Anna took a deep breath and opened her eyes to the light filtering through the curtains and shining on Daryl's face. He was watching her, his blue eyes lit up by the sun, his hair disheveled, and a small hesitant smile spread across his face.
"Mornin' sunshine," she grinned lazily, forcing a Southern drawl to her voice as she stretched.
She pulled the covers further up her bare chest, moving closer to Daryl and pressing her legs against his as she closed her eyes. This was the longest she'd slept in since… she couldn't remember since when.
"You ready for today?" He asked, his hand running along her arm.
"Not yet," she mumbled. "I just want a few more minutes."
She heard Daryl give an amused huff, and she opened her eyes.
"Something funny?" She asked, attempting to feign annoyance.
"Nah, nothin' at all," he said, rolling onto his back.
Anna scowled at him and rolled over, draping a leg over him until she was straddling him.
"Am I a joke to you?" She asked, holding herself up with her hands on either side of his head.
"A real comedian," Daryl teased, his hands finding her hips.
"Shut up," Anna laughed, leaning forward to press her lips against his.
Today was the day they'd finally end the war. But that could wait till later. Much later, she decided as Daryl kissed her back.
Anna headed downstairs and entered the kitchen, where she found Jessie leaned against the counter with a bowl of dry cereal. They nodded to each other in greeting and she poured herself her own bowl, filling it with milk.
"I'm sorry the plan with Eugene fell through," Anna said through a spoonful of stale Honey Oats.
"Yeah, me too," he grumbled. "I was ready to kill him. I should have."
Anna nodded quietly.
"He was your friend," Anna said.
"And he betrayed us," Jessie snapped.
"He did," Anna agreed. "He was still your friend."
Jessie was quiet, grumpily eating his cereal. Clearly, he didn't want to talk about that anymore, so Anna decided to change the subject.
"So, Rosita, huh?" She asked, a sly smirk on her face.
Jessie groaned and shot her a glare.
"Nothing is happening between me and Rosita," he insisted.
"Yet," Anna teased.
Daryl strolled in then and poured himself a glass of milk. He glanced at Jessie as he sipped on it.
"Man," he said, looking down at Jessie's bowl of dry cereal. "We got milk now, why don't you use it?"
"I'm lactose intolerant," Jessie shrugged.
Anna adjusted the stick on her back. It was heavier than she'd anticipated with the spearhead attached. But it was sharp, and it would serve its purpose.
"All right. We'll stick to this road, keep to the trees, we'll get there quicker," Daryl explained, pointing out the path on the map. "Plus, we can keep an eye on the road that way."
Anna nodded as she, Daryl, Maggie, Rick, Carol, and Michonne leaned over the hood of the truck, surveying the map Dwight had slipped them.
"Yeah, if they're planning anything, we'll see it," Anna agreed.
"You think we can trust Gregory? With what he told us?" Michonne asked.
"I locked him up inside the house," Maggie assured. "He knew I wouldn't let him walk around free. He knew he was comin' back to that. He doesn't believe in anythin' except himself, and he'd have to believe in the Saviors a whole lot to send us into a trap and think it would work out for him."
"Unless Dwight didn't tell him," Daryl said. "That asshole could be settin' us up."
Rick folded up the map and shared a look with Maggie. Anna pressed her lips together, ready to offer her thoughts on the matter when Morgan rushed past, stick in hand.
"Morgan?" Anna called, following after him. "Morgan, what is it?" She asked as he looked around.
"They're gone," Morgan answered. "They're doin' somethin'."
The front gates creaked open, revealing the prisoners who had left hours ago to clear the walkers from the wall. Morgan raised his stick and started toward them, ready to strike Alden as the others darted out of the way. Henry appeared, knocking his stick off its path.
Morgan whipped his stick around and shoved Henry to the ground, turning the sharpened end on the boy. Anna rushed forward and smacked his stick away with her own, grabbing his once it came into reach.
He seemed to shake himself back into focus, as if he'd been in a haze.
"They were, uh… they were gone… and," he nodded toward Alden. "They were comin' in."
"I asked Maggie if we could clear the walkers from the wall," Alden explained. "We drew them away so we wouldn't have to worry about 'em when we rolled out."
"He did," Maggie corroborated.
Morgan looked around, his eyes landing on Henry as the boy got to his feet.
"Let's keep gettin' ready, everyone," Rick called, pulling everyone else's attention to him. "First team's goin' in twenty."
Anna released Morgan's stick, eyeing him carefully before backing off. She turned and walked back up the hill to gather her stuff from the porch. However, she couldn't let go of the concern she felt for Morgan.
She sat down on the steps, checking over her rifle before moving to her handgun. She counted exactly how many bullets she had, not having the luxury of extra clips to worry about. They didn't have enough ammo to waste. They would need to be fast and efficient in taking down the Saviors, knife kills when they could—if they had to.
Anna pressed her lips together, tucking her 9mm back into its holster. She braced her elbows against her knees and clasped her hands together, pressing them to her forehead and bowing her head as if to pray. On the contrary, she was silently reciting names, conjuring up their faces in her head. It was an invocation of sorts, a call upon the dead to watch over them as they faced a world of uncertainty.
She heard approaching footsteps and brushed her hair from her face, wrapping her hands around to the back of her neck as she looked up to see Rick stopping in front of her.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt," Rick said.
"You weren't interrupting anything," Anna assured, shaking her head. "What's up?"
"I spoke with Siddiq this morning," he said, hands on his hips as he looked to the ground.
Anna nodded, moving to clasp her hands in front of her, still bracing her elbows against her knees.
"Carl," he took a deep breath, a pained look on his face, "he told me you helped him get Siddiq back to Alexandria."
Anna nodded again.
"Listen, Anna, what happened it—it wasn't—" he paused, wiping at his face and sighing. "It wasn't your fault."
"I tell myself that at least four times a day," Anna said. "I'm still working on believing it. And believing he's gone. I keep his letter in my back pocket. I read it whenever I'm alone and can't stop thinking about him... what I could've—should've done." She leaned forward and pulled the letter from her pocket, unfolding it to look at his scribbled words. "He tells me it wasn't my fault."
"Did he tell you to find peace with Negan?" Rick asked.
Anna gave a grim smile, folding the letter back up and tucking it back into her pocket.
"He said that everyone's got to have a chance for what comes after," she said, looking up at Rick.
"Even Negan?" Rick asked.
"I think you know what he wanted," Anna said, getting to her feet as she slung her rifle over her shoulder.
"And what do you want?"
Anna recited the names in her head again.
"Everything Negan did, everything that's led up to this point," she shook her head. "Even if he deserves redemption, I don't know if he wants it."
"And Isaac?" Rick asked.
Anna inhaled sharply and straightened.
"Let me worry about Isaac."
Isaac walked beside Negan through the crowd of Saviors moving back and forth, rolling out bullets and toting guns as they prepared for the finale of this escapade. There was a low murmur of anticipation. Everyone was ready, and the plan was going accordingly.
"I should stay back," Isaac said. "Make sure they aren't planning anything else on the Sanctuary."
"Nah, I want you with me. Sanctuary will be fine," Negan assured. "I doubt their little general Annie will find another herd to surround the place with any time soon."
Isaac grimaced. He wished he hadn't told Negan about Annie, but Negan had put him in charge of getting Dwight to talk. Needless to say, Dwight had not been forthcoming with information and Isaac needed something to show for the beating he'd given the man. Of course, he didn't go all the way back. It wouldn't do for Negan to know their history. He had simply told him that the clever plans were, in large part, hers. Still, the less Negan knew about his Annie, the better.
"I think—" Isaac started.
"I need my second with me," Negan said firmly. "End of discussion."
"Understood," Isaac nodded, keeping the irritation off his face.
"Sucks, don't it, D?" Negan asked as they approached Dwight.
His face was swollen and purple as he stood in the disgusting sweat suit that they made the prisoners wear.
"I mean, even with that disgusting, knotted cheese on the side of your face, you once had these people's respect. But now?" Negan chuckled. "Well, now you don't have a damn thing. Load him up," he ordered, and Laura grabbed Dwight by the collar and forced him outside.
Negan turned, spotting Eugene and Gabriel in the crowd and walking toward them.
"There's my bullet maker," he cheered.
"Attaché in tow and order fulfilled PDQ, as promised," Eugene said flatly. "Every munition personally quality-controlled by yours truly. Sleep be damned and efforts be tripled, the deed is done."
Eugene pulled a small revolver from inside his coat and held it out to Negan.
"Take yourself a tester."
Negan chuckled and took the gun as Eugene pointed out a dummy target set up to one side of the room with a T-shirt reading Rick over it. Negan aimed and pulled back on the trigger three times, shooting into the shirt. He hummed as the sound of the last shot died out.
"Regina laid out the plan for you, right?" Negan asked as he turned back to Eugene and handed the gun over.
"That's why I requested the ride-along," Eugene nodded. "Depending on the terrain and timing, the pump and priming, I believe we should attempt a one-fell-swooper. A firing line that would minimize chaos opportunity, and alpha-to-omega this thing in less than ten."
"Are you sure that's something you want to see?" Isaac asked, cocking a brow.
"More of a "need to" thing," Eugene replied.
"Look at you," Negan praised. "Let's load up, roll out! Lance, Duke…"
A young, lanky man with blue hair paused with a few of his companions, and Negan handed him a map.
"Boylan Road. Map will show you where I'll be if there's trouble," Negan explained.
"No, we got this one locked down, Jefe," Lance, the blue haired man, assured.
"Damn straight you do," Negan said, and Lance and his friends continued on. "Idiots," Negan sighed. "Why don't you tag along, Gabey? It's a nice drive. I got some shit that I want to confess."
Negan laughed and started outside to load up in the truck, followed by Eugene and Gabriel. Isaac sighed, shaking his head before walking after them. He climbed into the driver's seat, with Negan in the passenger's seat and Eugene and Gabriel in the back. The convoy started up and headed out of the Sanctuary courtyard, out of the city, and toward their destination.
They moved silently through the trees, their guns held out in front of them as they peered through the branches and brush. Anna paused, signaling to the others to stop with a fist in the air. She raised her rifle, peering through the scope. Men were setting up a car and walker roadblock.
She started a countdown, wanting them to move in sync. They needed to strike fast and hard. Finally, she gestured for them to move forward. They got into position and as one, began to fire into them. There were to be no survivors.
Once the coast was clear, the group moved onto the road and searched the bodies. Anna stabbed her knife through the head of one Savior who, though dead, had not been taken down by a headshot. As she returned her knife to its sheath, she heard the pleas of a man to be spared. She looked up to see Morgan ending that man's life, his expression blank.
He stared around, as if lost, until he became acutely focused on the trees. But it was like he was looking at someone, listening to them.
"Morgan?" Anna called gently, cautiously approaching him. "Are you here?" She asked, settling her hand on his shoulder.
He flinched and looked at her, coming back to reality. She frowned at him, concerned.
"Good people, I have found something on our query," Ezekiel announced, holding up a folded paper.
"What is it?" Rick asked, taking the paper and opening it.
"A list and another map," Ezekiel explained. "And what appear to be other facts."
"They're lining up Saviors on the Old Mill Road. That's where Negan will be," Rick said to the rest of the group.
"We have to get to Negan before they figure out what happened here," Anna said, pulling away from Morgan.
Rick nodded and pulled out his walkie.
"Maggie," he said.
- "I'm here," - was the answer.
"It's time," Rick said. "It was a trap. So, we're changing the plan."
The team started up the road, headed for the rallying point, as Anna dropped back to walk beside Jesus. She eyed Morgan's back as he surveyed their surroundings.
"You were right to worry about Morgan," she started. "I think it's catching up to him."
"Do you think he's ready to listen?" Jesus asked.
"The least we could do is try to talk to him," Anna shrugged. "Maybe we should have tried sooner, but…." she shook her head.
"Why did you train with Morgan?" Jesus asked.
Anna furrowed her brow and glanced at Jesus before looking forward again.
"Because I wanted a choice," she said. "For a long time, killing felt like my only option—" she thought back to Marley. Maybe things would have been different if she'd had the stick back then. "Training with Morgan gave me something else to choose."
"Is that why you modified yours?" Jesus asked.
"Yeah," Anna said, nodding.
"Maybe…," Jesus hummed. "Maybe we need to remind him of that choice."
"Bless me Father, for I have sinned… probably," Negan chuckled as they drove past the trees. "Any second now. See, those men I sent out down there on that road setting up that roadblock with the dead not knowing they're joining their cold asses any second. Because Rick and his band of pricks, they're gonna hit them hard," Negan sighed. "You know, I don't enjoy sacrificing my own people. You know that, right? I mean, those guys back there, they came up with Simon. Some of us had to take one for the team, it may as well be them."
"I still don't understand?" Gabriel said.
"Ricky was slipped some intel, made him think he can get the jump on me," Negan shrugged. "The thing is, it came from a less-than-reliable source, so if I were him, I'd be scoutin' ahead. Taking out that little road-block crew is gonna make Rick and his general, Anna, think they've got the real story, where I'll really be. They'll come to get me. But, see, that is the trap. And that is how we will get them." He shook his head. "See, I knew there was more to that girl than she led on. Anyway, they're going to find a map with the time and place I'll be, and they're gonna believe it. Because they will have killed all those poor bastards."
"So, that's it?" Gabriel asked. "Your confession is that you're… gonna kill every last one of them? When you spoke before, you seemed almost as if you didn't want it to happen."
"It ain't about want, Gabey. It never was."
Isaac swerved the car around a shambling corpse in the road. He heard the back door open, and he looked over his shoulder in time to see Gabriel throw himself from the car.
"No!" Eugene cried.
Isaac slammed on the breaks and jumped out of the car.
"Hang back! He can't see crap," Negan called as he and Eugene climbed out of the car.
Eugene ran after Gabriel and Isaac followed. They were quick to gain on him as he bumped into trees before grappling with a rotter. Isaac couldn't help but think how pathetic the man was as he tore the rotter away and threw it against the tree before slamming his knife down through the top of its skull. He turned back to see Gabriel on the ground and Eugene aiming his tiny revolver at him.
"Eugene, I have to warn them," Gabriel pleaded. "You can't do this."
"Shut up. Shut your damn mouth, or so help me, I will use a homemade munition to crack your cranium right here, right now!" Eugene snapped. "Do you understand? Do you?"
"Yes," Gabriel sighed, dejected, as Isaac forced him to his feet.
"Look at you," Eugene seethed, lowering his gun. "Where does your faith go when you truly need it?" He asked with a hum. "Seems to me it's the only time worth holding on to."
Negan approached then, and patted Eugene on the shoulder.
"Sorry, Eugene. I'm gonna have to call dibs on Gabey boy myself," he said before jabbing him hard in the stomach with the end of Lucille. "You said you didn't want to die a fruitless death. Well, you can't always get what you want. Load him into the car."
Isaac shoved Gabriel forward and led the way back to the car. He needed this to play out, and for that, everyone needed to cooperate.