One of his men started approaching her getting ready to take her bow from her back, Negan eyed him, making him freeze,

"What the hell do you think you are doing?"

"I..i….th..thought you w..want us to take her ..w…weapons away."

"I think I told her to hand over her weapons not for you to take them."

"Yes…yes..sir."

"Good boy now get back in line. Ok, doll, put every little toy you have in this bag."

"If I knew this is what was going to happen, I wouldn't have thrown away all those fun toys I found a few months back, damn it",she was actually thinking out loud, nasty habit she picked up while traveling alone for so long, Negan chuckled, she looked at him realizing he heard her, cooking her head to her right she smiled, she really needs to kick that habit away but for now it was just fun to watch him react to her blabbing around, testing the waters. She started to unstrap her weapons, first she handed her machete, then came her bow and quiver, she reached for the gun she had, she never used it, but decide it was worth keeping and then her knives, she unbuckled the belt and threw it into the bag, then she reaches for her vest, revealing at least fifteen more knives on each side of it.

"God damn it doll, where did you find all those toys?"

"Round, round and all around," she told him while reaching for one more, these ones she had to take out one by one, she looked at him and smiled, "in hospitals, people take medicines they don't take knives".

This made him smile again, he knew he wanted her in his team first time Simon mentioned her, damn, if he had her maybe his men would still be alive.

When it was all said and done he was back on his feet, winking at her, and turning to the group.

"Ok, rest is over fuckers, hope you had time to catch your breath, later you can thank this pretty lady here, she really lighten my mood, so I will go easy on you, hell, if she showed up before I smashed reds head, who knows maybe he would be alive and kicking, well alive at least.", he smiled at them.

At that moment she felt shiver running down her spine, she knows she is not right in the head, that her priorities were all fucked up, but does he know he is as well, seeing him smile like that, acting like a fucking Joker, she couldn't help but see herself and how she looked while killing, the mirror of the truth was never pleasant to look at, of course, she killed to defend herself, she killed people she saw as a threat, she didn't enjoy it and still she did it with a smile.

She understood why he was doing this but that didn't change the fact that this man was dangerous and yet she wasn't scared of him, I am really gone now, bye, bye, sweet sanity, you were boring as fuck.

"Take a damn look!"

She heard Negan's voice, this snapped her from her thoughts and in a second she yelled, "behind you!"

She wanted to jump, but was too far away, Negan turned and was taken back with a punch in a face, in a second his men were on the attacker, he glances at her and he could swear she was looking at him with expression that was challenging him to see what will he do next, estimating him to see if he was worth following, telling him that everything he does from this point on will decide their destiny, he smiled at her, as a sign that challenge is accepted, he could never say `no` to someone as pretty as she is, every man has his weaknesses, his were beautiful women, he never denied he brought his attention back to the men on the ground.

"This is a big no, no, this shit doesn't fly here, I told you that!",a man with a scar came running pointing his crossbow at attackers head, he reminded her of someone but she couldn't pinpoint who. Negan ordered them to get him back in line, she felt sorry for that poor fool, she knew Negan is not going to kill him, that is not how this game is played.

"I don't know with what kind of liars you've been dealing with up to this point but I am man of my word, I need you to know me, so back to it.", he glances at her second before he brought his bat down on other man's head, he took two fast swings and turned his attention back at her, looking to see will she flinch or look away, she did not.

Man that was taking hits just a seconds ago started making noises like he was trying to say something

"Maggie I'll find you", he was talking to a short-haired woman and that broke her heart.

Too close to home man, too close to home, then she saw Negan`s expression change, his smile fell and he was looking at now screaming woman, it looked like it wasn't just too close to home for his home as well, it was right at his doorstep knocking the doors down, but what he started he needs to finish

"Oh, hell, I can see this is hard for you guy, I am sorry, I truly am, but hey I did say no exceptions.", he continued to bash man's skull.

"I'm just getting started...Lucile is thirsty...she is a Vampire bat."Negan looked at the group, smiling at them, "What was the joke that bad?"

It was all done in a matter of seconds, like always, for your life to change that is all time you need, the rest are just consequences.

Negan was gone, on as he said, little road trip with Rick, the rest of them were still lined up to wait for their return, she was looking at the captured group, hell, she couldn't believe they were the same people that killed all those men not so long ago, they looked weak and broken now but that is not who they are and the moment they remember that they will be more dangerous than ever.

I hope I will be long gone from this place by then, she started laughing to herself, who is she kidding, she is going nowhere and not because she is not capable of running away but because something in her doesn't want to even try.

She felt someone is looking at her, raising her head she realized everyone was, shit, she was laughing out loud, she mentally kicked herself, she really needs to control her thoughts.
"Is something funny?", the dark-haired woman spoke to her, the one that was apparently involved with Negan's first victim.
"Yeah, it is, but don't worry it has nothing to do with you."
"How can you laugh at the times like this, did you see what he just did?" the woman continued and that made her every nerve cringe, there are not many things she hates more than self-righteous people.
"Yes, I did. Just as I saw what you did at that outpost." dark haired woman froze, her expression was unreadable, but at least she stopped talking.

"What? How long were you shadowing us?" Simon spoke.
"Since the woods."
"And you were there when these fuckers attacked our outpost?"
"Yes, I was in the woods when I saw them and before you ask, I am sorry but there was no way for me to help your men without getting killed." Simon was speechless like he was trying to process what she just apologized for.
"It is not up to you to save any of us, at least not yet, once you join us it will be"
"And what makes you think I will join you" she smirked at him
"l know you will"

It passed another hour, Negan still didn't come back, how rude to keep people waiting for so long, she rolled her eyes, the sun was coming out, this was the first dawn of her new life and she was already tired of sitting in one place.
"I am bored."
"And I am supposed to entertain you?" Simon retorted he was now standing behind her.
"You could try", she gave him mischievous smirk looking up at him.
"God, I hope you are worth the trouble woman", this made her smile again, then she looked around, realization of where she is kicked her again, she always did this, saying the most inappropriate things at the most inappropriate time, her shrink once told her mother that it is just her coping mechanism, because she almost never cries and it is nothing to worry about, well it was nothing to worry about back then, but now that kind of shit got you killed.

"Sorry", she said so quietly that no one heard her, but she heard herself and it was enough, fuck other people, they don't need to know who she really is, that would only make her look soft.
Thankfully at that moment she heard trailer coming, the door opened and Rick was thrown on the ground, Negan walking out behind him.
"Did you take care of my new favorite girl Simon?", he asked smirking at her.
"She was bored." oh, she could punch that stupid mustache of his face right now.
"Was she now, well fuck, we can't have that now can we, that just makes us shitty hosts, don't worry doll, I am back and things are about to get a lot more interesting." ,he winked at her and he was not lying.

He brought the boy she now realized was named Carl in front of Rick, laying him on the ground and marking the place where his father was supposed to cut his arm off, she had a stomach for many things but this made her think of her dad and she felt she is about to puke
"What you do next will decide whether your crap day becomes everyone's last crap day or just another crap day. Get some guns to the backs of their heads. Level with their noses, so if you have to fire, it'll be a real mess."

She felt a gun being pointed at the back of her head, she knew it wasn't Simon, he was now standing near Negan, she hated the fact she can't see who it was, just so she can kick his ass later
"Not at her you stupid fuck what the hell is wrong with you?" Negan was talking to a man standing behind her, "she is mine, you don't point a gun at people who are mine unless I say so."
"S-sorry", she knew that voice it was the same man that tried to take her weapons away from her, she rolled her eyes, whoever it was he really had a thing for her apparently.
"Good boy, don't worry doll, he will not get close to you again. So back to matter at hand, hahaha, now that pun was not intended but man is it good hahaha"

Rick started to panic and cry, it was the gruesome thing to watch, bashing heads was pure gore, nothing she didn't see on daily basses, but this, this was torture to look at and just as he swung his axe to do the deed Negan stopped him.
"You answer to me, you provide for me, you belong to me, right," Rick just nodded his head frantically, still sobbing, "speak when you're spoken to!"

She closed her eyes, still trying to erase an image of Rick cutting his son's arm of that somehow crept up to her mind.
"Everything ok, doll?" Negan was just inches from her face, she didn't even hear him approach.
"Yes, it is, now", she weakly smiled at him, she is sleepy, tired and this shit that just happened got to her, she knew there are things worse than death, and apparently she managed to find one person that shares that knowledge with her and it is ok now because he didn't make Rick do it.

"So are you coming with me doll?" ,he asked her, almost purring, this brought her back to the awake state.
"Depends on what do you offer?"
Negan started to laugh, he looked up at Simon who was back behind her,"what do I offer, she asked me what do I offer?"
She felt his hand coming behind her neck and tugging her hair down, he was growling now, his eyes darkening, she knew it, she pushed too far, but she'd be damned if she was scared of him. He had nothing on her, she cared for no one, she had no one, even life she had she valued as much as she valued old pair of boots. He would first have to give her something to be able to take it away from her.

"How about your life?" he spoke, and she just couldn't hold it inside of her anymore, she maniacally started to laugh, he let go of her hair, backing his face a few inches away, he was confused, glancing towards Simon.
"What the fuck?", was all he managed to say, she extended her hand in a gesture of stop and started to wipe away tears that started to go down her cheeks.

"Sorry man, fuck, just give me a second, forgive me", she inhaled deeply and looked at him, her expression was serious now, he was looking at her still confused with her little outburst few second ago, she placed her hand on his knee trying to bring him out of the state he was in and it worked, but now he will want an explanation.

"Sorry, man, just, I didn't eat for like two days now, last two cans I opened were rotten. I didn't sleep for at least a full day and the last time I did sleep it was only for an hour or two, hell I stink so bad I can't even stand being near me, I tried to bathe in the river a few days ago but got attacked by some walkers, I had to fight them butt naked and was only luck that my bow was close at hand. It is like that for me since this shit went down, so sorry for my little outburst a few moments ago, but my life is worth squat to me men you will just have to do better than that."
Negan was looking at her, like trying to process what she just said, then his expression softened for a moment, he knew she was not afraid of him, that she would not harm him either, she was an empty book, no loyalties, nothings, what you see is what you get, and he liked what he saw.

He moved his face to hers so they are side by side as he whispered in her ear, for only her to know, "come with me, I will give you whatever you want as long as you choose wisely, believe me, choices will be nice, I offer you a reason to live."

Reason to live, now that is something she didn't have even long before world went down, they were face to face now, tip of his nose resting on tip of hers and she laughed, this time genuinely and from heart

"Ok, you give me that boss and my life is in your hands."
He was back on his feet, extending his hand to her, she took it, he swung her up and embrace her,"you are one smart cookie", he turned to the group never letting her go.
"Welcome to a brand new beginning you sorry shits. Hope you like it, I certainly do."

He order his men to take Daryl with them, and then led her to his Jeep, resting his arm on her lower back
"How rude of me I didn't even ask your name", he leaned on the front door holding it opened but never gesturing her to come in.

"Alice it is Alice."
"Alice, hm, that is one nice name, ready to go home doll?"
"Show me that Wonderland of yours" she smiled at him, taking her seat "Wonderland?"
"When you smile you remind me of Cheshire cat "

He smiled while closing the door and settling himself behind the steering wheel,"we are all mad there, doll."

"Oh, I have no doubt about that."