That's when Negan finally realizes his gaze is on him and he can't help but miss a heartbeat, the gnawing dread turning in fierce terror. Isn't he supposed to be the appointed devil around here?

-"Oh don't worry", the human-shaped demon starts, irony filling his voice, "you will see me alright."

-"What do you mean? What are you gonna do to us?"

For the first time ever, Negan's voice seems to contain some nervousness he's not even trying to hide. His arrogance sure looks like it took a hit. And in normal time, Rick would be glad to see him in a tight spot. Wasn't he the one to gloat just minutes ago? But at the same time, something about his behavior seems off. And it takes him a few seconds before he can pinpoint what. His brain is sending him a warning he shouldn't just put aside. If Negan is afraid of something, you should be too. And it doesn't make sense at first. Because he has never think of the man as being particularly brave, always hiding behind someone else to avoid being in anyone's crosshairs or delegating tasks to never be in the frontline. But then it clicks. Negan is a coward but he is also proud. He would never let his fear transpire in front of his worst enemy if he could avoid it.

And if anything, they should be wary. Whoever is keeping them here didn't take any side or they wouldn't be both tighten to a chair. Rick doesn't know that man. And neither does Negan, it seems. And what are his intentions anyway? The leader of the Saviors just asked but the stranger hasn't responded yet. If the man only wanted them dead, why bother tightening them at all? Are they somehow on his territory and he wants justice because they trespassed somehow? Is it the first time he sees other survivors and he wants answers?

But whatever the motives, one smart move - the only one he can see right now - is to try to reason with the man. If he can avoid the worst just by talking, he has to try. If he still has a shot at coming back home and taking Negan down in the process, he has to try. If not for himself, for Judith, who already lost too much.

-"Why are you retaining us here?" But the man, as for Negan, doesn't deign to give any response. And now that he has moved into the light of the little window, Rick can finally confirm he has never seen him. Though some features look strangely familiar. Like he is some kind of a twisted mix between Joe from the Claimers, Gareth from the Terminus, the Governor and even a bit of Shane. And that last part is particularly disturbing. The whole thing is actually. Is this really a human being standing in front of him or a conglomerate of ghosts? It all seems so real nonetheless, only adding to his uneasiness.

-"If you let us go, we will just be on our way and never come back." The real question on his mind is more: Are you gonna kill us? But as a cop, he knows speculating can only be detrimental to them, as it could give the man bad ideas. Or show him they are scared somehow. And in the contrary, he has to look calm, in control, sure of hims...

-"Are you gonna kill us?"

For Christ's sake. Rick can't help but tighten his fists. He can't punch him in the face right now and it sure isn't that he doesn't want to!

-"Damnit, Negan, will you shut up for once?"

But like a fool, the leader of the Sanctuary just bursts into laughter.

And Negan can't help but laugh. He knows he probably shouldn't because the almighty Rick sounded all but funny, always so serious and here even more than usual. But the quietness of the stranger at both their questions is making him nervous to say the least. Physically, the man is creeping him out. If he could have even one word out of him, he could know for sure if the man is of sound mind or if he is as crazy as he looks. At least, they would know where they stand. But he is only looking at them, like he is gauging them, determining which one he'll answer first... or kill first.

Though Rick's reproaches don't end with that aggressive and totally rhetorical question.

-"Have you never negotiated for your life, before?" He adds, clearly angry. And yeah, even if the situation seems critical, Negan can't help but want to add gasoline to that fire, trying to sound as sassy as possible.

-"Hum, to be honest, no. I was more standing on the other side of the hammer. If you see what I mean." Like he would ever tell him about Craven.

And yes, hearing Rick fuming, it seems like he sees exactly what he meant.

-"But I have another question for you as well.", Negan answers back with a half-sarcastic, half-incisive tone. "Have you ever tell your plan to your enemy before actually going on with it? Because that's what you just did. And that sounds stupid, if you ask me."

And a new laugh resonates in the suffocating air of the basement. And this time, it's not Negan, who's sure his blood just iced instantly in his veins. Well, they did want a reaction from the stranger. But certainly not this one.

-"Wow, you guys are so entertaining!" He cheers, clapping his hands as well. And just like that, Negan understands why the guy didn't intervene before. He just wanted to enjoy the show, appreciate the two men verbally smacking each other around. And as much as he likes his verbal jousting with Rick, Negan feels angry to have given him that satisfaction.

-"I mean, I really love your weapons of choice. But when I saw you, missing each other's hair every time you had the chance, that felt kind of boring, right?" And in addition, he had spied on them even since they entered the building?

-"But the way you're spitting venom at each other has me really turned on. Do you think... Do you think if I let you turn, you will be growling at each other for all eternity? Until decomposition does its part? I'd fucking love to see that." And Negan can't help but feel nauseous, disgusted. If he had doubts, now he has none. That man is crazy. He can't even begin to imagine how that whole turning into walkers scenario would look like. He would give anything to see Rick's face right now, only to know of it matches his.

-"But if it doesn't work, I'd be sooo disappointed. I don't find subjects like you every day. So I'll try to make you last.

-You're not serious right? Trust me, we'd be so boring as plain old walkers." In a way, Negan can't believe there are people deranged enough to kill others not to end them but only to toy with what they then become. He has used them as dissuasive weapons on his fences around the Sanctuary sure, but not for his own twisted pleasure.

"-You don't have to do that." Rick adds. His attempts to have the man set them free are weaker and weaker, like he's done negotiating and now only pleading. They have to try alright but it seems more and more clear that they are not going anywhere any time soon.

-"Oh I know. But trust me, I wouldn't mind."

A creepy smile accompanies his words. Though his features change pretty quickly, as he seems suddenly thoughtful. He then just walks around, leaving and entering the lighted area of the candle, not caring about Negan's gaze focused on him and surely Rick's too. The movement is disconcerting, as if the stranger going out of view means he will never reappear. And at the same time, it feels very irritating. Because it's all an act, right? Pacing in front of them, thinking about what he's gonna do to them. Like he doesn't already know. He just keeps playing with them, with their minds. Negan is about to call him out, only to break that deafening silence that has lasted for too long when the stranger stops moving, facing them again.

-"You know what, I'll make you a deal. I promise one of you is gonna make it out alive."

Negan only stays stunned for a few seconds before he can find his voice again.

-"One of us?" Wait... "Alive?" Was this guy going to turn one of them for real? But the stranger just continues, completely ignoring Negan's reaction.

-"Which one? Thank you for asking. Well that will depends on you." On them? Was he going to lend them weapons and let them fight to death? He seems like the kind of guy that enjoys theatricals so much that a gladiator show would certainly be his thing. But it also feels too simple.

-"How so, you'll ask. What about a contest to see the one who's gonna be the most convincing? I will let you have some time to prepare your speeches and you're gonna present it." A freaking oration? That would be their way of staying alive? Negan can't help a nervous chuckle to leave his throat.

-"So who are you? Saint Mickael descended on earth to judge us, mere mortals?

-Oh you're so sweet. But trust me, I am no archangel. And believe me, I am not going to stay passive. I might even add a bit of spiciness now and then. I do like some old plain torture every once in a while. You know, let you have a taste of your own medicine."

And Negan realizes he was wrong. The stranger's eyes are not as cold as ice. For a normal human being, seeing a spark of madness looking back at you is not something that unusual. Especially now that the world has turned to shit. Even Rick had it occasionally, mixed with that same defiance Negan has tried to erase many times. But it's an already well fanned fire that is burning in that man's two eyeballs. It's like having a peak at hellfire itself in prime time and being mesmerized by the height of the flames and the way they dance so well, even if coming from an evil place.

And just like that, the stranger blows off the candle, plunging the room into quasi-darkness once again. And he leaves, as quietly as he appeared.

And Negan can sense that this demon hasn't used the word "torture" lightly either. Cold sweat is running down his back, sending him shivers in his whole body. His own "medicine" is Lucille. Rick's is his hatchet. And he's not sure either of them would survived that madman if he was ever to take himself at his words...