Lyra felt a roll of sweat run down the back of her neck. Her hands shook as a shudder ran through her body.
Here lies all my good intentions…, she thought grimly closing her eyes as the images wormed their way into her mind. Slowly the memory collage came to a halt around the time of her first and last escape.
"What happened?"
Lyra opened her weary eyes and looked over at Cory who was sitting on the ground. She was above on the loft so she had to bent her neck downward to look at him, he craned his up to look back.
"You know what happened," Lyra scowled, "stop being an ass."
Cory turned back giving no reply. Not even a shrug. Lyra opened her mouth but then immediately closed it.
Not real…not real….
But it felt so real. And it felt so good. Lyra couldn't help but smile as she closed her eyes.
"Remember the time when we had to jump on top of the truck to escape a small herd?" Lyra side glanced to see if Cory was still there – he was. "You split your pants right on the ass crack. I think the sound alone attracted them right to us."
Despite himself he let out a small laugh in which Lyra was more than willing to join in.
"Hey, not my fault!" Cory gasped.
"Are you kidding?" Lyra replied chuckling, "Remember that other time when you decided to try a burping contest?"
"Only because you started it."
"It was a small one, you did one that could've started an avalanche if we were in Alaska!"
The two started howling with laughter. Lyra rolled onto her back and laughed, she continued until her sides hurt. It was nice to laugh and smile. Her face started to hurt afterwards but it was worth it. She gave a couple coughs and let out a low sigh.
"Hey Cory….?"
Nothing.
Lyra leaned over the edge again and saw the space was empty. She blinked thrice as her mind started to come back into the right. Lyra ran a hand over her face. She waited for the regret and pain that usually rolled over her during these times – but none came. Lyra waited even more but still nothing. It was oddly pleasant though, even though she was going slightly crazy, at least she'd go down swinging.
Happiest I've ever being six months, Lyra sighed lying back down. She turned over to the dirty wall and closed her eyes.
When she came around, Lyra guessed that it was dark. Slowly she walked down the ladder and over to the table straight to the rations bag. There was some dried meat and biscuits that had mold dotting on the corners. Mindlessly, Lyra pinched the mold off and started to eat. Her stomach let out a low growl of satisfaction as the dry biscuit filled her stomach, she drank some water feeling it land in her stomach. Lyra looked around expecting to see Cory but there was nothing.
"I don't know what to do," Lyra admitted into the dark. "I want to live, but there has to be a better way than this. But I can't escape."
After eating, Lyra turned around ignoring the bullets and weapons. She walked back up the ladder and lied down, closing her eyes wanting to sleep but there was none. She was too awake for even the thought of more sleep. So – she talked.
"You're a loser, you know that Cory?"
"Pff, better a loser then alone."
Lyra's eyes snapped opened as she bolted upright.
"What…?"
She looked over the edge at Cory who was sitting on one of the ladder rungs.
"You're a loner," he repeated, "you have no one."
"I…."
Lyra couldn't finish it. So she didn't even try and lied back on the cot letting out a small huff.
Hate when you're right.
Lyra lifted the tags level to her eyes. She took in a slight breath and allowed them to drop back onto her chest.
"If he wants me to make him bullets and fix all the fucking weapons, he can go fuck himself," Lyra said to the empty shop. "I've giving him the edge for six months already, no more."
She closed her eyes sensing a presence around her, even though Lyra knew it was a trick feeling so she kept her eyes closed. The presence lingered a little while longer, so Lyra squeezed her eyes shut harder until she was sure there was no way of re-opening them again.
No more, no more…
The presence started to disperse slightly, lifting the heavy atmosphere that had lain over her like a blanket. Lyra took in a deep breath feeling relief.
"No more…."
She slept.
XXXXXX
"Well, well, look at this sack of shit boys."
Lyra slowly came too. But it was too late to register who was in front of her. A small tsk went through the air and the apprentice felt herself dropping hard onto the ground. Gasping for breath, she held her bruising side, sucking in as much air as possible. However it was difficult.
Lyra looked up to see Negan towering over her, Lucille resting on his shoulder.
"Sleeping on the job huh? All that food, water… and for what? You to decide to give up and kick yourself to the curb?"
A hand grabbed her hair and pulled her harshly to her feet. Lyra groaned feeling more hands grab her arms and shoulder, forcing her upward. Lyra managed to stand upward, facing her captor head on.
Crack!
A searing pain crossed her braced knee making her gimp out. Lyra let out a hoarse cry, it would've being louder if she had the energy.
"You think that you can just fucking give up? Just like that?" Negan grabbed a handful of her hair forcing her to look up. "You little bitch, only way you can die is through me!"
He let Lyra's head drop.
"But you know I'm a generous man," Negan announced. "Dwight!"
Lyra watched as the half-faced man pushed someone forward. She stiffened immediately remembering how Kayla was brought in the same way, bound and gagged – fearful and submissive.
"This little shit," the leader said draping an arm around the person's shoulders, "is going to solve all our problems." With a dramatic flourish, he pulled the bag off and Lyra's jaw practically touched the ground.
Carl's eyes temporarily widened as he saw the apprentice. He moaned into the thick gag as he tried to shrug Negan's arm off but the man tightened his grip. His posture was slightly slouched to one side and his expression slightly pained, Lyra immediately knew that Negan struck him with Lucille to make him co-operate.
"His daddy decided to take arms against me," Negan smirked, chuckling as if he told a hilarious joke. "Can you fucking believe that?"
"The double bullets…," Lyra started.
"Were, and will be used to kill the fucker's fighters and anyone else who decided to team up with him," Negan looked at Carl. "Worked though didn't it boy?"
Carl narrowed his eyes at the leader. Negan reached up and undid the gag and Carl immediately spat at the leader's feet. Dwight stepped forward and back-handed the boy so hard that Carl's head rocked. Negan merely watched as the teen tried to shake the wound off, but blood dripped down his shirt as he coughed violently. Gaining his senses, Carl glared at Dwight not caring once for his own well-being. The hunter stepped forward but Negan raised his hand and turned back to Lyra who just stared at Carl.
"Think of it as having an apprentice of your very own," the leader continued pointing Lucille at Lyra. "And you take my fucking generosity."
"Do we have to work together?"
The two turned to Carl. Blood oozed out of his nose, down his face and onto his clothes.
"Yes."
"Do we have a choice?"
Negan smirked. "No."
A/N: The final installment in Anamnesis titled Going Down Swinging will start up next week. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, faved and followed. Spitfire47
