Chapter 21-His People, His Choice
Strand's P.O.V
Strand sat in his bed early in the morning. He was thinking about what Jed had told him. Strand stands up and walks outside. He walks over to Dwight, who is on watch. "Anybody else awake?" Strand asks.
"Amanda is. She's patrolling the fence," Dwight tells him. Strand nods as the radio Dwight has goes off.
"Daryl," Rick says through the radio.
"It's Dwight, Rick. What's wrong?" Dwight says.
"Laura's here. She can't find Troy," Rick says.
"I'll get Daryl and Morgan," Dwight says to Strand, who nods as he walks away. About an hour later, the group was gathered in the main cabin. Daryl and Morgan had just finished talking with Rick as they came back into the room.
"Laura couldn't find him this morning. Nobody had seen him all night. Jed and a few other saviors are gone," Morgan says.
"So they have Troy, or they have already killed him," Cole says.
"I don't believe they did," Strand says, making them look at him. "Yesterday, I may have told a lie. I was not in Alexandria,"
"Where were you?" Madison asks.
"Meeting Jed," Strand says. "Troy asked for my help after we cleared the warehouse. Troy isn't their target,"
"Then who is?" Rosita asks.
"Negan," Strand says. "They want him,"
"Well, they ain't getting him," Rosita says.
"Troy will most likely die if they don't," Strand says.
"What did Jed want you to do?" Daryl asks.
"Take Rick to him. I was going to do it, but now it seems like it would just put two of our friends in danger," Strand says. "We have two opinions here. We let Troy die, or we work with Negan. Or Jed decides to take more people,"
"Maggie nor Rick will go for it," Morgan says.
"Doesn't matter. Troy is your people, Daryl. Make this decision. Not Rick, not Maggie, not Ezekiel. You," Strand says.
"I'm going to Alexandria. Dwight, Alden, and Morgan come with me. The rest of you stay here and defend this place if they come," Daryl says.
"Okay," Strand says. Daryl, Morgan, Dwight, and Alden walk outside.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl pulls into Hilltop with Alden on the back of his bike. They had decided to talk to Maggie first. Maggie walks outside and looks at them. "What are you guys doing here?" Maggie asks as Daryl gets off his bike.
"We gotta talk," Daryl says. Maggie nods as she leads him inside. Daryl, Dwight, Alden, Morgan, Beth, Carl, Al, Maggie, and Tara stood in Maggie's office. "The true saviors have Troy. They want Negan,"
"We ain't giving him to them," Maggie says.
"Maggie-," Carl says.
"No," Maggie says.
"This is for a man's life, Maggie. They will continue to take people until they get Negan," Carl says. "They could take me, Al, Daryl,"
"They won't. We'll kill them," Maggie says. "Rick didn't give me a decision when he saved Negan. He did it all by himself and didn't let any of us voice our opinion. He did it, and I will not let any of you release him. I don't care if Troy dies. You are not letting him go!" Maggie shouts at him.
"Glenn would let him go if it meant he could save someone," Carl says. "Because that is the kind of man he was. I wanted to kill Negan too, but he can change,"
"People don't change, Carl," Daryl says.
"You did," Carl says. "I remember you back at the quarry. You hated us. You were a dick. You didn't trust any of us. Now, look at you. You are leading your own group. You have a family. People can change, Daryl. You did, Merle did," Carl says. "Since the start of all of this, it has been one fight after another. The walkers, Randall's group, the prisoners, The Governor twice, Terminus, The cops, the wolves, the saviors. Every time we lost people we loved, T-dog, Mom, Amy, Andrea, Jim, Jacqui, Sophia, Hershel, Merle, Glenn, Abraham, Sasha, Bob, Dale. When does it end? When does this constant fighting end? When do we get to live instead of survive?" Carl asks them.
"Nice speech, kid," Dwight says. "I agree with the kid,"
"I don't know what we are going to do. But we are working with Negan. We are killing the true saviors. We are saving Troy. With or without Hilltop," Daryl says before he leaves the room, followed by the others.
"Get the van, Al," Maggie says. Al nods as she leaves.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl stops his bike outside the church inside of Alexandria. "Find Rick," Daryl tells Alden, who nods. Daryl walks past Maggie, who glares at him as he walks towards the cell. He walks down the stairs and goes into the cell. Negan looks at him. "Hey, Daryl. What do you need?" Negan asks.
"The true saviors have Troy," Daryl says.
"Good for him. I told you I don't know anything about these pricks, and I'm not helping you pricks," Negan says.
"Answer a question for me. Do you know where they are?" Daryl asks.
"Yes," Negan says. "I have a pretty good idea,"
"What do you want?" Daryl asks. "What do you want for you to help us?"
"I hate to tell you, but neither of your friends will go for this," Negan says.
"I don't give a damn," Daryl says. "Troy's my friend. He put his ass on the line for us. He's my people. This is my call,"
"I want out," Negan says.
"That ain't happening," Daryl says. "You killed Glenn and Abraham. You helped kill a lot of our friends,"
"Well, what do you have to offer me?" Negan asks.
"You get time outside," Daryl says. "You won't leave Alexandria and somebody will watch you. You'll help around here,"
"What if Rick the prick doesn't go for it?" Negan asks.
"Then I'll take you to my place," Daryl says. "Carl believes you in, and it seemed like you may have believed in what Rick was saying before he cut your throat,"
"What about Lucille?" Negan asks.
"You ain't getting that bat," Daryl says. "This is your best option," Negan stares Daryl down for a moment.
"Talk to Rick the prick," Negan says. Daryl nods as he leaves the cell and backs up. Dwight was waiting for him.
"Everybody's at the church," Dwight says. Daryl nods as he follows Dwight to the church. The people of Alexandria were in the church, and Alden, Maggie, Morgan, Al, Beth, Tara, Carl, Rick, and Michonne. Daryl nods to Dwight as he walks up to Rick.
"Maggie told me what you are doing," Rick says.
"Are you going to stop me?" Daryl asks him. "You would do the same if it was Carl or Gabriel or Rosita,"
"What does he want?" Maggie asks.
"I made him an offer. He helps us end this, kill the true saviors and save Troy. He'll get outside time during the day. He'll help around the community. Somebody will watch him, and he won't get a weapon," Daryl says.
"We shouldn't even be working with him. He killed our friends and family," One of the people of Alexandria says.
"Can I say something?" Laura asks from where she stood. Daryl nods. "I met Negan towards the beginning of all this. Back then, he was just a man just trying to save his wife with cancer. He was taken by a group called the vipers who took his medicine, and his wife died. That changed Negan. He killed them all and saved me. That's when Negan became Negan. I'm not excusing what he's done. But you've all done bad things to survive. People change if you give them a chance. He did, and I know that the man I met is still in there," Daryl nods to Laura, who sits back down.
"I don't care what you guys want. This isn't your family, your friend in danger. It's mine. So I'm going to take Negan. I'm going to get my group, and I'm going to kill these sons of bitches. With or without the Hilltop, Alexandria, Kingdom, or Oceanside," Daryl says. "Try and stop us,"
Negan's P.O.V
Negan sat in his cell when the door opened, and Daryl walked back in. He unlocks the cell door and throws it open. "They agree?" Negan asks.
"Doesn't matter," Daryl says.
"How do I know they won't blow off my dome when I walk out of his cell?" Negan asks.
"You don't," Daryl says. "But this is your chance," Negan nods as he stands up. "Let me make something clear. You try anything, and I mean anything at all, and I'll put an arrow in your leg and throw you right back in here,"
"Got it, boss," Negan says with a grin. Daryl walks out of the cell with Negan following him. Daryl sets outside, followed by Negan, who grins when he feels the sunlight on him once again for the first in a while. Negan follows Daryl up the stairs. "This is the kind of shit you live for," Negan says as Daryl stops. Negan looks at Dwight. "How are you doing, Dwighty boy?"
"Dwight. It's Dwight," Dwight says.
"Got it," Negan says as he looks at everybody who is staring at him. "Hey, how are you all doing?"
"Shut up," Alden says. "They already want to kill you. Keep your mouth shut," Negan catches eyes with Maggie, who glares at him. He looks away from her and looks at Carl.
"Was this your idea, kid?" Negan asks Carl.
"I helped talk Daryl into it," Carl says.
"So, what is the plan here?" Negan asks.
"We still don't even know if Troy is alive. Maybe you should figure that out," Al says.
"Can I see your radio?" Daryl asks Laurie, who nods as she hands him the radio. "Jed,"
"Hey, Daryl. Took you long enough,"
"Strand ain't going to give you Rick. But I'll give you Negan for Troy," Daryl says.
"Deal," Jed says.
"But first a sign of life," Daryl says.
"One moment," Jed says. The group waits in silence.
"Daryl, don't listen to this bastard. I'll be okay," Troy says.
"Hang tight, Troy. We'll get you back," Morgan says.
"There is your proof," Jed says.
"We'll contact you again when we are ready," Daryl says.
"Got it," Jed says before the radio goes off. Daryl hands it back to Laura.
"Now we know he's alive. I'm taking Negan back to the campgrounds. You can come if you want. You want to help, you can. But I'm in charge," Daryl says. "You're getting in the truck with Dwight and Morgan," Daryl says to Negan.
"Got it," Negan says. Daryl nods as he walks to his bike. Alden climbs on behind him. Dwight, Negan, Morgan get in the truck, followed by Carl, who joins them. Daryl starts the bike and drives out of Alexandria as the others watch him. Laura follows in her car.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick stood in his house with Michonne. He looked at Maggie, Beth, Al, and Tara. "I can't believe he is doing this. Negan will betray him,"
"He's doing what he believes he has to so he can save Troy," Rick says. "I don't like it either, Maggie, but I was not about to get in a fight with Daryl. We got to trust him here, Maggie,"
"If this does work. He's going to let Negan walk free," Tara says.
"He'll keep him on a tight leash. I don't know what you want me to do. Want me to go to the campgrounds and take Negan. It won't go well for any of us. But we need to help him," Rick says. "He's our family, and he would do the same. I'm going to the campgrounds, and I'll radio Carol. You can come if you want, but we'll understand why if you don't," Rick says. Rick and Michonne leave, asking Scott to watch Judith as they do.
Morgan's P.O.V
Morgan sat in the front of the car. They all could feel the tension. "I'm sorry about your wife," Morgan says to Negan.
"Laura needs to keep her mouth shut," Negan says.
"I know what it is like. I lost my wife and son. It took me to a bad place. I was bad, man. I felt peace after a long time," Morgan says.
"Well, good for you, but I have every man and woman wanting to kill me. The widow will do it at some point," Negan says.
"We'll figure out a way to keep Maggie at bay," Carl says. Negan looks at Dwight.
"What about Dwight? How do you feel about all of this?" Negan asks his ex-right-hand man.
"I've only known Troy a few weeks, but the others know him better. If they say he's worth the risk, then he is," Dwight says. "Doesn't mean I'm the happiest about you being out,"
"Are you going to give me a weapon at least?" Negan asks them.
"You'll get one when the time comes," Morgan says as they get to the campgrounds. They turn off the truck. "Let's go. We got work to do,"
Thanks for reading. Negan is out, and he is ready, and Daryl believes he is ready to earn his place. Will Negan stick to the plan that will be made, or will he prove once and for all he can't be trusted. Negan was always going to be out earlier. That was always going to happen, and he will still be on a tight leash if he doesn't fuck the group over. Next chapter, more tension comes up. The group makes a plan and gets ready to end the True Saviors once and for all. As always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.