After that moment, panic rose among the saviours. No one ever dared to stand against Negan and there is one group, that decided to slaughter an entire outpost. A hard frown appeared on the Leader's face as he stood up, smashing Lucille against the wooden table. Everyone in the room jumped in surprise, including Rhea, who tried to stay as calm as she could. If those people had the numbers to attack the sanctuary?
«Simon. You start an investigation. Starting by Hilltpop, and then, you go to the Kingdom. Even if I don't think those hippies could attack anyone. »
The man nodded before taking all the other men of the room with him. When Laird was about to leave too, Negan stopped him.
«Laird, tell me. How is it that you're the only one left? »
Negan's usual grin was back, and at that moment, Rhea feared for the other man's life. Laird faltered, searching his words while running a hand through his curly hairs.
«I huh… I escaped when the sun rose. »
«So, you just… deserted. You didn't even try to find out who attacked you. »
«No sir. » said Laird in a whisper.
Rhea felt her chest tighten around her heart, preventing her from breathing.
«Steven, Tyler, take this man. »
Two huge guys Rhea didn't even notice were behind her took Laird by the arms and dragged him God knows where. And even if she would never admit it, Negan scared her right now. But when she tried to turn around and leave, his voice stopped her.
«Pocahontas. Tell me, how did you survive all alone with your brother and niece? »
Rhea was surprised by this sudden question but she answered anyway.
«We weren't alone for a moment. We had a small group of survivors. But the circumstances made us split apart. »
Negan arched his back, putting Lucille on his shoulder before taking a few steps towards Rhea.
«And how many were you? »
«Not many, with two kids, an old man and a few others… »
Then the woman put two and two together.
«Wait, no my group is probably dead, they couldn't be the ones who attacked the outpost an… »
«Wow! I was just making conversation. Now c'mon, let's eat. »
They made a few steps before the man spoke again:
«I knew you'd like this blouse. » He said with a cocky grin on his lips.
Rhea tried to find an answer but when she and Negan entered the canteen, the loud noise of mixed conversation invaded the woman. As always, the room was filled with workers and Saviours, all sitting around metal table. Rhea picked up her tray and took a few minutes to spot her brother and sit in front of him.
«Hey. How's Octavia? » she asked before taking a sip from her glass of water.
«She's getting stronger everyday.» Said Jules with a sweet and proud smile. «But Carson's keeping her a few more days, just to be sure. »
«That's good. » smiled Rhea before an uncomfortable silence settled between the two siblings.
It happened a lot more since the woman joined the Saviour's team. Maybe Jules, deep down, wasn't really happy about it, even if he insisted everyday that he was glad his sister found a new job. A better one. So, Rhea and him kept eating in silence, before saying 'good night' to each other and go their separate ways.
Rhea climbed the metallic stairs and went straight to her room. She literally collapsed on the mattress and fell immediately asleep.
The next morning, Rhea jumped in her clothes – camouflage patterned jeans and a black shirt – before putting on her boots, braiding a few strands of her dark hair and tie everything up in a ponytail. She took her bow and arrow and followed the corridors that led to her balcony, where she was supposed to keep watch, when she bumped into someone. She didn't have time to mumble an apology because the man spoke:
«Pocahontas! Right on time, I was just about to fetch you. »
Rhea lift her head up to see Negan, surprisingly without Lucille.
«Okay, why? Has something changed? »
Negan just smiled and turned around, tacitly indicating Rhea to follow him. So she did, and when they got to the meeting room, Dwight, Regina, Simon, Gavin and that Laura girl were already there. Rhea never liked this middle 20's, blonde, not-really-feminine girl. Always trying to catch attention of everybody else in a room, not that good with a gun and with an annoying voice.
Anyway, Rhea didn't sit down, not really expecting that meeting to be long.
«So, it seems like we have a situation here. Simon found out that a group of survivors, living in a safe zone might be at the origin of the massacre in the outpost. So, we'll make a few groups: Simon, you take about… Twenty men with you, you block the roads that could lead them to Hilltop. Dwight, you take ten men and our Pocahontas here and Arat. You patrol around this zone. »
Negan put a map on the table and Dwight immediately detailed it.
«And if you guys find one of these motherfuckers, you tie him up, DON'T kill him. And you bring him back to the red circle on the map. Is everything clear for everyone? »
There was a general 'YES!' before Negan dismissed everybody with a wave of his hand. Rhea practically ran to the stables, when someone held her by her arm. She turned around, to see the half-burned face of Dwight in front of her.
«Are you sure you wanna take your horse? It'd be easier if you just took a bike or… »
«Helios and I will be fine. »
Rhea pulled away quickly and took Helios's saddle. She gave him a sugar cube as she started to brush him and a few moments later, a familiar whistle came to her ears. This time, she didn't even bother to turn around. She knew she had to be as fast as possible to be ready to leave with her group.
«This Helios seems to be very important to you. I might be getting a little jealous here. » said Negan, stroking Helios' palomino coat.
Rhea tried and hid a smile, not answering to the Saviours' leader.
«How is it possible to keep a horse in this world? » he asked, this time with a serious look on his face.
Rhea put her brush down on a haystack and placed the saddle blanket on Helios' back.
«I huh… had another one. » she said, a glimpse of sadness in her voice.
«And what happened to him? Eaten? »
Negan seemed to be really interested, and Rhea felt like she had to give him an honest answer.
«He was a 'she', and she died along with her rider. »
«Hey Pocahontas! We're waiting! » shouted Laura from the parking lot.
Rhea just shook her head and finished to prepare Helios before jumping on his back. Negan swung Lucille on his shoulder before taking a few steps toward the young blonde woman.
«Pocahontas is mine. Find your own nickname. » said Negan before getting on the passenger's side of a truck.
And as the engines roared, Rhea placed herself behind Dwight and squeezed her legs around Helios' sides and followed the bikers. And at this moment, she didn't know what she was doing. Was she about to harm innocent people? She knew what happened at the outpost but maybe it wasn't those people. If they never eared of them before, there must be a reason. They never caused any trouble. So why now? Why now?
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Hey, first of all, I'm really, really sorry for the late uptade!
Thanks to Monarchslayer, hrodenhaverand CollegeGirl2018 for putting this story in your favourites!
Thanks to 7ValarMorghulis7 (love your ID btw), honeyking8997 and .1884 for following it.
And a big thank you to DJDragon21, death-becomes-her3 and mahmehalh for doing both!
LadyxAbsinthe: Thank you sooo much, means a lot to me! Hope you liked this chapter too!
WAIT! before you go, I already know how this fiction will end but if you have any suggestions, things you'd like to see, tell me in the reviews, I might be able to make it happen!
See ya!