Hi wonderful readers!
First off, I want to apologize for the delay in getting this next chapter up. Working a full time job + normal life events = not a lot of free time to write. But, I finally had some time this weekend to be able to sit down and crank out a bit.
I also just finished binging Stranger Things, and I've got a few ideas for a story for that show plus a few others I've had on my backburner, so if you're a fan of that show and/or like my writing, be sure to put me on your follow list.
Now, without further ado, the next chapter!
"Just aim it at the cans, it's not that hard Allie!"
"Shane, please. You yelling at me is not going to make me shoot any better!"
Rick shook his head at the siblings as they bickered their way through target practice. Allie had just gotten her first pistol from their dad as a 16th birthday present, and Shane had been tasked with teaching her how to shoot. Rick had come along for fun, as Lori had been busy that day, and he was glad he was able to enjoy the show the siblings had been putting on for him.
"Look down the barrel, aim and shoot. I really don't know what else to tell you, Al." Shane was becoming frustrated with her inability to be a successful shot.
"I AM trying that, but it's not working," she said, as she took another shot and missed.
Shane threw up his hands in frustration. "Rick, you do it! I can't handle her anymore!"
Shane stormed off back towards the car, rubbing the back of his neck. Rick looked back and forth between the two siblings. He shrugged his shoulders and made his way over to Allie.
"You alright?" he asked.
She sighed. "I'm fine, I just don't know what I'm doing wrong"
Rick stood next to her. "Take a deep breath. Widen your stance. Aim your gun. Make eye contact with your target. Breath again. Then shoot. Focus and concentrate."
Allie took a deep breath and did exactly as he had said. Widened her stance, aimed, locked into her target, took one more breath, and pulled the trigger. The middle can they had set up earlier made a noise as the bullet hit it square on.
Shane looked over from the car and noticed the fallen target.
"Son of a bitch!"
...
Allie fired six bullets into the pyramid of rusted cans that she had set up for herself, taking each one down with perfect aim. Since making a home in the newly rebuilt Alexandria, she decided that she should make sure she hadn't lost the defense skills that made it possible to live in this run-down society. Satisfied with her accomplishment, she decided to take her confidence over to Rick's house.
Rick sat on the porch with Michonne as Judith played with blocks, passing the time. The weather wasn't too hot this afternoon, and there weren't any pressing runs to go on. He noticed Allie sauntering over to their house. She was dressed in a black and white plaid shirt, jeans and gym shoes, hair pulled into a high ponytail. He knew she was on a mission with the way she walked, he was all too familiar with that sway.
"What can I do for you, Allie Cat?" he called over to you.
She nodded over to Michonne. "She mentioned you guys have a prisoner at the other camp. I wanna meet him"
Rick shook his head. "Absolutely not. No way, I'm not letting you anywhere near him."
Allie folded her arms over her chest. "I'm probably right to assume you have somebody keeping an eye on him all hours of the day, that requires manpower. Manpower I can help provide. I still can shoot just as well as I could have, plus it would be nice to be able to spend some time with the other camp. I want to meet him, and I want a shift watching him."
"I already said the answer was no. This isn't up for discussion."
Allie sighed, knowing she had to pull out the only weapon she didn't want to use, or know the answer to. But it was the only way to get what she wanted.
"Rick, how did Shane die?"
Rick looked at her, his face immediately dropping. "He was overrun. We were out in a field by the farm we were staying on, we ended up getting swarmed, had to leave and start fresh."
Allie tilted her head and locked in on his face. "Now why do I feel like that's not the whole truth, Rick? You've mentioned this story before, and I have no doubt he was overrun, but it feels like the story is missing something. When it's your best friend passing in front of you, I would think that you'd have more depth, like every detail would be burnt into your brain. Now, because I know you're hiding something, I'm going to give you an out. You can tell me right now, and I'll leave the prisoner situation alone. I won't ask ever again. Or you can tell me about my brother on your time, when you're ready. But I meet the prisoner. Today. And I take a shift watching him. It's your call."
Michonne looked to Rick, worry and questioning what his decision would be. Rick's face remained unchanged from when it initially dropped. He took a deep breath, and looked Allie in the eyes.
"Get a bag together, grab your gun, maybe something to read. We'll head out in a half hour."
...
Allie perused the bookshelf in Rick's house for something to pass the time with. She couldn't shake the feeling of shame for having to blackmail Rick into what she wanted. But she knew he was hiding something about Shane's death from her, and she gave him the option to tell her on his terms. This was her one chance to use that as ammo, though. She hoped it would be worth it. She swiped Gone Girl from the bookshelf, and headed to the porch, where Rick was waiting for her. He started to lead her towards the car.
"Michonne is gonna stay with Judith, I'll take you over and stay til you're done."
"Sounds good, let's roll."
The ride to Hilltop was quiet, neither wanting to acknowledge the conversation that had led them to this journey. Rick eventually broke the silence.
"I'm gonna have someone in the room next to you when you're down there. If you feel uncomfortable, if he makes any move toward you, you yell and we'll come take care of it,"
Allie scoffed. "I'll be fine, Rick. I survived long enough on my own out here, I can take on one idiot if he thinks of trying anything."
"I don't care, this is non-negotiable. If you're going to do this, you're doing it on my terms. Is that understood?" He looked to her, the anger from their earlier conversation coming out.
She rolled her eyes. "Fine. But just this time. If I prove myself, next time I don't want anyone watching me."
"I thought this was a one-time thing. You wanted a shift."
"A regular shift, rotating with everyone else. I thought that was understood". She looked to Rick, her eyebrows raised.
Rick looked back onto the road. "You're pushing your luck, Walsh. You better watch yourself."
Allie turned toward the road as well. "I know".
...
As they parked at Hilltop, Maggie came out of the main building to greet Allie and Rick.
"Nice to see you again, Allie. What can we help you guys with today?"
"Who's watching Negan today? We've got a bit of a change in the schedule." Rick took the lead in this conversation.
"Daryl's down there right now. Shouldn't have a problem getting him out of there."
Rick nodded and led the path to their makeshift prison. Allie gave Maggie a slight nod, and said "Good to see you again, Maggie" before following Rick.
Rick opened the door to the cell room to see Daryl cleaning a knife on the floor in front of him. Daryl looked up to see Allie and immediately stood up.
"Woah, don't get too jumpy, assface. That kind of reaction is gonna get us both killed," a voice grumbled from the shadows of the room.
Rick and Allie made their way to Daryl.
"What're you doing here?" he grumbled.
Rick looked over to Negan, disgusted. "Looks like we've got a change in babysitters today. Got a new face for you, Negan."
Daryl looked to Allie, his face scowling as it looked at hers. "You serious?"
Allie met his scowl with her own. "I asked for this, I want to contribute."
"Plenty of other ways to help, princess"
"Leave me be, assface" she smirked when using the prisoner's nickname, and walked past Daryl. She glanced over her shoulder, "Really, I asked to do this. I need to do this. I'll be fine. See you when I'm done?"
Daryl chewed on his thumb and nodded at her, turning his back to walk out the door.
"Well shit, Rick, you brought me some eye candy. I have to say, this is much better than looking at Daryl's ugly mug for the evening."
Rick rolled his eyes and looked at Allie. "Daryl will be in the next room, remember what I said". He walked out and closed the door, leaving Allie in the room, with Negan behind the cell doors.
"So you're Negan, huh? I have to be honest, I was expecting someone more intimidating, didn't know I'd be stuck here with someone so underwhelming". She smiled as a feeling of relief fell over her. So far, he wasn't as intimidating as Rick had made him out to be.
"Well fuck, sweetheart, you sure know where to punch a man where it hurts. My balls didn't need that much of a beating."
"Get used to it. If I'm going to be around, that's probably all you're going to get from me."
"And who do I have the pleasure of getting my dick chopped off by this time?"
Allie rolled her eyes at his vulgarity. "I'm Allie. Let's get this shift over with."
Wow! I had intended to have so much more happen in this chapter, but once I had written so much, I knew I had to break it up into two. As I started writing, I knew I had to make Allie a little mischievous. I mean, if she's eventually going to have an interest in Negan, she kind of has to have a little bad blood to her, right? Next chapter we'll have a little more Negan interaction, followed by maybe a little Daryl? We'll see where the wind takes me. As always, please review/follow/favorite.
Peace. Love. Lo.