I don't own TWD series/ comic. Any recognizable scenes are from TWD comics, volume 21, All out war part 2. Enjoy, sorry for grammar mistakes.
*5th of December, 2015*
Negan had told his Saviors they were going to war, but war came to them first. Alexandria, the Kingdom and Hilltop had come at their gates and had broken in. The Sanctuary was flooded with undead. The Saviors were all stuck in the factory, a team was getting out every once in a while to clear the place. The leader had declared this morning they couldn't stay more than a few days trapped in the factory. All the people would need to get out eventually.
It would already be done if the Saviors' leader had not left to battle right after seeking vengeance. They had gone to war against Alexandria and came back victorious… The Alexandrians had fled to Hilltop for now.
The girl turned on herself and decapitated a zombie and sliced one's head in half. Her arms were burning and she was tired; she had been at it nonstop for 20 minutes. There were too many walkers even though their number was diminishing.
'' We get back in! Hurry the fuck inside!'' Negan ordered.
Their team of five people quickly went back in the factory. Amelie leaned on her knees, panting as sweat dripped from her nose.
''You…need to…get to people out of here, today.'' The girl said.
The tall man turned to her: ''We'll get through them.''
''…but what if we don't? What if the door breaks? There are women and children in here; they must be moved somewhere safer!'' She protested.
He pinched the bridge of his nose: ''Fuck!'' The leader straightened: ''Amelie; gather all the women and children and bring them on the last floors of the factory and make sure they have another way out of here if things go shitty. Take two men with you.''
She nodded and went to jog away, but Negan stopped her by grabbing her upper arm: ''You must protect them.'' He told her seriously.
''With my life.''
The leather clad man patted her cheek: ''Stay fucking safe.''
She nodded, chose two Saviors and they went deeper into the factory.
Xxxxxx
''Why can't I stay with you?'' Theo asked.
She knelt and grabbed his shoulders, trying to not put too much undead gore on him: ''It's safer here…Sherry will watch over you.''
His tiny hand clutched the knife at his waist: ''I know how to kill zombies: I can help.''
The girl sighed: ''You're seven years old Theo. There is an army of them out there. Listen; you stay in these rooms and you keep people inside safe, okay? I'll be outside at the doors.''
Reluctantly, he nodded seriously: '' It's all because of the bad people, isn't it?''
Amelie frowned: '' The bad people?''
'' those who broke the fence and attacked us…''
The young woman rubbed her brow: ''Theo…c'est plus compliqué que ça. Ne répète pas ce que je vais te dire, mais si tout ceci arrive, maintenant, c'est la faute de Negan. Les gens qui ont défoncé la porte ne sont pas méchant.''
'' Ils nous ont attaqués et Negan m'a dit qu'ils étaient méchants! '' He protested.
She grabbed his forearm and she indicated him to sit with her, a bit in the setback from the others: '' Listen and listen well, kid. What did I tell you to do when there is a situation of this kind? Or when you aren't sure?''
The boy looked at her with uncertainty: '' You told me to think…and to ask questions.''
''Did you?''
He shrugged: ''a little bit. I tried to think of a reason for them to attack us…I didn't know why they did. I asked Negan: he said they were bad.''
She nodded: '' So… you only asked one person…and you can't tell why they attacked. Do you think it is enough to judge them?''
He looked down sheepishly: ''No…''
The girl tapped his nose with her pointer finger: ''Exactly.''
'' So…do you know why?''
The woman hummed positively: '' Theo…the Saviors are not the good guys. The people you saw out there…they were not attacking; they were defending.''
'' But we didn't attack them!''
The fact that he was using the terms 'us' and 'we' did not escape her; the child was considering the Saviors like his people. Like he was part of them.
'' You think that, Theo…But how often have you seen the men getting out of the Sanctuary, carrying weapons?''
He scowled: ''Often.''
''How often have you been out there with them to see what was really happening?''
'' Not often…''
She passed a hand in his brown hair: ''You have your answers now, kid.''
His little fists clenched: '' then why are you here? Why are we here!? Why did we stay if they are bad?''
'' I will answer that later, Theo. Now be good and keep an eye on the people here.''
The kid grumbled a bit, but acquiesced nonetheless.
Xxxxxx
The sun had set a long time ago; it had been the night for hours now. Amelie sat in the stairs leading to the vulnerable people of the Sanctuary, her blades across her knees. She was tired and still dirty from the past afternoon and the girl was barely holding herself up.
'' It's done. The place is fucking clear, but the fence is ruined; we had to put two cars in front of the hole.''
Her head rose to him and she slowly got to her feet, leaning on one of her blades. She saw that he was alone and so she spoke: ''This has to stop.''
His eyes were hard: '' Indeed. Rick will pay.''
The girl shook her head: ''no…the war needs to stop. It is enough: make peace with the others!''
He brought his face inches from hers: ''Not. Here.'' He growled, taking her arm and dragging her in the hallways to a more recluse place.
The man pushed her away: '' They fucked up the Sanctuary. They will pay, Amelie.'' Negan said darkly.
'' When will it stop!? Someone will always want to get even! You've gotten your revenge: You killed that girl that broke the fence; they fled Alexandria because you destroyed it! You have prisoners. What more do you want? You started it, now is the time to make amends for what you've done before it gets worst if that's possible! ''
Placing his forearm against her collarbones, he shoved her into a wall: ''What I've fucking done? I have protected people! I've killed the walkers outside! I've offered a safe place for those fucks who needed it! Killing one person here and there and making a few threats to keep everything working are worth it!''
She snarled: ''Don't you see? It's more than one person here and there! Saviors are dead Negan! Your men died! By handfuls! You are abusing people instead of working with them! There are monsters outside; a common enemy to us all and instead you fight with people!''
They glared at each other for a few seconds and the man released her: ''Tomorrow we march to Hilltop where they had run to. You will come with us.''
The girl shook her head: ''I won't kill people!''
Negan shot her a cold glance: ''We'll see that.''
They were both disturbed by small, rapid steps as Theo ran up to Negan. The little boy hugged his leg never minding the blood there: '' Are we okay now? ''he asked, looking up at him with big, hopeful eyes.
The man's demeanor softened and he patted the kid's head: ''Yeah. There are no more dead inside the Sanctuary.''
Amelie scolded her child: '' Theo…you were supposed to stay with the others…and you should be sleeping.''
He hid a bit behind Negan's legs, clutching his pant: ''…But I was worrying about you two… I was scared.'' He said in a little voice.
The young woman sighed and knelt on one knee, extending her arms: '' Come here.''
Theo hurried in her embrace and nuzzled her neck as she rose with him. The girl kissed him on the forehead: ''are you ready to sleep, now?''
He nodded against her skin and she glanced one last time at the leader before going to his house.
Xxxxxx
It was the middle of the night and Amelie was kneeling behind a tree with Dwight. They had been talking for some time now, whispering aggressively.
''…We'll be forced to fight them!'' the girl hissed.
The burned man slid a hand over his tired face: ''I know Amelie… but we don't have a choice. ''
She pinched the bridge of her nose: ''… what about the prisoners Negan took?''
'' It's settled. Carson is on our side; he'll take them away as soon as we leave.''
The girl nodded, relieved: '' And Eugene?''
''…will be brought along.''
There was a silent pause and Amelie sighed: ''What a mess…''
He scoffed: ''You can say it.''
The girl looked at him with sad eyes and cupped his wrong cheek with her hand: '' I'm sorry for what happened to you…''
'' Yeah…I bet…you had warned me before leaving and I didn't listen. It's the past now.'' Dwight muttered as he stood.
She rose too: '' You're strong; we'll get through this and everything will end well.''
He slowly shook his head: '' I admire your positivity, but I don't know about that… And lately, I feel like I will never have Sherry back.''
Amelie grabbed his shoulder and squeezed it gently: '' If you two really love each other, you'll get back together. ''
He thanked her and they both left toward their own places.
Xxxxxx
*6th of December 2015*
'' Stop fucking looking at me like this.'' Negan growled at her.
Amelie glanced away; even her hard eyes coupled with her judgmental stare couldn't stop him. She tightened the belt around her hips and bent to attach her long leather boots.
Sighing loudly, the man turned to her: ''I'd rather stay home and do something else. Killing those fucks doesn't make me happy. All this bullshit doesn't make me fucking happy, okay!? But they won't comply! I'm cutting that shit down, now so I won't have to do it later.''
'' Fighting and killing are never the solutions.''
The tall man walked to her and gripped her chin: '' Keep believing that, darling. ''
His hand went down and he laced her wrist guards himself and surprisingly made sure all her equipment was properly attached and in place.
''go speak to your kiddo before we leave…I'll wait for you at the car.''
She nodded and headed toward her child's bedroom where he was playing with some toys Negan had probably found during her absence. She crouched at his side and explained him the situation.
''Why do you need to go?'' he asked innocently.
She petted his hair backward:'' I must Theo, that's all. Our chief ordered it.''
The little boy hugged her waist: '' You will be brave and then you will come back?''
Perhaps, perhaps not.
'' Yes, I will…I will do my best to come back.'' She reassured him. ''You will be good while I'm gone okay? ''
Solemnly, he nodded: '' Okay then; I will wait for you.''
Xxxxxx
The Saviors stood not far from the Hilltop, hidden by the forest around them. Negan was gazing at the town in front of him: ''We attack at sundown.''
One of his man answered him: ''We'll be ready.''
Their leader joined his hands behind his back, Lucille in his clutch: ''I fucking know you will. Now, rest up, lay low, stay out of sight. The shit's going to hit the fan like a goddamn tornado in a few hours. I gotta get something to eat.''
Amelie was still staring at Hilltop with sad eyes, knowing what was to come. The Saviors had four trucks and one was filled with undead. They had many men…
There would be deaths on both sides…a lot of them.
Negan's deep voice pulled her out of her reverie: ''Canadian! Get your ass over here.''
She sighed and obeyed, walking to him like an obedient dog: ''Sir?'' She grumbled, putting on a show of respect in front of his men.
''Come and eat with me.''
Translation : Theo…c'est plus compliqué que ça. Ne répète pas ce que je vais te dire, mais si tout ceci arrive, maintenant, c'est la faute de Negan. Les gens qui ont défoncé la porte ne sont pas méchant.''= ''Theo…it's more complicated than that. Don't repeat what I'll tell you, but if all this is happening, it's Negan's fault. The people who broke down the gates were not the bad guys.''
'' Ils nous ont attaqués et Negan m'a dit qu'ils étaient méchants!'' = ''They attacked us and Negan told me they were bad!''