Chapter 84: Manipulation
KPOV
~A few days ago~
When the door opened and closed behind Negan, we were left alone, only for a few brief moments. One of his guys slithered in and shut the door behind himself as he stood by Negan. "Negan..." I greeted him stiffly. "Why the visit?" I asked him.
Part of me, was trying to keep calm, to stay strong, but instead, my voice was too stiff to seem cool, collected. Something in how he looked at me, with dark, cold eyes, told me something bad was coming my way.
Glancing around my room, it was as though he inspected it. Luckily, I hid everything perfectly, the way Sherry warned me to. "Just checkin' in on my dear wife..." Negan said with a fake playful tone. "But you know I'm lyin', don't you?" Negan asked me as he stopped in front of me.
His eyes gazed deeply into mine, like he searched them for if I was about to break or snap. Not from me. Not today. Not tomorrow either. "Daryl's gone," Negan informed me as he studied me carefully.
Keeping his gaze, I didn't flinch, I didn't react, I just kept my eyes on him. "The same day your brother got here too..." what Negan said, made me slowly realise what he was going to insinuate. "Could it have been you? Or was it your badass baby brother who got him out?" Negan questioned which of the Grimes children helped Daryl in his great escape.
"It wasn't Carl," I said instantly, prepared to defend my baby brother until the end of me, if I had to. "He was with you the whole day, you know that," I stated the facts. "And it wasn't me. I wouldn't want the trouble that comes with it," I lied.
Initially, I did plan to escape with Daryl, once I got everything I needed to help us win this war. But Sherry decided to do it before I could. Negan kept his eyes on me, waiting, watching, examining my expressions.
I was hard with everything he tried to do, with every glance, I didn't flinch or look away with fear. I didn't fear him but I feared what he could do to my family. "But lately, you've been lookin' for trouble, haven't you?" Negan asked a question, I sensed he already knew the answer to.
Not answering him, I stayed silent and held his gaze. "Leavin' my guys, makin' them look for you everywhere..." Negan licked along his teeth as he spoke of what I'd been doing as of lately. "Told me they found you in the strangest of places," Negan seemed slightly surprised about this fact.
Taking a step closer to me, he hovered over me and looked at me from the sides of his eyes. "You're not lyin' to me about this, are you, dear wife?" Negan asked me, testing to see if there was going to be any hint of me caving in.
I wasn't going to give anything away. My poker face was stronger than he might have thought. "No," I answered because it was the truth. I didn't help him escape but I did know he escaped.
Not flinching or looking away, when Negan was pleased with my answer, he then moved his head slightly before smiling at me. "If it wasn't you...then who was it?" Negan questioned me.
The 20 questions were getting tiring. "Daryl didn't just grow brain cells and escape," Negan mocked the man I loved and I wanted nothing more than to break every bone in his body for it. "Someone let him out," Negan stated the obvious.
The corners of his eyes creased as his smile grew, his tongue sliding over the top row of his teeth. "And I've got a feelin' you know who it was," Negan assumed I knew who let Daryl out and he was right to.
Question was, would I tell him the truth? Or do I lie? Or stay close to the truth. Letting my eyes squint slightly, I didn't move. I didn't fear him so whatever he did, it didn't intimidate me at all. "I don't know but-" I went to tell him. "I have a good guess as to who it was."
This seemed to light amusement into his eyes. "Who?" Negan quizzed me.
Parting my lips, my eyes danced to look into each of his eyes. Wondering if he was going to believe me or not. I hoped he did but that he would never figure out it was actually the truth. "Sherry," I ratted her out.
Something told me, telling him the truth, would result in it becoming a lie eventually. At least, for now. "I know she took pitty on Daryl, for what her and Dwight did to him and for how it turned out for Daryl," I informed him of what I knew.
"Being locked in a cell, forced to earn points," the way of life Negan forced on Daryl, was one I never wished on anyone. "It could have been her because I haven't seen her for hours," I stated a lie that was also a fact.
Hopeful she escaped and got as far as she could, I wanted to believe Sherry was long gone. This information made Negan's face twist with anger. Because both of us knew Sherry already did this kind of thing before.
His eyes were dark, angry and his jaw clenched shut. "Go find Sherry," Negan growled at the one guy that was with us.
"On it," the guy reassured his boss that he was going to get this job done.
Once the door shut behind the guy, it was me and Negan, left completely alone. "And about Daryl," Negan went back to this topic. "One of my guys told me they saw you come back in the same way Daryl escaped..." Negan informed me that even if I thought I wasn't watched, I had been.
It made me fear how much they saw me do and where. I needed to be more careful was what I picked up from this. "Did you know he was leaving?" Negan wondered if I had any idea of Daryl's escape prior to this moment in time.
Part of me wondered if it was a test. Especially with how he squinted at me and gave me a hard look to say he knew my answer already. "Yes," I decided to be honest. "I saw him go past my room," I told him a half truth.
Leaning back, his eyebrows furrowed when he heard this. "Why didn't you go with him?" Negan was questioning me far too much.
I didn't know I was held hostage to be interrogated right now. "I always keep my word," I said but the promise, wasn't the one I kept for him. It was the promise I made Maggie. "I'm yours, there is no reason for me to leave," I lied.
I had every reason to leave but I couldn't. I needed more information. "And I would never risk my family's lives like that," I went with saying this, as I knew this was the most believable thing I could tell him.
How he studied me for a long time, told me he was contemplating on figuring out if I was being honest or not. "If you're wrong about Sherry, Katherine...I'll be back here and I won't be friendly," Negan threatened me.
"To see if you really are as loyal as you say you are, I'm goin' to leave you to your freedom. No one will be guardin' you by the door anymore," Negan told me I'd be free to roam around but something in me, wondered if this was just a test.
"If you try anythin', such as try to escape...I will know, Katherine," Negan warned me to not do anything stupid. Lucky for him, I had no plan to escape. Not yet.
PRESENT DAY...KPOV
Invited into Eugene's room, I took my seat on the bed, my eyes glued to him. After glancing around in his new room, Eugene appeared to be in a comfortable living space. Much like the rest of us. "Is it true?" I asked him, needing to know. "Did he kill Spencer and Olivia?" I questioned what I'd heard.
Eugene had been silent for a few moments, like he was deep in thought. "Yes," Eugene answered me when his eyes met mine. "Regrettably, Spencer's speech was no King's speech, my hypothesis was accurate with the outcome it inevitably became," as always, Eugene spoke in a way that made me puzzled.
All the science and metaphors, it wasn't what I was used to. "Rosita, within the heat of the moment, became distressed and boiled over with a rage-" Eugene then went to talk about Rosita and I could picture her being the one to want to kill Negan.
Suddenly, it all made sense. "It was Rosita that tried to kill him?" I guessed and Eugene only nodded slowly. "And my family, are-...are they okay?" I needed to know desperately.
His body turned to face me a little more. "Affirmative," Eugene quickly answered. "But-" just as Eugene was about to say something else, there was a quick knock on the door before it swung open without permission.
"Hey!" a blonde Savior, that I knew as Laura, due to her being addressed by Negan a few times, had glared at me when she noticed me there with Eugene. She held a plate of what I could only guess to be spaghetti.
The way she looked at me, was like she disliked me for something I didn't do. "This isn't your place," Laura did her best to make me feel like I had to go.
Truthfully, I had beaten men twice her size with as little effort. If I didn't have a child and a job to finish, I would of fought her and won her instantly. "Go back to your room," Laura ordered of me.
"Or run back to the rest of Negan's wives," was the other suggestion Laura snarled at me. Getting up onto my feet, I glanced down at Eugene before I looked to Laura. Glaring at her as I walked past her, I knew she'd do nothing to me.
I knew if she did, Negan would hurt her later. But that wouldn't be before I hurt her. Leaving them, I walked the halls and returned back to my room.
RPOV
Waking up to being laid out on the floor, I slowly opened my eyes to find that Michonne was no longer sleeping beside me. Glancing to the baby monitor, I saw Judith wasn't in her crib. I assumed almost instantly, that Michonne or Carl were with her. When I finally got dressed, I made my way over to Judith's crib to see that Michonne was in fact, with Judith.
"Hey," I greeted her, my voice fairly rough as I went to hold her hips, my lips pressing soft and gentle kisses to her temple.
Letting out a small giggle, Michonne seemed far too happy to be in my arms and it was a joy to hear her like this. Judith looked up at us with a grin, making me chuckle at them. My perfect little family. "Good morning to you, too," Michonne teased me.
Sighing, I rest my head on her shoulder and swayed with her on the spot. "In a few more hours, we can go and scavenge for what we need for the Scavengers," I informed her that we'd need to leave soon. If we were going to have any luck, we needed to leave as soon as possible.
"I'll go and ask Tara later where to go and where not to," Michonne said as she slowly turned around to face me. As she held onto Judith, Michonne's eyes were warm and soft as they gazed up at me.
Humming, I knew that Carl was more than likely going to stay but I did wish he would come, simply because if he stayed inside for too long, I feared he'd forget how to survive. "I'll ask Carl if he wants to join us," I told Michonne of my plan.
"He might want to be here with Judith," Michonne already could predict what my son would want to do instead.
Staring into her eyes, Michonne seemed so calm, so peaceful, even all we had been through. "I think you might be right," I agreed with her as I let out a small chuckle. My gaze fell to the floor but soon enough, I rose my head to gaze back into Michonne's captivating and warm eyes.
Already, I could feel the love she had in the way she looked at me. It feels too early to say those words to her. As I stared down at her, a free hand of hers, reached up to touch one side of my face. "We're going to win," Michonne was confident about this.
Gazing into her eyes, I knew she was right. I had to believe in this. "We're going to save Kat, together," Taking her hand, I gently placed a kiss in the palm of her hand while my eyes shut. The feel of her hand on me, always was a nice gesture that left me feeling cared for.
I was truly cared for. Possibly even loved. "I know," I agreed with her. "I know," I repeated with a slow nod before my eyes met hers. Carefully, I leaned in and pressed my lips to her, slowly. As she returned it, I could feel just how passionate we were about doing this together.
We had to have faith. That we'd win. That we would save Kat and my grandchild. We can do this. Together.
KPOV
Returning to my room, I checked the same spot where a note was always left for me. When I saw it was there, I looked through the words and with it, was a small page of a layout. It was a layout of this place. The person I could trust, was doing their best to give me all the information, all the locations where I could find everything.
All of it, was a good fact for me. The fact I felt I could slowly trust them, that I wasn't alone here, it was the only thing giving me hope that maybe, I could do this and get back to my loved ones as soon as I could.
Looking through the letter one more time, before I checked the layout of the floor plan, I tucked the letter into my notebook and tucked my notebook inside my clothes, hiding it all perfectly. I need to be smart about this.
Carrying a pen with me, somehow, I felt safer with it in hand. So far, it was good. No one stopped me and I knew no one was watching me this time. I have to be careful. I can't get spotted. Not again.
Before, Negan had informed me someone was watching me the day Daryl escaped. But no one knew Daryl left until it was too late. Sneaking down the halls, I needed to be as quiet as a mouse, I headed where I was directed to go.
Be careful, Kat. We need to do this with caution. This could all be a trick. Thinking this, my hand clutched onto the pen a little tighter. I was ready for anything.
CPOV
Laying on the floor, where my bed used to be, I sighed and rolled over. Part of me, missed seeing Kat, sometimes, I missed waking up to seeing her face. I hope she's being careful. For both her sake and for the baby's. "Hey," I heard dad call to me.
As he walked into the room, he was a little stunned to see me still laying in bed. Normally, I was already awake, up and doing stuff by this time but last night, I worried too much for Kat. "Hey, dad," I greeted him as I laid there. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah," dad answered me quickly, bluntly. "You're still not dressed?" dad asked me, surprised to find me laying there, in nothing but my boxers.
Sighing, I sat up a little and rest my back against the wall. Seeing as we no longer had headboards to support us when we sat up, I had to make do with the hard wall holding me up. "Yeah, I've just been thinking..." I was being honest.
Looking down at me, it was like he understood as his eyes glanced to his feet, a sad look on his features. "Kat?" dad asked, which made me nod. "Was actually going to ask you something," dad went to start off, but it was as though he was hesitating slightly.
"What is it?" I asked him, my eyebrows furrowing at the way my father looked at me. When his eyes rose to meet mine, it was as though he already knew something I didn't.
Dad swallowed hard before his mouth opened to let the words he had been holding back came out. "We're going to go scavenge for the group we met yesterday..." dad told me. "Did you want to come with me and Michonne? It might be for only a couple of days," dad wondered if I wanted to join them.
In a way, I wanted to go but I couldn't risk being a danger to them. My aim isn't perfect and I can't risk getting them in danger because of me. "Only until we can find the guns," dad was trying to be hopeful, that it wouldn't take us long to find guns.
"I would but-" I went to start talking, making an excuse for myself but it was like my father had read my mind.
Chuckling, his head fell before his eyes rose to meet mine. "You want to be here for Judith," dad finished for me. Someone has to.
Letting out a little chuckle, I nod and focused on blinking for a few seconds. "Not just that," I told him as my eye looked up to him. "We need people here too, for if the Saviors come back and are here, looking for a fight," I stated another of my worries.
Dad seemed to be looking at me confidently, his hands on his hips."They won't be coming for a fight," dad was confident about this but I didn't know. "They think we're still working for them," dad reassured me there was nothing I needed to worry about.
Little did he know, I worried about everything lately. "We don't take chances anymore," I reminded dad of what we both thought of. "Remember?" I questioned him, using the same words he always said to Morgan, to others about taking this kind of risk.
Dad stared at me for a few seconds. "No, we don't," dad finally agreed with me. "We'll be back in a couple of days, if you need anyone-" dad went to say but I cut him off.
"I know, there are people here who are willing to help," I had heard this far too many times.
Nodding, dad glanced to the floor briefly before his eyes rose up to look at my face. "Yeah," dad was slowly figuring out I already knew everything he wanted me to know. Just as dad was going to leave, he stopped and turned to look at me. "Hey," dad called to me, to get my attention.
Raising my head to let my eye be glued to his face, I waited for whatever he had left to say. Expecting instructions or a 'I'm proud of you' but that was not what was said. "I love you," dad told me softly.
Maybe he's just thinking about Kat as much as I am. We never got to say goodbye to her. For me, it was both times. Back when it was the Governor and now, with the Saviors. "Love you too, dad," I returned the love to him. I just hope he comes back safely, with what we need to save my sister. We need Kat back. And soon.
KPOV
Finding my way to where the map lead me to go, luckily, this door was unlocked as I slipped in and shut it behind me. Careful, I didn't want to get caught. The room was wide, with a long table sat in the middle, chairs everywhere. This is the meeting room.
Instantly, I began searching for anything, folders in the room and when I found one, I began searching through it. When I saw the pages, the maps, layouts, the outposts, all of it, I began scanning every page I came across. "Bingo," I whispered happily.
Taking out my notebook and using my pen, I began writing all I saw into it. Needing these notes to make sure that we could win. Just as I was getting the routines and patrol written onto the papers, I heard voices getting louder.
Specifically, I could tell these three voices apart instantly. "Shit," I cursed myself for almost getting caught. Slipping the folders away, I tucked my notebook back into the back of my pants, hidden under my shirt. Hiding behind a door, where it was just a closet, filled with random junk, I glanced around at the shelves and knew I could hide behind them in case anyone came in.
I had to be smart but for now, I had to pray that no one would come in here. Keeping the door ajar, as it was, I peeked through the gap, to see who it was and where they were. I need to make sure no one comes in here.
The first to enter, was Negan and I could feel my grip on the pen tighten. If he catches me, dressed like this, in here, I'm as good as dead. "Holy balls, is it me or is it hot in here?" Negan asked his friends as he pulled out a seat. "So..." Negan sighed and took his seat at the head of the table, resting Lucille on the table.
"We need to come up with a plan..." Negan announced to them. Simon and Dwight were the ones in the room with him. Dwight had noticed the door was open, when he saw me, he tried not to make it obvious that he knew I was in here.
Negan didn't care, as his back was to me, all while Simon stood to the right of Negan and Dwight was close to the door. "What do we know about Sherry?" Negan questioned them for the information they carried along with the ex-wife that escaped.
Simon leaned over the table, his hand resting on his belt while he tilted his head slightly. "So far, we know that Sherry took meds, ammo, water, food and some very specific meds..." Simon listed all the things I already knew. "Meds you're gonna' want to hear about," Simon sounded both lighthearted but also deadly serious.
"Which ones?" Negan wondered just which kind of medicine he'd need to hear of.
That was when I remembered the pre-natal vitamins Sherry gave me before she left. It has to be those. "Pre-natal vitamins," Simon said slowly, which made me shut my eyes tightly. They now think she's pregnant. "All of it," Simon stated it wasn't just a few, it was all of it.
A soft noise left Negan, it sounded like a sigh, mixed with a puff of exhaustion or surprise. "Shit..." Negan grumbled. From where I stood, I could hear his surprise to think that Sherry was pregnant with his child.
To think, she was putting herself in danger, making them think this, just to protect me. I owe Sherry. Big time. If I ever see her again, I hope she could move forward with us. "And inventory shows that there was one pregnancy test taken that wasn't documented on here," Simon showed a book, one that showed the inventory of the infirmary.
I knew it was me that took the undocumented one. Dwight looked shocked to hear this, or at least, he was pretending to be. His eyes briefly glanced up to meet mine through the crack of the door.
When he looked away and to the floor, I knew he was thinking about Sherry. "Looks like Dr Carson is keepin' secrets from us, huh?" Negan questioned what all of this meant. "Or that Sherry snuck in, found out she was pregnant by herself and our good ol' doctor isn't takin' proper care of our supplies, keepin' them safe..." was Negan's other explanation.
Negan's eyes were distant. "Seems like Katherine's predictions were hauntingly accurate," Negan mused, but this made my heart pound against my chest. "Send some of our scouts out there to find her," Negan ordered.
Simon nodded his head but Dwight's head rose slowly to gaze up at Negan. "I'll go," Dwight offered. "I know where she would go if she left," Dwight stated he knew his ex wife enough to know where she'd go.
Negan fell silent for a few seconds, gazing at Dwight, who had kept his expression calm, stone cold. "Well, look at you, Dwighty boy!" Negan praised with a loud tone in his voice.
Sitting up in his chair, Negan had grasped onto Lucille's handle a little tightly. "Now, I don't have any reason to believe you're only offerin' to go, just so you can run away with the ol' ex wife, now, are you?" Negan questioned Dwight's motive to offer to look for her.
Dwight though, he didn't look away, he stood tall and firm where he was. "Because that would be very, very, very shitty if it was," Negan commented on what he thought of the idea of Sherry and Dwight running away together. Again.
"No," Dwight answered him calmly. "My home is here," was Dwight's best excuse to make Negan believe him. "I can bring her back to you in one piece once I find her," Dwight offered to take care of Sherry.
If he runs...my mind silenced itself as Dwight spoke up. "A group of scouts would only make her run," Dwight explained what a group of scouts would cause Sherry to do. "I can do this but I'd have to do this alone," Dwight encouraged for Negan to trust him.
Negan took his time to think up his decision. "Alright," Negan accepted it almost instantly. After a few seconds, Negan's eyes glanced to the both of them stood beside him. "What of our bullet maker? Is he settlin' in?" Negan wondered what Eugene was doing.
Simon placed both hands on his hips and shrugged his shoulders. "Suppose so," Simon made a guess. "Nothing bad said about him so far, Laura's been keeping a close eye on him," Simon informed him and already, I felt my body tense at the mention of the blonde I ran into the other day.
Simon took a moment to prepare Negan for what would be said next. "There was this one incident with one of your other wives...a miss Katherine Grimes. They-" Simon took his time to break this news to Negan.
Except, Negan cut Simon off quickly. "I know," Negan informed Simon he was aware of this. "Laura told me all about it. I'll deal with it," Negan said, forcing me to close my eyes and slowly let out a breath. I hope he doesn't hurt Eugene...or me.
Typically, Negan knew I wasn't like his regular wives, not one bit. I knew how to stand up against him. I didn't fear him and I sensed he knew it. He knows I'm different to the rest of them. I know how to hold my own against him. Maybe he doesn't want to test out the theories he has of me and what Dwight told him about me.
"Is it going to be the good ol' ironing block?" Simon asked with a wide smile, clapping his hands loudly before rubbing them together furiously. "I know I missed out on our last hot date," Simon joked.
Remembering the poor boy Amber had seen, the way Negan handled it, made me sick to my stomach and Eugene, didn't deserve any of that done to him. "I said I'll handle it," Negan was stern, not answering Simon's persistency.
Letting his smile fall, Simon returned to his serious expression, no longer had he looked at Dwight, as though to tease him for also getting the same treatment the boy Amber was with had. The iron was disgusting and inhumane.
"Yes, Sir," Simon took this as his way of not pestering Negan further. After a few seconds, Simon straightened up his back a little. "I've got some news about her father," Simon began telling Negan something that made me edge closer, to get a better look at their reactions.
Negan looked up, his head tilting a little. "Who's?" Negan wondered who Simon was now talking about.
Simon's eyes were gazing down at Negan, who had leaned back and no longer clutched his bat. "Katherine Grimes," Simon said my name slowly. Dwight's eyes briefly glanced up to me and I took a step back, deeper into the shadows. I need to stay safe. I need to be hidden.
Negan's voice was quick to answer Simon. "What about him?" Negan wondered just what information Simon had to report back to him.
From there, they spoke of my father, of how the pantry was empty but that they were going to do their best to keep finding stuff for them. Negan hoped as much, but the way they spoke, made me worry that maybe, there was more going on.
That doesn't sound like my dad. He'd find more. He always finds more. When they finally finished discussing it all, I watched them leave the room, slipping out, I finished looking for everything and began writing it all down.
When I felt safe, that the coast was clear, I slipped out of the room and did my best to sneak around without getting spotted. When I got to my room, I closed it and prayed that I was safe. Hiding my notes, I did my best to keep everything safe and had to hope no one would find it.
As time passed, I eventually got out of my room and sneaked past halls, trying to get to a specific door. Knocking on it, I waited for whoever was supposed to be there, to open it for me. He's got to let me in. Especially after everything that happened...he has to be on my side.
MPOV
Ready to leave, I decided to take a few minutes, looking for Rick, instead, I realised I was waiting for him now. Entering our room, I looked around the room. We had nothing now but eventually, we would find everything we needed to live more comfortably.
Beds. Food. Other furniture and most importantly, our freedom and family back. When my eyes landed on something specific, I smiled. Picking it up, I saw the faces on the picture and felt my heart warm up. Letting out a small, sad laugh, I missed her more than she could ever know.
Her bright smile, wasn't done justice in the black and white photograph. It was a photograph of Kat, Carl and Judith. Judith was sat in Carl's lap, with Kat's arms wrapped around Carl from behind as her hair fell down on one of her shoulders. Her smile bright, her eyes light and her arms holding her brother safely.
She loves us, so much and these kids, they are her world. And she's carrying her own inside her now. The thought of her being pregnant, made me happy, beyond my own belief. But then I felt sad, because I knew she was in a lion's den with no one there to protect her.
Then again, I knew Kat and I knew she was a fighter, through and through. Just like her father...
Thoughts of Rick clouded my mind, how we had gone so far, from such a distant start. Slowly, we got to where we were because we appreciated each other, we cared and Kat was the one who brought us together. My hand went to my stomach.
Wondering if Rick would ever want to start a family with me, I tried to push past the thought. Regardless what happens, we already have a nice little family between us. With his daughter being my best friend, Judith being like a daughter to me and Carl, being a huge inspiration to my life, my son and a best friend rolled into one.
Even if Rick was the love of my life, we have a family already. One I wouldn't trade for the world...and it's only going to get bigger. Kat having that child, it would only fuel us to live, to fight and to create the best future for her child. For Rick's legacy.
KPOV
Leaving to join the girls, I had kept myself quiet, in my corner. With Sherry gone, I tried to not get close to any of these girls. Even if I wanted to protect them all, I had a mission and I wasn't going to let anyone get in my way.
Sipping on juice, it was the only thing that didn't make me want to be sick when it came to drinks. Water, clearly didn't sit as well with me as it used to. So fresh blended fruit was the only thing I really enjoyed. At least this baby will be a little too healthy...
My eyes glued to the floor, I was there to keep appearances, to make it seem like I gave a shit about being there. As I wore in a new black dress, the jacket that went with it, was only to cover my shoulders. Every girl's dress, had a unique sense of style.
We all had a few changes of dresses but this one, was my favourite. It made me feel deadly, powerful, regardless of how short it was. "You know, we asked him to make a few pills, anything, to finally kill him," I overheard Tanya with Frankie say to Amber.
Amber was shocked. My mind was slowly returning to the moment as I focused on my surroundings. "What?" Amber whispered in shock, her head inclining to listen closely and speak in hushed tones. "Are you guys serious?" Amber asked the girls.
"Yes," Frankie answered bluntly. "I mean, I heard the guy makes bullets, told us how to make a bomb, he's a scientist. And I just thought he must know how to make something for a fatal but subtle end," listening in, I noticed they were talking about Eugene.
Eugene was the only bullet maker here. And when it finally clicked to me that the girls must of asked him for some kind of poison, I shot up from my seat and strolled over to them. "Did you two convince Eugene to make you something poisonous?" I asked them, breaking into their conversation.
Amber could hardly look at me, realising my dominance overtook theirs and possibly, even Negan's. He has no idea who is in charge in these walls. "Yeah," Frankie answered while her eyes met mine.
When I blinked, I was shocked to hear this. "Not for any of us..." Tanya made it clear they didn't have a death wish.
Tanya and Frankie glanced to one another, as though debating telling me or not. "It's for Negan," Frankie revealed when her eyes met mine.
Eyes wide, I felt my heart pounding. If anyone catches him cooking up something deadly, they'll kill him. "What?!" I growled.
The girls were shocked to see my outrage as their eyes were glued to me with confusion. "Stay the hell away from Eugene, you hear me?" I threatened them as I took a step closer to them. My eyes glued to them as I towered over them in these uncomfortable heels.
"You don't talk to him, you don't look at him and if he gives you anything, you give it straight to me or you reject it," these were my orders, as I wasn't going to let either of them get Eugene into trouble like that.
If it had gone wrong, the same way it had for Sasha, it could cost all of us something. "Or I swear, I will tell Negan myself of your plans to kill him," I threatened them. Looking to each girl. But Frankie was the one who looked to be defiant against me.
Frankie looked me up and down briefly. "Jesus..." Frankie muttered. Tanya looked down and Amber did her best to not look at me, regardless how long I had been standing there. "Who's side are you on, anyway, Kat?" Frankie spat at me angrily.
Just as I went to open my mouth, a voice called out to me. "Katherine..." I heard Davey call to me, as he stood by the doors and had his hand clasped together in front of him. His stance far too cocky for him to realise how much of a huge dick he actually was.
"Negan wants you," Davey announced to all of us. Lowering my gaze, I then returned it to the girls.
They knew I didn't particularly like Negan, but I wasn't going to risk Eugene or anyone else getting hurt. "The smart side," I told her boldly. "I mean it. Stay away from Eugene," I threatened them again before I left the glass on a table.
Leaving with Davey to meet Negan, I began to wonder just what he wanted me for this time. If Dr Carson said anything...I'll kill him.
DPOV
Needing a break, after the longest of walks I had taken, I had moved to sit in the woods, to lean against a tree. Having a rest, I pulled out my packet of cigarettes and placed one between my lips. Lighting it, I didn't think twice about the relief I was giving myself.
No thought to Kat, until I had been sitting then, thinking over everything that happened. Since the day I left, looking for Dwight, only to get captured, shot and kept as a pet for Negan to torment. To have to watch Kat with him, to see how she could break my trust by sleeping with him.
Trying to push through the thought, I grunted and shut my eyes tightly. Glancing to the packet of smokes, I went to take another but stopped myself. Especially when I felt my heart sink into my stomach. I ain't going to be able to keep smoking. Not when Kat gets back. She's carrying our baby. Our child. We'll need to keep it safe. As safe as we can.
A strange tense feeling came over me. I'm going to be a dad. I don't know the first thing of being one. Even if I liked children, I didn't know how to be a father to one. I knew how to be a friend to them but never a father.
Memories of me with Judith. With Sophia. With Carl. It made me feel a little confident in myself. Maybe I can do this. It is with Kat, anyway. And she'd be a perfect mother. Better than Lori. And Lori was good at being a mother to her kids.
It was then I saw a walker, for the longest moment, I sat there and enjoyed what was left of my cigarette between my lips. Finishing it, I put the packet back into my packet, tossed the cigarette, got to my feet and grabbed hold of my crossbow.
Using it against the walker, I then stomped on the light of what was left of the cigarette. I have to stay safe. For Kat. For our child. For the family we were making. Needing to get to the Hilltop, I knew I needed to get ready for the fight. Even if it was only the Hilltop and Alexandria joining forces, I needed to have hope that we could get Kat back, with or without the Hilltop.
While walking back to the Hilltop, thoughts of Kat, of Rick, Carl, Michonne, Judith, Carol. All of them came to mind. We were all so far apart and I was making my way back to Maggie, who I dreaded seeing. Even if Kat doesn't want me to think it...I'm the reason Glenn's dead.
It was twisted to me. How I lived, while Kat carried our child and could easily lose it where she was. Meanwhile, Maggie was fine, with a baby in her belly and Glenn was dead in my place. I won't blame her if she never forgives me...
KPOV
Once we approached the gates, I had a good look at the way things looked. Not acting like it was the first time I saw it, I knew Negan found out about my various escapes. The walkers growls were a familiar noise to me.
Glancing to them, as they were tired or skewered to certain spots, I noticed Eugene was there, surrounded by a huge group of Negan's guys and looking a little more relaxed. What is going on here? "Ah, Katherine..." Negan greeted me as he spun to face me.
"So nice of you to join us," Negan was boisterous as he spoke, but I saw through it and knew he was only wanting us here to give us some kind of punishment. He isn't going to make Eugene become a walker, will he?
When Eugene's eyes found me, his expression had quickly from slight nervousness to more of a determined look. "Mr Negan, Sir," Eugene tried to gain confidence. "If you'll kindly permit me, I'd like to invite Miss Grimes to accompany me tonight. To discuss the scientific's of the plan I have for further improvements to our new home, seeing as Miss Grimes is a uniquely intelligent woman in her youth, I'd-" the more Eugene talked, the more Negan looked at him with annoyance.
I knew Negan. He's going to reject the request. "And bore my poor wife when she should be enjoying her time with me?" Negan teased. Negan had taken a few steps closer to Eugene. "Not gonna happen, bullet maker," Negan's voice was slow, stern.
Taking a few, slow, menacingly slow steps towards Eugene, Negan's eyes were dark and full of anger. "I, make the decision of when and which of my wives spend time with you," Negan was being strict with the rules he made. "Don't think I haven't heard of your secret lil' rendezvous," I already knew Negan knew of this but when he revealed it to us, I feigned a stiffness that came naturally with being around him. I was cold whenever I was around Negan.
Feeling some of his men's eyes on me, I glanced around and saw Laura glaring at me. I could rip her tongue out. "Normally, I would iron a man's face off for spending some unacceptable time with one of my wives," Negan threatened coolly to Eugene, looking down at him through slightly hooded eyes.
Licking along the bottom of his top teeth, Negan then turned his head to look to me, an amused glint in his eyes. "Just in case she..." Negan drifted with his words. In case I cheated. "What is my number one rule Katherine?" Negan quizzed me. I'd rather kill him. I could kill him, if I really wanted a death sentence in this hell hole.
I still remembered the day he ironed Mark's face off. He did it in front of my brother. "Don't cheat on you," I repeated the same words Amber had. The same rule Sherry warned me about. I didn't cheat on him. But I'm not faithful to him in the first place. If only he knew the depth of my betrayal...
As he approached me, Negan's boots were heavy on the chalky flooring beneath his feet. "And did you?" Negan began questioning me, his hand on the bat, resting it on his shoulder, was possibly there to intimidate me. He doesn't scare me.
"Cheat, on me?" Negan elaborated on if I would cheat on him, with Eugene. Even if I did have something with Eugene...I would never tell him. Because I don't care for Negan. It's not cheating if I never was really his to begin with.
Keeping my gaze firmly on him, I proved once again, I didn't fear him. "No," I answered him honestly.
Taking my chin under his fingers, he tilted my head a little higher, to make me look at him from under hooded eyes. "Good," Negan said with a smile after examining my features for the longest time.
The way he abused us mentally, made me feel sick. He gets off on me acting helpless towards him. "Which is why...I'm going to let this one slide," Negan announced while he let me go to speak to Eugene.
Moving to a spot, where he could see both of us, Negan continued his little speech. "But if I catch you two meetin' again without me acceptin' this little reunion time..." Negan approached Eugene, who whimpered before Negan rest his hand on Eugene's shoulder.
Having his hand clap Eugene's shoulder, like they were friends, made me fear for him. I wish I still had my pen. A knife would be better though. "I will burn smarty pants, here's face off and let you hear his screams..." Negan warned me of what he'd do if he found out we met again in secret.
Hearing this, I was sure Eugene peed a little. "We-we-we-I-" Eugene's eyes met up at Negan and he trembled, his bottom lip quivering while Eugene tried to talk.
Growing the pair that Eugene needed, I didn't fear Negan. Never did. I hated him from day one and I still do. "It won't happen again," I reassured Negan that there were going to be no more sneaky meetings between myself and Eugene.
Negan's eyes were amused as he looked directly at me then down to Eugene who was trying to focus on breathing. "Oh, I know it won't," Negan smirked, clapping Eugene's shoulder one last time before he moved away from Eugene.
"Leave," Negan ordered of everyone, to which, I thought he meant me too. About to leave, as everyone else left. From Eugene to his men, it was only me, Negan, Davey, Benny and Marco. "Not you, Katherine," Negan called for me to stop before I left him.
Stopping where I was, I looked over to him and stayed deadly still in the spot I was. "I've been doing some thinkin'..." Negan informed me, taking a few more steps towards me. "Why didn't you leave with Daryl? The real reason behind it..." Negan asked me.
My eyes met his, as I didn't look away, as I knew if I did, he'd know of my plans, or my hesitancy to answer him. "I mean, you could've left, returned home to your family, ran away with them. You could have never been in the same room as me again," Negan listed all the great things about it.
But Alexandria was my home. I could never leave my home. Regardless if I'd be hunted down like an animal. "So why? Why didn't you leave, Katherine?" Negan wondered through squinted eyes, questioning my motives in staying here.
My eyes glued to him, my feet slow, while my hand went to rest on the side of Negan's face. I heard Marco take a step closer, like he was going to protect Negan from me. But Negan rose a finger to stop him for a minute. "You know exactly why..." I whispered as he gazed down at me.
Leaning up, I pressed a slow, passionate kiss to his lips and felt my body want to reject it completely. "Mmm," Negan hummed against the intensity of the kiss. How I wish I had that knife right about now.
As I pulled back, Negan's eyes were hooded with desire and content. "How about we go somewhere a little more...private?" Negan suggested, hinting how he desired me so after openly claiming I wanted to be there for him. I want to be here...to destroy him.
Letting a fake smile grow on my face, if I didn't do this regularly, I would surely lose credibility on making him think my baby was his. I have to do this. Even if I hate it more and more every day. "Lead the way," I encouraged Negan to take me where he wished to continue the kiss.
Following behind him, only Benny and Marco stood outside Negan's door while he used me as he pleased. Every day, I hated it more. When I had wished it was Daryl, when I knew it would never be him. Daryl was a gentle, caring and tender lover. Negan was harsh, rough and demanding.
I felt sick with myself but I held on. For my child. For the plan. For my family. For the longest time, I would convince myself I had to do this, or everything I'd done so far, was all for nothing. Thinking this way, made it easier for me.
DWIGHT'S POV
Sat in the infirmary, I had let Dr Carson check me over. Sitting there, I was ready to go back to my room and be done with the day. I'm tired of running around for Negan and others. I'm tired after going looking for Sherry this morning. "It looks to be getting better..." Dr Carson told me, encouraging me to cover myself up.
Nodding, I began getting dressed once more. "Thanks Doc," I appreciated his help but I wanted nothing more than to just wallow in my self pity, as my actions were the reason my wife ran away. My ex-wife. According to Negan.
"I don't trust this new girl," Dr Carson told me, forcing me to look at him with curious confusion. "She only seems to cause trouble the minute she got here," Dr Carson evidently didn't like whoever he was referring to.
In my gut, I had a sense he was talking about Katherine. "Even if its believable that Sherry did in fact escape and help Daryl to do so, too. I don't like that it was Miss Grimes who convinced Negan of this theory," Dr Carson believed Katherine was being manipulative when it came to Negan.
Carson possibly believed Katherine had some kind of hold on Negan. "What kind of trouble are you talking about?" I asked Dr Carson as he began clearing things away and organising things for his next client.
Dr Carson took a few minutes to look directly down at me. Like he deliberated on something. "Dwight...who are you, really?" Dr Carson asked me. A question I already automatically knew the answer to.
"Negan," I answered him as my eyes met him firmly.
Nodding, Dr Carson appeared to be pleased by the answer. "Correct," Dr Carson told me my answer was the right one. "We're all Negan," was the usual thing this group said when it came to our identities as a collective image.
Negan was the face of it all. "Which is why I'm tired of the lies, of the secrets," Dr Carson growled to himself. "Keeping this between us, someone here has threatened me. Someone new. She's pregnant and I fear the longer she prolongs revealing this, I worry that the man she sleeps with will believe the child to be his," Dr Carson began telling me of the secrets he'd been keeping.
Trying to piece the puzzle together, my mind spun in circles and my eyes were glued to my surroundings as I felt my mind travel to a far off distance. "I must tell Negan as he will know what to do with this information," Dr Carson thought this was the best plan of action.
Figuring out who he spoke of, the only female that was new to the group, was Katherine. "Is it Katherine?" I asked Dr Carson. "Is she the one who took the pregnancy test?" I wondered if she was the one who stole the pregnancy test that had been pinned on Sherry.
Nodding, Dr Carson looked to the floor before meeting my gaze. "And it turned out positive," Dr Carson informed me while I shrugged on my vest, or the one I stole from Daryl. "But she threatened to kill me if I ever told a soul," I could see the fear in Dr Carson's eyes as he told me this.
Swallowing hard, my lips parted and eyes landed on the floor. "Leave it with me..." I tried to get him to trust me with this information.
When he heard this, it was like he was feeling relieved that someone else was willing to do the dirty work for him. "Thank you, Dwight," Dr Carson thanked me.
Nodding, I gazed up at him and kept my eyes glued to him. "Just don't tell anyone else, just in case she does have allies in here, alright?" I encouraged him to keep this between us. If he tells anyone else that wasn't me, he might make do something he regretted.
Frantically, Dr Carson nodded his head and agreed to it. "Okay, thank you," Dr Carson was going to let me take care of it and wasn't going to tell anyone else, just to protect himself.
Leaving the Dr alone, I left to my room, writing down before I went to a specific room, hiding it between the pages of a book, I knew when they read it, there was going to be a plan moving forward. It's time to break the castle from inside out.
KPOV
When I found the note, I found myself reading the words and realising the urgency behind it must have been genuine. Slipping past doors, I already knew the way to this specific door as I knocked on it.
As the door opened, his eyes met mine and his body shifted to let me in. Stepping in, I glanced around and sighed. "Katherine..." Dwight greeted me as he closed the door behind me. The room was a wreck, covered in stuff and his belongings properly arranged, after Daryl had supposedly wrecked the place.
Turning to face Dwight, now that we were alone, I knew we could now talk in private. "What's the urgency?" I asked him, needing to hear what he had to tell me. He sounded demanding in his letter.
"Dr Carson's wants to sell you out to Negan," Dwight was straight to the point.
This news hit me like a punch to the face. "He told you?" I became far too angry to function, as my mind ran in circles. Here I was, thinking he was intimidated enough to not tell Negan a word. But there he went, opening his big mouth.
Dwight's eyes on me were cold. "Not like I didn't already know," Dwight revealed what we both already knew. "I didn't say anything or do anything," Dwight tried to convince me he was on my side.
Pacing around the room, I held onto my chin and tried to think. Tried to come up with a plan to put the Doctor back in his place or out of the picture. "I made sure you didn't get noticed by Negan today. I was the one who got you to that room," Dwight argued that he wasn't going to rat me out to Negan.
After all we spoke of, I knew he wouldn't go against me and if he did, I'd have leverage over him too. "I know..." I stopped my pacing and stood still. "I'm trying to figure out how we're going to deal with Dr Carson," I tried to explain my pacing as I continued walking around.
Dwight took a few steps closer. "We?" this seemed to stun Dwight. As he possibly didn't think he needed to be roped into this problem.
Stopping in my tracks, I stared at him and made sure he knew just how serious I was about this. "Yes, we," I repeated it clearly to him. "You signed up for this, remember?" I reminded him that it was his idea that we work together.
After Sherry ran, I was convinced that Dwight was more determined to be rid of Negan, for all the corruption and destruction he caused people. Not just to him, but everyone around him. His followers were corrupted because it was the way Negan controlled them.
"If you want to take down Negan, you're going to need me alive," I informed that to get rid of evil, he'd need to help me, to keep me alive. "I can't do that if Dr Carson is blurting out my secret to anyone who'll listen," the more Dr Carson spoke of my secret, the more in danger I became.
No one knew what Negan would do if he found out I was pregnant with another man's baby, especially at this stage in our relationship. Dwight appeared ot be deep in thought. When his eyes rose up to meet mine, they were steady, confident. "So what's the plan?" Dwight asked of me.
Silent as I thought of something, it then hit me. "I need you to do a few things..." I told him of part of the plan I had ready to be put in action. "Do you still have that note Sherry gave you?" I questioned him.
"Yeah," Dwight answered, taking the paper out from his back pocket to show me the note she had left him behind with. "Why?" Dwight wondered as he grasped the sheet in his hand. He seems weary of me.
Glancing to the paper, then to his eyes, I wasn't going to just take it from him but I had an idea of what we could do with it. "We're going to need it," I had an idea and as said this, Dwight looked to me, weary but ready for the plan to be played out.
DWIGHT'S POV
Setting myself another check up, I went to meet with Dr Carson and found him clearing up a few things. "Dwight," the Doctor greeted me when he unexpectedly saw me. "Did you talk to Negan yet?" Carson believed this was the reason I came to him.
Glancing around, I didn't know what else to do as I occupied the room with him in it. "Not yet," I answered him but needed to think quick of something to use as a reason for me being here other than my injuries, which were fine now. "But I will," I reassured Dr Carson, that Kat would be dealt with.
When the Dr stopped, he looked at me confused and didn't know what else to say to me. It was as though he was picking at his brain for something good to say. "Then why are you here, Dwight?" Carson finally asked me the question he'd been holding back to ask me.
He was hoping I'd be on his side. But I can't be. Not after everything Negan did. "Did you ever talk to Sherry?" I asked Dr Carson out of the blue. "About anything, maybe about Daryl...about what happened to us in the woods?" I questioned if these were any topics they talked about.
Talking about Sherry, it was the only thing that clouded my mind. She's gone and I'll never find her again. "Only that she felt guilty over what Daryl was going through, that you guys left him there to die and took what he had," the Doctor finally answered me after a few seconds of silence.
I had known Sherry wasn't the same since that day. Since we lost Tina. Stole from Daryl. Came back. Offered our apologies and what happened next. Nothing was the same after that day and I finally understood why. And I hated myself for it.
"She took a lot of the things that we had here too, now that I come to think about it," Dr Carson was musing in his thoughts. "What I don't understand, is the pre-natal pills, but I wouldn't be surprised if Miss Grimes swiped it from me when I wasn't here, just after Sherry swiped the place," Dr Carson believed that Kat was the one to do this but I knew the whole truth.
I knew that Honey had taken plenty from here but gave Kat the pills. She was the first person here other than the doctor to know Kat's secret. "Maybe..." I pursed my lips and nodded. "People have seen her sneaking off around here," I told the truth, to make it seem like I knew more than the doctor may of believed.
Glancing at the shelves, I was inspecting the things Sherry took, which was plenty. But there was something I needed. "What else did you think Sherry would talk to me about, Dwight?" the doctor asked me as he began clearing things and putting meds and other things away.
My head moved so I would look at him. "About Negan, maybe?" I asked pointedly, hinting this was one thing she could of talked to the doctor about. "Was he good to her?" I wondered if he treated her alright, even with all the things that came with it.
Not really wanting to know, I knew it was a topic he could possibly answer. "Yes..." the doctor answered but I sensed he would of said it either way. As the doctor disappeared to the closet in the back, I looked to the top of the shelf, at the pregnancy tests.
Taking one, I slipped it into a pocket of my jacket and did my best to act inconspicuous. "But I don't know why you're asking me this now, after she's gone," the doctor said to me as he was putting things away and making his way over to me.
When he saw me stood by the cabinet, I had hoped he wouldn't realise that a pregnancy test was missing. "Dwight, I need to get ready for another patient," Dr Carson was basically telling me to leave.
The discussion we were having, clearly was one that was now irritating him, now that he knew it wasn't about Katherine being revealed to Negan as pregnant with another man's child. "Can this wait for after hours?" Carson hoped I'd leave this conversation for later.
"Sorry," I apologised to him. "I'll leave you, to your duties, Doc..." I was heading for the door, deciding to leave him alone. Seeing as he was already subtly kicking me out.
Just as I was about to leave the doctor in peace and return to Kat's room, to give her the pregnancy test, I was called by the doctor. "Dwight," Carson called to me. "Please, do something about Miss Grimes soon, otherwise...it might be too late," Carson encouraged me to do something soon.
Having to do something about her, I knew what I was going to do. "I will," I told him. "I promise," I falsely gave him a promise I could never keep. Kat needs me and I need her. We both have the same goal. We want to get rid of these people. Even if it means getting the doctor out of the way...
KPOV
Once I got my test, I waited until morning to do the test, to pee on it bright and early, on the first one, as instructed on the box. When I was done, I requested an appointment with the doctor as early as possible.
When I got there, I had three things hidden in the bathroom for me, things I had asked Dwight to hide for me. It was the pregnancy test, the box, and a knife. The knife, was one Sherry had long ago. Once I was finished using the bathroom, the Doctor then began discussing the reason for me being here.
"Katherine..." Carson greeted me a little briefly, like he was cautious as to my being there. "Early morning sickness again?" Carson wondered if this was what got me to come to him so early in the morning.
Having a hand resting on my back, I was pretending like I was just holding my back, when in fact, I was clutching the pregnancy test and the knife in one hand. "No," I answered the doctor honestly.
Approaching him slowly, I watched as he backed away from me slowly. "Did you really think I wouldn't find out?" I questioned him, furrowing my brows in curiosity at hearing of his attempted betrayal.
When he saw me approaching, he began backing away, fear in his eyes as I watched him stare down at me, trembling at my intimidating movements. "I told you...I'm everywhere," I reminded him of my words but luckily, he had opened his mouth to the only person I felt I could begin trusting.
So far, Dwight was co-operating. "And you, you screwed up, Doctor," I then showed him the knife, which made him gulp, afraid of what I was going to do. "I should kill you right now," I growled at him, which made him shake.
As he kept backing up, his hands rose to show me he was surrendering and his back eventually hit the wall. "Miss Grimes, please," the doctor pleaded with me. "No, don't," the doctor almost yelled but my eyes turned dark, threatening.
The way I glared at him, made him lower his tone, knowing that screaming, would only make this worse for him. "I-I swear," Dr Carson stuttered as he pleaded for his life. "I won't tell anyone," the way the doctor swore to do what he already did, made me doubt the sincerity of his words.
Raising the tip to point it at him, I tilted my head and heard him quaking in his boots. "You already did," I snarled. "I warned you," I reminded him before I moved my hand to hold the knife a little more differently.
Shutting his eyes, he rose his hands in front of his face, like he went to block me. "Stop!" the doctor yelled before I went to use the knife against myself. Digging the blade into my forearm, I cut myself diagonally, making one part deeper than the other.
The slice was deep and angled enough against my skin, to be believable that the doctor went to slice me to pieces. But that I had stepped away and fallen. "Help!" I yelled as I dropped the knife and guided myself to the ground. "Ah!" I screamed in pain, so loud, I was sure someone would come running. "No! No!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.
Faking a struggle, as I fell to the ground, I grasped onto my arm, trying to stop the blood from pouring out my arm, the pregnancy test on the ground near where I stood. The doctor finally opened his eyes and saw the blood pouring onto the floor, my blood staining the ground and the knife.
Suddenly, the door swung open with a loud slam. "What the shit?" Davey's voice spoke as he saw the scene, Benny was beside him, both guys stunned at the scene. My back pressed against the wall, my legs laid out in front of me, as the knife was far from me, enough blood spilled all over the doctor's white coat from the cut.
Enough, that I felt this crime scene was perfect for Negan to witness. The perfect set-up. "Get Negan!" I shouted over to the guys as I panted, shaking as I grasped onto my sliced skin to stop the bleeding. "Get Negan!" I cried as I forced tears to spill from my eyes. And the Oscar goes to...
Both guys couldn't keep their eyes away from me. "Please," I begged for them, as I rolled my head and felt the blood pouring onto the floor, the test resting on the clean side of the floor.
The doctor had a slow reaction to the mess I had made. "Miss Grimes...let me help you," Dr Carson began approaching me, crouching down to touch me. "You're hurt," Carson wanted to help me but now, I knew no one would believe him.
Too slow doctor. You made the wrong enemy. "Keep away from me!" I screamed as I shuffled into my pool of blood, panting and crying as I held onto my arm. "You did this," I muttered as I panicked and tried to get away from him.
"No," Dr Carson protested, shaking his head furiously up at the guys stood by the door. It was like he finally realised what I was doing.
I wasn't lying. He did this. If he kept quiet, I wouldn't have had to do this. Turning my head to the boys again, tears were streaming down my face as my hair stuck to my face. "Get Negan..." I cried. "Please..." I begged again a little louder.
A note taken from Carol's book. I had tried to act weak, like I was unable to protect myself but that I had been in a struggle with this guy. Both Benny and Davey had no idea what to do. "Call him," Davey ordered of Benny. "He's going to need to see this," Davey's head turned to look at his companion. Benny then stepped off to the side to radio through to Negan.
Panting, I easily looked at Carson with fear, slowly, he stepped back, his hands running into his hair, panting as I grasped onto my arm, trying to stop the deep bleeding I had done to myself. Trembling and letting out soft cries, I would try and keep my distance from the doctor but he realised that he was screwed.
You should never have messed with me. I warned him. He didn't listen. Everything comes at a price and it was going to be him before it was me or anyone else. And I think he finally knows it. It's the cell for you, Dr Carson...
DWIGHT'S POV
When I went to quickly meet with the doctor, I had asked for a little talk with him, asking him more about Kat and he had told me that he knew Kat was the one to frame Sherry for letting Daryl escape.
I knew she let him escape. We all did. But I was going to protect Sherry, the right way. So I had to make the doctor disappear, before everything began falling apart. Taking the things Kat asked for to the bathroom, I hid them where she told me to put it.
When we were done talking, Kat went in shortly after. While Kat did what she set herself out to do, I went to plant the note in Dr Carson's office from Sherry. Doing my best to be sneaky, I also knew not many people would care for where I went or what I did in these walls.
I've already blended in. When I was done with the doctor's office, I went to get the last few pieces of information Kat needed from the council room, when I had the information, I planted it in her room.
Hearing footsteps approach, I slowly walked the other direction, making it look like I was walking the halls and stopping by a door, I watched Negan follow an injured Kat to her room. Simon was close beside him, I began walking towards them.
"What's happened?" I asked the group of guys as I walked to them. Kat had slipped into her room and was clutching her arm tightly that had been bandaged up. When the door shut behind Kat, Negan then took a step closer to me.
"Kat, she's pregnant. Dr Carson had the knife that used to belong to Sherry, Carson tried to kill Kat usin' it," Negan briefed me in on it all. "He's been tossed into a cell," Negan stated what had been done with the doctor. I guess the appointments have been cancelled.
Negan's eyes glanced to the door and for the first time ever, it looked like he was genuinely concerned for someone other than himself. "Kat is to never be left alone. After today, I want a guy guardin' her at all times," Negan instructed that someone had to babysit Kat from now on.
I knew Kat. I knew she was capable of looking after herself. That she'd done this to herself because the doctor knew nothing of fighting. "I can do it," I offered to be the one at Kat's door but both men looked at me a little stunned.
"No," Negan rejected my offer. "You get to babysit the doctor. Don't mess this up like you did last time..." Negan was reminding me of the Daryl incident while he spoke to me firmly. Negan's attention then turned to Simon. "Get one of your guys to check the doctor's office," Negan spoke to Simon beside him.
So far, Kat's plan was running without a hitch. She's a smart girl. "Find out what else he's been hiding from us," Negan was possibly being sarcastic about the fact he had Sherry's knife that we had planted. "That asshole doesn't leave his cell until I say so," Negan snarled as he took a step closer to Simon.
Benny was the one at the door, parting ways, Simon went to deal with the doctor's belongings, Negan probably left to do whatever he wanted to do, which was the usual when it came to his leader. And myself, I went to my room and took a smoke. It's going to be a long couple of days...
KPOV
Clutching at my arm, I was terrified, or at least, I was acting like I was, or just suffering from the blood loss. It was them to decide what it was. When Negan approached in a hurry, Lucille in hand, he was stomping his way over.
When his eyes caught sight of me on the floor, the blood surrounding me, the tears and sweat that covered my skin, I looked to the doctor and then back to Negan. "What the hell happened?" Negan asked as he walked into the room.
Crouching down beside me, Negan had rest Lucille close to his side and stared at me. Negan began inspecting the scene, the blood, my cut as he removed my hand for only a second and then the knife. "She-..." Carson got to his feet slowly, during the wait, he had slumped down on the opposite wall.
Before he could say anything, I used my bloody hand to grasp Negan's that touched my shoulder. "He did this," I whispered, a little breathless from the fight and the 'fear'. "He did this to me," I cried, tears ran down my cheeks and my bloody hand went to reach for the test by my side.
"He said, I should die because..." I picked up the stick but held the end that didn't have the symbols to show Negan that I was pregnant. "Because I was pregnant, with your child," I lied to Negan, showing him the results.
Taking the test from me, Negan looked down at it, gazing back at me once he studied it, he then glanced to the doctor, who began crying in the corner. He knows he's screwed. "That I shouldn't be carrying your child," I whimpered, Negan slowly got up and inspected the weapon.
Negan inspected the knife and I sensed he knew who it had belonged to. "Take Sherry's knife? Keeping any other secrets from us, Doctor?" Negan snarled, his body tense and I saw how his hand grasped the test so tightly, it was like he could snap it under his grasp.
"N-N-Negan," Carson stuttered through his blubbering. "P-p-p-please-," I had a feeling Carson was going to beg Negan to believe him. Luckily, Negan cut him off.
"Get him out of here!" Negan yelled, ordering his men to take the doctor away from his sight. "Throw him in a cell!" Negan ordered the punishment for now there and then.
Benny took the doctor by his arm, then Davey followed shortly after. A group of guys had joined Negan as he had been called to be here. "Looks like it's shit sandwiches for you, Doc," Benny commented as they dragged a protesting and sobbing Carson to his cell.
Negan went to grab some cloth, ripping into it with his teeth to get enough and then, Negan crouched beside me. "Hey," Negan tried to soothe me, his voice softer than what I was used to. "You're going to be okay," Negan reassured me as he began pressing cloth down on my arm, to stop the bleeding.
"Someone, get me a needle and thread, some gauze, something to disinfect the wound and anything else I need to fix her up," Negan ordered, one of his guys walked in and began digging through the supplies they had. "And can someone clean up this damn mess?!" Negan shouted to his guys.
The blood was a lot and I knew I must have been a mess but it was something I had to do. Good thing I know how to keep the pressure on my arm, stop me from dying, and my baby from dying. I had to do this. It was me, everyone I know and love, or him.
Negan's hand came up to rest to cup my face, his eyes gently gazing into mine. Does he actually care? "Shh," Negan tried to stop me from trembling and crying. "Hey, it'll be okay, you'll be okay," Negan reassured me that there was nothing to worry about.
How he was protecting me, I also assumed it was because of the fact my father would kill him if I was dead. If anything happened to me, dad would eventually know. "He won't hurt you, not ever again, I promise," Negan promised me the doctor would no longer be a problem for me.
Nodding, I listened to him because for once, I actually believed him. "About god damn time," Negan growled when one of his guys finally gave him everything he asked for and needed.
Instead of telling Negan to go away, I let him patch me up and take me back to my room. I could of pushed him away but I didn't. I had to be believable and I hardly had the strength to fight back after everything I did to make this believable. Why is he acting like he cares so much? He never did before...
RPOV
Stood by the truck, myself and Michonne were ready to go, to look for the supplies we needed. We needed plenty if we were going to get the Scavengers to join our war. Carl and Judith were outside, with us, soaking in the sun as we got ready to leave. "I'll be back," I assured Carl we'd return.
Michonne then approached us after placing the last of our belongings into the boot of the car. "I know you will," Carl agreed with me, a small smile settling on his face. I always come back. "Be safe, both of you," Carl encouraged us as he glanced between me and Michonne.
The way he held Judith, was protective, like a big brother should be and I was proud of him. He's going to be the perfect uncle to my grandchild. I can feel it. "We will," Michonne answered for me, making me chuckle and look to the floor.
Taking a few steps closer to my children, I lowered myself a little to gaze into my son's eyes. "Same goes to you," I told him the thing he wished for me, was returned to him. Hugging him, he held me with his own arm before I looked to Judith.
Judith's wide eyes glanced up at me and were warm. She looks so much like Lori. "Bye, sweetheart," I whispered to her before I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She is so sweet. I love them with all my heart.
When I stepped back, it was then Michonne's turn to hug Carl, giggling as she did so. "Be careful," Michonne whispered to Carl, before she pulled back and kissed Judith's crown. Moving to the car, both of us climbed in and took a moment to savour this moment.
"You ready?" I asked Michonne as I glanced to her, a grin began forming on her face as she stared at me.
Nodding slowly, I realised she was just as ready for an escape for a few days, alone, as we worked as we did best. As a team. "Yeah," Michonne answered with a wide, beautiful smile that touched her eyes. "Are you?" Michonne's tone turned curious, serious as she wondered what must have been going through my head.
Waiting for a moment, I glanced to the others, to all of them waiting for us to leave and I smiled. "Yeah," I answered her. "Yeah, I am," we were finally moving forward and we were working to save this place. To save all of us. We're going to win. I know we will.
As I drove us out of there, I took my time and felt Michonne's hand rest over mine. The same way it did the day we rolled up to the gates of Alexandria, it made me smile. Driving off, I knew...the world was ours. And we were going to take it.
KPOV
Everyone stood around, ready for the iron once more and when Negan showed up, everyone bowed, except for us wives and Dwight, who was facing the iron in the fire. Especially with the condition I was in, the dress I was in, I couldn't kneel even if I had to. Negan was being decent to us in this way, at the very least.
Glancing at Dr Carson, he didn't wish to look at me and could hardly look at me either. We both know what's coming next. We all do. He should have made an friend instead of an enemy out of me.
Negan was clean, clean of my blood that had covered his face and stained his shirt. Lucille resting on his shoulder as he looked around to all of us and stopped beside Dwight. When Negan signalled for all of them to rise, that was when I new it would begin.
"You are gonna want to pay close attention to this," Negan signalled with his bat up at someone above me. Someone I could only guess was Eugene, who was new here.
Suddenly, Negan swung Lucille at Dr Carson, who I was pretty sure now had a broken arm and many cuts into it. "Ohh!" I heard Carson groan and breathing heavily from the pain as he grasped his arm. "No, no, no, no!" Carson protested.
"Why?" the doctor questioned as he let out a soft choke. When the doctor fell to his knees, a couple of Negan's guys dragged him back to his feet. "I didn't do anything," doctor Carson pleaded that he was innocent.
But you did...you went against me. "I found this little souvenir tucked away in your desk," Negan said as he pulled out a note, the note I had told Dwight to rip and tuck in Carson's desk. Which would pin him as the reason Sherry left. As the one who got Daryl out.
Dwight kept his back to us all this time and I knew it was because even if we knew we had to do this, we both feared what we'd become after this. It was us, or him. "I-I-I don't know what that is," Carson panted as he tried to convince Negan.
Except, Negan was past the point of caring. Especially after what happened with myself in the infirmary. Sighing, Negan than slammed the tip of his bat into Carson's side. "Unh!" Carson complained at the pain as he coughed from the increasing pain he was getting.
The girls around me were crying, flinching and trembling at how Negan was acting but I stayed still, I stood tall. I have to. This guy did wrong to me. Regardless the story told. Clearing his throat, Negan handed Lucille over to one of his men.
Taking the glove from by the fire, Negan then returned to stand before the doctor as he put the glove over his hand. "You...left the door open and let my puppy out," Negan spoke of Daryl.
"Mnh-mnh," was all Carson could mutter. His eyes glancing to me before looking back at Negan. If he says anything. I can only hope Negan doesn't believe him. Or I'll kill him myself.
Negan squinted at Carson. "You knew Sherry hated Daryl being here, so you let him out for her, be the hero," Negan began saying the story we had lead him to believe. "Then you could move in," Negan said the story I told Dwight to tell him.
It was the only way we could keep Sherry safe from Negan, from all of this. "That...is some weaselly shit right there," Negan commented as he took a slight step to the side, his back to me and the rest of the girls.
Carson was whimpering from the pain. "But I didn't. She's the one who ran," Carson struggled to speak but did so quickly, with maximum effort from the pain he was in. He couldn't contain it.
This only infuriated Negan beyond belief. "Oh, she ran? You know why she ran?!" Negan questioned Carson angrily. "Because she knew I would blame her, which...I did," my eyes drifted to Dwight as he stared into the fire while Negan spoke.
Don't tell me he's having regrets. "But, see, Sherry told Dwighty boy the whole story right before she was torn apart," this had been a part of the story Dwight suggested himself and Negan was just repeating it.
"A super hot girl, carrying my child, horrifically killed because of your greedy, delusional, and tiny little prick," Negan commented, giving us all a very vivid picture of everything that falsely happened.
Myself and Dwight, we knew the truth. Sherry was long gone. "Then, you tried to kill my pregnant wife!" the more Negan talked, the angrier he became. "All because she's carrying my child..." Negan finished off a little cold in his tone of voice.
Grunting from the pain, Carson could barely stand. "It's not true. Dwight?" Carson tried to call to Dwight, his eyes found that Dwight wasn't looking and myself, my face was firm. Don't cross me. "He's lying about it," Carson declared about Dwight.
When Carson's eyes went to look at me, it was as though he finally realised we were in cahoots. "They're both lying about all of this," Carson boldly declared. "I would never do any of that," Carson tried to plead not guilty.
After the spectacle I created, the things me and Dwight set in place. We knew it all looked really bad for Carson. "Why? Why? Why would either of them do that?" Negan grinned, not buying the doctor's claims.
"Why would they intentionally try to hurt you?" Negan questioned the doctor. "Sherry's gone. And if Dwight's lying...and she's out there, I will find her," Negan was being threatening and this made me feel sickly.
This is why we need to stop Negan. Once and for all. "And then I will burn the other side of his face off until he dies," the way Negan spoke, was like he would be content with this. That's not going to happen. I won't let it. No one will ever know.
"So, what was he gonna get out of this?" Negan questioned the motives of Dwight in the 'make believe' accusations of the doctor.
Negan's eyes then glanced behind him, to me and stared at me long and hard. "As for Katherine..." Negan began as he then turned his attention back to the doctor. "She's the mother of my child," Negan sounded proud of this.
As though he accomplished a goal he'd been waiting forever to do. I'm so glad it isn't his. "Pregnant, protecting our unborn child. Why would she lie to me about that when I've been the only one with her in all this time she's been here?" Negan questioned the 'lies' I could have told him.
"What would she gain in hurting herself and lying about it being my child?" Negan just couldn't see any of it adding up to him.
The doctor only panted, glancing to Dwight, Negan grinned. He doesn't believe him, does he? "No. No," Negan said as he focused on Dwight. "You see, I know my Dwighty boy. See, all he needed...was one more night in the hole, get his head screwed on straight," Negan assumed this was what put Dwight back in line.
Little does he know, he's on the good side. "It worked before, and it worked now. Ain't that right, Dwight?" Negan asked of Dwight if being left in a cell overnight worked for him.
"Oh, yeah," Dwight answered calmly with a nod to his head but Dwight never looked to anyone, but to the iron in the fire.
When his back no longer faced me, Negan now faced me. "And my Katherine, she's loyal," Negan spoke of me with high regards. "She could have gone with Daryl, but she stayed," was one of the first things I did.
"She loves our child, just enough, to do what it took to protect it...from you," Negan's words were proud as he spoke of me. Like I was the kind of wife he needed in a time like this.
Turning a little to face Carson again, Negan took a slight step towards him. "She loves it just enough to protect herself against a lunatic like you, jealous of everything I have, that you simply can't get," Negan summarised what he thought the doctor was.
"Ain't that right, wife?" Negan questioned me from over his shoulder, I could already hear the smile in his voice.
Keeping my jaw firm, my arms crossed over my chest, I knew what I did was bad. But it could have been worse if anything happened to me. "Yes, Negan," I answered Negan, my voice didn't shake, didn't break. "Our child, means everything to me," I declared. My child means everything to me.
My child was the reason I was doing all of this. A little chuckle left Negan. "You see?" Negan asked if the doctor now understood where this was going. "You've got to pay for all the betrayals you've done to me," Negan announced.
Leaving to Dwight, Dwight had finally put the iron on the end of the hook as he wore both gloves to hold the stick. Negan took hold of the iron once more with one hand and let out a small chuckle when he heard Carson's whimper.
Dwight didn't look anywhere, not even to Negan. "Oh, please. No, please. Please, please, please!" Carson began to cry. "Oh, Jesus, don't burn me. Please! Please!" Carson begged while Negan approached the doctor. "No. No, no, please!" Carson tried to get away, but Negan's men kept him there.
The girls around me began crying, as they were horrified by the acts of terror Negan displayed. "Now you know I hate this shit," Negan complained as I looked on. It was him or me. I had to remind myself as I practically condemned a man to burn.
I already knew of Negan's plans. I knew what he wanted. He wanted a confession and once he got it, he'd burn the doctor. "Just tell me you did all of it and that you're sorry," Negan encouraged of the whimpering doctor.
"That you won't hurt my wife ever again, and that way, I don't have to do any of this," Negan was giving him a way out of getting burned by Negan.
Negan had been holding the iron close to the doctor's face, I was certain he could feel the heat radiating off of it. "Yes. Yes, I did it...all of it," Carson cried out his false confession. "Sorry. I'm so sorry. I won't hurt her ever again," Carson pleaded for forgiveness.
Carson crying, only proved how weak he was around Negan. I told him he should have feared me more. "Please...I'm sorry," Carson rose a hand to keep Negan at bay, surrendering to the lies we had built.
Removing the iron away from Carson's face, I knew he must of feared the power I had over Negan, the way I manipulated him to believe me over Carson. How me and Dwight worked together to make all of this believable.
Negan grinned, what I hadn't expected was for Negan to let him off the hook. "That's all you had to say," Negan told him before dropping the iron, hearing it clatter against the ground. "That is all you had to say," Negan repeated.
Sighing, Negan turned to face me, his eyes glanced over to me, as though waiting for me to do or say something. Then, his eyes darted up to above my head. To Eugene, I assumed as Negan's eyes were glued to him.
Negan suddenly grabbed Carson, dragging him and rushing him into the fire as he threw the doctor into the flames. Keeping him in there, as he screamed. The girls cried, Amber fell into Frankie's arms while Tanya pushed past me. This wasn't the plan. I wanted the Doctor locked up, alone...not this.
Staring into the flames, part of me hated myself and the other part of me, didn't. I manipulated this monster to do something horrific. But the doctor, was playing with fire the second he decided to go against me. He should have listened.
It was clear as day, that my predictions were true. Negan's not the one in control anymore. It's me. I made him do this. Staying strong, I kept very still as I stared at the flames. I did warn him. But he didn't listen.
I knew Tanya hated me for telling her to not try to kill Negan. After something like this, I understood her anger and I didn't blame her for it either. Dwight, the second Carson was thrown into the flames, he moved away.
His eyes to the ground as he breathed heavy. Negan came up behind him, chuckling as he clapped Dwight's back. The screams had stopped, all it was now, was silence filled with Amber's tears.
"A good thing we got a spare Dr. Carson," Negan joked. Another one? That was when I remembered. The Hilltop. Maggie. "I trust you, Dwighty boy," Negan told Dwight as he glanced over to him, removing his gaze from Eugene.
Dwight didn't look to him as Negan wrapped his arm around Dwight's shoulders. "Never should've doubted ya," Negan commented. "Sherry was one of my favourites. I'm sorry," Negan offered his condolances to the ex-husband.
"I'm not," Dwight answered quickly, coldly. He's glad she's not here. He's glad she's gone and that she didn't have to see this or suffer the consequences Carson did.
Negan's smirk began to grow as he side eyed Dwight. "Hoo," Negan let out a breath. "Ice-cold," Negan remarked about Dwight's response. "I love it," Negan commented with a grin. Grabbing Dwight's face strangely, Negan gave Dwight one last pat on the shoulder.
All before he approached the guys to take his bat back and then made his way over to me. "And you, my dear wife..." Negan began, addressing to me. "I expect you at my room for a double session, seein' as you carrying my child...has me extra hard today," Negan commented.
The way he spoke, made me feel sick but at the very least, I knew I'd be safe from here on out. No one would dare to hurt me. And I could play the pregnant lady card as much as I wanted to. No one would say anything or assume anything. Not even Negan.
As he walked off, my eyes watched his as he left the scene, I glanced to Dwight who only now looked at me. His eyes cold, almost a dead look to him. We had to do this. My eyes then drifted to look at the dead Carson, who was slowly reanimating from the flames.
The growls loud as it came from inside the furnace. I never expected Negan to burn him this way. Feeling my jaw tense, I watched as they dragged Carson from the flames, while one held him down, the other used their knife to his head.
But now it was clear. Things had changed. Who is in control?
DPOV
Reaching the high walls of the Hilltop, part of me wanted to turn back, to go to Alexandria, to deal with whatever was coming to me there. Or to go back to the Kingdom, because something in me feared seeing Maggie.
But I owe it to her, to Glenn, to try and keep her safe. And part of me knew she wouldn't reject me, not after everything I'd been through under Negan's incarceration. I had hope that Maggie would let me stay, even if she wanted me to leave after what happened with Glenn.
Hearing voices call to Sasha and Enid, the doors opened. Revealing Jesus at the gates first, Jesus wondered what I was doing here but I told him I just didn't have it in me to stay. Sasha and Enid then joined us, hugging me tightly before Maggie slowly approached.
When her eyes saw me, they were sad but a smile began to grow. The day I got here, Maggie hardly looked at me but I didn't dare approach her. For the longest time, she stared at me, I gazed to her but then would avert my gaze to my feet.
I don't blame her. I should have stayed seated, let the moment pass. Maybe Glenn would be still alive and Kat would of been here with me. Breaking me from my thoughts, Maggie then quickly strolled over to me and wrapped her arms tightly around me.
My hands came up to gently hold her, even if we hadn't addressed everything, I sensed she was starting to warm up to me. Why? I'm alive while Glenn is dead. It should be him here, not me. Then, the image of Kat haunted me.
Like a vivid memory, Kat crossed my mind with every blink I took. But we too, are expecting now. "Come inside," Maggie encouraged softly as the gates shut slowly behind me, her body pulled back to gaze into my eyes.
Maggie's smile was sad, weak and timid. We have so much left unsaid. "We've got apple pie," Maggie announced before she began leading the way to her trailer. Careful, I decided to join them. Even if I didn't speak. All I did, was sit in the far back and listen.
KPOV
After everything, after sharing the night with Negan, only to be encouraged to hurry back to my room, to get some sleep and to be comfortable tonight, I wanted nothing more than to beat him senseless. I'm getting tired of letting him use me, of him abusing me, treating me like I'm a trophy-play-thing.
I knew my worth, which was why I held on and kept living another day. I had a baby inside me. I had a plan and I had a mission that I was ready to end. I'm almost done. I just need a few more pieces of information. I need to know how he runs this, even if it is through fear.
Thoughts of the doctor woke me up from my dream and I spent most of the early hours of the morning, laying awake in bed. Until I reminded myself of the things that could of happened to me, had I not acted first and it motivated me to keep doing what I had to, in order to survive.
Resting my hand over my stomach, I eventually fell back to sleep, as I knew me not trying to sleep, would only harm the both of us. When morning broke, I had gotten dressed up, ready to start the day, in my casual, tight black dress. I took my vitamin tablet before I heard the door open.
There was no knock on it, so as I turned slowly, I thought of three options. It was Negan, Dwight, or someone else. As my body was in defence mode, no voice was heard. Not until I gradually faced them, the door slowly shutting behind him as our eyes met.
If I don't fear Negan, you really think I'm going to fear you? I kept my head high as the eyes that looked into mine, were angry. They were deadly and I had a feeling, I knew what was coming next...
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. It was all mostly made up, to cover the events more or less of what happened in the episode that followed Eugene and Dwight around during the aftermath of Daryl's disappearance.
I know there are many loose ends but they'll all be cleared up eventually. Promise. And next chapter is going to be tense. So be ready. It's back to the Rick show with small moments of Kat in the Sanctuary squeezed into it.
You know the deal. 10 REVIEWS. THAT'S THE DEAL. THE SOONER I GET THESE REVIEWS, THE SOONER I'LL POST THE NEXT CHAPTER.
And, HAPPY NEW YEAR! I hope everyone had a lovely festive season, a merry christmas and all the other things you can have this time of year.
Questions you can answer in the reviews:
1) What did you think of this chapter?
2) Favourite scene in this chapter?
3) What did you think about Kat's plan?
4) Did her plan against Dr Carson feel believable to you?
5) Do you think Kat and Dwight can actually trust each other?
Until those 10 reviews are gifted...
Much love,
HeroJustInTime90
