Chapter 38

We came up to the hotel, our path illuminated by Negan's flashlight along with a scattering of solar lights stuck in the ground and on posts. The hotel itself wasn't brightly lit, choosing to sit in eerie dimness which made it look decrepit and empty. Up close it was easy to see that it was well maintained if not a bit worn down. The façade was grimy from lack of attention and the landscaping wasn't as immaculate as I pictured it to be a few years ago, but it was large and enclosed, and those were its most redeeming qualities now.

Negan toured us around to the back of the building and guided me up a set of stairs onto an expansive terrace, his heavy arm hanging around my shoulders like it always tended to do. It was how he liked to keep me close even though I was always near him. It was another way to make clear he was the one in charge; he decided where and when I stepped with a simple strain of his forearm. At this particular moment, he pulled on me as we came to a stop in front of a paned glass door and drew me close to his side. I glanced up to see him looking down at me from the corner of his eyes, a teasing spark in them.

"Take off your socks," he said.

I looked down at my feet for a moment before using them to slide off the dirt soaked cotton, flinging them to the side of the door with my toes. I didn't dare catch Negan's eye again because I figured what I had just done was bad manners, but I was tired of pretending to care. I heard his deep, raspy laugh and he let me go, opening the door and poking his head inside to look around.

"You have one of two options," he glanced at me over his shoulder with a smirk. "You can follow me in with your nasty-as-shit pants on which may or may not earn you a tongue lashing from Kai if he happens to lays eyes on you or-"

"Who's Kai?" I blurted out and Negan stared at me with a patient smile. He turned to me but kept the door open with his left hand.

"Or," he continued, a chastising finger rising in front of my face, "you can be a champ, leave your pants out here, and come in with a warm welcome."

I gave him a dirty look. "Did you really need to mention the second one?"

"Well," he shrugged with an ease smile and gestured under his extended arm, "I'll let you give it a go."

I released a heavy breath and stomped up to the door, bending down to cross the threshold under his arm. The granite tile was cool on my feet which had me almost moaning - the comfort on my tender feet was immediate. I gazed around as the door shut behind me and I felt Negan at my tail, his goading fingers pressing into the small of my back.

I took a step forward, examining the softly lit, open space. It was bare save for a built-in desk to the left. There were no chairs, tables, or artwork. They must've been moved or used for something else. Negan kept his persisting fingers poking into my back and I walked, moving in the direction he bided me to go.

We were rounding the first corner when a booming voice shook me, and I spun around, clutching Negan's hand in surprise.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Hell no! Go back outside. You're not coming in here with this shit."

A tall, burly man strode up to us pointing at the door we had just walked through. His hair was a dark blond and shaved on the sides, but longer on the top. Two piercings marked his right eyebrow and the tips of a tattoo curled its way out from the collar of his shirt. He was handsome and young, but older than me, and he carried himself in such a way that it reminded me instantly of Negan.

"Come on, lady. Out. You're not fucking my shit up in here," he snapped his fingers at me while still pointing at the door.

"Everly, Kai. Kai, Everly," Negan introduced us with a wide, shit-eating grin.

"Nice to meet you, Everly. Now get the fuck out," Kai said, his voice heavy with a New England accent.

My eyebrows twitched as I stayed put, confused on whether I should do what Kai wanted or stay with Negan. I looked between the two of them, one of them smiling at me with a told-you-so expression and the other annoyed by my messy presence.

"What? Is she fucking deaf or somethin'?" Kai asked Negan while shaking his head and gesturing at me.

Negan laughed at his remark and Kai hit me again with intense gray-blue eyes. He walked up to me, bending down just like Negan did when he wanted to intimidate someone. He leveled his gaze with my own and each word he spoke next was drawn out as if he was speaking to someone with a low mental capacity.

"Get the fuck outside now, do whatever it is that you need to do so you don't look like," he diverted his eyes momentarily at my pants, "that and then you can prance your merry fucking way back in. But do it quickly before I grab you by your scrawny ass neck and throw you out."

He kept stance, fighting a silent battle with me while I held onto Negan's hand for dear life. Why wasn't he standing up for me? Would he let Kai hurt me? I gasped when Kai shot out a hand with fingers as rough and callused as Negan's and wrapped it around the base of my skull. I let go of Negan, and brought both hands up to the one Kai had on me, trying to pry his fingers loose before he could drag me back to the door.

"Kai," Negan's voice was a tame warning and he gripped Kai's forearm. Reluctantly, I was let go.

I pushed past the two of them and practically ran for the back door, flinging it open to escape. I was shocked, and I didn't think that feeling could come as easily or forcefully as it just did from someone other than Negan.

I took in deep breaths to calm myself. He had almost let him do it. Negan just barely stopped Kai from ripping me away from him, and it felt like he only blocked him out of obligation.

"Remove your pants," a voice commanded from behind me, and I was so lost in my thoughts I couldn't register who it belonged to.

"I don't have anything else to put on," I whispered over my shoulder, but I didn't hear an answer for a time.

A smart rap on the paned glass door set me on the edge again, and my fingers instantaneously went to my button and zipper, remembering the first day I stayed in the Sanctuary. I pulled the soiled clothing to my ankles and stepped out of them, shivering from the chilled air and my highly strung nerves. I faced the door and saw the both of them standing there, their eyes on me, and Negan wasn't smiling anymore.

"Now pick that filth up and get rid of it," Kai demanded. "I don't want to see it out here in the morning. You're fucking lucky you didn't get any of that shit inside."

Kai left with a small, smirking scoff, striding down the hallway where Negan had begun to lead me before. I rubbed my hands up my arms and pressed my bare legs together as I nervously shifted focus to Negan, and his chest sunk in as he let out breath.

"Come on," he said lightly and flicked two fingers at me.

I gathered my pants and socks, turning the jeans inside out so mud wouldn't drip anywhere and I wouldn't have to face the boisterous wrath that was Kai. He scared me as much as Negan did, but I didn't know him which made the terror fresh and unpredictable. And I hated to say it, but I felt…used to Negan now. We knew each other, maybe not well, but we'd shared parts of ourselves with the other, and the things I divulged I never thought I'd speak about again. It set a thin, but undeniable line of understanding that connected us.

I followed Negan inside again and kept my gaze lowered as he led me through the hotel, feeling absolutely naked despite the shirt and underwear I wore. He opened the stairwell door and held it open for me. I stepped past him and climbed up the stairs, my bundle of clothing pressed to my chest. When we reached the second floor landing, Negan's finger tips tugged on my bare hip and I halted, facing him.

"Here," he spoke in a low voice. He unzipped his jacket and slipped it from his shoulders.

I took it from his offering hands and in turn, he grabbed my bunched clothes so I could hold his jacket around my waist.

"Thank you," I whispered. The action was kind but belated.

"I'd hate to have to punish you again," he whispered, moving close to me. He ran a hand down my arm. "I'd hate it even more if had to watch while I let Kai do it."

My throat clench at how serious he looked.

"Promise me you won't defy me again." He leaned into me, his bearded cheek scratching mine. "Tell me you'll be a good girl."

"I will," I whispered.

"You will what?"

"I'll be good."

I didn't want to go any further than that. It felt wrong, but Negan's expression advised that he wasn't fully satisfied with my answer. I swallowed down my pride and said, "I'll be a good girl."

"Yeah, you will," he surmised and smiled. He pulled me against him in a hug and placed his lips against my forehead. "You'll be my good girl."

The convoy entered the Sanctuary gates, driving around to park in the back. The morning was early, sunlight barely breaking out over the tree tops in shades of pink and yellow. Daryl grimaced as he brought the truck to a stop next to the other vehicles. He wasn't ready for an encore of Dr. Carson's pitiful whimpering, and as he popped open his door, his ears were assaulted by that exact desperate crying.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Dr. Carson pleaded, his words stringing together to sound like one as he was taken from a van.

"Shut the fuck up!" Jared yelled as he grabbed the sobbing doctor from the hands of another Savior and slammed him on the ground.

"I ain't watchin' this shit," Daryl mumbled to Alan and Shawn before stomping off.

"Let him go," Shawn told Alan as he made to go after him. Jared had Carson pinned on the ground as he smacked him around. "I don't want to see this shit either."

Daryl pushed his way inside, storming through the winding halls until he reached Everly's room. He raised his hand to knock, but hesitated. He was still scared of being rejected, and he wouldn't fully blame her if she did. He wasn't too proud of himself anymore.

"She's not there."

Daryl turned to see Dwight walking down the hallway toward him, and Daryl lowered his fist. He thought she'd be back by now and worried thoughts flooded his mind.

"She's ain't back already?" He asked.

Dwight shook his head and shrugged his shoulder. He had a cucumber and knife in his hands, slicing off a piece and then devouring it. He gestured over his shoulder for Daryl to follow him.

"There's something we need to talk about."

"I ain't got shit to talk to you about," Daryl growled and turned his back on him.

"I've got booze and an offer," Dwight said.

Daryl stopped and clutched his fists. What he really wanted was to go to his room, fall into bed and not get up until Everly got back. Apparently, that would be asking for too much because Dwight walked up to his side, crunching on another piece of cucumber. It took all the strength left in Daryl not to slam a fist into the side of his scarred face.

"You'll wanna hear what I've got to say," Dwight muttered, looking up and down the hallway. "It'll only take a few minutes."

Daryl speculated at the man, curious about his actions and slightly anxious demeanor. He supposed it wouldn't hurt to find out what Dwight wanted, and if he didn't like what he heard, he could choke the fucker out before hitting the hay.

"Make it quick. I ain't got any patience for bullshit today," Daryl grumbled.

Dwight flicked up his eyebrows and rolled his eyes before setting off down the corridor to his room. Daryl followed, listening to the irritating smacking sounds Negan's lieutenant made as he ate his snack. They reached Dwight's room quickly, and the occupant threw open the door to let his guest sidle inside.

"Make yourself comfortable," Dwight suggested, but Daryl remained silently standing. Dwight sighed. "Suit yourself."

He sat on his bed, carving off another piece of the vegetable before tossing it aside and eating his last bite. He sat forward and placed his elbow on his knees, getting comfortable but ready to spring up if Daryl tried something. He knew this conversation wouldn't be easy.

"I've got a plan to get you outta here. Sherry and I've been working on it."

Daryl didn't move, his narrowed eyes were stone as they stared at Dwight.

"I'm gonna get you set up," Dwight continued, hoping he'd be able to say all he needed to before Daryl decided to storm out. "There's a place halfway between here and Alexandria. It's a small cabin that's been deserted long before today. It's barely standing up, but the area around it is clear and secluded. No one knows about it but me."

Dwight paused to study Daryl for a reaction and let out a huff of breath when there was none.

"There's food and clothes there. You'll be able to hide long enough for Negan to check Alexandria twenty times over before you have to move on."

"No," Daryl stated flatly.

"Let me finish," Dwight started.

"No," Daryl said and made for the door.

"Everly is going, too," Dwight appealed, getting up to meet Daryl at the door. "I'm going to make sure she's with you when you leave. You aren't going to leave her here alone. I won't allow it."

Daryl turned blazing eyes on him then and grabbed Dwight by the shirt. He yanked the smaller man forward and peered savagely down at him.

"Don't speak her fucking name like you care about her. You don't care 'bout no one but your rotten self."

"Daryl, easy," Dwight soothed, placing his hands on top of Daryl's. "You both are leaving. I fucking swear to you. Just hear me out."

Daryl took in a few deep breaths before releasing Dwight with a rough shove. Dwight stumbled back a bit and adjusted his shirt. Anger was starting to grow in him, and he attempted to smother it before speaking once more.

"I've been stashing a fucking cache of weapons and ammo in that cabin for the past month, waiting for the right time to do this. It was originally meant for Sherry and me, but your group was that incessant fucking dinger going off in my head, telling me there was another way to handle all of this; a harder, but permanent way."

"What the hell do ya even mean?" Daryl gruffly asked, confused.

"It means we won't have to run or hide anymore. I've been planning a way to kill Negan since I dragged my sorry ass back here and threw my wife's well-being into the mix," Dwight said, sniffing and working on maintain his irritation. "I've talked to other groups who feel the same way I do, but it was never enough. Now, I think it might be. And I need you to listen to me for fucking once and do what I say."

"What you say don't mean shit to me," Daryl replied in a rising voice. "I can't trust a lick of what comes out of your mouth any more than I'd bend over and let Negan fuck me the way you let him do you and your wife."

It was Dwight's moment now to grab hold of Daryl as he rushed at him and pinned him against a shelf, books and various items falling around them to blend in with the already cluttered floor.

"Don't you fucking talk about her like that, you piece of shit," Dwight threatened.

Daryl shoved him back, overpowering the smaller man and pushing him to the floor. Daryl towered over him, rearing back a fist to pummel him into oblivion, but he stopped himself. He was fighting against an opportunity he'd been dying to have since he'd been caged in this place. Why was he struggling so hard to prove it a lie?

"You're afraid, aren't you?" Dwight told him from the ground. Daryl pushed his lips together and raised his fist higher. "You're afraid of becoming me."

"I ain't," Daryl muttered.

"You are and you will if you stay here for much longer," Dwight warned, his ire ebbing away as he realized how true it was. He wanted Daryl to believe him. "You've gotta go, man."

Daryl thought for a moment, predicting as far as he could what would happen if he chose not to reckon with Dwight. It was dicey to rely on the word of a supposed enemy, but what other options did he have? And how could he let Everly stay here much longer? He dropped his fist and backed away from Dwight, allowing him the space to stand up again.

"You better not be lyin' to me," Daryl demanded, and Dwight nodded his head. Daryl had one more thing to add before the conversation went any further. "If it turns out you are, that you're settin' me up somehow, I will fuckin' kill you. I promise ya that."

The two stared at each other, and Dwight eventually stuck out his hand as a sign of good faith. Daryl hesitantly took it.

"I ain't," he said, quoting Daryl, and gave him a crooked smile. "You want some of that booze now?"

"You'll be back, right?"

His ghost was a white light blinding the solitary space and filling me, and I couldn't move, couldn't speak. Sight was a peerless sense, but faithful by my side. When he spoke, it wasn't with his mouth, but it was with his thoughts and he pushed them into my mind like a touch of a feather against my temples.

"You won't leave me, will you, Evie?"

He lips rose in the same goofy smile he'd always had, mischievous and childish. And he was a child - so small and so innocent. He'd done no wrong, but his eyes were jaded orbs and they were lonesome. He was mine.

"You'll be back."

His lips were moving now and his voice came out in a whisper as he leaned next to my ear, wrapping small, bony arms around me. And I could feel him; feel the warmth draining form his body. And the light, it began to vanish too.

"I'm hungry."

The words slipped into a breathless groan as his jaw moved against mine. Pinpricks stimulated my fingers, and I brought my awakening hands to cradle his thin ribcage. I pulled him away from me gently, already smiling and eager to see his face again. But it wasn't the same as before.

He was dead, burn marks blossoming from his chin to his belly in a red, poisoned pool.

"He made me empty."

He moaned and bared his teeth which were stained red with acidic, bloody vomit. Milky, spiritless eyes searched the air without aim, and his hands reached to cover mine, trying to push them away. But I wouldn't let him as his rigid fingers dug into my skin. He wouldn't be alone anymore.

"I'm here. It's okay," I whispered.

And I crushed him to my chest, confining his head next to mine as he clawed at my arms. He growled and it was a siren call of forlorn alarm that matched perfectly with the living dead. And I shushed him, stroking his blond head as I brought it down against my neck.

"Take me with you," I prayed, and splintered teeth pierced my skin.

I felt warm hands shaking me, holding me down on something both cushioned and hard. I struggled to get up, unable to open my eyes as Mason ripped chunks of flesh from me, but then I was lifted and held against something firm. And I soared out of the illusion and into the day.

I gasped in air, my nails digging into Negan's bare back as he held me against him; and I clung to him, listening to the reassuring murmurs he breathed into my hair. I shuddered and closed my eyes, driving Mason's dead, sorrowful face from the back of my eyelids.

"It's alright, sweetheart. Big Daddy's got you." Negan's attempts at humor fell hard. It made me realize who I had my arms wrapped around. I pushed him away, noticing he at least had jeans on but nothing else.

"What're you doing?" I asked, flustered. I ran a hand through my tangled hair and adjusted my ruffled shirt. My body began to relax as Negan made to slip his hands away, but they lingered at my sides.

"You never told me you had night terrors," Negan accused but his voice was easy.

"I don't," I grumbled and swallowed down a lump.

"You just did," he pointed out with raised eyebrows.

"It's none of your business," I countered with a grimace and scooted painfully against the armrest of the tiny couch I had slept on.

Negan kept his hands in place, and they slid down to my hips as I moved away from him. I waited for him to get up and finish dressing, which he'd apparently been in the middle of when he came to my imagined rescue, but he stayed fix on the cushion by my legs.

"You sore?" He asked benignly. "I can set you up with a nice hot bath. This fucking place even has bath salts if you want to add in a little spice to simmer your soup."

"I'll take it, but I can manage myself," I answered quickly.

I was aching from my shoulders to my toes, but I'd felt much worse, and a steaming bath had my mouth watering.

"You sure you don't want any helping hands? I've got two," Negan offered and held them up for my inspection. "They're quite the magical set, and also great for hard-to-reach places. I have a tingling feeling in the most generous fucking parts of me that you'll have a tough go of hitting certain spots for a while. I just want to extend my help."

"God, do you ever quit?" I snapped and swung my stiff legs from by his side and over the edge of the sofa.

"I wouldn't be myself if I did," he chuckled.

I stood up gingerly while swatting away one of Negan's 'helping' hands.

"I'm fine," I growled.

"Jeeesus, you are fucking grumpy in the morning."

I shot him a glare as he grinned up at me from the loveseat and began to limp to the bathroom door. He laughed again as he watched me.

"You look like you took a hard fist up the ass the night before," he commented and stood up beside me.

"Negan," I warned.

"I get it, you're a big girl and can do it all by your big girl self, but humor me."

I sighed and let him wrap a lending arm around my waist as he assisted me into the bathroom. I leaned against the counter where he directed me and watched him turn the taps of the bath. The noise of rushing water distended the room and Negan came up to me, getting down on his knees. I flinched as he reached toward my thighs.

"What're you doing?" I asked for the second time that morning.

"Getting the bath salts," Negan pointed to the sink with a smirk, and I glanced at the cabinet doors behind my legs.

I narrowed suspicious eyes at him. "Sure."

He gave me a wink and I moved out of his way. I crossed my arms as he reached inside the open door and produced a glitzy box of coconut scented Epsom salt. He shook it at me before closing the cabinet and turning to dispense some of the contents into the rising water.

"You're all set, pumpkin pie. Enjoy yourself."

Negan placed the box on the counter with a smile. I gazed briefly at his topless chest.

"You're being awfully nice for having put me in this position," I observed and diverted my eyes.

"I'm an awfully nice guy," he shrugged and left the room.

I scoffed and slammed the door shut as he exited; nice, my ass. He just liked to pretend. I tore my old t-shirt off, frowning at the soreness in my back and stomach. Although I'd only run, I strained more muscles than I'd thought. Riding in the back of Simon's truck was probably the main cause of my abdominal and back pain, but my nightly jog hadn't helped either.

I shimmied the clean pants I'd put on last night down my legs, bending over with a groan and holding onto the edge of the counter to push them off with one hand. It pissed me off that Negan was right about it being hard to reach certain spots because I could barely stretch a finger past my knees without pain screaming up my legs. With one foot out, I stepped on the bunched pants and pulled out the other. My underwear was much easier, the thinner fabric gliding down my legs mostly on its own.

I remembered Kai and how he'd looked at me the night before. He'd been unnerving. Nearly more than Negan was nowadays, but the true misery was left in wondering what Negan would let him do to me if I pissed him off again. It was clear he respected Kai. Maybe about as much as he respected Simon and they were basically the best of friends. I was aware how Negan felt about me, but it was superficial at best. All that really protected me was the potential between my legs, and I knew that he'd grow tired of that hunt eventually. I just had to wait it out.

That wasn't all I was good for, though. I was going to surprise him with my other abilities just as soon as I had everything figured out. First, I'd have to gather some intel on this place. I had a good heads start thanks to the girl at Somergrove, and I was pondering what I could do when the door clicked open behind me.

"Get out!" I yelled, hiding the back of me against the counter and cupping the lower part of myself.

"Just bringing you your bag," Negan said as he sauntered in, tossing the mentioned item on the floor by the tub. "Figured you'd need what's inside to get squeaky clean."

I threw him daggers with my eyes. There were plenty of moments in my life where I'd been so angry that I was close to violence and this time was one of them. He was fully dressed, his leather jacket and scarf perfectly in place, so it was obvious he made sure to take his time before coming back in. He wanted to catch me like this.

"Fix your face, Everly," he cautioned. "I'm being extra fucking considerate to you today after you promised me last night you'd be a good girl. It'd be a shame if you broke it not even twenty-fucking-four hours in."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I even started counting backwards from ten, but started over at a hundred when that wasn't enough. His reverberating laugh forced my eyes open, it sounded too close to me.

"I've already seen your bruised as hell ass last night, so it's nothing new," he flicked his eyes to the mirror behind me, and I cursed myself for not doing the simplest thing and locking the damn door. "And there is no such thing as privacy when you share a room with me."

Gloved fingers grazed the top of my shoulder as he pushed my hair to the side. His jeaned knees brushed my thighs.

"You need help with this?" He asked, hooking a finger under the strap of my bra.

"No. Please, don't touch me."

He pulled on the strap and let it go with a snap, flashing his straight teeth. He took a step back.

"I'm not trying to be cheeky."

"I didn't think you were." I turned my head away from him to hide what I really thought. "Can I bathe now? Alone?"

My skin burned where I imagine his eyes were and a few seconds passed before he spoke.

"There's food in the room. Make sure you eat when you're done. We won't be here too long."

"Splendid," I replied and waited until I heard the door click shut again to move.

I pressed the button, securing myself inside the room, and I waited for the doorknob to jiggle because I expected Negan to try to come in again, but I heard the door leading out to the hallway open and close instead. I loosened my tense muscles and brought a hand to my head.

"Only a few more days," I promised myself and hoped that to be true. As weird as it seemed, I was ready to be back at the Sanctuary.

Edited by lolasskicker.

Since I couldn't message you back, thank you Starsurfing for your marvelous review. There will be more jealous Daryl, I'm sure, and of course, more drama to follow that.

I was pleased to see that the last chapter wasn't as...hmmm...corny as I thought it might be. I'm kind pushing into unsure territory with Negan and Everly's relationship. I can't decide myself what's gonna happen. AH! HELP! lol