Chapter 21: Psycho Killers

I can't seem to face up to the facts
I'm tense and nervous and I can't relax
I can't sleep 'cause my bed's on fire
Don't touch me I'm a real live wire

Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-far better
Run run run run run run run away oh oh
Psycho Killer
Qu'est-ce que c'est
Fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-fa-far better
Run, run, run, run, run, run, run, away oh oh oh
Yeah yeah yeah yeah!

Negan's mouth hung open as he watched Lydia laying on the ground, the color quickly fading from her skin. "What the hell did you just do?"

Alpha moved her head from side to side as she spoke softly. "You saw what happened. Do not ask questions you already know the answer to."

"But...but...she's your daughter," Negan stammered, truly dumbfounded. He had pictured a number of scenarios but none of them ended with Lydia being murdered by her mother. He had been at war but he'd never seen anyone do something like this. Negan completely lost sight of the mission as he verbally attacked Alpha. "What the hell kind of monster are you, to kill your own flesh and blood?"

Alpha wiped a tear from her eye as she looked from Negan to Lydia. "She'll be with me always now, never to betray me. She will come back and I tell you this: she will be stronger dead than she was alive."

"You are a psycho," Negan stated without hesitation. "I've done some violent and sadistic shit, but you lady, you're what my mama would call four pennies short of a nickel!"

"You think that I'm not of sound mind? You think I don't know what I'm doing?" Alpha bore her eyes into Negan's as she chanted. "We bathe in blood. We are free. We love no one. We are free. We fear nothing. We are free. This is the end of the world. Now is the end of the world. We are the end of the world."

Negan stared back wide-eyed in disbelief. "Is that shit you just said supposed to make me think you're not batshit crazy? Cuz it didn't work."

Alpha slithered closer to Negan. "You, your people. They are the ones that are not of sound mind. They can't see the world for what it is. They grasp at straws to live in the past. But my people, we're at peace with life as it is now – death. We do not fight it. We embrace it."

Negan shook his head as he began to back out of the tent slowly. "Listen, I thought I wanted to be a part of this group but I just ain't sure anymore." He continued to talk as he walked backwards out in the open. "I think I'd like to just hit the road if it's all the same to you."

Alpha and Beta slowly followed him out of the tent. Alpha stared at him venomously. "Were you under the impression that you had a choice in matters? You're not going anywhere. And if you cannot prove yourself useful to me then you will join my horde the same way the Omega did."

"You want me to tell you about the other group? About what they're planning?" Negan replied, still backing up.

"Yes. You will tell me all about them," Alpha stated. "Then I will decide what to do with you."

"Alright, alright, I will. Just please, don't kill me after I do."

"Tell me," Alpha ordered him as she continued to follow him.

"I'm afraid I got some shitty news for you," Negan said, then stopped in the middle of a clearing. He raised his hands in the air and smiled at Alpha as she stood out into the open. "That attack, it's comin' a lot sooner than you think."

Alpha opened her mouth, but before she could say a word, an arrow flew through the air behind Negan. The arrow landed in Alpha's face, tearing through her cheek and jaw. Negan watched in awe as she held her hand up to her face, trying to sop the blood up with her dirty sleeve.

"They're attacking!" Beta roared to all the others. "Get your weapons now!"

More arrows whizzed by and landed into the Whisperers followed by gunshots. Negan began to run for cover as he watched. He didn't get far before he was tackled from behind. Negan's face was planted in the dirt when he felt powerful arms flip him over. He was face to face with Beta.

Beta climbed on top of Negan, straddling him with his hefty legs. "This was you!" the giant growled as spit flew from his mouth and onto Negan's face. "You led them here to attack. That was yours and the girl's plan all along!"

Negan stared up into Beta's face and grinned. "Wow you're a regular Sherlock Holmes, piecin' that one together."

"Shut up!" Beta shouted as he took Negan's head between his hands and slammed it into the ground. He pulled his fist back and punched Negan in the side of the head again and again. Beta finally sat up straight and pulled two large Bowie knives out. He held them close to Negan's face as he spoke. "I'm going to make this hurt. Very soon you're going to wish you'd never laid eyes on me."

Beta slowly slid the knife into Negan's left shoulder. Negan screamed out in pain as the knife went in deeper and deeper. He could feel it coming out the other side of his body and pinning him to the ground. He swung his right arm and met the side of Beta's head with his fist. He pulled his fist back and did it again before Beta grabbed his arm and pushed it into the ground. "You're like a little boy the way you hit me. You think you can stop me from killing me? You can't." Beta showed Negan his other knife before moving it down to his abdomen. "Do you know how long it takes a man to bleed to death when he's stabbed in the stomach?"

"No why don't you fill me in, Frowny."

"I know just where to slide it in so that it'll take an entire day for you to die."

"Well that's if the dead don't get to me first."

"You think you're a funny man, don't you?" Beta said as he poked the tip of the knife into Negan's stomach.

"I guess I think I'm a little funny...especially since hangin' around you people." Beta pushed the knife in a little farther. Negan groaned in agony.

With one fluid motion, Beta slid the knife completely into his gut. Negan screamed out in pain as the giant twisted the sharp blade to the left and to the right. He pulled the knife out and blood spurted from Negan's side. "I don't think you're funny at all," Beta snorted, then stood up and walked away.

…..

Connie didn't hear any of the commotion outside as she moved over to Lydia's body. She knelt over her and searched the young girl for a weapon. She found one in her belt and pulled it out. She would stab her in the eye socket to keep her from coming back. She lifted the knife over Lydia's head and was just about to bring it down when Alpha barged into the tent.

"No!" Alpha shouted as she kicked Connie away from Lydia. "Don't touch her! She's for my horde!"

Connie looked back up at Alpha. Blood covered her face entirely. Alpha spoke to her but between the darkness and the mess of blood on her face, Connie couldn't understand a word she was saying. She watched as Alpha tore through a trunk in her tent. She pulled out a box and handed it to Connie. Connie opened the box and saw alcohol and gauze. Alpha laid on top of her sleeping bag waiting expectantly for Connie to bandage her up.

Connie unscrewed the cap from the top of the rubbing alcohol and lifted the bottle of over Alpha's face. She pushed Alpha's eyelids closed before she poured the liquid onto the gaping wound. Alpha writhed in pain but kept quiet. She kept her eyes closed so the blood and alcohol wouldn't run into them. She felt more alcohol pour onto her cheek and flinched in pain again. She then felt Connie place the gauze onto her wound.

Alpha's began to calm down and her breathing slowed. The immediate and agonizing pain was beginning to subside. She blinked a few times trying to slowly open her eyes. When she finally opened them completely, she looked up to see Connie kneeling over her with a sharp rock in her hands. Alpha reached down to find her knife in her belt but before she could even touch it, Connie slammed the rock's jagged point, squarely into her forehead.

Alpha closed her eyes. When she opened them again everything spun above her. She searched for the knife in her belt and finally found it. She pulled it out and swung it at Connie. Connie jumped back then quickly stood up. She walked back towards the disgusting woman and kicked her in the side.

Connie was about to kneel down again to finish Alpha off when she suddenly felt hands clawing at her from behind. She quickly spun around and found herself face to face with Lydia. Connie pushed Lydia's dead body away but the girl immediately attacked again. Connie wrestled with Lydia before finally maneuvering herself behind her. She placed her hands on both of Lydia's shoulders as she looked down at Alpha. Connie stared venomously at the sadistic leader trying to stand up. With one forceful thrust, Connie shoved Lydia down onto her mother. Lydia crashed down, pinning her mother to the floor. Alpha tried to fight off her daughter but it was no use. Connie watched in satisfaction as the girl sank her teeth into Alpha's face.

Connie stared at the violent massacre. She could see Alpha's mouth wide open and screaming in agony. Connie thought she would feel better watching her enemy suffer. She thought the act of revenge would give her some closure. She thought the world might make sense again if she was able to kill the monster that killed her sister. She was wrong though. It was just ugly...all of it.

Connie took one last look at at the horrifying scene before she turned and ran from the tent.

A/N: Well hello everyone! I hope this chapter finds all my readers doing well and staying strong and healthy. I don't know about you but it feels like life has been turned completely upside down.

This Coronavirus seemed like it was somewhat under control and moving slowly until things went from 0 to 60 in a matter of one week. Hospitals full while schools, churches, restaurants, theaters and everything in between, all closed down. I'd love to say that I'm not at all scared but for me, not worrying doesn't really go hand in hand with being a mama. I also have parents in their 80s and I'm trying not to be worried for them but that's easier said than done. There is so much uncertainty, and uncertainty is scary.

All that said, there are a few things I do know for sure. I know that God is in complete control. I know that He loves and cares for each of us. I know that He is calling each one of us into a relationship with Him or into a deeper relationship with Him.

So that is my prayer for all of you. Of course I pray for health, safety and well-being for you, your families and your loved ones. But even more than that, I pray for you to KNOW JESUS CHRIST! To truly know His love, His peace, His goodness and His salvation.

Romans 10:9 tells us that, "If you confess with your mouth 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." And 2 Corinthians 6:2 says, "Today is the day of salvation!" Not tomorrow...today! Because none of us know how many tomorrows we have.

I could right the best, most interesting, well-crafted stories, but none of that would matter if I didn't say something of far greater value: God loves you and is passionately pursuing you! The best thing any of us can do is to love and pursue Him in return.

If anyone has any questions or you need to talk, PLEASE, message me. I'm a minister and that means that God has put it on my heart to minister to the people He puts in my life. Take care of yourselves, wash your hands and seek the Lord Jesus, my friends! I love you all!

"Psycho Killers"
Written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth
Performed by Talking Heads

Alpha's "We are the end of the world" speech
Written by Nicole Mirante-Matthews