A/N: Chapter 20! Thank you to all the new favorites and follows and as always thanks for reading. Drop a review if you have any comments, questions, or recommendations. Enjoy!
By the time we got back to the Sanctuary, the sun was setting. The sky was a perfect combination of orange and pink, the kind I would've taken a picture of back in the day.
"Well it's been a long day and my wives are waiting for me," Negan said with an obnoxiously loud clap as he exited the truck. I walked out and stood beside the vehicle, looking at him with tired eyes. "You can help with the heavy lifting," Negan said pointing a gloved finger at me, "You're a tough kid."
"Yay," I deadpanned, running a hand over my face.
"That's the spirit," he replied, giving me a hearty slap on the back. I watched him stride confidently away with a scowl on my face.
"Take this down to the kitchen," a Savior commanded me as he dropped a heavy crate into my arms. I let out a little huff at the weight. "When you're done, come back for the rest," he motioned at another large pile of crates. Other prisoners in the Sanctuary were brought over and began moving other cargo. A few of them looked at me strangely, probably wondering why I wasn't wearing the matching sweat suit anymore. It was a question I didn't really have a full answer for either.
I carried crate after crate down flights of stairs in the Sanctuary. Each time I returned for another one, the same savior who had assigned me this task watched. He sat in the open back of the truck, sharpening a knife with a bored expression as he commanded everyone around. I still didn't know many of the Saviors names despite how long I'd been here. I mostly remembered them by face. I learned which ones were more tolerant and which ones I shouldn't even look in the eye. This guy wasn't the worst I suppose. He seemed more disinterested than malicious most of the time.
"Take these to Carson after you drop that one off," he said, plopping the bag of medicine I had collected, on top of the last crate I was holding. "Then, go to bed or whatever you do at night kid. I don't know."
"Sure," I replied, walking away. I paused and turned back to the man. "My name is Melissa by the way."
"Okay," he replied plainly. I stood in place for a moment, staring at him expectedly. He furrowed his brow at me then gave a small sigh. "Lewis," he grumbled.
I nodded and walked away, slightly satisfied. Did that count as a positive interaction with a savior? It was small but it was something. I delivered the last package and slowly made my way up to the medical wing. I knocked on Doctor Carson's office door. When there was no answer I let myself in. The room was dark so I flipped the light on. I suppose Emmett had retired for the night. I'd be sure to tell him about his brother next time I saw him. The cabinets full of medicine were locked for the night so I just put the supplies down on the counter. When I was done I turned the light off and closed the door behind me. To my surprise, Wade was in the hallway, leaning on the wall with his arms crossed.
"Where did you come from?" I asked. He scoffed at my question.
"What? You think you get to just wander these halls without me knowing where you are?" He shook his head at me and motioned for me to start walking. "I see everything you do," he added from behind me as we made our way to my cell. I tossed him a dirty look over my shoulder. When we reached my little corner of hell, Wade gave me a shove inside and slammed the door shut behind me. I flipped him off through the door as I heard the usual sound of keys locking the outside.
Quickly, I tossed my book on to the ground, turned on my little lantern and put my ear to the door. I waited until I could no longer hear Wade's footsteps as he disappeared down another corridor. Then, I pulled the Swiss Army Knife out of my pants, holding it like a precious diamond in my hands. I ran my hands over the thick metal pipe that ran from floor to ceiling in the corner of the room. I had examined it when I first got here and assumed it was some type of ventilation pipe. But, I had found something on it when I had examined it. I smiled when my fingers found the familiar spot in the back. I rusted cut in the metal, big enough to hide the knife but small enough to go unnoticed. I pushed the knife through the hole and kept it in place with the can opener tool acting as a hook.
"I guess Wade doesn't see everything," I whispered to myself, proud of my little hiding place for my secret knife. Hopefully a day would come soon where I could actually use the thing. I would have to talk to Tina as soon as I saw her again. If she and her family really had a way out, now was the time. I lied down on my makeshift bed and finally let my eyes close. It really had been a long day.