Newly Revised
"You found him!" Arat yelled out joyously.
"On the contrary," Negan said as he, Dwight, and Simon walked up, "I found them. Can't blame them, though. That one handed Dixon damn near got my gourd. Look at how that bastard charred up my Lucille!" he shouted, holding the scorched bat up for the Saviors to see. "Now, we've got a little change of plans. I was plannin' on giving them bastards a warning of what we were gonna do if they didn't give us Rick. Now? Now we're gonna let 'em all pay. We ain't goin' for the kill today, no sir-ee. You shoot to injure. Leave alive, let 'em turn. The more you hit, the more they work for us. There's only three people you're not allowed to hit."
"And who might that be?" Simon asked, worried about what the man had in store for the Hilltop.
"The little serial killer, his little spy-girl girlfriend, and Titania," he deadpanned. "Those two kids are the future we're tryin' to build and Ani? Well, we need her skills to help get others on board. Kill Daryl and his one-hand man, though. That'll break her spirit, make her work for us easier. Make it happen. Bring those kids and Ani to me."
"What happens if we nick one of them?" Arat asked.
"You'd best make sure your aim is right on the Goddamn money 'cause you hit those kids or that woman, your head? It's Lucille's. Capiche?"
"Got it, boss."
"Hit 'em hard, leave 'em hangin'," he told them before turning to Simon. "Simon, I'm gonna need a ride."
"Sure thing," Simon told him with a forced smile.
"Dwight-y boy," Negan said, smiling at the man. "Load up in back. I gotta chat a mite with Simon. Alone."
Dwight and Simon shared a look in which Simon gave an almost imperceptible nod before the two moved. While Simon and Negan climbed into the front of the box truck, Dwight climbed into the back, seeing the buckets of guts still in there to reapply the walker guts when they got to the Hilltop. He sighed and sat down as the truck began to move before he got an idea. Doing his best to make sure he wasn't caught, he began dumping out the buckets before dropping them on the ground. Since they were the last vehicle in the convoy, it was a relatively easy feat to pull off. Negan wasn't even paying attention to the mirrors as he was pissed by what the one-handed man had told him about the garbage people. If he had, he might've been able to make out the random splotches of blood and guts that paved the road behind them, the buckets the guts had been in rolling towards the sidewalk. If it weren't for the fact that their vehicle was the last in the convoy, everyone else would have been able to see his act of rebellion themselves. In the cab, Negan was looking at Simon in contemplation and anger since the man had done everything he'd been asked to since Negan had taken over the Sanctuary at the beginning of winter. Sure, he'd made a few mistakes before that; the man had managed to kill off the better part of a colony Negan had put him in charge of before that had gone off grid. This group, to be fair, had been fighting against Simon's own brand of saving and as such, they certainly had some divine retribution coming to them. But rather than making an example of just one like Negan did, Simon had taken a much stricter approach. He'd meant to kill off every man over fifteen and leave some of his own in place afterwards, but something had gone wrong. One of the men relaying his orders messed up the age and started taking every boy's life that could handle a gun at that time. Even Arat, one of Negan's most loyal and devout now, had killed just a ten year old holding a knife because of the mess up in orders. It didn't matter in the long run anyway, as the survivors of that carnage killed the men Simon had left with them and disappeared in the middle of the night, never to be seen or heard from again. The most troubling thing about that group was that they had also stolen quite the cache of weaponry from Simon's first post, weaponry that was as of yet unaccounted for. If what that man had said was true, Simon was responsible for a second colony being taken from their control and demolished.
"So, Simon, tell me about what happened with the garbage people," he said nonchalantly.
"Told you, standard message delivered," Simon told him, looking straight.
"Really, now? That's not what I heard." When Simon remained silent, Negan continued, "See, I heard that the garbage people are now the dead garbage people. And you suggested we take them out."
"If you remember correctly, sir," Simon said, "I suggested we cut bait and find new settlements. I didn't even want to deal with them. I suggested we stop dealing with all these people and find new outposts."
"And yet according to Rick's buddy, you shot 'em all up. If you have somethin' else to say about it, now's the time."
Simon stayed silent for a moment because Gary had been a loyal follower of his since he'd found him trying to save his brother back in the beginning. They'd bonded over their mutual loss of siblings, finding more people to join their cause before they'd taken over a colony for Negan after the man had assumed control of the Sanctuary from Simon, who'd taken it from Dwight. The only reason they'd even been able to keep any colony in line was because they had semi-automatics and plenty of bullets to fill them while the others only had a few guns with sparse ammunition. All of the colonies had been on board in the beginning when the outposts were set up, but the colonies soon began to fight against them, claiming they couldn't keep scavenging and gathering stuff for the Saviors as well as themselves. He knew he'd messed up with that colony after they'd decided to fight, he'd been loyal ever since and done his best to make up for his mistakes. But even with Negan breathing down his back and keeping a close eye on him, a lot of his men were simply because he'd kept them alive long before Negan had come around. In fact, the only reason Simon even ended up following Negan instead of taking him on was because he knew that in a one-on-one fight, he was as good as dead against the taller, stronger man. If there was one thing Simon had learned during the apocalypse, it was that you never picked a fight you couldn't win, and right now he was in a no-win situation. Whatever he did, Simon had to pick between his life or Gary's and he wasn't about to bite the bucket to make up for someone else's poor decision making.
"I sent Gary to deal with it," Simon confessed. "What do you mean, they're dead?"
"I mean, that every last one was shot up and left to turn. I told you to do it, Simon, not Gary. If I'd wanted Gary to handle it, I would've sent him, and now, I've got an entire colony gone because your orders got fucked up again," Negan said viciously. "Give me one good reason why I don't give you to Lucille as soon as we get to Hilltop. I'd love to hear what bullshit you could say to save your sorry head."
"I went lookin' for the little girl. You know, the one you said would make Ani fall in line," Simon started, weaving a tale as fast as he could in order to keep his head in tact. "Thought I could catch her before she got to the Hilltop and bring her back home. I told Gary I was headin' on a little recon mission for you and not to fuck it up."
"You told me everything went well," Negan said slowly, understanding why Simon would go after the little spy-girl but still not liking the outcome.
"I told you what Gary told me," Simon told him. "Look, I didn't know what he did. I wouldn't condone a move like that. Hell, I told you, I told you," he said as he hit the steering wheel as he repeated himself, "leave them alone! I said, 'go further out,' 'start anew.' But you wanted to push it. What Gary did? Yeah, I can admit, that's on me. I made a bad call trying to make sure that little girl was safe so we could bring her to the Sanctuary."
"Hell yes it is," Negan told him. "When we get back to the Sanctuary, you're going to make this shit right. Now, I know how much you like Gary. I know how loyal he's been to you. But if you, you Simon, don't take care of the problem, set the record straight that what I say goes, not whatever anybody else damn well wants, well, Lucille? She'll have her fun with you and then I'll kill Gary myself."
"Read you loud and clear. I'll make it happen."
"You bet your ass you will. And Simon?" he said, looking over at the man. "You'd better make sure you do your job to the fuckin' T from now on. Dot the Is, cross the Ts, and don't leave a damn thing out when you talk to me from now on. Got it?"
"Like I said, loud and clear, boss. I won't let you down again," Simon promised, hoping he sounded convincing enough to Negan as the sky began to darken.
It had taken longer than expected to get to the winding road that the Hilltop rested on thanks to downed trees and a large herd of walkers. Night had fallen before the place even became visible up the road, though the outline of it was eerily dark in the distance as the vehicles in front of them began slowing down. Negan began to cuss as he exited the vehicle and found out that a new obstacle had been placed in the road in the form of a board with nails in it. The damn thing had managed to pop the front tires of the first vehicle in the convoy leaving them stuck a little ways away from the bend in the road. They needed to get right up to the gate in order to be within range of the arrows they were going to be using against the Hilltop. Simon climbed out of his truck while Dwight was coming up behind and quietly asking if he'd heard the horns and what they should do. Considering Dwight was supposed to be in the closed trailer, Simon just gave him a look that told the man to shut up and stay that way. They really didn't have the opportunity to do anything about what was about to go down and there was no way to get them information about the attack. All they could do was wait and hope that things weren't as simple as Negan seemed to think it was and the others had managed to plan a good defense.
"We don't have the upper hand right now," Simon told Dwight quietly as they followed Negan.
"Well, damn," Negan spoke up. "And here I was, hopin' that gate would be a bit more inviting. Guess that asshole didn't give them my offer or my warning. They want a fight, we're givin' it to 'em. Arat, Gary. Move these offending articles so we can go get our shrink and restore order."
"I want to talk to Negan," a woman's voice sang out over the walkie.
"Give that here," Negan told Simon, who gladly handed it over. "Why, hello there, darlin'. And who do I have the pleasure of talking to?"
"Maggie," came the reply. "Maggie Rhee. The Widow."
"Well, it's nice to hear from you, Maggie Rhee," Negan said with a smile. "I'd express my condolences, but you gotta know, it wasn't my fault he died. You can look to your boy, Daryl, for that fault."
"Fuck ya jus' say?!" Ani's voice came over, quickly being cut off as, Negan assumed, the Widow took the com back, though he caught some more colorful words coming out of her mouth before it cut out, all meant for him.
"She certainly has a mouth on her, doesn't she?" Negan chuckled into the walkie. "Now, I've told you all how it has to be. If you can't get with the program, well, what's goin' down tonight, it's just the tip of the iceberg. Got your little care package. We made that box ourselves, Simon gave it to you in good faith to bury your man in, yet you send one of mine back in it? That just ain't gonna fly, Maggie. It's time to pay up."
"Your thirty eight people are alive and breathin'. Turn around and leave us be, and they stay that way. We have thirty eight bullets that Ani and I will personally fire into all thirty eight."
"It's too nice a night to spend it dyin' slow, don't you think, Negan?"
"That's Alden!" Simon told him. "Those are my guys!"
"So, how's it gonna go?" the Widow asked.
"Well, Maggie Rhee," Negan said while looking Simon in the eye, "I guess that's thirty eight less bullets I have to worry about. Thirty eight less mouths to feed. As much as I hate doin' it, their lives? Well, as soon as they gave up the fight instead of dyin', they were lost. You see, I don't take kindly to people who get themselves captured. I take pride in my men fightin' to the end. Now, that's not sayin' that, should they figure a way out of their current predicament in the onslaught headin' your way, I won't take them back. But if you think you can use them to make me stand down? Ain't happenin'."
"Alright people," Negan told the Saviors after he tossed the walkie back to Simon. "We might not come bearin' guns, but we have a shit ton of guts. We're not givin' these people another chance. Freshen up your weapons, get 'em nice and bloody. Let's wrap this shit show up, once and for all."
~x~
"Fuck! That's D's airhorn!" Ani cried, listening to the horns going off. "Get 'em all movin'!" she told Jerry.
"It's on," he said, heading towards the ladder.
"You know, you should probably head over to Maggie," Kal said as Ani stood at the watch post with a pair of binoculars in her hands, trying to see whatever she could.
"Mags has 'er part unda control. Won' stay too much longa. Got ta double and triple check ta make sure everyone's square, ya know?"
"Thought you said Maggie has it under control?" he quipped with a sideways grin.
"She does, but that don' mean I ain' goin' ta make sure 'fore the day's done," she told him.
She spotting Daryl in the distance, the sight quieting the tremors that had threatened to start up again at the sound off and confirmation. While she knew Kal was right, she also knew that if she didn't check everything herself, she was going to have a hard time keeping her anxiety under control. Her hands were already trembling and her back was already tensing up just at the sound of the horns and she needed to get in control of it before anyone noticed. If she was being honest with herself, she knew she was being selfish by what she was planning to begin with, but she couldn't just stay put when her family was out there. Even Maggie had told her that she was going to be leaving the house as soon as Rick showed up to get this thing ended and kill Negan. Rubbing her stomach, Ani knew she was willingly taking a high risk being out in the Hilltop during the fighting, but it was less of a risk than letting her nerves get worked up. If she weighed the pros vs the cons, however, being out in the fight was the risky of the two than being stuck in the attic like Merle wanted her to be. Ani was beyond thankful that Daryl had been willing to hear her out and agreed that she could at least be a part of the defense with her husband, not offense like her brother. All she had to do was hold on until the fighting started and she could concentrate on that rather than the impending pit of dread forming in her gut.
"Make sure ya get inta the house 'fore the shootin' really starts," she reminded Kal. "Once everythin' starts up, D's goin' ta be comin', and then we rain Hellfire down on them assholes."
"Damn straight," Kal told her before she headed down the ladder.
Walking over to the prisoners, Ani stopped and contemplated them seriously, many of which had been quite docile and had accepted their reality without question. There was a clear line between the trouble makers and the good guys and one she really wasn't thrilled about even breathing, Jared. If anyone was an instigator in this group, it was him; he had taunted every single person that had stood guard right down to being a big reason as to why Henry was being a brat. Alden was a good guy, she could tell, considering the fact that he shot Jared's shit down immediately after he'd start it and he had the ear of the better part of the group. He'd convinced them to surrender to Jesus, kept them under control in their confines, and put Jared in his place a lot all while being polite at the same time. He'd even made some compelling arguments to Maggie before Ani had arrived about treating them like people rather than enemies. Gregory was in the makeshift prison as well, making Ani scowl as he came up to the fence to try talk to her. She wasn't there to have anything to do with the sleazeball and had instead come over to see who she could trust with certain tasks if push came to shove.
"Listen, you know I'm not supposed to be in here," Gregory started, even though she wasn't even paying any attention to him, "and I know every nook and cranny of this place. I can help."
"Ya can help by keepin' ya mouth shut and gettin' the fuck away from the fence 'fore I put a bullet in ya skull jus' 'cause I feel like it," she seethed before turning to Alden and pointing at him. "Ya. Come 'ere." When he was at the fence, she told him, "I trust ya well 'nough. I want ya stickin' by Mags the entire fight. Don' let 'er out a ya sight, else the threat a bullet will be the last a ya worries."
"Why?" he asked with a quizzical expression.
"She needs an eye kept on 'er. Everythin' she's dealin' with, and then wantin' ta protect all a ya, the least ya can do is keep an eye on 'er. Help 'er if she needs it. I got people doin' it for me. She needs someone else doin' it for 'er."
"Why me?"
"'Cause ya have ya people's trust, and I can see it in ya eyes. Ya don' care where ya call home, long as it's somethin' ya believe in protectin'. I actually see it in a lot a ya," she said, raising her voice and getting the attention of the Saviors. "Dependin' on how tanight goes depends on whetha or not I ask Mags ta let ya go. Ya got ta know the Saviors ain' 'bout ta give up what they think is the high ground jus' 'cause ya here. They're goin' ta cut ya loose. I've already seen 'em doin' it ta people. The chemical plant outpost? They shot up some a their own jus' for a chance ta win. Sacrificed their people to lure the Kingdom inta a trap. Tell me, do any a ya really expect somethin' different?
"I was at the Sanctuary," she admitted. "Me and Daryl, we were prisonas there. We know how Negan and the Saviors beat people inta submission. I saw how the workas are treated and tried ta help then, tellin' Negan how if 'e'd jus' make a few changes, it could all work out. Most a ya got family there, I'm guessin'. Family that works for points jus' ta try ta savive, points ya might a been earnin' yaself ta help 'em. Ya see how we work, how we treat people. Yeah, Maggie ain' perfect and she's made 'er fair share of mistakes. I ain' tryin' ta excuse what she's done. She's paid an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth for what the Saviors have done ta her, taken from 'er. Lost 'er daddy jus' a few months ago, lost 'er husband by Negan's hand, prolly somethin' some a ya know the feelin' and pain a. She's almost lost 'er kid once, too, 'cause a the stress a everythin'. She's doin' everythin' she can ta savive, jus' like all a ya did for the Saviors. But ya can have a betta life. Ya can see that in our people. If ya willin', if there's a time for ya ta prove yaself, I suggest ya take it. 'Cause then we'll all be fightin' tagetha, for each otha, ta make the world betta. And ya'd be our people, and will be treated as such. We protect our own, and we can and will protect ya if-"
"Just shut up, already," Jared cut her off. "Listen, lady, no one cares abou-"
"I care," Alden spoke up, a few more choruses of agreement ringing out in approval. "She's right. We can't keep living as us or them. If we work together..."
"We can make the world betta," Ani finished after he trailed off. "Mags and me, we got kiddos comin' inta the world. I'm sure some a ya have kiddos, too. Do ya really want 'em ta grow up in war? Or ya want 'em ta grow up and thrive? We can all help each otha, but only if we stand for each otha. Jus' think 'bout it."
She could see several faces contemplating her words before she nodded and walked away, giving Eduardo a chin up. He opened the gate and ordered the prisoners to follow him, two by two, stopping at the gate to have their hands tied by him, Birdie, and Charles. Even if Maggie was angry with the Saviors, the prisoners were a bargaining chip she wasn't ready to part with, even though Ani told her Negan wouldn't care about them. So, Ani let her keep that part of her plan, having the group behind her on the front stoop of the house in an attempt to negotiate even if she knew it wouldn't work. It was an honorable attempt, at the very least, but Ani hoped Maggie's sense of honor and justice wouldn't backfire on them in the end. She hoped that they would be able to prove themselves as more than just prisoners and they would keep from joining the Saviors to fight against them from the inside. While their hands would remain tied, that wouldn't stop a determined prisoner from grabbing a pistol or a knife during the oncoming battle, but she would rather trust some of them to at least not fight. Ani sighed as she walked away and tried to calm herself by going through the house and double checking everything was ready. The windows were all boarded up with only little slits for their guns and the food had been stored in the attic where Barbara and the kids were. People were getting themselves in place both downstairs and on the second and third floors to rain fire down on the Saviors during the second part of their plan. The guns were all loaded and in place at every spot they could feasibly and safely target the Saviors from the house. The bus had been braced on the inside with extra metal on the side to ensure it would be able to take a hit from whatever it was that they knew would inevitably hit it. It was ready with Tobin driving it to keep the Saviors out long enough for Daryl and Tobin to get to safety after Eduardo and Kal opened the gate for Daryl.
It was all a part of the plan; make the Saviors believe they managed to get the upper hand by letting them through the gates and that sense of superiority would be their downfall in the end. The cars were set up and each had someone in it, just waiting for the signal, for Daryl to come in and the Saviors to start their attack. Once they did, it would be the Hilltop that had the advantage because they were playing in their home turf while the Saviors could only assume they knew about the Hilltop. Much like how the Alexandrians had known about the sewers unlike the Saviors, the people here at Hilltop knew how to use the layout of the land to their tactical advantage. Well, Merle, Abraham, Rick, Maggie, and Ani did, with Daryl and Sasha helping to plan, pointing out what the others missed. It was definitely an advantage for their group and a disadvantage for Negan's people that they had actual military strategies to draw from, police force tactics, analytics, and seasoned hunters running the show. For a split second, Ani was reminded of their advantage over the Governor when he'd attacked the first time and how they had taken out all of his people the second time, with the exception of Tara. When she walked into the house, everyone was on the move, Ani double checked the infirmary that was being set up in the upstairs foyer in preparation for those injured in battle. Carol was standing in the downstairs foyer with Henry getting ready while the boy watched and Ani and Carol both could tell by the way he was staring at the guns that he wanted one. He wasn't ready for that yet, though, and she could only hope that he would realize that, but when both Sophia and Carl walked in, both carrying semi-automatics, pistols at their sides, knives on their hips, it made it hard for him to accept. When Henry saw them, Ani knew he was going to cause problems because he couldn't help the sour look that graced his face before turning to Carol.
"Can I have one for when they come?" he asked her.
"This is not your lot," Ezekiel stated, picking up the pistol and holstering it. "You will stay inside with the others 'til the deed is done."
"But I need to help! I need to fight!" he argued.
"Hell nah, ya don't," Ani told him. "What ya need ta do is get ya ass up ta that attic with Barb and the littles where ya belong. Ya don' know how ta fight. Yeah, ya learnin' the stick, but it ain' 'nough. Ya fight with us, ya goin' ta die 'cause ya easy pickin's, and these people, they don' give two shites who they kill so long as it's our people."
"She's right. You should be upstairs in the attic with the other kids," Carol told him.
"But they're fighting!" he yelled, pointing at the teens. "They're only a year older than me! I can fight!"
"Ani has trained them to fight since the beginning. They've already been in fights like this. You haven't. Go upstairs to the attic and stay there," Carol told him sternly.
"I need to fight!"
"You need to stay safe."
"Ya don' fuckin' know how ta fight, Henry," Ani said crossly, not at all liking how much Carol was fighting for Henry not to fight, but had yet to talk to Sophia about it. "Phia knows mixed martial arts and Carl's been usin' a gun for a couple years now. They were the ones that made the plan that let us escape Alexandria. Ya don' even have the ability ta remain stoic in the face a ya choice ta spare Gavin! How the hell ya expect ta fight if ya can' keep ya head?"
"Listen to Ani, young Henry," Ezekiel told him, although he wasn't quite happy with Ani's colorful language. "You need to stay inside and guard this place. You'll live and help others do the same."
"Carol!" he tried, making Sophia's face scrunch in anger. "You know I can help!"
"Henry, if you go out there during the attack, you'll die," Carol told him in a rather motherly voice, something that made both Sophia and Ani flinch and Ani immediately move to go to Sophia's side.
"This isn't fair!"
"You know what's not fair?" Sophia spoke up, giving a pointed look to Carol while handing Ani a set of new throwing knives. "Havin' a mother that cares more about a boy she just met than the kid she gave birth to."
Henry looked between the two in confusion as Carol gasped and then sighed, looking about ready to cry, while Ezekiel's face turned to one of pity and Ani snapped at Sophia, "Hey! Stow that shite! We ain' got time for anyone ta have a damn pity party right now! I jus' had ta deal with this shite with Enid! I ain' doin' it with the three a ya! Phia, stow ya anga 'til the fight is ova. Ya can let it all loose aftawards. Henry, get ya ass up in that attic and use that stick a ya's ta protect the people up there if ya need ta, and don't you dare touch a fuckin' gun. Ya don' want me punishin' ya 'cause ya don' listen," she said, both Sophia and Carls faces paling at the reminder of the prison's bootcamp. "Cars, ya made ya choice. No point in cryin' 'bout it now. Ya don' always get ta have ya pie and eat it too."
"Isn't it cake?" Carl asked with a smile, nudging Sophia's shoulder before she had a chance to say anything to Ani, though her face was somewhat dark.
"I don' care for cake," Ani told him. "I prefa pie. And Phia? I ain' sayin' ya don' have a right ta feel how ya feel, but for now stow it. I promise ya I ain' angry or upset with ya for how ya feel, but we don' got time right now ta do anythin' 'bout it. We got a fight for our lives comin', and trust me, the last thing we need is for anyone ta be distracted. Carl, head up ta ya station. Phia, I want ya ta help get the infirmary set up before ya head ta ya's. Make sure they got the tonics and salves right, 'cause I don' trust modern doctors ta know what's what when it comes ta apothecary remedies. They were fine last I looked, but it don' hurt ta have a second pair a eyes checkin' it."
"Fine," Sophia said before trying to stomp off, only for Ani to grab her arm and pull her into a tight hug.
"Ya know I ain' angry at ya and I trust ya, right?" she told the girl softly. "Ya my kid. So don' think I'm on someone else's side in this. I'm with ya, thousand percent."
"I know," the girl sniffled, returning the hug finally before they parted, neither noticing Carol's sad look.
"Alright, get goin'."
"You've always been good to her," Carol said as all three kids moved out to their respective responsibilities. "Far better than I've ever been."
"Like I told ya at the farm and when we first took the prison; I always wanted ta be a motha. I've always treated 'er the way I will Lou when 'e gets 'ere. She's angry at ya, Cars. She's hurt. And she feels like ya still abandonin' 'er for anotha all ova again, like ya did with Lizzie, with Mika. Hell, ya literally doin' it right now right in front a 'er with Henry while not sayin' two words ta 'er 'bout bein' safe! Ya can' imagine how it feels knowin' ya momma, the woman who's supposed ta love ya foreva, loves anotha kid more than she loves ya. For me, it was my sista, and I knew my place and where I stood. Phia? She thought she was ya world 'til she ran from them walkas! She thought ya would always be there for 'er 'til ya jus' started leavin' 'er with me, Daryl, and Merle! In 'er mind, ya abandoned 'er ta be momma ta anotha kid. And, honestly, that's kind a how I feel, too. I know why ya did it, and I know ya've always had a hard time with what ya went through with Ed, but that ain' that liddle girl's fault. None a what happened ta ya, what happened ta 'er, none a it was on 'er. I get ya reasons, but that don' mean I got ta like 'em. I'll talk ta Phia 'bout everythin' again and try ta get 'er ta let go a 'er anga, but ya neva gettin' that liddle girl ta look at ya with love again."
"I know," Carol said, turning away. "I've got to get to my car. You're gonna be standing with Maggie then coming inside, right?"
"That's what I'm s'pposed ta do," Ani said, not giving anything away; there was a reason she'd had Sophia get her the knives.
Dusk was settling in as the Hilltop came to a standing halt and everything was ready to go, everyone in their designated place. Even as the sky darkened and Ani put on Daryl's poncho for warmth, the tension in the air was palpable while she stood next to Maggie on the terrace, watching the lookouts on the wall and waiting for the signal. Beth stood on the other side of Maggie while Sasha was standing next to Ani and Dianne, one of the women from the Kingdom who had been watching over Maggie, stood behind them. The tension in the air was suffocating as they watched and waited for the Saviors to show up and Maggie and Ani shared a look that told the other just how determined they were. Maggie was the only one that knew what Ani was planning, the reason she had two pistols strapped to both hips and her knives. Neither of them planned on staying in the house after Maggie gave the signal, although Ani was planning on going out as soon as Daryl got through the gate. They waited with baited breath until well after dark when Jerry finally gave the signal and Maggie turned to look at them all with a deep breath.
"Here we go."
