Ch. 50
"I'm gonna kill 'em," Sam said as he looked on toward the Foundry. His vision enhanced by the pair of binoculars that he held up to his eyes. He gritted his teeth as he saw men that had once been prisoners walking by the windows carrying guns and ordering his people around. He hadn't spotted Beth, Eugene, Rory, or Prim walking about. He felt dread flow through his body as he thought of them As far as he knew Beth was the only one of them alive, the others could be dead. "How many men do we have here?"
The perimeter guards that had survived the takeover glanced around, one of them doing a quick head count and then looking back to Sam. "We got six of us here sir," He reported.
"Good, who's the marksmen here?"
"I am sir," a man said standing up and hefting his rifle in front of him. "I was a marine, can put a round in a fleas ass at three hundred yards."
"Good, keep your aim steady, you'll be back here, rest of you are gonna come with me. We'll have to wait for night. You," he pointed at the Marine, "What's your name?"
"Dillon, sir."
"Alright, Dillon, keep your gun trained over there, observe and let me know if any of them, fucking leave. If they set foot out, put a round in them."
"Sir," Dillon said as he moved to observe the Foundry with his rifle.
"Rest of you, get gear ready and some rest, once that sun goes down we're going hunting."
"What the fuck do you mean we can't get out men?" Maggie screamed into Merel's unflinching face. Small strands of spittle flew from her mouth and splattered on his face, but the man stood resolute against both her and Rick.
"We're keeping this siege up Maggie. That's my orders—"
"And I'm giving you new orders Merle!" Maggie screamed at the man. Merle shook his head and then began backing away from Maggie who simply stood there in disbelief, shaking her head and then looking back to Rick for support.
"Merle, Hilltop is under attack," Rick said moving forward. "We need to collect some men and liberate it."
"And we need to stop these bastards form breaking siege and reinforcing Negan or Sanctuary," Merle said, the men that stood behind him nodding in support. Maggie looked them over and couldn't recognize a single face, not even pulling one from passing.
She scoffed and shook her head, "None of my men are here, aren't they? Or Ricks for that matter. What, you think they'd leave? To defend their homes, their loved ones? Merle we can't let Hilltop get sacked by those animals?"
"Sam's orders," Merle said firmly.
Maggie felt her anger spike but simply turned away seething rather than attacking Merle. She heard Rick turn as well, the men they had brought following them. They walked a good distance from Merel and his defensive line and Maggie glared at the one-handed man before looking to Rick.
"What do you wanna do?" Rick asked, resting his hand on his gun.
"We can't fight 'em, even if we wanted to I doubt the men would," Maggie scoffed. "This is it, Rick. Sam can't keep undermining us."
Rick sighed deeply and looked back to Merle as a small spark of anger and distrust flowed through him. "Yeah, I think you're right Maggie. But, we have bigger problems right now. Negan, Hilltop. We need to get there."
"We don't have enough men," Maggie said. " Not unless we bring up the reserves up from Alexandria."
"We can't do that. We're bare bones there as it is. If we go and take all of our reserves then we'll lose everything Maggie, and then it'll just be Sam and Ezekiel against the Saviors. And win or lose that'll be bad."
"Fuck," Maggie swore as she began to pace in frustration. "Fine, we'll let Sam keep our men, but once one of the outposts is broken we go straight to Hilltop and we relieve my damn men." Rick nodded in agreement but also hoping not to provoke Maggie. "And Rick, we're talking about Sam, soon."
Justin's eyes scanned the area around the foundry intensely as he looked for signs of any enemy soldiers. Since the radio broadcast, he hadn't had any contact with Sam or anyone else. The captured Saviors were milling about the Foundry and keeping watch for any sign of intrusion. There were only twenty of them left. Capturing the Foundry had been bloodier than he had anticipated, but it had been well worth it. There were guns, booze and a roof over their heads.
Justin let out an uneasy breath as he put the binoculars down and turned back to look at some of the hostages he had taken. They were mostly kept in the cages of the now empty armory, but he had decided to take a few as personal hostages as insurance in case Sam came and actually attacked the Foundry. The men were already preparing defenses in case that did happen, most of the doors had been barricaded and sandbags and other makeshift defenses littered the halls. Sam could try and take back the Foundry, but it would be bloody and cost him a lot of men.
"You're gonna die here," Justin's head whipped around to the pregnant blonde, her blue eyes staring at him with indifference, her voice dry and seemingly emotionless.
"The Fuck you mean?" Justin spat at her.
"Sam's gonna kill you for this. You killed his men, took others hostage, soon enough he'll come knocking that door down and kill all of you," she smiled and leaned her head back against the brick wall, closing her eyes.
Justin scoffed and turned away. "What makes you so sure he'll save you, princess?"
She actually laughed at that and Justin felt his stomach drop at the sound. "He's done it before. Took out an entire hospital full of people just to get me back. Him and our group. But now he has an army at his disposal. Tell me, baby, what do you think he'll do to get his pregnant fiancé back?"
Justin tried to ignore her and instead turned back to the window, feeling his dread overtake his body.
Abraham and his men cheered as the last Savior threw his rifle down and joined his comrades kneeling with their hands interlocked behind their heads. Although Sam typically had a no prisoner policy, Ezekiel, and Rick persuaded him and had encouraged the men to take prisoners, so that it would send the message that the world was coming back together.
With the Saviors now surrendering though Abraham was able to take out his cigar and light it in victory. Men began collecting the Saviors weapons and loading them in trucks, while the Saviors themselves were corralled to a secure area under the watch of guards.
Just as Abrahams Zippo had lit his cigar properly several trucks had pulled up, Maggie, Rick and Daryl hopping out followed by several Alexandria and Hilltop troops.
"Hilltoppers and Alexandrian's load up in the trucks, we have to relive Hilltop!" Maggie shouted before walking to Abraham. "Unless you have a problem with that?"
Abraham rolled his eyes and took the cigar from his mouth. "Listen, I don't know why you and Sam have this dick measuring contest going on Maggie. We're all on the same side."
"That a yes?"
Abraham scoffed, "Take your men, we have to watch the Saviors."
"Abraham thank—" Rick began before Maggie spoke, a smug smirk on her face.
"Give us some of your men."
Abraham raised an eyebrow at her request. "Sorry?"
"We need a lot of men to take on Negan. Give us some of yours."
A thick tension spread over them, soldiers noticed and looked to them, a rift forming as Foundry soldiers stood with one another, separate from their current Alexandrian and Hilltop were down but there were looks to the leaders as they awaited calls to action, confused as to whether they could fire on their allies.
"You want me to give you men I need here?"
"Sam doesn't have a problem doing it why should I?" Maggie asked smugly. "Besides I need them more than you. You don't have to fight anymore, just watch the prisoners. I'm going to fight. Give me the men Abraham"
The larger man stared down at Maggie with contempt, his jaw tightened and he let out a heavy sigh before turning toward the Foundrymen.
"Ten of you go with her. Rest of you stay here and guard the prisoners."
"We need more than ten," Maggie said taking a step forward.
"That's all you're getting Maggie," Abraham growled out, "Now step back."
Maggie's jaw clenched, but then forced a smile and scoffed. "Fine. We'll take the ten. Let's go!"
The men began loading up and Abraham watched as ten of his own men left. He looked around and ushered the men back to work before heading to the comm operators.
"Hey Mike, get a hold of Sam," he said as he approached the comm operator, "Tell him what the hell just happened."
As Night began to approach Justin felt his nerves rise. He had been watching the treeline constantly, but all he had seen was the trees and the brush that surrounded the small industrial site that the Foundry was located on. Justin felt the Virginian heat cooking him, fat beads of sweat pouring off of him as he felt the anxiety of an upcoming attack mounting. He had men, guns, a fortress, and hostages, and yet he still felt powerless. No radio contact, not messenger, nothing, it was as if Sam was playing with him.
Justin's leg tapped repeatedly on the ground and he felt the heat digging underneath his skin, the beads of sweat felt like acid and he felt like he was boiling inside his own skin. He wiped his head and felt the sweat quickly envelop his forehead.
"Fuck," he whispered as the sun fell from the sky, the soft orange-red glow still radiating in the sky. He took one look out the window once more and looked for men but his eyes couldn't spot anyone the brush too close for him to spot anyone. He set the binoculars down and rubbed his eyes. The situation was not at all what he thought it would be, trapped and without help against a man out for his blood.
The amount of fear and anxiety that filled him was indescribable, it was immeasurable. He stood up and paced his eyes switching from his rifle that was resting on the bed to the window. He took a breath and turned and looked to the pregnant girl.
"You. If Sam comes—"
"When," she interrupted quickly.
"Fine, when Sam comes, how's he gonna hit us?"
She smirked and chuckled a bit at his lack of sighed smugly and began to speak, "Sam's gonna kill you. Simple as that. You killed his men, our friends. Took me hostage, and bragged about it, because you thought you could get reinforcements here. How's that going by the way?"
Justin resisted the urge to smack the girl and ignored the panic from the lack of communication from the Saviors.
"You want my advice," she chuckled, "Surrender, least then ammo isn't wasted and you get a quick death."
"No," Justin said as he got up. "I can't surrender. I do that, I tell the men that and they kill me."
"You're dead either way," she pointed out.
Justin opened his mouth to respond, but the crack of a rifle shot through the air followed by the rapid booms of machinegun fire. Justin dropped to the ground and whimpered as he awaited for bullets to crack through the window. He tensed and closed his eyes, but no shots came and the machine gun fire died down quickly. Tentatively he stood up and glanced around the room seeing it intact. Springing into action he went for a radio and called out for someone to tell him what was happening. One of his men called back that a rider had appeared claiming to be from Hilltop, saying that he had needed an ammo resupply. The freed Saviors had fired upon him sending him retreating.
Justin sank to the chair in the room and sighed as he felt his body grow tired. He felt no fear, or anger, just an exhaustion flow through him. He looked out the window and saw one of the small trees rustle in the wind, and he knew that the girl was right. He was dead already.
The smoke billowed as fire engulfed the walls of Hilltop. Men and women screamed as Saviors fired into the settlement. Most of the Hilltop settlers were holed up in the big house, small arms fire coming from the windows and the remnants of the outer guard were retreating to the house, most of them being gunned down on their way, bodies drooping with red mist popping out of their bodies. They tumbled to the floor, their guns and gear pulling them to the dirt.
Negan laughed as he watched the scene unfold. He had given plenty of opportunities for surrender, plenty of chances for amnesty, yet they had refused. The walls could be repaired though, the people not so much.
"Hold fire!" Negan shouted as the last of Hilltops defense forces made it to the big house. Negan held out his hand and one of his men brought a megaphone to him. "Can you shits hear me? Huh? Well, listen up! This little, revolt shit, it's done! Ya' fucking lost, A for effort though! All you're people though, they're dead, so you can either join 'em, or you can work for me now! Come on, don't be idiots! Don't fucking die for a cause that's already lost!"
There was no response from the big house, and Negan sighed as motioned for his men to form a perimeter.
"Go on boys, anyone comes near a window you shoot them. Lenny! You and your team go and make sure that no one sneaks up on us here!"
"Got it boss!" there was a flurry of activity as his men followed orders. Negan looked on to the big house and smiled as he plotted how to get them out.
"They opened fire on you?" Maggie asked her supply runner. The boy himself was roughly only sixteen, old enough to help but not fight, and wore thick round glasses. He was white as a sheet and nervous sweat covered his face as he had just finished recounting the tale of what had just happened.
"Yes ma'am," he said, his voice trembling as he recounted his tale. "I said that I was there to get ammo for you and Hilltop and the next thing I knew they were shooting at me."
Maggie shook her head and swallowed nervously. "Thank you, Will, go ahead and get some rest."
The boy nodded his head slowly and left the command tent. Maggie sighed and looked to Rick, her eyes sending a message that he could read. Rick turned his head and shook it solemnly.
"No, Sam isn't like that. Something could have happened Maggie, the radios have been acting up all day, the ranges and batteries have been off."
"So has Sam. He's disobeyed orders, he's kept us from collecting our men, and he's been gone from the field to be at the base. Rick, he's making a move. And we have to act, now. Otherwise, we'll have another Negan to deal with."
"So what, you wanna kill him? Kill Merle, Abraham, everyone that went with him. Everyone that supports him? We can't do that Maggie!" Rick told the woman.
"I'm not saying we do," Maggie said, a plot in her mind.
Sam's breathing was calm and collected as he slowly inched forward. His body was shrouded in a bush, as were his men. They had made makeshift ghillie suits and for the entirety of the day had moved forward inches at a time. Thir bodies concealed and their movements covered. Though it came at a cost. Knives and pistols were the only weapons that they were able to bring, anything else would have been far too bulky for them to carry and would have given them away in an instant.
But now, after hours of moving inches every so often, they were positioned just across from the Foundry doors. Sam crawled forward, his body slithering against the ground. He weaved himself out of the suit and onto the pavement of the street. The darkness covered most of his movements and now he was close to the Foundry doors.
He rolled his body pressing against the brick of the building and took a deep breath as he moved forward and took a knee beside the door. He pressed his ear against the door and listened for any sign of movement. He closed his eyes and focused on his hearing. He could hear voices, but it was all garbled and hard to hear. Sam pulled away and motioned for his men to form upon him. Slowly one by one they came forward, making their way across the street slowly in a bid to stay concealed. Sam pulled out his pistol and held up three fingers and slowly brought one down.
He could sense his men tensing as he brought down the second finger. He himself took a deep breath and pulled the hammer of his pistol back as he brought the final finger down.
He quickly snatched the doorknob and pulled the door open charging forward into the room. Several men were milling about, all of them armed, but their weapons at rest. Most of them could barely turn their heads before bullets were sent flying into their skulls and their corpses fell to the ground.
"Spread out boys!" Sam commanded. "Find the hostages and secure them, any Savior you see kill 'em. No exceptions."
His men cheered, and Sam smiled at their enthusiasm.
Justin panicked as he picked up his rifle and shouted for his men to get to their positions. He swore and cursed the men at the front entrance for being idiots. Instead of watching the door they must have gotten bored and been playing cards.
"Give up," the girl said from her corner of the room. "Sam's inside, you think you know this place better than he does? Your men don't stand a chance."
"Shut up!" Justin screamed. He rushed over to Beth and gripped her by the throat and shoved her against the wall. "Jesus Christ shut the fuck up!"
As he gripped her Beth actually smirked and a snap was heard as she was freed of her zip-tie cuffs. In her hand was a small razor that she then thrust forward and used effectively to sliceJustins torso causing blood to seep from the lacerations. Acting quickly she moved the razor across his throat, the blood spraying into her face blinding her.
Justin screamed and fell to the ground, the blood pooling in his throat and his scream transforming into a gargle. Beth panted and acted quickly to retrieve his rifle as he thrashed on the ground gasping for air as blood blocked his passageways.
Justin felt the pain of the cuts and held his throat as he felt the last of his life begin to leave him. He looked to Beth his eyes begging for some kind of mercy or sympathy. But when she looked at him, he found nothing but contempt and pity. The last thing he saw before his vision went black was Beth checking the chamber on the rifle, and leaving the room.
Sam felt the blood of a Savior drip down his arms as he shoved a knife into the back of the man's neck. He and his men had just finished clearing the first floor and were ready to approach the second, towards the armory and the remaining Saviors.
Sam motioned for one of his men to aim his gun to the stairs and cover him as he climbed. With each step he made he felt his stomach grow heavier, the thought of the saviors setting up a perfect kill corner for him to walk into. He moved forward anyway. The thoughts of death and blood being pushed away as he had a duty to do. Beth was there, she needed him, his child needed him, and he would get there.
He finished climbing the stairs and was about to enter the hall they led to. Just a few more steps Sammy just breathe. Just brea—"
Gunfire and screaming filled the air and Sam ducked as he clung to the wall and pointed his pistol toward the door.
The gunfire filled the air and Sam waved for his men to stay back and not come up. Sam bowed his head keeping the dust from the round impacts from getting into his eyes. His ears rang and Sam growled underneath the sound from the gunfire.
His ears rang and Sam could pick up from the vibrations of the room that the gunfire had ceased. He slowly moved forward his gun raised and squinted through the dust.
"Sam?" he could hear a voice shout faintly. "Sam is that you?"
"Who is it?" Sam shouted his voice louder than he could hear.
"Beth!" Sams face morphed into a relieved smile as he moved up and rounded the corner. Beth stood there a rifle too big for her in her arms. Prim and Eugene stood behind her both wielding rifles of their own. Gunfire was heard throughout the building and Sam felt relief go through him as he spotted Beth and his allies.
"Oh my god lass!" he cried as he rushed her and scooped her up in his arms. "You're alright! Thank God!"
"I'm okay," she said so softly that he wouldn't have heard it if he wasn't so close. Sam swallowed nervously as he saw her bloody hands. "It's not mine," she said quickly. "I always made fun of you for being prepared, but those razors in the outlets really saved me."
Sam chuckled and gripped her hands tightly, before moving one hand to her stomach touching it tentatively. "Are you—is the…" he trailed off and looked into her eyes hopeful.
"He's fine. We both are." She said quietly. "Well—"
"What?" He asked quickly. "What's wrong?"
Beth motioned for him to follow her, and though the gunfire still echoed through the building, all it meant was dying saviors.
Beth led him through the building toward the armory. She explained how the Saviors used it as a temporary prison after they had cleared it out. Sam noticed the solemn mood and felt the anxiety begin to overtake his body as he moved through the halls. As they arrived at the armory a few of the noncombatants that resided in the Foundry, children, and workers, looked up at Sam, their faces grateful and morphing into happiness. They whispered to each other as Beth led him to the back. They whispered, 'I knew he would come' 'I told you he had a plan'.
But as the whispers died down, Beth came to a stop, tears welling up in her eyes as she looked forward. Sam brushed past her, looking down to the ground, and at the body of Rory.
As the Savior perimeter was breached and Merle led his troops through the breach, all he could feel was pride. Saviors dropped dead before him, his rifle shooting rounds out and killing his oppressors, his men at his back letting him lead them.
Not so long ago Merle would never have imagined himself where he was. Apart of an army, an officer nonetheless. Merle knew that he had been an asshole, a bastard, and yet he was there now. He got into cover and reloaded, his one hand making the process a bit difficult, but Merle was nothing if not adaptable. He rose again, firing into the Saviors, the siege nearly over and the Saviors nearly defeated.
"Let's go you dumbshits!" Merle shouted as he lept over his over and stormed the Outpost. The men roared ni approval and followed him, the battle over, the Saviors only just unaware.
As Negan was informed of the recent losses of both outposts, the loss of manpower and equipment, he felt his heart sink. The siege of Hilltop was already going excellently, but losing the two outposts he was standing with his dick out, and all that would mean was getting surrounded and killed. So Negan did what he had to.
"Sound a retreat, send a few men to collect what they can from lock up and then we'll go to Sanctuary and get ready for long one," Negan said as he moved to his vehicle.
"I'll go to lock up boss," Dwight volunteered.
"Good, go and get as many explosives as you fucking can. I wanna give those fuckers a big Sanctuary welcome when they show up!"
Dwight nodded as he gathered a small group, and dropped an arrow, a note attached before getting in his car.
AN: Hey all sorry it took so long college got hard. But summer is almost upon us so I will be updating on a regular schedule again. or I should lol. So the Savior war will wrap up the next chapter and I am excited to begin the next phase. On another note, I am planning a Game of Thrones story so if you guys are interested in that let me know haha. anyway, I am excited to continue this story so please drop a review and I will see you guys next time! Also, I wrote an actual book, so please go and check that out! The Old World By Edward Clyde Review! ~Pacco1